Ushindi Women’s Guild celebrates week, promises restoration of lost things

Members of the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church (Ushindi) Women's guild pose for a picture during a service to celebrate the Presbyterian Church of East Africa women's guild week last Sunday , June 13th. Joining them was the pastor of the church, Rev.Dr. Mumbui Karimi and his wife, Shelmith Karimi (center, front row). H.Maina/Ajabu

By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News, Posted June 19, 2010

LOWELL, Ma_“Have you lost everything you have worked hard for in your life, including your family, friends, job, business or even relationships? There is some good news for you. They will all be restored,” said Mrs. Shelmith Karimi, of the Kenyan Presbyterian church popularly known as Ushindi in Lowell, Mass..

Mrs. Karimi was preaching during a special service last Sunday in honor of Women guild week celebrated by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa every year on June 6th. The celebrations were postponed to June 13th at the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church (Ushindi) in Lowell due to conflicting schedules.

During the service, Karimi said that many people have been disappointed by loss of things in their lives that they hold dear, saying they do not need to worry anymore because there is a solution to such problems.

Reading from the book of Joel 2: 18-32, Mrs. Karimi compared many Kenyans to the Israelites who became so focused on satisfaction of earthly things found in   the great Kingdom of Judah that God had given them, and in the process forgot God.

“These people were drunkards and self centered,” Karimi told worshippers.

She said that as a result, God brought many problems to them including a drought and locusts that ate anything in sight without stopping.

“Locusts ate while excreting at the same time. They cleared everything in the land and there was a lot of suffering for many years, with nothing to eat or drink,” said Karimi.

Mrs. Shelmith Karimi, wife to Dr. Munbui Karimi during a service to celebrate the Presbyterian Church of East Africa women's guild week last Sunday

However, when the people agreed to listen to the men of God who were instructed by God to summon the people and ask them to fast and repent, God promised to restore all that they had lost, and brought them a lot of wheat and oil.

In the same breath, Karimi told Worshippers that many people today came to America and forgot all about God. They became obsessed with earthly things and that’s why you find many people with lots of unending problems, such as uncontrollable children, broken families, toxic relationships and lack of peace.

“You are saddled with so many problems that you keep asking yourself who bewitched you,” Karimi said in her native Kikuyu language. Some people say their children are possessed, but as a parent, what are you doing about it? Sometimes, you try to step towards God, but something pulls you back. But what are we doing in these situations?” posed Karimi.

She said that all this was happening because we forgot God.

Karimi, however said that God wants to restore all that has been eaten by locusts in our lives if we come back to him.

Eunice Muiruri, chairlady of the Ushindi church Women's guild during the service to celebrate the Presbyterian Church of East Africa women's guild week last Sunday

“God wants to restore all that you have lost to the original status. He wants to restore your prayer life and your fellowship with him (God). Our churches have also lost so many things that were eaten by ‘locusts’ and those too, shall be restored. Even Job was paid back in double portions all he had lost during his sufferings,” she encouraged.

“ However, for this to happen, we need to repent and be in fellowship with God,” Karimi cautioned.

She amused worshippers when she advised them to ask God help them not to be like locusts that eat while excreting everything. “You come to church and hear the word, then the word get out the other way and you continue to do those things you were doing before,” Karimi said satirically.
 
She congratulated the Women’s guild of Ushindi church for the continued growth in their faith and their activities to help those in need.

The service was entirely conducted by the Women’s guild leadership led by Mrs.Eunice Muiruri.
 
She said that the Women’s’ guild is an organization whose mission is to help for mercy. And have projects in Kenya including assisting orphaned children.

Drama in church: members of the Ushindi women's guild stage a show during the service to celebrate the women's guild week

 
She appealed for well wishers to assist the Ushindi church women’s guild with funds so that they may be able to  provide more services to the needy, and even start others for those in need right here in America.

“We would like help to start a project even here in America because there are many people who need help and can’t find it,” appealed Mrs. Muiruri.

The motherly call came at a crucial time in the Kenyan community in USA where many people are suffering from various challenges like homelessness, domestic violence, alcoholism, loss of jobs among others.

During the colorful service, the pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. Mumbui Karimi, who is also the husband to the preacher of the day, Sharom Karimi, received new members of the church and awarded them membership certificates. This was followed by an entertaining drama staged by a group of the women’s guild depicting a family relationship breakdown and the eventual restoration after repentance to god.
 
“I can’t believe such old women did such a great drama,” said a mesmerized Duncan Wachira. “That is definitely a challenge to us all,” he added.

During a session for introductions, one Kenyan shocked many in attendance when he revealed that he was sick and tired of the life in America and is therefore planning to return to his family in 3 days time. Peter Kaniu, a father of two, told worshippers that he has missed his family badly, since arriving in the US back in 2002. He said he was looking forward to meeting his wife and two sons this week at their home in Kikuyu, in the central province of Kenya.

Peter Kaniu and his sister, Mercy Kaniu. Peter hanged up the boots of life in the West and returned back to his family in Kenya, leaving his sister to fight on.

"I just want to inform everyone that i will be going back home for good this week", said an emotional Kaniu. "Thank you all for being good friends to me. I thank our pastor for being so good to me. I will miss you dearly", said the man, his voice breaking down with emotion.

Of late, there has been a trend by some Kenyans in the US to hang up the boots and return to heir motheland where some contend there is a better standard of life than here is the USA.

"It is good for him to go back to his family" said Mercy Kaniu, his sister after the service was over.I will miss my brother as well", added the sister.

Kaniu has since packed his belongings and left on Wednesday .
The event ended with a sumptuous meal and socialization as the worshippers looked forward to a similar treatment during the upcoming father’s day on Sunday, June 20th.

Other Top Ajabu News
Gospel Artists to launch organization tomorrow, Sunday, June 20th
"If you are a Kenyan in Distress, Dial 9"; says outgoing Ambassador
Tension grips Kampala NRM regime as ex-premiers join opposition





Photo Gallery

AjabuTV

Back to Home page