On Monday, August 2nd, we arose early preparing to travel into town to carry Me-Maw to the airport. She was happy but sad to go. She was anxious to see Paw-Paw Warren. She departed at 7:30 am and we left to the RCC. Again, on arriving, within minutes, the children came running and surrounded us. We are beginning to make a permanent bond with them. Kevin and Geoffrey discussed with the plumber, Willie, the best way to control the massive flow of water. Plans were made at the house, more materials have arrived, preparing to pour concrete beams around the tops of the walls. Had some unique critter experiences that only showed up after we had preached the Gospel, only confirming even more that we are making a difference in the spiritual realm. It is a little after 3 pm and we head to Mikumi National Park. The Masanjus are anxious to show us the large animals of their country. After a couple of tries, we finally found a place of rest and turned in for the night.
Tuesday morning, we were served a fresh, hot breakfast at the Genesis Hotel (aka "Snake Park"). We loaded into the vehicle where we rode in a Land Rover with an open top, making the experience extra memorable. One of the first things that we saw was the male lion which was a rare find. However, we had prayed that we would see him. Zebra, elephants, wilderbeasts, warthogs, giraffes, etc all met us and posed for some great pictures. It was great to see God's creation in such splendor and detail! We headed back to the RCC which is a halfway point between where we were and Dar es Salaam where Geoffrey lives.
Life here is much different: farmland, and people walking for miles in places that seem like nowhere. Today in arriving at the Center, it was bittersweet, because of having to say goodbye. Tomorrow we will be unable to travel back due to others things that we will have to do before leaving Thursday morning. We arrived to the water tank sitting on top of the natural mound of dirt. The ditch of the water line going from the tank to the well (220 feet) and everything was in place. Kevin watched as Willie put the final piping to control water flow into a 1" pipe that extends 15 feet from the main stand pipe. All the workers laughed with amazement as the water flowing from the 4" pipe was reduced to the 1" pipe creating a permanent, strong stream of clean, cool water. God gave us His best today! The children came and for the first time, language barriers were seemingly broken as they showed us their games while the mothers participated. We took our last deep breathes and told our goodbyes and left for the Masanjus, arriving at 10 pm.
Everyone is tired and ready for a good nights sleep. Never give up on your dreams or your vision because with God all things are possible! Signing off!
Kevin and the Crew
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Water Continues to Flow!!
God is great, God is good, thank Him today for all your great food! We laughed today as we pretended to look for the next exit with CrackerBarrell, Waffle House, or even Burger King. Burger King here would compare to our Outback Staekhouse if it existed; what a luxury to have! However, we eat in abundance. Food is prepared twice a day, but often we are eating out of suit cases or convenient stores. Thank God for your meal today! We pass thousands that are without.
The Living Water comtinues to pour out heavily from the depths of God's earth. Even as I pen these words, I can not even describe our feelings and emotions of what we are partaking of. This doesn't just happen here! The history of this place is dry and barren land for centuries. Many of you have been praying and believing God for months that when we began to drill, God would shorten the depth of reaching the water and give us an abundance of it. Well, His plans were greater as you have read! We drilled further than expected, 270 feet! The miracle is, God has not only brought the source of water closer to the surface, He has burst it out of the ground! A 4" pipe, 270 ft deep, and the water runs a continuous boil of 1 to 2" above the 4" pipe. We were told at 1st this was normal because of the air injected into the ground, although the drill team seemed puzzled at the amount of water pressure coming out. 1st day, we were told "This is normal"; 2nd day, "Something's different"; and the 3rd day, "What is happening"! Praise God!! We continued to purchase a very nice generator (also used for sound system), submursible water pump, and a large 2000 liter water tank today. Their theory was that when they switched on the pump and it ran for a while, the water would go away! Guess what? It did not! Within seconds, it burst back out of the ground! We hit the main underground river - "The River of Life" for this place. The water can't be any cleaner than this - natural, clear, running water straight from Emmanuel's veins! We will use the pump and tank to irrigate gardens, send pressure to the house, and future classrooms and restrooms/bathhouse. The water for drinking will flow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from a small pipe at the base of the well for anyone to fetch water to drink - cool, cool, clear water. They use the term "ice water"! So there is not only clean water, but cool, clean water.
The church is finished! We held our 1st service today and many came! It was indescribable! They did not want to leave! Everyone was laughing and dancing. Now, we are 3/4 finished with the house. By Wednesday, it should be complete.
We love and miss you all! God Bless!
