The Trying of Your Faith...

"Patience is not about how long you wait, it's about how well you behave while you're waiting."

  "Don't mistake God's patience for his absence. His timing is perfect and His presence is constant. He's always with you!"

  "The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for us in all our delays and detours." John Piper

  It takes an awful lot of patience to wait for this "election mess" to be finished.  I know this too shall pass... but when??  Yesterday was one of the worst we have ever heard as far as gunshots, sirens, and screaming!  There was chaos in town and the police had a hard time keeping things under control.  Reports were that they were trying to loot our favorite supermarket here in Nyalenda.  We haven't heard if they gained entrance or not.  I would be very sad if that place would be messed up!  We depend on it a lot since Nakumatt is not stocked.  There were lots of roads blocked with stones, and some had stacks of tires burning.  They were going strong from morning til night.  It was definitely not safe to be out!  And they are calling for demonstrations every day next week!!  GROAN!  But I guess we will try to make lemonade out of "lemons".  The protests are supposed to be peaceful but there is a constant tension between the police and protesters.  Thugs like to take advantage of the situation as well and use this time to do their wickedness, while having the blame fall on the "protestors". We even had a taste of what tear gas is like on Friday evening!  Joe's and Kore were here for supper when suddenly the breeze brought us something that made our eyes and noses burn! Thankfully it didn't last long. We were so thankful when Kore reached the compound safely late in the afternoon! He was in Ahero doing food parcels for orphans and then came here for the night. We were praying for him as he carefully made his way through roads that had lots of rocks on them. In Nyamasaria a drunk man staggered into the truck that was ahead of him and Kore had to swerve to avoid him. The man threatened to rock his vehicle. Kore couldn't come in Ring Road because of fires. But he found another way. Such foolishness!  If only people could see that they're hurting their own people and their own city.  Lives are being lost and even the police are reported to be "out of control" sometimes and are accused of beating people and stealing food because they are hungry.  

  A week ago Wednesday we had the Special offices seminar at Ahero church.  It was a VERY warm day and it was a test of endurance for some of us. There were 3 messages in a row.  The message bearers were Joshua Ochieng, Jake Gingerich, and Brian Mast.  We heard some very good teaching!  After a typical Kenyan meal provided by the Ahero ladies we gathered again for segregated workshops.  Becky Hostetler shared with the ladies on the subject of "CoLaborers in Ministry."  She did a great job! I really enjoy those special days of being with our national friends.  Every year I know more people and remember more names!  I'm not naturally good at remembering names but I'm trying hard! That evening Earl and Edna Peachey were here for supper as well as Joe's.  Then we headed over to Joe's house where they hosted a unit activity.  Earl preached another inspirational message for us.  We really enjoyed our time with them!  We are also enjoying a visit from Ruth Kuepfer.(Mark Kuepfer's dau.) She lived here with her family more than 10 years ago.  She has been spending a good bit of time visiting native friends and she's also been a real blessing here in the compound!  She has made herself available to the busy moms to help with whatever projects need to be done. People like her are so refreshing!!

  Last Sunday was the second of our 7 Communion services for this season.  We were at Chulaimbo with Jake and Jan.  We arrived late because their vehicle didn't start because the battery was dead.  Wayne helped them get it started.  It was a long service... We didn't leave until after 2:00.  But it was a blessing to be there.  From there we headed to Maseno to the home of Willis and Sarah where we were invited for lunch.  We won't forget their home right away!!  We drove over some very rough terrain up a mountain until the road ended and then we hiked for a little ways up over rocks to their mountain home.  They have a lovely view where they live up high in the rocks but it obviously took LOTS of work to put a house on a hillside like they did! They have a family of 7 children.  Very nice family!  It made me feel like we are just SO spoiled and have things so easy.  This family needs to carry all their water up that mountain!  Imagine!  I was breathing hard and puffing by the time I got there and when I got home my legs were shaking like a leaf.  It's beyond me how they can carry water and all those heavy things up those rocks!  And their school children need to leave home at 6am every morning.  They don't come home until somewhere between 5 and 7 in the eve. I asked them when they do their homework, and they said at night! Wow!  I'm sure they have become "tough" and strong in many ways! 

