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Threads Of Hope 2002 for Shepards, Widows & Orphans In Kenya, Rwanda,
Uganda Four years ago God gave us a vision to meet the needs of widows, orphans and pastors particularly in third world countries. We have recently returned from Africa - Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda - to minister to these needs, only possible through your faithful obedience to serve the Lord by being a partner to our efforts. This was our fourth trip to Kenya and our first to Rwanda and Uganda. In each country
we had the opportunity to minsiter at orphanages and to participate in pastor's conferences. Our first stop was
in Kenya for one and a half weeks, then on to Rwanda for one week. concluding our trip with a final week in Uganda. While in Kenya, our first agenda was to purchase pedal sewing machines from
Singer, arrange for a van to transport them and then negotiate to buy a Suzuki motorcycle for a Maasai Pastor, with funds
provided by Jan McCray ministries. We bought the Suzuki, removed seats from our rented van and loaded it along with
sewing machines and supplies for the Maasai in Nalkarra a half-day drive into the wilderness of Maasailand, where we presented
it to Pastor Samuel Koshi, who travels far and wide to remote bush villages spreading the Gospel to unreached. He was
thrilled with this unexpected blessing form the Lord, which will enable hime to cover more ground, changing lives. After
visiting with the pastors at Nairobi Pentecostal Church (where we made plans to return next year with a medical team) we traveled
to the Nairobi Pentecostal Children's Centre Orphanage and delivered two more new pedal sewing machines and electirc
motors (soon they will have electricity.) We brought them machines two years ago and now they have twelve for their
school. We also donated left materials, Magic-fit pattern video instructrions, tools and supplies for making garments.
Pastor Joseph and his wife and staff want you all to know how grateful they are to recive such a gift. We're helping to
accomplish their vision to become a slef-sufficient facility while teaching 130 children to become productive citizens when
they leave the orphanage at age 18. They are being trained in sewing, furniture making, and auto mechanics, gardening
and cooking. Currently, many girls experience long waits to use sewing machins and more are definitely needed. They
hope to increase their sewing machines to 30 so they can produce enough to help support the orphanage. They are worthy
and able workers, anxious to become self sufficient. We can help by providing these machins and further training.
The cost of each machine in Nairobi $102.00 per unit, plus transportation to deliver them (about $200.00). For a total
of $2036.00, their sewing room can be finished! If you
would like to parner with us on this project please email us at algail@aol.com or call us 727-796-0128. During our fifth trip to our Maasai friends at Naikurra we participated
in a Pastor's Conference attended by 250 Maasai leaders who traveled hundreds of miles to get there. Al addressed
the leaders with a message of encouragement from Hagai 1:13 and was the main speaker at the Sunday morning church service,
where Gail addressed the congregation also. We donated
more sewing machines to pastors and widows and followed up with a visit to the mud huts of Agnes and Priscilla, two widows
who have been using the sewing machines we gave them two years ago. They are now using those machines to sew Kanga's
for Maasai women, which they sell in the market. A highlight was a Massai friend David, who finally accepted the Lord!
Although a family of believers surrounds him, Dave said he was not going to church because he did not understand Christianity.
Al talked to him about relationships, gave an example of how he and Al always exchanged gifts during previous visits, how
they spent time together, became friends and developed a trust. Al asked David if he gave him a gift and Al gave it
back, how would he feel. David said - "sad". Then, Al asked him if God gave him a gift and he refused
how would God feel. David said - "God sad". When David heard salvation was a "Gift", his eyes
opended wide, he said - "pray for me. I want Jesus." David can not read, but is willing to let
one of the Massai Pastors teach him the Bible and he has promised to attend church so he will grow in his faith. Halleluiah! After ten days in Kenya, we flew to Uganda and met the team from New Wine
Church, New Orleans, at the airport. We flew that PM to Rwanda. (After negativity with officials to release our baggage,
our passports and return tickets.) Rwanda and the people were wonderful. We spent the week ministering at Pastor's conference;
Gail to the woman, Al to the men. There were approximately 300 pastors, mostly from Rwanda; however, some were from
Congo, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya. The Restoration Church has done an enormous and wonderful job building churches
and orphanages. Led by Pastor Leo, they are very industrious people and eager to receive help to raise themselves up
and not just receive a hand out. They yearn for education and valued our input. They are very grateful for our coming
and pray for our return. Al and Gail met with Mary Faulkner, founder of Leah's Sisters Ministry. God
has granted her great favor with the Rwandian Government. They gave her 50 acres of prime property to build a school for the
women of Rwanda to learn a vocation, sewing hairdressing and computers. Here is where the twenty-one sewing machines
we shipped will be put to work. In Rwanda, 70% of the population is women, 50% of that number are widows and 89% are
infected with the AIDS virus. The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news
to the poor, He has sent me to bind up the borken hearted...to comfort all who mourn and provide for all those who grieve-to
bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" Isaiah
61:17 Gail's heart was touched deeply when she addressed the pastor's wives and women leaders at the conference.
Most of the woman had witnessed the killing of husbands, children and parents in the horrible Genocide of 1994. Some of them
were raped. All of them carried deep emotional wounds. With hearts breaking and tears flowing, they were
encouraged to let their feelings surface, talk about their experiences and let Jesus pour His healing balm over their wounded
souls. Gail taught about forgiveness and how God will use their testimony to minister His love to others. She
prayed for them and by the end of the conference the woman were laughing joyfully as they learned some Hebrew words and songs! Our
final destination in Rwanda was to spend the day at the orphanage founded by Lovie & Syvelle Phillips. We were blessed
to meet the 9-year-old girl we are sponsoring and shower her with gifts, hugs and love. Upon first meeting Nigiye she was
timid and wary of our motives in singling her out. Her father was killed in the genocide and it was hard for her to
trust strangers. Once she realized that we were there to bless and not harm her, her countenance visibly changed as
she enthusiastically returned our hugs and smiles. We fell in love with the people of Rwanda. We see the love of God
moving greatly here. Located near the heart of Africa, We believe this nation will emerge as a great light to further
the Gospel in Africa. The next week we spent in Uganda. The conference was a near repeat of the last.
Of course, the people were of a different culture. Ron and Shirley Devore Ministries hosted us. They have lived
16 years as missionaries in Uganda. We all stayed at their guest home they built two years ago to host teams.
They have a large Bible College under construction. Again, we ministered to approximately 250 pastors, their wives and
children. By now, we long since bonded with the team from Louisiana and the momentum is like a Holy Ghost train.
Up and down the mountain each day to bring the Word to those attending the Conferences. This part of our trip
was to participate at the conference and for Al to plant seeds for Threads of Hope, which happended near the end of the week.
One of the leaders under Ron Devore Ministries received the manuals, training videos and funds to buy two machines and
supplies. Al has been sick with a persistent hacking couph that began in Africa and has hung on for the last several weeks.
Please pray for healing for him as he is exhausted all the time. Thank you for allowing us to be your ambassadors
to Africa. Together, we sowed Threads of Hope! In His
Service and love, Al & Gail Barrett
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