Foundational Truths in Discipleship
October 6, 2022
Dear praying friends,
We hope and pray this finds you all doing well. Hard to believe that we are already into the month of October. Time passes so quickly, and before we know it, the year 2023 will be upon us. This update will share current ministry progress and prayer requests.
We are so thankful that the country of Kenya has been peaceful after the election of this year. Many people prayed for the country during this time, and we are so thankful for your prayers. Previous elections have been both peaceful and had unrest, so we didn’t know how
it would go this year. It was a very close election, but at the end of it all, the country remained peaceful. It has been a challenging year with coronavirus and the election, but God has been faithful and we continue to trust Him. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Amen. Please continue to pray for continued peace in the country.
Now that the election is over and the country has been peaceful, we are praying and hopeful that new families will start coming to Kitale. We know of some families who are interested in coming in the coming weeks, and this would be very welcomed. Our daughters need friends that they can play with here in Kitale, and we are trusting the Lord to provide. They need socialization, and we are trusting God to bring families with children their ages in His timing and plan. This is a big prayer request for us right now, so we would appreciate your prayers.
My wife has had a challenging year with homeschooling, so please be in prayer for her as well. She has many responsibilities each year as she has to look ahead and plan the materials for the coming year. She is a big blessing and a great help to our daughters. Please pray for her, as she continues to educate our daughters faithfully each year.
I (Nathan) am continuing in the discipleship teachings in the village of Taito, about 15 minutes from Kitale town. I recently taught the men on daily devotions, or having a quiet time with the Lord each day. I taught them on the importance of daily devotions, to spend time with the Lord, to prepare their hearts to hear from Him, and to daily fellowship with Him. We looked at various verses, such as Psalm 42:1-2, which say, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”
Also, we saw the example of Jesus. Mark 1:35 says, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” We saw that Jesus rose up early in the morning and went to a quiet place, away from the daily distractions, and prayed before the activities of the day. I challenged the men to find a quiet place where they can spend time with the Lord each day, preferably morning, before the challenges and distractions of the day. I modeled for them how to follow a daily devotional schedule, and we did some passages together, asking questions from each passage to help them learn it, grow spiritually, and apply it to their daily lives.
The men were receptive, and I pray they put these teachings into practice. Please pray that these men would continue to grow spiritually, and have the desire to go out and take the teachings to their village areas, starting groups that become churches. These discipleship teachings are so foundational for them, before they go out and start churches. Please continue to pray for me as I plan each week for the men, step by step, and that they would continue to be receptive to the teachings. Also, that they would have the desire and calling to go out and reach others, starting churches as God leads them. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Amen.
That is the current update from Kenya. We appreciate each of you so much and your heart for missions. We could not do this without you.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
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Life in Kitale
April 29, 2022
Greetings from Kenya!
I pray this update finds everyone doing well. This is Carrie writing this month for the annual missionary wives’ prayer letter. I hope the weather is getting warmer for all of you. I’m sure you’re ready for nicer weather after the winter months. Here in Kenya, we are finishing dry season and entering rainy season. The dry season was long this year and especially hot (up to 90 degrees and no air conditioning anywhere). Everything became very dry and dusty and lack of water was a concern. But thankfully, the rains have started and things are beginning to turn green again and the temperatures are cooling down a bit.
Currently there is a fuel shortage in the country. The suppliers are trying to increase the price, but the government is refusing to pay it, so there is a stalemate. The government is working to get the suppliers to lower the cost, but it’s taking a while to do it. There have been reports of people waiting in lines at the gas stations for up to 8 hours to get just a bit of gas for their vehicles. This is really affecting the livelihoods of people such as taxi drivers and piki=pikis (motorbike taxis). In addition, there are fewer supply trucks to bring goods, such as food, from Nairobi to Kitale. We’ve had extremely limited milk for the past couple weeks, and the price of goods is also increasing rapidly, which causes a huge burden on all families and businesses here. The people are struggling to buy the food they need for their families. Please pray that the fuel situation gets resolved quickly and that prices reduce for the people of this country.
Homeschooling continues to go well. The girls really enjoy their classes and are doing a great job working diligently. We’ve been doing some PE activities as a family, such as morning exercise, which has been really nice. Cami enjoys learning to cook and Kenna has taken some drawing classes online, which has been a huge blessing. We’ve gotten a new kitten who is an endless delight for the girls. He’s a snuggly little guy and such a blessing for us.
Please pray for the girls as they are needing friends. We had a family with some girls their ages here, but they’ve moved to another part of Kenya. This has been a big loss for our girls as they were close and played a lot together. There have been a lot of changes in our community with families leaving and we’re all struggling with it to some extent. Please pray for us as a family. Missions can be so difficult with all the goodbyes we say. There are very few “wazungus” (westerners) left in our town. Please pray for strength and for new families to come.
Thank you all for the encouragement you send and the prayers you say on our behalf. We appreciate them more than you know. Each of you is a blessing to us and we’re thankful for you. God bless you all as you head into the summer months.
In Christ,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Adjusting Back to Life in Kenya
March 5th, 2022
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are already into the third month of 2022. Time passes so fast, and may we be busy in our service to the Lord. This prayer letter will share current prayer requests, as well as update you on my (Nathan’s) upcoming ministry plans.
I am in the process of recruiting potential younger Kenyan men to disciple, train, and send out to start churches in their village areas. I have spoken with different men who have lived in Africa or are living in Africa about church planting, and they had a basic model to follow: recruit the men, (preferably men who are already employed), disciple them so they have a firm foundation in their faith, then send them out to villages to start churches.
This is the model I followed this past term, and it was the best progress of any prior term. Unfortunately, covid came to Kenya and we had to close things down. Now that it is possible to meet again, by practicing social distancing, and also masks are encouraged, we can continue.
Lord willing, I plan to start in a village called Taito, which is about a fifteen minute drive from Kitale town. In all of these endeavors, it is God that gives the increase. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6, where Paul says “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” Amen. It is the same today. We must trust God for the results in all our endeavors.
In family news, our daughters have adjusted well back to life here in Kenya. They are homeschooling, and my wife is doing a great job teaching them. She is very qualified, and I am blessed with all the sacrifices she makes daily, and for our family. Please pray both for her and our daughters as they continue along in this school year.
There have been many changes in the missionary community since we have returned, and unfortunately, the family that had a daughter our daughter’s ages moved away to another area. We are blessed that there are some Kenyan girls nearby who speak good English, and they are invited to play with them at any time. This is a major blessing. Would you please pray with us that God would provide other families with daughters that could be friends with our daughters? This is a big prayer request for us now, and we are waiting upon the Lord. Psalm 27:14 says “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” May we wait in faith, trusting Him each step of the way.
Thanks so much to each of you for your heart for missions. We appreciate the prayers, sacrificial giving, and letters so much. May God bless each of you.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Enjoying Time on Furlough
Greetings from WV!
It’s so nice to greet everyone from this side of the US! We are all doing well and are enjoying our time on furlough. I hope and pray this letter finds everyone else doing well and enjoying the spring weather. It’s certainly been a lovely time of year for us. We miss the deep green that surrounds us here during the spring and summer months. Kenya is beautiful and has many gorgeous plants and flowers, but the leaves and grass aren’t as green as they are here. We are looking forward to the warm weather of the coming months.
Our time at home has been a blessing to all of us. It’s hard to believe that in a few months, another school year will be finished. Kenna is currently in 7th grade and Cami is in 4th. Next year is the last year of middle school for Kenna, and the first year for Cami. They are growing up so quickly! I’ve been busy trying to figure out Kenna’s curriculum for next year, knowing that she is approaching high school and that everything then “counts,” so to speak. We are trying to enjoy each day and not get bogged down in the details.
Nathan is working hard to keep up to date with everyone and coordinate the travel plans and present the ministries to churches. He is doing a great job trying to meet all the needs of our family with all the transitions involved in missionary life. The girls, while enjoying their time on furlough, have also been lonely and miss their friends and pets in Kenya. Nathan does all he can to support and encourage them. He is a great father to our girls.
