Sunday, July 30, 2017

Faith over Fear...

  "When we put our problems in God's hands, He puts His peace in our hearts."

  "Don't pray for life to be easy, but pray for yourself to be strong."

  "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isa. 41:13

   It feels like our faith is being tested right now. There are a number of things happening around us that could cause fear but please help us pray that we can be strong in the Lord. God is our rock... a shelter in the time of storm.

  We continue to be blessed with rain every few days. Temperatures are almost perfect, sometimes even cool!  We had hopes of a good harvest for our Kenyan friends but sad to say the maize has not done well in many areas.  It seems an insect of some kind is the culprit.  Millet is doing well, thankfully.  I was blessed this morning while talking to some of the sisters about it... they continue to have a strong faith in God, knowing He will take care of them.  

   Wednesday a week ago found our whole family and Stacy heading to the Oroba area for Bible study at Jabet's house.  Jabet is a community health worker.  She walks the hills teaching people good hygiene, gives immunizations, etc.  It was interesting to be with the Oroba folks.  The reason we were at their Bible study is because Joseph and Becky were not home from furlough yet and Marlin and Lavina have already returned to America.  Joseph's have returned as of last weekend and we are SO happy to have them back!! Gerold and Becky were very happy to hand the work of "unit leader" back to them again!  In the eve. Joe and Glenda and Stacy joined us for our traditional meal of chapatis and beans and then we looked at our furlough pics.

  The next day Wayne did some visiting in the Ahero area.  He ended up taking Paul Juma to the hospital as he was very sick and weak with cancer.  From last reports he is feeling better again and able to eat some.  

  On Friday Wayne and Joe did a body transport.  Wellington, husband of Benter, died while we were on furlough.  He had been "out of his mind" for a while and made life very difficult for Benter.  He was often seen eating garbage at the Ahero market.  It's awful to think about!!  I wouldn't be surprised if he died from food poisoning.  He had some friends among the local traffic patrol officers that were giving him money for food on a regular basis.  The next day Joe and Glenda and Wayne and I attended the funeral. It was a large crowd with many speeches that seemed to drag on endlessly.  Joe preached a powerful message and we hope and pray that people will think seriously about what they heard!  Clarissa could tell you stories about her day on Saturday as well!!  She was asked to be photographer at a wedding.  The couple is not members of any of our churches but they learned to know Gerold's family well and so our young folks were quite involved in the wedding.  The wedding started close to 5 hours late!!  Clarissa left home around 6:20 in the morning and came back exactly 12 hours later.  Whew!  Talk about tiring! 

  Kore was with us last weekend and brought with him a puppy that has fast become part of the family!!  The children love her and Bradlyn insisted that she be called "Dixie".  Hopefully she will grow up to do her job well... guard our dala!  

  Last Sunday it was great to be back at Ahero for church!!  Everyone has welcomed us back so heartily!  We were happy to meet Richard and Milkah's new baby after church.... they named him Bishop Wayne! :)  On Sunday eve. the unit was invited to Brian and Mary Jane's house for the eve.  It was nice to have Lorne and Grace Kuepfer and their daughter Tonya with us! They have come for 6 weeks or more as furlough replacements for Jake and Janice Gingerich and their family.  We sure appreciate their willingness to chip in and help where needed!  Some more visitors there that eve. were Wendall and Bethany Miller (Titus and Frieda Millers children) from McConnelsville.  There's one girl around here that was especially happy!!  Carla Barkman and Wendall have been busy planning for their wedding in November!  The evening was enjoyed by all!  Brian had all the Pastors share their life stories in 5 minutes.  Well it ended up taking longer than that!  But it was great!  I learned quite a few things that evening that I didn't know! :) The meal afterward was wonderful good!  Taco salad and all kinds of side dishes.

  Monday morning found all the Pastor's and their wives heading to Rondo Retreat for the day for our annual Pastor's meeting.  We ladies met in the chapel and had a meeting that lasted just as long as our husbands!!  It was fairly informal though and relaxed.  Such a blessing to fellowship with others who are experiencing many of the same things I am!  

