Randy and Mary Jane’s Weblog

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Happy Friday!

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24).

I hope this has been a good week for you. Once again I bid a warm welcome to our new readers and trust that this little endeavor of missions communication will be a blessing to you where you are.

OOPS, SORRY
I was mistakenly informed that last week Pastor Gift Mtukwa and Dr. Rod Reed would be speaking at the First Church of the Nazarene in Anderson, Indiana on Sunday morning (March 1). It was the right church, but the wrong city. They were in Huntington, Indiana. My apologies go to the folks around Anderson who showed up hoping to meet our friends. Thanks for making the effort anyway.

ST. MICHAELS
Last Sunday we took our choir to St. Michael’s Anglican Church on the southern edge of Ongata Rongai. The choir sounded wonderful and it was a privilege to be associated with them. I got to preach in English (without an interrupter) to a packed house and Mary Jane taught a group of 30 pre-teens under the trees outside. It was a good day and a wonderful way to begin the Lenten season. The pageantry was a little different from what I am used to, but I really enjoyed the change and getting to see another view of our Christian family.

AMERICAN EMBASSY
On Thursday we made a trip to Nairobi to pay the visa fees for our choir. You have to go to a bank to pay for the visas, get receipts, and then take the receipts to the American Embassy. We paid for twenty-two students, trusting that they all will make the cut to go. We did paperwork back in the office until about 9:00 p.m. and now hopefully everything is ready for the big trip.

This morning we load the bus at 6:00 and make our way to the American Embassy for visa interviews with our student singers. Having never been through this process before we have no idea of what to expect. I do imagine that we will be there for the day. I don’t know whether we will have to wait hours, days, or weeks to find out who gets permission to travel to the US, but we will do what we have to do. We request your prayers that the visas will be processed without delay and then that we will be able to find airline tickets that will fit within our budget. The Lord has opened so many doors already and we are confident that He will continue to make a way as we continue to trust Him to do so.

TOUR EXTENSION
It looks as though we are going to be in the states for a week longer than we had originally planned in order for us to get the best flight price. So, if you know of anyone who is interested in having our choir come to their church before, after, or during the 4th of July weekend we may have time available. Just drop me a line and we will see what works into the schedule. Since we will be finishing our tour in Florida we really need to focus on the southeast as much as possible.

Our slate for the tour is as follows:

May 28 – Leave Nairobi, Kenya
May 29 – Arrive in Indianapolis, Indiana
May 30 – Northeastern Indiana District Missionary Convention
May 31 (am) – Anderson, Indiana Southdale Church of the Nazarene
May 31 (pm) – Northeastern Indiana District Campmeeting
June 2-3 – Georgia District Missionary Convention
June 7 (am) – Gallatin, Tennessee First Church of the Nazarene
June 7 (pm) – Louisville, Kentucky Farmdale Church of the Nazarene
June 9 – New Albany, Indiana Christ Community Church of the Nazarene
June 10 – Hartford City, Indiana Church of the Nazarene
June 11 – Rockville, Indiana First Baptist Church
June 12 – Chicago Central District Missionary Convention
June 14 (am) – Kansas City, Missouri First Church of the Nazarene
June 14 (pm) – Olathe, Kansas College Church of the Nazarene
June 17 – Nashville, Tennessee Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene
June 21 (am) – Leesburg, Florida First Church of the Nazarene
June 21 (pm) – Fort Myers, Florida First Church of the Nazarene
June 23 – Clearwater, Florida First Church of the Nazarene
June 24–July 1 – Orlando, Florida General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene
July 1-8 (still open)
July 9 – Leave USA for Kenya

Well, this is going to be a short letter because it’s 4:15 a.m. and it’s going to be a long day. As soon as we find out something about our visas I will send out a brief news bulletin. Hopefully, we can rejoice together.

Have a great weekend and a blessed Lord’s Day! Till later…

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment March 6, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Hello from equatorial Africa!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

GOOD DAYS
As we close one month and look to the next we are enjoying good days on the campus of ANU. I have still not received an official word as to our enrollment for this trimester, but maybe that’s because I haven’t officially asked. However, there seems to be a full house in our chapels, lunchrooms, and on the buses. Life is busy and there seems to be a pretty good spirit about the place. It’s hard to believe that just one month from now we will be in the midst of final exams once again. The trimesters do roll right along.

FIELD TRIP
Last weekend Corey, Joe, and I made the 983-kilometer drive to the Western Province to represent the school at the district assembly there. Needless to say, it was a long trip in a short time (35 hours total). However, it was beautiful to see the mountains, valleys, and even stop and take pictures at the “You are now at the equator” sign where we were mobbed with locals who wanted to sell us their handcraft souvenirs of the occasion. Those of you who know what a fabulous love I have of shopping will not be surprised to hear that I wasn’t there long enough to make a purchase. A picture is enough of a memento for me. Driving the roads was also enough of an adventure to fill me with memories for quite some time.

