Testimonies

From Wycliffe working in Kenya:

“I had a great time in Meru land with over one hundred church leaders from different denominations who were having a four-day conference. During this time, I shared why we teach chronologically with the emphasis on the foundation of our salvation. If people can understand the foundation of sin, why God sent his Son, and who they are, they will be changed not by us, but by the Spirit of God who will convict them. I had time to teach lessons 21-30 to the leaders who will go back and teach their congregation.

Among them was a former Muslim and he had this to say:

‘Reading the booklets has made me understand the Bible better. I now know for sure that I am a sinner and that it is only through Jesus that one is saved.’”

Here is a testimony from Maasai land where the booklets are being used:

“We had a drought for a long time. We lost all that we had, and we had no hope.

One day, as we were waiting to receive some relief food from the government, a pastor came and started reading to us some stories in our language. We were desperate as we had waited for a week now without food and water.

Every day we were promised that help would arrive so we would go very early to the square to wait. The day became better as we listened to the stories which made us relax a lot.

The pastor kept coming every day and would read the lessons as we waited. One day, I confronted him and asked him that if there was truly a God and if He had promised to send us a Savior, then why does He not see our problems?

We have no food and no water and all of our animals are dead, but you tell us there is a God?

The pastor was calm, however, and told me that God’s time would be coming. He encouraged me to continue listening to the stories, and that I would see God send a Savior and rain as well.

I have been a typical Moran who did not believe in God, so I challenged the pastor.”

Note from Ben:

In the Maasai tribe, a Moran is the top of the top. To become a Moran, you are sent to the bush for many months where you are trained as a soldier and given responsibilities to become the best of the best. In the bush, they are only given a knife and a staff which they must use to hunt for food as well as to protect themselves. One can only be regarded as a real Moran when you kill a lion single handedly (this has been stopped by the government). These men automatically become the kings of their clans.

“I told the pastor that if God sends us food in three days, then I would become a Christian. The pastor agreed to my challenge, and gave me some booklets to read during the three days.

I did not go to school, but I can read my own language which is Maasai.

I read in the booklets how God had saved the children of Israel from Egypt, how God gave Israel bread from heaven, and even water from a rock. I was ready to experience this if indeed it were true.

To my surprise, when I went to meet with the pastor to prove him wrong, I found bales of flour, packets of rice, cooking oil, and water to drink in the church office.

The pastor told me that God had sent the food from America to me and others in the village. (This was from the money that we sent to the Maasai).

I knelt down and gave my life to Christ that very day. I now believe that there is God. I took the food home to my home and shared it with my family. I also read the stories to my children.

I tell them that God is the real Moran because He provided when I could not. Thank you for the books that have taught me who a true Moran is.”

Keep praying for Maasai as we continue the translation of lessons 31-42.

“I have been one of the most notorious thieves, a bandit, and also a drug addict. Due to the influence of drugs, I have been fighting with my family for a long time until I could not control myself anymore. Even though my mother is elderly, I used to beat her as I was told to believe that women need to be beaten in order for them to behave. I have raped several women, and I know that the devil has been using me a lot.

One day, while I was at home, I heard a voice in a dream asking me if I was happy about the life I was living–a life of war, drinking, and raping women. This voice spoke to the worst part of my life which I did not want anyone to know. Although I did not even want to think about any of this, I had nothing to say, but kept quiet.

The next day, I heard the same voice but this time, it was more intense with a second question, ‘Do you know what will happen to your life if you die today?’ As a good Muslim, I answered without a second thought, ‘Heaven.’

‘How will you enter there?’ the voice persisted. At this, I was cornered and then I saw a bleeding hand, and the voice said, ‘I have given you a second chance.’

The following day, two gentlemen came with a lady. They were carrying booklets which they read to me. I was thinking that this had to do with my dream, but I chased them away anyway. Sadly, they left.

A week later, I felt so sick that I had to go to the hospital. At the hospital, I was told that I had malaria and was anemic.

Then, to my surprise, one of the nurses who came to treat me was one of the women who had previously reached out to me. After talking with me for a bit, she left and came back with the booklets.

Since then, I have been reading the booklets while in bed in the hospital. The nurse has become a good friend to me.

A few days ago, I read of one of the stories of Israel and realized that I was just like Israel. Sarah prayed with me and for me, that I would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, I am happy to be a believer. I am happy to see that my heart has changed. Pray for me that my Jesus would heal me, as my blood level is low, and I need a transfusion.

My mom came to the hospital and I asked her for forgiveness. I am happy. Thank you so much for the booklets.”

This testimony is from Kenya:

“My name is Mary Vugutza. I am a widow with three kids. My husband died when I was pregnant with my twins. I was only 28 years old when he died. I cried my heart out and almost lost hope in life.

My first born was only four years old when my husband died. I wondered who would help me raise my children, and at that time, I did not know that I would give birth to twins.

During the time of his funeral is when we had just started the chronological lessons in church. I was in so much pain for having lost my husband and was wondering who would save me from all the pain and responsibilities of being a single mother.

My only comfort would come when I was in class listening to the Bible stories. I felt like the Israelites in slavery. I needed a Savior. As the lessons proceeded, I began to understand my problem and the solution. My fear and pain came because I did not have any relationship with God even though I attended church. The solution was to give my life to the true Savior Jesus Christ.

