East African Visitation Trip 2011

In about a week’s time, a small team will return to the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for the CLC’s yearly visitation of our brethren in those countries.  This year I will again be accompanied by Russ Schmitt of Mankato, Minnesota, who has willingly agreed to assist as a mission helper.  We will also be joined by Pastor Mike Gurath who arrived in Kenya already at the end of July.

There is a great deal of work to be done and many miles to be covered in the short time that we have there.  We will be leaving on September 5th and returning October 10th, giving us five weeks with our brethren in these three countries and to follow up with new contacts.

We have a vigorous sche-dule before us to try and get as much done as possible. Pastor Gurath, Mr. Schmitt, and I will be conducting one-day seminars in each of our six districts in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as several seminars in Uganda and outlying areas. We will also be spending several days teaching at the seminary in Chotororo, Kenya and Arusha, Tanzania. On September 21-22, we will participate in the CLC East African Joint Pastoral Conference in Moshi, Tanzania. This is one of the highlights of the trip, as representatives from each of our East African districts come together for study and fellowship which transcends nationalistic, cultural and tribal differences.  Between seminars and the joint pas-toral conference we will also be meeting with the leaders and members of our churches and preaching as we have opportunity.

The map on this page  shows our tentative route which will take us over 2,000 miles across the beautiful countryside of Kenya, Tanzania and finally Uganda.  On the map you will find our six districts centers circled.  They are Arusha, Moshi, and Tanga in Tanzania, and Kisii, Nairobi, and Kajaido in Kenya. Also circled is Mois’Bridge, Kenya, where Pastor Gurath is working for the next four months.

Here is our tentative schedule:  Nairobi to Mombasa (B) to Tanga (C) to Moshi (D) to Kajaido (E) to Arusha (F) back to Nairobi.  Then from Nairobi to Iganga, Uganda (H) then to Kisii (I) to Bungoma (J) to Mois’ Bridge (K) and then back to Nairobi (L) for our flight home.

While our main work is with the members and churches of our fellowship, we also have the opportunity to meet with several pastors with whom we have had contact over the past few years and who have shown an interest in joining our fellowship.  This year we will be following up with several contacts in Kenya, and several more in Uganda.  Our work has really blossomed in Uganda over the past few years as we gain new contacts there every year.  May the word of the Lord continue to grow throughout East Africa!

There are several ways that you can assist  with our work in East Africa and throughout our foreign mission field.

• First, you can keep our work overseas in your prayers. Pray for our missionaries, their families, and the people we are working with overseas. You can follow the progress of the East African Visitation by visiting this blog: www.nmayhew. blogspot.com. You can also read all our missionary journals  by going to www. lutheranmissions.org. and click on Missionary Journals. Reading these journals give many specific  examples to keep in your prayers.
• Secondly, consider donating new or used books or computers to the Mission Clearing House (The MCH is at ILC under the supervision of Prof. Joel Gullerud.) These would be given to our pastors and leaders overseas to be more efficient and effective in their ministries. Computers are loaded with software which will be helpful in carrying out the work they are doing.

– Pastor Nathanael Mayhew