Choosing Joy....

   "Choosing joy is being able to see God's goodness even when life is hard and messy."

  "Busy is a choice. Stress is a choice. Joy is a choice. Choose well."

   "Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." William Arthur Ward

   It's been a good week in Kisumu! I'm blessed with what a difference attitudes can make as we choose joy.  I know it's easier said than done!!   Last Tuesday Wayne and I and Clarissa went to Zilpa's house to help her celebrate the Anniversary of the day she was healed from a serious sickness.  She gives thanks to God every year for giving her another year of life.  Joe and Glenda were there too and we all enjoyed our time very much.  We did some singing and Wayne read some Scripture and we enjoyed some  wonderful Kenyan food!  

   Wednesday was our first solo clothing sale at Rabour.  Stacy went with us to assist since she has helped others and has some experience.  Praise God things went very well and there was no mad rush to get the best bargains, etc.  I was so relieved!  We served some juice and "biscuits" (small packs of cookies) afterward and they enjoyed that!  We stayed for Bible study then and oh dear!  I had a terrible time staying awake! I must be getting old!  In the evening Carolyn's parents, James and Esther Rodes, Carolyn, and Stacy and Rhoda joined us for supper.  We had our traditional Wed. eve. meal... chapatis, beans, and fresh salsa.  

   On Friday Wayne met his uncle and aunt Perry and Judy Beachy in Ahero!!  They are in Kenya visiting their son, Kore, and they came to Kisumu to spend time with us over the weekend.  We enjoyed them so much!  It kind of felt like Gramma was here again!  And the children had so much fun with Perry and enjoyed all his tricks! :)  In the evening we were all invited to Joseph's house for supper.  Becky and I and Glenda helped each other with food.  Brian and Maria Wagler and family from Nakuru were there as well as the singles, and Joes.  Wayne and Joseph grilled some yummy chicken for us!!  

   Saturday was another first for us!  We attended our first Kenyan wedding at the Nyakoko church. Joshua and Caren were the Bride and Groom.  Pastor Gerold preached a good message and Joseph was the Moderator.  We really enjoyed the day and were glad that Perry's and  Kore could be there too.  The wedding was to start at 11 but I think it was closer to 12:30 when it actually began.  Wayne and I ended up staying in Kisumu until the Bride's family came to meet us so we could take them to the church.  I guess time doesn't matter to these people so we need to learn to be ok with that... at least in some cases. :) Pastor Thomas Amata from Rabour, married the couple.  Most foreigners are not allowed to do that at this point so we depend on our few native Pastors who are licensed to perform marriages. The bride is very young and seemed quite shy but we trust their marriage will be great!  After the wedding we were invited to the Grooms house to eat.  We were privileged to be inside the small house with the couple and we were served ugali, chicken, beef, and sukumu.  We ate with our fingers.  We left in a big hurry after eating because a storm was brewing and some of the roads were BADLY muddy on our way in and we were afraid of getting stuck back there.  In spite of pouring down rain we made it out of there!  And Kore came behind us with his cruiser to pull us out if needed since we just had a small car.  That evening we made homemade ice cream and enjoyed pizza with our visitors. Yum!!  

   On Sunday morning Perry's and Kore, and Clarissa went to the Chulaimbo church to listen to the Rabour choir sing.  The rest of us attended at Ahero.   It was a good service and we had a relaxing afternoon.  In the evening we were invited to Joe's lawn to sit around the fire which we all enjoyed!  

   Monday was family Day so that meant no Pastor's meeting!  We took our visitors with us to Lake Victoria for an early morning boat ride.  It was beautiful and so peaceful that morning.  We enjoyed watching the fishermen with their nets, hippos, monkeys on the bank, women washing clothes, a fish market along the lake, many beautiful birds, a HUGE lizard, etc.  After coming home we fixed a hurried breakfast of pancakes and eggs and then Perry, Judy, Kore, and Wayne headed out to go mountain climbing at Monkey Stone!  I was proud of Judy for braving that very difficult climb!  She had some extremely sore muscles though!  In the evening we hosted a crowd here for supper.  Our visitors were here as well as Josephs, Joes, and 3 couples that work with "Open Hands" ministries.  They were John Sensenig and his wife from Danville, PA (East District), Merle and Edith Burkholder from ON, and Joe and Marilyn Kuepfer from Nakuru. We're discovering that many people travel to Kenya and we love meeting all these interesting folks and making connections... we keep discovering how small this world actually is! :) We said goodbye to Perry's on Tuesday.  Thanks for coming!!  And thanks for bringing us yummy treats!!  

