Letter to the Brethren: June 11, 2020

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities in California.

Because of the wrongful killing of George Floyd there have been protests and, in some areas, rioting.

The local Chamber of Commerce, after consultation with the local police, was warning businesses in Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach to remove anything that protesters may use as projectiles or to light fires for a protest planned for late Friday afternoon. The protest was on the same street as our office, but about six blocks away. Various businesses boarded themselves up as that was recommended. Some people stayed guard outside their places of business. We closed our shades, removed computers, took other steps, and I prayed.

This region does not have a reputation for police violence against black Americans. While there are a lot of Hispanics in this area, the region does not have many black Americans.

When driving home Friday, I first saw a lot of pickup trucks with large US flags on the side of the main street (Grand Avenue) and then ended up driving past the protesters who were loud. I suspect the people with the flags and pickup trucks were opposing the protesters, but did not witness any confrontations. Most of the protesters were white as were those who may have been their opponents (who were not loud).

Shortly after I drove past, the police decided to allow the protesters to block one of the busiest intersections in this area for about nine minutes.

Protesters are taking 8 mins & 46 seconds of silence for #GeorgeFloyd – police have the intersection blocked off for them in both directions on oak park and on east grand & west grand pic.twitter.com/pFTiCnHkxN

— Alexa Bertola (@Alexa_Bertola) June 6, 2020

No violence or looting was noted. However, the local press reported that there were hundreds of protesters and that “armed men stood on business rooftops.” Whether armed non-police were a factor in the lack of violence or looting is not clear.

That being said, my own experience with the actual Grover Beach police has been positive (essentially they come out if the office security alarm goes off and I have seen them being kind to homeless people). But, if there was to be widespread mayhem of hundreds or more protesters, they likely would not be able to protect businesses or other property.

Anyway, when we came back to the office on Monday, we put our computers and some other selected items back.

We hope and pray that if you live in the USA you have been safe during this time of protests (we have not received reports of loss or violence from any of our USA supporters, so we presume all have been safe).

Mau Visit

Pastor Tiongik Sawek mentioned last week that he was planning on visiting the Mau region of Kenya. He did and sent the following reports and photos:

Receive greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. We begin our sabbath at 9.00 a.m at Mau. We had representatives from four local churches. They also follow the government directives for not crowding in a meeting. We converged nearby the church building in which they usually converge during the general sabbath. We decided to do our sabbath there because it was accessible compared to other places. I was warmly welcomed to share a word with them . We learned various words as seen in the book of Acts 14:21-23. I proceed in teaching them in the book of James 1:12. I also mention a word in the book Job 1:1, 2:1. and also in Mathew 24:1-14. I also encouraged them in the book of Amos 8:11-13. They were thirsty for words. I will give more reports tomorrow. The sabbath ended at 4P.M because we share a lot. They really miss one another as brethrens I came back today from Mau.

{The above} are photos I took while in Mau. God bless you.
Regards,
Pastor Sawek

Receive greetings in Jesus Christ. I reached Mau on Friday well though there were challenges on the road. The main roads were impassable due to insecurity there. I had to travel using different routes using public means and thereafter walking through different routes because even bikes will not pass there. I thank God because He make everything  possible. The commissioner was waiting for our decision concerning the end of these disputes they have encountered for several years between the communities. I was among the committee leaders who represented the church. We reached out on a solution after talking for some hours. One of the agreement we reached was that every individual must surrender any harmful weapons. The process of surrendering the weapons started when i was there. The other solutions was to appoint the chief in a community that is lacking one.This will enable them to solve any problem encountered by the people. Mathew 5:9

Concerning church, the brethrens are going on well though they face challenges.Some of them were sent out their homes while others were displaced by landslides due to heavy rains and they lost their crops and food in their farms. They are now planning on how they will re-plant their crops. Some of them does not have food since the crops in their farms were destroyed by floods. They requested for my next visit because i was not able to reach to all local churches. I thank you for your support. I will send some few photos from mau. 2 Timothy 4:5-16. God bless you.

Regards,

Pastor Sawek

Yes, many do wish to hear the true word and people like Pastor Sawek are traveling to provide it.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world. (Romans 10:14-18)

And the ends of the world include places like Mau in Kenya.

Malawi

Deacon Radson Mulozowa sent the following photograph:

This is a field being irrigated by the pump we sent funds to pay for a few months back. He has also asked for some funds for fertilizer and feed for the chickens in the egg project, which we provided. We hope this will allow the brethren to grow more of their own food.