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
A Study on Prayer with the Young Man 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.
August 4, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are already in the month of August. This year seems to be passing so fast, and what a reminder to use wisely the opportunities that God gives us to serve Him. This update will share current ministry updates, as well as prayer requests.
One prayer request I (Nathan) have is for safety on the roads as I travel out to the village of Rafiki. I have been training a younger Kenyan man in his village area of Rafiki, which is on the outskirts of Kitale. How can you pray for safety while traveling?
The road is not dangerous, not at all. Just challenging to navigate at times. Many times the roads can be in a bad condition, especially after a hard rain. What happens is the road is mud, and when it rains, many different vehicles pass over the road, creating large potholes and ruts all over. The mud then dries, and the potholes and ruts remain. It is a challenge to drive in the early morning, but this is the time I need to leave for the young man I am training in the Word of God. I try to leave earlier in the mornings now, to allow more time to avoid the potholes along the road. Sometimes it rains hard in Rafiki and it has not rained much in Kitale, so there are challenges. I am thankful for the safety I have had so far, as I go very slow and carefully. There is a great view of Mount Elgon along the way to Rafiki. The mountain surrounds Kitale and to see it in the mornings with the clouds surrounding it is truly majestic. The peak stands at over 14,000 feet. God’s creation is amazing.
We have gone through many lessons together, and a recent one was on the subject of prayer. We saw in the lesson on prayer, our need to pray for several reasons: To praise God for Who He is, to pray for others, not just ourselves, and to not give up/faint when we pray. To trust God to give the answer in His timing and plan. Of course, there are many other reasons to pray, but this was a small part of the lesson we studied together. I like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which says “Pray without ceasing.”
Please pray for us as we continue along. Please pray for him to depend on God and rely on Him.
I will keep you updated on the progress of this ministry, and the training that is continuing from the Word of God. How I need to pray faithfully and rely on God each step of the way. The work is His, and I commit it to Him. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” What a great promise.
We thank each of you for your prayers, interest, and sacrificial giving. Each of you are a blessing to us, and we thank God for you.
Until next month,
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
Continued Discipleship of Young Man 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.
July 2, 2018
Dear praying friends,
We hope this finds each of you doing well and we appreciate each of you so much. God is so good, from the blessings He allows us to have, to His protection, His leading, and His guidance. We are so thankful to each of you and ask that you would please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Last month, I (Nathan) shared about the new immigration process that requires missionaries and other foreigners in the country to get their documents verified in Nairobi, the capital city. We are so grateful that the documentation verification was successful, although challenging. There were reports of huge, long lines very early in the morning, and that it was best to get there very early. A friend of ours had stood in line for seven hours waiting, so this was definitely a challenge. God was good and the verification was successful. Please pray for others that are either in the process, or have not been able to get theirs processed yet. God is in control of all these things and we trust Him. He is so faithful. A verse I like is 2 Timothy 2:13, which says “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny himself.” What a precious promise from the Word of God.
Please pray for me, as I (Nathan) am continuing with the discipleship program with a younger Kenyan man in the Rafiki village. The roads out to his village have definitely gotten worse, so I leave earlier now in the mornings to get there, allowing time to go slower to avoid as many potholes as I can. I always leave when it is light outside, but sometimes there is a fog that hovers over the road, so I go slow, with my light on, etc. I would appreciate prayer for safety on the roads as I travel there to his village. We have covered many teachings in the Word of God, and I pray that he continues to grow spiritually and have a desire to reach others. Please pray for him, and myself, as we continue along studying the Word of God.
In sorrowful news, earlier in June, there was a plane crash within Kenya in a forest area. It was a smaller plane, but 10 occupants tragically passed away from their injuries. Plane travel is generally very safe and low risk, so there are many inquiries and investigations into what happened. Please pray for all affected in this tragedy.
We are so thankful to each of you for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. You are each such a blessing to us and we appreciate your mindfulness of missions around the world. Have a great upcoming 4th of July holiday with friends and family.
Blessings,
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
Heading to Nairobi for Work Permit Requirement
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.
May 29, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now nearly halfway through 2018. We thank the Lord for all His blessings, His goodness, and His care over us. What a mighty God we serve. This update will give ministry progress as well as prayer requests.
One big prayer request we currently have is in regard to our work permits. Both my wife and I are valid and have current work permits. However, there was a recent development that requires all current permit holders to go to Nairobi and provide current documentation to be entered into a new paperless system. From what we understand, there are around 34,000 foreigners in the country that are required to do this, including my wife and I. As of now, there is only one place in Nairobi that will do this, and from what we have heard, the lines are incredibly long. We have a friend who waited in line for seven hours before finally completing the process. Please pray for us this week, as we travel to Nairobi and seek to get this done. God has a purpose in everything, even in this, and we trust Him.
