My dad's going to Africa

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:23 pm

My father is a worship leader at our church and he's going to Kenya to do music ministry. He'll be back on Dec. 22. I'm really gonna miss him. Our family would appreciate your prayers for his safety and that people may be blessed as he makes himself a vessel for the Lord. Thanks, all.

Postby **sunet** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:29 pm

i will pray

Postby **Rogie** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:22 pm

That sounds wonderful! I'll pray for him, Bard.

Postby **Spiritsword** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:55 pm

I will pray.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:58 pm

He left at 2 p.m. today. It's gonna be a dull two weeks around here. I'm just glad he's getting back in time for Christmas.

edit: I'll keep this thread updated with news as my dad brings it, if that's all right with you.

Postby **Mr. SmartyPants** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:20 pm

definately! I'll also pray for his safety!

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:08 pm

update: Dad touched down in Nairobi around midnight or so (U.S. time) last night. He's going with his Kenyan friend James Tembula (the one who convinced him to go in the first place) to Kisumu, James' hometown. He tried calling my cellphone today, but it was during work hours so I couldn't talk. More updates as they become available.

edit: I'm going to request that this thread be moved, since as long as I plan to keep updating it, it seems like it would fit better in the General forum.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:50 pm

UPDATE
My father (the Ladel-Bard, you might say) has made it safely to a computer and sent his first email, which is as follows:

Hello everyone.
I arrived in Nairobi on Thursday night at 9:45 PM, that is 1:45 your time.
Everyhthing arrived with me, my guitar and all the equipment. I was greeted by
James and his wife Carol and a number of her family. I must say that all the
books and pictures cannot describe the third world. Kenya has been overloading
my senses since I arrived.
More people than I have ever seen in one place. Nairobi is huge and elbow to
elbow with humanity. Everything smells of diesel fuel and exhaust. No
emmissions testing here. The drive to Kisumu from Nairobi took almost seven
hours yesterday. The road is more potholes than road and James along with every
other driver drives at speeds you would not believe. The scenery through the
Great Rift Valley was spectacular but it is hard to appreciated when you are
scared silly by the speed you are travelling. Everywhere I look I see people,
even in what would seem the remotest places. People walking the road, selling
produce, tending cattle and sheep. Huts and red rusted roof buildings that some
call home. I know that God loves these people. Pray that I can get around the
poverty and dirt. Everthing is dusty or muddy but hearts need His love and
grace. This afternoon I will be with James at his church for a worship time.
It is why I have come.
Thanks, I want to say Karibu, Jesu, Karibu. Welcome, Jesus, Welcome.
Pray that our worship welcomes Him in our hearts.
Ken

Postby **agasfas** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:35 pm

Wow that's great man. SOrry i didn't reply earlier, don't know how I could have missed this one...
Anyways, I will pray for the safety and success of your fathers trip. Hopefully God will touch the hearts of many through your fathers journey. Look forward to hearing some more updates.

Postby **Mr. SmartyPants** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:47 am

thats so awesome! I hope to see more updates!

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:08 pm

Update: Recieved another email from dad, as follows:

I was at James' church this morning. Alomost a 4 hour service then
lunch with the pastor and we have another meeting at 3. The food is taking
so getting used to but that is to be expected.
I am here for a purpose and praying that God gives me the strength.
I believe He has used me already. James was correct when he said they
know how to shout and celebrate but that seems to be all they know.
They do not know how to be still in God's presence. I will tell you
all about it when I get home.
We leave for Butere tonight. James is getting a room in a guest house for me.
Ken
____

Man, I miss him. Real proud of him, though. Keep watching for more updates.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:26 pm

Update! Here's the most recent email:

