Henry and Joseph on their new motorcycles

Here is some news cut from an email from Frank:

Joseph has been working on the website to make it meet the specifications you requested.

Lawrence has been in charge of the newsletters and contents therein and has been collecting articles and other pieces of information from all team members so that he can put it all together. I requested him to also collect information we will put in the special edition newsletter but that will get a special review from both Joseph and I before sending over to you.
I have Jack overseeing the rest in the various tasks they are performing as well as assign tasks to the other team members based on abilities. He is also sourcing the prices of printing the booklets for the pastors will forward the same to you for approval. We had a leaders' meeting and discussed the matter in detail.
In a previous leaders' meeting last week, we also discussed the various expense lines for the orphan administration funds and created a monthly budget for the same. I am working with Joseph in coming up with the document detailing how the orphan program works and we will have it as a document and also integrate it into our website.
I am also working on have some team members responsible for updating and keeping our Facebook fan page current so first I had to walk everyone through either configuring their phones or computers to receive TGD mail through outlook. It is faster, costs less because of shorter internet time and allows them to compose mail while offline and only make a connection when ready to send. Also all received mail are easily available on the local computer especially for reference purposes.
In summary I thank you so much for considering Henry and purchasing him a bike. You can tell from his facial expression that he is all happy and excited and we share in his joy as his trips and journeys have now been made more manageable. I have attached pictures for you to share in the joy. God Bless you so much.
On the side, I have made several attempts to send Kevin's glasses via Fedex and they refuse to take them without a prescription so I wrote to Kevin explaining the same and requesting him to scan his prescription for the glasses so that I can attach with them but I haven't heard back from him so I am waiting. I was also required to write a letter explaining that the glasses belonged to an American citizen and were forgotten in the vehicle while they were at the airport. Quite honestly I did not think that it was that difficult to send a pair of glasses to the States. Apparently they are classified together with medicine or something and so there is a process involved. Oh and in addition there is yet another form I have to fill. I don't mind the process but thought I should highlight the situation on the ground so that you may understand why the delay.


Okay, now this is Stephanie writing: I wanted to add that part about the glasses. It is very difficult to do things in Kenya that we take for granted. Many things take more process and more time. It's just hard. So when someone asks me to do this or that--sometimes I am not able to convey how difficult it can be going through the steps needed. The glasses are just a picture of normal business operations in Kenya. I pray God bring them the breakthrough!

Met with Titus! In the USA!

I had a great time in Southern Illinois this week. I drove down to see Titus and Rose. How exciting to see them in the USA! I had been planning to go see Anita ever since I've moved up here in April. But my personal travel schedule has been full and I've had a lot of wonderful visitors to my home. So it was God's timing and I rejoiced to make the 6+ hour drive with the beautiful changing tree colors of red, orange, gold, brown, green and just so many shades of beautiful.
I was so blessed to meet Anita's friends and see some I'd met before. I love Ed and Anita--they are Mom and Dad AND Brother and Sister to me. I've known Ed since 1987--BEFORE I WAS SAVED! And who knows if the Lord used him at that time? Jesus revealed Himself to me in December of 1987 and my whole world changed forever.
Anita was such a blessing to me as a young mom. She is very down to earth and loving and friendly. We are so much alike except that I was uptight about EVERYTHING and fearful and just plain inexperienced in life. Anita showed me the way of peace. She led me in serving the Lord with joy and abandon and Ed showed me how to walk with the Lord, learning His Word and obeying His Commands. We had a wonderful church family to raise our children (my children are about the same ages as Ed's and Anita's.)
Well, I ALWAYS love coming to Little Chapel! I first came for Rachel's wedding. Titus was there and oddly, we did not meet at that time! I did meet Joe Roberts, I remember.
but to come up again and meet friends at the Missions Board--what a blessing. People with the same heart as mine, loving the Lord and loving others. I really enjoyed visiting. I really enjoyed hearing Titus speak and even getting a chance to affirm what the Lord is doing in his community through him and Rose. He had a great video which was like coming home for me to watch. I love my Kenyan family! They are a part of me and it is my joy to serve them however the Lord makes a way.
I got to meet several orphan sponsors: Jody Williams, Cindy Winters, Heather Sais, Terah Ann Stearns, and Darla Martin. AND the Lord added Lisa and Jerrilyn to our family (Oh Jerrilyn, I may have misspelled your name because it is not right in front of me. I'll get it right soon! Hugs!)  We had SO MUCH FUN (well, I had fall off your seat fun) talking about the children and my experiences in Kenya. Anita and I just really enjoyed it. These are her home group women and we had a blast. We laughed, we cried, they gave and I love them for it! Glory to God! THANK YOU WOMEN OF GOD!
I pray the Lord gives me some time to go back there. What a great time I have with Anita and her friends and family. Love Love Love.
All Glory to Jesus for those He knits our hearts to!! He is too good to me. I praise Him!