   On Wednesday morning Wayne left early to go to Ahero area and pray at the dala of a couple who was migrating from their parents dala and beginning their own.  Interesting how they do things!  In the eve. we hosted Jake and Jan's family as well as Jake's parents, John and Christina Gingerich from Hayward, WI.  We always enjoy making connections...  John's  know my wonderful aunt Leah and  uncle Gilbert really well and remember my Grandpa Bender!  :)  

   Today was the Special Offices Seminar at Ombeyi.  It was the first time we were at that church so we enjoyed being there.  I think there were close to 150 people in attendance.  All the CBF Pastors and wives were invited as well as their spouses and then Superintendents, songleaders, ushers, janitors, interpreters, Sunday school teachers, needs committees, etc.  were all welcome to come and be encouraged in the work of the Kingdom.  Wayne had a topic on "God's call to the Work."  Thomas Omata on "Lazy or Active?" and then there were several workshops in the afternoon.  I enjoyed Barbara Jean's topic for the women titled "Practical ways for a wife to help her husband."  We transported the Kajulu folks to and from the meeting and believe me we had some AWFUL roads... we bounced and jolted around for over an hour.  Something terrible happened on the way home and I'm afraid I'm going to have flashbacks for the rest of my life!  When we were getting back into Kisumu the vehicle just ahead of us hit a young girl.  She ran directly in front  of him and there wasn't a thing he could do.  We saw her flying through the air and then rolling over and over on the pavement.  And then she lay completely still.  We drove right past her and her eyes were still open.  I instantly got a horrible headache and was in bed for a while after we got home.  If it would've happened in America we would definitely have stopped to help where we could but its not always safe to do that in Kenya.  The driver of the vehicle ahead of us stopped and I sure wonder if he got mob justice.  We heard someone start screaming.  It was SO awful! Anyone who saw it happen could surely see that the driver was innocent... so I hope... Please pray for protection as we travel these treacherous roads!  I know a lot of you do!  So thank you and please don't stop!!  

   God be with you all! Let's remember to choose joy!  Clara 

Lunch at Mama Silpa's Celebration of Life!

Pray for Bishop Eric.  He will probably need this for 2 months or so.

My Uncle Perry and Aunt Judy Beachy with Gaudencia, Eric's wife

Joshua and Caren Omondi

Reception bound!

Thomas Amata praying with the Bride, Groom and witnesses

Waiting to eat at the Groom's house (the storm is approaching and we didn't want to get caught on that side of Masogo!)

Eating lunch with Joshua and Caren

We raced the storm through Masogo and we made it out through the mud, PTL!  We saw this one a little later on the way home!

Lake Victoria Sunrise!

Early morning boat ride with Perry's and Kore

Monkey Stone, here we come!

What a view!!

We made it!!  Great job Judy!!

One of my favorite little girls, Nellie Ajuma

Laying out the house for Eric and Pamela

Did you ever move on the same day you started building your new house??

Kitchen!

Tobias Odongo and his son Joshua

Special Offices Seminar at Ombeyi...  (Jake Gingerich with his dad, John and Andrew Odhiambo)

Dean Miller and David

Thomas Amata and John Omondi

Relaxing at lunch time

Hesbon Odep and his Pasta

Pastor Mark, Mary Ellen and Baby Mark Beachy Otieno

Lunch time!

Harmony...

" The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is the knack of getting along with people." Theodore Roosevelt

    "Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much. Erastus Wiman

   "Do not forget small kindnesses and do not remember small faults." Chinese Proverb

    It's been another interesting week in Kisumu!  On Monday evening after the usual Pastor's meeting, the group from Hillcrest treated us to a wonderful pizza meal... complete with bars and ice cream for dessert!  It was great to enjoy REALLY good cheese, pepperoni and even sausage from America!  And after supper they didn't allow any of us to help them with dishes!!  They were a real blessing to the compound here in numerous ways!  We also enjoyed watching a slide show that evening by Phil Yoder.  It had to do with the work at Hillcrest.  Very interesting!

  On Tuesday Wayne went to town with Dean to work on marriage legalization papers for a couple from their church.  That eve. the Hillcrest group was scheduled to fly out of Kisumu so we ate an early supper together here at our house.  They seemed to really like Kenyan food so I made one last meal for them... rice, beans, chicken stew, sukumu, and we bought chapatis.  I was impressed how eager they were to try new foods!  They put me to shame!  

