Kisumu Yoder's: Rain From Heaven...

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jer. 31:25 NIV

"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, and sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way."

"When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles!"

How wonderful it was to hear those first welcome drops of rain on our tile roof!! Thank you God! It's hard to believe how much things have changed since my last post. There has been abundance of rain and the cool temperatures are truly amazing!! I've actually wished for warmer weather a few times! We needed sweaters at times and even socks felt good! I have thanked God many times for bringing our national friends hope again! They are busy planting and hoping for a good harvest. God is faithful and makes everything beautiful in His time. The grass is actually greening up!! Pake Yesu!

On Tuesday, Wayne, Tobias Ajuma and Frances, took Jane Juma to her father's home in the Nandi Hills to visit the family and pick up some maize that was there for them. When they got to the home they discovered that Paul was planning to go along. The brothers thought it couldn't be. Paul is the one that has cancer and is just "skin and bones" and did not seem fit to travel. They tried to talk him out of it, but he really wanted to go. Wayne did not want to tell them what to do, but encouraged them to allow him to go as his time on earth is likely short and he will probably not be able to go again. Paul made the trip fairly well but stayed in the car the few hours that they were there. The family enjoyed having Paul and Jane and the rest of them there and sent them home loaded with maize, a lot of bananas, and some beans, which is a real blessing to Paul and Jane. Some of our people are struggling with having enough, as is fairly normal this time of the year. With dry season ending, last years crop is usually gone, school fees are due and planting takes money as well. Pray for faith and the provision of an Almighty Father.

We enjoyed our week with the AMA delegation board members that were here... Jonas and Wanda Beiler and Phil and Sue Beachy. On Wednesday we hosted them at our house for lunch... chapatis, rice and beans. That afternoon Jonas and Wanda joined Wayne and I at the Rabuor Bible study held at Angeline's house. Jonas shared a good topic with us concerning "Little things". That evening the board members treated the whole compound to a meal at Kiboko Bay. That's something we look forward to every year! We also enjoyed having Gerold's visitors with us. Andy and Edna Yoder and their family from Brown Co. Ohio. Their encouragement and support was a blessing for all of us.

On Thursday most of our morning was spent having our interview with the board members. That evening we had an outdoor hymn sing and short prayer meeting at Josephs. Afterward we enjoyed homemade ice cream and a variety of desserts.

The next morning we were up bright and early preparing for the famous chicken butchering day! It was my turn to make the hot food for brunch afterward so I needed to have my "ducks in a row" and have things done ahead of time so I could spent most of the morning helping to clean chickens. I think we were close to breaking a record with speed! Thanks to all the extra help from the Andy Yoder family and Jonas' and Phils!!! Gerold and Becky hosted the brunch and we enjoyed the fellowship! It's always a great feeling to be finished with that big job and then enjoy some great food! That afternoon Wayne and Jake went to Chulaimbo area to do the body transport of Alice Lusi who died of cancer. It seems there are funerals almost every weekend!!

On Saturday Wayne attended the funeral of Alice. Pray for her son Immanuel who is left alone now. Immanuel is in his upper teens. He and his sister were orphaned as young children when their mother, Alice's co-wife died. Alice never had children of her own but took them in and cared for them as though they were her own. That evening we hosted the board members here. We ate our usual... Sat. night pizza! Stacy and Rhoda joined us too.

On Sunday our family headed to Ombeyi for church. The group was small and I felt rather lost because they didn't use an interpreter much except when Wayne was preaching. We were SOOO happy to see Peter's wife Irene there that day. Peter was excommunicated a few months back and for a while he refused to allow his wife Irene to attend church, but she now has his blessing to come! She seemed happy to be there and shared a good testimony. They named their new baby Wayne Weaver Otieno. Wayne for my hubby and Weaver for Marlin Weaver (former missionary).