Bible Study Report: Photos down below Erick's testimony

It is great joy to see the gospel spreading to more people. People getting to understand the true picture of the bible. The bible materials you left is a great boost to the spreading of the gospel in this community. Most people in this community don’t know how to read and write and only a quarter of the Christian population owns bibles. This means that Pastors have a great task to make people understand the word of God. But also this poses a great challenge; most preachers and teachers lack efficient teaching materials. We thank God for these few teaching materials from Willow Creek Church. It is what is making the whole difference.


God enabled us to attend two sermons in different churches and one thing in common was that all the pastors were using teaching materials from willow creek church. We worshiped and praised together. There was a mighty moving of the Lord in these sermons.

I had hard time choosing in which church to go because almost every pastor that attended the teachings last Sunday wanted us to fellowship in their respective churches. Most Pastors were eager to share with their congregations using the bible teaching materials that they received. We decided to visit two churches today and those are Ituti and Shitsitwi Cornerstone Ministries. As you are aware this is a ministry that has more than 40 branches in this locality.

The main speaker at Shitsitwi was Mr. Raphael Indoshi, a bible college student and a member of cornerstone. We reached there at around 9:00am. Mr. Raphael had an initial plan of visiting all of the 40 plus churches to teach the people the word of God. When he received the teaching materials, He decided that he will be using them in most of his meetings. God is empowering these teachings and this is a blessing. He only taught section one and a general overview of the material and it took Him long. I think these materials are deeper and we pray that God will open the understanding of His people so that they may understand His purpose to them. We praised the Lord together and left for Ituti.

Rev. Stanley Ingoka of Ituti Cornerstone also taught section one and a general overview. We arrived there in the course of the teachings. What interested the people was the cards. Those cards I think made the congregation livelier and it made them to understand better, especially the pictures. This pastor is really a gifted teacher of the word. He taught this material fluently in Luhya, the community language. We also had much to learn through these teachings. This is the best way to make people understand the bible. Most pastors have found these materials to be interesting and very effective in teaching the word. They Plan to ensure that the teachings reaches to more people and we praise the Lord for this.

Pastors requested us to pass their thanks to you and Willow Creek Church. They greatly appreciate these bible materials. Pastor Ingoka advised the congregation to take the teaching seriously and teach them to their families. We pray that God is opening ways for these pastors to get more materials and use them to change the world to Christ.

Erick's Testimony--Scroll down for his picture....

Am Erick, I was born in a very small and pour family within Kakamega District, western province part of Kenya. I lost my father and mother at the age of 4 and 5 consecutively and therefore I did not enjoy the parental love and care. My dad was polygamous, He had three wives and my mother happened to be the small woman and I was the only child from my mom. I stayed with my step mother who did some menial works in farming to keep me, her four children and my six step-brothers of her deceased co-wife. We hardly had meals in a day and we found it a problem to get basic needs like clothing and shelter.


I was thereafter adopted by my paternal uncle who was also not financially stable to fully sustain my studies and basic needs as well even though he wished to. My uncle’s family was God fearing and this made me to know Jesus at the age of 10 years. We went to church every Sunday and my uncle used to encourage and motivate me. I therefore recognized the magnitude of God at my early stage, by seeing many things He had done in my life. Whenever I was either spiritually or physically wounded he comforted me and gave me hope in life. This kind of life transformed me to a hard and strong young boy in the locality.

