Februar y 2016

Tierney
Christian Mission
Jim and Kathy Tierney

This Swahili phrase means much work and indeed we

have much work accomplished in only the three weeks
we have been here. We praise God each day for allowing us the honor of serving those who give and pray for
His Glory. The joy of sharing the Lord with those who
have never heard and encourage the faith of those who
are blessed.
Each time they come to thank us for what we bring and
help with, we share that it is not Jimmy and I, it is God
who moved the hearts of all of you to pray and give so
that they can be built up in Jesus. They send their love,
thanks and greetings to all those who love them. We
hear this several times a day.

There are five classrooms in process of being built. One

is at Kasapa and one at Nasakum and the other three
are at Kamketo. The men and women have to cut the
trees down, strip them then carry them to the building
sites. When I went to the Kamketo to check out the
three new school buildings, I saw women sitting on the
ground digging post holes with their Pangas
(Machetes).

You would not believe the work they have done in

such a short time. It is a food for work program that
Jim set up so we dont create a welfare community.
They are thrilled to have a way to work and have food.
Pastor Benson's Church is being built now with Russell
and Melody's giving for the roof and Fundi
(carpenter). Two other Churches are beginning to
build classrooms. They need them to be able to get
UN food for the children in school. IDES has been
incredibly generous and the food they supply takes
care of the rest of the community.

We were able to see baby Lydia. Her mama, Elizabeth,

was very ill during her pregnancy last time we were
here. She was unable to get out of bed. We gathered
eggs, milk and vitamins to help her gain strength. I
truly believe she and her baby were in danger of not
surviving. When she came to bring Lydia, a beautiful
healthy baby to see us, we truly rejoiced. All who
gave and prayed saved this precious one who has
a name to live up to and parents who are very
committed to Jesus.

Darin has been doing everything he can to help. He has made close relationships
with the men with his teaching and preaching.
Debbie is busy with the 16 Schools we now have.
The young ladies are busy with the women and children and
sharing Bible stories, Jim is always doing something with the
Pastors and Evangelists.
Me, well, it is medical, teaching, hugging women and children and a joy that fills me to
overflowing.
Our grateful hearts send love and prayers to all! Mzee Jimmy and Kogo Kathy

This was my second mission trip to Kenya with Tierney Christian Mission. So, I was thinking
there were not too many surprises like last year.. but I was wrong. The warmth and
friendliness of the people there always surprises me. Whether we were buying supplies,
doing medical or teaching the Gospel, they were always thankful and grateful. Most of the
people in the bush (West Pokot area) may make up to 100 shillings a day (approx.. $1). They
f
f
o
l
are always thankful even in their meager surroundings. They dont have much, a small 8 -10
ll Lu
e
s
s
Ru
foot round mud hut, few pots and pans and maybe a little maze.
Their health is not good but conditions are slowly getting better. We saw
malaria, eye infections (from flies), UTIs, worms, cuts, imbedded thorns
and burns. They have no first aid or medical means to treat these, so many
minor medical problems go untreated and result in much greater issues.
So, hopefully after some time we will be able to treat the minor medical
problems before they become much worse.

While I was there, I saw 2 building project start. The school at the Mission
was expanding to a 6 classroom building to handle all the children. By the
time I left they had the poles in the ground and were ready to put the
roof on. The church in Chum-chu-cho, up the road from Komketoo had
the walls and roof by the time I left. They will use the building as a church
and as a school during the week. This is important because they were
meeting under a tree for church and school, so when it rained they would
have to cancel. The rainy season seasons can last for a couple of month. There is also a spiritual hunger
among all ages of people. They are hungry for any spiritual teaching they can get. They are babes in Christ
and eagerly desire to learn and grow in Him. Its a real challenge to teach the different ages and people
groups because of the language barrier, level of education, culture and their health.
One of the many needs is that of clean drinking water. In some places they walk hours every single day just to
get enough water for the day. The women pack a 3 gallon plastic water container on their head while carrying
a baby on their back and usually are pregnant! Some dig in the dry river bed for water, sometimes 6-8 ft. down,

the holes sometimes collapse and they are injured or die. The problem
with getting water that way is that the water is full of bacteria and
other contamination (worms, etc.) One of my projects was to pipe an
existing spring that we saw last year in Tughum. When we got there
this year, the spring has pretty much dried up. The people in Tughum
desperately need clean drinking water, hopefully in the future they can
have a well drilled there. We then looked at another spring a little
north of Kasei. We determined that a well could be drilled there, a
shallow one 30-40 ft. by using a hand powered type of auger and case
the well as it goes down.
Jim will continue to investigate this option and hopefully will happen
soon.
As Jim mentioned in an earlier newsletter, he and Greg Strubhar visited
A small remote village called Chesapin. Jim, Darin and I went up there
one day after looking at the spring near there. It was on the worst road I
had driven on in Kenya. The road (trail) was very, very steep and various
dry river crossings and a super narrow rock pitching road on the side of a
mountain. Once we got to literally the end of the road we found a huge
thorn fence and a gate we called the eye of the needle. It was an
opening about 2 ft. by 5 ft., to where only humans could really enter. It
was like stepping back in time, all the huts there were made like weaved
baskets (unlike the mud huts everywhere else), and gourds (used for
water and milk) hanging from trees (unlike the plastic water jugs used everywhere else) and clay cooking
pots. This people group were hungry, needed medical attention and more important the Gospel. The elders
there have already donated a parcel of land so a church and school can be built!
After being there a couple of times, it reminds me of Paul on his missionary journeys. We were there to
encourage, teach and strengthen all those who we met. It is an experience I will never forget. On a mission
trip like this I am surprised at how much we really do have after you return home. Hopefully we can all give
something from our wealth to help those with so little. They are so thankful for anything they receive.
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is
my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.
Matthew 10:42.
Sincerely, Russ Luloff

Your Continued

is greatly appreciated!

Please remember that once we get there we will still be needing

ongoing donations for the schools and buildings. God has
provided a great start for us and we pray that His people will
continue to help bless these little ones in Kenya.

TIERNEY CHRISTIAN MISSION.MISSION STATEMENT

Tierney Christian Missions is a non-profit organization whose mission is to spread the word of The
Lord across the Kamketo region of Kenya, Africa through relationship building and providing for basic
needs for those lacking the resources to provide for themselves.
T I E R N E Y C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N B O A R D M E M B ER S
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