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

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.

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!

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

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.

Day Three

The day began as we gathered around the handmade table, eating our breakfast before we left for our journey and we were greeted by two spider monkeys, peeping through the window. That was the first time that Kevin and Sherry had seen them here. As we left for our journey for Mlandizi, the place where the RCC is being established, we left the workers we met in 2009, Willie and Isaac, installing a water heater in the Masanjus home so that they would have a warm shower. Along the way to the Coastal Region in the outside city, our hearts and emotions were moved with the needs of the multitude. We each discussed how Jesus would have met all of their needs and we wondered, "What can we do?" This was an experience for everyone. Although some have been here more than once, it's still an experience for your eyes to behold. Please pray for Africa today.

As we entered the rural village, we were greeted by the founders of the village. Everyone had a look of excitement and were so happy to see us again and also those who came with us. We were surprised how "MeMaw", Kevin's grandmother (BeBe in Swahili) has been such an inspiration to those she meets. The room changes when she enters; they are amazed! She has traveled so far to see them! After our greetings with the people there, the time for which we had long awaited had finally arrived. The sound of the motor of the drill began to tell the story we had long awaited to share. The well is being drilled as we speak! They had worked very hard, night and day to clear the land, to dig the foundation of the house, to place the concrete and even hand dug an 8 foot by 12 foot hole for a sewer.

It was so beautiful! The wind blew constantly. Some trees had small bananas in them. It is very tropical. Everyone we meet on the property welcomes us with an abundance of joy and happiness. God is good and He goes after the one lost sheep! Tomorrow morning, we leave early to minister at two different churches and will minister at a school as well. Please keep us in your prayers that we may reach many with the Gospel!

Kevin Rickles

End of Day Two- Update

From Sherry:

Today, we met with the workers to discuss the building of the ministry house in Mlandizi. Two of the workers are Islamic and worked on the building the first house last year, so Kevin and Sherry had a relationship already. We showed them the video that Kevin had put together of the progress last year and Kevin was able to talk to them about how our God gives us something that no other gods do--JOY!

We experienced going to the market. Today was "Market Day", so there was an unusual amount of people everywhere buying and selling. There was cattle walking down the middle of the road, led by a big bull, all of which were about 10 feet away from us! All the children were calling Ashley "teacher" because that is how they relate to young American girls. Later in the afternoon, we took a trip into town to get supplies and experienced the people begging. One guy pushed another man with no lower body to our window, and he just stared at us, wanting money.

The traffic was even worse than what it is in America, for there are no traffic laws here. We saw a man on the side of the road with a machine gun, watching the people. All the kids were either holding hands or had their arms around each other protecting one another. Women nurse their babies openly. A lot of other women were balancing big buckets full of things on their heads while walking down the streets.

We are in the process of locating a bigger vehicle for travel. Our plans are to go to Mlandizi tomorrow. We will try to update what happens there.

Day Two: Arrival in Dar es Salaam

After a very long flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, and then an extremely long layover in Johannesburg (19 hours, whew!), Team Rickles has made it to their destination. Here it is from their perspective (via text):

We are all tired from the 19-hour layover, but super excited! We were going to get a hotel in Johannesburg, but a room was $440.00 a night, SOOOO we hung out in a restaurant called the Mugg and Bean all night. When we arrived in Dar es Salaam, before welcoming us {into their country}, a guy stopped us and asked us a lot of questions about why we were there, and what we were carrying in our bags. Once we entered, Geoffrey and Agnes were waiting for us with three vehicles to transport us {and our stuff}. Once we arrived at their home, we sat down to a big feast that they had prepared for us. We were so ready for rest!! Will update more soon!


Stay tuned!

THE PLAN PHASE TWO- Day One

At this time, the Rickles team has landed in Johannesburg, South Africa and await their departure into Tanzania. Continue to cover them in prayer as they enter into this divinely appointed time. More details to come.

Paula Lett