This year has been different for us, as it has been for all of you as well. Covid has changed many of our “normal” furlough activities, but we are thankful to be home during this time. The people of Kenya are experiencing a return of lockdowns in at least 5 counties, including Nairobi, as Covid is spreading very rapidly there. While we can get vaccinated here, vaccines are very limited in Kenya and there are few ICU beds in the country. Please continue to pray for the country of Kenya during this time.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and wishes and prayers for our family. We appreciate them more than you know! We are so thankful to everyone who has invited us over to chat or offered for the girls to join in activities with your churches and groups. We pray everyone stays safe and healthy during this time. Blessings.
In Christ,
Carrie (and Nathan, McKenna and Camille)
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Homeschooling & Raising Chloe
April 9, 2021
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
I can’t believe another year has come and gone…it reminds me of the phrase in the Bible, “…and it came to pass….” Just like many other euphemisms — “what goes up must come down,” and “what goes around comes around”— it is also true that all things which come will also pass. Sometimes we feel stuck in current circumstances, but that’s only our limited perspective. As the Alpha and Omega, God sees the beginning from the end. Not only do all things have a set time, they have set purposes as well.
Milimani Christian Homeschool Community’s time has passed. This was both a relief and something I grieved deeply. People here in Kenya who know me well know that I poured 150% of myself into MCHC. I loved (and still love) the children and the teachers deeply, and I found great joy in helping all of them academically and spiritually. I loved discipling the teachers, not only in teacher training and opening their hearts and minds to children with learning challenges and differences, but also in their walk with the Lord. I loved talking about and demonstrating the love of Jesus to children from different walks of life – children from Christian homes, nominal Christian homes, and even a Hindu home. I loved watching children who were bitter bullies blossom into caring friends. I loved watching our neuro-diverse children find joy and confidence in a learning environment that treasured them and helped them find their strengths without belittling their challenges. I loved watching children learn to accept one another’s differences while finding their commonalities, even among different ethnic backgrounds. I can’t begin to tell you what a joy it was. I don’t understand why it had to end the way it did; I can only say that it was a good and beautiful thing, and I trust God will continue to use that time in the lives of the people who were touched by it.
Having said that, it seems obvious that in the passing of MCHC, God had another great adventure planned…homeschooling and raising Chloe. Homeschooling and raising children are not new to me. Doing it for Chloe, however, is unlike anything we’ve ever done. Not only are we parenting and working with her academics, I find myself in the position of being her ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapist, her OT (Occupational Therapist), her emotional co-regulator (teaching her to regulate her own emotions by doing it physically with her), her advocate (and our own), and even a researcher to understand her and what she needs. This is more daunting than MCHC ever was, but everything I learned at MCHC, I am now applying at home. In fact, without my experience at MCHC, I would be quite ill-equipped. This is beautiful to me. You see, God is never doing only one thing at a time in any one circumstance. One of the things He was using MCHC for in my own life was training me to teach my own very special needs child. All this has pushed Roger and me beyond the limits of anything we feel capable of doing…or surviving. We’re learning more about ourselves and our own hearts than we want to know, but even that is beautiful to me (usually…).
We can often feel stuck in our challenges, but from time-to-time God reminds me to step back and see all the struggles that have come…and have now passed. There is so much hope and growth. Chloe’s academics have really taken-off in her homeschooling environment. A friend of mine from the US with a Master’s degree in Special Education is here and has done some evaluations with Chloe. She’s told me that Chloe is actually quite intellectually gifted. She loves to read, her math facts are like muscle memory (when she’s relaxed and can access them), she has an amazing memory both verbally and visually, and she loves music and cooking. In fact, she just loves learning and has a super cute sense of fun and humor to boot. I am so thankful to have her in an environment that won’t squash that.
She does have challenges though, and I would ask you to pray for us as we research and find help for her in these areas. Autism often comes with other issues…a lack of ability to regulate her emotions (thus the scars up and down my arms), difficulty with social communication despite an extensive vocabulary, and severe anxiety due to sensory processing disorder and nervous system overload creating flight or fight reactions (usually fight…). In Chloe’s case, her neuro-developmental psychologist has told us she also has attachment insecurities and food insecurities (from babyhood before she came to us), as well as dysgraphia, mild dyslexia, and dyspraxia. This a condition in which the communication between Chloe’s brain and her muscles gets mixed up causing fine and gross motor skill difficulties. Basically, her muscles don’t know how to do what her brain tells them to do. This also affects her speech.