Despite the problems and difficulties I faced, I kept pushing on and working hard both at school and home. I used to help the family in doing some of jobs like washing, digging, cleaning the compound and more others. My hard-work brought me some opportunities for example through good performance at school, a well wisher stepped in to help me in paying school fees. This man of God paid my primary and secondary school fees. However, I used to guard his home, look after his animals, guard his farm, cleaning and some other manual jobs within his compound. However, the breakthroughs and experience made me to realize that the created universe is all about glory of God.

I stayed a prisoner life because I could not express myself or suggest any thing myself even if the thing had to affect my life, this kind of hostile environment scorned and intimidated me so much, but I prayed to God for freedom. My sharp brain made teachers to like me and always used me as an example to teach others. After my forth form course, I stayed home for two years jobless only to meet small opportunities that could come on my way like digging, weeding, harvesting and house construction for money.

In the year 2010 I was enrolled in the tgd community computer training where I studied computer packages and thereafter am studying computer programming course. This has involved some of programming languages like: html, xhtml, css, sql, C#, Asp.net among others. I also learned some other skills like: picture managing, web applications, Leadership skills by John Maxwell just to mention but few. At first, programming seemed to be so hard but when I deed it now and then, it has become fun in life. I therefore like it and I ask God to open the ways for tgd Kenyan programming team to start applying programming skills and knowledge in the daily life scenarios.

Apart from learning, I got an opportunity to work in the orphan’s project whereby I and my friends ensures that we visit orphans’ homes and find out some of basic things they need e:g food, medical, clothing, bedding and more others. We also visit them at schools and find out their curricular activities, education progress and challenges for instance, school fees, school uniform, course books, and shoes. By the fact that I grew up as an orphan, I stand a chance to understand very well problems affecting our orphans.

I not only monitor their physical growth but also encourage and motivate their spiritual development. I always tell them that God has a purpose for them and that Jesus is the father of orphans. My testimony sounds a blessing and miraculously encouraging to them thus giving them a step of faith and hope in life. I have a passion in serving them. I love and care for our orphans. Working with orphans is now part and parcel of my life because I enjoy being close to them as my brothers and sisters. Before I joined in the computer classes for my studies, I was very childish and I had fear to even speak before people, but I thank God because am now transformed in a new object that can boldly speak and express myself before congregations. This only happened after several lessons from good speakers like Stephanie, Steve and many other skilled speakers who taught me communication skills.

In addition, I advocate for the rights of orphans and weakened. Right now I stay with my Grandmother who initially found it rough to fully sustain her family of 6 grandchildren inclusive of me, but she now found it ease because of my support. I basically help the family in making decisions, buying food and many other social and basic issues. However, I glorify the lord because of the great transformation in my life because I see a great change and global growth in me spiritually, physically mentally and socially which gives me something to tell other people about God. This transformation has made me to be resourceful in the community, hence realizing leadership and development potential in me.

On 5th October, Mama Stephanie gave us a very wonderful talk; she encouraged us through her testimony. I learned that hard work pays and that God raises His people from very low background to a high level no matter what. Very many youth were happy, blessed and felt that Mama comes and to speak to us more. This is because many of us run short of faith and wisdom but such teachings gives hope and builds youths’ motives in working for God. However, I reflected my life and tried to compare with the teachings and realized that the teachings came to me at the right time, because I had lost hope in life and seen myself to be inferior.

Last but not list, God gave us a good team in Kenya which promotes love and unit. We don’t work to compete but to complete one another. We work and follow the footsteps of our fore leaders for instance Frank, Joseph and Henry who harmoniously work to make sure that we grow and perfect in our areas of profession. We see God’s manifestation of love and caring in the community and we wait to see what He has in stalk for us. I humbly take this golden opportunity to also thank the Almighty who inspired Mama Stephanie, Steve, Kevin, Pastor Ade, Anita as tgd vision bearers and other sponsors who came and brought light that will save lives of many Kenyans. I pray God to give them long lives, protect their families and bless works of their hands. Yours Erick.