  There were demonstrations again on Monday while the Pastor's had their meeting.  But things were fairly peaceful that day. James, Christina, and Kaylitya Barkman left in the morning for America.  They plan to be gone 3 weeks.  Their daughter Karla is getting married to Wendell Miller. We miss them! Sylvia is taking Kaylita's place in the classroom. Some of us ladies were together for a while sewing on Glenda's carport in the afternoon.  We enjoyed learning to know Ruth Kuepfer better and hearing some stories of how things were when they lived here. We got chased home by a very welcome rainstorm late in the afternoon.  Things were getting dry and the dust was flying so we've been extremely grateful for all the rain we've had this past week!  It cools things off so beautifully! 

  On Thurs. Wayne and I were in the Ahero area doing some visiting.  We stopped at Tobias and Elizabeth's house first. We feel so comfortable and at home there.  Then Tobias accompanied us to old Mama Flora's house to see if she is ready for Communion. We got to meet her granddaughter Grace who is going through a very hard time. She just left her drunken "husband" who she lived with for 5 years. When she started living with him he seemed to be a good man and was involved in the church, but in the last years he has turned away from God leaving her with a lot of pain.  We tried to encourage her and when we left her face was transformed from a very sullen expression to nice smiles.  Pake Yesu!  Mama Flora is the lady who has told some very strange stories in the past.  She tells of her niece who gave birth to something more like a snake than a baby! So AWFUL!!  It was obviously something to do with witchcraft. There is SO much of that kind of thing going on out there!  Crazy stuff is in the news all the time.  Recently a football team was complaining that they couldn't score because of someone using witchcraft against them.  Oh how people need God!!  Please pray that we can be a light in the darkness of Kenya!  

  Yesterday Wayne and I attended the funeral of Bro. Walter from Rabuor. JoeAllen was there as well and Kore stopped in a bit too since Walter used to work with Kore on the Agape program.  It was a fairly small group.  Wayne preached a good message on "A good name." I enjoyed hearing the Rabuor choir sing.  They sure have lots of volume!  

  This morning was our third Communion service at Lela.  Would you believe!  Before we left this morning Joe came over and said that their car wouldn't start. The battery was dead!  This is the third Sunday in a row that this happened to the Pastor whose church we attended that day!  He had been sure that it wouldn't happen to them! Wayne was needed every time to start the vehicle!  We got a good laugh out of that one and we wonder who is next!! :) We had a good service today and it was great to be back at Lela!  

  Please pray for us this week as we face all the unknowns and as we wait out this election process.  We need patience, courage, and endurance!  And we need good attitudes as well!  It's not easy for the Kenyan folks either because many of them can't find work with all the unrest... and then they can't put food on the table.  It's tough right now but God is with us!!  Pake Yesu!  Thanks to family and friends who have been an encouragement!  Nyasaye Ogwhedi! (God bless!) Clara for the Yoders

Jediah Gingerich

At Kiboko Bay with Earl and Edna Peachey

Fisherman cleaning his catch

Ahero cooks at Special offices seminar

Ahero Pastor Tobias and Elizabeth Ajuma

Pastors Thomas and Joshua

Pastor Jake with Brian

Rabuor Pastor Thomas and Susan and Deacon William and Rosemary

Becky teaching the ladies at Special offices seminar

John Omondi and Washington Otieno

Protests

Tear gas canister in his pocket. Some people get smart and catch the canisters that the police throw.  Then they have their own ammunition. 

Clarissa painting a sign for aunt Glenda's birthday

Enjoying ice cream cones with Brian and Mary Jane's family

Washing feet at Chulaimbo

View from Willis' mountain home

The food tasted great after hiking!

Willis, Sarah and family

Bradlyn made this at school. Not sure why he thought it looked like Trump! :)

Many people harvesting rice in the background

More protests

Margaret (in white) is Walter's widow

Service at Lela this morning