23 December 2014
06 December 2014
Christmas Break
As of this week, the students and I have completed our classes for the year's second full term, and I've completed my first year of teaching in Kenya. There is some remaining coursework to be completed and assessed, but it's a great time to think about how the Lord has been growing us this year.
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More time with these goofballs over break! |
- I'm thankful for progress in my understanding of the Scriptures. The material I have been teaching this term has been familiar, but we've been presenting it in a new format. Class time has been profitable for me as I engage the students and benefit from their own study of the Scriptures.
- I feel that the Lord has grown my understanding of Nairobi culture over the year. I'm now beginning to understand how the things I've learned about East African culture in general are being shaped by this urban setting. I still have a long way to go in this, but I'm grateful to the Lord and to my new friends for several "Aha!" moments.
- It's been exciting to see the way that the Lord is deepening our relationships with our friends here. This last week I met with a man who began classes at EABST late last year. The venue for the meeting was a small cafe in town, a place where he and I had interacted near the beginning of this year. As we sat together on Thursday, the thought occurred to me, "Wow, I remember that conversation; I barely knew you then!" I'm looking forward to the ways that the Lord will continue to use these relationships for mutual edification in the faith.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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14:41
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
20 November 2014
Malaria
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Image by Ute Frevert; False color by Margaret Shear |
My classes will be continuing into the second week of December. Today we'll be finishing up our overview of the Latter Prophets with a look at the intent and theology of Ezekiel. Pray for insight into the Scriptures as students complete their projects and for wisdom for the faculty as we assess their work. God has been good to grant a great term; please pray for a strong finish.
Your prayers for us are one of our greatest treasures. Thank you for exalting God by faithfully sharing with us our dependence on him.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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01:23
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
05 November 2014
Mumias
The challenge of learning culture in the midst of a busy schedule is something about which I've asked the Lord for wisdom and which my team has considered for some time. One solution that has been suggested to us is to go on trips away from the city to talk with leaders about how pastors should be prepared in accordance with biblical qualifications and practical needs. On one side, we can continue to develop the school's network of contacts, and on the other we can continue to grow in our understanding of Kenyan languages and cultures. This trip to Mumias provided just right the opportunity to be exposed to leadership development outside of the urban context.
Please pray for wisdom and discernment in the admissions process of potential students, for effective training in the classroom, and for the health and endurance to push through a busy term.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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14:06
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
20 October 2014
Sickness
This last week I had a good opportunity to learn about the fragility of human bodies and plans. On Monday night, I suddenly contracted a fever. (I know where the thoughts of many of you are going right now; let me catch up in a moment.) Usually my body temp runs a bit lower than normal, and this was an unusually high fever. Tuesday, I went to class as normal, using over-the-counter medication to keep my temperature normal. No other symptoms were presenting other than that my body hurt, and I didn't have an appetite. Wednesday afternoon found me finally dragging myself into the doctor's office. We breathed a sigh of relief when he diagnosed a minor bacterial infection which has since been cleared with antibiotics. I'm thankful to the Lord that the recovery was such an easy one.
Now some of you are aware of the Ebola threat that exists in some parts of our continent and have asked about our relative danger. To answer, people here are concerned about the issue and being careful, but life is proceeding as normal. The nearest recent case is further away than Mexico is from Canada, and travel across the continent is generally restricted to the economic minority in any case. Thank you for your concerns and especially your prayers as we continue to serve the name of Christ in this nation.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
at
06:46
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
30 September 2014
2014 Pittsley Post 4
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
at
15:02
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update, Newsletters
29 August 2014
Guests
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Zebras Let Us Get Pretty Close This Time |
Having my mom around has been a joy, and we're glad for the time she gets to spend with the grandchildren. She's attended two of our community group Bible studies, and we took her Wednesday to Nairobi Game Park. Today, Jenny and a friend of ours went to a local "soko," an open market, for produce; my mom loved the experience.
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Please continue to pray for my classes this term. Also, pray for several students who have had to take a break this term due to illness in the family and/or business travel.
Your partnership with us in the gospel is invaluable to us.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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14:11
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
01 August 2014
Ecclesiologically Driven

On the family front, Josiah has been enjoying a week of football (i.e., soccer) camp on the other side of town. We're glad he has this opportunity to exercise, to work on athletic skills, and to build friendships. He's having a blast!
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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06:23
0
contribution(s)
Starting Points: ecclesiology, Missionary Update
16 July 2014
History of Christianity in Africa
Course Textbook (Associate Link) |
One of the highlights of the class has been seeing the role of African theologians in early church history. All of us as Christians share in this rich theological heritage and should rejoice to God for the help these men lent to those early struggles for orthodoxy. I'm looking forward to the discussion of what we can do to continue that struggle for orthodoxy and spread a pure gospel in this generation on this continent and around the world. Praise the Lord for these opportunities to learn, think, and grow.

