December News

 Our mission: To glorify God by bringing His good news to the poor, freeing widows and orphans to restore the land through Biblical Environmental Education

 “For no word shall be impossible in the presence of God.” The angel Gabriel to Mary. Luke 1:38

 Dear Friends,

 This has been a year of miracles, and we stand in awe of what God has done. It is not our doing but His. You are part of this miracle. We bow before the Father in gratitude for each of you.

 MIRACLES- Here are a few samples, though almost every day has seen others.

January_ Staff had identified seven orphaned students they had encouraged in the school clubs to go for it, though there was no evidence of any finances to enable them to go on to High School. These students of good character and top grades who had given their lives to the Lord dared to trust Him. Miraculous provision came at the last minute. They have all had successful years in school and have served God and grown in their faith. One said, “I feel like a son of a rich man.” He is indeed. God is the father of the orphan.

February_A team from Calvary Rivergate, by faith God was directing, made a decision to come out to SEEK. They had little more than a month to raise their trip money. Their impact transformed much, including the Education Center’s main hall. Anyone, child or adult, who walks in is drawn to the art and teachings which glorify God.

March-Nyachebe Beach known for immorality, drugs and filth, with no functional toilets for over 1000 people, saw impressive transformation: revival, changed lives, clean water, sanitation.

April-With inflation soaring in Kenya and touched by staff’s hard work, we asked God to enable us to raise staff salaries. As a sign we asked for an unprecedented amount to come in. It did miraculously. We raised the salaries.

May-Hezron, head of SEEK’s children’s ministry, went to Tanzania to present cows to Mary’s family to seal the engagement. Only problem, he needed $600 for the cows and had nothing. He went by faith. The money arrived at the last hour.  Family who had thought he was crazy glorified God.

June-God told Don we would have favor with government. Several staff were invited to speak at large functions_ World Desertification Conference and a United Nations Conference on Climate Change. As they spoke on God’s perspective, there was significant response.  Pastor and Don were put on District Development Committee and to lead a government task force for Ecotourism.

July-A young teen broke into the house of one of our staff. This young man, who lived with a widowed mom, had been kidnapped as a young child by a witchcraft cult, and missing for a week. As our staff talked and ministered to him, they found out that voices in his head kept demanding him to criminal action. As this teen received the Lord, he was freed from the voices into a new and wholesome life. No charges were pressed.

 August- A children’s March for Jesus and local pastors’ days of repentant prayer led to climate change. Mbita went from 10 months of desert conditions with loss of crops and cattle to lush.

September- A free lance journalist wandered onto the base and filmed Don speaking about environmental issues of Lake Victoria. Soon Don was on prime time news, aired throughout E.Africa.

October- Chosen Widows of First Baptist Church Hendersonville TN heard of the ministry and have raised over $2000 for widows in Suba.

November- For Don and me personally, Northeast Church and dear friends enabled us to catch up on bills through their loving kindness. / At the base youth crowded the Education Center for a day of worship.. money also came in just in time to foot the bill and feed the crowd.

December-

• Hezron and Mary’s beautiful wedding took place in Mbita. We have no idea where the money came from. The night before we had to wire Honeymoon money it came in from some of you.
• Our son Mark having gone back to finish his bachelor’s degree at UT, graduated cumma sum laude, top undergraduate in Social Sciences. Yes, we are proud! And proud of the worship that flows from him.
• Our wonderful son Bryan is marrying the beautiful and accomplished Sarah Skibitze on December 23^rd, and we get to spend a couple of weeks in on the action. We have missed time with them.

Don and I feel old and inadequate when our hearts break over the 52,000 orphans and the struggles of widows and the trashed environment bringing poverty in Suba. We remember that God uses the weak things of the world, and we are reminded that it is faith in His faithfulness and not in our own strength that accomplishes His purposes. His ways of love surpass anything we can imagine.

 Thanks so much for your kindness in believing with us and reaching out to address these urgent issues of our times.  We love you so much! 

 We send our wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a 2012 steeped in the blessings of God.

 Don and Nancy Richards

 Any donations will be gratefully accepted– send to KENYA ISLANDS MISSIONS, INC. P.O. Box 84 Lowell AR 72745 or through PAYPAL at website www.missionwild.org  Tax deductible slips will be sent in January. .

Please note that according to IRS guidelines (Pub 526) in order for a donation to be deductible, its use must be left to the discretion of the charitable organization (KIM).  Kenya Islands Mission, Inc. (SEEK) endeavors to use all donations in accordance with the donor’s wishes, but on occasion may need to shift funds to a greater need.