Praise God!

Here is a photo from NYTimes showing a child getting rescued. I feared they would come for us and want us to leave our dogs. My heart went out to parents, particularly those with multiple children under five. It is hard to keep little ones safe and I am sooooo thankful my children are grown!! Still,I have my two large dogs,Laura's dog, and Sarah's cat. I had lifejackets out for the dogs with leashes on them through the night. Plus a backpack ready ( with TGD bookwork and my passport!!) for myself and a DOG pack with food n water. We never had a rescue scenerio but some did.

Trees down everywhere

Many without electricity and soooo many trees down in streets. Around us, crews and residents did a great job of getting them out of streets. Debris everywhere- leaves and branches littering yards. Tree limbs everwhere. Huge trucks cracked And so many like this picture from The New York Times slide show where the root system snapped off just a foot or so underground. Often the grass is pulled up looking like a hanging sheet of astroturf hung over the roots to dry. We are right At the water but managed no water in our yard at the new house. The old house was spared but the yard was soaked and the lake came in to make a swamp in the forest area.
Scroll down for photos of that yard in an earlier post.

Dock is submerged

Ducks enjoying the water in the yard

Everyone safe and dry

The house I just moved out of had plenty of yard water and seven downed trees

Titus in Texas!

Thanks to Christa for hosting Bishop Titus in Austin, TX!

Paul gets a new mattress!

Report from David:
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> On Friday we were at shibuli with Christabel Erick and I. We did pay a visit to our sponsored children who study there. We didn't spend much time there because we had already visited them before so the main issue was to give them the basic personal effects that were bought for them. Generally they were all fine and everyone was active when we got to school.
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> We asked Paul to come for his mattress after school. He came picked his new mattress was happy to have one again because he was sleeping on rags.
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Remember those with less at Christmas! (Hurricane coming here, geesh.)

 

Beloved!

 

I am praying for everyone associated with Trinity Global Development! Blessings to our staff, children, guardians, sponsors, donors and each of our families, in Jesus name.

 

Thank you for your continuing generosity as I have gone through so many transitions---and yet another one.

 

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME CHRISTMAS FUN FOR OUR CHILDREN!

Remember to give to our sweet children as we worship the coming of Christ to save us.

 

As Hurricane Sandy bears down on us, we are moving to the other house.

We are asking Jesus to guard lives throughout the USA, turn hearts to Jesus, and may everyone cooperate during a difficult storm and the aftermath.

I am hoping we can somehow get all the yard furniture and every loose item outdoors into some safe place away from high winds. (both this house and the new one!)

 

If, by chance, I am out of electricity, you can post to me on facebook or send me an email that should get through my phone eventually.

The Post Office always manages a spectacular job so      PLEASE SEND GIFTS TO OUR CHILDREN AND REMEMBER THEM THIS CHRISTMAS!

 

If you can, please send them before November 22^nd so that I can wire them on November 25^th.

 

NEW ADDRESS

49 Percy Williams Drive

East Islip, NY 11730

 

You have no idea how thankful I am at the faithfulness of everyone as I have changed my address on you over and over.

Clearly, God has given you Grace!
I hope He keeps it up!!!!

J

 

IN Christ with you,

Stephanie

 

PRAY FOR TITUS WHO IS IN AUSTIN WITH CHRISTA HORST! GO BY AND VISIT AND ENCOURAGE THIS SAINT IN THE LORD!

 

Stephanie A. Rivers

Chief Operations Officer

Trinity Global Development

49 Percy Williams Dr.

East Islip, NY 11730

512-699-2886

mailto:sarivers@sbcglobal.net

www.TexasRivers.blogspot.com

www.TGDonline.com

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus, Glory to you for JOBS!

                                                 FREE COMMUNITY COMPUTER TRAINING-SIGNIFICANT CHANGE STORY

The impact of this program continues to grow each day. With almost a hundred students graduating, We can't imagine the great influence that Trinity Global Development is having to this community. A lot of testimonies are being received from the students who graduated. Most of them have secured employment due to the knowledge that they received through the program. 

Collins Namayi is an example, today during the issuing of certificates of completion he had a chance to tell his story. Collins now works in a computer services shop in his home town. He is able to do computer services such as typesetting, printing, scanning, lamination and others. He is so grateful to TGD for changing his life because now he can earn his daily bread. He is very interested in getting further in IT and believes he will be even better than he is currently.

May the Almighty God be glorified.

Thank you.

