The Rogers' Family Neighborhood

On behalf of my family and work here in Africa, I want to say thank you for being such an important part of our journey and ministry. This year has held many days of celebration as we have witnessed countless lives turn from poverty to a new direction, one filled with hope and eternal certainty. It is through your prayers and support that has enabled us to carry out the Lord’s work and we feel that encouragement each and every day. It takes a team of people to move such a work forward and we are grateful for our family of nationals here on the ground and for you and others who together enable lives here in Africa to reach new levels of empowerment. As we reflect on this past year – we have much to be thankful for and much to share.

This year we are grateful to be given the opportunity of time and resources to allow our family to visit the states for several weeks before we return again to our Kenyan home to continue serving with Empowering Lives International.

Part of our joy is sharing our journey of God’s faithfulness with others, telling the stories and showing the images of those lives that have been changed and empowered.

It would be a great blessing for us to be able to share these stories with you while at home and to have the chance to say thank you personally. During November and into December our family will look forward to traveling to several churches and homes. Below we have provided our schedule and hope that you will be able to attend one of these events, as we would love to talk with you and give you firsthand updates on our work in Africa. We ask for your prayers for safe journeys and good connections with family and friends during this time.

Here is where we will be:

November

Nov 1 Tue Don Leaves Nairobi Kenya for LAX Nov 2 Wed Don Arrives LAX
Nov 3 Thu Rest

Central California > heading South:

Nov 4 Fri Don Fly to Sacramento – Afternoon meetings in Sacramento
Nov 5 Sat Don at ELI Chairman Ron Higgins home (Folsom) for evening gathering

Nov 6 Sun Don Preaching at Sunhills Community Church El Dorado Hills
(916) 939-4093 http://www.sunhills.org/ Sunday Service Times: 9am & 10:45am Lunch meeting at Rouse Home

Nov 7 Mon Folsom meetings – afternoon drive to Atwater – evening drive to Clovis
Nov 8 Tue Clovis morning meeting / Fresno meetings (To Be Announced = TBA)

Nov 9 Wed Kingsburg Community Church Kingsbury (559) 897-2388
Meeting Time: 5:30pm ALL WELCOME!

Nov 10 Thu AM in Porterville then Wasco/Bakersfield (TBA) Nov 11 Fri Drive to Murrieta, CA (Don’s Parents)

Southern California:

Nov 12 & 13 Sat & Sun Don Preaching at Hillside Community Church Rancho Cucamonga (909) 980-2191 http://hillsideministry.org/
Saturday service Time: 5:30pm Sunday Service Times: 8:30am & 10:15am
ALL WELCOME!

Nov 14 Mon Don at ELI Upland Office
Nov 15 Tue Amy Rogers and boys (Josh and Nathaniel) arrive from Kenya
Nov 16 Wed Rest
Nov 17 Thu ELI Upland, CA office Nov 18 Fri Murrieta, CA area meetings Nov 19 Sat Temecula, CA area meetings

Nov 20 Sun Rogers Preach at Lambs Fellowship Lake Elsinore
(951) 471-3807, http://lfle.org/
Sunday Service Times: 9am & 11am ALL WELCOME!

Nov 21-26 Rogers family gathering

Nov 22 Tue Rotary Meeting, Etiwanda Gardens, 7576 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga
Meeting time: 12 noon in the Gardenia Ballroom
(Please note the Dec 6 meeting has been moved to Nov 22)

Nov 27 Sun (TBA)
Nov 28 & 29 Mon & Tue ELI USA BOARD Prayer, Planning & Budget Retreat – Ontario, CA area

December

Dec 1 Thu Orange County area meetings Dec 2 Fri Orange County area meetings Dec 3 Sat Family Day (Nathaniel’s 9th birthday)

Dec 4 Sun Don preaches at Living Spring Christian Fellowship Garden Grove
(714) 539-1232 http://livingspring.com/ Sunday Service Times: 9am and 10:45am

Dec 5 Mon Don shares with Bethany Bible Fellowship Missions Committee
Westminister
Meeting time: 7pm

Dec 6 Tue (TBA)
Dec 7 Wed (TBA)
Dec 8 Thu (TBA)

Dec 10 & 11 Sat & Sun Don sharing brief update at Lambs Fellowship Murrieta (951) 471-3807
Sunday Service Times: 9am & 11am

To New York:

Dec 13 – 28 Upstate NY

Dec 18 Sun Don sharing at Victory Highway Wesleyan Church Painted Post
(607) 962-7000 http://victoryhighway.com/ Sunday Service Times: 8:30, 9:50 & 11:10am Evening Dessert fellowship same day

Dec 29 Thu Rogers Family fly from NY to Kenya

Thank You!

As I write this tonight I must admit that I feel tired but so full in heart and give praise to God. The ministry as you know has many challenges as we fight the devil and seek to see lives empowered for His glory. But Today – Today – was one of those special times – to see the fruits – to hear the songs of praise – and to walk in the midst of a slum where hope is not easy to find – yet at the ELI school in Bukavu, DR Congo – to see and hear the hope in the lives of hundreds of previously forgotten children and their teachers.
See PHOTOS from today click here or the flickr icon on the right of this page http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogersneighborhoodafrica/

It has been a school year filled with adjustments, modifications and lots of movement here and there and everywhere BUT we made it. We are so blessed with how well and quickly our boys adjusted to life back in Kenya. We spent our last week of school on the campus of Rift Valley Academy for homeschool week. The boys completed their standardized testing, enjoyed attending classes in the afternoons and games with new friends. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement this past year. We are looking forward to 3rd & 6th grade in mid August!

Joshua has loved working with his dad on this latest project. A new way to make charcoal.

The RAINS have started to fall in ELDORET, KENYA!

Most of the people throughout the Eldoret region where we live and serve planted the maize they depend on for their survival and income over a month ago – the rains delayed. For weeks – at almost every gathering we have attended, where believers were present – there has been one request that has been repeated over and over – “Let us Pray for Rains to come.”

Some who planted have had their corn germinate and sprout BUT the lack of water has caused the small plant to wither and die.

BUT – there are still many seeds in the ground and for three days now the rains have come! People are rejoicing and though the traffic in town is terrible now because of more accidents and delays – the inconveniences are not even considered by most because of the importance of the rain.

Everyone – including Joshua – has been motivated to turn the soil and plant some seeds. Dreams of a good harvest are now beginning in the hearts and minds of people who depend so greatly on the land and seasonal rains.

Today Kenyan Directors (Samuel and Julius) and I met with Stephen Reech (Sudan Dir.) here in Kenya for more discussions on the way forward as Southen Sudan becomes a new nation. The country has been at war for decades and the people are in desperate need for practical trainings and hands on opportunities to learn business and especially farming.  We are praying and writing up a plan/proposal to establish a vegetable farm along the River Nile.  If you want more information on this important idea/plan please let me know.