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!!