I went to the labor ward before giving my life to Christ. As I was admitted, I asked my pastor to give me some lessons to read while I would be in the hospital. Then, I was told that I would not have a normal delivery, and that I must have an operation. I asked God that night to prove His power with me and that if I would not be operated on, but have a safe, normal delivery, I would give my life to Him and serve Him all of my life.

God is real. Immediately after I said ‘Amen’ to my prayer, the labor pains started. Even before I could sit up on the hospital bed to call a nurse, the water broke. As I was being taken to the operating room, I asked God again, ‘Where are you now?’

Then, I heard one of the nurses calling to the others to stop, for she could see the head of one of the babies coming out. Thus, I pushed with all might just at the entrance to the operating room and delivered my twins. No surgery, and I now have these very healthy kids.

I gave my life to Christ that very moment. My pains went away. I now have a job, and am taking care of my kids even though I miss my husband.

I am at peace because of what I learned from the booklets. These booklets saved me from collapsing and following my husband. I read the stories to my colleagues in the office, and I believe God will change them as He did to me. Thank you for these chronological Lessons!”

From a pastor with the PAG in Kenya:

“I have been ministering in the church for the past twenty years, and I have pastored various churches all over Kenya. Last year was my turning point in sharing the Word of God.

When we were called for the pastors’ conference, we were re-commissioned afresh and given booklets to use in our teachings. Lesson One seemed to me like a Sunday kids’ program, but because it was a command from above, I had to obey and follow the teachings lesson by lesson.

To my surprise, by the time we were in Lesson Five, the church showed more interest in the lessons. I started to take interest as a teacher to also learn from what I was teaching. By the time we were in Lesson Ten, I had now understood why the church was keen with the lessons. The lessons were simple with the very truths that I have been teaching, but using my theology and not the Bible.

The church began to grow. Most people who were home started coming back to church. I speak of a church that had 70 people, but we now have 230 members every Sunday.

These books I now call the ‘The 68 nuggets of life.’ I used to tell people to repent from sin, but I never gave them the history of sin from creation. They now know from the lessons. From the 68 lessons, there were 110 people who gave their lives to Christ and are now in church. These lessons have humbled me to know that the Word of God is God Himself. After every lesson I ask where I am in this.

We have started the book of Acts. I have made 300 copies now and am telling you that this is another eye opener. We are now learning who the Helper really is, God the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that God will bring more to the light of the truth through these books. I thank the mission for these. My pastoring now has a meaning to me and my congregation.”

From the Maasai: Most of the men in our village have been employed as guards after they lost most of their animals to the drought. They work daily, yet they are not respected because many cannot read. Here is a testimony from one of them.

“My name is Peteti and I have been working as a guard for years. My boss has never respected me because he knew that I could not read. Every time when I asked for a salary increase, he would just look at me and say I that don’t know how to read.

This hurt me very much and every day I prayed that God will come to my rescue. I went to church one day and the pastor introduced some Maasai booklets to us. As I am Maasai, I wanted to read them. I approached my pastor and he gave me one of the booklets.

I started to read and I understood all that was written. I couldn’t wait to show my boss that I could read. I took one of the booklets with me to my work. My boss would pass by and see me read, but he didn’t ask anything until he saw me with the second book.

He came to me and asked me what I was reading. I shared with him what I learned from the books about creation, the fall of man, and the love of God. He was shocked that I could tell him all that. I thank God that these booklets brought respect to me.

My boss has increased my salary. He now listens to me as I share the Bible stories with Him. These books are teaching me more about the Bible and I enjoy reading now.”

From the Maasai: “In our village we have had a lot of struggles with famine. We lost our cows when they were stolen, and we have had lots of pain for years. Every time we had an attack, we would meet and plan how to defend ourselves, but our secrets were always leaked. We did not know who was doing this.

Then we received something that brought us together as a village. We started to learn God’s word in our language.

As God through His Word had sent Noah to build an ark, God would send us a Savior who would set us free from everything. We prayed and God heard our prayers. It has rained and now we have planted and hoping to go forward.

During one of our meetings last year, one of us stood up in the meeting and said this

‘I do not want to be among those who rejected God and were washed away with the flood. I want to confess today. I have been behind all the robberies that have taken place in our village. I stole the animals and sold them in our neighboring village. Today I surrender to God. I have kept some of the money in my house. I will give it to the leader of the village, but please forgive me for the pain I caused.’

The booklets have made our village peaceful. We thank our pastor for this and now everyone enjoys reading the bible stories. No More fear!”

Working in northern Kenya and South Sudan:

“I write this to you with great hope and trust you are well in the Lord. It is with great joy that I write to you. We have had testimonies of the Lord’s working in all of the areas where we have taught the chronological lessons.

In the Kot area, South Sudan, thirty souls have come to believe in Christ. Five entire families have been transformed through these lessons. In the Leer area, South Sudan, after going through the lessons, there have been twelve rebels who have surrendered their souls to Christ, and surrendered their weapons to the authorities. Several Muslims have come to the knowledge of the truth.

I believe that the Lord would have us to go to new areas further north. We are planning for training in the Tondiak and Bentiu areas, which are mostly Islamic, as well as further south in the Bulbuong and Nasir areas.

We need your help with booklets. Please, one of our brothers is coming to Nairobi this month. Could you kindly prepare for us 500 copies of Arabic Arabic (lessons 1-20) and 500 copies of Nuer (lessons 1-20). Kindly confirm if it’s possible so that we might arrange for the transportation of the books. Help us to reach out more with the truth.”