We had an opportunity to meet some wonderful pastors and hear the report of Julius Omondi, the district superintendent that I had taught in Church History and Homiletics classes. It was nice to be in his church and home and observe him in his natural habitat. Though the challenges of the area are great, we left there encouraged that God is going to make His presence known through these modern day soldiers of the cross.

We did pick up one souvenir from the trip. We stayed in a hotel called “Happy Moments.” I think there probably needs to be a name change coming. The rooms were overpriced, had no water except what they brought in to us in a bucket, and served a breakfast the caused my two companions to become violently ill by the next day when we got home. For some reason I guess the Lord spared me from the ailment once again, but then I didn’t drink the fruit juice. I have learned to just use boiled water to make tea. The guys are fine now, but I think a wry smile will always come to their faces when someone mentions, “Happy Moments.”

TRIP PLANS
I met with the music group this week and had an opportunity to begin preparing them for travel to the states and what to expect when they would get there. Monday is going to be a big day for them. At that point two-thirds of their plane ticket money is due and we will nail down exactly who will be going and start a more narrow focus in our preparation. Today Mary Jane and I are going out to visit travel agencies to see what kind of a flight deal we can make for these students and us. We have a very limited budget for flights, so we are trusting the Lord to make a way for us to get where we need to be.

Next Friday we will be taking all those who have qualified for the trip to the American Embassy to have their visa interviews. This will be a very big day for us so we ask you to be in prayer with us. Each interview is $131 and we have no guarantee that all or any will be allowed to travel to the US. Again, we are just trusting God to open the doors for us. Once we get passed that point it is just a matter of collecting the rest of the flight money, getting our presentations ready, and focusing on orientation to American culture. Of course, there are little things like the rest of the trimester classes and final exams to consider as well. This next couple of weeks is going to be very interesting to say the least. I will be going ahead of the group to the US in May to apply for my Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) so I can drive the bus for our trip. I am in the process of studying for the exam already.

JOINING THE ANGLIANS
This Sunday I will be accompanying Shangilia to St. Michael’s Anglican Church in Ongata Rongai where they will sing and I will preach in the morning worship service. Mary Jane will be teaching a teenage Sunday School class in addition to getting the choir ready so I guess we will all be busy. It will be my first experience to preach in the denomination of John Wesley and I look forward to extending my focus of God’s family to a little wider view.

DOWN TIME
I look forward to tomorrow when we can just sleep in and rest up from the week’s activities. I didn’t get to do that very much as a pastor, but here on campus I get to have some Saturdays free and that is a nice perk. I can use the time to do some reading and preparing for next week as I fill in for Dr. Rod Reed, who is presenting a theological paper at a seminar in Anderson, Indiana. I will be teaching his Doctrine of Holiness class until he gets back. By the way, Dr. Reed is traveling with Rev. Gift Mtukwa for this seminar at Anderson University and Gift will be speaking at Anderson First Church of the Nazarene this Sunday morning. If you have opportunity to hear him (he is our university church pastor) and give him a taste of American hospitality I know he would love to meet you. Just tell him I sent you his way. It’s his first trip to America and I hope there is a bunch of snow (sorry about that for you who live there).

Well, I’d better wrap this up and get it in the mail. Well, I will as soon as the Internet comes back on. Such is life in Kenya…

Have a great weekend and a wonderful Lord’s Day!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

1 comment February 27, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Habari ya asubuhi! (Good morning!)

“I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; for it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me, Lord, but only with justice¾not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing” (Jeremiah 10:23-24).

Nawaletea salamu kutoka kwa Kiongozi wa chuo kikuu cha Africa Nazarene University Prof. Leah Marangu, pamoja na watu wote wema wa hicho chuo kikuu. (I bring you greetings from Prof. Leah Marangu, our Vice-Chancellor, and all the wonderful people at Africa Nazarene University.)

Now don’t get the idea that I am speaking fluently the language written above. This is a greeting I am working on presenting when I speak to churches and assemblies in the area. So many of our students speak so many languages and I do well to communicate in English. I guess I’m one of those old dogs that has a hard time with new tricks when it comes to Kiswahili.

GREETINGS TO NEW READERS
A number of new readers have been added to our newsletter mailing list this week and we welcome you. Our readership covers over 1000 homes, but I have no way of knowing how much farther this goes. Some districts and local churches have put our newsletter on their websites and once it gets into cyberspace it’s anyone’s guess who gets it. Anyway, we are happy for those who are new to us and for those who have been reading along with us from the start. We are always grateful for any comments and suggestions you may have to make these letters more interesting and informative. Many have expressed to me their appreciation for this weekly endeavor and we hope that new readers will also feel the same way.

NEW TRACK
We have a new walking/running track here and I am enjoying it. Since it’s still under construction it is just dirt and not always level in spots, but it’s a real treat to have a place like this to walk/run or whatever. I am making it my practice to do my walking on it in the mornings and do some light jogging on it in the evenings. This morning I was out there before daylight and out of the corner of my eye I saw an animal run going east as I was going west. It was much bigger than a dog and too fast for a cow so I wasn’t sure what it was. It was still pretty dark and I didn’t have my glasses on, but that’s the first sign of wildlife I have seen when being out and about in the dark. Upon telling my assistant, Rev. Constantino Magaya about it later, he told me he was dropping off his son for the school bus about that time at the front gate of the campus and heard a hyena howl. I’m hoping he was more scared of me than I was of him – and I hope it stays that way.

MUSIC TOUR
We are making progress, slowly by slowly. The Shangilia Singers are sounding great as they are learning new music, refining older songs, and getting ready for the big trip. We are now 98 days away from arriving in the US if all goes according to plan. The next big deadline for us is March 2nd because that’s the final cutoff date to see who is going to be making the trip with us. By that time we will know exactly who can apply for visas and who will need to get airline tickets. Those are no small items, but as we get closer to the deadlines the trip becomes more and more real.

We have had some wonderful news in the last week. First of all, we have received word of some financial gifts that are coming our way to help some of our students reach the necessary amount for their flights. To each person who has felt impressed to do this we say a big “THANK YOU!” You are making a wonderful difference that will never be forgotten. Secondly, I just received word that the Gallatin, Tennessee Church of the Nazarene is making available to us their 29-passenger bus for our tour. To be able to use only one vehicle and still be able to get all of our people and their luggage aboard is a true answer to prayer. THANK YOU also to the wonderful people of Gallatin. I will need to go through the channels to get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in order to chauffeur this gang, but we are confident that the Lord will help me in that area as well. It will bring back memories of driving the motor home when we were doing full-time revival work in years gone by.

Our slate for the tour is as follows:

WESTERN PROVINCE
I am off today to visit the Western Province of Kenya to represent ANU in a district assembly of our denomination. It will be about an eight-hour drive each way, but I’ve got my sidekicks Corey Buttry and Joe Ladesic to keep me company. These young Americans got to visit Mombasa on the Indian Ocean last weekend and this weekend are covering the central and western parts of the country. What a joy to get to show off this beautiful land.

Well, I’d better get this launched into cyberspace. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Lord’s Day! Lord willing, we will be in touch next Friday.

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment February 23, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Happy Friday 13th!

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

I guess those verses are for all the superstitious on this day. This has been a good week here in Kenya. We have continued to have some wonderful weather, although it seems a lot windier throughout the day than normal. Sometimes it seems like it is going to blow right through my fourth-floor window and push me down the hall. I guess I should enjoy it while I can. Our carpenters are working on my new office on the ground floor of the Helstrom Student Center and Chapel building where I won’t have access to any windows at all. It will be a nice office, but I will miss the gorgeous view I now have.

CHAPEL
Like most of our Nazarene universities, chapel services are required fare for our students. Also like other schools there are some who enjoy these times together in worship and there are some who chaff under the requirement. Even among the administrators there is often a sense of obligation to be there, but not always a real enthusiasm for the services.

This has been a really good trimester as far as chapel goes though. Our holiness week services with Dr. Daniel and Carol Ketchum were outstanding and other services have also been very special. On Tuesday of this week we had such a service. Dr. Rod Reed was speaking on divine healing. He showed some video clips of real healing and “fake” healing and tried to explain the difference. As we closed the service we dismissed the majority of the students and staff, but made provision for a time of prayer for those who either needed healing themselves or wanted to represent someone else. I didn’t count the number but a sizable group came around the altar for such a time of prayer. There was no concern for getting to class on time or getting time for lunch. Prayer was the focus and we know that God heard and met needs that day.

Not all prayers for healing are answered in the affirmative, however. Last week I requested prayer for a young mother here named Tabitha Chacha. Sadly, the brain tumor took its toll and she died last Saturday morning, leaving behind her husband, a five-year-old son, and a four-month-old daughter. The funeral will be this weekend. We grieve with the family, but we know heaven is richer with one more wonderful lady there. We don’t always understand the ways of God, but we are convinced that the King of all the universe will do right.

