missions

Where’s the Bread?

/ heatherhaley07 / Leave a comment

Mark 8:1-8

In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned His disciples and *said to them, “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” And His disciples replied to Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He *directed the people to recline on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He told the disciples to serve these as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. 

Mark 8:14

And the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

Mark 8:16-21

And they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, *said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet comprehend or understand? Do you still have your heart hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They *said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they *said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Mark 9:17-25

And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.” And He answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!” 

I had the incredible privilege to spend two very full days covering Mark chapters 7-9 with the Pastor’s wives of the Maasai Tribal Churches in Kenya. We had six hours of teaching and three hours of focused prayer to anoint each Pastor and Pastor’s Wife for their ministry and calling in leading their homes and churches. Our team also lead six hours of leadership development and scriptural teaching among the Pastors in a separate set of sessions. As we prepared to embark on this trip, the Lord was clearly speaking to us to have great faith. We had great needs and we needed our Lord to truly show up to deliver on those needs.

This week’s trip began in my heart last year when I had the great opportunity to teach these same Pastor’s Wives in leading them through Mark chapters 1-3. The only reason my family decided to connect with the people of Maasai in 2025 was solely based upon a selfish ambition – my husband was going their on a work trip and I wanted to experience it with him the week before. We felt we could find a church group or someone to come alongside and encourage in the faith and see the country. Through an extensive, Providential search, I was connected with Bishop Rampei. We determined a 2-day Ladies Conference was exactly what he and his people needed. And this week, we just completed the 2nd 2-day Ladies Conference, but bigger and even better. As we began to pray for 2026 trip, our family and Bishop and Jackie Rampei prayed for some specifics:

  • A man to teach the Pastor’s at the same time as I lead the Wives. – ANSWERED.
  • Swahili Bibles. – ANSWERED.
  • Maasai Bibles. – ANSWERED.
  • Sponsorships for those Pastors with a distance to travel. – ANSWERED.
  • Basic medical supplies for the village church we attended & Pastors to take back with them to their churches. – ANSWERED. 
  • Motorbikes for those Pastors who must walk the furthest to minister to their people and work to provide for their families. ANSWERED.  FIVE!
  • More people to join in on what the Lord was doing in this tribe – evangelism is not the priority here, it is further discipleship and church leadership. – ANSWERED.

And the Lord provided.

Because of Nehemiah Baptist Church led by Pastor Keith Weaver, our first Motorbike was purchased for the first Pastor – Pastor Daniel Ng’eetiai.  Because of Fairview Knox Church led by Pastor Jeff LaBorg, our 400 Precept books were purchased for the women’s disciple for the conference & for their church groups AS WELL AS printing all of the materials created by Joshua Gass to lead the 80 Pastors.  Because of Pickering Orthodontist, we were able to give out hundreds of tooth brushes to children and parents. Because of many countless others – so many it would take a really long time to name – we were able to sponsor 50 Pastors transportation & housing for the conference, purchase 220 Swahili/Maasai Bibles, 6 suitcases full of supplies, fed the local school children through all of next year, and purchase a total of 5 motorbikes – the second for Pastor James Kipaika AND the next three to be given on Monday after Easter. 

Through leading these ladies in the scriptures of Mark 7-9, you could see a trending theme of the disciples asking at least three times “where’s the bread?” AND three times the Lord delivering.  Did they not remember what He did with the five thousand?  What about what He did for the four thousand?  Why is it we cannot seem to grasp that God is always ready to provide when we are walking in the purpose and plan He has designed us to live in.  For many years, the Lord had been developing in me the motto based upon scripture, “you have not, because you ask not.”  Often, we don’t have the miracles we desire from God because we are never bold enough to ask Him for it.  When will I understand?  When will my eyes see and my ears hear?  When will I fully grasp that He longs to give and show Himself – all we need to do is ask and walk in the Truth He has given us.

What is “the bread” we are asking for?

Have we seen Him deliver and leave the leftovers for us to take with us?

Is there “bread” you are asking Him for today?

And I have seen miracles this week.  We were given the most outstanding drivers for our Land Cruisers – Onesmus and Tony.  We learned their stories and their lives.  We learned of Onesmus’s village that is still without a well for clean water.  We learned how blessed we are to have consistent work and consistent pay checks to provide for our families. These men were a true gift for our team and a part of the blessings. They covered us in prayer, answered the many questions, they made us laugh and broke a few safari stupid rules (insert massive laugh).

Last year, my Precept Bible Study ladies wrote cards to the women of the conference that I handed out to the Pastor’s wives.  I stated that each of those women had prayed for them while writing the card and it would be amazing if they would consider praying for them in return.  And guess what, they did.  One of the ladies who joined our trip this year, wrote a card AND the very Pastor’s Wife in the room was able to meet her.  They were able to connect with one another.  The Lord is faithful. 

Lastly, we were able to visit the precious school – Oloika Primary School.  This is the school that many have been provided breakfast and lunch to the students each day for the past year and scheduled for the upcoming year.  During our visit, we began to discuss what the next needs are:

  • Shoes for the children
  • Text books in English and Swahili
  • Story books in English to practice the language
  • Potential children sponsorship so they can open the Boarding Houses.
    • $35 per month pays for one child to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, safe space to sleep and removes the burden of walking 7 miles per day round trip.

As I am sitting on a plane flying home now, we have already been discussing how to better equip the believers and use our abundance of blessings to assist with those in the most need.  We are making plans to go back next March.  We are making plans to continue discipling church leaders in making disciples.  We are making plans to lead the conferences. We are making plans to continue to grow the relationship with the Oloika Primary School in providing textbooks, shoes & leather soccer balls.  I ask only one question – is the Lord making plans for you to join in through giving, through adoption of one of these needs, through coming yourself to see what the Lord wants to do through you. 

He has a plan for each of us.  Are you walking in His plan or settling for the one you made for yourself?

March 2027… join us.

Here is the video of the Pastors receiving their motorbikes (piki pikis). Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbHxsZwpZz0