Kisumu Yoder's

"People change. Love hurts. Friends leave. Things go wrong. But just remember life goes on."

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."

"Some think that holding on makes us strong; but sometimes its letting go." Herman Hesse

Yes life goes on in spite of many partings and much change. It feels like we have had more than our share of goodbye's here in Kisumu... and we have another one coming up tomorrow! Miss Charity plans to leave for America. And we will miss her!! God bless all of you who have contributed much to our lives and been a huge blessing! God has been faithful through the difficult partings and we trust that He will continue to provide for us. He knows that we need two families to replace those planning to leave in the next year. I think one of the hardest things for me is seeing my children so sad about their friends leaving. The other night Bradlyn cried and cried when he thought of Jerolin. He said "Jerolin was my best friend!!" And he was missing Kris and Mariah so much too! It made me feel like crying with him, and Shonda is really feeling the loss of her friends as well. She has no one here close to her age now. But we continue to pray and trust God to supply our needs. Life goes on and we find joy again. It helps so much to thank God and appreciate the little things in life that bring us joy and make life pleasant.

We as a unit had a nice time together at Kiboko Bay last week in honor of Linford and Kay Bontrager who were here for several months, and helped care for the Nyakoko church over the time of Tommy's departure and Gerold's language class. It was a beautiful evening and its always so refreshing to see the beauty of Lake Victoria and watch the sunset. When we got back we had a snack on the lane and different people shared words of appreciation with Linfords for their labor of love here in Kisumu. They will long be remembered for their humor, and their love for the natives!

Wayne and I attended Bible study with the Rabour folks last Wednesday. It was interesting to see how different churches do things and we enjoyed the small group that was gathered together. We had a long bumpy ride and a fairly long walk to the house where Bible study was held. But it was blessing to be there!

On Thursday afternoon Wayne and Joe went visiting in Ahero with Pastor Tobias. They went to 5 different homes and ate and drank something at most of them. They had sodas once and chai at least 3 times! They got home just a little before compound prayer meeting. I thought the singing would really be lame that eve. because of so many people missing... but I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone seemed to try their best and the singing was great! We have so much to be thankful for!

On Friday Wayne, Joe and Maurice went visiting at a few of the Lela homes Joe had not been to yet. One of the places they went was the home of widow Lena. Lena shared that her oldest son is not helping her at all even though he has a job. He disrespectfully tells her to go out and find her own things like all the other women do. Pray for Austin. Later in the afternoon they stopped in at the orphan food distribution in Ahero. That eve. Kore Beachy came to Kisumu because of doing food drops, etc. for CAM. He stayed with us until Tues. and we enjoyed having him here! The children love having him around and its fun to have "friendschaft" here in Kenya! :) On Sat. eve. Kore joined us, as well as Charity, Carolyn, Stacy and Rhoda, at Joe and Glenda's house for a nice pizza supper. We sat around the fire outside and had a pleasant time. By the way... Rhoda Wengerd from Paris, TN arrived this past week and we are glad she's here! We haven't learned to know her well yet but I'm sure she will be a blessing! She will be Shonda and Vanessa's teacher next term.

Sunday found our family attending Church at Ahero. We had a much more relaxed and normal Sunday than we did the week before, and we were happy to arrive home in good time to enjoy a lunch of chicken, rice and beans, with Joe and Glenda, Carolyn, and Kore. Joes and Carolyn attended church at Lela and we all arrived home close to the same time. The Ahero church was friendly and welcoming. I'm slowly learning to know more people at all these different churches. In some ways its hard to go to a different place every Sunday but in other ways we find it interesting to meet new people and see all the different church settings. On Sunday eve. the whole unit was invited to Dean and Barbara Jean's house for a farewell for Charity, and a welcome for Rhoda. The youth sang a very fitting song... the chorus says, "Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand." Opake Jesu!! Amen! (Praise Jesus). One very interesting event of the evening was listening to Gerold Miller tell us their life story. They grew up in a very strict Amish church where they were not taught about the New Birth and people were very carnal- minded. It's amazing to hear how God brought them to the truth of His Word and changed them from a carnal state to men and women for God. Those kinds of changes are AWESOME indeed!!!! He also shared a bit about how God led them to Kenya. It's so amazing what God can do with someone who is willing to surrender everything to Him!