Tuesday was joint unit meeting again in Nakuru. It was a nice drive that morning. Joe and Glenda went with us and Clarissa and Shonda went with some of the other youth in James' van. The breakfast was served by Freemans family and really "hit the spot!" The meeting was a LONG one... probably because of some heavy things on the Pastor's minds right now such as national Pastor's support. We were thankful to arrive safely home just before dark! I felt bad for Glenda who was not feeling well on the way home. The next morning she tested positive for malaria. Please continue to pray about the malaria problem in the compound. Some people have been victims 2 - 4 times! The board members were taken to Nairobi that afternoon for their flight across the ocean. They were a blessing to us!! Thanks so much for coming!!

Wayne and I attended the Lela Bible study this past Wed. at the home of Gordon (former member) and Eunice. Eunice expressed her desire for her husband to be with us in church again. There was a fairly good turnout that day and we enjoyed being with the Lela folks again.

Wayne has been attending quite a few meetings. He spent time at a Believer's Messenger meeting (a new church periodical similar to the Calvary Messenger). He also went with Jake one day to try to help a struggling marriage at the Chulaimbo church. Another day was spent visiting members of the Ahero church with Pastor Tobias. One of the visits was to mama Flora. She is rarely able to attend church anymore and they went to see if she would be willing to host Bible Study. Initially she said she was unable because she would be "wich kuot" (shamed) because she has nothing to share for tea. After encouragement to trust God to provide for her, and reading Is.54:4-5 that tells widows they do not need to fear for they will not be "wich kuot" because God is their husband, she agreed that she would do it next week.

On Saturday Wayne was asked to preach at the funeral of John Omondi's step mother (His mother is still living and Wayne tried to figure this one out, but still does not understand exactly who it was!). In this culture a "brother" may actually be a cousin, your "youngest father" is probably your fathers youngest brother, you will therefore also have multiple "mothers". Joe was there to show his support and brought their visitor, Sanford Nissley, with him. We've enjoyed learning to know Sanford and Renita and their two daughters. They recently returned back to Georgia after serving almost 5 years in Paraguay. Sanford was really happy for the opportunity to attend a funeral in Africa!

The church service yesterday at Dienya was VERY unusual!! It was raining when we left home and rained the whole time we were gone!! I felt sorry for the people who arrived at church wet and cold!! There was a Baptismal service planned so people tried hard to be there but the rain made it quite difficult. Mary Orido (the daughter of Andrew Orwa from Kajulu) was baptized as well as Vincent, a nice young man who seems sincere. We were also rejoicing with Lillian Achieng and Lillian Owino (Nick's wife), and a crippled man (James) who were restored to membership. I think they had all been members at the Nyagondo church. The group started out very small but by the time the short service was over a nice amount of people showed up. It felt like the temperature kept dropping during the service! I was wishing for socks, and ear muffs would've felt good! :)

We didn't have much time to mess around after church. It was our turn to host the Sunday evening activity for the compound. I made sloppy jo sandwiches and the rest of the ladies brought some very yummy dishes to go with it. We very much enjoyed hearing Sanford Nissley share about their work in Paraguay. The pictures he showed were worth a thousand words! It's so interesting to see the work of AMA in other parts of the world.

We had another busy day today! I was in charge of serving the Pastor's hot drinks at 10:00 and then a lunch of chapatis and beans and sodas at 12. We had a huge laundry today and Clarissa was busy taking care of the sewing class. Clarissa's little sisters claimed at lunch time that they are still experiencing the Feb. blues at school. They hinted to Clarissa that if she would bring them some popcorn to enjoy during their story hour, it would help their frame of mind. Rissa kindly obliged. :) . James Barkman flew out of Kisumu this evening beginning a long journey (20 hrs. of flying I believe)to Bogota, Columbia to represent MZL Kenya at a meeting of Mount Zion Literature Ministry representatives. He plans to return on Saturday, Lord willing. Nyasaye Ogwhedi! (God bless you) Wayne and Clara for the Yoders