Category: Prayer Blog

In the next few days I will be wrapping up Theology III (the study of Christ and the Holy Spirit). My students and I (pictured above) have had a wonderful time looking at these important aspects of Christianity. All but one student (Teresa) were in my Elements of Greek class last year and two Elements of Greek students from last year were not in this class. You can see the 2016 Elements of Greek students and their prayer requests at www.cox-net.com/prayer_blog/?p=605. Hopefully I can do a video with Teresa in the next day or two so you can meet her and hear her prayer requests.

Pray that the truths of who Christ is, who the Holy Spirit is, what They have done, what They are doing and what They will do takes hold. Pray that how my students live and minister will be different based on this. Lastly continue to pray for Nehemiah as he continues to figure out “how to adult” and for my work permit.

 

In 2015 when the Cox family was on furlough I purchased a motorcycle in the US, crated it up and then it was shipped in early 2016. There are many times when having two vehicles would make our lives much simpler (like when I am teaching in Kitale and Donna is in Naivasha). All vehicles here in Kenya are crazy expensive (including motorcycles) and many sellers are less than honest. So the hope was to get a reliable motorcycle more economically by purchasing state side and shipping. Well after 294 days the crate, quite literally, arrived at my doorstep.

The next step is to get the bike reregistered in Kenya. I need a few more documents from the shipper before I can submit the registration. After which, I hope and pray that the registration does not take too long.

A huge shout out goes to the Callisburg team who helped with the crate.

Praise God with us that the crate and its contents arrived safely. Pray for the registration process. Lastly, please continue to pray that my work permit would be approved.

Here is a video of my New Testament Introduction students sharing their prayer request. Below the video you will find the prayer request should you want to skip the video. Thank for praying for them.

Link to the video: 2016 ATS New Testament Introduction

Rev. Anne Jeruto Serves with Anglican Church Pray for finances for masters degree

 

Linet Chebet Agape Fellowship Center Pray that God will help me to offer healing to my community

 

Tabitha Wambui Nurse / Counselor at technical school Pray for behavioral change and Christian movements at school

 

Rev. Vincent Rono African Gospel Church Pray that God would give me wisdom to nurture a young church

 

Pr. Mwangi Ndungu Joe Community Baptist Church & Build the Village Pray that God enables me to convey His message

 

Virginia Webale African Gospel Church Pray that I may be a better vessel as I serve in the church

 

Leah Nyaosi Christ is the Way Ministry Pray that God will help me as I reach to different groups of people

 

Bro. Evans Otwane Church of Christ Pray for our church as we continue serving the Lord

 

Rev. Alfred Kunguro Anglican Church Pray for wisdom, knowledge & understanding as I shepherd God’s flock

 

Mr. Simbolei Sammy Kipkoech Counselor / Teacher YEMIT Boy’s High School Pray that I can develop a counseling service based on God’s word

 

Pr. Julia Karonei Africa Inland Church Pray that God helps me as His vessel to minister the Gospel

Thanks for all your prayers for my meeting today. In short, I would say my day was providential and that the meeting with immigration was OK. Due to my case being entangled with another case, I was able to meet a gentleman who works in advocacy and helping ensure good governance. Really a great guy and I am very thrilled to have met him.

My case was untangled from the other, which was good. There was a missing letter in my file, a few inadvertent mistakes and there were some things with my application that were aggressively questioned. My case will now go to a committee for review. Please continue to pray for this process.

In the mean time, I have two days to get a 90 day extension so I can stay in Kenya. Most of the time, it is pretty easy to get this 90 day extension, especially if one’s case in under review.

If all of this was not enough excitement for one day, another issue that needs our attention surfaced this evening. Pray for wisdom and grace as we work through this.

Grace & Peace — Paul

Thank you for your prayers for last weekend, our kid’s mid-term break. We had a house full and car full of kids. A great time was had by all with a braii (South Africa barbecue), rock climbing, visit to a hot springs, time to hang out, shopping trip to Nairobi and Ethiopian food. The children’s musical at church also went very well. Above is a picture of us all in the car, the children’s musical and rock climbing.

On Monday (13 June) at 10 AM Kenya time (very early Monday morning 1AM CST) I have a meeting with the Kenyan department of immigration about my work permit. What should have been a straight forward renewal has hit some complications and my application has become entangled with another case. It is a bit of a long story. My current work permit expires on Wednesday. The ideal outcome of the meeting on Monday would be the granting of my work permit. There have been cases were work permits are denied and people have to leave. Pray that we will find favor and that my work permit would be granted. Also pray that this other case would be easily resolved and that God would be glorified.

Thanks for your prayers on this.

Grace & Peace — Paul

Those of you who are astute long time readers of my blog will remember L (real name with held for security reasons). While I was in Benin he was one of the key leaders on the TWR team in Benin. L. has remained with TWR and has continued to grow both in faith and ministry responsibilities.

Two things impressed me about L. when I arrived in Benin, one, was his desire to know and apply the truths of Scripture. Two, was his potential to lead. An important factor for both of these things is English. The amount of theological resources in English is significantly greater than the resources in French. In addition, being able to communicate globally in English will be an important skill for L.