   On Tuesday Wayne and Pastor Tobias from Ahero visited Paul Juma in the hospital again and also had a meeting with Francis who has been struggling with a clan relationship and understanding the church's desire to help work through the issue.  In the end, things turned out well. Ptl!  He also visited Tobias and Emma.  Emma is a good friend of mine and I have such a burden for her.  She knows English well, and somehow connects with me better than a lot of the ladies do.  Their marriage has been a real struggle and she confided in me that she was almost ready to give up and move out!  I tried hard to encourage her and assured her of my prayers. Praise the Lord, according to Emma's testimony, I think things in their marriage are better.  Recently her father was attacked and killed.  Her mother has not lived with her father for years and now the clan is in turmoil because her father had not named next of kin; though her 16 year old brother is claiming the rights.  Please pray for her!  

  Wayne and I attended Bible study with the Rabuor church on Wednesday at Rhoda's house.  Thankfully there was a nice breeze coming through the door that day and the temperature was pleasant.  While there we met John Owunda who lives across the road as well as Rhoda's son Steve Okoth who is also excommunicated.  Join us in prayer that these brothers would clearly repent of their issues and could be restored.  

  On Thursday morning our family was in charge of serving breakfast to the Nakuru folks who arrived for joint unit meeting.  We enjoyed the day a lot!  Gerold's hosted the event and did a great job.  We were sorry to find out the next day that Gerold was sick with malaria.  This is at least the second time that he has had a positive test.  Recently their son Wayne was very sick and had to have two rounds of malaria meds.  Glenda was sick with the same thing at the same time.  We were also sad to hear that Dean Miller had malaria since they have gone back to America. I think he had taken malaria meds with him just in case and it was put to good use.  Marlins wife Lavina didn't fare so well!!  She got very sick soon after their return to America and ended up being in several hospitals and in ICU before the proper malaria meds were found for her!  Pole sana!!  (So sorry!)  We don't understand why there is SO much malaria these days!  In years gone by there has been very little of it but lately its very bad!  And now on top of that it has been announced that there is a cholera outbreak in Kisumu!  Officials are trying desperately to get in under control. A number of people have died. So you see we need prayers for protection!  It's hard not to fear sometimes!  I have trouble with my mind thinking "what if's..."  We certainly don't want anyone to be seriously ill over the time of elections next week while we will be "grounded"  for a while.  It could be bad if someone would need to get to a hospital.  But we know who the greatest Physician is and with all your prayers I know we will be in good hands!  

   Thankfully things are calm right now in regards to election although it appears that it could be a very tight race.  Please pray that the leader who loses will be willing to concede peacefully and that things will be done decently and in order.  We will try to keep you informed of what's happening.  The compound here is making preparations, stocking up on some extra food and meds, etc. and keeping in mind what we would need to do in case there would be an emergency evacuation.  God is in control!

  On Friday I was busy getting things ready for the 5 different clothing sales that are coming up in the next several months.  I have quite a collection of used jars, containers, shoes, outgrown clothes, and many other odds and ends that make these people so happy!  I put things in 5 different piles and packed them up so it's all ready for the big day!  Wayne and I will do sales at Ahero, Rabuor, Kasongo, Ombeyi, and Kajulu.  The same day Wayne, and our girls, and Stacy took a new sewing machine to Pamela Okuta's house in Ahero.  She has saved up enough money to buy a machine and was so happy to have it delivered to her house!  We rejoice that her husband John is in Instruction class and desires to join the church at Ahero. 

  This morning we attended Lela church since Joe and Glenda went to Kasongo where Joe was asked to preach.  Shonda and Vanessa went with Joe's to help take care of the children and also because it was their first opportunity to attend Kasongo.  Wayne preached a good message on "The man God calls a fool".  The people were very responsive and listened attentively.  Pray for widow, Lina Aduda and her family.  She has been facing a lot of stress in her dala as her brother in law has threatened to kill her by burning her in her house.  We believe the threat is credible. A few days ago the law was involved and he was locked up only to be bailed out by his aged mother. Some years ago Lina's husband (now dead) tried to burn his mother in her house and she narrowly escaped.  This in law is a rough character that is involved in drugs and alcohol.  I was blessed by Lina's plea this morning that she could be faithful and also by a "brother" that stood and admonished the church to not only pray for Lina but to also pray for God's work in the heart of this brother in law.  We prayed this morning for the defeat of the enemy through the blood of Jesus.

  One more prayer request!  Brian Mast's work permit has been denied for some reason.  Please pray that thing can be worked out and that Brian's won't need to leave the country.  They are very much needed and appreciated here!!!!

