Celebrate with us!

It is with great excitement we announce that after completing our annual financial audit and compiling data, editing, designing, and mailing, we can present LIA’s 2009 Annual Report with joy!

We’ve called this annual report: Empowering Change and the entire piece showcases the ministry that God allowed us to participate with during 2009. To him be the glory!

We have mailed out a copy of the report to partners  who generously donated to LIA in the past two years, or to those that have served on a short-term team with us in Africa.  If you don’t fall within one of these criteria, or simply want to ensure that we’ve mailed you a copy of the annual report, please send us an email and we’ll get back to you.

As our committed prayer partner we ask that you join us this morning as we take time to thank the Lord for the work that has been accomplished throughout 2009.  Below you will find a highlight from each of the countries as they are found in the report.  Thank you for taking time to praise the Lord with us, both for the guiding hand of the ministry and the impact that has been seen in the communities where we serve.

Ethiopia:
-    We commenced a community based water supply, sanitation and hygiene initiative in Addis Ababa with the aim of reducing communicable disease prevalence and improving quality of life for 4,700 household in the slum areas.

-    Please Pray that this initiative will continue to grow and that more families will see improved water and sanitation in their communities.

Horn of Africa:
-    As we established our International Headquarters in Nairobi and brought our Senior management team under one roof, LIA was able to implement more programs in the Horn and facilitate and sustain them more effectively.

-   Please pray for the underground churches in this area.  That they would be protected from any persecution and would be met with receptive hearts from those within the community.

Kenya:
-    We formalized key relationships bringing our church partnerships to a total of 30 and are nurturing even greater community engagement.

-    Please continue to pray for strengthened relationships with the churches and their leaders. Pray that the training will continue and more families will be impacted by the diligent work of the local churches.

Sudan:
-    In Rumbek, South Sudan, LIA helped establish a school, children’s ministry, theological training program and medical clinic for the benefit of more than 1,200 community members.  This clinic more recently has seen great success and is well accepted and utilized by the community.

- Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless this clinic and those that dedicated their time to serve the community in this transformative way.

Islam is the predominant religion in Eritrea. It is estimated that about 40% of the population is practicing Orthodox Christianity and less than 5% are Protestant and Roman Catholic.

Though the Constitution of this country calls for a freedom of religion, that actual freedom has not been realized.  In fact, people of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostal, and reformed Orthodox Christians suffer much persecution, harassment and even reports of brutal torturing for their faith.

It is with great faith and hope that we continue to pray for the church in Eritrea. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to serve indefinite prison terms and several have lost their lives in hard confinement because they follow and serve the Lord. We are praying for the church to remain strong and that they will see peace and reconciliation.

We invite you to join us as we pray for the Eritrean brethren not just residing in Eritrea but also those brethren living in our communities of Cairo, Nairobi and Khartoum. We are asking God to guide us in ways to be an encouragement to them and for them to be accepted in their community as they try to build a life for themselves, their family, and the community at large.

The rural vs urban divide is quite pronounced in Sudan. Health care for example, is developing much faster in the larger cities compared to many conflict-affected and disaster prone rural areas.  There are many factors hindering the increase in rural health care provision even though it seems since 2005 it has become more of a priority to the Sudanese government. The excess of many communicable diseases, food shortages caused many times by natural disasters, and a dependency on foreign relief are just a few barriers to an improved health-care system in rural cities like Rumbek.

In the midst of such despair however we are here to praise God for how he is working in one of our Sudanese partner communities, Rumbek.

The medical clinic in Rumbek, which opened early this year by a consortium of local staff and pastors, has continued to see an increased number of patients each week. Last week, a growth of over 40% patient turnout was experienced.  For this community to see regular health care services by an established clinic and trained physician is truly praise worthy. People suffering from illnesses, sickness, and significant wounds are able to receive treatment almost immediately, before the condition gets too serious and/or life threatening.