The Crew
The Living Water comtinues to pour out heavily from the depths of God's earth. Even as I pen these words, I can not even describe our feelings and emotions of what we are partaking of. This doesn't just happen here! The history of this place is dry and barren land for centuries. Many of you have been praying and believing God for months that when we began to drill, God would shorten the depth of reaching the water and give us an abundance of it. Well, His plans were greater as you have read! We drilled further than expected, 270 feet! The miracle is, God has not only brought the source of water closer to the surface, He has burst it out of the ground! A 4" pipe, 270 ft deep, and the water runs a continuous boil of 1 to 2" above the 4" pipe. We were told at 1st this was normal because of the air injected into the ground, although the drill team seemed puzzled at the amount of water pressure coming out. 1st day, we were told "This is normal"; 2nd day, "Something's different"; and the 3rd day, "What is happening"! Praise God!! We continued to purchase a very nice generator (also used for sound system), submursible water pump, and a large 2000 liter water tank today. Their theory was that when they switched on the pump and it ran for a while, the water would go away! Guess what? It did not! Within seconds, it burst back out of the ground! We hit the main underground river - "The River of Life" for this place. The water can't be any cleaner than this - natural, clear, running water straight from Emmanuel's veins! We will use the pump and tank to irrigate gardens, send pressure to the house, and future classrooms and restrooms/bathhouse. The water for drinking will flow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from a small pipe at the base of the well for anyone to fetch water to drink - cool, cool, clear water. They use the term "ice water"! So there is not only clean water, but cool, clean water.
The church is finished! We held our 1st service today and many came! It was indescribable! They did not want to leave! Everyone was laughing and dancing. Now, we are 3/4 finished with the house. By Wednesday, it should be complete.
We love and miss you all! God Bless!
The Crew
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Our Trip Continues
Greetings from Tanzania! All is well! Today at the R.C.C. sight, the framing for the roof of the church reached it's half-way point. We go tomorrow to pick up the sheet metal. If things continue, as they are, our Saturday crusade will be held in the new church. At the house, the masons have layed block up 85% of all walls. There is such peace all around there. Down at the well, for over a day and a half, water is pouring out of the pipe! To remove any of the settlements from drilling, they placed a temporary cap over the pipe, drilled a 1" hold which allows the water to clear itself. There is a continuous stream! The water is so clear and cool. We are amazed that John, the caretaker, seeing the water continue to run, placed a small garden near the well and was watering the garden when we arrived to prevent wasting the water.
It had been dry for so long, this is probably the first true garden that has ever been on this property for a long period of time. It was an example to all of us that the well was already bringing life in a dry area. The people are so happy!
Sherry and Ashley conversed with and loved on the ladies and their children that had worked so hard to bring water when they were drilling the well. They gave out chewing gum and jumpropes to the kids. Me-Maw, Kevin's grandmother continues to do very well and is so full of joy to be here despite the circumstances she faces at home with her husband, Kevin's PawPaw. She has helped them wash clothes, cook and go to the market; she is quickly becoming African.
Continue to pray for Paw Paw Warren . We know that the enemy has tried to spoil the woris of the Lord, but by the power of Jesus Christ, the enemy is being defeated. We have witnessed the true power of Christ. There is such peace and joy in the middle of this storm. We believe Me-Maw is coming back greater than when she came. Our travels continue to be long, and often tiresome, but your prayers and all of your support has kept us renewed day by day. There are too mamny things to share concerning the powerful testimonies of God. We love you and we thank you and look forward to sharing again soon. God Bless--
The R. C. C. Crew
It had been dry for so long, this is probably the first true garden that has ever been on this property for a long period of time. It was an example to all of us that the well was already bringing life in a dry area. The people are so happy!
Sherry and Ashley conversed with and loved on the ladies and their children that had worked so hard to bring water when they were drilling the well. They gave out chewing gum and jumpropes to the kids. Me-Maw, Kevin's grandmother continues to do very well and is so full of joy to be here despite the circumstances she faces at home with her husband, Kevin's PawPaw. She has helped them wash clothes, cook and go to the market; she is quickly becoming African.