Jack

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. --2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Vitalis Prayer Day

On Wednesday 24th October 2012, I (Joseph Omuto) attended a prayer service for the 12th Grade (Form 4s) at Lunza Secondary School. Vitalis is sitting for his final exams (Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education) beginning tomorrow the 26th October 2012. I gave him a success card on behalf of TGD. He is upbeat. He believes he has done his best and the rest he leaves to God.

Let's remember him in our prayers through out this examination period. The exams will take four weeks. To date, TGD is a family to him. It wasn't easy to get to this point and he acknowledges that. He is so thankful to the sponsor who made it possible for him to come this far.

We pray he qualifies with a university entry grade.

Kenya Updates!

 

Greetings,

 

Our medical health cover program for the children is still on track and progressing well albeit slower than anticipated. Their birth documents are being processed as well as other required items after which they will be ready to be presented to the National Health and Insurance scheme for final processing and inclusion into the scheme.

 

The free community computer classes is proceeding well and coming Friday we shall have those who have successfully gone through the program receiving certificates of completion. Given the legal status of TGD in Kenya, we are working through Cornerstone Gospel Ministries as agreed and so the certificates reads as follows:

 

CORNERSTONE GOSPEL MINISTRIES, FREE COMMUNITY COMPUTER TRAINING IN COLLABORATION WITH TRINITY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT INC. AWARD  SO AND SO THIS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR SUCCESSFULLY GOING THROUGH A 3 MONTH COMPUTER LITERACY COURSE COVERING THE FOLLOWING TOPICS……

 

There is genuine joy and gladness and the response of the community is overwhelming. So many life changing testimonies from participants and many who had lost hope have found renewed strength and those who felt dejected and alone have found friends and a community that loves and cares for them with the love of Christ. Yesterday I met five participants from a far off village who have decided to rent a place temporarily at Shibuli market center so that they can attend to the classes. One of them runs a salon back in the village they come from and since they do not have computer services offered, they are planning to start a computer business once they are done with their training.

 

Another young man is almost completing his course and he has applied for a job recently. The only bit he needed to qualify for the job was computer literacy and so he can’t wait to put his newly acquired skills into action. Two sisters and a few other friends are contemplating teaming together and buying a used computer so that they can practice some more when away from TGD and also with time open a computer bureau. The testimonies go on and on and I am so glad we started this program. So many people have a lot of benefits they attribute to the program. It is also a win win situation because it has also made Bishop Titus and Cornerstone church popular in the region because of the god work being done in the community. May the good Lord continue to bless you even more.

 

We are so excited to see the Lord’s hand of favor rested upon your family even during challenges such as when you had to move to another house, he has promoted Steve and I am seeing the Lord promote the entire TGD family from the sponsored children here in Kenya up to the donors thousands of miles away. We pray for you all.

 

On a final note, our Kenyan site, TGDKenya hosting period has expired this month and we will require $100 to host it again for another one year.

 

GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THE DONORS!

 

WE LOVE YOU ALL!

 

Regards…

 

Frank

 

Thank You for my racket!

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php/27256-New-Racket-Game-from-China

Here is a link describing a new game I love and there are photos.

Stephanie Rivers
Trinity Global Development
100% of your donation goes to
Kenya! www.TGDonline.com
www.TexasRivers.Blogspot.com

Stuffed with Yunnan yummy in narrow alley

Stephen, Shelby, Martha and Sheila after some great sausage/pickle/green pepper mix that makes my mouth water even now.

Jinling says bye at airport

With Dong and Yong ( her brother, 3rd tone, means brave.)

Dancing

Ok, ignore the annoying construction work or turn the volume down. These are souls after my own heart. And you wonder why God called ME to China?!? He knows I dance unto Him! :-)

Yum Yum Roasted Duck Yum!

One of many AWESOME restaurants

Colors!

So much park entertainment!

Sheila was amazing!

Impromptu dance in the park

Abandoned

Little guy 21 days old abandoned due to imperfections. Cleft palate will be repaired and he will be available for a home. No name given until he is three months old. God knows His name. His caregivers will nurture him. We will remember him. What can we do to remember him in his suffering?

Earthly Delights

Xi and Yaan

Beautiful courtyard

Would love this in my backyard

Just outside Summer palace.... Dreamy

Lots of exercise options outdoors

Ce Suo: Toilet

This was a nice one. Yes, they flush. Horror was the one in the Hutong (old neighborhood) that had six bowls on the floor in a row with no partition AND an open door with only a 2x3 partition to guard the first squatter from view. I do not need luxury-- but I really NEED privacy. But hey, access is better than nothing.

