Missionary Update: The Radfords

 

Nathan, Carrie and McKenna Radford

Dear praying friends,

 

Another month has come and gone, and we are now at the end of the year 2011. We are now back in Kenya, and specifically, in Kitale. We appreciate so much each one who prayed for our safety as we traveled back to Kenya. We had a long trip back to Kenya, and our daughters did very well with the traveling, given the distance, time changes, etc. It was hard to say goodbye to friends and family that we love, and please know that each of you are so special to us and we love to hear from you. Life on the mission field has many challenges, and your prayers, encouragement, and friendships mean so much to us. We would ask for your continued prayers, as we are adjusting back to Kenya and life here.

 

We would ask for your continued prayers for us in many ways this upcoming term. We would ask you to please pray for our health, as it is a daily struggle to stay healthy. Also, for safety traveling, for good friendships with others, and for the Lord to lead and guide us. We want to be where He wants us to be. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 32:8, which says “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” What a tremendous verse of encouragement this is from the Word of God. We would covet your prayers in the above areas.

 

Also, please pray for our visitors who will be coming in the next few days from the States. Please pray for safety as they travel, for good ministry opportunities as they are here, and that we would be a blessing to them, as well as the people of Kenya. We are so looking forward to their arrival and would ask you to pray for our time as we serve the Lord together in Kitale.

 

Please also pray for the ministries that the Lord has for us here in Kitale. Please pray for my wife, as she plans to continue serving in the district hospital, for the annex prison ministry, and for church planting this term with my friend and partner, Mr. Roger Tate. We are excited to see what the Lord will do, and are excited to be part of His work here in Kenya. There is so much work to be done for the Lord, and we must pray that the Lord would send laborers into His harvest field. Matthew 9:36-38 states “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” What challenging verses these are, and a reminder for us to be involved in the harvest, whether through praying, giving, or going.

 

We will be sure to keep you updated. Thanks so much to each one of you for your prayers, interest, support, and encouragement. You all mean so much to us, and we thank God for you. Please note our new mailing address.

Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford

 

 

Missionary Update: The Radfords

Dear praying friends,
We hope this update finds you all doing well in service for our Lord in the United States. We cannot believe that we are already in the year 2009, but we desire to use our time wisely for the Lord and be good stewards of the resources He has given us for His work here in Kenya. Our lives are short in comparison with eternity and may we each make the best use of the opportunities that the Lord gives us to serve Him. James 4:14 states “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” This update will share current ministries as well as prayer requests.

The prison ministry at Annex prison is going well. As I said in an earlier prayer letter, the Annex is a totally new section of the prison where I not had a long term ministry. I thank the Lord for the chaplains at the Annex who have welcomed me and done a very good job facilitating all the needs to be done for the ministry to grow and progress. Also, the prisoners have been coming faithfully and many of them seem to having substantial growth spiritually, so we thank the Lord for that. I can truly see a desire in their lives for the Word of God, which is very encouraging. 1 Peter 2:2 says “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Please continue to pray for each of the prisoners, even the ones who are coming to the outside prison ministry, that the Lord would continue to work in their hearts and lives and that they would produce much spiritual fruit. We will inform you of any further needs in this ministry in the future, Lord willing.

I have also been learning much through the church ministries here in Kitale, which I thank the Lord for. I went to the Bible Institute at Bethel Baptist Church of Kitale last week and had a great time with missionary Roger Tate and the various pastors of the churches. We studied so much together, this past week focusing on the practice of the church. Together we looked at and discussed how the church is to relate to the world, the practice of church body life(fellowship/edification/worship), family ministry within the church, meeting the various needs of church members, giving and stewardship, etc. I have greatly enjoyed this time of meeting together and studying the Word of God. Proverbs 4:13 states “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” I have also enjoyed going on church visitation and getting to know the people better. Please pray for the churches in Kitale, for their spiritual growth, and that we would
be a blessing to the people of Kitale, Kenya.