We ask that you join us in praying for sustained growth management at the Clinic in all aspects from drug supplies, staffing, to patient flow systems despite any barriers that will likely arise. We are also praying for continued development and establishment of health care services throughout other rural areas in Sudan.

A startling number of children roam the streets of Nazaret, Ethiopia, unattended.

Upon closer inspection these children are more than unattended, they are members of a street life community whose dwelling place is that of pitched tents that line the walls of city buildings. This sub-culture is currently estimated at approximately 6,000 children. In order to get by, many children join with others that have experienced the same crushed dreams. These children are thrown into a daily cycle that can be characterized by physical and sexual harassment, exploitation, drugs, and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness.

These children come into the city because their families leave rural communities to make a better life for themselves at the promise of a booming job market. Upon entering the city many find that their glorified image of urban life holds a grim reality.

Today, we ask you to join us in praying for the orphans and vulnerable children in Nazaret and our initiatives specifically targeting children in this community, which will soon commence.

Please pray that through our street children rehabilitation and preventative care the local church will be able to care for and empower children that have been separated from their family and cast aside by society. Pray also for the receptive hearts of the children who participate in our street children rehabilitation program, that they would be reminded of their worth in their transformational journey toward a God who thinks so highly of them.

I walk by, and see her.

In the midst of hundreds of other children I’ve seen this day, she catches my utmost attention. I stop walking and bend down, just long enough for our eyes to meet. She can’t be more than 18 months old and her little round belly reminds me of my daughter at that age, though this little  girl’s belly is distended from malnourishment, something my little girl will likely never experience.

She continues to fidget with the dirty shirt that she has turned into pants, as she holds her shorts in her arm. The scene would be actually be cute if she were not alone, standing in the street, visibly ill, without any garments protecting her from the filth of these streets.

My mind quickly shifts to the suburbs where I live back in the United States and the coffee shops where I often meet with people to share about the ministry of Life in Abundance. I remain knelt down; looking at this sweet girl, while the words of Jesus ‘the poor will always be with us’ ring through my head.

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times, “I think it [the ministry of LIA]is really noble,” will remark a well-meaning believer, “ but EVEN Jesus said that ‘the poor will always be with us’, so what is the use in wasting resources (time, energy, effort, money) on a problem that will never go away?” I can understand this sentiment, really I can. If the poor will always be, and if Jesus said it, then why not focus our limited resources toward more ‘productive’ means of expanding the Kingdom?

And yet, as I look at this little girl, I know that Jesus would not want his followers to pass her by, reasoning that we should not have compassion on her because ‘the poor will always be.’

Still staring at this girl, not knowing what is best to do, I simply and gently begin to remove the denim shorts from her arm. In the middle of the slum, standing in the busy marketplace alleyway, I have the opportunity to clothe Jesus, disguised as a sweet and helpless little girl (see Matthew 25: 31-46).

This little girl isn’t poverty. She is a daughter of a King who made her in His likeness. On this special day, I’m honored to have served the daughter of our King.

We are a part of a Kingdom in which we are called to live in a new reality, where:

-    The first become the last

-    The weak are made strong

-    The meek experience an overwhelming inheritance

-    The lowly and marginalized are made whole

-    The blind receive sight, and

-    The treasures and powers of this world are made worthless by the grace and peace freely given.

In spite of all our transgressions, we are invited into a great story, asking nothing, and everything, at the same time. The paradox is astounding, the sacrifice unfathomable, and the challenge unparalleled. May we be refined, that we may have eyes to see, and ears to hear, the truth of the Kingdom, as intended. May we be given wisdom, courage, and faithfulness to serve our Lord in the most inconspicuous disguises.

The three-day elections in Sudan, Africa’s largest nation, officially began April 11th but were quickly extended to a five-day vote ending this weekend. Complications with the election process lead to the extension. Initially many polling stations suffered missing and/or incorrect ballots and many Sudanese people claimed potential “vote-rigging”.  The vote is part of a peace agreement which ended two decades of north-south war in 2005.  This election is the first multi-party election in 24 years.

