Songs of Praise

Last week a recording team left Agape after of week of practice and recording for a new CD entitled “He knows my name.”  (See attached photo)  On this CD, many of the boys joined with recording artist Stephanie Midthun from Living Water Lutheran in Elk Grove, CA.   The title song will include one young boy with the voice of an angel.  Geoffrey was quite a find during tryouts for the soloist slots.  This humble young boy has a smile that will melt your heart and a voice that will bring tears to your eyes.  Never having experienced anything close to resembling the professional recording set-up by producer Ralph Stover, Geoffrey sang with all his heart even though the sessions were long and repetitive.  Other songs will include a quintet of young boys, an older boy’s quartet and two large assemblies of older and young choirs.  All the recording was done at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Kisumu and will also include the church choir

Stephanie recently wrote about this CD and the recording, “We continue to feel that God's hand is on this recording and that He is going to use this project in a powerful way.  Continue to pray over this project as we are in the final stages this week and we've begun preparing for the CD release concert...pray for the concert, for all of those involved and for those that come.  I believe that it will be a powerful night.”  For all those interested in attending the debut concert of this CD and hear the heavenly anthems of ThreeFour:One, just call the Agape office for times and locations. 

Danna Buerger, who came on this trip to assist Stephanie also brought along 110 Sacramento Kings T-shirts as a gift from the Kings who heard about Agape through an article written by Danna in her business newspaper.  The also sent 110 Kings pens.  Danna brought along a tape of the Lakers/Kings match-up on Easter Sunday.  (You may recall the Kings demolished the Lakers on that occasion).  We had a chance to play this video for the boy.  It was quite an event after church a week ago.  The room was divided between Lakers and Kings fans—with quite a few defections from the Lakers side of the room by the end of the game.  In addition, Paul shot some video of the distribution of the T-shirts to the boys to give to the Kings.  Keep an eye out for our Agape boys in future promotions done by the Kings. 

When one considers all of these blessings as contrasted with the life of these boys just a few years ago, the contrast is amazing in my mind.  I can only imagine how striking it is in the hearts and minds of the boys.  When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, thank the Lord for the work Agape is going for these boys and the many people just like Stephanie, Danna, Paul and Ralph who have Agape and it’s ministry in their heart.

May God bless you all

Dan and Patty

News and Notes

1. The 2nd term of 2004 has opened today and the routine of school has started again. 

2. We have recently hired a new cook, two new guards and two new houseparents. 

3. The management team has selected Helida Aoko as the “Servant of the Month” for May

4. Our plans for returning on furlough in 2004 are for the months of October and November.  If your church would like to have us come to preach and share about our work at Agape, don’t hesitate to ask.  We’ll only be home for about 8 Sundays. To be fair, we’ll consider first those who write to us first.  Give a call to your Missions Committee and drop us an E-mail.