I really appreciate your love and prayers for our family. Please continue to pray for our kids in the US as well: Emily and Igor, Amy, and Josiah. It’s hard to be “stuck” in Kenya with no hope of being able to see them anytime in the near future. We miss them terribly, and though we love the gift of being able to have video calls with them once a week, it’s just not the same as a hug.
In Christ,
Julie Tate
CONTACT INFO
Roger & Julie Tate
P.O. Box 96
Kitale, Kenya 30200
rojuta@gmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Quarantined in Kenya; Concerns about MCHC
Greetings from Kitale, Kenya!
I pray this letter finds everyone doing well and staying safe and healthy at home. Our board has asked the missionary wives to write the prayer letter this month as Mother’s Day approaches, in an effort to offer you a glimpse into our life from the wife’s perspective. We are thankful for the technology which allows us to remain in touch with our friends and family in the US during this time of quarantine and uncertainty. We are also able to watch the news and keep informed of events happening there and around the world. It is a blessing to feel connected with everyone.
Our little part of the world has seen some drastic changes during the past month. Our school, as schools in the US, had to close mid-March due to quarantine. Our family is coping with this by homeschooling. We are enjoying this time as a family and the girls are thriving as they continue their studies with mom as their teacher. However, we are concerned about our little school, MCHC. Private schools here operate through the school fees paid by the parents each term. Very few schools are ever able to “get ahead” and have money to cover in case of emergencies. MCHC is no different. Unless they are able to open for second term beginning in May, there are concerns that rent and teachers will not be paid. Please pray that MCHC is able to restart in the future when the quarantine ends. The school is so important for many families in the area that otherwise do not have access to quality education and hearing the gospel each and every day.
Our family is handling the quarantine admirably so far. Nathan and I try to remain optimistic and upbeat around the girls, as I’m sure families in the US are doing as well. In addition to homeschooling, we are teaching the girls new board games and they are learning “life skills” in the housekeeping department.
A huge prayer request is for the spread of coronavirus to be limited as the medical facilities here are not adequate or able to treat this disease. While Kenya may be a more developed country in regards to other African countries, it is still third world and the lack of medical care is a major concern. There are very few actual trained doctors and the facilities and medicines available are extremely lacking. We don’t have access to ICUs or other specialized treatment centers here. And travel between cities and towns is very restricted now due to the quarantine in place. Please pray for Kenya, and Africa as a whole, that the disease will not spread as feared.
In other news, we learned today that our favorite grocery store is closing. This particular store is the most convenient for us, as parking is available and safe. They also had the largest selection of food available. Parking in town at the other stores is much riskier due to crowding and security issues. We are disappointed in the store’s closing and we are concerned it’s just one of many stores that will probably close throughout the country as employment dwindles and people have less money.
In closing, we ask that you keep the people of Kenya in your prayers. The spread of coronavirus here is a very real and dangerous threat due to inadequate medical facilities and unemployment. Many people here live day to day. They work for a day to feed their families. Many have no income beyond what they earn daily. We pray for all of you in the US as you continue through your quarantines as well.
A verse that comes to mind for this time is 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We are thankful for each of you who prays for us and the people here. God bless you all!
In Christ,
Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Young Man Seeks Discipleship
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
October 3, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are thankful for the Lord’s care, protection, and guidance for our lives. What a great God we serve, and He deserves all glory and praise. This update will give current ministry updates as well as share prayer requests.
Please pray for our daughters and their schooling here in Kitale. They are really making many friends, and having many activities, so we are praying about how to balance what they are getting at school along with homeschooling. The school uses the local Kenyan curriculum and we have found that this isn’t sufficient to prepare our daughters for their futures. Therefore, we find we have the need to balance homeschooling with the girls also attending the school for socialization. This is not an easy task, but one we are praying about. It has been challenging to balance both, and we would appreciate your prayers for us for wisdom and guidance for them for the future. We are very thankful for this school for them and the many friends they are making. They are also learning some Swahili, the language of Kenya. I listened to my daughters singing the “1 through 10” song in Swahili to me recently, and it was really encouraging. It goes something like “Moja, Mbili, Tatu, Nne, Tano, Sita, Saba, Nane, Tisa Hadi Kumi.” They will certainly pick up the Swahili quickly at their age, something I still struggle with but try to use when I am in the villages training.
