Our Sensible Shoes ministry has been and always will be
about washing the feet of East African children and fitting them with a pair of
Sensible Shoes as we teach them to walk in the way of love (Ephesians 5:1–2). Over
the past few years, we’ve been investing more heavily in the children of
coastal Kenya not only to meet their immediate physical and spiritual needs,
but also to lay a claim on these children as future spiritual, family,
political, and business leaders in this majority Muslim region.
This week the Walk in Love ministry team served more than
680 children in seven coastal communities by ministering to their minds and
their spirits, by washing their feet with love (and soap), and by providing a
pair of Sensible Shoes. While it’s true that dozens of children did not receive
shoes, every one of them was none-the-less covered in prayers.
We charged the children to think of the shoes as a reminder that wherever they
go they ought to share this story with their friends as disciples of walking in
love. Given the number of children receiving shoes, we dream that one day in the distant future they may reminisce with new friends and find to their the sweet surprise that they are united through this Sensible Shoes ministry experience. We also believe that 20, 30, and many more years from now this coastal
area will become a Christ-centered majority and today we give God the glory for
that future hope.
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| Rebecca, Leslie, Ephantus, Jennifer |
Sensible Shoes in
Marikebuni
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| Say "good morning" to Michael who gave the ladies their first tuk-tuk ride to town so we could take a matatu (taxi) to Marikebuni. |
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Mountain of Glory Church with Pastor Ephantus in Marikebuni
More than 100 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise
and worship together,
listened to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way
of love (Ephesians 5:1-2),
were both corporately and individually prayed over
as we washed their feet and fit them with a pair of Sensible Shoes.
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| The church set up a shelter from the sun for us fashioned from a vinyl political billboard sign so that we could serve comfortably out of the sun. |
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| In each location we left a silent invitation by having two more basins than we had servants. Every invitation was met in abundance as in most villages women brought their own basins too. |
Sensible Shoes in
Watamu
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Mama Rossana Academy School (a school unrelated to the church) with Pastor Samuel in Watamu
More
than 160 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise and worship
together,
listened
to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way of love (Ephesians
5:1-2),
were
both corporately and individually prayed over
as
we washed their feet and fit them with a pair of Sensible Shoes.
|
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| Every program begins with worship and praise. Here Pr Karisa was teaching so many unchurched children child-sized songs with motions. They roared with laughter and fun. |
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| After praise and worship, and before washing and prayers, Jennifer and Pr Ephantus shared the message about walking in love. In this case, we were given two classrooms-- one for the big children and one for the small. Rebecca read stories and tied them to the message of walking in love with the small children. |
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| Listening is always better with friends. |
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| The children are paying close attention to the walk in love ministry lesson from Ephesians 5:1-2. |
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| No matter how many shoes we bring, they simply cannot be the right size for every child. Nor can there ever be enough, as strategically identified children never fail to tell all their friends. We thank God that out prayers are sufficient. |
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| The washing and praying team is ready to serve. |
Sensible Shoes in
Junju
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Jerusalem Church with Reverend Kaii in Junju
More
than 100 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise and worship
together,
listened
to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way of love (Ephesians
5:1-2),
were
both corporately and individually prayed over
as
we washed their feet and fit them with a pair of Sensible Shoes.
|
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| Typically Leslie began with introductions as well as to share our overall purpose for coming--praying for the future of these children. Then Rebecca shares from her heart and finally Jennifer shares the Word from Ephesians 5:1-2. |
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| Pr Ephantus, in addition to translating, summarizes the whole message once more before releasing the children to fit their shoes and have their feet washed as they are prayed over. |
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| So many beautiful women serving the children. |
Sensible Shoes in Malindi
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Faith Revival Center with Bishop Mgomba and Reverend Ngala
More
than 100 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise and worship
together,
listened
to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way of love (Ephesians
5:1-2),
were
both corporately and individually prayed over
as
we washed their feet and fit them with a pair of Sensible Shoes.
|
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| Rebecca is always mixing in with the children while we wait to begin. Always. |
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| The message is more or less interesting to some children. |
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| Bishop Mgomba expressed disbelief as we washed his feet and prayed over him. Again and again he said he had never seen a ministry such as this. |
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| Matching shoes with children gets to be a challenge when the shoes become few. |
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| As always, the women join us in praying over and caring for the children. The woman in yellow is Bishop's wife. |
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| The children who did not receive shoes received a double prayer at every venue. |
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| Bishop's granddaughter snuggled up to me. Once she got comfortable she began chatting with me in Kiswahili. Then she took over my phone and reset all its functions for me. |
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| A good old-fashioned picnic to strengthen our fellowship. |
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| Pilau, yum! |
Sensible Shoes in Kanagoni
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Jesus Gathering Centre with Bishop Tsofa and Pastor Elvis in Kanagoni
More
than 70 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise and worship
together,
listened
to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way of love (Ephesians
5:1-2),
were
both corporately and individually prayed over
as
we washed their feet and fit them with a pair of Sensible Shoes.
|
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| Long time friends, Pr Elvis and Bishop Tsofa. |
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| Jennifer enjoyed playing ball with the children as we waited to begin the program. The wind caught the ball more often than the children did. |
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| Rebecca sharing her story about walking in love. |
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| Jennifer sharing her story about waking in love. |
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| Leslie paying more attention to this formerly sniffing girly than to the messages. |
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| I love the pattern made by readied chairs and basins. |
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| Loved seeing the older children serving the younger. |
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| My heart was moved to find our first gentleman EVER washing the feet of the children. Blessed my heart! |
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| Pr Ephantus has a servant's heart. |
Sensible Shoes in Marereni
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Jesus Gathering Centre with Bishop Tsofa and Pastor Elisha in Marereni
More than 70 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise and worship together,
listened to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way of love (Ephesians 5:1-2),
were both corporately and individually prayed over
Bishop kindly requested that we divide the gift between two nearby churches, thus the smaller number of shoes at each location. |
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| I love the simplicity of this tiny little church. |
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| This area of coast is covered with thorny bushes that constantly pierced through the bottoms of our shoes and into our feet and yet the children walk bare footed down the small paths without concern. |
Sensible Shoes in
Hadu
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Emmanuel Baptist Church with Reverend Raymond and Pastor Isaac in Hadu
More
than 100 children of all ages and sizes enjoyed praise and worship
together,
listened
to the Word of the Lord about walking in the way of love (Ephesians
5:1-2),
were
both corporately and individually prayed over
as
we washed their feet and fit them with a pair of Sensible Shoes. |
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| Notice the addition to his church by way of walls. Perhaps a result of our business teaching there just a few years ago. |
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| A sea of children fit inside this church. They were released from school for this program and so with their teachers present, they were very well behaved. |
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| Oh that we would pray with such passion! |
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| Mmm, needing a little more help. |
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| Because of our twice flat tires on the rented car, we used a tuk-tuk to reach Hadu--an almost two hour ride. Take a look into the distance, we covered about four times as much in total just to reach the main road. |
In the end, the team was far more blessed than the children. But we know the Lord will continue to nurture the seed planted by Surprised by Hope, the Walk in Love ministry team, and all of YOU who gave so generously to make this gift possible. Continue praying with us and considering joining us next year as we expand our reach for Jesus. Bless you!