They had services and there were about 50 in attendance. The singing was absolutely beautiful and was greatly improved. Sam said he felt impressed to preach on "The Love of God" and the different types of love..he addressed how you love someone that's unlovable...he felt that he had good liberty. Then he had a question and answer session and the people had lots of questions. Sam felt that this was a good thing.

Bro. Kenny (Bro. Obey's right hand man) is growing so much and is doing wonderful! He is such a blessing for Bro. Obey as he fills in when he goes to Kenya.

On Friday, they plan to have a baptismal service. There are eight that have presented themselves to the church and this includes Jennie, Bro. Obey's daughter. She was living in Mobair last trip and there was no place to hold a baptism.

Then on Saturday they will have an all day meeting and communion and feet washing service. Also they will enjoy another meal that will be provided for them.

Please keep praying for the abiding presence of our Lord upon this trip...

Bro. Obey is doing a wonderful job as pastor of the new church in Tanzania.

Major prayer request is for Bro. Obey and the work in Kenya. He goes for eight days at a time and when he goes it's a two day trip on a bus...it is draining him. Please remember him in your prayers. God is faithful and I know he will provide.

The church is so excited about the upcoming new building. They love the site that they were blessed to purchase...

Sam is excited to report that the facility their in has AIR CONDITIONING!!!!!

There should be another update today...with news from the baptismal service...

He felt great liberty in preaching on "Two Salvations". He says the church knows the truth and loves it! After services they went in to communion and feet washing service.

Bro. Obey loves our tradition of eating at church so again, they enjoyed a catered meal of fried chicken and french fries. This is their favorite meal~ They fed 100 this time...What a blessing! Can you just imagine those precious people getting to enjoy such as this!!!

There's a revision on the number baptized. Due to a broken down bus and heavy congested traffic, there were only 3 baptized instead of the 8.

We'll begin a new chapter as tomorrow the trip to Kenya begins... May they be blessed with a safe travel and the continued blessings of our Lord. Pray on!

They have taken twins in to raise from extended family who were in great poverty. The twins are five and their names are Grace and Victor. Their daughter "Jennie" has now moved back home from Mobair so their are six children in the household.

Sis. Mary has turned into an entrepreneur and sews for the public along with her teaching job. Sam expressed to Bro. Obey that we could possibly send more machines and others could sew also. Seems that this is in much demand there in Tanzania.

Sam is very encouraged by the reports from the people concerning Bro. Martin (from Kenya). He has been there to preach for them and they love his gift. Bro. Obey thinks that Bro. Martin is probably not even 30 years of age. What a blessing to have one called into the ministry at a young age.

Sam is keeping a journal and has much to share with us...apparently Bro. Martin has had quite an experience.

Bro. Obey and Sam will leave in the morning for Kenya on an eight o'clock flight. I don't know what kind of reception I'll be able to get but will try to keep you informed. It is such a blessing to know that so many kindred are holding them up in prayer...

Sorry for the length of time it's taken me to get an update out. I was unable to contact Sam due to the remote area that they are in.

The trip to Kenya is being blessed in a wonderful way. The first day there they held services out in the country...beautiful highlands. He felt that the services were wonderfully blessed.

The people here are very kind. These regions of highlands are very cool. Each family has about an acre to grow their food on. They can grow their crops year around. They are blessed to grow corn and kale. Kale is their "green" food and they eat a lot of it. The view is just beautiful as you look out over the mountains and see the little fields of food. Sam just went on and on about the beauty of this region.

Today they traveled about 30 miles and out into the mountains and then walked for a mile on to the meeting place out under the trees. (As they walked the uphill mile, Bro. Obey commented to Sam that he was in better health than he was! Sam said that he felt that he was being blessed with strength that he wouldn't normally have. Prayer works thank the Lord for His faithfulness and your prayers!) There were benches for the congregation made from boards and three chairs for Sam, Bro. Obey, and Bro. Martin. A small table was there for Sam to preach from. There were about 15 in attendance for this service and most of them were men. They then had communion and foot washing services.

Following the services, Bro. Obey dismissed most of the congregation and six of the brethren remained. (Those that are leaders) Bro. Obey presented a charge to these regarding a brother that was preaching and teaching false doctrine. (This brother has been excluded from the church) Sam was very sorry that they did not have this recorded. He felt that it was excellent!

Let me at this point insert that Sam said that it is no wonder that God called Bro. Obey to be his representative in Africa for the truth. He is so blessed in his leadership ability. The people just love him and respond so well to him.

After leaving this group and walking back to their vehicle, they drove for an hour and a half to another group with 30 people in attendance. (on good roads it would have been a 20 to 30 minute trip...no way to describe how horrible the roads are) They met in a building with a tin roof. It was about dark so they had a very short service but felt that it was blessed.

They were then blessed to visit in Bro. Martin's home where Eld. Vernon Johnson stayed for twenty-one days. It was a very humble abode, a mud hut with dirt floors. He said that it was a sweet home to be in.

Bro. Martin is a small man in stature probably 5' 7" and 130 lbs but has a way of demanding the respect of the people. Sam has just fallen in love with him!

The preaching in Kenya has mostly been covering basic doctrine, ordinances, and the practices of the church. He feels that they have been very blessed thus far.

Tomorrow they will endure a seven-hour bus ride to Nairobi and there they'll catch their flight back to Darussalam.

I’ll probably send one more update. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

The plane had just arrived back in Dar Es Salaam when I spoke to Sam today. He was extremely tired and ready for bed. When he described the trip to the airport to catch their flight to Tanzania, I understood why! He described it as a two-hour ride on a "scream machine"! Then for another six and a-half hours they rode what felt to be a "rubboard with holes in it". I'm sure Sam will be ready for the chiropractor…

I asked him what he was going to do today and he replied "SLEEP LATE". They will hold one more meeting there at the church and say their farewells. Usually about twenty or so from the church will go along to the airport to see him off.

Can you just imagine how thankful these precious children of God are to know and love the truth! It has been such a wonderful thing to see how the hand of God has worked through Bro. Obey and now Bro. Martin.

Eld. Vernon Johnson's account of the entry to Kenya can now be heard via Vestavia PB Church website. If you haven't been blessed to hear this I would suggest that you take the time. It is most enjoyable.

The website is: www.vestaviapbc.org

Sam will load the plane back to the states at 11:05PM their time which will be 3PM here. He says he cannot wait to be fed a wonderful meal. He should touch down in Atlanta in the morning.

It has been such a blessing to know that so many of you have been in prayer on Sam's behalf. I know that I've said it before but I'll say it again…. thank you from the bottom of my heart and please continue to pray for these precious people across the way that the Lord would supply all of their needs and bless them to continue to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints!