Mercy Mwikali

Hello from Kenya!

Earlier this week we took part in Canadian Baptist Ministries' roundtable meetings in Kenya and had the joy of officially welcoming Mercy Mwikali to the CBM Africa team. Mercy began her new role as the Guardians of Hope program officer for the Africa Brotherhood Church on March 1, 2011. "I am two months old now," shared Mercy, "but I've already met with 12 of the 13 Guardians of Hope groups within the ABC. I'll be travelling to the coast in the second week of May to visit the last group at ABC Mivamoni."

Mercy may be only "two months old" in her role, but she running full steam ahead as she has assisted in orphan and vulnerable children training for caregivers, overseen a project that has gotten 43 orphaned children into school with school fee assistance, and been a part of launching a new pottery income generating project in Kalimani.

In Prayer

Please remember Mercy and the Guardians of Hope groups of the Africa Brotherhood Church, where issues of leadership capacity and food security are crucial issues.

We praise God for a great training by Ruth Munyao and Henry Mwangi on Gender Rights and HIV and AIDS in the Africa Brotherhood Church. We pray that this training will have in impact on the ministry of the ABC in Eastern and Central Africa.

We remember our colleague Ruth Munyao as she returns to Kenya this weekend from her tour of Canada were she has been connecting with churches from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.

CBM Kenya Team

CBM Kenya

Sam Chaise (CBM General Secretary), Sharlene Craig (HR Director), Erica (Guardians of Hope & Urban Muslim Ministry), Karen and Colin Godwin (Africa team leader), Yattani Gollo (NEP Somali Ministry), Kelly & Paul Carline (NEP Somali Ministry), Diane Bannister (Field Treasurer & STM logistics), Henry Mwangi (ACC&S director of development), Ruth Munyao (Development Manager), A (Theological Education ACC&S & IEA - Angola), Laura Muema (Project Officer IFTIN), Tim Bannister (STM Coordinator and Agriculture), Triza Mulandi (ABC director of Development), Cindy Chaise, and Aaron (GOH & urban Muslim Ministry).

CBM team meetings at Heart Lodge, Nairobi

Today wrapped up the mini conference with the CBM Kenya team and Sam Chaise, CBM's new general secretary. It has been very good to get to know the Chaises and to have time together with our CBM team mates. Today we had members of our national partner staff join us for our monthly round table meeting.

Kelly, Tim and Laura getting things to fit together!

Colin giving directions

Please remember our team in prayer:

Pray for the ministries going on throughout Kenya and for balance within all of our lives as we seek to serve in difficult areas that often take us away from our families.

CBM Africa Team

Laura, Erica, Pauline, Karen and Ruth

at the Godwin's home, Nairobi

Today was our monthly team meeting with our Canadian Baptist Ministries colleagues within Kenya. This has been a great way to stay connected with the different aspects of the work of CBM and our partner churches.

In Prayer:

* Please keep our fellow CBM missionary families in prayer. We especially remember Diane Bannister as she returns this week from Uganda where she working on community health studies.

* Please remember the Africa Brotherhood Church as they seek a new person to fill the vacancy of their Guardians of Hope project officer.

* We are also praying for the many churches affected by low rains this past fall. Although unseasonal rain is falling in Nairobi, Eastern Kenya is extremely dry. We pray for the millions of subsistence farms who desperately need rain.

* We are looking forward to a number of short term volunteers who will be joining us in Kenya this Spring from St. Stephen University, Crandall University, and several churches in Eastern Canada. Please pray for us as we work with our partners to pull the details together for these guests.

CBM Kenya -- Christmas Party!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Erica, R, Emma and Diane Bannister

On Saturday afternoon, we hosted a Christmas party for the Canadian Baptist Ministries' Kenya team at our home. It was a fun time to be together before people go in different directions over the holidays with children returning to Africa from University and the Godwin family returning to Ontario to visit with family there.

We want to thank everyone who has been supporting and praying for our team and the ministries that we are leading and serving in together in Africa -- Merry Christmas!

D and Keenan Carline

Christmas Potluck Dinner

The kids transfixed in a game

Santa has something for good little girls

Tristan and Santa ...Conspiring

Santa Claus Comes to Town!

Karen Godwin, Erica Kenny, Diane Bannister, Saint Nicholas, R, and Kelly Carline

CBM Africa Team Leader -- Colin Godwin

... not only does he wear many hats!

Diane and Tim Bannister -- at the campfire

The guys deck out for the Rosslyn Christmas Banquet

Caleb Bannister, Andrew and Isaac Godwin

At supper time, several of the teenagers got ready for the annual Rosslyn Academy High School Christmas Ball at the Lord Erroll Restaurant, near our home. The teens seemed to have had a great evening -- Ava (despite her best efforts) did not attend the ball.

Ava and Andrew Godwin --

ready for the Christmas banquet!