Jambo everyone,
I tried to send you all an email on my first day here but was not able so here
is the big update.
I arrived in Nairobi on Thursday Dec. 9. James picked me up along with his wife
and several of her family members. I spent the night in Nairobi and went to
Kisumu on Friday Dec. 10. I led worship and James church on Saturday and
Sunday, three times total and we had a real sweet presence of God on us.
I have experienced far too much to relate so far.
Currently I am staying in the village of Butere for the crusade which is taking
place in another village, Shiatsala. It is everything you picture of Africa.
Thathed roof, mud walls, dirt roads that are either muddy or dusty. We have had
rain and so much fell yesterday that the crusade took place in the rain. We
started Wednesday, I did not play yesterday due to the rain and not wanting to
get my guitar soaked.
We have three more days of meetings, my friend James preaches the way he drives,
pedal to the floor. Many have raised hands to receive Christ and for healing.
I have been staying with Bishop Richard Ongudi for the Butere Miracle Center but
have moved to a nice guest house lodging today operated by the Catholic Diocese.
It will be nice to get a shower, I have not taken one since last Friday the 10th
and this is Friday the 17th.
I have taken many pictures and will have much to tell you all when I return.
Pray the roads do not wash out and I can get back to Nairobi on Monday. I
arrive in Baltimore on Wednesday.
Asante(Thank you) for your prayers.
___________
I can't wait to hear all he has to say when he gets back.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:27 pm

edit: sorry, I accidentally posted the same thing again here. Grr...

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:50 pm

Update: No email, but the Ladle is going back to the airport in Nairobi tonight. He'll be home on Wednesday, the 22nd. Pray for a safe return journey. I'm sure he'll have lots to tell when he comes home that wasn't covered in his emails and perhaps I'll take note of some of it and post it here.

Postby **wiggins** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:27 am

I'll pray.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:35 pm

Final Update: Dad's home! XD

__________________
Hey Everybody, I am back from Kenya and I must say it is really good to
be back in the U.S.
Some of you may not have received the updates I sent from over there
since I had some trouble with my address book on the internet.
Let me say a huge thanks for all your prayers and support. The ministry
times were awesome and I really felt God's hand in my worship and over my
trip. There were easily over 1000 people at the crusade each afternoon
and hundreds came forward to accept Christ. My prayer is that those
who truly wanted to know Him will make and effort to connect and grow in
Christ and that God will bless their lives. The people in the rural
villages like Shiatsala live in abject poverty. No jobs are available
and they subsist on small gardens and whatever they can come up with to
sustain themselves. Life is hard for everyone and women work the
hardest bringing in water, carrying everything possible on top of their
heads and taking care of the children and animals. I pray that thier
lives will be spiritually blessed and that they will know God's forgiving
grace.
I will relate one insight I had while trying to figure out my part in all
of this. James had wanted me to lead a more intimate worship time each
day after the 1-2 hours of dancing style praise and I just felt it was
not working. Most of the villagers do not speak English and had no idea
what I, the mazungo(white guy, spelling not correct) was doing there.
God spoke to my heart and I decided to start each day with my part even
before many people arrived. I worshipped over the market place and asked
God to fill the village with Himself and prepare the place for what He
wanted to do. It made a huge difference as even those who came forward
at the end seemed to truly want to know Jesus as opposed to coming
forward just to follow the crowd. James is planting a church with new
believers from the crusade and he had 50 people come last Sunday morning
for the first service.
The crusade went so well that James decided to move on to another small
village this week(Kwasero) and hold another series of meetings. He
started yesterday(Wednesday) and we pray for the same move from God.
I was also blessed to spend time with Bishop Richard Ongudi from the
Butere Miracle Center, a church of over 1000 people. Richard is a
wonderful man and my home church happens to support his work financially
so it was great to get to know him. He is wanting me to return to
minister at the Miracle Center and has offered to pay for my airfare.
I am giving this to God since I honestly am not ready to return anytime
soon. It will take me some time to process my experiences of the Third
World in my western mind.
I experienced far too much to relate in this update and hopefully I will
be able to speak with some of you individually
about the trip. I have many pictures to share and James shot video of
some of the meetings which he intends to copy and send to me. Words
cannot describe what the video will show. Watch my web site for pictures
in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks again to all of you and may God bless you during this season of
celebration. Christ came to earth for all of the people of the earth.
Your support made it possible for me to share that truth in a part of the
world I never imagined visiting.
Ken
http://www.kenkipp.com

My dad's going to Africa

My dad's going to Africa

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