   Wed. afternoon found Wayne and I and Shonda heading to Tobias and Elizabeth's house, near Ahero, for Bible study.  I love to see these couples working together to host activities like this.  Many couples seem to be embarrassed to be seen together a lot but I think this couple may be an exception.  They were very gracious hosts and served us nyoyo and mandazis afterwards.  One thing that's still hard for me is when the ladies are all laughing and talking away in Luo and I can understand so little of what they're saying.  Maybe if they'd talk a bit slower... Oh well, it's ok.  It's just hard not to feel like an outsider sometimes.  I guess I should take time to study the language more... but when?  

   Thursday and Friday were very interesting days... also busy with food preparation!!  Our joint unit meeting with Nakuru was held in Joseph and Beck's lawn on Thurs. afternoon.  The meeting went well and was not so long-winded this time.  The special part of the meeting was when the Pastor's all took time to share what was on their hearts... struggles, victories, etc.  and then there was time spent in prayer.  We find out during times like this that we're not alone in the things we struggle with.  We have all come from a different culture and are trying to blend with a new one.  We have much in common and the missionary bond is great!!  There was enough room in the compound that we didn't need to host anyone here although Shonda's good friend from Nakuru, Abigail Byler, stayed here.  

  On Friday morning breakfast was served bright and early, 7:15, and then Orientation began at 8:30.  Marlin Yoder led the spirited singing.  I LOVE hearing English songs at times like this!  But don't get me wrong!  I love Luo and Swahili as well!!  Freeman Byler shared a very thought-provoking message on "Balancing Vision and Experience".  The thrust of the meetings had to do with Harmony in relationships... especially blending new people on the field with those that have years of experience.  It can be a challenge because new people tend to ask questions like... "Why do you do it this way?" and the old timers say things like "we've tried this and it doesn't work!!"  It's good to have fresh vision but along with that we need the wisdom of those who have been here long-term.  Freeman shared a writing by Glenn Schwartz that was very interesting and helpful in understanding Stages of Missionary Development.  In stage 1. everything is wonderful. Stage 2. everything is terrible. Stage 3. some things are wonderful, some things are not, but that's the way the world is. Stage 4. I am now accepted as an insider in this culture, and I feel good about that. Stage 5. I have left my first culture and totally accepted the new, and I do not intend to turn back.  His writings are unique and we can identify with a lot of what he says.  Don't ask what stage we are in! :)  I don't think we really know ourselves.  I feel like I'm in several stages at once.  The workshops were titled, "When do I get fed?" by Winfred Miller and "Purpose for Mission Youth" by Mark Beachy.  Very worthwhile subjects!  Wayne had the last message titled, "Harmonious Unit Relationships."  To illustrate what he wanted to say he had 3 brothers join him up front to sing a song and they all sang off key!  It sounded terrible and caused some laughter.  But then Wayne told us what ingredients are needed to create harmony and then they sang together beautifully!  :) Harmony cannot be created without diversity; however, that diversity is not self serving but only creates harmony as each part is firmly anchored and surrendered to the "melody". Mary Ellen and I were in charge of making hot dish for lunch so we served ricardo chicken, rice, and beans.  We REALLY enjoyed the fellowship and thank God for the blessing of others with the same vision for the Kingdom that we have!  

   This morning we worshiped with the Rabour church.  I always love going there partly because of their awesome choir!  The singing gives me chills!  Wayne preached a good message on how we need to worship in Spirit, AND in Truth.  We need both! We had to wait there quite a while after the service because the Pastors had an issue they wanted to talk to Wayne about.  Our children's patience was thoroughly tried... but that doesn't hurt us.  

   Tomorrow is the famed chicken butchering day!  I don't need to help cut up chickens because I'm responsible to make breakfast for the whole crew and babysit the children.  So we'll see how that goes!  We have visitors in the compound right now!  Jake Gingerich's parents, John and Christina, from WI as well as Carolyn Rodes parents, James and Esther from VA. 

                                      Blessings to all of you!   Clara

Anastacia Yoder (Marlin's)

You got a smart Grandpa!!

Marlin and Abbi Yoder

Plumeria.  It smells as good as it looks!!

Kenya Youth Group

Clarissa treated the family to shakes after unit meeting!

Esh and Burkholder boys

Typical Rosemary!!

Rabour pastors team.  William and Rosemary Ondeyo (Left), Thomas and Susan Amata (Right)

Elliot Yoder