The BIG Meal comes to Kenya and Tanzania:

Mission International's Kenya partners People For Jesus International Ministries have worked hard approaching Christmas to bring the annual BIG meal to venues around Narok in Kenya amongst the Maasai people and to the Mang'ati people in Morogoro in Tanzania.   The BIG meal is designed to bring a special celebration to poor children in poverty stricken areas of the world on Christmas day.   The children are served by church members and are told the Christmas story detailing God's great love in sending Jesus Christ, as they eat and during and enjoy their day together.

We hope to add some photos of the BIG meal in Morogoro Tanzania soon.

Pastor Tom visits Tanzania:

Pastor Tom Opiyo of people for Jesus International Ministries has recently visited the MANG'ATI people near Morogoro in Tanzania.   The church plant is in need of a lot of support since it is in a remote situation and amongst a people who have little or no resources and funding.

Pastor Tom teaches new believers during his mission to the Mang'ati

 It is clear that they are a traditional people who have not been touched 

by the modern complexities of the 21st century.

Young people who receive an education are very fortunate, however the resources are 

so limited making it difficult for the community to move forward.

Mission Team to Narok:

A 12 strong Mission International team has just returned from Narok Kenya where they served with partners People For Jesus International Ministries amongst the Maasai people.   The picture below shows the team standing next to a recently delivered consignment of timber to be used in the construction of homes, latrines and a church building.  This was in addition to a water storage facility erected by the team to provide clean, safe water to the village, providing water to around 2000 people.

The picture shows the two 10,000 litre water tanks now in place.   After this photo was taken a high barbed wire fence was also erected to protect the tanks from wild animals which roam the area.   As the team was in the process of getting the tanks put in place a herd of about 60 zebra passed by about 15 metres away totally ignoring our activities in search of quiet pasture.

The team members were given the rare opportunity to visit Maasai homes and were able to share the Gospel and other encouraging words with the families in the community.

Maasai men spend their day looking after cattle, sheep and goats.   This Maasai man was the head of his village and asked if we would take his photo, a rare request since visitors and tourists have often times abused the friendships they make with the Maasai.

The team took the opportunity of visiting the Maasai mara game reserve where they saw countless animals from Wildebeest to a Cheetah.   These hippo were viewed from the river bank.   Crocodiles were also present.   It was remarkable the numbers of animals present for the team to see.

The BIG Meal feeds over 400 people in Narok!

Narok gets The BIG Meal

Narok in Kenya received the BIG Meal for the very first time on Christmas Day 2009.   300 kids and 100 adults came together after People For Jesus Ministries planned, prepared and distributed the food having receiving a small grant from Mission International.   "This is the first time an event like this has ever taken place in Narok" says Pastor Tom Opiyo, who with his wife and family serve God in this part of the Maasai Mara.   The people in the area could not believe that this was to be funded by the church and that God would allow them to come together in such a way on this very special day, Christmas Day.

A special event in every way.

The Narok church left nothing to chance, they were determined everyone who came would have a very special day.   The church had arranged for someone (a local Pastor) to tell the Christmas story to the gathered crowd of children and adults.   Many who heard of God's love, and who experienced it first hand as they ate, wanted to come to know this Jesus told of in the related story.      

Fun and laughter included

Children also did dramas and told stories of how people should live if they want to please God.   There were some serious messages as well as comedy and laughter, singing and of course lots of eating.   

Two Centres:

People For Jesus Ministries in Narok runs two churches, one in the town of Narok itself and another out in the village area amongst the Maasai people.   The same BIG Meal special day was held in both centre much to the appreciation of all concerned.

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