Our family continues to do well. McKenna is growing rapidly and developing quickly. She is to begin crawling soon, which is a developmental milestone. She did get malaria a few weeks ago, but we thank the Lord that we had the best medicine available and that she made a quick recovery. Malaria is common in Kenya, and can be serious if untreated, but we are so grateful that good medicine is available here in Kitale. Our health in Kenya is a prayer request, and we thank each of you so much for praying for us. To those who pray for us, we thank the Lord for you and ask you to continue to pray for us and the challenges we face on the mission field. In closing, we also wanted to thank Carrie’s younger sister Jenna for coming to visit us here in Kenya last month. We greatly enjoyed her company and showing her the ministries here in Kitale. We also wish to extend an invitation to others who would like to come and personally see what the Lord is doing in a different part of the world. May God bless each of you.

Nathan, Carrie, & McKenna Radford
Kitale, Kenya, East Africa
naterad [at] yahoo.com

Missionary Update: The Radfords in Kenya

Dear praying friends,              January 6, 2009

We hope this update finds you each doing well and busy in service for our Lord. It is hard to believe that 2008 has come and gone. May we truly make the best use of the time that God gives us, and be good stewards of the ministry opportunities that God provides. This update will share current ministry opportunities as well as prayer requests.

This past month, we did a lot of praying in regards to the ministries in Kenya. We truly believe that God will lead and guide His people when they seek His direction. Psalm 48:14 says “For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.”

We thank the Lord that we now have another ministry opportunity in Kitale Main Prison. There is a section of the prison called Annex prison, which currently has around 90 prisoners, but has a capacity for 150. I have previously desired to have a ministry in this section of the prison, but have been waiting on the Lord to show me if this is an avenue to pursue. Psalm 62:5 states “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.” There is currently an opportunity to extend the ministry to this area of the prison where I have previously had no ministry. Please pray for me this month, as this ministry begins. I will be sure to update you often on the progress and needs of this ministry.  Also, I have recently opened an extension of the prison ministry to those prisoners who were in the
training but were released before finishing. Many of the prisoners have asked me to consider an outside prison ministry for those who have been released, and we have now been doing this ministry for a few weeks.  Those who have been attending are faithful in the churches and have a real desire to continue to learn and serve the Lord. Also, the pastor of the church where this ministry is held is very supportive and feels that many of these men have potential for further ministry opportunities as the Lord leads them.

Attached is a photo of myself and a former prisoner whose name I cannot mention for confidentiality reasons. He assisted me in the ministry since 2002 and was recently released. Please pray for each of the prisoners, for the Annex prison opportunity, and the outside prison ministry. Please also pray for them to be encouraged and continue to grow in the Lord.

Finally, the Lord has opened more opportunities for me to be involved in the churches here in Kitale. I have been able to go on church visitation, attend pastoral leadership meetings, and also attend the Bible Institute within the church. I am very thankful for these opportunities within the churches and am asking the Lord for even further opportunities. In closing, please be in prayer for our family and our health. Malaria and other diseases are concerns, but we know the Lord will protect us and keep us safe. God bless you and thank you so much for your interest in the
ministries in Kitale, Kenya.

In Kenya,
Nathan, Carrie, and McKenna Radford  

Contact Information
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya              
East Africa 30200             
email:naterad [at] yahoo.com

Mission Update: The Radfords

Dear praying friends,

Another month has come and passed, and we thank the Lord for His many blessings to us. God has been so good to us, and we need to remember Him each day for the blessings He brings. This update will share current prayer requests as well as plans for our return to Kenya, Lord willing.

Philippians 1:3-4 states “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy…” As Paul thanked the brethren in his day, we thank each of you and are so thankful to each of you who either prays for, supports, or visits the ministries in Kenya. We truly could not do our work without your help.

Lord willing, we plan to return to Kenya September 25th. We still need around $75-100 a month and are praying and trusting the Lord for these needs.  Please pray for us, that we would be faithful, and also adjust well to the many changes culturally that are before us. Taking a four month old baby is a daunting task, so we ask for your prayers, that McKenna would adjust well and that we would have wisdom in helping her through the process.

I would like to finish the prayer letter with an abbreviated story as an encouragement to all missionaries. Matthew 19:29 states “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and was returning to New York to retire.  They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President’s entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. The old missionary said to his wife, “Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us?” No one noticed the missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city. That night the man’s spirit broke.  He said to his wife, “I can’t take this; God is not treating us fairly.” His wife replied, Why don’t you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?”

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. “The Lord
settled it with me,” he said. “I told Him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous
homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, ‘But you’re not home yet!”

May we as servants of God, whether here or overseas, take heart with this story. May we continue to faithfully serve Him, realizing we “are not home yet” and He will reward His servants in due time. God bless you and we will keep you updated on the ministry in Kenya.

In Him,
Nathan, Carrie, and McKenna
naterad [at] yahoo.com

Mission Update: The Radfords

Dear praying friends, August 5, 2008

Another month has come and passed so quickly, and we thank the Lord for all the benefits He gives to us each day. May we never forget the blessings and provisions of the Lord and all His goodness to us. This update will share current news, as well as prayer requests.

This past month was the BFM Conference in Ironton, Ohio. What a blessing it was to see old friends and other missionaries who have given their lives for the Lord on the mission field. The missionaries that represented their fields of service certainly take Matthew 10:39 seriously, which says “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Jim Elliott, the famous missionary to Ecuador who gave his life for the cause of Christ, said “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Certainly the missionaries that attended the conference have literally given their lives for service, and I believe they will have great rewards for their efforts. What a privilege it was to fellowship with the missionaries and the others who attended.

Many have been asking about McKenna, our daughter. She is now 3 months old and progressing very well. She is becoming much more interactive, and we thank the Lord for the privilege of caring for her and raising her. We have attached a photo of McKenna to this update so you can see her development. Please pray for her, and also that we would be the parents God wishes us to be.

Please pray for us and the time we have spent raising support for the ministry in Kenya. Support raising has definitely become more difficult since last furlough, and we thank the Lord for each one who gives sacrificially so that the works in Kenya can continue. We are still trusting the Lord to provide the remainder of our support, which presently is around 100-125$ per month. We continue to pray and trust the Lord for these needs. In Psalms 37:25, the Bible says “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 states “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” These verses are such a comfort to us that the Lord will provide for His servants and meet their needs, whether here in the States or overseas. May each of us step out in faith and trust the Lord to provide.

In conclusion, we have several prayer requests. A famous quote I read recently that really challenged me was “Is prayer your steering wheel, or your spare tire?” Is prayer something that we rely on frequently for guidance and direction in our lives, or is it something we only go to in case of an emergency? May we come often before the Lord with our needs and burdens, and rely on the Lord to help us. Psalm 55:22 says “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

Please pray for the ministries in Kitale, that they would continue well in our absence. Please also pray that the Lord would be brought glory through whatever we do, whether in the States on furlough or in service on the mission field. Please pray also for McKenna and her development. Please pray that we would be parents who would fear the Lord and raise our children to live to serve Him. Finally, please pray that the Lord would meet the rest of our support needs, in His time. God bless you all and we look forward to any emails or letters from you.
Until next month,

Nathan and Carrie Radford
315 College St.
Youngsville, PA 16371
Email: naterad [at] yahoo.com

Mission Update: Nathan and Carrie Radford

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Dear praying friends,

Another month has come and passed so quickly, and there are many important items to update each of you
on.  My wife and I praise the Lord for good health, ministry opportunities here in the States, and the
arrival of a new addition to our family. This update will focus on these areas.

So many have asked about my wife’s pregnancy and the health of our daughter. McKenna Eileen Radford was born at Cabell Huntington Hospital (WV) on April 26th at 6:42 am. She was 21 inches long and weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces. We are thrilled that she was born healthy and that there are no problems with her
development. She is now almost six weeks old, which does not seem possible. Although becoming a parent is a lot of new responsibility for us, it is also a joy and blessing to be able to invest in the life of our
child and teach her in the ways of the Lord.  Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Our goal as parents is to train our daughter in the way of
the Lord and for her life to bring honor and glory to God.

In regards to prayer requests, please pray for our health, as furlough has many challenges. Please pray
that the Lord would provide the strength and grace necessary to finish well in reporting to individuals
and churches. In regards to our support needs, we still need around 175 dollars a month to reach full
support, and we are praying and trusting the Lord for this need.

A statement from a prominent believer I recently read really spoke to me. It said “I have been driven many
times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go.” May each of us stay in prayer before the Lord, to strengthen our walk with Him, and build our relationship with Him.
Matthew 21:22 states “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
Hebrews 4:16 also says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.” By faith, we believe that the Lord will provide the rest of this
need, and we continue to wait and trust Him. If you would be interested in supporting the ministry in
Kenya, please contact us at the information below. 

