Rapha House of Prayer

Perfect Circle

2011-12-12T05:38:00.000-08:00

The Lord opened the door for 8 of us to take a 4 day trip to Mombasa. After 7 months of not being in this city, a 4 day window was all God needed to show that He truly answers our prayers.

As we left Kitale, God blessed us: Shannon, Talia, Nathalie, Tyler, Faith, Kevo, Irene and I, with a rainbow. I know He was reminding me of His Faithfulness. God sent me on a strange journey with the whisper of a hope that He was doing something.. and now full circle back to Mombasa, watching Him answer every prayer exceedingly and abundantly more.

On our first day of a four day trip we went straight to the streets. And everything was as I had left it. There was Muhamed, there was Esther, Farah with a new hair style, but just where I left them.

I loved them just as much as I had before and I longed so much that they would know Him. They don’t belong there and I feel I do not belong there with them anymore. Even as Muhamed said that day ‘Im waiting on you, Carly’ I heard.. Show me a God that blesses the broken, that brings freedom to those in captivity, that can fascinate me more than drugs.

Oh God, when will you establish Your House in Mombasa?

Our second day we crossed the ferry to Likoni and sat in a circle with the YWAM staff and waited on the Presence. Then the Restorer of our hearts came in and gave peace in place of tears, striving, and exhaustion to these amazing missionaries. How gracious is He with our tired hearts and small songs. How much He loves that staff.

Afterwards we all followed Issa down to the beach and jumped in with our clothes and watched the ships go to sea. We dried off and headed back to the island. God provided a porch that overlooked the peninsula of Old Town, the area of greatest Islamic influence. We sang and interceded over it then walked over to the hospital and prayed for the sick.

On Saturday, John set up all of our equipment at the Star of David and our team led a 2 hour intercession set for Mombasa. We gathered under 2 tents and as we sung, the Spirit fell and again I was reminded me of God’s faithfulness. 7months ago I was crying out for God to establish the prayer movement in Mombasa and now here I was, 7 short months later with a team from the International House of Prayer, interceding for this cause with youth from streets, schools, and the local church. How He delights to answer prayer! And in greater ways than I can imagine. I loved watching the youth from Kitale lead, Kevo played drums, Irene sang prayers, and Faith was bold in intercession. I was like watching them grow into their true identities. The youth of Kenya, the firstfruits of those who will give themselves to do missions and intercede over dark cities in this significant hour.

That night we stayed up late, eating hot dogs and roasting smores on the beach around the ideal bonfire. The Lord gave us so much joy just to be there together, laughing with the Rapha boys, and honestly talking about what Talia shared at the prayer meeting about wholeheartedness and consecration.

The next morning we worshiped at Mombasa Lighthouse Church with Passi Steve Thuku. Shannon shared about God’s desire to find a resting place on this earth. We fellowshipped like one big international family, worshiping in spirit and Truth.

We spent the afternoon at the beach swimming, playing ball, and just loving our time with the Rapha fam. Alan and Enock made us eggs and skuma for dinner and before we left, the Acts team prophesied over each boy. In the short time we had together, God again joined our hearts. These boys have been picked by His own hands for greatness, just as He did with this IHOP team, so it was like true brothers and sisters coming together. Some from streets, some from drugs, some from States, some from nice houses. The boys walked us to the bus stop and it was hard for everyone to say goodbye, especially for little Musa. Our trip to Mombasa was short but full.

As we drove the way back to western Kenya, our team was tired but satisfied that we drank the full cup God intended. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Thank You Father for Your Faithfulness. I am now sure that it is Your good will to establish the prayer movement and prayer furnace in Mombasa. As we interceded together our 3^rd day, I knew that it was a preview of what will come. How easy was it for You to send me to NZ, then to States, connect me to people with the same passion, send a team of us to do the work in Kenya and actually make it back to Mombasa. 7 months ago I would have never seen this coming, but with You, nothing is impossible. It is not the will of any man to raise up the youth of Kenya as intercessory missionaries who desperately love You and want You to return so badly that they give their lives in the hardest places. That You would establish Kitale and Mombasa as cities of light, training and sending youth from streets, from middle and upper class families, to go to Dadaab, Somalia, and all the way back to Israel. It is Your good desire and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Acts team is now headed back to Kansas City and I am headed back to Mombasa with a few friends and a hope in my heart that He still has a plan.

The time with the IHOP team went by so fast. I believe this ACTS team truly set the foundation for the prayer movement in Kitale and even we saw the preview of what will happen in Mombasa. I am confident this is just the beginning to a great story and that our prayers over Mombasa have already been answered whether or not I see full fruition with my own eyes does not matter. God is raising up youth to be passionate worshipers who pray and give their lives to see Him worshiped all over the world in this hour, and I thank God He is calling those hidden in the streets of Africa as well as the suburbs of America. There is no difference; we are the generation before His return. He finds us, picks us from selfishness, dust and ashes, gives us Life and finally a reason to live, no longer for our own gain, but for the Only One Worthy of our everything.

Are you truly living?

Taking Back the Nights

2011-11-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for your prayers.

We travelled 2 days up to Northern Kenya and arrived at Garissa, the last stop before Dadaab. As soon as we entered the city, it was easy to sense the tension of terrorism and heavy oppression of Islam. We stayed the night in a government compound while 3 of our leaders from the States, Holland, and western Kenya went ahead of us to Dadaab.

We were told that 6 days earlier in Garissa a church was bombed. We had to keep low cover and not leave the compound because of the threat it would create for our local connections. We decided to stay up all night and pray. Because of the situation we were not able to be outside or make much noise, so we all crammed into a little room and warred through the night with our prayers. Even as we pressed through the late hours, it was clear to me that this was our assignment in Garissa; to be in one of the hardest places in the world and agreeing with Jesus while we were there, inviting Him to be in Garissa.

Our leaders returned the next day from Dadaab with hard news, our presence would be too great a risk for the local church at this time. The day before a police car was bombed in Dadaab, and the tension was high. One Somali pastor from Dadaab came back with them to speak to us. He explained to us the need of the gospel in Dadaab and the lack of it. Out of 450,000 people, he only knew of 30 believers in Dadaab and 2 underground churches. He had suffered much already with attacks on his family and the constant threat of death for the gospel. It was sobering to meet one of the great unknown faces who daily puts his life on the line for the sake of Jesus. We prayed for him and he for us. I believe this was another part of our assignment, to encourage this pastor, to let him see that there is a global church who is behind him in his daily struggle, that we would even risk our lives to join him, that he could encourage the underground church knowing they are not alone.

We left on the third day. After we left, we were told another 11 people were killed in Garissa by Al-Shabab. I wondered why the Lord let us get so close to Dadaab and not go in. Even just our presence in Garrisa and 2 night prayer meetings, was more than I realized. I remember being in that sweaty, mosquito filled room all night with a group of reckless 20something year olds from America, China, Netherlands, leaders who flew in from around the world.. all in this little room in Garrisa. In those precious hours, we were possibly the only people in the world in this area, inviting Jesus and beckoning Him to do something there.. shooting our prayers like arrows and knowing that they will not fall to the ground unanswered. Praise God that our little prayer meetings move His Heart and open doors that no human can. That is reason enough for me.

This week I am taking a team of 8 to Mombasa to minister. Our goal is to raise up Kenyan youth to do missions from Kitale even to dark places such as Mombasa. To evangelize to the Muslims, to minister to the street youth, and to encourage the local church.

Please join us in prayer for this purpose. Thank you.

Dadaab

2011-11-16T11:50:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning our team is leaving for Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world. And as the UN calls it, the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world right now.
Because of this, we believe it is most likely the hardest and darkest place on the earth, filled with half a million Somalian refugees, Muslim extremists, and Al-Shabab, a terrorist group. The UN has closed the doors of Dadaab to all foreigners, but the Lord has miraculously opened a 3 day window for our team.
We are going in under the cover of humanitarian aid, with the plan of prayer, and the ambition of preaching the gospel. We all well understand the risk of this trip and fully accept it. Jesus has never asked us to do something He Himself has not done. He is in Dadaab already, what a joy to meet Him there. To meet Him in His pain for the starvation, to meet Him in His tears for the damned, to meet Him on the streets as we walk them. It is my joy and honor to go where the gospel is not preached for Him and with Him.
Please pray for safety, unity, power of miracles, and power to preach the gospel.
Will update after we get back in a week.
God bless,
Thank you for joining us in this,

Kitale

2011-10-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

The ACTS team from IHOP is almost finishing our first month in western Kenya. From the very beginning of meeting the YouthApart team here in Kitale, it was apparent to us that truly we are on God’s mission not our own.

We boarded a 12 hour bus to head up north to a desert area called Turkana. This land has been plagued with drought and is home mostly to the nomadic Turkana people. And low and behold in the middle of this wasteland, a refugee camp. Thousands from Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the Congo congregate into this most unlikely place of refuge.

We met one family in the nicer area of the camp (500 USD for a little more elbow room, yet most people/ refugees could never afford this). This Congolese family gave us a little insight into the tragedy of being uprooted from your country, from being community leaders to joining the countless numbers in line for food from the UN in a place where no one knows you. They told us about camp life, the small food rations, the violence, the disease, and the ever present hopelessness.

Like many refugee camps, there is no end in sight, to downsize the camp or work towards re-entrance into society. The small city of Kakuma needs the camp to survive, as well as the many that need the UN jobs to provide for their families. In fact, the camp is growing with the continuing flow of Somalis being shipped from the eastern camp in Dadaab. As they come in, they bring in dangerous connections with radical Islamists and Al-Shabab. This force has been felt by the people of Kakuma as Islam sets root, and even in the camp as many kids are being recruited to Madrasas. The camp has also created strife with the local Turkanas, as the UN trucks drive past the Turkana villages full of people dying from the drought to deliver food only to foreigners. The Turkanas have renamed themselves The Forgotten People.

What good could come from such a mess like this?

Within a week after travelling back to Kitale, Gadhafi was shot leaving more confusion for Lybia, and northern African countries remain in turmoil. Al-Shabab, the radical Islamic terrorist sect from Somalia has been kidnapping westerners in coastal areas of Kenya and threatening to openly start attacking Kenya. Yesterday, 2 bombs went off in Nairobi. Obama has declared to support Kenya in their reaction to the insurgence of these terrorists. But they are coming into Kenya crossing from Somalia into north eastern Kenya., unquestioned, arriving in Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world with half a million people. Al-Shabab uses this camp as their access point, fueling up on UN supplies as they pose as refugees and go on with their business.

We truly are here at a specific point in history. This is no game. What is God asking of our team? What is God asking of Mombasa, a coastal Islamic stronghold in Kenya where the attacks are being focused more and more? What is He asking of us and our friends as we are in Kitale? As the world rages, and terrorist groups go on with their plans, so do we.

We spend every morning in a little room: our team, church leaders, youth, piano, guitar, and bongo. It doesn’t sound like much, and truly it’s not, to the human eye. But to God this small room is the birthing place of national and international response to crisis. While the world looks to the UN, to a new government, the economy for answers, we look to One Man (Mt 16.15). The One who delivers justice for the refugee (Isa 42:13-16), who responds to oppression (Isa 61.1), who gives water to the dying (Jn 4.10), who loves Somalis, Libyans, Kenyans (Mt 11.28-30), who has the only unyielding plan for the nations in this hour (Rev 5.4-5).

Every day the reality becomes more apparent. The world shakes and does not know which direction to turn for relief, but we do not fear because we know the only prescription for the hour (Joel 2.12-17). God has been stirring our hearts in our small prayer meetings, asking us and our fellow Kenyans, would we be willing to respond with Him in this hour? Would we care for the nations? Could Kenya rise up as a nation of light to Somalia to Northern Africa? What would happen if the youth of Kenya gave themselves to God fully, regarding not their lives, but caring more for their brothers and sisters who do not know the only Giver of Life, the only Man of Peace.

We believe God is birthing a missions movement from our little prayers that will change Kenya and the continent. Will you join us in prayer?

We are praying about going to Dadaab. Last Sunday as we were leading a church service, a deadly dispute broke out 20ft. away, and as bullets were whizzing in the air just outside, it was posed on some of our hearts, are we willing to give our lives for the Truth to go forth? Is it worth my life? Was it worth His life? (Jn 19.28).

Headed Back Home..

2011-09-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

In one week I will be heading to Kenya on a team from the International House of Prayer (IHOP) with the focus of establishing a house of prayer in Western Kenya, Kitali.
I sit here astonished about this. I remember just months ago, Brian, Whitney, Issa, Mama Stano, and others sitting in our prayer room asking the Lord to give us breakthrough if He wanted a house of prayer that would contend with the loud house of Islam, witchcraft, tourism, drugs, etc. in Mombasa. Before I knew it Whit and I were on a plane taking Mario and Stano on a full scholarship to a Bible School in NZ. By the hand of the Lord we were connected to IHOP and I found myself here in Kansas City with an amazing group of young adults filled with desire to see the name of Jesus worshiped in the darkest places of the world.

There are two massive worship movements that are beginning to emerge across the earth.

"To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time when you hear the sound of.. music.. you shall fall down and worship the gold image.." Dan 3.

