MAF supports Amanda Simmons who lives in Kenya’s Samburu County, thousands of miles away from her home in the USA. She and her husband Eddy, are in Sesia under the Free Will Welfare Outreach Society to bring the gospel of love to women from the Samburu Tribe.
‘When we first brought the Word of God to the Samburu people in this remote part of north central Kenya, we found that the people in Sesia were hungry to hear what God had to say to them. They believe in the one Creator God but feel that He is far away and angry. They spend their lives trying to appease His anger through sacrifices and other rituals. They have many pieces of the puzzle, but they lack the most important, central piece of the spiritual puzzle—JESUS CHRIST, the one mediator between God and man, and the One who died for them so that they can have a relationship with God the Father! So, we moved to Sesia in 2017, to bring the Gospel and the Word of God. The people were very receptive, and many surrendered their lives to Christ, especially the women. The emerging church was exciting to behold.
‘In Samburu culture, the women have less value than the family’s livestock. They are basically the work horses and breeders of the family, and very seldom feel loved. We were burdened to counter that with the stories of women in the Bible who were met very personally by God the Father and Jesus Christ, who loves and values women.’
Raised with Christ
‘We began a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) discipleship group, led by Victoria, our intern and a Registered Nurse, in 2018. She would teach a lesson on topics such as nutrition, sanitation, pregnancy, etc., and then Eunice, our Samburu women’s leader at that time, would share a connected story from the Bible.
‘After Victoria returned to the U.S., the group became a biblical discipleship group, and I began teaching on topics from Scripture such as repentance, salvation, prayer, biblical womanhood, idolatry and false teachers, parenting, fruit of the spirit, etc. We also studied women of the Bible, and what we could learn from them and apply to our own lives.
‘It was such a joy to see the women light up as they realized that they are indeed loved and valued supremely in Christ, and that He will walk with them every day of their lives if they follow Him with their whole hearts! Their love for El Roi, the God who truly sees them, began to blossom. Love contributes to a teachable spirit that is willing to change.’
We live a two-days drive away from the capital city, where we get our supplies. The first day’s drive is completely off-road, across five dry riverbeds. Extreme driving is very hard on our “mature” bodies. Flying preserves our bodies, giving us longevity on the field. Secondly, flying enables us to get our supplies home quicker, reducing our time away from our ministry to the Samburu people. We are so grateful for MAF!
Christ-likeness
‘As the ladies began applying what they were learning to their daily lives, they began to be transformed. One mama said, “I always talked bad about others and gossiped. I never got along with anyone. Then Yeso (Jesus) changed my heart and helped me to love! Now I don’t talk bad about other people, and I am showing love instead!”
‘Another mama said, “I was always fighting with my husband and with the other wife. There was never peace in our place! No one was happy. Then Yeso changed me and helped me to shut my mouth and learn to love. Even if my husband tries to pick a fight, I do not get angry. Now there is peace in my home!” Their neighbours began seeing they were different and commenting on it! Now that’s the proof of a life changed by Christ.
A ministry of multiplication
‘We have recently begun a training seminar for those who want to begin their own discipleship groups. Disciples making disciples, just like we read about in the New Testament. In just a few months, five new discipleship groups will begin in several areas of Sesia. Our job will simply be to support and encourage them. All so that more people will know the steadfast love of Christ and how to walk with Him daily. All glory to the Lord!
What is MAF’s part in this? We live a two-day drive away from the capital city, where we get our supplies. The first day’s drive is completely off-road, across five dry riverbeds. Extreme driving is very hard on our “mature” bodies. Flying preserves our bodies, giving us longevity on the field. Secondly, flying enables us to get our supplies home quicker, reducing our time away from our ministry to the Samburu people. We are so grateful for MAF!