A Dry and Thirsty Land....

 "O God, thou are my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;" Ps. 63:1

   "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." Isa. 58:11

  "In the barren places of my life I can be assured that God is there, as He is when life is fruitful." Elisabeth Elliot

    We are certainly living in a dry and thirsty land and it reminds me of our need for God... He is able to quench our "thirst." Pake Jesu!!  Sometimes I feel almost desperate for rain and I hope I will NEVER complain about mud again.  Too much water can be harmful too but oh the dryness is depressing!  We have been receiving so many requests for school fees, etc.  One of the Rabuor members was planning to sell a cow to pay school fees but now the cow died because of drought and he needs money.  Groan... We need so much wisdom.  We hate to say no but if we do it for one person there would be no end.  We see the need for food much more important than school fees.  I think we need to have a real celebration once the first soaking rain comes!!  And yes we do have hope that this drought will end someday!  God is faithful!  

   On Monday during Pastor's meeting Glenda, Clarissa, and I went to the orphanage close by here to visit.  We were SO impressed!  The place is VERY clean, nice toys for the children, and caring staff to take care of the children.  We were permitted to help feed the babies. So many adorable children!!  There was a baby brought to the ophanage that day that was only 2 days old.  Poor child!  The mother is only 18 and not interested in her baby. I got to feed a little one who only weighed around 5 lbs.  Such a beautiful little girl!  I wonder so much what her future holds.  A lot of the children will be adopted eventually but there are not a lot of homes available to take them (Kenya is not allowing international adoptions at this time).  God bless the people who so lovingly care for them at the orphanage! 

   Part of the day Tuesday was spent getting ready for clothing sales. Wayne spent most of the day visiting Noah Atito and his family.  Pray for them, they are seeking to come back to the Lela church after having been gone for about a year.  They left on very good terms and only because they live far from church.  Noah now has a piki piki so transport is easier.  The church is very happy about them wanting to come back. On Wednesday Wayne and I and Clarissa took a loaded van to the Kasongo church and set up a fairly large assortment of new and used items for them to buy.  They seemed quite happy and enjoyed the day.  Thankfully everyone was respectful and there was no pushing or shoving to be first.  We got rid of a LOT of stuff!!  And the church ended up with a nice amount of money for their church fund.  We stayed for lunch which consisted of ugali, chicken, and cabbage.  Then they brought sodas and nyoyo!!  And then chai!!!  Oh my!  So much to eat!  They apparently haven't been hit too hard with drought in that area!  Wayne was asked to share at their Bible study that afternoon and they seemed to appreciate it immensely.  We enjoyed the day in spite of the awful heat!  That eve. we were invited to Joe's for supper along with Lester's family, Sammy and Carissa and daughter Sophia and the single ladies.  We are happy to have Hosea and Bernice's son Sammy and family here for a long weekend.  Sammy spent about 8 years of his life here and it's been interesting to hear some of his memories of life here.  Hosea's left when he was 18.  Later in the eve. some more visitors came to the compound... Derrick Unruh's family, his parents, and the single lady who teaches school for them. They are from the Holdeman church group and we were able to make connections with a number of people we both know.  Derrick knows Wayne's uncle Sylvan and cousin-in-law, Reuben Renno.  Also some of my Bender cousins.  So interesting! This world seems quite small sometimes.  

   Wayne had a full day Fri.  In the morning there was a meeting here with Tony Sande, from Nakuru, Wahington Otieno and Eric Ogwe, (Kasongo) and Maurice Omondi (Dienya).  These brothers have been placed on a board to begin a

 quarterly periodical that is similar to the Calvary Messenger.  It would give opportunity for some of our Kenyan brothers to write articles and encourage the churches.  The new periodical will be called, "The Believers Messenger".  Wayne is not officially on the board but is the liaison between the Board and the Mission to help get the work started.  In the afternoon we headed to the Ombeyi church for another clothing sale.  It was extremely warm again but there was a stiff breeze blowing.  We had a bit of trouble with clothes blowing off the benches onto the dirt floor. :(  Here again the ladies were very happy with their "treasures" and it was a good feeling to be able to supply them with clothes, and other items that they need.  

   Lesters family has been such a blessing to us!  They have certainly added a  lot of life to the compound and our girls have an extra spring in their steps since they have new friends around! Most evenings you will find games in progress on the lane and people sitting out there visiting.  

   Kore Beachy is here this weekend again and because all the guest quarters are full he is staying at our house.  Last eve. we enjoyed hosting Sammy and Carissa for supper as well as Kore.  Sometime during the eve. the daughters of Lester, Stacy, and our girls, and even Wayne and Kore were seen over at Deans house banging loudly on pots and pans, blowing a horn, and just making lots of racket,  to wish Dean a happy birthday!! :)  I think he felt quite honored!  

   For lunch today Sammy's, Kore, Joe's, Carolyn, and us were together.  We enjoyed our traditional chicken, rice and beans meal.  Sammy's attended church at Rabuor, Joe's at Ahero (for pulpit exchange), and we were at Lela.  We all came home close to the same time so lunch worked out just fine.  It felt good to be back at Lela again.  Clarissa taught the children's class today... a first for her. 

   We are excited about some very special visitors coming this week!!  My own dear Dad and Mom!!  Can't believe it!!  Also my brother Davy.  Pray for safety as they travel! 

   God bless your week!  May you be as a watered garden... fruitful in Kingdom work.  Love to all, Clara

Visiting with Noah and Evelyn Atito

Clothing Sale at Kasongo

Washington Otieno and Bishop Eric at Kasongo Bible Study

Yolanda, Hannah, Lester and Beka Stoltzfus

Ombeyi Clothing Sale

There's a Bakery lady that comes to sell her wares in our carport on Friday afternoons

Part of the crew that serenaded Dean on his 45th Birthday.  Dean called it a CBF, Kenyan, House of Israel, tin can band parade!

Vanessa and baby Glenda at Lela this morning

Sammy, Charissa, and Sophia Troyer

A New Beginning.......

  "What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.

  "We will open the book. It's pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and it's first chapter is New Years Day."

  "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." Mother Theresa

   2017!!  How can it be here already!!!  When we came to Kenya I thought our furlough time in 2017 was a LONG ways off!  But it's coming faster than I could imagine! God is giving us another opportunity in this brand new year to begin anew... to serve Him with fresh vigor and energy.  We have this moment... lets not waste it!  

   We were up bright and early Monday morning for the famous chicken butchering day!  JoeAllen called it the "great gettin-up morning"!  And Janice thought, "There's a better day a-coming!" Amen!  I agreed with that! :)  All in all things went well but it just takes longer than it used to when we had more manpower around here.  We were SO thankful for Lester and Hannah's help!  Every little bit helps so much!  It's a nice feeling to have our freezer cleaned out and now fresh meat inside!  After butchering we were treated to a WONDERFUL breakfast at Josephs.  Becky made pancakes, gravy, eggs, and we had grilled sausages that someone from America shared with us!!  The single ladies made some fabulous pumpkin crepes and we had fruit salad.  Such a nice way to end that gruesome job! 

   We attended Rabuor's Bible study on Wednesday at Lucas and Dorine's house.  Poor Lucas is in bad health and I was rather horrified at the sound of his breathing.  It sounded to me like he is basically finished running to Doctors and is waiting til the day God will call him home.  He pointed to his hard couch where he spends his days and says he is waiting there for Jesus to come.  The day was hot and the house had no windows so it felt like a test of endurance for me. Sigh... I wish I wouldn't have so much trouble falling asleep on days like that!  It feels like it takes all the energy I have to keep my eyes open! It was a relief when we ladies finally went outside where we were served chai and rice.  Joe's came over that evening for our traditional beans and chapatis meal.  

   Wayne had a meeting with some Kajulu folks on Thursday.  The wife of one of the members has not attended for a long time but after some encouragement she says she wants to return to the church.  Please pray for.... Wayne spent the afternoon visiting members with Pastor Tobias.  In the evening we had prayer meeting at Deans house as well as a welcome snack for Lester's family.  We had soft pretzels and coke and fanta floats with homemade ice cream.  Yum!!  We are all so happy to have some "new blood" around here!  Our girls are especially excited about their new friends.  Our teachers had a sudden change when 3 new students arrived!  