And slowly the music is beginning to play. The music of compromise, the music of pluralism, the music of confusion, the blurring of the lines, the dulling of the soul. We can see it all around us in the growing popular acceptance of tolerance for all things. In the church as many do not have a clear definition of who Jesus is compared to Muhammad. As many youth are Christian by name, but in love with the world, captivated by materialism and self-absorption. It may seem gray and normal, but as this music begins to sound many are turning to it, or better, away from the One who is to be worshiped. If our hearts are not locked on Jesus, what are they locked on? That is what we worship.

Praise the Lord that there are those who are willing to awaken from this sleepy state and make a decision about being swept by the tide or standing on firm ground. Young people who are willing to be counter-cultural and not live for the American Dream, for self-fulfillment, for success, for getting on top.. young people who would choose not to indulge in a culture of indulgence, who would fast and pray. Who would believe the Bible in its wholeness (Gen 2.4), and trust a God who says prayer is the answer to injustice (Lk 18:7-8), living not for self but for Him to died for our sakes (2 Cor 5.13-15), living HOLY (Mt 5-7). While majority accept what the media tells us about ourselves and our world, who follow the culture without question, a minority who will read their Bibles and give their lives for love's sake following the example of Him.

Who is He? Why is He worthy to be worshiped in America? In the Muslim World? Why is He worthy to be worshiped in Mombasa?

He is the One who sets us free from self-absorption, free from ourselves.. free to be who we were born to be.. those who worship God. He is Jesus, the Son of God, who has a heart full of desire for YOU. Desiring you unto His death, desiring you to die from the blurred lines of nothingness to enter into clarity and LIFE with Him who is Life (Jn 1).

Our 10 person team is taking off to Kitali Kenya Oct.2 for 3 months focused on establishing a house of prayer, a 24/7 place of worship to Him. We desire to see Jesus worshiped in Kitali because He is worthy.

I believe God is raising up the youth of Kenya to be counter-cultural, loving not their lives unto death, and loving Him and worshiping Him no matter the cost.

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king:
We have no need to answer you in this matter... Our God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.. but if not, LET IT BE KNOWN to you, O King, that we do not worship the gold image with you have set up." Dan 3

Jesus is looking for a couple of crazy guys.. crazy enough to stand up against the kings of our day, the kings of compromise, loss of innocence, tolerance, dullness of love.. and to choose life, to choose love, to walk the narrow road. I believe these crazy ones are in the streets in Kenya. In the villages in Mombasa. I believe He wants to raise up the Rapha family to cultivate hearts of love for Him and go to the darkness of Mombasa and say He is worthy. To go to the boarder of Somalia and save their dying brothers.. to go up to the chaos in northern Africa and spread Light in the dark.

I believe they were born to worship more than drugs, than false religions. I believe they were born to worship more than just themselves.

Pray with us. That God would raise up a youth movement that loves Him and gives their lives to worshiping Him through holy lifestyles, desiring true justice to arise in the nations around them. Youth who would pray, youth from the streets who would live recklessly for Jesus.

Only some months ago we lifted up our prayers from our little prayer room.. What will He do with our little prayers? (Mt 21.22)

God bless,

August Prayers

2011-08-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
It is August, which is the month off of school for our boarders, so more family is gathered together in the Rapha House! Issa is leading all of the boys and taking care of the house. He has decided to make a schedule for the month:
3-6am prayers
6-7 clean up
7-830 breakfast
830-930 bible study
930-11 intercession
11-1130 encouragement
1130-1230 rest
1230-2 lunch
2-3 clean up
3-5 beach football
5-6 skating
6-730 cleanup
730-8 prayer

And they are really doing it! He says that leading all the boys by himself is teaching him so many things, especially maturity in the way he lives out the Bible.
I am very excited for what the Lord is doing in these ones, and what He is beginning to unfold for Mombasa as we make plans for a day and night house of prayer for the city.
Please continue to pray for the Rapha boys as they spend the month together. That Issa would grow as a leader, that the others would grow in the Lord, that all of their love would abound.
Please also pray for the famine in Somalia that is sending refugees south into Kenya and for the people affected also in Kenya.
Thank you for your prayers,
God Bless,
Carly

Prayer Room Beginnings

2011-07-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

Hello :) My name is Brian. Many of you reading this have
probably never met me. I am 20 years old and I am from Gaylord MI, the small
town that the Rapha Boys believe to be famous. :P

God spoke to me in early 2010 about going to Kenya. After
much prayer and a little emailing, I found myself on plane headed for Mombasa
(Nov 28th). I didn’t know a whole lot more than that I was supposed to lead
worship at a house of prayer, and that I would be living with a bunch of
people. It sounded like a perfect adventure!

THE HOUSE OF PRAYER

One of the first steps for starting the HOP was to buy some
music equipment. So we did! Then we had to find a place (land/building) to
house it. We wound using a room, about 25‘X25’, located in the Star of David
Christian School. This was the same room that our church had been meeting in on
Sundays.

The month of April had just started and I had already met a
few guys at the school who loved playing guitar and leading worship songs.
Carly and Whitney had been coaching a girls volleyball team at this small
school so everyone there knew us. We really wanted the Youth to be apart of the
HOP so we called a meeting for all who were interested.

Someone recently shared this quote with me.. “You can tell
how popular a Church is by how many people come on Sunday morning. You can tell
how popular a Pastor is by how many people come on Sunday night. But, You can
tell how popular Jesus is by how many people come to the Prayer meeting.”

I was in the Rapha House for 4 months before we started the
HOP in a public way. During this time, I learned about many things, but the
biggest and most important one was Prayer. Nothing real will happen without it,
no matter how awesome we are or how gifted we are at ministry. God already
knows our needs.. but He wants constant connection with us. After all, this is
all about Him. :)

Jesus Prayed the words “let Your Will be done, on Earth as
it is in Heaven.” Sadly, God’s perfect Will is Not being done in the majority
of the World around us. Sin is rampant and most People, who were made by God
with Love, are living their lives ignorant to the truth that Jesus Christ is
the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So, they are on their way to eternal
destruction. There is a constant spiritual battle being fought for the souls of
men and women. It is War. Our physical efforts can do nothing to free a city
from its invisible chains that hold it in bondage.

We fight on our knees.

“If 2 or more of you agree down here on Earth concerning
anything you ask, my Father in Heaven will do it for You.” Matt18:19

“If you Believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in
Prayer.” Matt 21:22

In Mombasa and across the world, the main focus of our
prayers is that the Church would be Real and Alive in Christ and that the Lost
would be Saved. This may seem simple, but it is Everything! We are the Body of
Christ. If over half of the Body is asleep, it will not be nearly as effective
as it should be, and if the Church is not reflecting Christ as it should, what
light are the Lost supposed to follow?

So for 1 month, we prayed and worshiped daily with about
12-25 teens, watching them grow in their understanding and love for God and His
word. It is so awesome to have been apart of something that is going to
continue on and happen in a much larger way.

There is hope for the city of Mombasa, and it is only in
Jesus Christ. God is faithful to His Word, so when He said that He’ll do
whatever we agree on and Ask for, He’ll do it! :)

Also, let’s recognize the need for a change in our own
cities and church bodies, no matter where we live. Don’t dwindle, don’t sleep,
don’t be lukewarm.. Jesus is coming!

Amen :)

Brian Alexander

Answered.

2011-05-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. God has been moving to answer the prayers of His people and preparing for something very special in this vital corner of our world.

Why vital? As we have continued to intercede for the city of Mombasa, the seriousness of our task grows before us.

In light of Osama bin Laden’s death, there has been much talk about Al Qaeda and other terrorists groups from Somalia strengthening their recruitments here in Mombasa. This city being 80% Muslim with close to no sympathy for anything more than tourism and harmless Christian sentiment groups. Inside the walls of the local Church, there is much division and prosperity propaganda misleading many. Many pastors and leaders who have been holding the line for decades are tired and at times discouraged if anything good can come from this city. Many missionaries come and eventually leave this city because of the extreme heat, pressure of being white, witchcraft, discouragement. Thus, the lawlessness and corruption go virtually unchecked from the small kiosks up into the local municipal. It is more common to accept a bribe in court than to not, even in our small compound, we have had explain over and over why we will not accept stolen water our land lord tries to put into our tank. The rule of thumb is lawlessness with the lights off and with the lights on. It is enough to make you dizzy and enough to make most give up.

“I sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you.” Jesus.. John 17.17-19

We are called to complete consecration to the Lord. And when He puts a task infront of us, we will pursue it with complete dedication, just as He Himself is dedicated to it.

For the last 4 years we have worked specifically with the street community, and 3 years living together with them. One year ago God revealed that the work we were to do in this city was not just for the street community, but to fight against the source of street life, the source that holds this city in chains.. a task that can only be accomplished through desperate prayer day and night (Lk 18.7).

For the last year we have given this word back to the Lord to show us how to move forward with it. Mostly we focused on praying for the land to be released for a day/night house of prayer, and local recreation centre for youth. We continued to move forward with local youth and prayers. In april we did a trial attempt at a house of prayer in Mombasa. Brian led the worship team of local youth and Issa and I led the prayers. It was wonderful to see the reaction of the youth from rich families, youth from the streets, and from poor families! It spoke so loudly to us that this has God’s favour over it. The other thing we realized so much is that we need a team of trained singers and musicians for this to actually work.

By a God ordained string of events,I recently came into contact with leaders of the global prayer movement and was invited to join a program that trains people to start houses of prayer around the world. After the program, they will send a team of musicians with me to start a house of prayer in Mombasa. What we were needing, land and a team, but still God’s answer surprised me.. A trained, dedicated team, a strong foundation, international connections to the prayer movement, taking this house of prayer to level that I would not have fathomed.

I was expecting God to answer first with land.. but He answered first with a team, which makes sense. It is more of an answer to prayer than we were expecting, to the extent that at first we believed it was not an answer at all and rejected it! But after months of prayer, truly the wisdom of God has allowed us to see. What seems in a way risky, leaving the family here at such a young stage, it will actually strengthen and prepare them for what will be done here through them.

The family here will continue to go on with school, ministry, and intercession. They are surrounded by local leaders and moms and dads who love them. God has made a way for this to work and in a way that will benefit the maturity and strengths of the youths who are ready to begin leading.

What I have learned again is.. the path with Abba is not simple, is not without risk, is not without pain, is not without holding my breath at times (now) that His way is right even when it seems impossible and dangerous. Bless God, He is so high above us! I will trust Him no matter the cost, no matter how much it goes against what I thought. I want to stay close to Him and trust that He will take care of all the rest.

I believe this is an answer to our prayers in ways we do not yet know. I believe even more now than before that this city is vital to His Plans. As corruption and lawlessness grow and terror is coming from every side, and many faint from exhaustion, the answer is on the horizon.

Praise God for doing what we never expect and keeping us desperate for His Leadership. Truly we need your prayers.. please continue to bare the torch with us for this city and the Rapha House of Prayer.

Capernwray

2011-03-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord Mario and Stanley got their passports and visas right on time. After working on them for over 8 months, it was a complete miracle that they came in and both boys were able to go to Capernwray Bible School in New Zealand only a few weeks late! Carly and I prayed and decided that we should take them through the international airports and into this different culture. We couldn’t disagree with God and we didn’t mind this “job” either!

We waited in the airport with excitement and when we boarded the plane we were praising the Lord for the many many miracles that He has done unto our lives. The journey was fun with Mario and Stano, but the best was when we walked off the plane to find Jen and Jesse Hein standing their waiting for us with open arms! When we made it to the school all the students welcomed the boys and they fit in right away. Their reactions were to the cold weather and the different food, but mostly overjoyed about their new friends and new home.

Carly and I knew there was more in store than just dropping off the boys and seeing our friends. We were able to share with the students and many have such passion and desire for the Lord, it was so encouraging. Carly talked the first night and the Holy Spirit stirred up a passion within the girls at the school. For the next few days the girls were so interested to learn more about God and couldn’t wait to find out more about Him. At the end of the first week, I was able to give my testimony and the Holy Spirit was totally speaking through me and in the room more than I had ever felt before. The power of the Lord was so strong and speaking to many students...and even to me. The healing power is usually something that is over looked, but I was able to share with the school how the Lord healed me in every way possible and how the same God who healed me could and would heal anything they were dealing with in their lives too! The Lord healed and delivered many people that night-physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and relationally.

I am fully confident that the Lord is working through the school, the students, and the staff. We are so excited for what the Lord will do there thru the staff and the hungry. It will change Mario and Stanley in a massive way as they encounter God in that new place. We can’t stop praising His name for how He is always present with us no matter where we are and no matter how weak or tongue tied we can be (me!).

We loved the days that we were able to spend there with everyone. Mario and Stano are on their own adventure now. As we are back in Mombasa, within the first couple of days we have been in the police station and court house for our other family members still in the streets. Some are dealing with court cases and jail time. Who could have ever imagined where Mario and Stano came from and where God is taking them to. It makes me want to cry when I think about it.

God IS changing this city, He is changing us, the Rapha family.. Mario and Stano will never be the same.

Pray for them. God bless,

Whitney

What does God do when we draw near to Him?

2011-03-07T01:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your prayers! It has taken me time to write because I have been watching the Lord responding to our prayers after our time of fasting.

Everything that we were fasting for has been answered… and more.

