The challenges Terry Brynan faces daily in Kenya are a sharp contrast to my struggles with computer issues and HTML (in the comfort of my office recliner).
Father, thank You for Terry’s faith and courage and tenacious efforts to help her people in the “far places.” Keep her safe and healthy. Continue to use her holy boldness to bring many to Jesus.
Hi my beloved family, friends and prayer warriors,
I hope all of you are well and blessed. As always, I love and miss you so much. Thank you for your continued prayers. I was sick with typhoid and pneumonia again, and then malaria but, I am ok. Keep praying God continues to strengthen me to accomplish His purposes and plans.
I finished the 14 meetings around all of the mountains and different areas. I met with about 1200 people. There was 100% support for closing the mountains. Now, they are waiting for the rain. Please pray it will rain. Pray God will bless it and make the grass grow and bring the water they need and supply all of their needs.
The meetings were filled with the young men who are usually far away in the mountains taking care of the cows. They returned to their areas when the rains came and the grass grew. Their presence was a crucial element of proceeding forward with closing the mountains because they are the ones who move with the animals. They were in complete agreement for the elders to close the mountains and the rules they would need to abide by.
The young men and boys heard the good news of Jesus, and many trusted in Jesus as their Savior.
There was no time between the end of the meetings to close the mountains and the entire generation of boys going off to get circumcised and live in the bush for the next three months. If I had waited there would have been no way to reach any of them.
In just three new areas God has called me to go, in only three days, about 400 people trusted Jesus.
At one place there were about 220 people gathered on the banks of a dry river bed. They had watched the Jesus movie and all had trusted Jesus. We prayed and praised God together. We ate together and discussed closing the mountains. It was an amazing day. I was getting ready to leave and the women started to sing. I thought they wanted something from me but, instead they wanted to give me a gift. It is a rare thing here for people to give me a gift for no reason. I had nothing to give them. They came singing and dancing, and dangling in front of them was a big paint sized can of fresh honey to thank me. They didn’t expect anything in return. The Lord impressed on me, that when we praise and thank Him, and let Him know we love Him. It is as sweet as honey to Him.
During the meetings, I distributed eye drops because so many have eye infections from dry dusty conditions, with little water and if left untreated, can lead to blindness. To combat nutritional anemia and anemia caused by malaria about 1000 families were given essential micronutrients and about 25,000 chlorine tablets were distributed to help reduce typhoid and water borne diseases.
The blind, the crippled, the elderly, the disabled and families especially appreciated the 100+ blankets and plastic sheeting for hut roofs and nursery schools (made of woven sticks).
The next plan for closing the mountains includes creating supplemental pasture in the lowlands. The plan is to enclose and prepare 100 acres, 10 acres of pasture in 10 different locations, by fencing it with the cut branches of thorny bushes and trees, bush clearing, putting cut trees in gullies, and scratching the ground surface for seed preparation. These pastures will be used to produce seeds for reseeding, grass for harvest, and when the roots are more established, grazing. I am waiting on the agreement for the seeds to begin community meetings. Please pray for tremendous community support and that God will make a way for everything we need. Pray it would be ready before the rains come and pray the rains come.
I finished delivering the mattresses and blankets for the children to begin sleeping at four of the schools in the bush. Each of those schools also received (1) 90 kg bag of posho, flour made from corn and sorghum, so the children who sleep there can have uji (porridge) for breakfast and ugali (like grits) for dinner.
Then, I found out the World Food Program (WFP) that has been delivering food (posho) for nursery school students all across Kenya stopped providing food for the nursery school students. The responsibility was handed over to the counties but, my county did not accept the burden. There is not enough food at the schools to also feed the nursery students so I am guessing if nothing is done, the school will feed them and although they started late because the food for grades 1 and above came late, they will also want to close early because they will run out of food. The nursery school children rely on the lunch they receive at school. For some of the children, it is the only meal they may have that day. There is about one month left in this term. Please pray the children will have enough food.
God has provided the opportunity for me to present to the government offices and representatives of international organizations in my county in the last two weeks. I have been able to share clearly and distinctly what is needed in the far areas of the bush. They are doing their steering for the coming year. Pray God will bring the help that is needed.
It was after midnight, one night, I had had a long day and was returning home. I stopped to spend the night, far in the bush, at I place I had had a meeting the day before. Where my truck was parked there were two young men arguing about something for a long time. I was in my truck praying and had enough of the disturbance. I tried to break up the argument and that didn’t work. I reached into my truck and laid on my horn for about a minute, hoping to distract them. They didn’t even miss a beat. I changed my approach, and kindly asked one of the boys to come with me and led him away from the argument where he could be reasoned with. He left. Everything quieted down immediately. I returned to praying. Ruth, my helper, opened the door laughing.
Standing next to me were three old women, dressed in animal skin skirts, no shirts, traditional beads and shangas. They had crept up to camp, each with two sticks, one in each hand.
“Where is Chepurai? Who is disturbing her? Who is attacking her?” They had exclaimed to Ruth,” We heard the sound of her truck and we have come to beat off her attackers! We each found two good sticks and we have come. We decided, if she dies, we die together!”
I am Chepurai. It is my Pokot name. I was so moved by their decision to come to my rescue, no matter what the cost. I flung my arms around them. I thought to myself, that’s love! It’s not every day someone is willing to die for me! But as the words resonated through my thoughts, I remembered Jesus. Jesus died for me! It cost Him everything. That is love!!!
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If you would like to give a gift to help the children and families of Pokot, please visit our website at www.JesusIsOurAll.org or send a check made out to
Jesus Is Our All
P.O. Box 111
Frederick, Pa. 19435
Thank you for your love and prayer,
Thank you for your encouragement and care,
Everything you do in love,
Is written in His book above.
May you hear well done good and faithful servant.
With love and prayers,
Terry Brynan
I am not sure what you mean by “closing the mountains.” Can you explain further? I have been to Tanzania so I know a little about what you are talking about. I will certainly pray that God will send rain and food for the children. I will also pray that God continue to strengthen you physically so that you can continue to serve him there in Kenya. I am recovering from pneumonia myself and know how difficult that is. Luckily, i have not had typhoid or malaria.
I sent this to Terry but haven’t heard from her. Thanks much for your prayers.