   Friday was another VERY warm day and joint unit meeting with Nakuru was scheduled!  Jake and Jan hosted the event.  The Nakuru folks said it was 51 degrees that morning at home!  Hard to imagine!  They certainly had a warm welcome here and the dust was rolling in the brisk breeze!  The meeting didn't seem as long as sometimes and the food afterward was great!!  We had a visitor arrive during the meeting and he stayed with us overnight.  His name is David Musikenya and he is from the Masai tribe.  We met him at the Masai Mara where he works at Fairmont Safari Club.  He became good friends with my nephew Lyndon and Wayne and David "hit if off" as well!  He is a Believer and we hope he will share the good news of the Gospel with many others that he meets!  He was very pleasant to have around.  He enjoyed playing volleyball with our youth on the lane that eve.  

   On Saturday Wayne, Joseph, and Dean attended a funeral in the Mamboleo area.  Our next door neighbor Ann's daughter-in-law died during childbirth.  The beautiful baby girl that she delivered died as well. They had one 8 year old son and were so excited about this baby. It's been tough for the family.  Ann mentioned in her speech that when death comes to their house it doesn't come knocking... it comes roaring in.  There were hundreds of people at the burial. 

   Ahero was our place of worship this morning.  It seemed like a fairly small group.. don't know where everyone was.  Wayne preached a New Year's message.  We're having a nice evening at home.  Some are out on the lane playing spike ball.  Vanessa and Bradlyn are very much into playing Dutch Blitz these days!  It's hard to imagine the fierce cold weather that many of you are experiencing!!!  How I wish we could even things out a bit!  "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content."  (At least I'm trying). :)  Clara

The great guttin up table!

Lester and his new job!

Lucas sitting on his couch where he's waiting for his Lord to come.

We were visiting an elderly sister on Thursday, when she brought this out to show us the "medicine" she bought to treat her foot wound!!!  (Google it..)

Tisha and Nessa

Children at Unit Meeting

The little girls playing doctor

David and Bradlyn

David sent me this picture after he got home

The way of peace....

 "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix

    Peace... It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

"To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:79

   I found this verse in Luke a while before Christmas and was so blessed by this prophecy.... Jesus will guide us into the way of peace. Pake Yesu! (Praise Jesus!)  What a wonderful promise!  I love quotes and verses about peace.  If we have peace in our hearts regardless of circumstances, we are blessed indeed!!

   We have been enjoying a few days of partly cloudy skies and even a few drops of rain!  It makes the temperatures so much more bearable!  I hate to see our lawn completely brown and crunchy.  It's hard not to get discouraged and especially when I think of our dear friends in the various churches who are suffering from drought. Please pray for them!

   Mark and Mary Ellen Beachy, Markus, and Micah, have gone to their homeland. It wasn't an easy thing to say goodbye and I confess it made me struggle with homesickness for a while.  But I keep praying and asking God to help me be content where He has called us.  And He is faithful!!  The day after Marks left we attended Bible study at Dorice's house (a member from the church that Marks left). I had a nice talk with a few of the ladies and I was SO blessed when I asked Mary Aluoch how she is doing... with the change and all.  She replied, "I have God, I'm OK."  Those were the exact words I needed to hear!  I have God too, so I will be ok.  I thought some of the members seemed a little disheartened when we first met that day but Wayne encouraged them with the stories of Elijah and Elisha, and Moses and Joshua and how God will continue to supply their needs in spite of the change in leadership, etc.  God has a plan for the future of His church.  We are trying to make the change as easy as possible for these dear people!  

   Thursday eve. a week ago the compound met together to hear the Christmas program by the school students.  We really enjoyed the presentation and were very blessed in spite of the fact that there are only 8 students right now!  Wayne Miller (Gerolds), and Westin Miller (Deans) helped them out by adding some tenor and bass parts. I was so relieved that Bradlyn did ok with all his parts and didn't act too shy or ashamed to speak up! :)  I've always been a bit nervous about my first graders! :)  

   On Friday there was a wedding in Oroba. The couple's names were David and Leah.  Most of the folks from the compound attended but Wayne, Clarissa, and Shonda were the only ones from our house that went.  I stayed home to cook supper for Stacy's family. We really enjoyed getting to know them a bit and it appeared that they had some great family times in Kisumu! In case some don't know who they are... they are Robert and Sharon Byler, Heidi, Amy, and David. Robert is Bennie Beiler's nephew.  We were so happy for Stacy!  We know how much it means when family comes!