One of our biggest prayers as we started the fast was that God would open the doors for Mario and Stano to get IDs, passorts, and visas to actually go to the school they were given a full scholarship to study at. Before the fast, we had hit a wall for 6 months about this issue no matter how hard we tried, it just wasn’t changing! The first day of our fast Mario got his ID. Within the course of the fast, the passports were released, and at the end of the fast.. the visas were released! Today Mario and Stano sat in at their first lecture at Capernwray Bible School, New Zealand. Amen. Who could have ever imagined these two from the streets and poverty would ever do this? All things are possible with my God, and this is just the beginning.

What did satan try to do?

Half way through the fast, Whit and I were mugged for the first time by a guy with a panga/machete, but the Lord protected us from any real harm. And the day after all 7 of the boys were coming from the ferry into a big crowd to get a matatu to come home, and some thugs decided to start a street fight to steal from unexpected people.. so they came after John and all the boys were suddenly in the middle of a street fight. All boys came out without throwing punches and mostly unhurt. That is a huge miracle and we were more encouraged that God is for us... who can be against us!

The second big prayer we were fasting about has been the release of the land. The Lord has specifically spoken through dreams, visions, and other confirmations about where the Rapha House of Prayer will be located in Mombasa. Yes, we have the house we live in, but we know the time has come where we open a 24/7 house of prayer open to all. Here the boys will live and continue to disciple other boys. Our current house will be open for discipling girls. Yay! We have put our sweat (so much.. this place is so hot!!) and tears into praying about the location and how it happens because we want the foundation to be prayer and trusting God. Many of you have been praying also, it is because of you these things have happened! As the fast continued, we were so jacked praying about this. Finally a day came, where we felt a release, praise be to God. The release of prayer that has prevailed! Amen!! We knew that day, there was no more need to ask for God to release the location, it was spiritually released. All that was left was to thank God for the land, and to pray that the timing would be soon, and that the owner of the land would be saved as he gives us the land. The last word we had heard from the owner was that the land was not for sale.. but God never let it come off of our hearts so we knew if it was God, than we had to believe and pray that He would change David’s heart (the owner). On the 29^th day of our 30 day fast, Whit and I decided to get some tea at the place close to our house, which happened to be the hotel owned by David. We had never actually seen him at the hotel, he is a very busy man. As we had our tea, David walked in. We knew this was an appointment God had planned. He walked up to us, sat down and started to talk to us. He asked if we had any luck finding a place, we answered, and he thought for a minute and pointed to a few tables of business men that were waiting to have business meetings with him, he told us to wait because he wanted to talk to us. After a while, he came back and said he really wants to help us with this house of prayer thing, and we should call him about the land. Amen! This is one of the biggest business men in Mombasa, who had previously told us no, who is too busy with big money and big business to talk to some weird missionary girls, but God has chosen him and his land to bless this city.. and God can change the heart of ANY man. We are still to talk to him, but we are sure God has gone ahead of us and we continue to pray for David’s salvation and for us to have the land soon!

Other bonuses from the fast… We felt the Lord lead us to take Enock back to school! He came off the streets 2 weeks ago and is happily attending a boarding school and doing well. We felt the Lord lead us to take Alan off the streets. He started school today. He is living with one of his classmates, who has a very wonderful Christian family.. Alan is finally coming back to the right track. Praise God. We also decided to take Mama Zaura’s grandson, Brian to school; he is like our beloved Rapha baby. Issa is taking him to school this week! We started a 24/7 prayer chain that was international, national, and local. The local Rapha family began a night watch prayer chain. We all took different night hours before the Lord who does not stop watching! This has completely changed some of our lives. Everyone in the house has had some type of a spiritual awakening or deepening. There has been a spiritual breakthrough in our house of brotherly and sisterly love and unity. We have been connected to the local church of Mombasa on a whole new level. The Lord has opened new doors for us to work with street youth and even other youth in the city. Each missionary has begun to disciple some local youths weekly. The vision for the house of prayer has grown to a whole new level! On the 30^th day of the fast, we became aware of the massiveness of this house of prayer/prayer movement that the Lord is doing all over the earth! We were totally humbled that we are apart of a move the Lord is doing in every corner of the world.. and we were honored that He would let us be apart of His Movement as He prepares His bride to be mature (Rev 19.7). We are filled with more fire and passion for the Lord! And for His plan for the Rapha House of Prayer, and for His heart over this city, Mombasa, the youth of this city, the church of this city.. We sense His move over the churches, the praying church, the hungry youth… praise God that when God endorses something, when God wants to do something.. He does it.

Thank you for your prayers, again. We will update more regularly. Please continue to pray for:

Mario and Stano as they attend classes.. that they would be radically changed and hearts/minds expanded for the Lord. For Jesse and Jen Hein as they mentor the 2, and lead the students to deeper intimacy with the Lord.
Issa and Brian as they grow as missionaries at the Rapha House of Prayer. That their hearts are broken for the lost as Christ’s heart. That they become anointed in the ministry they do.
For John, Enock, Musa, Chris, Gip, Felix, Mesh, and Alan as they continue with school.. it is a struggle for many as they make that transition off the streets.
For Carly and Whit to stay so close to the Holy Spirit and become more conscious of the power of God that is in us (Christ in Us.. the hope of glory).
For Mombasa. That as we pray, God would move MIGHTILY on this city.. that the youth would rise to the occasion, and the lost would be saved.

And by the way..

What did we learn from our fast?

That fasting and prayer moves God’s heart and moves our hearts and we should do it more and more!!!

The JOY of the Lord is our strength!

2011-01-27T02:36:00.000-08:00

Jesus has freely given us so much, what are we willing to give Him? As a family, we have all come to an agreement that we need to give God our comforts, our strengths, our everything; so we’ve decided to fast from some worldly pleasure for the next 30 days. We have all been learning about fasting through books, Scriptures in the Bible, dreams, and firsthand experience. When we are not filling our bodies full of worldly pleasures, we become weak infront of God and He is able to fill us with His Spirit and perfect our weaknesses into strengths. Wow, we serve an awesome God. When we are willing to give up a pleasure of this world for Him, then He is able to speak clearly to us, allow us to fully rely on Him, let us fall deeper in love with our Saviour and even release miracles; all because His people are willing to say ‘yes’ to Him. (Just an example) During the first 24 hours of our fast, God revealed a few miracles to us and one of them was that Mario’s I.D. card was waiting for him in Western Kenya! This meant that he is one step closer to getting his passport, so he’ll be able to study at the Bible school in New Zeeland. Now we are praying that his passport will come in fast and so will Stanley and Mario’s visas. We need a miracle, as their school starts January 31!

Fasting not only means giving up a pleasure, but also spending time with God to hear His voice. We have set up a 24 hour prayer chain for the prayer requests that we know God is going to answer. We want to press in so much to always be following His will and listening to His voice. God is awaking my soul and I am feeling so free in His name because of this laying down my time and my ‘strengths.’ Even while giving something up for 30 days doesn’t sound the best, I have never felt better. I love having no other strength in my body except Christ’s power in me! I am learning to completely rely on Him. God is speaking to us corporately and moving through all of our lives. We know that God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:38), so we know that He is having favour on us now. Please pray that we would continue to learn new lessons, hear His voice clearly, receive the passport and the visas and even get the land for the house of Prayer. We are seeking God’s voice in the direction we need to take for the next step. WE KNOW SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN!!

Thank you for joining us in prayer and all the support you are giving the RHOP. We are praying for all of you during this time. We really appreciate you.

-Whitney

Meshaq

2011-01-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

Jesus, Blessed be Your Name. You who are ALWAYS PATIENT, always kind, always willing to change Your mind! Jonah 4.2

Please help me learn the story of Meshaq.

So long ago we told Meshaq that we would take him and Felix to school. I felt the open door to let Felix live with us. But Meshaq not yet. When we moved houses, Meshaq was scared we would forget our promise. He would call my phone everyday just out of fear that we were gone. Months past and nothing happened for Meshaq. Felix started school and was living with us, becoming one of the family, getting all the blessings, but Meshaq was still in the streets.

He continued to survive in the streets. Time for schools had already started and I’m sure Meshaq had been sitting in town completely depressed that we never came for him. We promised him something and so much time had passed and no sign of it. Now schools had started and no one had come for him, another year wasting away in the streets.

Little did he know.. we had never forgotten about him. Actually I had been thinking about him every day , waiting for the Lord’s timing and knowing that it had just not come yet.

But the day finally came and I asked Issa to go tell Meshaq. Issa found him in town and told him, ‘Wash, put on clean clothes because TODAY you will go to school!’

Arise and Shine! For the Glory of the Lord is upon you, child. Can you just imagine, if we as sinful as we want to give good gifts to our children, how much more does our Father in Heaven want to give the greatest gifts to us (Mt 7.11)!

As I thought about the story of Meshaq I began to cry. I am Meshaq. How my Father looks at me, how He hears all my cries, how He knows I am waiting every day. How ready is He to answer! He thinks about me every day, He knows He will do what He has promised here in Mombasa, He is just waiting for the right moment. As we wait, pray, and fast He is calling His angels to come and see! To see some kids who don’t know so much but are willing to wait on Him, to become weak before Him, to not move until He moves. He has not forgotten, He is shaping us, He is calling us up to the mountain, and that is where we are going.

So Meshaq is now in school together with Gipson, Felix (for those of you who don’t know, they are in the main pic.. first and second from the right), and Christopher. Musa just went back to school (Grade 1) and Mama Musa, Werda, and Adamu are so proud of their boy. John just started his toughest year in classes. Enock is going to go to school hopefully next week. Even little Brian is going to start next week! And we are still praying about Mario and Stanley’s Ids, passports, and visas to come in so they can attend classes when the school starts in New Zealand.

Please join us in prayer for these youth who have decided to be different, to go for God and for a future that they have to work hard for.

Please also pray that the Lord will answer with haste with the place for us to begin the house of prayer.

Jesus is the Reason

2011-01-03T01:21:00.000-08:00

December has been a very full month, but one of the most special months for us all. The month started off with some boys (Christopher, Gipson, Felix and Musa) who are at boarding school coming back for the holiday month. Our house was filled with so much excitement, happiness and the craziness that little boys bring with them! We were able to go to the beach. Long boards and rollerblades had been donated to us, and it was all the hype of the house to practice day and night.

December 23- We had ‘Eve’s Eve Evening’ which is basically a Christmas Eve service that we’ve grown up with back home. This time was a great time together, time to learn songs, eat great food, love our neighbours and be able to give instead of only receiving. Everyone practiced music everyday the week of the party and at night time we would practice all together to see how the piano, guitar and voices all sounded. It felt like I was living in an old time Christmas movie in how everyone would stand behind the piano and look at the book to learn the words...you could say priceless!

December 24- We had a bag making party where the younger boys were making little favor gifts for our friends who we were going to see the next day. We all went to the cinema and watched NARNIA together which was the first time to a movie cinema for the boys. They loved it.. and we went for pizza afterwards to continue the fun memories we made together on Christmas break. Personal pan pizzas all to ourselves, we were livin’ the life and then life got a little better...

December 25- We woke up and there was snow outside!!! Haha, not possible, but we did decorate our house for Christmas and it made me tear up because it looked so great. We invited 30 of our closest friends (families and friends from the streets) to come spend the day with us at a beach hotel. Words cannot describe how special it was to be reunited again. I remember seeing all the boys laughing in the pool together and when Mario came in the afternoon Enock, Allan, Farah and Mohammed were so excited to see him! Smiles filled the faces of the older boys and also the families that were able to come, like Musa’s family, Mama Zaura and her family, and all of Stanley’s family. It was good for me to see the boys who are out from the Rapha house because it was my first time to see some of them, but also very hard because I saw the effects of how they are choosing to live their lives now back in the streets. Some are so blinded with the sin that they are living in, but others seem like they are struggling and that they are missing something from their lives... and they are, they are missing THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE that Jesus freely gives us. We know how to be praying for each one specifically and we ask that you would join us in continuing to pray for all of them as they all need their eyes to be opened and to truly see The Light. Specifically, Enock, Farah, Allan, Mohamed, Nancy and baby John.

December 31- God gave us favour to be blessed by a local hotel manager to take the boys and youth out for a once in a life time opportunity. We got to eat the ‘best dinner of our lives’ (that’s what we are calling it because it was!) and as much as we wanted! After dinner we were able to sit around and watch Kennedy’s acrobatic team and then fireworks! Next year we hope they do not put the camels so close to the fire work show. So, minus the animal cruelty we would say this has been THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS YET!!

Last night, when we were all thanking eachother and God for the great month, Carly said, ‘After spending 3 Christmas’ in Kenya, this has by far been my favorite!’ However, we are more excited for next year because the House of Prayer will be built and we will be able to bring so many youth who would be out in darkness on this holiday into the Real Light and changing the city together.

-Whitney

Covenant

2010-12-16T02:27:00.000-08:00

When we moved into the new house, we decided it was time to renew our vision for being here in Mombasa. To write down our promise to God and to each other of how we will be as we live day to day. Each Sunday we come together and read this promise out loud and pray that God would use us to live in such a way. This is our covenant:

We were made for loving God. We reach for this as our high aim in life.