I (Nathan) am continuing in the discipleship lessons with a younger Kenyan man in the village of Rafiki. We have covered many lessons and I appreciate his interest in the Word of God and following and obeying it. There is still much to teach in the days ahead, so please pray for me as I prepare myself to teach, for the Word of God to lead and guide us as we study, and for the Lord’s leading in this ministry. I am trusting God each step of the way, and desire to go to village areas, teach in the Swahili language, train younger Kenyan men who the Lord would raise up, and trust God for the results. God is in control of all these things and I trust Him. Psalm 37:5 says “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” I am trusting God and committing all to Him.
The family is doing well. Our girls are now out of school for a break and will be homeschooling with my wife to keep them up with American standards. She is a great teacher and will teach them many important subjects. Please pray for this time, and for our daughters, that much will be accomplished and they will learn much.
God bless each of you and we thank the Lord for your interest in missions in Kenya, East Africa. To God be the glory for everything, as He deserves all praise.
Until next month,
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
Discipling a Young Man 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.
May 4, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now nearly halfway through 2018. Time truly passes so fast, and may we use the opportunities the Lord gives us to serve Him faithfully. This update will share current prayer requests, as well as family news.
In regards to health, I (Nathan) recently had to have some moles removed after being seen by a dermatologist. There is a decent hospital about an hour and a half away from Kitale, for which I am very thankful. There is a history of melanoma (skin cancer) in the family, so it is wise to be seen and have moles removed when necessary. I am healing well and would ask that you would please pray for me, as the sun is very hot here, and I do my best to wear good sun screen and protect myself. Please pray not only for me, but also for the entire family with any possible health issues. The doctor does not seem concerned and I trust Him for the results. It is all about trusting God, using wisdom, and relying on Him day by day here, with everything. He is so faithful.
The girls are now back in school after a month off. This was a great month for my wife, as she could homeschool them and get them caught up in various subjects. It has been difficult to try to figure out the system of a Kenyan school and the best ways to help the girls keep up with American standards, but we are starting to get the hang of it. We really feel our daughters need socialization with other kids their age and some of the experiences a school offers, especially for learning some independence and gaining friendships in this culture. While it has been difficult to find the right balance, we have prayed and sought wisdom from others and feel the girls should continue to attend the school as much as possible. Please pray for them, for socialization, and for adapting well to the culture here. They have done well so far, and we continue to pray.
I (Nathan) have started a discipleship course with a younger Kenyan man in Rafiki, a nearby village. It is about half an hour from where we live on windy, dusty (or muddy, depending on the season), pot hole ridden roads. So far, I have been able to proceed well through the teachings and ask that you would continue to pray for our time together. As I have shared before, this term I really desire to go out to village areas, off the beaten path, to use the Swahili language, and train younger, qualified Kenyan men God would raise up. I know that God is in control and trust Him each step of the way. After building a foundation with at discipleship course, the next goal would be to train the man in church planting. I recognize there will be men who will not work out for one reason or the other, but I desire to be faithful, give it my all, and trust God for the results. I would greatly appreciate your prayers and for the Lord’s help each step of the way. I am reminded of verses such as Luke 1:37, which says “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Also, Ephesians 3:20, which says, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Anything is possible with God, and I thank Him for that.
Please pray for us in regards to travel safety around Kitale. It is now rainy season and the roads are becoming very muddy and slippery. Large trucks drive on our road, which causes large ruts and potholes to form, making it a challenge to drive. God is in control of all things, even our going out and coming in. He is so faithful.
Blessings to you and we appreciate you,
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
Pursuing a New Plan for Church Planting
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.
April 3, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and there is much to update you on. We thank the Lord for each one of you, who either prays for us, sends us encouraging correspondence, or gives sacrificially to the work of the Lord here in Kenya. You are each a great blessing to us.
Our daughters (McKenna and Camille) are now on break from school in Kitale. God was so good to provide a good school for them to go to, where they can get much needed socialization, as well as try to develop some independence and make some decisions on their own. Now, they are on break and my wife has the opportunity to home school them on the side. Please pray for this time, as this is the time my wife wants to invest in and teach our daughters. They will be getting much needed teachings and we know the Lord will bless their time together.
The hospital ministry is continuing along well. We thank the Lord that He has kept the door of ministry open for my wife to reach the mothers and children with Biblical materials as well as much needed clothing supplies. Many of the mothers and children are very needy and we do our best to reach them and encourage them. We feel that these children are very near to the heart of God. Many of them come from very challenging situations and need to be shown care and love. Psalm 82:3 says “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” This is a very challenging verse and please pray for my wife as she continues in this ministry.