   Christmas is a time that makes us keenly aware of what we're missing at home!  But even though we didn't go anywhere for a vacation like most of the compound folks did, we tried to make the time special for our children, and we had a very nice week! Josephs, Jakes, and us were the only ones here for most of the week.  Joe's went to Nairobi to pick up Elliot's passport and then stayed a few days for a break from the norm. Deans spent the week at Marks house in Ngiya.  Gerolds went to Mount Elgon.  We had the "privilege" of doing other people's chores. :)   Last Sunday we went to the Dienya for the Christmas service since Mark's had already gone and they had no Pastor.  They made the day special by having some groups sing for us, and a few shared testimonies.  Wayne preached a message titled, "The 4,000 year promise."  After church we handed everyone a lollipop and they were happy with that!  That eve. we, along with some of the rest of the compound were together at Joe's for an evening of fellowship and food around the fire.  

   On Tuesday our family was invited to Nick and Lillian's house in Ngiya.  As usual Lillian got my girls and I to help cook the food and we enjoyed that although it made me extremely thankful for the convenience of my kitchen here , with a gas stove, etc.  It's a really good experience for our children to see how things are done in this culture!  We were served beef, ugali, wonderful chapatis, eggs, beans, and cabbage.  So nice!!  

   Wednesday was the day we took time to do special things with our children... first of all we did some shopping at Jubilee market and then headed to Impala Park.  Such a quiet, peaceful place beside the lake where we can enjoy the animals...  monkeys, giraffe, impala, zebras, etc.  We saw a HUGE monitor lizard that day!  Probably 6 feet long!  Ugh!!  We took a packed lunch with us.  Thanks SO much to those from home who helped make our lunch special by providing us with ham and cheese!!  Such a treat!!  That eve. we went to Kiboko Bay to enjoy the sunset as we ate our meal.  Such a lovely place and we got to meet some interesting people from the Coptic church in Maseno, that knew Jim Harries.  On the way home we stopped to check out a brand new supermarket on Ring Road, close to the compound.  It's called Tumaini and the place was rather crowded.  The thing that amazed me was that we had one of the two vehicles that were parked outside!!  You would never see an empty parking lot in America!  But this store caters to the people who don't have cars and are within easy walking distance.  It's a very nice place and from the looks of all the people they should make out alright!  I was happy to know of a place just down the road that I can go to if I don't feel like going to busy Nakumatt!!  

   Yesterday was a special day for us!  We were happy to welcome a new family to the compound!  Lester and Hannah Stoltzfus arrived with 5 of their children last eve. and they plan to stay until the end of March!  They will be taking over the Dienya church that Mark's left, until Brian Masts are able to come.  It's SO special for our children to make new friends here! Yolanda is close to Clarissa's age, Janessa and Hadassah are close to Shonda, and Latisha and Vanessa have already "hit it off" really well! :) We hosted Lester's, Joseph's, Joe's, Stacy, and Rhoda at our house.  Wayne grilled some yummy chicken and I made potatoes, salad, and a chocolate trifle to go with it.  

   

   Today Lester's and us headed to Dienya.  Wayne introduced them to the church and Lord willing next Sunday they will be on their own!  I think people were impressed that Lester greeted them in Luo.  Their family will be a real blessing to the church there!  Wayne preached a New Years message... taking lessons from happenings on New Years days in the Bible and also the Passover and death of Christ that happened soon after the New Year.  The thrust of the message encouraged us to: Walk in the Light (leave the darkness) (from day 1 of creation), Remember God's Mercy (dry land after the flood), Remember your Deliverance (Passover, Death of Jesus), Return from Captivity (sin)(Ezra 7, 10), and Consecrating our lives to God (Tabernacle, Ex 40, Hezekiah, 1 Ch.29)

  We wish you God's blessings in 2017!  Its hard to believe that we have been here for two Christmas seasons already!  Thanks for your prayers and friendship!   Clara for the Yoders 

Marks with Wycliffe and Dishon

Jamie, Ayla and Trooper

Elderly and Handicapped waiting for Aid

Kenya Christian Academy

Brad's first program.

On the way to the wedding.

The Bride arrived!  (over an hour late. But hey, they got married anyhow!)

Rabuor Choir

Some of the Brides family

The Groom and Groomsmen

Almost ready for the Processional

Bishop Freeman Beiler (Nakuru)

Pastor Gerold having devotions

Where's thing 2?

Bishop Freeman preaching

Pastor Thomas Amata (marriage officer)

David and Leah are married!

Pastor Joe peering in!!

Christmas Dinner in Kenya

Enjoying Impala Park