We stand for Truth and tell no lies.

We stand for purity and have no secret sin.

We desire to bless others and refuse to gossip.

We forgive as our Father has forgiven us. And harbour no bitterness or grudges.

We are set apart for holiness and will not partake in the drunkenness and evil corruption all around us.

We believe we were born for greatness so we will greatly reach to know our Creator through the lifestyle of prayer, Bible study, holy fellowship, and fasting.

We live to please God not man.

We are light in this dark city and we commit to doing everything we can that this city would be a place where the lost are saved.

We are a voice crying in the wilderness ‘Repent! Make straight the way of the Lord!’

Come Lord Jesus Come! Amen

What is more beautiful than God’s people living together in harmony? If we can be set apart and allow our bodies to be used for holy purposes and have no other agendas or secret sin, think what God could do to our city.. What He could do to yours.

This is the call of the Christian. We are called to unity, this was the one thing on Jesus’ mind when He prayed for us (John 17). Unified with our family, unified with our church.. and the churches of the city, living in unity. This Christmas, let us be the Church.. loving each church body, becoming one Body in our cities that burns brightly. Like a large fire that needs no advertisement to bring people to it, a fire is its own advertisement. Love and Unity as the praying Church. I Cor 4:1-5.

We might be a small little group here in this city. But this is our covenant as we live in Mombasa, and we are expecting to see miracles as the light becomes brighter and brighter. This is our prayer for your city as well.

Merry Christmas

sorry it's taken so long!

2010-12-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hey this is Whitney! So the time has flown by and I am sorry that we haven’t updated in a while. There isn’t much to send an update on, but at the same time, there is so much to give God praise for! I have been here for 2 months and miracles have already been happening (all because God hears all the prayers that you say...thank you!).

1. I arrived safely and I’m with my Kenyan family.

2. We moved into a great house the day I arrived...huge blessing. This all happened one day after the family was supposed to have moved out of the house and with no place to go. Jesus is so good and opened up the doors at the perfect time.

3. We are in the area of the land that God has promised to give us!!

4. Carly and I talked to the owner of the land and the Lord was with us the whole time. We are praying for David everyday- for the Lord to be speaking to him and for him to hear God clearly.

5. We all took a trip to different areas of Nairobi and had a great week (and a great American Thanksgiving).

6. Brian Alexander, from Gaylord, MI, arrived. He is a worship leader, with a heart of gold, he is on fire for Christ, and excited about getting Mombasa passionate for Jesus!

7. Brian, John and Issa are going to Nairobi tomorrow to get the rest of the musical equipment.

8. We have another building to go to and practice our worship and start the preparations for the house of prayer.

We are waiting on the Lord to give us the ‘promised land.’ We would love if you would join along side of us in prayer for the things that are going on. We don’t take your prayers for granted; we appreciate them all so much. We are praying for all of you too, even if we don’t know all of you.

We love you all and hope you have a great December. We will try to make our blog updates more frequent.

-Whitney

We have moved!!!!

2010-10-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

First of all thank you for your prayers.
We moved into a new house and I know it is completely from the Lord.
It is right across from the land that God gave me a dream about to build a house of prayer. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I see is the land right across the street.

This is how we got here:

The last 2 weeks before the big move, we declared 2 weeks of victory. Because of this, I can honestly say that it was a condensed version of the last 2 years. It was a heightened time of struggle, attack inside and outside the house, things that I cannot even believe happened did happen. Things that only God saw us go through and that is ok. The house was completely shaken and all darkness was brought to the light and many changes occurred in such a short time. Also Satan sent large attacks to bring us out of victory, to steal our joy. BUT HE COULD NOT. We experienced 2 weeks of heightened joy and laughter. We laughed and had more fun than I can believe amidst all these trials and knowing that we didn’t know where we would move. God truly walked us through those 2 weeks.

Then the 15^th came. Our last day in the Rapha House, we woke up early in the morning and had a great last breakfast. We praised God that He was taking us somewhere new. Afterwards we began packing and cleaning and moving. We invited all our old workers and some friends to come and be blessed because we believed God wanted us to give many things away. We gave so much stuff away, the day was filled with joy and everyone was blessed with beds, mattresses, furniture, and so many things people have donated to the house. My favourite part was watching Mama Zaura take 3 trips to her house with beds and what not! Also for those of you who know Clinton, how excited he was about his new medical gloves, traffic cones, and a Dave Ramseys Financial Planner.

Our friends kept asking us when we would leave, I would just say, after we finish packing we will go (still not knowing where we were going and still refusing to make up a backup plan). It started to get later, all of our friends went home. We put our remaining things all in the old prayer room and sat down in a small circle. Only 6 of us made it to this moment. We decided to just start praising God and thanking Him because His answer even if we didn’t see it yet.

It got dark outside and we all got hungry, so we decided just to get some dinner. Afterwards it was so late all we could do was take down some mattresses and sleep yet another night in our old house. I was confused why He didn’t send a miracle to take us out of that house, but the boys strongly insisted not to doubt.. only to praise God.. we all agreed this was right.

The next morning I had to pick my sis from the airport. I went with Issa and told the others that when we came home we would bring a moving van.. still not knowing. It was such a blessing to be reunited to our sister Whitney.. she laughed when we told her we still didn’t know where we were going.. it was fun cause everyone believe He would provide, so we were all calm and joyful.

When we got back to the house the painters had already started. I went into my old room and asked God what to do. I remembered earlier last week this person called me and told me he would look for a house for me.. without me even asking him. I called him
while the others were waiting and praising God in the old prayer room.. within
the hour of me calling him back, he moved us into this house which is across
the street from the land God gave me a dream about! We moved in within the hour, everything
happened so fast I couldn’t even wrap my mind around it. The apt. Is the
perfect size and everything. I know we are here because this is just
the first part of the answer to our prayer.. now it is time for the
house of prayer to take form.

He has really laid it on our hearts to not slow down.
To turn all our heart, mind, and strength to focus on the house of prayer.
Now that we have moved (still moving in) we are completely focused
and ready to move into this new season of raising up a house of prayer
that contends with all other houses in Mombasa.. to enlighten the
youth of this city and all the people who travel through it to know
the Truth, to see the Holy God who is no conterfeit !

Tell everyone! God is Faithful and True!

Now we are just waiting and rejoicing as He moves in even greater ways.
thank the lord with us!
and we say thank you so much for your prayers.. God Bless you.
Praise God He is Always Good.

2 WEEK VICTORY MARK

2010-10-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Family of God,

We have lived in this Rapha House for the last 2 years, and we are in our last 2 weeks until we leave it.

Before we leave this house, I know God is giving us 2 weeks to be victorious. We still do not know where we are going, and we are receiving so many spiritual and physical attacks from people around us. The pressure and attacks have intensified because God is about to do a miracle and satan hates that and is doing everything he can to thwart this purpose.

But.... he cannot.

Moses answered, Dont be afraid! Stand your ground and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today; you will never see these Egyptians again. The Lord will fight for you and there is no need for you to do anything. Ex 14

We will march out of this house in victory. And we will walk in this victory even 2 weeks before it happens. We will bless those who persecute us and we will thank God for these last 2 years. We will make these last 2 weeks more filled with joy and praise than all past.

What more can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? Ro. 8

Praise be to God! What He is about to do is wonderful.. there is no time to worry or to be faint hearted. He is about to do even greater things here in Mombasa. It is His good will to raise up many youth to be forerunners in these last days. This is just the beginning.

Victory belongs to the Lord. He will do what He will do, and we belong to Him.

Praise God for the Victory with us.

Amen.

2010-09-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

I have been watching God do something new in our midst. Taking away many of the familiarities we have known and the people who have walked alongside of us up until this point. God wanted to show everyone that He didn’t need all of Gideon’s army..

We also have become a small army, but there is a glory even in this. Now my prayer partners are the house help and the security guards and our prayer meetings are led by the street boys. I believe our prayers are more powerful than ever before.

We have felt God’s urge to add another son to the house. Felix came a few days ago. He will start school with Edris and Lucas on Monday. And Issa just graduated from YWAM and is back helping at our house. He shines.

And we are moving. Someone has already rented out this house as soon as our contract ends Oct. 15. We still have not heard from God where to move. I am praising God for this little family that He loves. He gave them to us to take care of so I am confident that He will show us where to take them now.

Please join us in prayer and fasting as we wait upon the Lord where we are to go.

Please pray also for Allan, Samuel.

God Bless you and thank you.

I Am Following a Lion

2010-08-07T04:02:00.000-07:00

I am following a Lion.
Well, at first He was following me... so quietly I almost missed it to continue along on my own path.
But I looked and there He stood - Eyes like fire locked on me.
Blood was on His Mane and I was afraid.
I looked again and He was gentle to me. I began to see He was fierce and humble in a kingly way.
The Lion turned His gaze from me and went into the fields. I was awakened to follow. The first few times I was cut by the tall grass I cried. I lost sight of Him and thought to go back but then I heard Him roar. After that I forgot about the road home.
The terrain became more difficult - I noticed we were going up into mountains. Wild animals mocked me and tried to steal my life.
This path was becoming more dangerous but the desire for this Lion more powerful than the pain and more real than everything else around me.
I keep catching His scent in the high places so there I am going.
Dont try to stop me.
And dont notice me - Look ahead and see Him there.

All along the way the Lord is with us...

2010-07-28T03:39:00.000-07:00

As we wait for the next step the season continues to get more and more interesting. The month of August will be a very busy month. All of the boarding boys come back from school to make our Rapha family bigger. And God has opened the door for Muhamed and Samuel to come back to the Rapha House. They will be coming this week along with Musa, Teddy, Gipson, and Christopher. Muhamed and Samuel have been out of the Rapha House for a season (muhamed 8 months; Samuel 4 months). The Lord has seen their suffering in the streets and various places and answered the prayers. We will be together again this weekend and after August they will both be headed back to school and the right track. This is so exciting for all of us to have 2 of our family members back. Please pray about the month of August because it will be a busy time and a transition especially for these boys where they are coming from.
And a miracle.
Mario and Stanley will finish their highschool form 4 exam this year, and the Lord has opened the door for both of them to go to a bible school in New Zealand. Our good friends have taken a step of faith and God has used it to open this door for these 2 precious sons. The beginning of next year they will both be studying abroad, which is a dream no one would have ever believed would actually come true.. from the streets of nowhere to a Bible school in another country. When Jesse and Jen broke the news the other night to the house, it was the most wonderful moment I think we have had in a long time. Dreams are coming true at the Rapha House and this is just the beginning. It is such an exciting time to be here but not suprising.. God is slowly unveiling what He has been telling us all along... He has special plans for these boys and for this place.
Lastly, on a more personal note.. we are in the midst of a beautiful place with Jesus. Today we met with the landlord for the house we have rented for the last 2 years.. and officially the contract expires Oct. 15. This leaves us 2 1/2 months in our current Rapha House. We still do not know where we will take our big family next, or how and all the other details. I have had ups and downs in this waiting place, but I am desperately in love with Jesus. Many waters have tried to through us off track, but we will not waver. He will not forsake us.. we just need to wait upon Him now. Its exciting actually.. because we are not in control and there is nothing we can do.. He has to do it. And it will be known that He is God and He is not far from us when we cry out for help.
Praise be to Him because His plans are perfect. And "We have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
We belong to the King and He has authority to do with us whatever He wishes.. so that He alone will recieve the Honor and the Glory and the reward due Him from all parts of the world.
Amen.

Call to Prayer

2010-07-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

"For You, O Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You. And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this good thing to your servant."
2 Sam 7:27-28

The Rapha House is in a season of waiting on the Lord for an answer. We believe strongly that He has asked us to build for Him a House in Mombasa. We have all committed to prayers and fasting over this matter.

This is a call to prayer. Please join us in prayers as we wait upon the Lord, specifically to show us the land He is asking us to go to, and the money to buy it and build a 24/7 House of Prayer, Music/Bible School, and Primary and Secondary School.

We Trust His Leadership over this season, so let us pray and believe.

Thanks Friends

Feels like home...

2010-06-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

When I left Kenya in January SO much happened. I went home totally in love with Jesus (and still am) and totally in love with Matt Wheeler. Since I have this deep love for both, Matt and I decided to get married March 6 and we both decided to pursue our relationship with Christ…together. It was a beautiful wedding and completely centered around God. After “our day” we went on a honeymoon and then moved to the Tenneesse! We love living in the south, having each other, cooking dinner, having “our” place, sweet tea, etc.

Recently, Matt got deployed overseas to do his soldier duties. I was praying and praying what I should do during this time and in SO many obvious, clear, and funny ways God has shown me that I am called back to Kenya at this time. I loaded the plane June 4 and arrived in Kenya June 5. The moment I walked off the plane, I have felt like I am at home! I was a little nervous about coming back and having had so much go on during the time I was at home, but God knew my fears, and it honestly felt like I was only gone for a weekend. It is so nice to be back with my Kenyan family, doing what I love, staying busy, and being here with my sister!

A lot has gone on here since I left too. For instance Brandon Wong left (everyone really misses you Brandon), a few more people were added to the family, Rapha days was taken over by my friend Derick and he is doing an amazing job with it, Val left (everyone is always asking about you, and I tell them what you told me that you “love them so much and are always praying for them”), land is being looked for, the Rapha boys all have their birth certificates (really big deal), ideas and visions of the future are coming, more and more passion is coming about for the future of Kenya and the Lord coming back! It is nice to be back on board with everything Carly is thinking and even thinking for the future. We both know what we want to happen, but we know that God has an even better plan for His children. “For I know the plans I have for you…” Jerm. 29:11

I love being here (I miss my husband everyday though) and doing work to better the kingdom of God. I know the Lord wants me here to teach me something great/crazy. I am His and I will do whatever He asks of me …and right now that is to be in Kenya!!

Bwana Asifiwe I’m back!!
Whitney

Prayer Requests—
1. Land/provision
2. The Rapha boys
3. Miracles
4. (and for me personally) Authority…and Matt

Only Believe.

2010-05-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

You know, I never imagined myself in Kenya.. in fact, I never wanted to come here. I never would have believed I would be mothering Kenyan street youth and kids. But something happened to me that made all of these things come up. I fell in love…

I fell in love with the Greatest Love. And the more I encounter Him, I am swept away. And the more I learn about Him and put my deepest mind on thoughts of this world, I am stirred by a Great Theme. And the more I try to be close to Him, the more I have to surrender the ways of trusting in man, to faith in God. After just a few years of seriously seeking faith, there is one thing I know, He can take me anywhere He wants, and He can do with me whatever He wants. Kenya, California.. it doesn’t matter anymore, as long as I get to be caught up in this Mighty Wind that blows me wherever It chooses (Jn 3:8).

I was asking myself lately, where did this vision come from to start the Rapha House and build up the youth? And I realized, I am not really passionate about starting things, looking at land, waiting for provision, working details out with attorneys, having meetings, designing buildings, etc. I am crazy passionate about giving Jesus the reward of His suffering. I will spend the rest of my life bringing His children to His feet. And if this is part of it, getting the stage set, getting this work done, then I will.

I believe it is His will to raise up leaders amongst the youth and kids from the streets of this nation to change all nations. I am just trying to do what I see my Father doing. If He builds the house, none of this hard work (looking at land, attorneys, design, contracts) will be done in vain. If He watches over the city, the intercessors do not watch in vain (Ps 127). Praise be to God! I know this is His work.. because this is not my will but His! I am surprised He chose me for these things, but I am honored to serve Him. It builds my faith to look for land and get ready to buy it when I don’t have any money.. but isn’t that the point? He will provide! He has this far.

I just got finished telling the Rapha family that we have these last few years been living by faith alone. We have only had money to pay for food and school because God has sent it for us, without having ever asked people or raised it. And I had the joy of telling them that when we look for this new land the case is the same. I had the opportunity to give them the chance to open their eyes and have big faith. Faith that God can continue to provide for us in this season. I am thrilled to have them praying for a miracle because I know that God will answer His children. I have no doubt. I am excited for all of us to see God work, not man, not by human efforts, but by the power of God.

Join us in prayer. (Land, Provision, Miracles.)

Thanks

Mission Statment

2010-05-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,
I finally wrote up a mission statement for the Rapha House. Please read and pray for us.. for all these things to come to pass.

Mission: To transform the nations from their current state of corruption and debased culture (Ro 1.28)to a culture of Holiness and Righteousness (2 Pet 3. 11-13) preparing the way of the Lord, through the youth of Kenya. We believe that Christ is returning soon (Rev 22. 12) and we must do everything we can to impact the culture to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting and knowledge of the Bible (Lk 18: 8b). We believe we are living in the greatest hour on earth and it is our responsibility as Christians to live worthy of this great calling (2 Thes 1: 11-12). We desire to do this through 3 specific realms of influence: education to all SES, a 24/7 house of prayer, and an Bible Learning Center/ Outreach Arena.

1. We believe education must be brought back to teaching from the objective Truth of the Bible. In the world forum, progressive education has taken the nations and distorted children and youth from having a foundation to begin from. ACE is a school system based on teaching the Truths of the Bible and integrating them into all realms of learning. It is vital to begin teaching children in this culture the correct values and Truth so they can be prepared for the world and prepared to change the world from its current state. We desire this teaching to be open for the all SES, including specifically children from street families (James 1:27).

2. Rapha House of Prayer believes in opening a 24/7 house of prayer for all people. This we believe to be the key element in revival and the Presence of God. It is imperative to teach all peoples prayer, fasting, interceding for others, and Bible Study. When true prayer meetings begin, passion will arise, and we will see revival in this city (James 5: 17).

3. The Rapha House believes it is imperative to educate the youth in the Bible to be prepared for their calling in this world and in this dark hour. The school will be 4 months long. The students will board in dorms for the entire 4 month period.
The first three months the students will be attending various classes including: Revelations, Foundations, Music and Arts, World History, Christian Biographies, Outreach Class, ect. After the 3 month class schedule completes, the 4th month will be outreach month led by the Graduated BS Students.
Outreach month will take place during the actual Kenyan school system month breaks. This will give the students the opportunity to reach out to their peers. Outreach will include concerts, preaching, drama, dancing and anything the students create to reach their peers. This will also be the way to recruit students for the next terms. The students will also lead summer camps and events for the ACE Boarders and other kids. After the 4 months finish the students will have completed the school, and new students will come for the next school season. There will be 3 school seasons in the course of the year.

We believe these three parts to be a key creative element for youth to truly take hold of their faith and make it known to others. For this profession of faith will change the nation (2 Tim 4: 1-5)

To all you readers, I am asking you now to pray. Pray specifically for Land, Provision, and a Miracle. And get ready to see one...
Thank you for all your prayers.

Rapha House Video

2010-05-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
We have an updated blog and a video!
Our great friends Jesse and Jen made a short slide show about the Rapha House. Please check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfkDapYLfFY

Thanks for the video! And thank you all who visit the house through prayer or visit the house in person. We are truly blessed and honored.
God Bless,

2010-05-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Friends,
One thing is heavy on my heart more every day. We are on the verge.. the last seconds before the End of this Dark Age begins. My heart is heavy with urgency, we don’t have much time left now and most of the world has lost complete ability to tell up from down (Ro1:28). There is no truth, even many believers do not believe the whole Bible, sin is rampant, everything is ok/relative, the most liberated country is falling under more control, Christianity is the base of a free society and Islam is taking over even the West quickly, the economy is crashing no doubt, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, volcanic activity messing with all of Europe, a massive oil spill, and the threat of nuclear war growing in a ever becoming anarchist way of life.

“I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come
in the last days… the Lord will come like a thief in the night.. the earth and the works done on it will be exposed… since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of HOLINESS AND GODLINESS, waiting and hasting the coming of the day of God” (bits of 2Pet3.. read it).

Lord of the Rings 3 is the best? Of Course! What an honor to be alive for it.. what an adventure to be apart of.. we each have a specific role to play. At the same time… nothing could be more terrifying. The Eye of Evil is getting closer and closer to being completed into the form of a man, we need more frotos and sams and real warriors. Don’t waste this wonderful time to be a real Christian on lesser things, lesser loves.

Things are really shaking up at the Rapha House right now and I know it is because God is asking these youth along with many other street kids to be the firstfruits of this call back to holiness in Mombasa to prepare for Christ’s Return.

God has recently laid it upon my heart to start a school, prayer house, and basically revival center so that when the Spirit of God falls on this city we will have a place to go! So far I know that we need to move out of the house we are currently renting by the end of the year. My prayer is to get land and atleast build a house for the family. God has given us this vision and we have to trust Him. Do I know where the money will coming from, the workers, the land, the timing? No. But then I wouldn’t have to trust God and rely on Him. So I am confident because if the Lord builds the house we will not labor in vain (Ps 147).

Please pray for all these things and pray that we stay completely connected to His heart, yielding to everything He asks.

Thank you.

Miracles

2010-03-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

The more time I spend searching the ways of the Lord, the more I see that all things truly do come together in His timing and in His ways. “Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them princes of his people..” Ps 113.

Princes. He is making princes out of the poor. Sometimes the most beautiful diamonds are found in the rough… and that is true for the Rapha Boys. We have entered into a new season at RHOP. “My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rains is over and gone. The flowers appear..” SS2. I am seeing what we have been praying for so long coming into reality. The fight has left the Rapha House. Peace and salvation have begun to take root in our home. It is obvious to us all. It is almost like hard to believe because we have prayed for this for so long, we have come out victorious through one of our longest trials. Not only that but the boys in the house have another miracle.

I wish I had more time to explain how impossible it is for normal families to get birth certificates for their children here. Think about how there is no chance for our guys from the street to get theirs without contact with relatives… well, as of last week almost every boy in the house has miraculously received his birth certificate. We had been praying for months because this year the schools in Kenya made BC a requirement to continue. Now our boys can continue with school and even are overwhelmingly encouraged that God truly does have a plan for them. Get this… Enock was not going to be able to pass his final year of Elementary School, the BCs were being taken to the Post by his head teacher Friday last week. His hadn’t come. Then his teacher announced that she was postponed for 3 more days. When the third day came, Enock was completely discouraged knowing he would have to repeat another year in the same grade because he didn’t have the BC. Just as his teacher was leaving for the Post, Mario came running into the school flailing a piece of paper with Enocks name on it… just in the nick of time. I cant dream what God has in store for these young Christians.

Step one is coming to a close. Now it is time to get serious about step 2: the center. We feel very strongly that God is asking us to buy land, build houses for street boys and girls, a church, and a school. This is not an end but a means to an end. We want to see the street family completely off the streets, also not an end. We want to see the youth transformed by the Word of God and an education system that builds morals and brings healing into broken lives, not an end. We want to create an atmosphere of prayer, a movement of holiness that starts with the lowliest street family. We want to move forward in this step because we believe God wants to touch this city, to touch not just the street kids but use them as John said so wonderfully “to use the poor to save the rich.” A city on a hill: Matt 5. We believe God has prepared a way for us to begin focusing our attention on step two because He is the end of our means. We will do whatever He wants. And He wants to save this city before it is too late. I want to be with Him. He wants this city.. the street kids, the prostitutes, the business men, the tourists, the Muslims, the witchdoctors, and the church... and He wants to raise up some disciples to do it all… at least we can say, thank you Jesus because the princes are beginning to stand.

Pray for them. Pray for us as we try to do these things we know nothing about. Pray for the center, that we would find the land and then know what to do next. We’ll keep you updated.

Thank you.

Shout out from Michigan...

2010-02-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

This isn’t your typical blog from Mombasa, Kenya, like you were probably expecting. This is Whitney Cerak reporting what my life has been like since I’ve come back “home” in January. Well let me start off by saying I miss Mombasa so much. I don’t miss being in Africa, the weather, the electricity going out once a day, being starred at, but I miss the people. The Rapha boys are my family and I would go through all the “bad” things of living in Kenya again just to be with the boys.

It has been harder adjusting than I thought it would. Not only the climate (where it is the hottest summer EVER in Kenya, but the harsh of winter in Michigan) or the walking everywhere, but how I feel God’s presence. Don’t get me wrong, God is definitely in America, but it almost seems like our culture is sleeping. It’s like we don’t understand how serious God is and how serious the final days are going to be. I am not saying that Kenya totally understands that either, but it seems like the culture is much more aware of that. In Mombasa, I was pushed out of my comfort zone in all areas of my life and I know it is because of those harder times that I experienced that helped open my eyes to more. Before I got on the plane to come home I was nervous because I knew the true test was coming…and the test is here. Our God is so cool because He is the same God I worshiped in Kenya and the same God in America. I know what a great God I serve and the miracles He still does TODAY and all we have to do is believe God and He will perform miraculous things!! (Mark 5:36) We need to have faith that God will always take care of us and that our faith in God will make it happen. Let me tell you a little Bible story that you’ve all heard (I would always tell stories on “Rapha days”), about the women who touched the clothes of Jesus and was healed.

“A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” IMMEDIATELY the bleeding stopped and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.” Mark 5:25-29

How AWESOME is our God. It is because of her faith that she was healed...her faith!!!!! If we had a little more faith that God could take care of us in every matter then we would not have to rely on anything else to get us through the day, no medication, no doctors, no money, etc. If we have a little bit of faith then God can heal us in every way! Faith is reliance, loyalty, or complete trust in God. We need to believe in God and have faith in him and immediately He will heal us. Our God is the same in Kenya as He is in America, but also our God is the same God in Bible times as He is now. Have faith in Jesus…

This is pieces of a puzzle titled “what I learned in Kenya.” Because it is only a few pieces it might not come out clear. Carly used to proof read my blogs, but now that we are in two different continents I am lost. Isn’t it obvious? I miss her…

Bye Bye Kwaheri

2010-02-01T15:30:00.001-08:00

Well here it is. My last few hours in Mombasa at the Rapha House. 6 months - hast it really passed? Seems much longer, like I've lived here for years. I can't explain the mix of emotions going through my head right now. Excited for the cold weather at home. Excited to get back to America, where there's TV, internet at my fingertips, my motorcycle, a place without mosquitos. But then I think again. Are those things truly worth it? I mean, can they really replace John's ballerina dancing, or Issa's constant jesting, or Mario's infectious laughter? The Rapha House of Prayer is definitely composed of uniquely created Men of God, each one with a great purpose for living here. It's sad for me to leave this place, although it's been one of the most challenging places to live. Weird huh? How can getting verbally abused, being constantly disrespected, getting annoyed at perpetual requests (living in this heat!) be one of the places that I've loved living the most? Nothing to say but the presence of God is here in the Rapha House. No doubt God is omnipresent, but my eyes have been open to Him more since living here. And I think that there is complete truth when Jesus says "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Mt. 7:13). When I was working in Chicago, prior to Mombasa, I lived a typical American life - 9-5 job. Come home and eat. Watch some TV. Repeat. I didn't do anything that was "hard". I didn't necessarily go out of my way to help people. I wasn't learning how to love God, and allow Him to work through me. My complacency was not leading me through the narrow gate, but instead secretly and slowly pulling me down the wide and easy gate.

