Doug and Ann Johnson - Kenya |
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June 2008 Prayer Letter
“Why Butere?” In the Autumn of 2001 Doug met, in London, the trustees of a very new project in Butere, West Kenya. The new project was AICMAR. The following February he was in Kenya leading a preaching course at Carlile College, Nairobi, so before returning to the UK he visited Butere to see what was happening and to interview two local clergy who were prospective candidates for the Cornhill Training Course. The result of that visit was a ‘Teach the Bible Course’ which has been held at AICMAR every year from 2002-2007 following the regular ‘preaching week’ at Carlile College. Ann has also been on those visits and together we have got to know many people in the area. We also had some experience of the work of AICMAR and the Diocese, so, when the opportunity arose to work there for a while, we did not need to ask, “Why Butere?”
Aicmar Library
“What is AICMAR?” The African Institute for Contemporary Mission and Research, to give it its full title, is physically a library, study centre, offices and conference facility based in the small town of Butere, West Kenya. But it is much more! The rural region is in lacks training and research facilities for people concerned with ministry and applying the Christian faith to the lives of Kenyans today. Many pastors are also subsistence farmers and have had little formal theological training. To meet this need AICMAR was born. Since then there has been a regular programme for preachers including the Annual School of Preaching & Teach the Bible. There is also an Annual School of Theology and seminars on practical issues in ministry. Some of these have been staffed locally others have been by teams from the UK & elsewhere.
First Second impressions
Our kitchen
Our visits to Kenya have always been in the dry season, when dust abounds, now we are well into the wet season and how we wish our Wellington boots had arrived!
On previous visits we had enjoyed having our food prepared by the guest house now it’s up to us to conjure up a different meal each day with tomatoes, beans, onions together with the avocados and bananas which are readily available.
At first an evening power cut gave the opportunity for a romantic ‘Out of Africa’ style meal by kerosene lamp now it brings thoughts like “How long will the contents of the freezer stay frozen?”
There are many differences when you actually live in a place rather than visit but we do feel that our visits over the years have been invaluable in preparing us for this next stage of life. We feel very much at home in the house, except perhaps, sharing the bathroom with a frog!
What next?
2nd June – 6th June Carlile College Preaching Week – Nairobi
Preaching from the Psalms
Team includes: Tim Wambunya (Principal & Crosslink’s Partner), Julian Milson (Holy Cross, Hove) and Ross Ciano (Bishop Hannington, Hove) will join us for this week.
11th August - 15th August – St Paul’s College, Limuru
Langham Preaching Week
22nd September – 26th September – Carlile College Preaching Week – Nairobi
Preaching from Acts
Please give thanks: ·
- for our church and friends at home who have supported us in practical and financial ways to make it possible for us to be here ·
- feeling settled in our new home ·
- for Eclay our house-help and friendly staff on the compound
Please pray for: ·
- preaching weeks in Nairobi and Limuru - that what is taught will enable the students to be better teachers ·
- wisdom for plans for AICMAR/ diocese ·
- for an awareness of and sensitivity to cultural differences · safety as we travel around and for good health