Goats for Christmas!

Time to watch something beautiful?

Here is the video Christa made after her trip to Kenya---
(When it gets to the 5 minute mark, Jesus makes me cry. I love Jesus. I love my Kenyan babies and all my dear friends there!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAeqy1ALSQg&feature=plcp


Here is the video I made with help from Kevin Rivers--just a 1 minute glimpse.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfjyk5IuoSQ

I wish I could show the Roxio shows I made--I have them on a USB drive.
I don't know how to get them on here. But check out my YouTube Channel.

I have SOOOO many videos on my channel:
stephanietexasrivers

and the video Todd White made after his trip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NON9oLM4LWM&feature=g-user-c

so fun.

 

Who is that little child?

Awesome site of a billion photos of the last year or two
https://picasaweb.google.com/100236698090650818372

 

What are you getting for Christmas?

Our children will ALL GET GIFTS!

Praise GOD!

Merry Christmas!

 

Children who did not get extra from sponsors and were not chosen on the Angel Tree STILL get gifts from the general donation givers at Grace Covenant Church at Echoes of Joy last Thursday/Friday.

 

Some sponsors sent personal gifts to Kenya through Anita.

 

1. Abednego: waiting on 45 to be given online from Angel Tree.

2. Asman: 20 from Angel Tree (AT) general giving (GG)

3. Ben: 45

4. Benjamin: 35

5. Beverline: 15

6. Brenda: 50 sent by Darla (already wired), 100 pledged AT (means I have not received)

7. Brian: 20 AT GG, his new sponsor did not follow through..Seeking a new one.

8. Crispinus: 25 and 30 sent from Christa

9. Cynthia: 50 and 30 sent from Christa

10. Daisy: 25 pledged and 50 from Caroline (already wired)

11. Dianah: 30 and 50 from Eleanor (already wired)

12. Elizabeth: 35 and a large gift from Brenda--some may go to her sister Lydia.

13. Emily: 30 and 85 from Emily (already wired)

14. Emmanuel: 20 from AT GG

15. Evangeline: Got a large gift from Mike--some may go to her home.

16.Everline: 20 AT GG but I have not received anything from her new sponsor yet.

17. Fredrick: 50 sent from Tracy (already wired.)

18. Fridah: 5 pledged and 30 from Christa

19. Gladys: 20 AT GG and she lost her sponsor. We are working on another.

20. Grace: 20

21. Jane: 60 and 30 from Christa

22. Joan: 30

23. Lillian: 20 AT GG

24. Linah: 20 and 10 from Sarah

25. Lydia: 15

26. Mary: 20 AT GG

27. Noel: 40

28. Paul: 30 and 30 from Christa

29. Rephe: 20 AT GG

30. Shaline: 35

31: Sharon: 130

32. Trophosa: 30

33. Vitalis: 35 pledged

34. Vivian: 20 AT GG

35. Wallace: 25 pledged

36. Walter: 25

37. Yvonne: 50

38. Zainabu: 60.

 

So I am waiting on $300 dollars from pledges to pay online. Just review the great blessings God has sent our children! AND most of these children are on the regular sponsorship program.

I love Jesus!

He promises He will never leave us or forsake us. He promises that His Grace is sufficient. He promises that He daily bears our burdens. He promises us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (so we must be carrying burdens that He did not put on us!) A bruised reed He does not break and a smoldering wick He does not snuff out. He promises He is coming again!

Angel Tree

Zainabu, has so little, which is apparent by her outfit when Christabel came for a home visit.

Our blessed high school students. Mama Anita has watched over Vitalis and Rephe-two high achievers in need. Christa took up Joan's case so she would not be married off (she is not pictured here.) And Christa, Terah, Eleanor, Cyntreva, Mike, Shanker, Jerilyn and LeeAnne have taken up these others. What a blessing to go to high school in a poverty stricken area where many bright minds languish. With my email changes and other excuses, I couldn't find the best pictures for each of them.

Benjamin. Thanks to David for a perfect head shot of this sweet little guy. Some of the Angel Tree photos will look just like this.

This is Judith's baby, Brighton, whom we recently welcomed into the world. I'd like to add the children of my staff. Even though Judith is married and she works for me, her salary is so tiny that it doesn't give this baby the best chance in life. I pray for all our children that Malaria and Typhoid would be far from them, that they would recover in every illness and be strong and grow in the Lord.

 

 

As I prepare for Angel Tree at Christa's, I am so blessed that we have so many children sponsored. Many people have lost their jobs in this economy or struggled financially, but God raises up others to take their place. Thanks to General Donors Kevin, Lorrie, Christa, and Liz, I am able to cover children and keep them in the program with an extra 50 or 100 that is dependable each month.