As I come back to the States, I wonder to myself, will I be the same Brandon who enjoyed a life of complacency, who went to church on Sundays, and an occasional BIble study, but applied nothing to my life or the life of others? Will I go out of my way to show love to my neighbors, and to love the poor as I'm called? Will I allow the Spirit to control my life, and the Bible teachings and devotions to change the way I live? The latter I pray.

The girls at the Rapha House have got it going on. Not that I don't want to come back to Mombasa, but there's no reason it only be when I'm half way across the world for me to live such a life.

Scattering Seeds...

2010-01-24T23:42:00.000-08:00

“Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things - Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon; for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both." (Ecc. 11:5-6)

This first month of 2010 has brought so many more changes to our Rapha House than I ever could’ve imagined! I keep telling Carly, “I didn’t know even THIS was going to be a part of why He brought us here!” It’s so true – God often has such bigger plans than we could’ve imagined and just as He said His plan was “too small” to stay within the Jews but He must open it WIDER for the rest of the nations to be touched, we find right now He is opening our doors wider.

We just completed our first week of the new “Rapha Bible School” and our three “interns” are busy with their homework & responsibilities and learning to come together & pray together as brothers. Meanwhile, the 5 younger boys returning to school have now finally been placed in 5 different schools and routine and discipline is returning to their lives – Praise GOD for answered prayers! Our “car-park” church is growing with more families and our ladie’s fellowship in Tuesdays is also expanding to many women in the village.

We have many things to be thankful for & as my head is often spinning at the end of the day I think of this verse “you don’t know where the profit will come from”. It’s true God calls us to preach the word to EVERY creature – rich, poor, male, female, adult, child…and even “in and out of season” (when you feel like it, and when you don’t!!!) I often feel that my “outreach” or preaching is weak, but I know that because God is God and we are merely scattering seeds – somewhere those seeds are going to sprout. And maybe even in the places I least expect.As we have expanded our “seed scattering”, my heart’s desire however is that we don’t get too wide without getting deep. Time seems to be more limited now with our original Rapha boys – please pray for them in particular that they continue to grow in their walks and become the leaders they are meant to be.

Please pray for WISDOM this week for our leaders, knowing how to handle the needs that come to us daily – what we are called to do in each situation.

Pray especially for Brandon….who will be leaving us next Tuesday, February 2^nd. This will be yet another change and adjustment for our house as his absence will be strongly felt.

Pray for our two “prodigals” back on the streets right now, Mohamed and Farah.

And pray as always, for God to provide the right people to come alongside and help us always (both here and at home in prayer!)

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

Your support is so valuable!

2010

2010-01-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

So many prayers answered! Thanks for praying! We really just want to say thank you for praying and not forgetting about us.

In December we had our first house outreaches. We had one for the village people and on Christmas Eve we had one for the street people. We bused in over 200 people from the streets to our house for dinner, performances, testimonies, worship all lead by our very own Rapha boys. It was chaotic and wonderful. And God had blessed us with a projector so we were able to shoot the Passion onto our compound wall for all to see. It was translated and it is the first time I have really seen all the people of the streets focused with a holy hush. At the end we spoke about our Jesus and many of the kids scattered to go back to town as we were speaking, although the right ones were listening.

After everyone had cleared out my friend Hayes asked if anyone was saved tonight. I looked at him and laughed, “no!” But none of us were in the least discouraged because we are not after a few people to come to the front, what we set to do we did. We brought the most unholy group of people in front of the most Holy God on the biggest party night in Kenya. We showed the most unlovable group of people the greatest love that will pierce their very hearts. We sat in the presence of God all night as our Rapha boys, one year off the streets led praise and worship in front of their peers. We revealed what our House of Prayer is really about: not a quick meal and a few raised hands… we are about Jesus. We are not after social justice, we are after the heart of Jesus, who alone can bring true justice and freedom. We are not about money, we are about leaving it all behind and dying to the world like Jesus. We are about loving until they kill us. We have no tricks up our sleeve (there is no trust in the streets or in poverty) but we lay out the truth, Christ and Christ alone! And we will win! So maybe no one was saved that night, but Jesus was so pleased! And He is doing so much now because we had victory in His eyes and that is all that we are after.

What is He doing? Quickly, the new school year just started over here and we have 17 street boys and girls and youth in school! Praise God. We were praying for 3 friends that had been in prison. All three were going to be sentenced for life with no hope, only a miracle would save them. All three are now out of prison. Issa came out early Dec, Abel came out early Jan, and James Bokelloh came out 2 days ago. James was in prison for 2 years; before he was in prison he was the biggest street leader in the city. The worst guy no one would mess with. Somehow he was our friend. I know that God has released him now for a reason, one big reason being.. we are starting a Bible School on Monday. Straight from prison into an intensive 2 month study of Scripture. In our Bible School, we have one boy, 20yr. old, who used to be a Muslim and knows nothing about the Bible, but has more passion and fervency than anyone. One boy who wants to do Bible Studies for his fellow street brothers during Rapha Days, 23 yr.old. And James, 27yr.old, who knows nothing about the Bible but has more authority and love in him than almost anyone I have ever met, and truly God will use him to change Mombasa street community completely. We have five teachers and we are all so excited to see what God does in these next 2 months. We know now that God is preparing us to start looking for land to build a center for the street kids, a school, and a church. But our main focus now is on Jesus. He is ready to start a new culture in this place. A culture that turns the cheek when slapped, that forgives always, that loves those who hate, that leaves secret sin for true community, that finds more pleasure in the things of God than drinking in a bar, that desires God more than money, and longs for the heart of Jesus with complete yielding to His ways (Matt 5-7). That is what He wants to do here, and all over the world.

Pray for us in these ways please:

For James and Issa as they readjusts to life outside of prison, that the Word of God would change them

For Muhamed and Farah, that God would pierce their hearts so they could turn and be saved

That we would find land, that God would make this new step clear to us

That we would grow even more in unity and love

For the Bible school to reveal all the truth and revelation possible about Jesus

For Maboxini to be ruined and the drug dealers and kids would be free

The Eternal Shimo Le Terra

2009-12-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

[Peter] knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” “You’re out of your mind!” they said…[Acts 12:14-15]

This is exactly what I said when Brandon, Whitney, Carly and I returned home from some Thanksgiving rest in Nairobi last Friday night. “Valerie, Valerie – Issa is out of prison! He has come! He is here!”

“That’s impossible,” I said to the girl letting me in the gate. “His court date’s not until Monday.” Eventually realizing that it was stupid to stand there and argue, as we entered the house we found Issa, fresh from Mombasa’s most renown prison – Shimo La Terra (literally “hole in the ground” in Swahili) in the middle of our eating room, with all eyes glued upon him.

Issa is one of three leaders from the streets that we have been visiting regularly in Shimo La Terra this last year. Many of our boys have been friends with Issa for a long time, and last January we had prayerfully been thinking God might add him to the house. In early February, however, he was picked up for robbery with violence and we committed ourselves to be praying for him, following his court dates, and visiting him in prison ever since. Of the prison cases we’ve been following, Issa’s seemed the most grim. Thinking his final judgment day would be on Monday, Nov. 30^th, advisors told us before we left for Nairobi that most likely the best thing we could do was work to appeal the case after he was sentenced. While looking through his files and the testimony of witnesses, it seemed sure that Issa would be found guilty. We were shocked also to find that in Kenya the punishment for robbery is life in prison (best case) and worse case – death. All we could do was pray.

So entering the house that night, I knew the gravity of the miracle I was watching before my eyes. Most of my contact with this son of God had been through a screened window and prison bars and it was strange to see him sitting amongst a group of people – FREE – and telling us his story. In one short moment of mercy, the judge had decided to pardon his case that morning and having nowhere else to go, he decided to walk all the way from town to our house to tell us the news. After the boys shared with him their beds, clothes, possessions, he joyfully settled into our house for an eventful weekend.

The next night at dinner Bible study, we went through a clear-cut gospel presentation on what it means to have Jesus as your Advocate. Issa was a willing participant and explained to us how when you are in prison, your mind and all your energies are focused on one thing: your day of judgment. Every prisoner fears this one day and does all they can to practice their defense & rehearse over and over what they will say to the judge. If it’s possible to obtain a lawyer, they would most certainly do so. Only a fool would come unprepared for this day.

As we acted out our own Heavenly Court case, we unfolded how Satan is our Prosecutor, exposing all our secret sins to God the Judge, and we saw how perfectly just the judge would be to throw us into prison forever: "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty for all of it.” (Jas. 2:10) We then asked Issa, who the day before had stood before the judge alone, how he would feel if in the middle of his case, the best lawyer in all of Kenya came in to defend his case – and for FREE. “Would you refuse? Would you say no, I’m fine on my own?”

“Or upon hearing that he was willing to defend you would you forget to call him before that day to ask him to be your advocate?” “No, no, NO!” Issa said to all of these claims. We then discussed how foolish it is to come to our own eternal judgment day, completely unprepared and how even more foolish to forget to call the best advocate “in Kenya” who is willing to defend us before that day. “Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.” (Ps. 32:6) As bad as Shimo La Terra is (and the boys know these things first hand), we made sure to emphasize that the fires of hell are much worse. Whether or not all of the boys heard the message the Spirit was giving that night, it’s obvious one certainly did.

The next day at church Issa could not help but to get up and practically preach the same sermon to everyone there. That afternoon, we visited a church where there was a youth activity for neighboring youth groups and Issa begged me, “Valerie, I know it’s not in the program – but can you ask this guy to let me speak? I want to testify!” Smiling to myself, I watched God move as Issa was not only allowed on stage but preached his heart out for the second time that day to almost 100 of his peers. Understanding the bits and pieces of his Swahili, I was amazed at how quickly he had grasped an understanding of the true gospel message. “And I tell the truth, I have grown up a Muslim reading the Quaran – and I have never heard such good things as this” he added in closing after he told the congregation his given birth name: Salim Issa Mohammed.

The last week has been a whirlwind, as the holidays have come and the boys are now off of school. Daily prayers, Bible studies, and activities are keeping our schedule packed but Issa’s hunger for the Word of God is extreme. We know this time for him is crucial as Jesus warned (Mk. 4 parable of the sower) & although he has received the Word “with joy” his roots must go deep to prevent falling away. We are committing ourselves to making sure he is nurtured in this month, but please PRAY that his fire increases. His presence in the house has already provoked many boys to jealousy – desiring the passion and change they have seen in him. We believe he is already using Issa to set this city on fire as people are amazed at what they see in this former street thief. (Gal. 1:23) “But many of them think I’m just jokes, Valerie, and the change won’t last. I need help to make sure it’s not just jokes…I don’t want it to be jokes. I don’t ever want to be like I was before – and I never want to be in a place like that again.”

Will you help us make sure that Issa’s change isn’t just jokes? For the desire of his heart – a change to last? “Not by power, not by might, but by HIS SPIRIT.” Join us in the fight for Issa’s growth this month and the salvation of our dear household – truly He has promised “we will see greater things than this” (Jn. 1:50)

Jackson

2009-11-20T07:01:00.001-08:00

This is my journal entry from November 3. I was told by Jackson not to tell anyone this story (I am not really sure why), but I figured it would be ok to put on the blog!

"I have been a little nervous to go into town lately because I always cause fights and the older boys don’t like me because I only take the younger boys for Rapha days and church. Today, however, I went to the place where pastor (my good friend from the streets) sits, which is the start of Maboxini. I spent a few hours talking to my friends and met more friends, all who already knew my name! My name has been spread around Maboxini, I am not sure if good or bad things are being said about me, but they all know my goal: to destroy Maboxini (taking all the kids out of the streets) and lead everyone to Christ. At the end of my time, I was talking to my friend Jackson, who had just been beaten by an older boy so his lip was really swollen. The Sunday before (when he came over for church), he couldn’t eat the food that everyone else was eating, so I took him to the store to get him milk and bread. It was nothing to me to help a friend, but it meant everything to him! He walked me out of Maboxini to catch a ride and we were laughing and talking, when the topic of how we both hadn’t taken lunch that day came up. Now I am always asked by the street people to give money for food, so I thought I’d try to beg today! I thought I had no chance of Jackson actually buying a white person lunch and to be honest I wasn’t seriously begging! But to my surprise Jackson went and got his money from a friend that holds his money outside of Maboxini (because it isn’t smart for a young boy to have so much money there) and then he took me to a small café. He ordered me French fries and a coke and we sat and talked over lunch. I love my talks with little Jackson, he is so smart and has experienced way more than me at the age of 12. He gives me good ideas and feedback when the other boys come over for Rapha days. Jackson is a very good friend to me, I have been very blessed to spend time with him while I am here. At the end of our meal, Jackson paid!! I was so shocked, I mean, why would a poor street kid pay for a rich (to him) white girl? It seems crazy, but when I asked Jackson why, he said “because on Sunday you really cared about me and I want to show you that I care about you.” Then when we were both finished and walked to the Matatu, he opened the door for me allowing me to get in. Wow Jackson…what a little gentleman! I can’t believe that I spent a special day with my friend Jackson. I am such a lucky girl! When I went back and told Carly and Val what had happened (I am not very good at keeping secrets from them), Carly said 'you kind of had a date with Jackson. This is a new story, you will go down in history for having a street boy buy you lunch!'"