For many years it has been my dream to see L. have the chance to study the Bible in English and this year the Lord opened the door for L. to study at Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) here in Kenya. Since ATS works on an in-service model where those in ministry can continue in ministry while attending the seminary L. is able to keep working with TWR in Benin, study the Bible at greater depths and master English.

L. is currently at ATS for a number of intensive classes before he heads back to Benin. Praise God that this opportunity has opened up for L. Pray for L. as he deepens his knowledge of God’s Word and is immersed in English. Lastly thank the Lord for the sweet reunion and ability to reconnect with L. in person.

Paul

Paul discusses being in a bad place and how God’s grace moves us to better places.

Here are my Elements of Greek students introducing themselves and sharing prayer requests. Thanks for your continued prayers for them. (For those who want to skip the video, below it you will find pictures and prayer requests.)

Link to Video: https://vimeo.com/thecoxfamily/ats-eog-2016

Pas. Sammy Galiavo Anaya Pentecostal Assemblies of God Pray for the discipling and equipping of leaders

Rev. Simion Tarus Anglican Church of Kenya Pray for church unity and prosperity in the Word

Pas. Mary Chepkonga Africa Inland Church Kenya Pray for unity of the Word of God so that it will spread

Pas. Chamwada Nicholas Pentecostal Assemblies of God Pray for financial breakthrough for us to pursue education

Pas. Koech Erickson Pentecostal Assemblies of God Pray for pursuit of Master’s degree and church development

Pas. Esther Maswai Africa Inland Church Kenya Pray for strength to commute to minister in a rural area

Jacob Chepkoror Miti – Evangelist Africa Gospel Church of Kenya Pray for the paying of fees and to reach the unreached

Rev. Hudson Chepkui Musamusi Pentecostal Assemblies of God Pray for Kenya and the issue of corruption

Rev. Edward Nyangali Kefa Christian Reformed Church in Eastern Africa Pray that Elements of Greek can be a longer course

A number of my Elements of Greek students are really struggling with the material and the pace of the class. Pray that God would strengthen them and help them with their endeavors to more accurately teach and preach God’s Word.

Donna and I have to remind ourselves that things just take longer here in Africa. So when we were told, at the beginning of January, that our rental house would be ready in three weeks, we took that to mean it will probably be five or six weeks. Well, we are now on week eight and we are not sure how much longer it will take. Suitcase living is getting a bit old!

Some of the delays have been the typical finishing a house things (waiting on the electric company to connect power, trouble getting a contractor to finish, etc…). Other delays, … well … lets just credit them to living in a fallen world. Pray for Donna and I to have rightful attitudes, perspectives and words. Pray that our house would be ready soon.

The other thing that has taken longer than we planned is shipping my motorcycle to Kenya. While I was in the States I bought a motorcycle and crated it up to be shipped to Kenya (motorcycles are crazy expensive in Kenya). Another thing that has taken much longer than planned is finding a shipper to move it from Callisburg, Texas to Nairobi, Kenya. Hopefully we are close to getting it shipped. Ask God to help complete the final details of the shipping.

Lastly, one of our desires is to be able to more easily visit our students where they minister. Some of these places can be difficult to access due to poor roads, especially in the rainy season. So we are in the process of a vehicle upgrade-downgrade. The plan is to sell our vehicle, add in an additional $6,000 and then upgrade to a more robust four-wheel drive (with winch). To put this endeavor within our means, we are downgrading the interior creature comforts. This downgrade also makes the vehicle more practical in that you can load up a bunch of people with mud on their boots without worrying about the interior and simply wash the mud out with a hose.

Praise God with us for the means for this upgrade-downgrade. Pray for all the logistics of this deal. We believe we have a buyer for our current vehicle and we have found a great used four-wheel drive that is in good condition and within our means. If any of you are interested in helping with this endeavor financially, funds can be given to our Ministry Expense account. Details of giving to this account (and giving to our other accounts) can be found at http://cox-net.com/get_involved.htm.

We are often reminded by what a great team of encouragers we have; prayer, notes financial, etc… We are blessed! Thank You!

Grace & Peace — Paul

One RVA tradition is Junior / Senior banquet (think prom with dinner theater and no dancing). Every year the Juniors, with parental aid, put on a banquet for the Seniors and the Sophomores serve at the banquet. This past weekend was the big Junior / Senior banquet. Donna and I enjoyed helping Micah Joy’s class with the preparations and banquet. Given that at one point I was pretty good at doing sound, I was asked to do sound for the banquet, hence I was one of the few parents to attend. Miriam was a server for the banquet. Below are a few pictures. For those (like grandmothers) who would like to see more pictures you can view them at www.cox-net.com/MJC_2016_Banquet.htm.

Coming soon: The blog “It Just Takes Longer” which will update you on a number of things that are taking longer than we planned or hoped (including getting the blog ready).

On Saturday I start teaching Elements of Greek at the seminary. Please pray for this class (more on this will also come soon).

Grace & Peace — Paul