Continue to pray for Paw Paw Warren . We know that the enemy has tried to spoil the woris of the Lord, but by the power of Jesus Christ, the enemy is being defeated. We have witnessed the true power of Christ. There is such peace and joy in the middle of this storm. We believe Me-Maw is coming back greater than when she came. Our travels continue to be long, and often tiresome, but your prayers and all of your support has kept us renewed day by day. There are too mamny things to share concerning the powerful testimonies of God. We love you and we thank you and look forward to sharing again soon. God Bless--
The R. C. C. Crew
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Day Seven: WATER IS FLOWING
The water is flowing!!Today we chose to stay in Dar es Salaam to look at water pumps. We continued to get calls from the R.C.C. that the water was flowing and it was sweeter than ever. We were told by the man who drilled the well that something was special about this place, because in his nine years of drilling wells, this is the sweetest (best and cleanest) water that he has ever seen! He said it tasted like Kilimanjaro water! We are looking for a pump to retrieve water on a permament basis. Tomorrow, the man over the drilling is supposed to take us to find our best options (as there are many options). But we are needing a pump to fit our budget as well as provide water for several years. Please be praying for favor.
MeMaw and Ashley finally experienced the market place that contained all of the arts and crafts. We are amazed at their talent and excellent work. Our day ended traveling to a church upon a mountaintop that Kevin refers to as "Mount Sinai" because Ricky, Kevin and Sherry experience such a presence of God there last year. Kevin gave a quick but "on time" word about dry bones that was received as confirmation by the people because they had just heard this in the form of instruction from someone else. Ashley led worship and set the atmosphere for Sherry to minister on "Blessings or Cursings: It's a Choice". The people received the Word and celebrated in dance! They then heard from MeMaw and honored her by giving her gifts. The assistant pastor, Bahati, invited us to her home after service. As we were leaving the service, Kevin and Sherry found a lady that they have been looking for since arriving in Africa. Kevin had been approached by someone in America, who had driven to his job the day before we left and explained to Keving that God had shown him a vision of a lady. He described what this lady would be wearing and said that she was facing a financial wall in her life. He gave Kevin a love offering from God to give to this lady when we located her. And at this moment, we were standing before her with the Holy Spirit acknowledging to both Kevin and Sherry at different times that this was the lady! Even Geoffrey said that there was something special about this lady. We had Geoffrey explain to her in detail what was taking place and that God has seen her troubles from a distant land. She wept and smiled and thanked God! Later, we discovered that many who knew of her circumstances were very excited for her.
Our journey to the pastor's home was an experience in itself: washed out roads, and broken cubbards made it impossible to get to it by vehicle. So, we continued by foot, passing a narrow concrete bridge to get to the home, but once we entered, we found peace, rest, and a wonderful m eal. The time at this writing is now 10 past midnight. We are going to bed to rest for another exciting adventure when we wake.
MeMaw and Ashley finally experienced the market place that contained all of the arts and crafts. We are amazed at their talent and excellent work. Our day ended traveling to a church upon a mountaintop that Kevin refers to as "Mount Sinai" because Ricky, Kevin and Sherry experience such a presence of God there last year. Kevin gave a quick but "on time" word about dry bones that was received as confirmation by the people because they had just heard this in the form of instruction from someone else. Ashley led worship and set the atmosphere for Sherry to minister on "Blessings or Cursings: It's a Choice". The people received the Word and celebrated in dance! They then heard from MeMaw and honored her by giving her gifts. The assistant pastor, Bahati, invited us to her home after service. As we were leaving the service, Kevin and Sherry found a lady that they have been looking for since arriving in Africa. Kevin had been approached by someone in America, who had driven to his job the day before we left and explained to Keving that God had shown him a vision of a lady. He described what this lady would be wearing and said that she was facing a financial wall in her life. He gave Kevin a love offering from God to give to this lady when we located her. And at this moment, we were standing before her with the Holy Spirit acknowledging to both Kevin and Sherry at different times that this was the lady! Even Geoffrey said that there was something special about this lady. We had Geoffrey explain to her in detail what was taking place and that God has seen her troubles from a distant land. She wept and smiled and thanked God! Later, we discovered that many who knew of her circumstances were very excited for her.
Our journey to the pastor's home was an experience in itself: washed out roads, and broken cubbards made it impossible to get to it by vehicle. So, we continued by foot, passing a narrow concrete bridge to get to the home, but once we entered, we found peace, rest, and a wonderful m eal. The time at this writing is now 10 past midnight. We are going to bed to rest for another exciting adventure when we wake.
Day Six-NEW THINGS
Greetings from Tanzania! Today was an awesome day! Many things happened for the first time. MeMaw stayed behind and showed Agnes how to cook potatoes in the oven. The rest of us went to Mlandezi. We arrived to the children playing under the trees while their mothers carried water down to where the well was being drilled. Small gifts that were sent from home were given out to the children (box cars, chewing gum, bubbles). They played for hours! All of the support columns for the church were set and we travelled back to a local village to purchase all of the framing materials for the church roof.