AMAZING PEOPLE
Some stories that our students tell are beyond description. I have one student that I have talked with at length lately. He ministers in a part of the world that needs to remain secret for security sake. A few years ago he went to his place of service with a small bag, the clothes on his back, and no Christian contacts. Today he is the superintendent of three districts that total 1000 churches. He tells me that the smallest of his churches runs 100 in attendance each week. That’s at least 100,000 people for Christ in a little over five years. Teaching such a person is a humbling experience to say the least.

LOST, BUT NOW FOUND
Some may have wondered about Joe’s (one of the American students staying with us) lost bag. Sunday morning we got the call that it had been found in Dubai and on Monday we picked it up. All contents were intact and Joe is now a happy camper. It was one month and two day late, but it did finally arrive, so the story has a happy ending.

CULTURAL WEEK
This is cultural week at ANU. On Monday we dressed as professionals. On Tuesday we dressed with clashing colors and crazy outfits (I don’t think any pictures were taken of me that will make it home so I’m probably safe). On Wednesday we dressed in what we wore to high school and I got to come to the office in a sweatshirt and jeans. On Thursday there were cultural exhibits and today there is a concert and people dressing in their tribal outfits. (I think my tribal outfit is a pair of sweats, but Mary Jane is not crazy about that idea.) It’s a lot of fun for the students and faculty alike. I guess things get back to normal next week.

CHOIR TOUR
We are still making plans for our upcoming choir tour. To put it gently, this is not an easy thing to bring about. We just found out yesterday that each student has to have $131 just for the visa interview – with no guarantee that they will be accepted by the American Embassy to go. This is on top of the $40 they have already had to pay for a passport and $1200 yet to pay on a plane ticket. It most likely will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for some. That’s just reality. Our group will no doubt be smaller than we had hoped, but we are forging ahead with our plans and trusting God to “kill a few cows for them,” as Mary Jane is fond of saying.

Well, I guess that’s the news for now. It’s time to wind this up and get it in the mail. Thanks for your cards, emails, and prayers. We feel very loved and supported. I hope you have a good weekend and a wonderful Lord’s Day!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment February 13, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Hello from Kenya!

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

FRIDAY AGAIN
Our classes are over for the week and now the weekend is upon us. Tomorrow is “Open Day,” a day when high school students visit the campus and we do our best to put our best foot forward. There will be chapel, special speakers, soccer, rugby, and basketball tournaments and a time to mix with new faces. It’s a big deal for ANU because often many of our students are recruited from such days.

I also got to meet this week with the director of Kenya Student Christian Fellowship. This young man is the director of Christian groups in over 3000 high schools here in Kenya. We are working to colaborate on some upcoming events and we hope to gain access to new areas for student recruitment as well. Marketing is just as important as anything else in the university and we all try to do our part.

We just got back from doing chapel at our town campus. We have about 300 students (mostly older) there and we have the responsibility of trying to be a chaplain to them as well. The atmosphere is a bit different than it is at the main campus, but they are a great bunch to work with also.

SOMETIMES NO POWER IS BETTER
We were in chapel on Tuesday this week and in the midst of our praise and worship time the power went off. The keyboard and bass guitar went silent and the drummer soon followed their lead. The praise and worship team kept singing however, as did the students throughout the auditorium. We were suddenly surrounded with hundreds of voices singing, “Hallelujah, for the Lord God Almighty reigns! Holy, are you Lord God Almighty! Worthy is the Lamb; worthy is the Lamb! Amen!” I didn’t even want to sing myself, but just listen. I had to remind myself of where I was and that this is just a little piece of what heaven will be like. I look forward to hearing the heavenly African voices on the other side.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS
Our two boarders, Corey and Joe, are getting acclimated to Kenyan living. The are both taking a class in “Bee keeping” and are really enjoying it. Today they have been out among the hives for eight hours and will do the same next Friday as they work on their projects. They will have so many stories to tell about their experiences here and I know they will have tons of pictures as well. They have done everything from going to class, hanging out in the cafeteria, to riding matatus, and even hiking to a local swimming pool with the students. Of course, Mary Jane’s cooking is a lot more like home than the dining hall, but I don’t think they are complaining too much about that.

I would encourage every university student to consider spending at least one semester in a school outside their native land. It will be the adventure of a lifetime – and if it’s like ANU it will be a whole lot cheaper too.

MAMA COOKIE
Mary Jane has been at it again. The Peer Counselors group wanted her to help them bake things for a fund-raiser so she baked about twenty dozen cookies and four batches of brownies. It made the house smell nice, but since she sent them all away we didn’t get to enjoy them much – like I really needed them.