Speaking of villages, please continue to pray for the village ministry in Rafiki where I (Nathan) am training a younger Kenyan man in his home area. We have continued along in our discipleship course, and it is going well. I recently taught him on opposition, with the idea that he will face opposition as he serves the Lord. But, for him to stand strong, rely on the Lord through the trials and obstacles, and to trust God to work on his behalf. 2 Timothy 3:12 says “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” I also love John 16:33, which says “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” God will be with us, no matter what we face. How we need to trust and rely upon Him, through all seasons of life.
God has provided another opportunity for me to disciple another younger Kenyan man in our area. He approached me recently and desires to be taught/grounded through discipleship materials, so I started with him last week. He was encouraged with the first lesson and desires more teachings. At this point, he doesn’t really know his future plans, but he wants to be discipled, and will take the next step that God wants him to take when finishing the discipleship course. This is encouraging and we would ask that you pray for both this opportunity and the ministry in Rafiki. God is in control, and I leave all the results to Him.
Please pray for my wife as she continues to go to the hospital ministry, helps our children wherever she can, and supports me in the opportunities that God provides. She is a true helpmeet and blessing to me and our family. There are many challenges on the mission field, and we greatly desire your prayers for us. Just day to day travel is a big prayer request, as the roads are in bad condition, there are large amounts of traffic on the road, and many overtake without really paying close attention. We trust God for our safety each day, and He is faithful.
We appreciate each of you so much. Thanks so much for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. It means so much to us.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Ruts in the Road; Girls in School; Psalm 119 in Rafiki
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
September 5, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now into the month of September. We have some prayer requests to share, as well as ministry updates. We appreciate each of you so much and you are a blessing to us.
One of our big prayer requests is for the road maintenance within Milimani, the area of Kitale where we live. Please pray with us that the roads will be maintained in the next few days, as big ruts have been created all over, making it difficult to drive. It is rainy season during the afternoons and evenings, and vehicles go over the roads while they are still water soaked, creating large ruts that dry in the mornings. Please pray that the roads will be repaired soon, for the benefit of all who live in Kitale.
Our daughters are now back in school after a break off for a few weeks. They started back yesterday, and there were some tears, as they are getting used to the school again and being with their friends. Some of their friends have moved since the last term, and this has been difficult for them, but there are other new students that we pray that they will make friends with. My wife is trying to balance homeschooling with sending them to the school some during the year, so please pray for her, as this is a challenge and she wants what is best for our daughters. She has been under some stress with trying to figure out how to balance the curriculum, giving our daughters the socialization that they need, and trying to help them any way she can. I also want to help them with all this, so we would appreciate your prayers for us during this time in regard to their schooling here in Kitale.
Please pray for me (Nathan), as I am continuing in the discipleship program with a younger Kenyan man in his home village of Rafiki. Please pray for me as I traverse the roads out to his village in the early morning hours (this is the best time for him), as the roads out to Rafiki can be challenging to drive as well. There are certain parts of the road I try to avoid completely, but after a hard rain, the entire road can become very water soaked and slippery. I go very slowly and carefully, trusting in God’s protection as I go. It is beautiful to go in the mornings, to see the beautiful clouds with Mount Elgon surrounding them. When I look at these sights in the morning, I am reminded of Genesis 1:1, which says “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Recently as I was teaching him in Rafiki, we looked at the Word of God, and the many benefits we get from it. We looked at and studied several verses in Psalm 119. One of my favorite verses we studied together was Psalm 119:11, which says “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” How we need to study, meditate upon, memorize, and hide the Word of God in our hearts. What a protection it is, and how the will of God is revealed as we study it. I hope and pray these teachings will be a blessing to the men God will raise up to train, in His timing and plan.
We will keep you updated. We appreciate each one of you for your interest, prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. May God bless you all.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
