What Do You Need From Me?

September 8, 2010

“Mom, what do you need from me before I join the Navy in 2011?” Little did my son realize what he was getting into when I said, “Why don’t you go with me to Africa?”
Our trip theme was “For the Glory of God.” God was glorified through the opportunities he gave us and also the time we had to share our memories of Paul. Bishop Deo and Sarah Mwamba were our hosts in the Congo. In Kimpese, the women were to be served lunch as part of the conference and the lunch was late, Deo went to a far away village to buy enough bread and nuts to feed over 300 women. I was told to keep speaking, even after I had concluded the second message twice. My audience was attentive -- there was a woman who walked the rows of the church carrying a very big stick. If anyone nodded off during the message, she would knock them on the head. Do you think we should implement this in the USA?
In Kitale, Kenya Ben met Moses, the director of Water Missions International. Moses invited Ben to go on a road trip to inspect the solar powered water purification units located in southern Kenya. Ben was on the road for over a week with two nationals and Ben Mims, from South Carolina. The men worked on units in remote areas where clean water is scarce. Moses was able to work within a tight budget to offer many water purification units to needy people. Ben saw wild zebras, antelope, camels and monkeys, even the Masai (in red robes in picture), a tribe of nomad herders. The Water Missions group shared the love of God in a very tangible way – by offering pure, clean drinking water to those in need.
The campus of Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) houses the Water Missions office, when Ben was in Kitale, many mornings, Ben and I headed to “work” together. At ATS, I taught Church Administration to ten pastors in the ATS BA CLASS of 2009. The pastors are church planters, visionaries, who preach, organize, motivate their churches while working other jobs. We studied the biblical leadership of Moses in Exodus 18, of Jesus 2 and the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4. I taught from John Maxwell’s Million Leader Mandate workbooks #1 and #2.
On the first day of class, Pastor Simon asked, “Why do we have to learn about biblical leadership, isn’t this a church administration course?” I was a little taken aback, I thought, “I’m the teacher, I decide what’s in the curriculum.” I said, “In order to become a good church administrator, as pastors, we need to be godly, Biblical leaders. The MLM books are very valuable to provide a Biblical foundation for you.” At the end of the class, 7 of the 10 pastors asked for the MLM material so they could teach it to their own congregations. “For the Glory of God.”
I’m out of room for this month, but next month, I will finish telling you about our trip.

Please pray:
ICM Congo Directors Deo and Sarah Mwamba hosting International Council Oct. ‘10
Water Missions International seeks new areas for sites - www.watermissions.org
Africa Theological Seminary – Kitale, Kenya is completing accreditation, pray for the final details to be completed - www.atseminary.ac.ke

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support! We love and pray for each of you!

Sheryl & Ben Giesbrecht

Giesbrecht Africa Trip 2010 with ICM - ICMUSA.org

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers for our family during this past nine months since Paul's sudden death. We are grieving our great loss, yet slowly beginning to heal.

In September 2006, my son Ben, started classes at the University of California at Davis. His freshman class was the biggest to emerge upon UCD. It's no wonder that the 2010 graduating class of Biological Sciences was the largest in the history of UCD. Congratulations, Ben, for the hard work in completing your Bachelor of Science in Exercise biology and graduating with the 2010 class of Biological Sciences from UC Davis. We are so proud of you!

In October 2009, a couple of weeks after his dad died, Ben asked, "Mom, what would you need from me before I enlist in the Navy in 2011?" I said, "Why don't you come with me on a trip to Africa?" Thus, the Giesbrecht Africa Trip 2010 with International Christian Ministries. Below is a detailed itenerary. We need your prayers. If you decide to join our prayer team, feel free to print this blog or stop by the KAXL Life Fm office to pick one up. As a prayer team member, we'd like to give you a gift from our KAXL staff - a book - Psalm 91 - God's Umbrella of Protection. Thanks for your prayers. We are praying for you.

