AFRICAN TEAM NEWS SPRING 2008 SERVING THE CHURCH IN EAST AFRICA
KENYA CHURCHES SUFFER FROM UNREST
In the unrest after the disputed election in Kenya at least 1,000 have died and more than 300,000 people are homeless. Scores of churches have closed through damage, being burned and losing their members who have been displaced. Kisumu in Western Kenya is one of the worst affected areas. Bishop Joseph Wasonga of the Diocese of Maseno West quickly organized all night prayer meetings to pray for peace, healing, reconciliation and for the many who are suffering. Peter Kamau is an example of how families are suffering. He came home to find a shaky, spray-painted yellow “X” marked on the corner of his home. That’s all the warning he needed to move his family, furniture and belongings to the side of the road in hope they could have a ride to safety. Kamau had seen the sign enough to know the meaning—his house would go up in flames that night. Others like Mary Muriruri did not have the courtesy of a warning. She said it was only by God’s grace, her family escaped with the clothes on their backs. They lost everything. African Team Ministries is providing support for food, blankets and shelters.
The training of 5000 lay elders in the AIDS prevention program has been affected by the unrest which will increase the spread of AIDS. John Gicheru is ready to continue the training seminars in the Mt. Kenya and Eastern regions planned for after Easter. Special efforts for reaching youths are being made including:
-Promoting HIV & AIDS education in schools through strengthening the schools pastoral programs incollaboration with the Christian Education Department - Use of mass media communication to reach young people effectively through entertainment programs with an aim to educate and promote healthy behavior. - Addressing cultural and social norms that put young people at risk such as traditional (non-sterile) circumcision methods. - Encouraging voluntary counseling and testing to know their status and better plan their lives - Initiating Outreach program to street children and other vulnerable youth.
AIDS is the leprosy of the 21st century and is destroying so many families. The training of lay elders in the AIDS prevention ministry is continuing. As more people learn how to prevent catching AIDS, thousands of lives will be saved.
THE MOST REV. LIVINGSTONE NKOYOYO VISITS FROM UGANDA
The retired Archbishop of Uganda Livingstone Nkoyoyo is visiting for six weeks from Uganda. He served as Bishop of Mukono from 1984 to 1994 and as Archbishop of the Church of Uganda from 1994 to 2004. Since his retirement, the Archbishop established the Chain Foundation to support an orphanage and reach out to street children and bring them into the orphanage. More than 100 children are provided for in the orphanage and a larger number in the community. The orphans are all in primary or secondary schools and given regular counseling as a way of rehabilitating them and making them responsible citizens. They are taught basket weaving, making mats, gardening, farming, cooking and carpentry. Archbishop Nkoyoyo and his staff visit the schools in the community to educate the students and their parents or guardians on HIV/AIDS and children’s rights and responsibilities. The children help with the farming and growing of maize, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, cabbages and carrots. The orphanage keeps poultry, farms fish and maintain dairy cows.
BISHOP SHALITA ADDS LUNCH FOR ORPHANS WHO ARE HUNGRY
The families caring for the orphans in Southwest Uganda are mostly the grandparents who survive on subsistance farming. The people are very poor as most have no land for cultivation. Many of the people live on one meal a day. As a result, they suffer from malnutrition and become vulnerable to preventable diseases. The most affected are children and women. Children are stunted, as their growth is retarded by the lack of food and nutrition. School children in such a situation fail to go to school especially on the days they are hungry. Those who do, find it difficult to concentrate on their studies and do poorly with their classes. Now, a nutritious meal is provided to the 134 children we support through Bishop Shalita.
Another shipment of blankets made by the women of St. Margaret’s Church, Palm Desert, CA and school supplies have been sent to Uganda to be given to orphans in the Diocese of Muhabura by Bishop Ernest Shalita. Tumwebaze Charity says, “I thank you so much for the gift you sent me from St. Margaret Church. Thank you again for having me in your heart. Please convey my appreciation to African Team Ministries and St. Margaret Church” She shares with the brethren scripture verse from Ephesians 6:23. Charity is in Secondary Four. Busekuro Steven says," I thank you for the quilt you sent me. I had never slept in a quilt,. Due to God’s mercy, I am now okay” Steven is in Primary Six. Duhimbaze Sam says, “I thank you very much for the way you are helping me by providing school fees and other necessities” Twizere Apophia Jane says, “Thank you very much for the gifts you sent to me” 
BISHOP ALPHA MOHAMED PREACHES THE GOSPEL TO MOSLEMS IN TUNDURU, TANZANIA
The population in this area is 99.9 percent Moslems and it is the only place in Tanzania that Tunduru, like Zanzibar, is where people are still under leaders called “sultans”. We thank our mighty Lord that His powerful hand delivered his people and many came to Jesus to receive their salvation and healing of their various diseases. Our mission in this area was a tough one for we had to sleep on the floor and eat sparingly, insufficient water, and on mosquito nets, because there are very few Christians. Our team worked hand in hand with “The Church of Christ the Messiah” and we were able to reach 10 villages in Tunduru. In some areas, the villagers did not want to listen to us but in other villages, we were welcomed and they listened to the living Gospel of Jesus Christ. About 195 people were converted, some were baptized and churches were planted in this area. The rector of Christ The Messiah Church asked Bishop Alpha Mohammed to run a four weeks clergy course for the clergy who will be allocated in these newly opened churches. Many people were saved in such a way that we had to plant Churches in that area.
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