This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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03:20
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
30 June 2014
Summer Print Newsletter
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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16:25
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update, Newsletters
28 May 2014
Second School Term
Two other events comprise our second term at EABST. The first is the session of block classes Jonathan Moore and I will be teaching starting 9-Jun and running to 21-Jun. These classes will be intense, so please pray for physical and mental endurance as well as comprehension and transformation through our study of the Scriptures. We're excited to have Jeff Straub come from Central Seminary for our final second term event. In July, he plans to teach a one-week block class on the history of Christianity in Africa.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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00:53
0
contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
05 May 2014
Visits
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Meeting at Nairobi Java House |

This month Jenny and I are planning to meet with a friend from our sending church who also has loads of missionary experience and is helping us stay accountable to our plan for acquiring language and culture. Pray that his visit is encouraging and productive.
Please also pray for our upcoming leadership conference: PreachTheGospel2014.com, and pray for peace and stability in this city and the nation of Kenya (1 Tim 2:1–6).
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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14:12
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contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
05 April 2014
Increase in Activity
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Google News on Eastleigh, Nairobi |
A third increase of activity is microbiological. The last month and a half has had the Pittsley kids sick several times. We've got some new germs to get used to here and appreciate your prayers on that point.
Since the beginning of the year, we've added two new partners to our network of supporting churches. These additions get us up to around 92% of our original budgeted support. Praise the Lord for providing for our needs! As always, thank you for your prayers.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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16:23
0
contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
19 March 2014
2014 Spring Newsletter
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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13:31
0
contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update, Newsletters
28 February 2014
February
Josiah Celebrating His Eighth Birthday |
One highlight of the month has been the time I've spent with our Kenyan Bible college students inside and outside of the classroom. It's always exciting to talk through a passage of Scripture or theological idea with someone who has studied diligently but approaches the Scriptures from a very different cultural context. Our conversations have been full of surprising insights and refreshing resolutions for steps of obedience.
Praise the Lord for granting—
- Recovery from a perplexing fever our family was circulating for about 10 days this month.
- Safety on the roads (and no more 3.5-hour drives to work:-).
- Exhilarating ministry with our new Kenyan friends.
Gabbing with Prospective Students |
- Please pray with me and my Acts class that the Lord would continue to help us to understand his Word and become doers of it.
- Pray that Christ would be honored by our verbal and living testimony in our community.
- Pray that God would grant Jenny and me humility and perseverance as we continue to study language and culture.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
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11:27
0
contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
25 January 2014
Living in Syokimau
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Jamin Lounges with Seuss on the Couch |
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My Balcony Office (Complete with Improvised Desk Space) |
I have a simple strategy for arriving to class on time. The big idea is that if I leave early enough I won't encounter traffic which will make my commute both quicker and safer. On Thursday, 16-Jan, it took me less than 35 minutes to get to the school facility—so far so good. This week I followed roughly the same plan for travel I had before. On Thursday, 23-Jan, due to an overturned tanker, the same route took 3.5 hours! I can see the wisdom of God in leading the Weaver family to make sure that Jenny and I had a good taste of Nairobi traffic when we came on our survey trip in 2007 so that we would know what we were signing up for. I'm grateful for the safety God provided and for patient students who were sympathetic with me in my tardiness.
Praise the Lord for providing a new place to live. It's closer to our ministry operations; it will provide many opportunity to serve Kenyans in everyday life; and it's affordable.
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
at
09:34
1 contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update
02 January 2014
2014 Pittsley Post 1
This occurred to
Jeremy Pittsley
at
13:13
0
contribution(s)
Starting Points: Missionary Update, Newsletters