CONTINUED GROWTH
Our athletic field is progressing as work on our soccer pitch is continuing. We also have a new running track around the outside of it. It isn’t quite level and still is pretty rough, but so much better than running on the roads. Our basketball court is playing host to tournaments more and more, so ANU is getting to be more of a household name.

Our Hostel Assistant program is off to a good start also. There are some adjustments to make, like with any new program, but overall we are seeing some good things happen. Our thanks again to all the work Jonathan and Jessica Duranceau did in helping get these programs off the ground.

PRAYER REQUESTS
There are always needs in all parts of the world, but here are some that are very close to our hearts right now.

1. Joseph and Tabitha Chacha – Tabitha has been diagnosed with a maligant brain tumor. She and Joseph have already gone past their insurance coverage and now she is facing surgery. They are the parents of a five year old child and a four month old child. Joseph works in our registrars office. We are praying that God will raise Tabitha to health once again.
2. One of our mature students named “Silas” just lost his eight-year-old son this week to pneumonia. Silas holds a 4.0 GPA as he pursues his education degree and teaches full-time. Pray for God’s strength to be given to them during this time.
3. Pray that our passport and visa process will be finished on time for our school music group to travel to the US in May and June. Pray also that our students will be able to raise the money needed for their plane tickets.

PREACHING IN TOWN
I preached through a “interupter” again last week and I am trying to get the rhythm down to do it more effectively. It is definitely a challenge, but an interesting way to get a message out. I’m not sure I will ever be as good at it as I would like to be, but it beats me trying to speak in Kiswahili. I think that is going to be a long time coming.

Well, it’s getting late and it’s been a long day. Have a wonderful weekend!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment February 6, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Habari asibuhi! (Good morning!)

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed” (Psalm 37:25-26).

WONDERUL WEATHER
Even though much of the US is suffering from winter storms, we are enjoying almost perfect conditions. Sunny days and cool nights make a combination that anyone would envy. We even had a couple of nights of rain that helped to settle the dust and brighten up the flowers. Certainly Kenya has its share of problems, but one thing they have going for it is great weather. With skies like these and nights full of stars it’s hard to imagine any other climate being more agreeable.

CLOSE CALL
While driving on Langata Road in Nairobi on Saturday we happened upon a wreck in from of us that blocked the road. There was one car ahead of us on this two-lane road so we stopped to let them sort out the mess. Here in Kenya one doesn’t move the car off the road even for a fender-bender. Vehicles stay right where the wreck occurred, blocking all traffic until the officials arrive (who don’t have cars themselves, so it takes a while). In the lane next to us was a big dump truck full of stone. Suddenly, a careless bus driver rammed the stone truck in the back sending glass and debris everywhere. Though I was saddened for the driver of the bus and his passengers, I was thankful that he was not in our lane and that our little car was not the recipient of his impact. We would not have handled the crash nearly as well as the truck. God was sending his angels out for us once again.

HEAD ‘EM UP AND MOVE ‘EM OUT
That’s for all the old “Rawhide” fans. Coming home from our town campus after dark on Tuesday we turned on to Maasai Lodge Road and right into a herd of cows. This wasn’t an ordinary herd driven by a sleepy Maasai man; this was a regular cattle drive that would rival the old west. For nearly three kilometers we drove through the midst of the long horned beasts stretching from the tarmac junction all the way to mid John Marangu Boulevard (for those of you who have been here). We didn’t count them, but I would estimate their number at nearly a thousand¾seriously! Anyway, it had been kind of a slow day, so the excitement was appreciated.

THREE WEEKS DOWN
This next week our final exams are to be turned in. We have to turn them in within the first month of the trimester so external and internal examiners can review them before we can submit them to the students. It’s quite a process. I have yet to start preparing either of them, but will get on the task after classes are over tomorrow. Hopefully, by Wednesday I should have everything in order.

Since each trimester I teach classes I have never taught before I have to start from scratch with all my lecture notes, quizzes, and exams. So far I have taught Pastoral Counseling, Church History I & II, Homiletics, Preaching Lab, and now Synoptic Gospels and Revelation¾but none of the classes twice. I was just asked last night if I would be interested in teaching Christian Beliefs to our education majors in April, so I may be starting from scratch again. I guess it keeps me from getting bored with old material. The trimester is rolling right along and on Monday we start the fourth of the twelve weeks. Before we know it, May’s graduation day will be here.

ANU MUSIC TOUR
Mary Jane is practicing each week with the Shangilia Singers, the musical group we are planning to bring to the USA in May and June. The music is coming along, but we are slowly moving through the process of passports and visas. Sometimes it is like trying to push a rope.

