Parasha B'resheet

Shalom and blessings;

Now that the High Holy Days are over, Ellen and I continue to minister to the congregations in Kenya. 

Last Shabbat an injured, elderly man heard our praise and worship walking on the road outside the kehilah and came to join us in the service. His head was bandaged and it was easy to see that he was in distress. Everyone in the kehilah welcomed him warmly and we all prayed for him. He had been beaten by thugs and needed help to buy medication prescribed by the hospital. He sat through service and at the end we invited him to receive Yeshua as his Lord and Savior; he did praise the Lord! We verified his prescription and collected money to buy what he needed, with a little extra to spend on food for him and his family. We did not give him the cash. A congregant volunteered to go with him to the pharmacy and then to the market. He was extremely grateful and we expect to see him back this Shabbat. Please pray for Michael. 

The Shemini Atzeret/ Simcha Torah services on Monday were glorious. This was the first of such a service experienced here in Nairobi and it was well attended; many from the Karatina congregation joined us. The kids were blessed when it came time for the candy toss and scrambled to collect them after the service. They also participated in rolling back the small Torah Amos brought from Karatina; pictures attached.

This Shabbat we have Efrat becoming Bat Mitzvah, I will include pictures with next week’s update.

We were able to provide the orphanage with enough money, $1,105.00 U.S., to buy school books for 3 grades; still 3 grades to go. With the $530.00 U.S. we gave them previously, they were able to complete the septic tank; a giant step forward towards them getting their government approval; pictures attached.

We have already started planning our Passover Seder and return trip to Kenya in March, God Willing. Please keep that effort in prayer.

Remember to checkout our blog and pass on the teachings.

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Parasha Sukkot

Shalom and blessings;

Ellen and I are doing well, God is with us and we are accomplishing much for His Glory. The Erev Sukkot services we held in Karatina were a delight. It was a new experience for everyone including me and Ellen. Sukkot Day Service was also a blessing and well attended. Many people from the surrounding areas, Believers, joined us and the presence of the Lord moved in the hearts of all, as we prayed, sang, rejoiced and recited the devotions from the PowerPoint. Everyone willing had an opportunity to shake the Lulav that we assembled from a palm heart we brought from Migori (palm trees do not grow in or around Karatina), rosemary instead of myrtle and a large lemon in-place of an Etrog. After services we all went to Amos and Ruthie's home to share a typical Kenyan meal (milk tea, gipate, mandazie, boiled arrowroot and local fruits). Amos had erected a sukkah and of course we spent time in it praying, and taking pictures. I have included some below. 

Our Wednesday night Bible study is proceeding well as we delve into the Book of Ecclesiastes, verse by verse.

Yesterday we went to a local hospital to pray for the brother of one of our congregants who experienced kidney failure and a lung infection. Please keep Philip and his wife Lucy in your prayers. Philip came to the Lord during our last trip here; however, his wife Lucy has still not made that commitment. 

This week we plan on starting home visitations to pray over homes and affix Mezzuahs on doorposts.

Next Shabbat, the 26th, we will be having a Bat Mitzvah at the Kehila in Nairobi. Please keep Eunice, known in Israel as Efrat, in prayer. I will send pictures with next week's update. 

Ellen and I continue to pray for you and thank you for your prayers and financial support, together we are making a difference here in Kenya. 

Remember to checkout our Blog and pass on the teachings:

Yours in Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

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Parasha Ha'azinu & Sermon: The price is Right

Shalom and Blessings

This has been a glorious and spirit filled High Holy Day season at the kehilah (congregation) in Nairobi. Yom Teruah was totally inspiring and both Erev (evening) and Day services were filled with the power and presence of God. Yom Kippur revealed the Awesomeness of God, as His presence was felt in both services. Our kehilah here had never experienced a Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur as they experienced this year. We pray that we have set an example for them for all the coming years until Messiah returns.

We are having tremendous success with our Bible study on the Book of Ecclesiastes, as the Lord opens up new understand of King Solomon's wisdom for us. During the waiting period between the end of the Yom Kippur service and the start of the Ne'ilah service I was able to continue the study, which we began the Wednesday night before. We will be continuing teaching every Wednesday night until we have covered the entire book and then if necessary we will start another study as God leads. Ellen and I are committed to growing those who are willing, spiritually.

This Sunday we leave for Karatina, a rural city to the north of Nairobi, to celebrate Sukkot with the kehilah there and with the fellowships which have sprung up in the surrounding area of Mt. Kenya. We have not been able to buy an Etrog here, the local synagogue in Nairobi only had sufficient for them. However, we can cut our own Lulov (palm tree heart), willow branches and use another aromatic plant in place of myrtle, which is not available here. We will have to substitute the Etrog for a large lemon.

We were once again able to bless the orphanage compound in Migori with funds to construct a new septic tank. The old one was just a hole in the ground which was unsanitary, contaminated their well water and was very problematic. The new tank will be constructed of concrete with reinforcing steel covered with a concrete lid so that it can be pumped out and the contents hauled away and properly disposed of, in accordance with the Ministry of Health's requirements. It also brings the orphanage compound one step closer to being compliant. We have also received estimates for the purchase of school books and supplies for the children. Even though we have not as yet accumulated the total amount necessary, we will be sending what we have so at least the teachers, who are volunteers, can accommodate some of the classes.

We thank you for your kindness and generosity in helping facilitate this ministry in Kenya and most of all we thank you for your prayerful support. God is hearing you and He's blessing!

Attached you will find this week's D'Var Torah (commentary), on Parasha Ha'azinu as well as a link to the sermon I shared with the congregations in Nairobi and Karatina on Yom Kippur Day.

Yours in Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

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Sermon: The Ten Days of Awe

Shalom and blessings;

Attached is the sermon I shared with the congregation in Nairobi last Shabbat for the Days of Awe. Pray it will be a blessing.

This morning on our way walking to the market, we were approached by a teenage street boy begging for money. We're not in the habit of giving money to street people but we asked him if he was hungry, of course he was. There was a pizza shop right across the street at a gas station and we went there with him. While waiting for the pizza to be made, we took the opportunity to witness to him. When asked he said he knew Jesus, but just to make sure we asked if he would invite him into his heart again. He did and we prayed together. Please keep David in your prayers.

Yours in Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

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Parsha Vayelech & Sermon: The Rock is Back

Shalom and blessings;

Ellen and I are doing well, God is moving through us and with us, opening doors that we could never have opened on our own. I will explain more as things unfold.

Last week I mentioned the 4 new salvation's we had while at the orphanage in Migori but I neglected to mention their names so that you can pray for them. Please remember James, Yosef, Norman and Miriam in your prayers.

The Yom Teruah services were blessed and a blessing. We thank God for the turnout and the wonderful move of the spirit as we had corporate repentance and worship. 

I've attached a link to the sermon I gave Monday, Yom Teruah day as well as a link to a video from Erev Yom Teruah. Also find attached the D'var Torah commentary for this week's Parasha, Vayelech.

Last Shabbat was great and this week we begin our Bible study series on the Book of Ecclesiastes. Ellen and I can not express the joy we have in celebrating the Feasts of the Lord and teaching here in Kenya. We send you our love and appreciation,

Yours in Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

Remember to check out our blog: https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com/

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