Would you share this crucial moment with us? - Please join us as we pray for Sudan.

There is great uncertainty as people cast their votes, but also anxiety as results and post election direction comes forth. In the midst of that we have workers in the country and partnerships with churches in both north and south Sudan.

We also have just commissioned a short-term team that will serve in our target communities in Sudan focusing on medical and construction projects. We have materials being offloaded to facilitate our work and medicines coming in by the flights. They will be joining our partner churches, reaching out in love to serve the least through multiple activities through out the week.

Please pray that we will be ambassadors of the peace of God, with an authority of the kingdom. That we will be wise and every poor decision will be arrested. That fear and anxiety will not deter our God given tasks. Pray for safety and protection from any potential frustration, confusion and crisis. Above all, pray for a peaceful and fulfilling election. Pray that the post election season will be filled with hope and direction.

Thank you for agreeing with us in these things and standing with us in prayer during this crucial week in Sudan.

To read the latest updates from the election process check out two articles from BBC.com: Sudan Extends Landmark Election after Ballot Mixup and Q&A: Sudan Elections in which give greater insight into the complicated election process, as well as what is at stake for the future of Sudan.

With our initial work in South Sudan beginning in 2008, it is truly amazing to see the growth and transformation that has taken place in such a short period of time.

In the Rumbek community we have developed partnerships with over 7 local churches, which have allowed for training and program implementation to begin.  Plans for this area include economic and agricultural development, orphans and vulnerable children programs, water and sanitation initiatives, as well as medical and health care provision.

We are excited to announce that on March 4, 2010 we were able to open our LIA Medical Program as the Minister of Health officially permitted the medical work to begin at our compound in Rumbek, Sudan.  Accompanied by the Minister of Health, three additional governmental officials examined the LIA facility, context, medicines, documentation, and conducted an interview of our Clinical Officer and Program Director. Media coverage of the event was broadcast over the radio throughout the region.

With great excitement comes the need for praise and continued prayer.

As the Sudan elections are set to take place next month on April 11, 2010 we ask that you join us in praying for peace and stability during the countries upcoming political transitions.  This election will mark the country’s first multi-party election since 1986.  Please pray that the people of Sudan will overcome projected obstacles that could hinder the occasion of a fair election, as well as the restoration of democracy.

To learn more about the election process and candidates check out an article from BBC News.  Also, to understand some of the obstacles facing the election and the tension created by current President, Omar al-Bashir read the article entitled, “They’re Off” found on The Economist.

The relative peace experienced in Sudan these last few years has been precious. Healing and development, though still at its infancy, is of great encouragement to the people of Sudan, and especially South Sudan.

LIA ’s ministry in South Sudan has been very well received, surpassing our expectations. Doors have opened and the favor of God has enabled great strides within such a short time. We are very thankful to God.

That said, we have the soon coming elections in April. This is a great opportunity for the Sudanese people to choose political leaders and we invite you to pray with us.

Pray with us that this will be a time of peace.

Pray that the election process will be free and fair.

Pray that we will come to greater heights post the election time.

Stand with the churches in prayer, holding up the precious people of this nation and the great hope they have for a peaceful and developing nation, which they can proudly call home.

Thank you for partnering with us, that they may have Life in its abundance.

Dr. Florence Muindi
President, LIA International

**We invite you to share your prayers and questions in the comment field for this crucial time in history for the Sudanese people.

With my most recent trip to one of our target communities coming to a close, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the powerful and encouraging transformation happening amidst the desperation and suffering of the people in this area.

I began my trip with a rather unfortunate experience - the airlines lost my luggage!  Insisting I check my bags I ended up left without a change of clothes and other necessities for a few days.  Initially I felt bad for my misfortune and myself however I soon shaped up and changed my outlook.  I felt ashamed that I was making a big deal about my situation seeing how this was nothing compared to what the families that we have been visiting are currently experiencing yet they still manage to fill their lives with such joy!