   Blessings to all of you our friends and supporters!!  We're depending on your prayers!  Nyasaye Ogwhedi, (God bless), Clara
Bible study at Jabet's house


Jabet's nice little house


Brad is delighted with Dixie!!


Benter's daughter Sarah and friend Blessed at Wellington's burial


fresh beef




Cathedral where gate man George's daughter was married


Wayne with gate man George

Joe preaching at funeral... the son of Benter is beside him


Pastor's meeting at Rondo

Ladies meeting

Playing bocce ball


Glenda with Carla and Kaylita Barkman and Bethany Miller

What does zeroliation mean? :)

Tobias wife Emma

Paul Juma in the hospital... wife Jane is with him

Vanessa finding creative ways to stack dishes

Meatballs for unit meeting


Unit meeting


Chai at Pamela's... after dropping off sewing machine

Clarissa painted this motto for our dining room wall

What a wonderful promise!!

Wendall and Carla... a happy couple!!

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Safely across the water and back again!!

 "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." Andre Gibe

  "A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships were built for. John A. Shedd

  "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me. Ps. 139

  I would love to know how many miles we've traveled since the last time I wrote!  I'm keenly aware that "safety is of the Lord."  And we have been blessed abundantly with health, strength, and protection as we traveled by air and by land!  Excitement ran high in this house as time neared for our journey to America!  We were blessed with fairly good flights, although we had some turbulence at times and stress at airports!!  Security was extremely high, especially at JFK airport.  We stood in LONG lines and barely made our flight to Charlotte in time. And then what was supposed to be a one and a half hour flight ended up being more like 5 hours of sitting on the plane!!  Endurance was running out!!  But we were glad our pilot was careful and didn't make a foolish decision to fly through a bad storm.  We had to stop in Raleigh to refuel and then eventually landed in Charlotte where we were united at last with wonderful family members!!!  Mahlons and Jeremy's ( my sisters and their families) were there to meet us.  We were SO exhausted and Wayne and I slept some on the way home from the airport.  We arrived at Joe and Glenda's cozy little abode around midnight and were met by my Dad and Mom!!  What a wonderful welcome!  We walked into the house and were amazed by all the goodies and lovely things to eat piled on the table and in the fridge!!  How could our minds and our stomach's take it all in!!! :)  Jet lag wasn't a big problem on that side but we've been having a hard time of it since we're on this side again! :(  

   How can I describe furlough to you in few words?  Well it was wonderful, relaxing, exhausting, fun, and sometimes "nerve wracking", and well a lot of things!!  It was definitely a real highlight to connect with family and friends again!  Our church at home was so kind and welcoming!  We had a time of it getting ready for church the first Sunday!!  We're not used to wearing socks and black shoes and suit coats and such like!  It felt like it took us so long to get ready and then there was a missing sock and too short pants and so on!  Oh well, we finally adjusted.  And it was actually kind of fun to feel a bit more dressed up then usual.  But oh how nice it was to go to church this morning and not have that urgency to dress just right! :) We spent our first week in Wytheville enjoying time with family and doing some things at our house which is rented out presently.  We were sad to discover a leak in the basement where our belongings are stored so we needed to throw some things away, fix an outdoor hydrant which caused the leak, and try to get rid of some mold that came as a result.  Wayne got a new dehumidifier and things seem to be in good shape again.  It was a bit hard to see other people living in our house.  I really didn't have a desire to be there much because it felt too strange.  But we're thankful that our renters are taking fairly good care of the property, although the flower beds were sadly neglected.  But with the help of Wayne's mom, dad, sister and most of the older "cousins" we were able to get rid of the awful weeds that had taken over.  And then Chet and his boys mulched the beds which gave it a brand new look!!  What a blessing family is!!  

   We were happy to spend some time at Shepherd's Retreat near Caldwell, OH.  Tommy and Marji Wagler and family, Joseph and Becky Hostetler (from here, but were also on fulough), Charity Yoder, and Aaron and Rachel Yoder joined us for part of our time there. We also got to see Melodie Beiler one evening!! :)  It was so good to spend time with former Kenya folks!!  There's a connection there that is just hard to describe.  We spent time playing some games and the men and boys did some fishing.  It was just a wonderful relaxing time!  One of the highlights was the awesome food that Marji and Charity shared with us!!  We took some paneer cheese with us from Kenya and Marji fixed it Asian style along with rice, and even naans!!  Oh it was SOOO good! :)  From Ohio we traveled to PA where we spent Sat. afternoon with Lester and Hannah Stoltzfus and their family.  It was great to be with them again and they served us a wonderful meal as well!!  And then we traveled another two hours to Wayne's parents house where we were welcomed again so kindly!!  Tim and Ruth's family came to spend a bit of time with us that eve. as well.  Wayne preached at Shady Grove church the next day and it was great to connect with those folks!  We were privileged to spend time with some Bender family cousins, uncles and aunts that week at Ray and Annie's house! Most of our time in PA was spent at a cabin with all of Wayne's family except for Tony and Judith and family.  The cousins spent many happy hours together and some of the nights were a bit short!  Many happy memories made!!  