As for Sherry and Ashley, the way we all traveled into a small room to pay for the materials was an experience! The cornerstone was set for the walls and by the end of the day, the walls were waist high. As for the well, the plastic sleeve was inserted into the bored hole, 270 feet and small marble stone was placed around pipe. All of the machinery was removed from sight; now, we have a 4" pipe sticking out of the ground, awaiting to be purged and tested (set for tomorrow). Everything is so surreal. Being here to us is indescribable. We go tomorrow to try and find the proper pump for the well. Please pray for us as we make these decisions as these are God's people and this is His land. We want to do His will. We are excited to go to a church Wednesday that Kevin, Sherry and Ricky visited last year to share the Good News. Thank you for your prayers and support!
God Bless!
As for Sherry and Ashley, the way we all traveled into a small room to pay for the materials was an experience! The cornerstone was set for the walls and by the end of the day, the walls were waist high. As for the well, the plastic sleeve was inserted into the bored hole, 270 feet and small marble stone was placed around pipe. All of the machinery was removed from sight; now, we have a 4" pipe sticking out of the ground, awaiting to be purged and tested (set for tomorrow). Everything is so surreal. Being here to us is indescribable. We go tomorrow to try and find the proper pump for the well. Please pray for us as we make these decisions as these are God's people and this is His land. We want to do His will. We are excited to go to a church Wednesday that Kevin, Sherry and Ricky visited last year to share the Good News. Thank you for your prayers and support!
God Bless!
Day Five-WATER
It's Monday and plans have changed. We have decided to postpone our trip to Mikumi because things are moving quickly at the center. Geofrey and Kevin met the builder while the ladies stayed behind and visited the neighbor and the kids in the neighborhood.
We purchased the columns/woodposts for the church. The foundation of the church was also dug today! History of this area has been changed !!. Now we have established a place that God will continually meet His people. The well has reached its depth-90 meters/270 feet. So many people were appearing from nowhere. The children were laughing and pointing as the well was being drilled. Everyone was so excited!! Women and men of all ages carried large quantities of water from long distances to place in a tank for the use of drilling. Sadly, this muddy water was also their drinking water. Now we are waiting for tomorrow when they will begin purging the well to test its capacity and cleanness.
Today, 7/26/ 2010, we have reached WATER! Praise God! As for the house, they continue working very hard to finish. Kevin and Geoffrey arrived back home around 10 pm; it was a long day. Continue to pray for us because now we are reaching the people. Please pray that God will give us wisdom and understanding on how to minister to them. These are God's children and He has trusted us with them.
Kevin
We purchased the columns/woodposts for the church. The foundation of the church was also dug today! History of this area has been changed !!. Now we have established a place that God will continually meet His people. The well has reached its depth-90 meters/270 feet. So many people were appearing from nowhere. The children were laughing and pointing as the well was being drilled. Everyone was so excited!! Women and men of all ages carried large quantities of water from long distances to place in a tank for the use of drilling. Sadly, this muddy water was also their drinking water. Now we are waiting for tomorrow when they will begin purging the well to test its capacity and cleanness.
Today, 7/26/ 2010, we have reached WATER! Praise God! As for the house, they continue working very hard to finish. Kevin and Geoffrey arrived back home around 10 pm; it was a long day. Continue to pray for us because now we are reaching the people. Please pray that God will give us wisdom and understanding on how to minister to them. These are God's children and He has trusted us with them.
Kevin
Sunday, July 25, 2010
DAY FOUR
We are just getting back at 8 pm. Today was awesome! Kevin and Sherry preached at the first church and we were able to pray over all of them. We gave them gifts for the children. The anointing was so strong that Geoffrey had a hard time translating for Kevin. Ashley led us in worship. We went to a high school called Breakthrough High School. Ashley and Kevin spoke. Ashley preached and did an altar call; about 30 kids came down. She handed out red rag strings to remind them of the blood of Christ. We prayed over them and left about 5 pm. We enjoyed all the worship and we all taught on the Cross or reminded them who they were in Christ. We go back to Mlandizi tomorrow and we pray we see water. Then onto safari while they get the well capped and ready. We love you!!
Stay posted!
Sherry Rickles.
Stay posted!
Sherry Rickles.
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