The Table of the Lord...

 "The real test of your Christianity is not how pious you look at the Lord's table on Sunday, but how you act at the breakfast table at home."

  "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 1 Cor. 10:21

   We were challenged this morning at the Lela Communion service by this question, "Which table are you eating of, the Lord's table or the devil's table?  In Genesis 3, Eve had the choice between the Lord's table (tree of life) and the devil's table (tree of the knowledge of good and evil).  She and her husband chose the devil's table and reaped a bitter harvest.  What did the Father do to cover their nakedness and their sin?  I (Wayne) believe a perfect lamb (in the perfection of original creation) was slain to cover the shame of their nakedness and their sin. What did the Father do to bring us back to His table?  His perfect lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ; gave his own life's blood to bring us back.   Praise His Name!

  A few weeks ago on Monday, instead of Pastor's meeting and school for the children we enjoyed a family day. Steve and Martha Esh welcomed us to their home for an afternoon of games and then some wonderful food... grilled chicken, potato and pasta salad, crisps, and waffle cones, homemade ice cream and toppings!  What a treat!! Times like this have a way of drawing our compound family closer.

 On Tuesday morning Wayne and I took Clarissa to the bus station where we bade her goodby as she headed to Nakuru to spend some time with Judith and the children while Tony was in America. She reported a very good week there! 

 On Wed. Wayne and I and Shonda loaded up the van once again for clothing sale at Rabuor. The group seemed rather small but as usual they seemed happy with their purchases. We missed Clarissa's help there but were thankful that Miss Rhoda allowed Shonda to leave school a bit early to help us. Joe and Glenda invited us to their house that evening for some wonderful stromboli. It was much appreciated after a rather stressful day.

 On Thursday Joe and Wayne went to the burial of an Ugunja IC (Instruction class) member, Helen Okuma. Helen lived in a difficult family situation and there was some family conflict surrounding the funeral but thankfully the day of the burial there was not too much drama and the burial went fairly well.  To us it appeared that some wanted her to die and did not put forth much effort to sustain life.  James Barkman preached the message and Wayne did the committal.  Jake and a group from Chulaimbo were also present at the burial.

  On Friday afternoon our family headed to Nakuru to spend some time with Judith and the children and then brought Clarissa home with us. It was a very relaxing time and we enjoyed it! Brian Waglers family and Kore Beachy joined us for a yummy pizza supper on Sat. eve. On Sunday morning we left a bit before 7:30 for the church service at Ahero. We arrived in good time. Traffic isn't so bad if you get out early. Continue to pray for the situation at Ahero. We were so much looking forward to proceeding with a commissioning service there soon but there are some issues to work through first. It appears there is some "clannism" going on as well as some issue from the past that we are hoping to bring rest to.  We appreciate the counsel that the national Pastor's have given with the situation and we trust that things can be worked out according to God's will. We rejoice with the Nyakoko church today as they have commissioned a new Pastor, Joel Lusi.  We would have liked to be there for that but Wayne decided that with the communions and commissionings coming up in the churches we are directly responsible for, and with our difficulty in reaching around, it would be best to leave that work for others.

  Tuesday was the Special offices seminar at Kajulu. I'm not sure how many people were there but I think they prepared food for 150 or more. There were 3 topics in the morning by Gerold Miller, Wayne, and William Ondeyo.  Thomas Amata and Tobias Osur shared in workshops for the brothers.  Thomas's workshop was on the important topic of translating.  Among several other points was one in which he encouraged the brothers to make sure that they speak in a manner and at a pace that the translator can follow.  He said we don't want to be like Mary and Joseph and discover that we left Jesus a day behind us! The speakers all did so well!!  After a good lunch of the usual Kenyan fare, I (Clara) had the task of leading the women's workshop. I was so thankful for the prayers of my friends and for the way the ladies were interested in the subject of "Lessons from the life of Sarah". They did really well in speaking up and sharing from their hearts. I was appalled again at the lives some of these dear people live. Our cultures are SO very different!!  

  On Wed. morning Wayne and I headed to school where Wayne shared a devotional. So hard to believe there are only 6 students this year! :(  But the teachers are doing well and I think they're off to a good start. 

 On Friday Wayne took Pastor Jacob Obiero (Ombeyi) to an eye Dr. at Sabatia Eye Hospital. He recently had a branch or something scrape his eye and it was in bad shape. The pupil is affected, so for now they gave him medication to hopefully take care of it. Pray for his healing.  On Friday eve. the youth from the compound, minus Kaylita, who went to Nairobi to pick up visitors; sang at a park in town and passed out tracts. They had a good time and people's faces really lit up when they switched from singing English songs to singing Luo and Swahili. Hopefully we can do this some more in the future!

  We enjoyed the service at Lela this morning. The sheep and chickens made themselves at home during the service. Clarissa said while we were standing up front for Communion one of the lambs sneezed and sprayed her ankle good and proper!:)) Only in Kenya... It had been a LONG time since we were at Lela and people often tell us that we are "lost"! We feel badly that it goes so long between times that we visit the churches. It feels like we just can't reach around and some CBF members even act a bit offended if Bishop doesn't come see them at their house. Lord give us wisdom to know how to divide our time and use it wisely. 

  Some of you asked about my friend Emma who I visited at the hospital and we thought her baby was coming soon. Well it STILL hasn't come!!  I'm beginning to be concerned for her so please help me pray for Emma and a safe delivery for her baby.  Also pray for those who have been sick with malaria. Joe and Elliot were sick this past week but seem to be on the mend. 

  We look forward to seeing Wilmer and Esther Zook this week! They arrived in Kenya with their son Tony on his arrival back from America. 

  Thank you for your support and prayers! Wayne and Clara

  

Lela Pastors picture for the AMA Calendar

Tiffany and Elliot are happy with their refurbished wagon.  Joe got the idea to paint a saying on the bed, so Clarissa got the job.

Compound family day

Chillin and grillin!

Miss Kaylita's classroom

Miss Kaylita and Miss Rhoda at Vanessa's Birthday party

Mr Thomas (left) speaking at his wife's burial

Pastor James preaching at Helen's burial, with David interpreting

Wayne and Kaiden at Tony's

A walking vegetable market at Judith's gate

Gerold and Joel at the Special Offices Seminar, Kajulu

William Ondeyo preaching

Lunch time!

Kajulu sisters serving lunch

Men's workshop with Thomas and Washington

Ladies workshop with Clara and Lillian

Mama Martha with Petronela (Maurice Omondi)

Kajulu pastors team: Andrew and Christine Orwa, Joshua and Millicent Ochieng, John and Margaret Opiyo

Chapel time in Miss Rhoda's room

Jacob Obiero and the Dr. at Sabatia

View from Mega Plaza looking toward Milimani.  On Saturday our family and Stacy went to town for a little special time together before she leaves next month.  We went to a new coffee shop in the downstairs of Mega Plaza and then did a little shopping.  Stacy, Wayne and the children decided to climb to the top of the Mega Plaza tower via the stairway.  They climbed about 14 floors.

Posing with the "duck"!  Ask Stacy for details!

Preparing for Communion at Lela

Lambs and the Lord's Table

Pastor Joe having children's class.  We usually have a children's class at Lela on Communion Sunday so that they receive a blessing as well.

Felix and Maurice counting the morning offering

Showing the church Lela's new table.  Clarissa did an excellent job of lettering the top but was very disappointed this morning to discover a grammatical error that we non Luo's had missed.  It should say, "pile e tich Ruoth".   Someday we will try to fix it.