There are prayer needs you can help us with in this area.
1. Pray that all the paperwork will go through smoothly and visas will be granted to our students.
2. Pray that our students will be able to raise the fees for their plane tickets. This is a huge obstacle for many and it is possible that some are just not going to be able to do it unless things change.
3. Pray with us that a door will open for inexpensive transportation for the group when we get to the US. Housing and travel will be our major expenses.
4. Pray that this trip will be spiritually beneficial to both those who hear their music and to our students themselves for participating in the experience.

Thanks for sharing in these needs with us. It will be a big boost to the faith of these young people when the Lord provides for their needs.

GMAIL
For the past few months I have been sending out this newsletter on both AOL and Gmail. This is most likely the last time I will be doing this. AOL is just getting harder to access here and sometimes I go for days and can’t seem to get on. I will send the newsletter in both formats this time, but only on Gmail after that. If you don’t receive the mailing next week, please let me know and we will make special arrangements for you to get it. This will eliminate people getting multiple copies each week also. I hope this will be better for all.

I am also on Facebook, but sometimes it is impossible to get into it. There are times I get friend requests that I can’t respond to because the computer set-up won’t let me. However, usually once a week or so I am able to get on. I just never know when. Please be patience with anything connected to Internet communication.

TILL LATER…
Well, that’s about all the news for now. I hope you all stay warm (in those snowy regions) and have a wonderful weekend! I will be preaching this Sunday at our church in Kwangare.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment January 30, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Jambo!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

LATE
I know, I know, this newsletter is coming out late. It’s just been one of those busy weeks. Because readers have gotten so used to receiving this on Friday I often get emails from people wondering if something has happened to us if the mailing is not there when they get up on Friday morning. Rest assured that we are fine; just busy. I’ll try to get back on schedule next week.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT
One of the students, Joe, who is staying with us, still has not received his bag from the airlines. He is getting by, but would sure like to get his belongings. So, recently I decided to take him out to the airport where we could meet people face to face and see what could be done. We were stopped at a police checkpoint at the airport entrance and I was promptly informed that my car insurance sticker had expired and now I was guilty of a crime. The policeman got in our car and I was instructed to drive down to the police station, which fortunately was only a half-mile from the airline terminals, and at that point my car was impounded. I was told that there would be a court hearing and then a fine before I could get my car back. The problem came about because the insurance sticker had expired while I was away and I hadn’t thought to check it when I got back.

Fortunately, the sticker showing my proof of insurance was at the field office and in about an hour a driver from there appeared with it and after showing it to the authorities and explaining the situation my car was released without any court appearance or fine. God is good – all the time! My first, and hopefully my last, run in with the police department ended on a good note.

HOLINESS WEEK
We have been blessed to have Dr. Daniel and Carol Ketchum, the executive director of Nazarene Missions International, to be with us this week to preach our Holiness Week revival services. It has truly been a time blessed of God and we have seen our students respond to the call to be born again and to be filled with the Spirit of God in service after service. Beyond the service times, students have sought out Daniel and Carol throughout the days to receive private prayer and counseling from them and they have spoken in several of our classes as well.

It has been a very special time to have them with us once again. They had opened their home to us when we were in Kansas City for our mission training and now this reunion has been sweet. They leave tonight, but will be missed by many on this campus.

REGULAR DUTIES
We have now finished our second week of classes for this trimester and I think we have settled in on our teaching schedules. Mary Jane is teaching the basic study skills class, which is required for all students, and I am teaching ministerial students Bible classes on the book of Revelation and Synoptic Gospels. We have had a great influx of religion students this trimester and have about doubled our department. We thank to Lord for that. We also thank all those who have been faithful to help provide scholarship funds for ANU. In days to come we are truly going to see many more people find a way to get a solid education in this part of the world.

More and more we are becoming fixtures around here. Each new semester brings new students who think we have been here forever. We are about to the point where many of the students who were here when we arrived will be graduating and those who will remain will not remember a time when we were not in place here. Time does pass quickly.

OBAMA-NATION
We drove into Nairobi on Tuesday night and spend some time at the home of an American Embassy official and watched the inauguration of Barack Obama on a large screen TV. There were a lot of Kenyans there as well and it is always quite interesting to see their reaction to everything Obama. They truly consider him one of their sons and cheer and applaud with pride and joy every time he would make any kind of reference to Kenya. I think it was a special time for Corey and Joe as well. They will have some stories to tell when they return home.

Well, there’s not lots more to tell at this point. We are doing well and enjoying wonderful weather (though a little more rain would be nice). We trust all is well where you are. Thanks for you support, interest, and prayers. Lord willing, we will be in touch next week.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment January 24, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Jambo!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment January 24, 2009

Update from Africa Nazarene University

Hello from Kenya!