It has been very tough times for the families in these communities as we saw firsthand the extensive damage that has been created from the recent unexpected heavy rains and flooding.  Prior to our arrival, there had been three days of continuous rainfall in which led to the closure of many roads, and the collapse of many homes and settlements.

With houses, shelters, and roofs constructed from mud the displaced people of this community have suffered the worst.  Some of the families moved to their local churches for shelter - however those have collapsed as well from the storm.

Sadly the worst is not over.  In the following weeks more rain is expected making it impossible to start the rebuilding process.  Families have lost their homes, children are without a place to play, and the pit latrines have filled with water.  The outbreak and susceptibility for diseases is a great concern for all.

Yet, in the midst of all the destruction I have been simply amazed at the joy and strong faith that these people display.  Our friends from the community met with us and were still enthusiastically worshiping and praising God despite the circumstances.  It is both encouraging and humbling to see such hope founded on more than can be seen.

It has truly been a blessing that Dr. Yared (our LIA program director) and myself have been able to spend time with the board, staff team and church leaders of this community.

Please keep these communities in your prayers.

Pray for their safety throughout the rest of the rain and storms.

Pray for the reconstruction process.

Pray for the health of the people that they may be safe from any diseases.

Pray for the churches that they may respond to help their brothers and sisters in their community.

True joy and trust in the Lord can sometimes seem hard to fathom in times of great struggle and desperation.  Let the people of this community encourage and show you just what it means to fully believe in the steadfastness of our Lord.

Thank you for your committed partnership with LIA to empower the church; especially in moments such as this.

As I prepare to leave Africa I am flooded with memories and lessons lived and learned over the past month. It has been an amazing experience filled with more emotion than I care to relive.

This trip has been different than any other before it. For one, this is the longest I have been out of the country since I lived in Kenya as a child. Almost every day of this trip was spent with the poor, seeing the work of LIA in rural and urban areas. I was also leading multiple groups, responsible for stranger’s safety and making sure they had a “good” experience. Each of these brought about unique challenges, growth, and also brought a lot of fun.

After hearing the countless stories of people I will never forget and traveling hundreds of dusty miles, one of the things I will take away is the reminder of the unique awareness of the spiritual realm in Africa in a way that is not felt or understood in America. I leave here, once again, more aware of need for prayer and the power of the spiritual realm.

We sat down with a group of pastors to hear of their work in rural Kenya. After sharing stories of successes we asked them what were some of their greatest struggles.

The first pastor to speak up told of recently having to go to court. Many people in his community were converting to Christianity and as a result, they were no longer buying medicine from the local witch doctor. So, she cast a spell and sent a 15 foot python to kill his chickens that he was using to start micro-businesses for local widows. The evidence was so overwhelming that she had actually sent the snake that he won the court case. Not something we deal with too often in ministry in the States.

When I took a group of high school students from Oklahoma to rural Ethiopia, the pastors began explaining that because there had been so many healings and casting out of demons in their church they had been able to plant 107 churches that boasted over 40,000 members.

When we were told that the next day we would be attending a service where there might be casting out of demons, the eyes of the high school students grew pretty wide. I went over and explained to some of our staff that this might be a new experience for these kids because many people in America have never seen healing or casting out of demons, in fact, there are people that don’t believe that those things still happen. Their eyes then grew even wider than the high schoolers.
“You are saying that people in America have never seen a demon possessed person and don’t believe in healings?” They asked. I stopped for a moment and thought about it and responded, “I would say that is true for most American’s.” They couldn’t believe it. “Do they even read the Bible?”

We talked to people who, because they had prayed over the land and broken spiritual strongholds, were able to grow crops on their land while their neighbor’s land was left barren. We spoke with people who experienced healings. We spoke with people who had been freed from demon possession. Every person we spoke with had some story of how the Spirit of God was alive and well, moving, active, and their only hope for freedom and life in abundance in a world often ruled by dark powers. I typically don’t see that type of intensity in America and in my own life. I hope that changes after this trip.