 

Anita and Christa really partner together with me and the Lord in our work for this beloved community. It is so FUN to work for their benefit! Thank you, sponsors, for your generosity and love in the Lord. What good you are doing. It is money but it changes so much. I am frustrated when I hear some people use the worst excuses for not giving. Definitely, some people think throwing money at a problem won't solve it. Must we SOLVE problems like poverty and sickness? How about just alleviating them for needy people???????

 

I thank God that Christa doesn't feel like that and her church is offering her this opportunity to present our children. Some of our children are already really blessed, like Emily who received $85 worth of stuff from her sponsor for gifts, so does she NEED more Christmas?? Well......do you? And yet God gives our children 10,000x more than they need and so who am I to hold back on Emily? I am keeping her in the Angel Tree! (Yet we will put a star by the several who have no extra gift yet.)God is going to send her an abundance and let her house feel like GOD HAS COME! as they see a tangible evidence that some stranger from across the world PICKED HER to give and bless. BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL!

 

SO WE ARE REJOICING AT GENEROSITY!! Clearly GOD is moving among us. His Love is moving among us. Yes, I am preaching to the choir. My readers are loving and giving and changing the world. They are working for others from God's heart within. You, my friend, have done marvelous things through the Holy Spirit.

 

We have 38 children blessed! We have 16 employees working and blessing their community! We have well over 100 computer students gaining knowlege and some even gaining jobs or prepared for college! We have sick children who received medical care. We have pastors getting bikes, village children eating, toys and clothes for Christmas, school fees paid, families rejoicing together, a loving community family, a light on a hill. Jesus is lifted up! God is glorified in our love for one another! We have brought HOPE to desperate situations by the power of the Holy Spirit!

 

And Jesus is our reward.

It is HE who did all our good through us.

 

Three children sponsored!!

Praise God! He has sent three new sponsors for our precious children.
Brian: Olive Plhak
Emmanuel: Liz Jensen
Everline: Janice Horrell
It is a great day to give Thanks to our God!
And our website is up! Thanks to Stephen and Kevin Rivers!

THREE children need sponsors

Emmanuel would love to have a new sponsor! We want to keep him in the program. Currently, general donations go to cover him. He lives with his grandmother. His father died and the mother left to find another husband elsewhere.

 

 

Brian was brand new to the program but now his sponsor lost their job. We haven't told him because we are praying God send a new sponsor. He was in dire poverty without shoes and had sores on his body. He needs to stay in the program!

 Everline had a wonderful long time sponsor that lost her job. She is praying that God will send another friend to precious Everline who lives with her extended family as both parents have passed.

Children got coats--yay!

THANKS TO SPONSORS!

Children got new coats during a cold rainy season!

Derrick leads the children in physical exercise. Here is Fredrick coming in from a run!

The children gather each month for a day and are forming strong bonds with one another. Grace, Mary and Valery.

So thankful for friends in TGD! Cynthia, Sharon and Lillian.

The Bible says God puts the lonely in families. And we are one family of God loving one another. Emily and Elizabeth.

Joseph talks with the guardians.

Happy Guys together on Distribution Day.

Fredrick, Brian, and Walter--Walter is smiling!

Frank and Lawrence discuss each child with the guardian to find out how things are going.

EMMANUEL NEEDS A SPONSOR! Please consider sponsoring this sweet boy. We have kept him in the program believing that God will connect him supernaturally with someone.

Derrick training the children.

Yoga!

I pray you are kidding about yoga.
(facebook message written to friend)




Perhaps you are blinded by your culture into going the way of the world and practicing other religions. I pray God open your eyes! Why not stretch apart from yoga? Those are prayer poses. Read chapters 1,2 and 3 of Revelations.
Devote yourself to the one God Jesus and stand firm against false doctrine and alternate religious practices. Enjoy Indian people (Chinese people, Kenyan people, Musicians, Gay people, construction workers...) but not foreign gods. Do not speak of karma....
While consequences of actions are biblical... Reaping what you sow.... Jesus says you do not get what you deserve, which is hell. Repentance and faith in Jesus brings a reward you could never earn by good actions and its from God's divine favor. Things like horoscopes, fortune cookies, eight ball, good luck, ying yang, masonry, chanting, etc are open doors to demonic and feed your flesh and destroy your spirit.
That is basic Christianity-- to avoid other religions or gods or idols-- yet America is adopting yoga with embrace. I adore and worship Jesus and it is my joy to abstain from many things as His Bride. I am worldly enough and sinful enough as it is-- why look to other religions or cultures and dabble there? No, I lay my life down and serve other people ..... Like tax collectors n prostitutes.... But I do not adopt their ways in order to gain their trust.
(Oh, I am so frustrated that Christians defend their practices by saying they do this, that, or the other in order to be evangelical. Do you get fruit from that? People who whole-heartedly leave their way of life, repent and serve Jesus alone as a result of your worldly communion with them?)

