Thank you for praying for Odisha

We want to thank everyone who has been joining us in prayer for our friends and partners in Indian where Cyclone Fani swept through Odisha this past weekend. The fierce winds of the Cyclone have killed at least 34 people in India and 15 in neighbouring Bangladesh.

In Odisha State, more than a million people were evacuated from their homes. Thankfully none of our partner churches or CBM colleagues were directly harmed.

We have had contact with our colleague Suraj Komaravalli, CBM team leader for India, who is very grateful for your prayers and asks that we continue to pray for those directly affected by the cyclone and for the ongoing response, especially in the community of Puri.

Praying for Odisha

School Children praying at our CBM partner church in Odisha, India.

Today we join in prayer with millions of people throughout Eastern Indian as they brace for the impact of cyclone Fani which made landfall minutes ago on the coast of Odisha State. 

This area is home to over 100 million people, many of whom do not live in homes built to withstand the winds equivalent to a category 4 hurricane (240 km/h). So far over 800,000 people have fled to schools, hospitals, and churches to find shelter. We pray for those who have not yet found refuge from the cyclone and for those who are already preparing to respond to the needs of their neighbours.

We also pray with our local church partners in Odisha. As Canadian Baptists, we have worked with the people of Odisha for over 145 years. We especially pray for our CBM colleagues Suraj Komaravalli, CP Raju, and Pradeep Babu Gara, who are serving these churches and communities in Eastern India.

Odisha, India

Emma's Big Month has Begun!

Our beautiful Emma!

Today marks one month until Emma graduates from Rosslyn Academy. It is a big month with AP exams, senior trip, end of school events, parties, baccalaureate service, and graduation. 

We are so proud of Emma, who has shown leadership and service both at school, in the theatre department, and with the National Honour Society. This summer she will be working as a lifeguard and medic at the Canoe Cove Christian Camp on Prince Edward Island. 

In September, Emma will start her freshman year at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she plans to major in psychology.

Isaiah and Emma

Best friends since they first met in kindergarten some thirteen years ago, Emma and Isaiah will be graduating with their class on May 29th. We are so thankful for the amazing friends and families that have been a part of Emma's life growing up here in Kenya. There is so much to celebrate as we journey with her through this big month.

Emma and Erica in the Rosslyn Prayer Labyrinth

Easter 2019 Update

South Sudanese Children Parading in the Kakuma Refugee Camp

Over our years of living in Africa, we have witnessed many parades. Unlike the commercial floats and fancy cars that we are used to seeing in Canadian parades, here the community marches are usually simple and, more often than not, religious.

This past Sunday, our street was filled with hundreds of children waving palm branches on the way to  worship at our local community church. Seeing families and groups beating handmade drums and waving threadbare flags is not an uncommon experience.

Good Friday is another special day in Kenya where congregations will march in song and prayer as they share with their neighbourhoods the joy of their faith. As we celebrate Good Friday with our family, we are reminded of the hope that beats throughout the Church today is a hope that is for all of the world.

Parades of children are one of the many things that we will treasure from our time of life and ministry in Africa. Earlier today we sent out of final official Canadian Baptist Ministries update letter to our partners in mission, where we reflect upon the gift of being a part of the work of CBM in Africa.

To read our final update letter, please use this link.