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brothers” (Romans 8:29).

SHOWERS OF BLESSING
We were eating breakfast this morning when all of a sudden the skies
opened up and a beautiful rain began to fall. What a wonderful
blessing! Everything has been so dry and the dust choking to all who
walked along the roads. The daily temperatures have been in the upper
90’s and the wind blows so hard that it dries the land even more.
This respite continues as I write this so the ground is getting
refreshed quite a bit today. The dust will turn to mud, but at least
the brown grass is getting a little refreshing.

FIRST WEEK
We have been back in Kenya just over a week now and we have gotten
back into the routine of our jobs and life in general here. We both
have completed our classes for the week and now we have a seminar to
attend this afternoon. I spoke in chapel on Tuesday and got an
opportunity to meet some new students as well as welcome the former
ones back to ANU. We have an exciting crop of new ministerial
students due to some creative scholarship help and have nearly doubled
our department. We have plans in place to keep the growth coming so I
believe we have some exciting days ahead for our young theologians and
staff.

PARENTS – AGAIN!
No, Mary Jane is not expecting, but we are blessed with two new “sons”
staying with us. Corey and Joe are mixing right in with the other
students, taking hikes, playing games, and beginning to travel with
school schedules. I think they are enjoying themselves. We are
enjoying having them here. They are finding that Africans have just
as hard of time understanding our English as we do understanding
theirs. Going to school in a different country with a different
culture is a great experience and I highly recommend it for any
college student anywhere. One semester abroad can make differences
that will last a lifetime.

HEALTH REPORT
We finally found out that Mary Jane’s problem was neither gallstones,
nor an ulcer, but is the old parasite once more. It is such a
blessing that she came back with us because clinics in the US are not
equipped to properly diagnose and treat such things like they are
here. Now that she is on the proper medication she is doing well once
again and is able to enjoy campus living. My cold is going away also
so we are both doing well. Thanks so much for all your prayer
support.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We continue to try and finalize just which of our students will be
able to come to the US for our choir tour in May. For some, raising
the money needed is a huge hurdle. Please pray that God will open a
way for them to be able to meet their obligations here as well as
raise funds for their plane tickets. We have other students who have
no idea where the money for their school fees is going to come from
and others who were not allowed to enroll this time because of cash
shortfall. Like everywhere, money is a big deal and life doesn’t go
on as usual without it.

An additional prayer request is for our Holiness Week services, which
are Monday through Friday next week. Dr. Daniel Ketchum and his wife
Carole are going to be our special guest speaker and singers for this
event. Of course, Daniel is the executive director of Nazarene
Missions International and we are honored to have these dear friends
with us. They hosted us while we were doing our training in Kansas
City and now we will get the privilege of doing the same for them.
Pray that God will pour out His Spirit on our campus during these
special days of spiritual emphasis.

Well, that’s about all for now. Life goes on and we are blessed!
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

Till next week…be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment January 17, 2009

Update from Indiana

Happy New Year!

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves” (Psalm 127 1-2).

GETTING BACK ON AFRICAN TIME
I know this is a day late, but it seems that most things start late in Africa and I guess I’m getting back into the flow of things. Actually, I have a pretty good excuse. After seeing the new year in at my sister’s with family and friends I got up at 4:00 a.m. and drove south to return the rental car we have been using. To return the car in Indianapolis instead of in Tampa, Florida where I picked it up would have cost an extra $1200, so I opted to drive the 1100 miles and then fly back to Indy to rejoin the family. I’m pretty stubborn and stingy with money so it seemed like a natural adventure for me. I made about 723 miles in twelve hours on Thursday, stopping in Cordele, Georgia for the night, and went on the rest of the way to Tampa yesterday.

I was supposed to make a quick flight back to Indy and be there by midnight, but things didn’t work out that way. I was told in Tampa that the planes were delayed in Minnesota because of ice and that there would be no more flights to Indy until 5:15 on Saturday. Finally, we managed to work out a flight to Atlanta, then on to Dayton, Ohio and still land around midnight. It was a rush connection, but they thought it would be okay. When I got to Atlanta and boarded the plane I found that it was nearly packed and that two of us had been given the same seat number. I graciously gave up my seat in coach and volunteered to ride the rest of the way in first class. What I nice guy I am. No good deed goes unpunished, however, for when I arrived in Dayton my bag didn’t. We didn’t home to Indiana until 3:00 a.m. and now the search is on to see if the bag is still in Atlanta, or is coming to Dayton, or perhaps even to Indianapolis. I guess this is life in the fast lane. Thank God for cell phones and free weekends.

