Thursday to Saturday: FOBOCK CONFERENCES

With Adrian and Ruth joining Mitchell, Bernard, Joseph Kamau, and I we began the Gatunguru conference Thursday morning. Kevin, Robin, Peter, and Jesse were at Kanunga. Both areas are in the Central Highlands in very productive coffee and tea areas. In fact, it was harvest time in both areas. The small farmers of the areas are part of cooperatives that make it possible for them to sell their coffee and tea. The have assigned days that their coffee can be taken by the processors. Thursday was the day in Gatunguru and Friday was the day in Kanunga. The number of churches represented were good and the number of participants for each site averaged around 20. Each had at least 10 churches participating which is a great number. For all four conferences during the week, there were over 60 churches represented. This was a great number of churches and especially church leaders.

The great ares of need are marriage relationships and leadership development. Mitchell began our conference each day with an exposition of 2 Timothy 2. Each evening workshops on Men's Ministry (Mitchell and Bernard)and Women's Ministry (Ruth and Adrian) were held. The questions and responses to the conference were great. The new format of regional conferences verses one large conference was proven to be the best way for the future by impacting more people and churches.

Mitchell and I were able to catch a coffee cooperative processing coffee beans in the afternoon. Ruth enjoyed learning and joining in with the ladies on their different responsibilities and just sharing with them. She even got the opportunity to pick some tea. The team got up early on Saturday morning to join the Kanunga team at the Kentmere. After an meeting to evaluate the conferences, the Grace Team left for a safari at Lake Nakuru. Adrian and Ruth met with Robert of Koinonia for the Pro Africa partnership. Floyd and Bernard shopped for the upcoming VBS at Happy Day and picked up the ACTS Team arriving on Saturday night.