If you are using yoga as a quiet time for prayer already, I beg you to repent. Would you bring another man into your wife? Be faithful. Have nothing to do with yoga. You knew how to stretch or relax before you ever heard of yoga-- but if you cling to it--- realize you want "health" "relaxation" or even "prayer"  more than Jesus. Please don't insist on your rights or your freedom. Die daily and let Jesus live through you and gain real life.

I am so troubled and grieved that sooooo many Christians do yoga and brag of it and think they are good because the world approves! Just depends on whose approval you prefer. I get no approval when I rebuke my brothers n sisters (How many Christians will defend their practices as just "exercise?") I would rather be anxious, prayerless and diseased than look to another religion to meet with Jesus or to get fit. Health is an American idol (Along with greed, materialism, media, prosperity and medical treatment.)
 Let me remind you--- every single person will die. If u bought yourself 20 extra years (I am referring to exercising by doing yoga in order to be fit and healthy and productive or whatever the excuse might be....meet people?) --what difference is that to eternity? Use your time for Him, not to just improve yourself although I am not in any way speaking against healthy lifestyle or good God-given physical activity. But do you do these improve to your heavenly treasure? Or are you just investing in your flesh? Your self life?
Consider how much time and money you spend to be healthy.
Guilty:
I personally spend a lot of time and money on supplements, doc visits, exercise equip, etc so i might be in the wrong, too, by going overboard. I am not just pointing the finger at you here---the finger is pointed at yoga and any other idolatry or sin. LET US NEVER DEFEND SIN! I don't want to be foolish and become a burden unnecessarily but even that could be pride. God sees nothing wrong with a life of handicapped dependency but I abhor that! So I am working by faith to not abuse myself foolishly due to my bad appetites but trying not to make life (or great food) be my goal. I am ready to die for Jesus at anytime, I pray. But I would rather die giving my life time money and health to the mission field and Gods Kingdom.
So ....

I beg you to abstain from yoga unless according to Romans 14--- you are SURE that you only do this by faith in Jesus and in faith you are pleasing Him.
Or it is sin.
And what would be the rationale for just going shead and doing something you CAN stop??

Unlike those sins we fall in so quickly like anger or fear or pride or unbelief. Those take consecration and spiritual discipline and learning to follow after the Spirit instead of the flesh. We are justified at salvation but sanctification is lifelong. So avoid all actions which are voluntary and grow in virtues until they come supernaturally.

Maybe I should link to someone else's explanation, although I believe that practicing yoga is unbiblical because I read the Bible.
http://carm.org/should-christians-practice-yoga


so I cannot think of where it is in the Bible except that here is a reference to
"avoiding stepping on the threshold"
1 Sam 5:5.
In some other verse somewhere, God is angry with people who do things like adopting certain clothing of other cultures (perhaps like wearing ying yang symbols) and against people jumping over the threshold. That might also be like not crossing the path of a black cat or not opening an umbrella inside. I don't know. I don't worry myself over it because I definitely attempt to locate and stop all superstitious activities in my heart and mind and especially in my physical actions, where it is easier to catch and realize by the Holy Spirit what you have just done.
Colossians 2:8
 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians is a really good book to focus on JESUS as Center and ONLY.

and

2 Corinthians 10
 ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Please worship Jesus and Jesus alone--make every effort to make your obedience complete!
Not because of the law, but because the Spirit is alive in you!
If you are dead, then Christ reigns in you. You have no business with the things of the world. Jesus is faithful to teach you these things, if you desire Him above all else. It means you will go without so much but you will never FEEL that you are going without when you are looking at Jesus and gaining Christ! SO MUCH MORE TREASURE THAN THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER!

and everything you desire is in Him and available to you.

we have everything we need for life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. going on in verse 4 to say: 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. and Jesus promises so many things. He will never leave us. We are more than conquerors. He daily bears our burdens. a bruised reed He does not break and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. (He is gentle when you are hurt or broken and will comfort you.) I will give you rest. When I called on Him, He made me bold and stouthearted. We are a new creation. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. shoot....there are so many. I'll stop here. Psalm 103 Praise the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His benefits who forgives all my sins, who heals all your diseases, who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. I think 107 He says I am the God who heals you. Isaiah: He says, HE was wounded for our transgressions. the punishment that brought us peace, was upon Him. In Him we live and move and have our being. We are Christ's ambassadors saying Be reconciled to God! He has given us authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall in any way harm us. Dont' fear him who kills the body, rather, fear Him who after killing the body has the ability to throw the soul in hell.  (This reminds me not to be afraid of people and persecution nor to flee danger in the work for Jesus.) I hope this galvanizes your heart to worship and adore your beautiful Savior who is glorious and splendid. He is faithful and True! He is coming again. Be ready! Have your lamp ready! Let your light shine! Repent and humble yourself. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up! This is His promise to you!