   The remainder of our furlough time was spent in VA.  We had many meal invitations... I guess I won't take time to name them all, although each one was enjoyed immensely!!  And we also had a very nice Bender family time at Copelands Retreat in Marion.  Aww... precious memories!!  There's SO much that could be said but this is getting too long already!  We just want all of you to know that we were richly blessed and encouraged by our time at HOME and we feel like we left with renewed courage and strength for the work awaiting us here in Kenya.  Were we ready to get back??  YES, YES!!  :))  Kenya feels like home and it was wonderful to reach Nairobi and be met by Joe and Glenda, Tiffany, and Elliot!  The next day we had lunch together with Tony's family in Nakuru on our way back to Kisumu. Kore came to meet us too and if just felt "right"  to be here again!!  It's so nice to be together as a family again and take care of our own needs instead of feeling so indebted to everyone for giving us so many meals, beds, etc.  "Home is where the heart is."  And right now that's Kenya but we don't know how long God wants us here.  We will take a day at a time and try our best to fulfill the purpose He has for us here.  There was plenty of work for us when we came... and the next number of weeks look busy, especially for Wayne.  And then there is the uncertainty of our future here with elections coming up soon.  Predictions for a peaceful election are not there but we know who's in control and we want to hold His hand in faith.  

   We were at the Ugunja church this morning where Wayne preached a good message on "Worship".  We enjoyed a great meal of our favorite; rice and beans and chicken, at James and Christina Barkman's house afterwards.  Since Dean and Barbara Jean left there are two more churches added to Wayne to have Bishop responsibility over.  Wayne's cry and prayer is that God will raise up more leaders to help carry the heavy load!!  Please help us pray!  It was WONDERFUL to be back in a Kenyan church service with all the "Amens", and "Pake Yesu's"!!!  :)  We've been warmly welcomed back by our compound family as well and it's just great to see everyone again!  

   I should mention yet that Maurice Andere was buried yesterday. Appreciation was expressed by one of the sons for Pastor Mark, Pastor Lester and Pastor Brian's ministry to Maurice in his illness.  He was a proving person at the Dienya church and was afflicted with cancer for a long while.  He suffered a lot in the last months of his life.  The cancer had eaten a deep open wound into his side. I love to imagine how glorious Heaven must be especially for our dear friends here who have known so much poverty and difficulty.  During the burial it started raining heavily but they continued with filling the grave. Wayne had the graveside service and he and the few others that stuck around to the end, got soaked!! Two of the church sisters cheerfully braved the storm and sang their hearts out.  They sang with rain running down their faces. Today Wayne has a very stiff neck. There's SO much more that could be written about the last few days but I've got to stop somewhere.... Blessings to all of you in your "journey's" as well.  THANK YOU for blessing us in so many ways!  Your gifts of money, food, and so much more will not be forgotten!!  Your prayers are most appreciated!!  Love, Clara

E
Ready for the journey!! Goodbye Elliot!


Bradlyn with our dog Kelsie who still remembered us!!

A hymn sing with our church family at the Cove Church


Clarissa... so happy to have her Learners permit!

Family times


"Kenya friends"



Tommy Wagler family

Charity :)

Shonda and Hadassah

Yoder family cousins!

Yoders in purple

Singing with Gramma

Grandpa and Grandma Bender

Spike ball... favorite pastime

Beautiful view from our "cabin"
Marla and Shanna


Family time in the chapel

Sweet Kaitlyn... we miss you!!

A lovely place to eat!


Hard work on our flower beds


Cousins helping Grandpa Bender

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Sad goodbyes at Joe and Glenda's house where we stayed

Elliot delighted with a riding toy we took along in a tote for him

Back in Kenya!

Funeral of Maurice Andere






Elliot's birthday party

Pastor James Barkman