I have learned a lot about Jackson in my few months of knowing him; I know that he likes to be the best friend of everyone by buying them things, saying things that they want to hear, following them to bad places to keep them happy. Jackson has many friends, but some unfortunately are only his friend because of these reasons; he is a “people-pleaser.” The great thing to think about is that he has to do nothing to please God, he is already a huge blessing to God now, by just being himself. “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Psalms 127:3” God already loves him so much and he can’t wait to have Jackson accept Him and His love! And I am fully confident that Jackson will be part of His Kingdom someday.

This story could mean so many things, but one lesson that I am taking away from it is that we don’t have to do anything to please God. He already finds delight in us, in all of His children. This is something that I am learning and now it is my prayer for Jackson too, to know that he doesn’t have to do things to be a “God-pleaser” because he already is.
Whitney Cerak

Jackson

2009-11-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

Who is interested in the things of God?

2009-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Who is interested in the things of God (Ph 2:21)? We maybe want a form of Christianity but who is willing to go all the way? …when you have to give it all up to get it all back (Matt 10:38-39). What makes us think we know Christ when we still find more pleasure in the world than in Him (Matt 13:44)?

If the Church doesn’t know Christ how will the world ever know Christ? If the people of God are more interested in the world, why would the world think twice about Christ (Rev 3:15-17)? It would make sense then that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions; people give their lives for it. And for every “radical” Muslim that kills people, even from within the United States (should we be surprised?), where are the “radical” Christians who save just as many people or more (Acts 5:13-14)?

Do we read our Bibles? The Fear of God means hating evil (Prov 8:13). The fear of God is the BEGINNING of wisdom. If we do not yet hate evil, hate grey, hate anything that contends with righteousness and holiness and the very person of God, have we even taken the first step of Christianity?

This world is dying for lack of some righteous people. Are we just interested in God as a safety net or as a thing to do on Sunday mornings? Well forget that (Jer 7). Do we really think we are a Christian if we just say a prayer to ask Christ into our hearts and then continue with life as usual? (Matt 22:37). Lets atleast give God some dignity and be honest with ourselves. If God is real, then every Word in the Bible must be real, and if you have a Bible you stand condemned because it’s all there.

When will we be more satisfied with the love of God than the love of the world? When will we give up comfort in this life so that we may have comfort in the next life? Jesus is calling out to those who can hear, but who can hear? Whose ears are truly open and whose eyes can truly see what is happening in our world? Do you call yourself a Christian? Well do it! For if you are ashamed of or don’t get to know Him now, wont He be ashamed of you on that Great and Horrible Day (Matt 10:32-33)?

Everyday I spend with these boys in the Rapha House it becomes more and more clear to me that they are trapped in sin and hurt and pain. They search the world for comfort and find none. They need help but its not the food, the bed, the school that is helping them. There is only one thing that can help people who need help. And I realize we are all the same as these boys; we are no different than them. They are slaves to addictions, lusts, and wicked cultural ideologies. There is only one thing that can set them free. The Truth.

The truth that to know Christ is worth more than the riches of this world, and to live for Him is more amazing than to live for ourselves! Doesn’t that sound right? What checks in your soul? Does what this world calls right, sound right? Or does this: Matt 5-7?

While our government searches for a way to bring peace to our increasingly peace-less world, are we giving anyone the answer to the only True Peace? Do you know Him?

This Present Darkness

2009-11-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Now this isn't anything like that Frank Peretti. Never read the book, but on Amazon, it was given 4.5 stars, so it's gotta be good. So check it out here if you like.

This week during one of the Bible studies, Carly had a good practical example of living in the darkness. With the lights out, she had one of the boys go around with a plate of bananas, telling everybody to take only one. After one round of bananas, he went around again, for seconds. The lights were then switched on. Then the question was asked - did anybody take more than two bananas? Slowly and sheepishly, several hands were raised, and some tried to defend their actions, while others laughed because of their disobedience. In my self-righteous mind I thought 'how could they not obey such simple directions'. We all know Carly and know she wouldn't gyp us of our bananas. We started on a discussion of what people do in the dark, and took a look at our friends, people we know, people in church. As the discussion went on, I kept on thinking about those who took more than their allotted share. Again in my self-righteous mind, I kept thinking of all the boys, and their "secret" sin they live in. How could they not see that what they are doing is wrong? How can they continue without changing their ways, knowing they are being deceitful when nobody is watching? How can the boys of the house intentionally go against the 'no smoking' rule when they say with their mouth they want change in their life?

Then the Lord humbled me, turning my thoughts to myself. What things in my life do I do in the dark, hiding from everybody else? How do I try and justify what I do? Maybe my actions aren't as morally wrong, such as smoking or drinking, but a bit less subtle, such as feeling sorry for myself when I get verbally abused by the boys instead of loving them like I'm called to. Or judging the boys because they aren't as "good" as I am. I was shown the speck in my eye. Just because I'm a 'leader' here (whatever that means), and I'm older, and I know more (or do I?) about the Bible than they do, there are still times when I'm in the darkness whether I want to admit it or not. There are plenty of things in my life that are still holding me back from Jesus on a day to day basis. And because I do know more than the boys, that only means, I'm held to a higher standard than they are, and should be at least a step above them in my thoughts and actions. It was a very simplistic, but thought provoking activity for the boys, but got me thinking as well. The more time I spend here, the more it seems like God is teaching me more than He's teaching the boys. I mean, no complaining on my part, but definitely not what I was expecting when I decided to come help out here at the Rapha House.

The TRUTH that Sets Us Free...

2009-10-31T01:57:00.000-07:00

As with most weeks, this last week had its fair share of extreme highs and lows. Perhaps what I love most about Jesus, however, is that if given to Him the lowest lows are the very situations that can become the highest highs. I was reminded of this when two of our oldest, most mature boys surprised us by not returning home one night this week.

When they returned we braced ourselves for a difficult talk with the two of them. After hearing a few non-convincing reasons as to why they had spent the night away, the Spirit spoke to Carly to make one last push. “Now’s your opportunity,” she said. “You could do what you’ve always done, tell a nice little lie, doing what anybody else would do by taking the easy road. Or you could show the Devil you’ve changed. Stand for the truth. Shame the devil.” In that moment it was obvious to see the battle inside this boys’ heart, but after we watched and waited, something beautiful happened. The truth came out.

The four of us quietly listened to the story of how in a moment of discouragement, these two boys had been persuaded by an old friend to return to a few dark places of their past and fallen into temptation. Finishing his story with tears, we were in awe of the Spirit’s work in this boy who had spent most of his life pretending to be someone he thought others would accept or making up stories to cover up a sad and shameful past. He had perhaps never made this type of confession in his life. Once the truth came out, we were able to look him in the eyes and tell him he was forgiven. “All of you boys always quote the verse, tell the truth and the truth will set you free, but you don’t really know what it means,” I told him. “This is what it means!”

When we tell the truth, we find that we are dealing not with a God that condemns us, but one that wants to heal us and restore us from our sin and pain. When we come before Him as we truly are, we find that He already knew the truth about us anyways. We don’t have to try so hard to be accepted, but we find we are already accepted. When the sinful woman anointed Jesus’ feet, others said, If He knew who she REALLY was – He wouldn’t go near her! (Lk. 7:39) Peter had the same reaction upon first meeting Jesus. He was afraid eventually Jesus would find out who he really was, a “sinner”, and asked him to leave him alone. (Lk. 5:8).

The truth is that Jesus was not mistaken about who we were when He came to die for us. He knows not only what we are now or what we have been, but He knows what we can become – if we choose not to pretend we have it all together, but confidently put our broken lives and sin-wrecked hearts in His hands. Truly, it’s not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick.

After living together for almost one year, it’s beautiful to see the boys start to open up their true selves because only then can they find the true healing they need. That night one boy was able to fall asleep at night knowing that there were people that knew what he had done the night before, but loved him still.

Don’t forget to keep praying for us! Please pray 1 John 1:8 - “For the darkness is disappearing – and the true light is already shining.” Pray for Mario…John…Allan…Samuel…Farah…Mohamed…Enock – for pretending to disappear and to be set free by the truth that they are loved by Jesus, the one who not only knows who they’ve been, but who they CAN become.

-Valerie-

Holding on...

2009-10-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

Sam: It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it's only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it'll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.

This week was an interesting week for me, I was feeling a little under the weather. Being sick in Africa, is different than being sick at home where your mom caters to your every need and you get to watch movies/TV all day (don’t pretend like you don’t dream about those days still). When I was sick, I had time to think, pray and yes, I did get to watch part of the Lord of the Rings, the Return of the King. When I heard Sam say the quote posted above in the movie I started crying immediately. The Lord of the Rings is so symbolic and so inspiring, even when Frodo wanted to give up because the ring was too heavy on him, Sam gave him an encouraging word…”a new day will come, and when the sun shines it’ll shine out the clearer.” I am so easily discouraged here, but I keep thinking that these people here in Mombasa are still God’s children and I can’t give up hope for them now. How many people have come into their lives and left so soon because times were hard for them? I can tell you that a new day will come and when the sun shines God’s children of the Rapha house and His children in the street will hopefully be able to see everything all the clearer. We put up with a new and different battle every day, but one thing that has been made certain is all of these boys are worth fighting for.
One of my friends from the streets, Wilson, came over on Tuesday for his birthday! I went to pick him up from town and then he was able to celebrate his day of turning 18 with everyone from the Rapha house! It is so obvious that I am supposed to be here when I look into the eyes of Wilson. He is a friend who is definitely worth fighting for. On Tuesday, Wilson was able to go swimming (which is his all time favorite thing to do), take tea, ate dinner with our family, have the boys sing happy birthday to him, have all of us say something about why we love Wilson and then he was able to spend the night. It was so refreshing to have Wilson stay at the Rapha house and it was made so clear to me that I need to keep fighting for all of my friends who are like Wilson, who just need love. I want them all to get off the streets, but more importantly I want them all to know Christ. Even though there are so many obstacles in this road, these boys are worth it.

Let me also say that everyone’s prayers were answered from the last week’s blog and the Lord’s beloved son, Allan, has come back!! Praise the Lord, he has come back, a few changes still have to be made, but it has always been in the Lord’s hands and he is taking care of his son. The Lord really loves Allan…

This is War

2009-10-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

This battle we’re in couldn’t be clearer than in moments like these. As Val, Sandra, and I sit in the prayer room this morning, reality is ours. The reality that hell is gripping and killing all who have not died with Christ. There is no life for those who do not live in Christ. Jesus said this is a war we are in – this couldn’t be clearer as Allan walked out of the house today.

So much desire to leave the darkness, but so weak in his strength, so weak in his love. Unable to understand love, but pulled by God’s love.. .Allan saw it. He felt it.

Allan, the closest to receiving the Light, having come from such a deep darkness. Pain after pain, year after year throughout his childhood. Of course it was Allan who has run backwards before. Satan will do anything to hold him down, even from inside of our house. Of course he has stolen from us. His old life chains him down; everywhere he turns, there it is. But the Light is greater…

The whisper of Aslan is stronger than the roars of the mountain lions. And so the demons were forced to leave. Quiet. Freedom for the first time. The newness a bit scary, but finally a place where he belonged. Drawn by the kiss of God’s Words, by the gentle touch of His Truth. This was it.

Finally a child brought home from the terror in the night. How amazing were those days of awakening, a sweet innocent faith, a small desire that began to turn into the greatest love. Even the other boys were provoked to jealously by this one child. The Light proving to take hold.
Marked by love, but also marked for the greatest attack. For when the house is swept clean, the demon will roam the land looking for other demons stronger than itself to return and torment to no end (Lk 11). Now, waiting for the right moment, precious Allan slips into it unexpectedly. He slips and opens the door to his soul again. Just for a moment, just one high, but a moment is too much and the devils take the bait.

We sat with him this morning wondering what had happened. He was no longer the boy we knew. This boy spoke of suicide, couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t hear, couldn’t see the pure love in front of him. Determined to go back to die in the streets alone. But why? Truly the attack couldn’t be more apparent, now the strong demon had entered and taken back control. Allan had disappeared and death was speaking. And they left together this morning into the dark allies and deep dark places. Back to the other lovers, that can no longer satisfy.