Sunday October 16 ALL PRAISE TO GOD!

All praise to God for the opportunity He gave our churches! Through Trinity Global Development, God used Willow Creek Community Church to supply Cornerstone Church Kenya with Bible Study Materials. You may have seen earlier pictures of Jackson teaching pastors (scroll down.) Here Jackson is attending Ituti and Ishisitswe (not sure how to spell that one! but that is how I say it.) where Pastor Stanley and then Pastor Raphael taught these materials. We are greatly rejoicing with the pastors who now have a resource that has such depth that they can continually teach through this and offer their congregations another solid teaching of the Word.

Sharon goes to hospital

FRANK WRITES: Yesterday,  I accompanied Sharon and her guardian, Mary Salasia to the Kakamega General Hospital where she underwent x-ray, ultra sound and malaria tests. Sharon has been complaining of chest pains every now and then with excruciating pain that has made her school attendance erratic. The doctors examined her, gave her medication and scheduled another appointment should the attacks kick in again to enable them analyze the case further. She was also found to have the malaria parasites and was treated for malaria too.

Tiny taste of my recent trip-- I will have larger photos from Kevin later

oh my goodness these came out so small!  This is Gladys.

Here is Cynthia.

Sharon and me.

I am with Abednego here.

I've got Vivian on the left and Lillian on the right and they both need sponsor renewal or new sponsors. They are precious girls! Then Gladys is on my left and Fridah on my right.

Pastors getting Bible teaching materials

Special thanks to Dan Lovaglia, Teaching and Content Director at Willow Creek Community Church for giving Bible resources to the Pastors of Cornerstone Ministries in Western Kenya. Our Orphan Team Lead, Jack, reviewed the materials with several pastors across three hours. Many pastors traveled long distances to access these materials for their congregations after serving in their churches that Sunday morning. Praise God for these Bible overview materials that have 12 flashcards telling God's Story through His Word. It is a broad overview entitled, "Long Story Short" and begins with Genesis and going through the Old Testament showing God's redemptive plan through easy to draw pictures culminating in the promised Savior and the birth of a new people, His Church, who are one in purpose and move out to tell the world of this great plan of salvation through Christ and a relationship with our Mighty God who saves. WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO GOD!!! And so thankful for this system of teaching God's Word that is so deep yet so simple that even those without education can recieve LIGHT! The pictures are easy to draw and easy to memorize and easy to understand. We rejoice in the Love of God bringing understanding and revelation to His Beloved around the world! Our TGD Kenya team photographer, David, will be with Jack at the Ituti village church when the pastor presents to his flock. We'll have photos to show how the Good News is spreading to the poor! Hallelujah!

Program of school visitation; sponsored children with their teachers

These are pictures taken by the TGD Kenyan team photo lead, David Okedi last month, but I didn't have time to put them up. I wanted to add them now because I have seen such a tremendous transformation in these programming students, Christabel and Erick. Truly when I met them, they were as young people although very eager to learn and very quiet. When I met with them privately on my recent visit, I saw adults. I saw confident, capable adults. Erick shared his testimony of how God has really transformed him. He is an orphan and he felt sure that confident and intelligent people came from good families or went to the best schools or had privileges that he did not have--and yet, now he sees that HE is a leader and HE is capable and GOD can do anything through him! His computer abilities amaze him, and the training we have given him in leadership and business manners have increased his confidence 100x. Frank got the students to go through a John Maxwell series, "The Leader in You." and it was yet another leaping point of growth for everyone. Erick and Christabel really enjoy visiting with school officials and guardians through out the month. They enjoy giving one on one personal attention to the sponsored children. Whenever TGD team members arrive, the children all light up because they feel the love and support that they get from the TGD Kenyan workers. It is as if they are all one family. Erick is able to encourage them where they are at and build life into them. Christabel can sympathize with the unique problems girls face. They are great role models for the children and we bless the work they are doing --as they are the Hand of God to our children. Here we have photos of Dianah in blue who was so excited to hear from me that she has a high school sponsor for next year! She is a top performer in her school and sure to be admitted to Butere as Jane was---how awesome that by God's design, but by chance in our experience, we have managed to sponsor such top children! (it thrills me!) Dianah has a very faithful sponsor who gives automatically each month and now another sponsor is saving up to give her the extra $400 she will need as a 9th grader .....what they call Form 4. Next is Vivian. Vivian has been without a sponsor for many months. I have been covering her but she really needs someone to come along and commit to her. I feel I cannot put her out of the program, but the program is best run if someone else sponsors the children while I pay the salaries of the staff and workers and other various expenses we have in the broad TGD range. We have a few general donation givers who help us with projects and general expenses, but Vivian really needs a sponsor of her own. Please consider Vivian!
Lastly, we have Ben and Yvonne. Yvonne is a little ball of sunshine. I am pleased even to see Ben smiling here! Ben is quite shy and a very gentle young man. He is doing well in school, though. Yvonne is new to the program and she has AIDS but is responding well to medication. We will put her on a wholesome diet and continue to give her love and support. Praise God for sending her a sponsor! and God bless Ben's sponsor as well. We give Glory to God for His tenderness and love to our Kenyan family.

