Greetings after too many months without an update. I have kept in touch with Facebook posts and personal emails, but I am so sorry that I have been very delinquent in my Blog posts.
My Mom and Baby Alice
Our Son Josh and His Baby Girl - Our First born with His First born
We have had an incredible year and God has been blessing the work here in East Africa.
I will give you just a brief overview of some of the things that we have done in the past few months.
In January, Sharon had 2 WM trainings in two different conferences. I had 3 board meetings finalizing plans for the Kenya General Conference, that was held in April. I also spent 1 week in Eldoret at East Africa Bible College and was the main speaker at the Spiritual Emphasis Week.
In February, Sharon and I traveled to Rwanda where she lead our first IPHC Women’s Ministry Leadership Training. Sharon returned to Kenya and I conducted the Wedding of our National Leader in Rwanda. After wedding I traveled 1 hour from the capital city to Kayonza to speak in our church there where we are building a beautiful Church.
Sharon Training Women in Rwanda. This was her first trip to Rwanda.
Preaching in our new Church building in Kayonza, Rwanda. Still much work to go.
Rwanda Bishop Bernard's Daughter and Son in Law
On Sunday afternoon, I caught a flight to Burundi and then traveled to Uvira, Congo. I was the graduation speaker at our Bible School there and then hosted our annual Pastor’s conference. We had a great time and I had the chance to License and/or Ordain 19 pastors.
On Wednesday I traveled back to Burundi where we had the Burundi Pastor’s Conference from Thursday – Saturday. We had a great meeting and had over 30 pastors and leaders attend the meetings. We have had some struggles there where a former leader has tried to divide our work. We held elections and the present leadership were put back in overwhelmingly. I also had the chance to ordain and/or license 10 pastors. I preached at two of our churches in Bujumbura on Sunday and traveled back home on Monday.
19 Pastors who received Ordaination or License with IPHC Congo
Laying Hands on Pastors receiving Ministerial Credentials
Congolese and Burundese Bible School Graduates 2010
When I arrived back in Nairobi, we were meet by IPHC international Evangelist, who had come to do a week of crusades and revival meetings we had set up for her. She had already traveled to the Kanja, Kenya about 4 hours from Nairobi and Sharon and I drove up to meet her after I arrived. She had a great meeting and saw several hundred come to Christ and many people came forward and testified of healing and other miracles in their lives.
March began with a bang. Irvina Parker and Evelyn Harlow arrived the 1st of March to hold our first Girls Ministries (Missionettes) training. Sharon was joined by our other female missionaries in Kenya and more than 50 leaders from the 4 conferences in Kenya. They had an awesome week and it turned into a training time/Holy Spirit outpouring. God really touched the hearts of the ladies.
The next week I had a Medical Team come from the US to go to Sudan. We traveled there with 3 Dr.’s, 4 nurses and 5 others who did Children’s ministry and pitched in with whatever he medical team needed. We saw some incredible cases. One little Boy had a severe burn on his arm. It was blistered and infected so bad. We had no anesthetic to dull the pain and Josh Smith had to deep clean the burn to get the dirt out. The baby cried, I cried, Josh cried and we were amazed as soon as he finished the child stopped crying. I burnt my fingers a few days ago and complained for several hours with the pain.
Little Boy with Burned Arm and his dad, after being cleaned.
In April, we were focused on the first General Conference for Kenya. We had a very successful time. Dr. Douglas Beacham and Rev. Ernest Turner were able to come and lead the meetings. They chaired the business sessions and did some great teaching and preaching for us. We elected the first Kenyan National Bishop, Rev. Ayub Njiru. He was serving as the Conference Bishop of the Central Conference in Kenya. Rev Chris Ocheing became the new Bishop of the Central Conference. He is the assistant Pastor with Missionary Philip List, at the International IPH Church in Nairobi.
I am going to stop there and will continue in a few weeks with more updates.
FAMILY NEWS!!
On March 31, 2010 our first Granddaughter was born. Joshua and Allison had Alice Oliva Wooten. She of course is the most beautiful little Baby girl ever born, well at least since my two baby girls were born. They are doing great. Sharon was able to go to the States for the month of May to help Josh and Allison and to be Grandma. Janene is in the States right now with Josh. Papa Ron doesn’t get to see this little angel until October. I can’t wait.
Me and my Main Lady in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Ron, Sharon and Janene at Missionary retreat in Turkey
God bless you all and thank you for all your prayers and gifts. As I have said before, I get so overwhelmed by the kindness all of you show us. May God continue to be with you.
Ron, Sharon, Jessica and Janene
We have new support numbers through our Mission.
Support or Love gift – earmark which and send to number 11531S
Our Ministry account – 11531M
You can also go online to http://wmm.iphc.org/missionaries/africa/wooten.html – You can give monthly or one time at this link. There is also a ways to Give button that gives you options for drafting bank accounts, etc..
Mailed gifts go to IPHC WMM, PO Box 12609, Oklahoma City, OK 73157