How much depravity and twisted thoughts come when we let open the door and evil comes in. The chains back. The old comforts back. The drugs will dullen, but the whisper and touch of God will never be forgotten now. However, there is nothing we can do besides hand him over to his desires and wait on God. This is a war we are in, truly, and Satan knows far too well the destruction of his kingdom in this world when Allan breaks free from his prison. So the attack is fierce. And Allan walks out into it, a prisoner.

But our hope is not deferred. How could we be discouraged? Our God is in the highest heavens and He does whatever He pleases. No attack shall make us fear. God is in control, not a demon and not us. So this morning as we praise God amidst this trial, what does our all loving God do?

He sends down the greatest rainstorm from heaven. I believe this storm was sent to Kenya specifically for this one boy. Why? Because God’s love is extravagant for Allan! He would send rain to hem him in, and He’ll do even more. Let it be known that God will bring Allan back to Himself by Himself. He can do it. And He will. Praise be to God for He alone is good and He alone is in control.

Brandon Lee

2009-10-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

Another week gone by in the Rapha House. All the visitors (our Canadian friends, and Val’s dentist – Dr. Harty and friends) have come and gone, but not before one last hoorah this past weekend. The first time the two Canadians, Curtis and Jesse, were here, we spent an afternoon go-karting. So the whole week the Canadians were back, the guys of the house kept dropping hints about going go-karting on the weekend. So Saturday afternoon, after lunch, we got together for a little meeting, led by Curtis and Jesse. The boys were anxiously anticipating go-karting. Much to their demise, the meeting turned into a Bible study about how their previous go-karting experience represents the race that God has set out for us. How we need to follow the rules set before us so that we can safely finish the race. How we need to take the dangerous turns with caution or else run the risk of running into danger. How there are employees on the side of the track, helping us to get back on track after a spill, just like the Holy Spirit. How the owner of the track can see all that’s going on from his perch above, just like God watching over us. After the Bible study, Curtis and Jesse met their expectations, and surprised the guys with the news that we were going go-karting! With one round of go-karting under their belts, these guys were pros – or so they thought. We did have several accidents, a couple of minor injuries (one self-inflicted when he ran himself into the wall, without braking to make the curve) and a broken axel, but walked away in high spirits. All-in-all, it was a great day for the guys to enjoy some of the little pleasures in life, and also to have a solid metaphor of what seems to be a pretty big highlight in their life.
As with the go-kart race on Saturday, some of the boys in the house have been doing well in their spiritual race, whereas others are running off track. You can definitely see those who desperately want to run the race according to the rules, knowing that the owner of the track is watching their every move. Their desire to stay away from temptation, hold their tongue in heated arguments, respects the leaders of the house – these little things are huge steps for change in their life. Allan in particular has made a huge turnaround in his life. His attitude towards life and the relationships he has with all, including us leaders has completely changed. He’s shown a desire to know more about the Bible. He’s consistently participating in prayers before dinner and during Bible studies. These things do not automatically make him a Christian, but it does show that he has a desire to leave behind his reckless driving from the past. It shows that he is starting to grasp the idea of the good life that lies ahead of him. Whereas others “secretly” indulge in pleasures of their previous life. This is a new and exciting road we’re heading down here at the Rapha House. We can see two distinct groups. We’re only praying that those who are willing to run and endure the race will help spark interest in the other boys’ lives.

The Fire is Heating Up at Rapha House… What Would You Give for One Saved Soul?

2009-10-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

As I stop and try to recap the events of the last week, all I can think to say is that the fire is burning! Both inside of our hearts, as our souls are becoming increasingly more desperate every day to see salvation and transformation burst forth in these chosen boys, and in the very atmosphere of our house. The week started with Whitney busing all the Maboxini boys (Rapha day attenders) from town to their first Sunday church service at our house. As the Spirit is working through Whitney to touch this ministry time, our seven older Rapha boys have been returning home from their long days at school to a house that has been undeniably filled with the movement of God all day. Still more, we have decided to make the hour before dinner a time of sacred prayer to seek the Lord’s will and ask for the Spirit to move mightily each night during dinner, Bible study, and our time together as a house.

With the addition of our three Canadian friends (Curtis, Kurtis, Jesse) and three American friends one night (Doug, Stephanie, Kelly) our prayer warriors have been numerous and our meetings together powerful. None of the boys have been unable to notice the presence of something special as they arrive home and many have given up their regular routines of going out before dinner this week to join us immediately in the prayer room. They don’t always know what to do – but they are drawn to a Presence that they know is good. This week they’ve found themselves confessing sin, being provoked to the testimonies of turning from drugs and loneliness to Christ, and falling asleep at school because they spent the whole night in the prayer room.

I often feel that the fire in our house is nothing compared to the fire that is growing in all of our hearts day by day. One of my favorite memories this week was when we were discussing with the Canadian boys what we would be willing to do on “Fear Factor” for large amounts of money. Jesse added, “No, not for money…but if someone said all the boys in the house would be saved, I’d eat anything!” Although this was (half) joking, it’s true that salvation and eternity is constantly on our minds. But isn’t this the way it truly ought to be? As C.H. Spurgeon has said about this sole, divine mandate we’ve been given:

“Beyond all argument, it is a joy worth worlds to win souls. Thank God, it is a joy that does not cease with this mortal life. It must be no small bliss, as one soars in flight up to the eternal throne, to find others moving at one’s side toward the same glory. What delight it will be to turn around, hear them say, “We are entering with you through the gates of pearl; you brought us to the Savior.” It will be bliss beyond comparison to meet in eternity with those begotten by us in Christ Jesus, for whom we travailed in birth, until Christ, the hope of glory, was formed in them (Gal. 4:19).

If we truly knew the joy of just one saved soul, would we not be willing to give everything for that joy? Although the battle against the evil one in men’s hearts can be intense and disheartening at times, the second a soul is brought from darkness to light, we WILL be “like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, she forgets her anguish that turns into joy because a new baby has been brought into the world.” (Jn. 16:21)

When we think we’ve already worked so hard and given so much, we look to our Master who poured out his life as an offering for sinners, and hear Him ask, “Do you really know what it’s like to labor for souls - to plead with God and plead with men, to fast and pray until you sweat drops of blood, to have your soul crushed to the point of death (Mt. 26:28; 2 Cor. 1:6,8) and to yearn for souls until their eternal doom would feel like your eternal doom??” What would you give for one lost soul?” We pray that we can answer Him, “We’d give our very lives King Jesus, just as you did.” Let us run with endurance, like he did, for the reward that awaits us:

“Because he bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels, I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, it will be possible for many to be counted righteous.” (Is. 53:12, 11)

Pray for us especially these next 24 hours! This is our last weekend with Curtis, Kurtis, and Jesse and we will be inviting a Kenyan friend to join us in giving special calls to salvation for the boys. Stay tuned for next week…!!!

-Valerie-

Rapha Days

2009-09-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

My time in Africa has been a complete gift from God. I have loved my time here, I have laughed so much, but I have struggled with things, and there are times when I think that I don’t have the power to do this anymore. That’s the thing though, it isn’t my power that I am able to live in Kenya or help the street boys; it’s Christ’s power. It has been a good lesson for me to learn and relearn, and relearn and relearn! I have already witnessed the Lord doing some awesome things here. For instance, we have two visitors from Canada (Jesse and Curtis) who came back to Mombasa to be around the boys that they love and who love them in return. It has been really obvious the presence that has been brought into the house, how the Holy Spirit is completely surrounding it. All of the boys desire to have something they have never had, even those who were the farthest from God. There have been a few nights where the Spirit is moving in the house and the boys’ eyes and hearts are opened to what is going on. The Spirit is moving through the Rapha house and I am so privileged to be here when this is all happening. Please keep praying for true salvation for these boys.

There is more going on than just the Rapha house, we also have Rapha days during the week. On Wednesday and Thursday, two different groups of younger boys come over from the streets. These are the boys who are dirty, young, will do anything for a few shillings, but who have so much potential. I get the opportunity to bring 10-12 younger boys (10-15 years old) out of Maboxini and have they come over to the Rapha house. The boys get in a Matatu and leave the Maboxini, a place that has so much evil around it, has so much bondage inside, it is a place that will kill, steal and destroy these boys. We take them out of Maboxini and allow them to be kids again; watching them play games and joke around like kids has been so fulfilling! When we arrive at the Rapha house, we play a fun game—one that either involves a soccer ball or water—. They leave all their worries and become children, it is amazing to see the transformation happen right before my eyes. After the game, we go inside the house to have lunch, which they beg for all day, so this is part of an answered prayer. But then after lunch, I give them a small Bible story, which is the other part to an answered prayer. Not only do they need physical food, but then also need spiritual food. They need more than what people can offer them, they need to fix their eyes on Christ. Right now, we are in the first step of this process. We know that God is preparing us to establish a rehab center for them, but more importantly receive the Holy Spirit. I (along with the rest of the team) don’t want to only rescue them from the streets, but help rescue their souls.

After reading this blog, I hope that you feel encouraged to pray for all of these boys, the Rapha boys and the street boys. Pray that we would be able to do all that we can for the Lord, that we would be able to help them as far as we can, and that we would let the Lord take complete control.

-Whitney

We are on the verge of something extraordinary…

2009-09-18T10:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry to all those who follow this blog. We have not been faithful, but that is changing. We will be updating every weekend. Thank you for your prayers.

We are on the verge of something extraordinary…

We started August with a bang. A mission’s team from Gaylord rocked the streets here in Mombasa. What can God do with a few high schoolers who are hungry for truth and want to love others? Something extraordinary. They not only embraced the kids in the streets, prayed over the sick in the hospital, taught in the village school, they loved the Rapha boys. Friendships were formed, students from different backgrounds with different experiences all together, laughed together and saw they were really just the same.

We continued August with different visitors and friends sharing their lives with us. They taught us about how to become men of God and integrity, and the unity of brotherhood. We laughed a lot and did so much stuff I thought I wasn’t going to make it another day at this pace but the Lord provided.

We have two new workers here with us. Brandon is living in the Rapha House with the boys and discipling them for the next few months. He has his work cut out for him and it is not easy, please keep him in your prayers as loving and living with these guys takes prayer and grace. God has already been using him so much in the boys lives; it is clear God has brought him here for more than he even realized. Whitney is establishing a Rapha Day with the little street boys. She is taking them from the streets into the Prayer House twice a week as we begin the first stage in the rehabilitation process for many of the younger boys on the streets. God willing we will be able to have a home for them soon as many of them are eager to leave the streets. We are decided to do it God’s way, at His leading. We are very encouraged that she is here for this phase of the process because we are not just here to save them from the streets as mere men do, but we are excited to see how God delivers them from the life of the streets even inside of their hearts. This season with Whitney and Brandon is exciting and as we get back into the flow of the 3rd term of school for the Rapha Boys, we know great things are coming.

Great things are coming, even greater than we can understand.

But what is this “great” that is coming? Is it the extravagant visitors? Is it the big mission’s team with all the people and all the good things they were able to teach and leave on our hearts? Is it the visitors who help when we need it? Is it the vision, the schedules, the friendships? Is our purpose to be just a cute ministry that helps the least and gets thank yous from people? If we get all the kids off the street, will that be great? If we clean the streets of the poor, prostitute, abandoned, and sick, will that be enough?

Or should there be something more we could expect?

I suggest to you that there is something more beautiful and satisfying than the breads of this world. More invigorating and fulfilling than just getting off the streets and getting a new chance at a future. It would be a shame if that was our final end.

I believe we are on the verge of something extravagant. Something complete, something radical, something this world cannot understand. A total transformation from a life of self-centeredness, worldliness, addiction and loneliness. A life that cannot produce righteousness, peace, and change on its own. A life that has given up on trying to do it, trying to be it, trying to get it.. a life that is in need no matter what it physically can posses or set out to accomplish. A life that wants to find the things those people fall short of finding no matter how much they try. A life that has real peace, a life that knows the deepest love, the secret of being content in all circumstances.

We aim for no less than what we have been given.

We are walking into the most beautiful season yet. We are on the verge of true salvation. No I’m not talking about the kind where you say you’re a Christian and remain exactly the same as you were before but maybe without the pack of cigarettes. I’m talking about those people who found real life and the world was not worthy of them (heb 11). I’m talking about that salvation that gives you lasting water and takes the chaos out of your soul. I’m talking about that salvation that is foreign to most, and sadly, most ‘Christians.’ Salvation that breaks your soul, when you see that you are not enough and nothing else is going to be enough for you no matter the efforts and toils of your hands, the salvation that gives reason to live. The salvation that gives you a glance of the King and you can never look back.

Salvation is on our doorstep. God is laying it very heavy on our hearts to fight fiercely for their salvation right now. God is especially moving on the heart of Allan. Please pray for him. This is call to all those who pray, please pray now for Allan, that he would be beckoned by the Holy Spirit, that faith in Christ would ignite, and that he would leave all else for Him, for love.

“But if God Himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking of yourself more than Him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome Him, in whom He dwells, even though you still experience all the limitations of sin, you yourself experience life on God’s terms… With His Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!.. God’s Spirit beckons… God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.” - Parts of Ro. 8:9-16 Message Bible

“What good is a religion that does not overcome the world? What is the benefit of being born into such a religion if it leaves the world still ruling over our hearts? How can any man suppose that such a religion prepares his heart for heaven when it leaves him earthly- minded, fleshly, and selfish?” – Charles Finney