After much prayer and seeking the Lord’s will in regards to church planting here, I (Nathan) have decided on a way of pursuing this ministry. I am seeking to train qualified national men (preferably younger) in their homes, trusting God to raise these men up in His plan and timing, then teaching these men to go to their immediate village they live in and reach their neighbors with the Word and the Gospel message. The goal is for the men that are trained to start groups in their homes that would develop into churches over time.
I desire to go outside of town into remote village areas, teaching the men in the Swahili language. This is a big challenge for me, as Swahili is difficult, however, I feel as much as possible it is beneficial to get the teachings into the language of the people. I am in active pursuit of this at this time and would pray that you would pray for me, that God would raise up the right men who truly want to serve the Lord. There are many challenges here, as I have mentioned before, so it is not easy. I will probably go through several men before finding the right man to train. I also would ask you to pray that God would open and close the doors that He wants me to pursue. Matthew 10:14 says “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Please pray for me as I seek to be led by the Lord in these endeavors and trust Him each step of the way. Church planting is difficult here and there are many challenges, but God is able and I trust Him. I would greatly appreciate your prayers at this time for wisdom for who to work with, and where to pursue opportunities.
We appreciate each of you so much and thank the Lord for you. Please keep us in prayer as we remember you as well.
Blessings,
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
Praying God would Raise Up Godly Kenyan Men
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.
February 28, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and there is much to report. We appreciate each of you so much, for your interest in missions, and the love and encouragement you provide as we serve here in Kitale, Kenya. It is a privilege to serve the Lord. God is so good and it is a joy to serve Him.
This past month, my wife’s sister Jenna came to visit us here in Kitale. We are now in the final days of her time with us, and she has been a joy and blessing to us. Please pray for her and her trip back to America in the next few days. She has enjoyed her time here in Kitale and adjusted very well to life here. Please also pray for her to remain healthy upon her return to America.
Our daughter Camille turned 7 years old this past month and it was so nice to have a little birthday party for her, both at school and with other missionary friends. What a joy she is to our family and we thank the Lord for her. She has made many friends while at school in Kitale, and we are so thankful for this. Please pray for both Camille and McKenna and their continued progress of making friends and getting much needed socialization. The school has been such a blessing for them.
I (Nathan) have been working on my work permit renewal, which is now in process in the capital city of Nairobi. You have to renew it every two to three years, and this time has come. Please pray if it would be the Lord’s will, that it would be renewed without any problem. Of course, we trust the Lord to lead and guide us, and have peace knowing He is in control of all things. We thank the Lord for the renewal of my wife’s work permit recently.
I (Nathan) have been working hard translating Bible teachings from English to Kiswahili, the language of Kenya. Kiswahili is not easy and takes a lot of work. It is easy to forget words periodically, and also difficult to follow a Kiswahili translation. Please pray for me as I continue translating the materials into the Kenyan language. It is a huge project, but one that I feel needs to be done at this time.
Please pray also for the Lord to raise up godly Kenyan men who would desire to be trained and start churches in their respective villages. It all depends on the Lord’s will and His timing. I am reminded of the verse in James 4:15, which says “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” How true.
May God continue to bless each of you for your heart for missions. We appreciate each of you so much.
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
Praying for God to Raise Up Faithful Men
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.
February 2, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and it is now time to give an update on life in Kenya, East Africa. We appreciate each of you so much and the cards, emails, and any other encouragements that you give. It means a lot to us, more than you will ever know.
Please continue to pray for our daughters, McKenna and Camille. They are both going to a Christian school here in Kitale which opened a little over a year ago. This is such an answer to prayer, as this gives them the much-needed social interactions with other kids their age, as well as many different activities. This past month, the school brought in a golf teacher to teach them some golf skills. They will also be able to participate in an art club. Please continue to pray for our daughters as well as the other children that attend, and the staff there.
We are excited to welcome my wife’s sister Jenna to Kenya in a couple of weeks. This will be her third trip to Kenya and we will love having her. It is always nice to have visitors, so please pray for her trip and the time she will have with us. As many of you know, leaving family is one of the major challenges of missions and homesickness sets in. We are very thankful for this opportunity to get to spend some time with her and for my wife to get to visit with her sister.
Concerning church planting, as many of you know, there are big challenges here, especially with the dependency in the culture. I (Nathan) have been praying over it and seeking Godly counsel and advisement. At this time I feel led to try to go to a village area around Kitale, seeking to train men to start ministries in their homes. Please pray for these endeavors, and that God would raise up the right men for the training. I plan to do it in Swahili, the language of Kenya, so this will be a big challenge, but this is how I feel led at this time. I think of the verse in 2 Timothy 2:2, which says “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” One of the key parts of this verse is “faithful men.” Please pray that God would raise up “faithful men” to be trained in the Word of God, discipled, then Lord willing, to start churches that glorify Him.
We will keep you updated. We appreciate each of you so much and thank the Lord for you. You are each a great blessing to us.
Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya, East Africa
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
