"Praise is the best of all sacrifices and the true evidence of godliness."
"The sacrifice of praise comes from a humble heart that has been purified by fire."
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Heb. 13:15
This phrase "the sacrifice of praise," jumped out at me when I was reading this verse recently. I've been mulling over what makes praise a sacrifice. Praise is a happy, joyous thing so why should it be a sacrifice? I wonder if it means that during hard times when the last thing we feel like doing is praising, but we do it anyway, just because God is good and He deserves it... That's a sacrifice well pleasing to God!
The rains disappeared for a week or so but thank God they're back!! We can't praise Him enough for answering our prayers and giving our friends hope for their crops!! I LOVE the green grass, flowering things, and new life!
Bradlyn's most recent project is caring for a pigeon that Gerold's had for a while but it was attacked by the chickens at their house and looks rather pitiful with feathers missing. It can't fly well but makes a good pet for our children. Wayne built a nice cage for it yesterday and the pigeon seems happy with it! The children love watching it and say it shows off! :) Bradlyn named it Bobby.
Wayne has been spending time with Paul Juma from Ahero the last several weeks. Paul has been suffering from back pain and other problems for a long time! Wayne took Paul to the Russia hospital where it was discovered that instead of having TB as they thought initially, he has cancer. It started in the prostate and has gone to his lungs and possibly the spine. Paul is 68 years old and has decisions to make now as far as what he wants to do for treatment. There is very little money for doctoring so I suppose there is not a lot that can be done for him besides making him comfortable. He was prescribed meds for pain and inflammation and has been feeling a lot better. He has a young wife with a small baby, named after Marlin Stoltzfus. Wayne was impressed with Paul when it came to making decisions... Paul said he wants to go home and pray about it first.
Last Friday Wayne flew to Nairobi again to pick up certificates of "good conduct" for him and Joseph. He met Marlin Yoder there and went with him on some Agape business. Wayne thought his piki ride in the city was pretty wild! The driver did all kinds of maneuvers. Wayne wondered if that's how I feel sometimes when he's driving! :) I told him "EXACTLY!" I was glad he's had a taste of what I go through! :) The flight home was delayed because of plane problems. So they had to find another plane and he finally arrived in Kisumu over an hour late. We actually got to watch him land at the airport from the Acacia Restauant! Kore Beachy and Brian Wagler's family were here for CAM work that day and they wanted to treat Josephs, Stacy, and us to a meal at Acacia because of the times we've hosted them when they come to Kisumu. Wayne wasn't there for the first part of the evening of course, but after watching him land he soon arrived. ( Brian Mast picked him up at the airport) to join us for a WONDERFUL meal!! It was a beautiful evening and I was SO glad to have Wayne home safe and sound!
On Saturday eve. we enjoyed hosting Gerold's family, along with their visitors, Andre and Sharon Weaver, and Joe and Glenda, here for supper. It's interesting to us that Andre's recently moved from Ohio to Tazewell, VA, which is not too far from Wytheville. They along with a few other families are beginning a new outreach there. Brings back so many good memories of when the church at Wytheville started!
Last Sunday we attended church at Dienya along with Lesters and Brians. We enjoyed it very much! Wayne preached a challenging message on the "tongue." I was so glad to finally see Nick and Lillian's addition to their family! Around 8 weeks ago Nick was walking past the property where the old church was and discovered that somebody had left a newborn baby lying close to the choo. Apparently someone wanted to throw it down the hole but thank God the door was locked! Nick rescued the baby that was wrapped in his mother's maternity clothes. No one around wanted the baby and so Nicks have been pouring love into him. They are so excited about having a new son! Lillian lost 7 babies in the past and they only had one living son. The baby is very tiny but doing well and growing. He is adorable!! They named him Ivan Moses. I'm guessing Ivan after Ivan Peachey and they say Moses because they found him. After leaving church we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Lester's house along with Brian and Mary Jane and family.
Wayne visited Francis Obuya from Ahero on Tuesday. They had a very sad thing happen to them recently when their son who is a piki driver was hit by an out of control vehicle and he died. His head hit the road and split open. Sadly, we don't know if he was a Christian. The funeral is coming up on Saturday. CBF will be having it because he did not have a church that he was a part of.
On Wednesday Wayne had a meeting at Ombeyi with Bishop Eric and Pastor Peter. They're looking at the possibility of deacon ordination there but unfortunately there are hard things to work through with some relationships first. Please pray for much wisdom for Wayne as he tries to help.
I've been busy cleaning out cupboards, pantry, closets, and drawers the last while! I have this drive in me to get rid of stuff we don't need and organize!! It's a wonderful feeling to get it done and I love the fact that the dust isn't flying around here right now because of the lovely rains that come most every day! It makes cleaning feel more worth it! Clarissa and I have been cutting out dresses too. On Thursday when the Pastors from here went to Nakuru to help work on the new Lamp and Light building we ladies got together at Becky's house to do some sewing, etc. It was great! We enjoyed the fellowship and then to top it off we went to Acacia to eat a late lunch in honor of Hannah who will be leaving us soon.
There was some excitement in our lawn on Friday afternoon when Andre Weaver cut down a big tree that was dying. He knew exactly where to cut to make the tree fall just where he wanted it. I was really sad to see the tree go but was thankfully it was in the back corner, and not in the middle of the lawn where we really need the shade.
This morning we attended church at Lela where Wayne preached a message on, "What is surrender?" After the service our family went to the hospital in Ahero to visit Lina Aduda and her sweet daughter Josephine who was deathly sick with malaria this past week. Thankfully, when we got there; Josephine was much better and looking "chipper!" I was rather horrified with the conditions around there. We had to avoid a big water puddle on the side walk and walk gingerly around blood spatters as well. Please don't ever take the nice clean environment at the hospitals in America for granted! We are so blessed!!
We had an interesting Sunday evening activity at Gerolds. Andre Weaver who works for CAM Rapid Response, showed us slides of the work that CAM is involved in. Very interesting!! It felt kind of strange to be on this side of the water as we saw many pictures of poor people in Africa. I recognized some of the people on the pictures. It's good to be reminded of the poverty all around us. After seeing it day after day you can become almost immune to it or something and it might not affect us like it did at first. God give us wisdom to know how to meet the needs! Clara for the Yoders
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| It's Raining!! |
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| Andre and Stan fixing CBF Ahero gate |
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| Bible Study at Noah Atito's |
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| Andre and Sharon Weaver |
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| Sunrise |
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| More than one way to haul door frames! Some of you probably recognize this spot. |
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| Tiffany Yoder and Angela Weaver |
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| Honor Roll Party! |
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| Lamp and Light's new offices |
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| outside |
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| Ask Jeremy where Joe learned to do that! |
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| Pastor Brian at work! |
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| Teamwork! |
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| Elizabeth Ajuma in her kitchen |
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| Paul and Jane Juma with son's Mishak and Marlin |
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| Cleaning up the mess in our back yard. Thanks to good neighbors!!! |
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| Baba' Gerold at work! |
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| Pasta' Joe's Trucking |
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