Deepening Discipleship on Campus – By Ian & Stella Orunga
Students’ fellowship in session
March and April have been full and encouraging, with growing student engagement in many ways. We’ve had meaningful Bible studies with Sam and Becca Tome from CMFI, who faithfully come every other Monday—even through heavy rain. These sessions often end in prayer, during which students openly share their requests. We’ve seen God answer some of their prayers. We also witnessed one student give his life to Jesus, and Ian has been walking with him since. Conversations about faith continue to grow, both on campus and at home, and it is especially encouraging when students themselves ask questions about following Jesus.
We are also grateful to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Globalscope, the campus ministry arm of Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI). We believe this partnership will strengthen student ministry through deeper collaboration and support. It will also bring a few changes in how things are done, including donations and communication channels, with guidance to follow as we transition. We are excited about what God will do through this partnership in the lives of students.
Marriage Ministry Training Update – By Barnabas & Grace Achoki
We had our second session on the 18th April. We had full attendance except for one spouse who was caught up in a ministry endevour. The class comprises 6 couples. This past session we tackled effective communication in marriage facilitated by Douglas and Shirley Nyamori who themselves had been participants in the last MMT (Marriage Ministry Training) in 2023. It was such an encouragement to the participants to see what the training can produce and indeed gave them a vision of where they will be after the training. Douglas & Shirley did an excellent job.
The Nyamori’s facilitating the session
We began with an ice-breaker activity. This too was facilitated by one of the couples in the current class. They did a fantastic job in having us break into two groups, one group demonstrating poor listening skills while the other bringing out critical listening skills like reflective listening, empathy, and validation. We also had a couple times at lunch time where we combined the lunch session and couple time. It was like going on a lunch date where the couples practised using the 4 tools of effective communication, (Mutual respect, asking open-ended questions, reflective listening and using “I” statements.
During the debrief session after this, one couple reported how by using those tools they were able to resolve a serious conflict they had the previous night. We finished with some group discussions that were very lively and insightful. Once again cementing what was learned in the session.
We look forward to the next session on the 6th of June.
Stories of Growth at Home and on the Field
Braylon & Tamara
The family is doing well, and we’ve moved and are enjoying the extra space in the apartment where the Kingsburys lived. The kids (Tamara and Braylon) love it more because there is more room to play.
A sweet moment recently deeply encouraged us. A friend’s daughter challenged Braylon at dinner when he suggested saying grace, insisting God was “up there” and not here. Braylon calmly mentioned that God is here and kept replying, “Jesus loves you,” each time she pushed back. Watching him quietly hold to that truth warmed my heart and reminded me that God is shaping faith in our own children as we seek to share Him with others. Also took the opportunity to explain to them that God is everywhere.
Ian and the Hockey ladies team
Ian’s hockey team also had a joyful evening at the Falcons of Character Awards (FOCA) dinner (Daystar Sports dinner event), receiving several honors, including Rookie of the Year, MVP awards, Sportsman of the Year, and Most Improved Team for the ladies. They sure had a great season.
The church kids’ hockey program has remained vibrant this holiday, with nearly 100 children attending five days a week. Many also joined tuition classes at a neighboring school to strengthen their academics. It has been encouraging to see growth in sports, spiritual formation, academics, and numbers, especially among the girls. The children return to school this week after a rich holiday season.
The Big Move and Settling In
Chari in the Kitchen at the New house in Nanyuki
The biggest news for the Kingsburys these past 2 months has been The Big Move…
March was filled with sorting 30+ years’ worth of stuff (some of it older) as well as overseeing the finishing of construction of our new home, a good 5-hour drive from our former Athi River location to the mountainous north in Nanyuki area. Our precise location is called (get this) Jua Kali, which translates to Fierce Sun! Moving from semi-arid Lukenya to Jua Kali, I sometimes wondered if this was a case of “jumping out of the frying pan into the fire”!
Our move was delayed by a week, to be sure the house was truly ready. We made a quick trip up the weekend before to inspect the place for ourselves and to see what we would need for the move. Then Friday the 28th March, the packers came and moved us. There was an error in judgment of the size truck needed (not all of our stuff got moved that day as a result) and a lack of understanding of the distance involved, not to mention it was raining (this is rainy season after all) and the truck got lost, to top it off. Nevertheless, we got in, even if the truck, which also got stuck in our driveway, did not pull away until 1:30 am!
