WHAT A BRIGHT IDEA!

Meet Julie Kihara. Julie runs a private business, “House In Bloom”, supplying high class flower arrangements and decoration services to businesses, event management, tent supplies, etc. And Julie has a soft spot for people in need. She helped Jane Wathome set up Beacon of Hope , which ministers to HIV infected women.

Well, imagine my joy when I sat down with Julie recently to discuss her involvement in the church, and she shared an idea she's been mulling over. Because her business works with a lot of brides, offering wedding services, she's been hiring out a beautiful collection of expensive wedding dresses to those who prefer to hire instead of purchase. As she's done so, she began praying about giving that side of her business to children in need. Here's the brilliant idea she shared . . .

She'd like to dedicate all her present dresses to making money through hire, and donate the proceeds to the scholarship fund. But she could do even more. Realizing many ladies only ever use their wedding dress once, and then put it away as a memorabilia (probably hoping to one day fit in it again – Ha!), she's wanting to ask if you would donate your wedding dress so it can be used to bless children in need. She'd rent out the dress and give the proceeds as a scholarship to educate a bright child in need of school fees.

I thot it's a brilliant idea! I imagine that if she could have a collection of 100 – 200 dresses (and knowing that the Ladies at Chapel wore very expensive, beautiful dresses at their wedding), hers could quickly become the talk of town, the place for prospective brides to hire dresses . . . and the money would be released for a good cause.

So ladies, would you please, please consider giving up this cherished possession as a gift to the Lord? (And No - husbands! . . . you can't donate your wife's dress! It's got to come from her as her blessing to the children). If you can, her contacts are 6752042, 0722703536. You can also bring the dress to church next Sunday and we will deliver it for you, or call Maggie Gitau on 0721473867 and we will collect it from your home.

Scholarships: Praise the Lord for the amazing way in which God is working to fund the Scholarships to needy children. Amazingly the fund has received over 2,000,000/= in the last 2 months since it began! We have been able to offer sponsorship to 15 children thus far this term, which also allows a balance to meet next terms fees. The challenge will be to count a scholarship, not as a terms fees (which can sometimes interpret into enough for this term but the child is out of school next), but to count it as a full scholarship for Form 1 – 4 so the studying is uninterrupted. 13 scholarships would therefore interpret into 3 million, which can also be invested so it grows as the child studies. Please pray for God's abundant grace for more funds, pray for generosity from God's people, and pray for wisdom for the team as we offer scholarships to needy children.

Pastoral Care. Do you know of a member who has been bereaved recently, is in hospital, or has gone through trauma? Please, please call our office on 6752346/ 0725650737 or call Rose Muiu on 0722317961 to let us know. We want to care for our members well, but have no other way of knowing unless someone informs us. Once we know we do a great job at responding and being at their side . . . but only if someone let's us know first. So  if you have the news, take it upon yourself to alert us immediately.

Unwell: Dr. Joyce Gikombe’s son went through an operation last week.  Ted Mburu is in hospital undergoing treatment for menengitis. Pray for a full and quick recovery for these two.

Bereaved: Continue to pray with Wacuka Ngure’s family. Their Father went to be with the Lord and was laid to rest on Friday.

Intervarsity Press : is asking Pastor Oscar to write a book on missions as a spin-off from Urbana. The request has been made several times in the past, but this time Pastor Oscar has said yes. He asks for your prayers as book writing can be a long and tedious task, and this would be a first for him. Paul Borthwick (“A Mind For Missions”, Navpress, 1987), has offered to assist in the task.

Drinking Water: The hot days are here again! Need drinking water? We have bottled water available. It's “Aquafresh” branded for Pro-Life, a Christian ministry that lobbies for the rights of unborn children from being aborted. Each bottle of water has a small profit margin which will go to fund the Pro-Life ministry.  If you wish, we can also avail larger quantities for your home or office needs, allowing you to support a worthy cause.

Marriage retreat: Our annual marriage enrichment retreat will take place this year on April.
Venue: Turtle Bay Beach Club
Dates: Sat 28th – Mon 30th Apr (we travel down Fri 27th April evening and are back Tue 1st May morning)
Costs: 25,000/- per couple
Facilitators: Pastor Muriithi & Carol Wanjau, Pastor Richard Munala (USA)

School of Prayer:  Class starts on Tuesday, 6th Feb at Mamlaka Hill Chapel at 5.30 PM. All Prayer counselors and everyone who would like to learn more about prayer and grow in prayer life are encouraged to attend.

Young adults: There’s a hot Rift Valley -fever-free NyamChom plot on 10th Feb. Damage is Ksh150 but if you don't have it just come. Meeting is at the tent at 2pm then we proceed. Sign up today for logistics purposes.

Watch your belongings: Please be careful during the service. Unfortunately, while many of us have come here to connect with God, some attend the service looking for opportunity to rob others of their valuables, therefore watch out. Ladies - if you can, leave your handbags in your car-boot. Note - we have enough security detail to watch the cars and the premises while we are in service.

Wedding Bann: Brenda Mtawe Owuor and Kevin Ochieng Ouma on 14th February, 2007 at Nairobi Chapel Ngong Road. If you have any legal reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, kindly contact us.

Calculate Your Ideal Body Weight

Calculate your BMI (body mass index) to find out if you are living at your ideal body weight.

BMI  =            Your weight (Kg)                  
              Height x Height (m2)           

Eg, if you weigh 80 Kg, and are 5 ft 8 inches (1.73 m) tall,

your BMI would be         80      =  26.75
              1.73 x1.73    

BMI – Index (Using local ranges)
Under 18.5      Underweight
18.5 – 24.9      Normal Range
25.0 – 29.9      Pre-obese
30.0 – 34.9      Obese Class I
35.0 – 39.9      Obese Class II
Above 40        Obese Class III

To see how important this is take note of the fact that those with BMI index in the 25 – 30 range (Pre-obese) stand an 8 times higher risk of developing Diabetes than those in the Normal range; while those in the 30 – 35 BMI range (Obese class 1) stand a 40 times higher risk. Class II and III? Let's not even go there!

For a general health check up, visit the following doctors. You can also visit your personal doctor.

Dr. Walter Jaoko
IPS Building Kimathi Street
Second Floor, Next to Standard Street
For an appointment call 244354

Dr. Wambugu
Meridian medical center
Nation Center, 11th Floor
For an appointment call: 252055/ 252786

The Mater Hospital
Well Man/ Well Woman Clinic
For an appointment call:
0722828629/ 531199/ 556010

Dr. Kigira
Nairobi Outpatient climic
Windsor House ground floor
Tel:250394/ 2012999

Websites you can visit for further info
www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition.nutrition.asp
www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/nu001900
www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition/fitness.asp
www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition-benefits.asp
www.healthcastle.com/nutritionbasic.shtml

Our Guest Interviewees : this morning are Dr Gitahi Theuri of “Wellness Associates” (next to Nairobi Hospital). Contacts 2721009; 2721543.; and Mrs. Mbithe Akatsa, a nutritionist who lectures at United States International University. Both will be available at the speakers hospitality tent after the service. You can meet them there if you wish to speak with them.

Weight Loss Management? : Contact Mrs Alice Ndong of Xenihealth Weight Loss Management Program. Contacts General Accident House, Rm 12, Tel 2711447; and at Acacia Medical Hse on  Dennis Pritt Rd, 0722426287. Www.xenihealth.com, email: Xenihealth@wananchi.com.

“A moment on the lips . . . is a lifetime on the hips”
(author unknown – we think he was assassinated for saying that!)