Greetings from Ron, Sharon, Jessica and Janene.
As I write this, Sharon and Janene, are in the U.S. They have gone for a few weeks to help Jessica prepare for her wedding on June 23, 2012. We will arrive back next year for furlough only two weeks before the wedding. We prayed for God to help her go and he did provide, we praise God for that. Sharon is also having some problems with her feet and losing feeling. She is having that checked as well as seeing a cardiologist for a checkup.
God has been good to us in so many ways. We do want to prayerfully ask that you consider helping us during this summer months with a extra offering of support or maybe to increase what you are doing. Our account has been hit extra hard this year with the 5 trips i have had to take already to encourage our leaders in East Africa and for some problems we have had as well. We also had to move our house and even though God blessed us in a tremendous way with a beautiful house, we had some incredible expenses in the process of this move. We appreciate anything you can do but most of all, we desire your prayers.
Sharon has also got to spend some wonderful time with Josh and Allison and our beautiful granddaughter, Alice. She is loving this. Alice’s parents even let Sharon carry her to NC for a few days and spoil her. It was good for Sharon and Allison and Josh enjoyed the few days off as well.
MAASAI CHURCHES (you can see pictures of my trip on my FACEBOOK page. If you copy this link, it will take you to the page, even without a FACEBOOK page. ) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150234426981919.319138.526391918&l=6e879f1bc8
Two weeks ago I, Ron, along with new missionaries Michael and Leslie Tignor, traveled 3 hours from Nairobi, to visit our IPH churches among the Maasai tribe in Kenya. We have more than 50 churches among the Maasai right now and have another group of independent Maasai churches who want to join us. We always do this very slowly when we get the chance to come into new relationships with churches. It pays to take heed to the scripture that tells us to “lay hands on no man, suddenly”.
We meet in a wooden church building made of off cut timber and iron sheets for the roof. We were an hour and a half drive from the main road, driving on roads made from volcanic dust that covered everything like a coat of paint. We were meet by more than 100 pastors’ and leaders’ waiting for the conference to begin. The Tignor’s and I were humored by the way they started each meeting. We were always late and one time the leader said, “We were to start at 8 am and it is not 10 am, we are starting on good time”. No meeting started even close to the time slated, but as one Kenyan pastor told me one time. “You white missionaries have watches, but we African people have time”. I have never forgotten that, even though i still get frustrated sometimes.
The Bishop asked me to speak on Tithing to the Pastor’s and the way God’s Word promises God’s blessing if we tithe. Michael spoke to the Pastor’s in one session and he and Leslie also separated the Ladies and Leslie spoke to them and they had a time with the children as well. The pastor’s conference lasted two days. On the third day, Saturday, we meet with 2 of our leaders and begin a two day journey traveling to some of our churches though out the area. We visited 12 churches in all, all on the volcanic dirt roads and we loved it so much. We visited the one permanent building we have, wooden buildings, iron sheet buildings, mud buildings and even one grass and plastic sheet building. Some were well kept and some were in a poor state, but as i kept reminding the people everywhere we visited, the CHURCH in every place was so beautiful.
One thing about the Maasai that distinguishes them, is that when they dress in their traditional dress, they always have bright reds, oranges and purples cloths, mixed with colorful beads, cut ears and clubs, sticks and spears. Many when they come to church dress as everyone else does with dresses and suits, but you will always have a few that will always have the traditional dress on, that give you a physical and a spiritual beauty.
One special treat was a traditional meal of a Goat which they killed in front of us, butchered and then skewered on sticks and cooked on a fire. Make sure you look at the pictures. They put us in a circle, brought the skewers and placed them in the center of us and one of the Pastors with a sharp knife, begin to cut pieces off and hand them to us, one at a time. It was incredible. It was a great trip and God blessed us tremendously.
One treat was the little guest house we slept in, though in itself was nothing special, when I opened my curtain, it looked out on to Mount Kilimanjaro, it was breathtaking.
Well, I had better sign off for now. I appreciate you taking time to read this and more than anything, Sharon and I thank you for your prayers and support. We love you dearly and do Thank God for you on a regular basis. Please take time to email us sometimes and let us know how you and your family are, and even let us know if you have any prayer request.
God bless and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you in all you do.
Ron, Sharon, Jessica and Janene
Contact us at:
thewootensea@earthlink.net or sharonlist@earthlink.net
www.facebook.com/thewootensea
skype – thewootensea
Kenya Telephone – 011254721229236 – we have free incoming calls.
Twitter – @thewootensea
Support Numbers: Support 11531s, Gift 11531g and ministry acct. 11531m
Mail to: World Missions Ministry, PO Box 12609, Oklahoma City, OK 73157
Or got to website: http://iphc.org/directory/ron-and-sharon-wooten-0 and give via internet.
Tags: "You white missionaries have watches, begin to cut pieces off and hand them to us, brought the skewers and placed them in the center of us and one of the Pastors with a sharp knife, but we African people have time".; They put us in a circle, one at a time.