yes, amazing pictures are coming

Kevin took his cool camera and took pictures of the children, the staff/students, and the safari. We saw LIONS! It was overwhelming and cool. There they were, giant cats, snoozing just so close to us. And even a hyena in the trail--we were going up a steep hill and the mist was obscuring our vision but as we approached, we could just make him out there--and Kevin managed to pop his head out of the sunroof and get a photo. We had no idea what we would see except we were pretty certain we would get the baboons and zebra. Then there were also giraffes, ostrich, rhino, oh so many animals! and we were RIGHT THERE in their home. No zoo for these guys. It was a testiment to the Lord. All Glory to Him who created us!
It was so good to see the children, too. I greeted each one. I changed their food to healthier options. we aren't going to be giving sodas during distribution day and we are choosing breads with whole grains. Everyone got a toothbrush and Dr. Powell's office, here in Barrington IL also gave toothpaste. We had enough toothbrushes for all the preschool, all the orphans, AND the staff and students plus some left over. For $40, I purchased 2 boxes of 144 temporary toothbrushes with instant toothpaste on them. Toothbrushes should be changed every 3 months (or less!) and so anyone who wants to donate for toothbrushes on any future trip--please do! We have SO MANY people in need--and it is just a great blessing!
I can't remember all that we did even though I am freshly returned. I really did try to document more though. I promise you, I am NOT thrilled to be in these photos. Even harder is sort of shouting from the rooftop about the things you are doing. So it is a battle, but I want to fight for the well being of my Kenyan friends and family. I am overjoyed to be their advocate. I praise GOD that He allows me to work for others and serve others. This work that you share with me brings praises to God. Those who receive are SO THANKFUL!!!
As I met with each of the students who have been promoted to working in the orphan program, there was so much gratitude. It was the kind that swells in your heart and spills over--even some were at a loss for words. But I could see it and it was a great blessing to know these students have been blessed by the Lord. One student, Don, has been living very well in his village because everyone now knows to call on him if they have a computer problem. He finds he can fix most things and can install software for people and trouble shoot and more---so he is called upon and makes money now. It is something he could have never done without the TGD training! Another student, Derrick, has so little money and works his garden as a farmer in the early morning before coming to programming classes. He has a wife and two children, one just born three months ago. When LifeStraw came to his area, he was given a job because he was the only one in his village area who could use a computer (and he can do it well!) Plus one of our students, Agnes from Pastor Steve's church, has dropped her classes because she has gotten a job as a secretary due to her fine computer skills! Plus, another student, Ruth, now works for a member of parliament! PRAISE GOD!
We will be working on bringing you a photo and an expanded story of the above. This is one of my 10,000 life long dreams come true! (That's my phrase borrowed from Daggit of Angry Beavers---he also had 10,000 lifelong dreams in one day.) All glory to Jesus for how He lifts us up and how He rewards work! These students are reaping the rewards of their hard work---amen!