We ‘camped out’ in our own home for several days, until we got sufficiently unpacked to be able to find whatever we needed. Every day, it began to look a little more like home. Now, 4 weeks later, we have found a place for pretty much everything (we got the rest of our stuff 3 weeks later) and have begun hanging pictures. Now it really begins to look and feel like home.
But home is much more than a physical living space. It involves community. We have made several forays into Nanyuki town (30 minute drive) to acquaint ourselves with what is available and where. It also offers opportunities to meet people. We have been praying that God helps us meet people so that we may begin to become a part of the community here and He has sometimes answered in humorous (though it didn’t feel so at the time) ways.
Over Easter weekend, we traveled to Nairobi for a wedding of friends of ours, a couple with which we had done premarital counseling. Our van, in characteristic fashion, decided to give us problems and we became stranded on a dirt road, on a Sunday morning – Easter Sunday. What to do? A kind family saw us and stopped. They first tried jump starting the van – twice – before it finally decided it was not going to cooperate anymore. But, the kind man in the car was a pilot and knew a mechanic, whom he called. The mechanic came (remember, this is Easter Sunday) and within 5 minutes, got our van started. Though the repair was temporary, we decided to risk proceeding on to Nairobi, where we enjoyed a beautiful wedding of friends and got to stay with Amanda and family. That’s not exactly how we had anticipated meeting people, but now we have a kindly pilot and his family and a kind-hearted mechanic on our list of new friends. Then yesterday, while at the hospital, checking on doctors, the pharmacy, and ambulance services, we met another man, who lives out past where we live, and struck up a conversation. He offered to give us contacts for good electricians and plumbers in the area. Another name on our growing list of new friends. When we moved here, we had 2 people we could list as ‘friends’ in this area. Now our list is growing, and we are thankful.
We have been to 2 churches in this area since Easter weekend. In one, the worship was very ‘user friendly’ but the sermon left much to be desired. In the 2nd, the sermon was much better, being biblically based, but the worship was too much like a disco! We’re actually going to visit a Methodist church this weekend. That should be interesting, as we’ve not been to any Methodist churches in Kenya. Please be in prayer with us as we search for a place of spiritual nourishment and fellowship with other believers.
Now that we have pretty much settled in our new home, we will be turning our attention more to our big house-warming/50th wedding anniversary event planned in June. Our 50th anniversary is actually in May and we’ll enjoy a couple days away at one of our favorite places not far from here, but the big celebration with family and friends will be June 13th, and some of you will be coming! We would appreciate prayers as we plan this big event (with Amanda’s help) and budget for it, as this won’t be cheap! So, until next quarter, God be with you all and thanks for your prayers.
Ways to Pray and Partner with us
As the ministry grows, Ukarimu House has several pressing needs, hence we humbly ask for your prayers and support:
1. Ministry Vehicle: To meet growing mobility and transport needs. We are currently at about 20% toward an $18,000 target for importing a used vehicle, including customs charges and insurance.
2. Gazebo Space Improvements: Adding clear side coverings to reduce wind and dust, allowing the space to better serve growing evening fellowship gatherings. – Cost is Being Determined
3. Outdoor Toilets: To supplement the two indoor facilities and support larger events. – Cost is Being Determined
4. Solar Power Installation: To ensure reliable evening ministry amid frequent power outages (estimated cost $15,000).
5. Roof Tiling: Installation of clay tiles to comply with Lukenya Village regulations, where Ukarimu is located (estimated cost $30,000).
6. Scholarship Fund: Revival of a fund that has been dormant for years but is now urgently needed by students. – (Needs-based support; target being developed)
7. Transfer of land title: Kingsburys donated the land to Ukarimu Ministries trust getting a lawyer to get this done and paying the legal fees – $220
As we look ahead to the remaining part of the year, we are grateful to you for always standing with us. We still ask for your continued prayers for wisdom as we grow in our new partnerships, strength for our families, and provision for the growing family and ministry needs before us.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”To give you can visit our website https://ukarimumin.org/give-to-ukarimu/
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