Great Wall courtyard

Considering history.... pondering the individuals have been here in the places I walked. What is their story? Who were they? What did they feel? Who did they love? Who hurt them? What did they do daily? What sculpted their life? Where are they now?

View from Great Wall

Common beauty in China

Oasis in the city

One of many tranquil parks

Boiled Dumpling Heaven

Sheila, Jinling and sister in law, Dong (1st tone, high pitch, means East)

Jammies!!

Thanks to the great folks in Beijing, I got pajamas to wear during massage. Just won't comply with the stupid American way.

Beautiful Girls

I will learn this dance for Jesus after I get some fashion advice from these lovelies.

Serious fave street performer

Peking Opera song-- oh yeah! Love his passion!

Sheila, Jun, his mom- Xi (pronounced Chi) and Jianwen's father Younian

Younian, Jianwen, and Yaan

After climbing Great Wall

Roasted Duck

Home again Home again...

Home from China and so thankful for the great connections and relationships developed and deepened. Younian, Yaan, Xi, Yong, Dong, Zhou Zhou, Fang, TaoTao, Yiyi, Martha and park dancers and sport people. We were really blessed with some great weather and very generous hosts. The food cannot be matched. We made some great memories.

The song says, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." I am a rich woman today. Jinling, Jianwen, Jun, Shelby, Sheila- already great friendships and then Stephen (Shelby's husband) is now a friend because I only met him at their Austin Wedding previously. This time, I was able to hear a bit of his heart as we viewed and discussed his art and activities.

I thank God (and my hosts!) for the opportunity to tour two orphanages, a workshop where former prostitutes create new life through crafting jewelry, and a school for migrant children to improve their academic skills and gain exposure to other opportunities like dance, photography, and English.

Now I come home to a huge transition. We are moving. I THINK it is real this time. But God will be praised in all circumstances.

What are some of the highlights of the trip? I'm sure to forget to mention some because 14 days is a long time and every day had several delights. Definitely, one overriding special part was the way love and respect was all around at all times. Somehow, through God, everyone really connected on an emotional level. I pray it was a soul to soul level growing to a Spirit to Spirit level. But it really felt good. People are eternal and we all invested in each other.

So one major highlight was the Thursday night gathering at a local restaurant where all my friends came together to meet each other. Chinese and English flowing freely. Laughter and fun and delicious bites of Peking Duck. It was great godly JOY! I felt so filled with love and joy that I could just spill out into spontaneous laughter, even crying. It just felt so good! I will treasure that gift.

Jinling and Jianwen have beautiful families and Shelby is just so Chinese- I adore her (one of my heroes!)

So then, trying to think of what you might want to hear about-- We got several massages. Sometimes, the person giving the massage is SO strong and digging in your muscles. EEK! but sometimes, they break up sore muscles and make the body feel vibrant and strong again. Parks and massages and the restaurants are some of the non-people joys I experienced. $23 for a whole body massage and you do NOT have to take off clothes (which I will never do.) They give you pajamas! YES! I was so thrilled.

Two great cultural places delighted me. (dang, a third was the art museum.) The first was a dinner place where the girls dress up like they did for the emperor. The grounds were peaceful with fountains and pools and pavillions and several buildings in the traditional style. When I watched these most adorable young women dancing in their silk gowns with their fans, I swooned and wanted to indulge in bride snatching (which actually is very evil, so you know I would never!) But the girls looked like perfect daughter-in-laws. Yaan helped Sheila get so many pictures with differently costumed people, so those will be available soon.

The other place was LaoShi Teahouse which has existed for a long time and many heads of state have attended. Their photos are all around the three story place. There we saw a bit of the Peking Opera, a dance of Farewell My Concubine. The woman did a sword dance--WHICH I LOVED! Now I have to buy me some perfect swords since Steve's swords are huge and I am not. Plus there was a face-changing performance where the dancer wears a mask but when they jerk their head a certain way, the helmet lets down a different mask so suddenly that it does appear unnatural. Then I can't forget the guy who could balance giant ceramic pots on his head and spin them around. At every moment, you were sure he could not continue but he did--and was truly a great performace with the whole audience involved.

More soon. I was so blessed. I thank God for a break from the daily grind and into a fascinating wonderland full of beautiful people using their marvelous language (and what great food!) May God be exalted in China for it is truly a wonderful land.