A SUCCESSFUL MONTH.
This Sunday we will be bringing our ANU Scholarship Tour of 2008-2009 to a close. Besides the long flights, we put 4111 miles this month on the rental car. I’m glad the price included unlimited miles. I don’t have an exact report to give you at this point, but we are getting close to our goal of finding an average of 12 churches with 12 people who are willing to pledge $12 for 12 months. Hopefully, our final two services at Muncie, Indiana South Side and Anderson, Indiana Southdale Churches of the Nazarene will put us over the top.

I want to say a big THANK YOU to not only those who have made pledges for the year 2009, but also to all of those who have now completed their giving in our 2007-2008 campaign. When I get back to school I will get with our financial officer and give you an exact report of what came in last year. May God bless you richly! You are making the dreams of many young people come true.

PRAYER REQUEST
It seems like these old bodies of ours get a need of repair by the time we come home each year. I’ve had to restart my blood pressure medicine, but otherwise am doing well. Mary Jane is the one who is in need at this time. She received word from her doctor that she either has gall stones or has developed an ulcer. More tests will be required to see what is happening and what will need to happen. She has a 7:30 a.m. appointment for a sonogram in Muncie, Indiana on Monday and we are scheduled to leave for the Indianapolis airport to fly out at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. That’s cutting it pretty close. Obviously, we are concerned for her health first, but also for the timing of everything. If surgery or further treatment is required in the US then she will not be able to accompany me back to Kenya. Please keep her in your prayers in your worship services this weekend.

HOUSE GUESTS
One reason that I need to get back to ANU on time is that I am taking two students back with us. Corey Buttry and Joe Ladesic will be going to ANU to study for a trimester and will be living with us. Both Corey (my nephew) and Joe are from Olivet Nazarene University and will expand their education by studying abroad for a few months – a practice I would highly recommend to help get a wider world view. The three of us can “bach” it if we need to, but I know they will be praying that Mary Jane will be able to return on time so they won’t have to eat my cooking.

NEW YEAR UPON US
I hope all of you closed out the old year with joy and have a good year coming on. For us, we go back to a world that changed drastically last year. Following the December 2007 elections, Kenya went through a great national struggle. Over 1000 people died and 350,000 were driven from their homes and into government tent cities. 60,000 are still there. The Church has been challenged to make a difference during these difficult times and I have heard with joy the stories of how our pastors and their congregations have been on the front lines of these conflict areas spreading the message of peace and transformation. As we look ahead to 2009 we are trusting that God will help us to continue to make a difference for His glory and the good of the nation.

BOOKS STILL AVAILABLE
Most of the copies of my book, Unraveling the Revelation have been sold, but I still have about forty copies left. I am leaving them in the states and they can be mailed to anyone else that would care for one. I am meeting with a different publisher when I get back to Kenya and will try to market it to the continent of Africa on a wider scale. So if you want a copy, just drop me a line with your mailing address and we will get a copy to you as soon as possible.

CHOIR TOUR
We look forward to bringing our choir to a church near you in 2009. Our choir schedule at this time is as follows
May 30 – Northeastern Indiana District NMI Convention
May 31 (am) – Anderson, Indiana Southdale Church of the Nazarene
May 31 (pm) – Northeastern Indiana District Campmeeting
June 2-3 – Georgia District NMI Convention
June 7 (am) Gallatin, Tennessee Church of the Nazarene
June 7 (pm) Louisville, Kentucky Farmdale Church of the Nazarene
June 9 New Albany, Indiana Christ Community Church of the Nazarene
June 10 – Hartford City, Indiana Church of the Nazarene
June 11 – Rockville, Indiana First Baptist Church
June 12 – Chicago Central District NMI Convention
June 14 (am) – Kansas City, Missouri First Church of the Nazarene
June 14 (pm) Olathe, Kansas College Church of the Nazarene
June 17 – Nashville, Tennessee Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene
June 21 (am) Leesburg, Florida First Church of the Nazarene
June 21 (pm) Fort Myers, Florida First Church of the Nazarene
June 23 – Clearwater, Florida First Church of the Nazarene
June 24-30 – Orlando, Florida Church of the Nazarene General Assembly

We are trying to line up transportation for this venture. I was wondering if there are any churches out there that would be willing to rent a 15 passenger van to us to use for a month. We need two of them. We can provide complete insurance coverage and a driver, but getting the vehicles is proving to be a challenge. Please let us know if you know of some one that can help.

We wish you all a wonderful new year! Thanks again for all your love, prayers, and support! We look forward to staying in touch and keeping you up to date on what God is doing at ANU. Be blessed and be a blessing!

Randy and Mary Jane James
Africa Nazarene University
Nairobi, Kenya

Add comment January 3, 2009

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