To date, we have received no reports of problems in the ministries in Kitale, so we praise the Lord for
this. Both the prison and hospital ministries seem to be progressing smoothly in our absence. Please pray
for the nationals that are presently leading the ministries. We have also received positive reports
from others who have visited the country recently that peace has come to Kenya. Many of you know of the
unrest that was in the country following the elections, but we have heard that this has calmed, so
we praise the Lord for this also. Psalm 91:2 says “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in Him will I trust.” We praise the Lord for protecting the missionaries that were in Kenya during
this difficult time, and that peace has returned to the country.

We will be sure to keep you updated regularly. Thanks so much to each one who calls, writes a note of
encouragement, prays for us, or supports the ministry financially. Each of you are so important to the
ministry in Kenya, and we thank God for you.

Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad [at] yahoo.com

Announcing McKenna Eileen Radford!

Dear Ones,
 
God had richly blessed us again with the birth on Saturday, April 26, 2008, of McKenna Eileen Radford. McKenna was born at 6:42 AM, and weighed 8 pounds and 7 ounces, and is 21 inches long. Nathan and Carrie are so excited, as are we, at this new life.

We have a new program on our computer, so haven’t figured out yet how to put pictures on. So, this announcement will have to do. Thanks so much for your prayers for them and for us, as we were asking God for McKenna to be born before we left for Kenya. We really wanted to see her before we departed for Kenya this Thursday, May first. God is so good, and we thank Him for His many blessings, especially with healthy children and grandchildren. May our Lord bless you for your faithfulness to us, and to His work in Kenya.
 
We appreciate you,
 
Mike and Pam

Image courtesy of Classic Celebrations.

Nathan & Carrie Radford March Update

April 8, 2008

Dear Praying Friends,

Another month has come and passed so quickly, and we hope that this update finds each of you doing well and busier than ever in service to our Lord. This update will share current prayer requests, as well as ministry updates.

We are very busy now in churches reporting about the ministries in Kitale. We also are doing our best to visit and keep up with any individuals who are interested in our ministries. Even though it is very tiring, we  now that our labour for the Lord is not in vain, even in a time of reporting during our furlough.  One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 15:58, which states, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” What an encouragement this verse is to us, as we know that nothing we do for the Lord is in vain, including the time in the States to raise the needed funds for our ministry.

We do have a DVD of our ministry available, so if you would like a copy, please email us in response to this update and we will be sure to send one to you free of charge. We wish to thank each person and church for
their interest in the work in Kenya. We are thankful for the funds that we have received recently, but are still in need of around 200 dollars per month, as some previous support has ceased. We are trusting the Lord for these needed funds, and are waiting on the Lord’s timing. Psalms 31:15a states “My times are in thy hand…” May we ever be faithful to wait on the Lord, and trust Him to provide in His plan and time. 

Please pray for my wife, as she is now very near to her delivery date. We are hoping and praying that all goes well this month, and that our child would be born without any problems and with good health. We are very excited, but also we desire to be faithful to the Lord in raising our child. We have an exciting opportunity ahead of us, and please pray for us and our new parental responsibilities. 1 Samuel 1:27 says “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.” We are certainly
praying for our daughter, even while she is still in the womb, and so thankful that the Lord has blessed us
with a new addition to the family this month, Lord willing.

Please pray for our ministries while we are away. Both the prison and hospital ministries seem to be doing well and having no problems, so we are thankful for this. Please pray for the nationals that are overseeing  the ministries in our absence, that they would remain faithful to the Lord and desire to serve Him.

That is all the current news from Kenya. Please continue to pray for us, and we thank the Lord for each one who calls, sends a card, or writes a word of encouragement. Philippians 1:3 says “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” and we certainly thank the Lord for your prayers, support, and interest in our ministry. We could not do this work without your help. May God bless you richly in 2008. 

In Kenya,
Nathan & Carrie Radford
naterad [at] yahoo.com

For Ministry Donations:
Pastor George Sledd
BFM Treasurer
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280

*The prayer requests in green were highlighted by Sarah.  Please don’t use them as an excuse to skim the letter!  They’re just to highlight the things to pray for!  :o)  Thanks!