Testimony

Below is a letter from a current student addressed to the sponsorship team pertaining her computer studies. She helps her husband to run a very big church at Center (a nearby township.)

"Praises to the Lord.

My names are Anne Omemba a born again Christian aged thirty eight (38) years. I am married to a pastor and together we are blessed with five children. Currently I am undertaking computer studies at Trinity Global Development (TGD) an organization that indeed creates a better tomorrow. Knowledge being power, I laid aside my challenges as a mother and a minister of the word God. My husband who pastors a church with more than 300 members has to take care of my last born child who is about a year old as I go for my lessons that begins at 9 am. He has to do this because we doesn't have a house girl to take care of the situation. What I believe is that God has a purpose for giving me this chance.                       

When I saw the advert about free computer training I saw it as a golden opportunity that I couldn't let it go. It's a long distance from school to where I stay but I have to make sure that am overcoming the fear of distance and walk to and fro when I doesn't have enough money to carter for my fare. My target is to gain skills and experience that will enable me to support my family in bread winning. My encouragement is that if we can help support this vision that TGD has begun in this society, people of different calibers shall grow in all dimensions." 

Testing

Real gold never fears the fire

blessed again

I now have internet access. This blows my mind.

I think I am reeling from too much adventure.

Flight 3506 out of LaGuardia was available this morning at 6am, but with gas shortages and flooding in the area, I made the collective decision with my father to remain home on Long Island rather than sing Happy 80th Birthday today in Port Townsend, WA.

Sarah's boyfriend lost everything. The flood waters rose chest level into his house in Copiague, west of us. She has had to work the last two days but has still been going over trying to clean the place out.

My friends (Jianwen, Olive, and Candy) are still without power. The gas lines are horrible.

Before the storm, I loaded the Hurricane App from the Red Cross which tells you what to do before, during and after a hurricane. Like....put an ax in your attic in case you need to bust through the roof for rescue. Fill your tank with gas because when the power goes out, the gas cannot be pumped. Go to the ATM and get plenty of cash because the ATM won't work either and you will have to purchase everything with cash.

We also loaded up with water, flashlights and batteries, non-perishable foods.

You cannot imagine how much you want to eat when you wait for a hurricane! and then during a hurricane. and then after a hurricane. The anxiety as you monitor the situation and WAIT WAIT WAIT make you want to eat, eat, eat. I REALLY slept deeply the night of the hurricane because I had been furiously preparing all through the day even as we were moving our stuff from one house to the next.

Thanks to Jianwen and Jun for coming over and helping me get all those lawn chairs laid against the fence at BOTH houses. Plus helping pack the kitchen. Ben was a super hero keeping up with Steve ALL DAY LONG moving gigantic heavy furniture. DOWN the stairs, into the truck, around the corner and back UPSTAIRS again. ugh! over and over and over and over and over.

prayers for the families must continue. I feel so traumatized today, as it all sinks in. You really have to just put one foot in front of the other and keep working! But for me, the luxury of a rest day. I already went back to bed for an extra snooze. There is so much unpacking to do here, but how blessed I am that my pets are here in the warmed house and my daughter is able to drive to work and my husband, too. Even that the work places are up and available helps keep life on a normal pattern that many cannot experience. Schools are closed and parents aren't able to work even if their office is open.

we are SO thankful for all the electric people, grocery stores, tree people and helpers who are working through this terrible storm. So many people got their streets cleaned up relatively quickly out here where the damage was mainly trees. I got my electricity back on within 24 hours.

Even with nearly perfect conditions for us, it was still disturbing.....so each day more prayer to our God who is with us always to strengthen and save those who are hurting and suffering. May His Love be manifest to all the poor and powerless, all the lost and lonely. I'm singing a song of hallelujah in the hope of the better day when the saints stand before the Throne of God. May many bow their knees now and find gratitude for the Great Creator God who made them and who gives them steadfast love and endurance. Mercy for all the sweet and innocent animals who are displaced and may every one of compromised mental states (I think of the story of the husband who could not move his wife because she has alzheimer's) be transported emotionally into the spirit realm where angels attend them.

I know these things may seem weird but the far reaching effects on EACH individual here is like a spider web of interconnectness. We feel the enormity of it all and I pray we value each life. May New Yorkers and those in New Jersey grow in patience and respect for one another in Jesus name.

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:
>
> 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.
>
> 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.