Giesbrecht AfricaTrip 2010 with International Christian Ministries

Theme: For The Glory of God
"Look at the nations and watch-and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.“ Habakkuk 1:5
Trip Goals: To encourage, equip and exhort Christians, leaders and ICM staff in the Congo, Kenya and Egypt.
Ben & Sheryl Giesbrecht – Mother’s Day 2010 at Parkside Church, Bakersfield, CA
Trip Schedule and Responsibilities:
7/9/2010 - Depart Bakersfield, CA via United Airlines flight 6152 at 9:30 am.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
7/10/10 - Arrive in Kinshasa, Congo via Kenya Airways flight 0550 8:55 am. Greeted by hosts, ICM Congo Directors, Deo and Sarah Mwamba.
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,my God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
7/12/10 - Sheryl speaks for a Women’s Conference in Kinshasa. Ben will meet with the men of the local tribes and visit refugee camps.
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.” Psalm 91:3
7/13/10 - Travel by vehicle to Mbanza Ngungu – 125 miles from Kinshasa.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” Psalm 91:4 a
Sheryl speaks at From Ashes to Beauty Women’s Conference in Goma, Congo in May 2009.
7/14/10 - Sheryl speaks for a Women’s Conference in Mbanza Ngungu. Ben will meet with local pastors and travel to visit pygmies.
“His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4b
7/15/10 - Travel to Kinshasa, Congo.
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” Psalm 91:5
7/16/10 – Debrief with ICM Congo Directors, Deo and Sarah Mwamba.
“nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” Ps. 91:6
7/17/10 – Airline travel to Kitale, Kenya. Greeted by hosts, Emmanuel and Dorcas Chemengich, President of Africa Theological Seminary.
“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” Psalm 91:7
7/18/10 – Preaching in church in Kitale, Kenya
“You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Psalm 91:8
Sheryl in Lagos, Nigeria in April 2008 after sharing a message with ICM Seminary Women.
7/20-22/10 – Sheryl teaches Church Administration at Africa Theological Seminary. Ben will visit ministry sites in Kitale and assist with building projects.
“If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” Psalm 91:9, 10
7/23-24/10 - Sheryl speaks for a Women’s Conference in Kitale, Kenya.
“For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:12
7/27-29/10 – Sheryl teaches Church Administration at ATS, Kitale, Kenya. Ben will visit water purification sites, orphanages and feeding programs.
“They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Ps. 91:12
Sheryl speaks at From Ashes to Beauty Women’s Conference in Kitale, Kenya in May 2009
7/30 – 31/10 - Sheryl speaks for a Women’s Conference in Mt. Elgon, Kenya.
“You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; trample the great lion and the serpent.”Psalm 91:13
8/1/10 – Airline travel to Nairobi, Kenya.
“Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;” Psalm 91:14a
8/2/10 - Travel by vehicle to visit Compassion sponsored child, Caroline Ndinda Muysoki, Mungala Project. Compassion Child sponsorship drive with 88.3 Life FM.
“I will protect him because he acknowledges my name.” Psalm 91:14b
April 2009 - Sheryl and Paul Giesbrecht visit Compassion child, Caroline (in red shirt) and her family in Mungala, Kenya.
8/3/10 - Debrief in Nairobi, Kenya.
“He will call upon me and I will answer him.” Psalm 91:15a
8/4/10 – Airline travel to Cairo, Egypt – greeted by hosts ICM Egypt Directors Wahid and Laila Wahba.
“I will be with him in trouble.” Psalm 91:15b
8/5 – 8/7/10 – Network and encourage ICM staff and leaders, visit Coptic priests, orthodox parishes, ICM partners, Wahid and Laila Waba.
“I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:15b
8/7-9/10 - Return to Bakersfield via United Airlines flight 6326 7:28 pm
“With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:16

Thank you so much for 'taking this trip to Africa' with us, through your prayers. We are praying for you. Sheryl & Ben Giesbrecht

Time Marches On...

March 17, 2010

Dear Friend,

It’s been only just five months since Paul died. The motorcycle accident, how it happened and why is still a mystery. We will probably never know what caused it but the end result is still the same. My beloved husband of 28 years got a better offer – he went home, to be with the Lord he loved. Getting over the untimely, unfair and unexpected loss of Paul has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.

I am grieving and it will take years to recover, especially from the trauma of seeing Paul’s injuries right after the accident. I still cry from time to time, tears are a gift, not a sign of weakness. Tears express the depth of the loss I feel and are a sign that I am recovering. I might sometimes seem angry for no reason; I am not sure why other than that my emotions are intense because of my grief. Please be forgiving and patient with me.

If I forget things or repeat myself, please accept this as normal. Your presence and understanding means so much. You don’t have to say anything. Even sending me a card means a lot. Please don’t wait for me to call you, since most of the time I am too tired to do so. When I withdraw, please don’t let me do that for too long. I need you to reach out to me. If you have suffered a similar loss, please share it with me. It will help rather than cause me to feel worse. I want to talk about Paul, I think about him all the time; I would love to hear your memories of him.

This loss is so painful right now; it feels like the worst thing that could ever happen to me. But I will survive and will eventually recover. Please pray that God will use this time of grieving to grow me and equip me to minister to others with greater compassion than ever before.

Thank you for your love, care and concern. Thank you for your prayers, knowing you are praying comforts me and your prayers are a gift for which I will always be thankful.

In Jesus’ Unfailing Love,

Sheryl

“The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” Isaiah 57:1, 2