We continue to need your prayers. Yesterday Miss Charity discovered that the razor wire that had been placed over the hole in the hedge where we think Joseph's thieves came through, had been cut and pulled apart. It was not a very good feeling to realize that someone may be planning another robbery! A motion sensor was put up last eve. and thankfully there were no intrusions last night. Politics are still a big subject around here. After last Monday's heated riots and destruction we have been careful and stay caught up on news, etc. before heading out of the compound. Things have been quiet, thank God!! ...although there were some disturbances not too far from here yesterday and there is some talk about possible riots later this afternoon. Nothing could be confirmed though, so most of the Pastors went to Bible study today. Wayne went to the Kajulu Bible study. I decided to stay home with our children just in case something comes up. I'd hate for our children to be left alone here if we'd get stuck out in the villages somewhere. God has been giving strength and helping us not to fear, but be cautious. On the way home today as Wayne was approaching a Matatu (taxi van) the young driver looked back at him and held out his hand. Wayne pulled along side and the young fellow said, "Vee bisht du"? (How are you) in Pa. Dutch!! He was, "Joseph?" a former member at Kajulu that had learned some Dutch from a prior missionary family! God sends little things to brighten our days. Thanks for your prayers!!! Clara

PS. Things were peaceful this afternoon and the demonstrations for tomorrow have been called off at this point. PTL!

Milkin the cow!

My little friend Nellie

Orphans Food drop

Heading to Bible Study this afternoon

Our destination

" The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

II Tim. 2:3

The week started out good. Monday morning found the Pastor's and their wives heading to Rondo Retreat, that lovely, peaceful place in the Kakamega rain forest, for our annual Pastor's Retreat. The men sat outside for their meeting while we ladies sat on comfy chairs on a veranda. After we all shared some verses and words of appreciation for Lavina who was leaving us soon, Kay Bontrager shared some practical tips on relating to Luo women. It was great to hear from the voice of experience and I was much encouraged. I would've enjoyed the meeting much more if I wouldn't have needed to be in charge... but I guess these are some things I need to accept and be okay with since I'm Bishop's wife. The meeting went well and I'm so thankful for an awesome group of ladies that help and support and accept me for who I am. During our meeting we were served hot drinks and sweets. That's one thing I love about Rondo... you get a break from cooking! We all enjoyed a wonderful lunch together in the dining room. The men played some games outside afterward while we ladies relaxed on wonderful, SOFT chairs inside.

Tuesday eve. was Marlin's farewell at Dean and Barbara Jean's house. The men grilled chicken and we had baked beans, potato salad, crisps, watermelon and sweets to go with it! Wow!! It was great! Some folks shared words of appreciation and affirmation with Marlin's family and then Marlin also shared a few words with all of us. It was a bittersweet eve. We really enjoyed the fellowship but knew that it was the last time we would all be together like we were. One interesting thing we did was watch a Chinese lantern that Linford launched for us to enjoy. Those things are amazing! The youth played volleyball later in the eve. while we adults sat and watched.

On Wed. afternoon Joe, Glenda, Tiffany, and Wayne and I headed to Widow Penina's house for Bible study. She's a very poor old lady who has some fingers missing but she's got spunk. How I'd love to know what she's saying sometimes when she's jabbering away in Luo. She often has people laughing! :) There were 3 chickens tied under the table that we sat around. They were quite distracting sometimes and finally some of the ladies untied them and took them out. It was a very warm day and it felt like a test of endurance sometimes. We were served rice and black tea afterwards. I went home with Joe's while Wayne took the piki. He had gone earlier to spend time with the Ahero folks at their workday at church.

Thursday was the last day of language for Joe's and Gerolds!! Yay!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for them! Instead of sitting down in class they planned something different. The language class as well as our whole family went to a school with over 600 children and distributed Bible story books. William and Rosemary from Rabour joined us as well. That's the school that William's children attend. The teachers there welcomed us very nicely and then they had all the children sit down outside while we sang a few songs for them and then Wayne narrated the story of the Good Samaritan while Gerold and his boys, Joe, Stacy, and Clarissa acted it out. I think they did a little too good of a job of making it life- like because when they got to the part about the thieves beating up on the poor man walking, some of the young students screamed and started running away!! Oh dear! We didn't mean to frighten them and Wayne apologized to everyone but it all turned out okay. Things were quickly brought under control and the story continued. They seemed to enjoy it immensely. After that we had the fun of walking from classroom to classroom and distributing books. It was a morning well spent. I love the pictures of the students proudly holding their books up for all to see. After we left there we were all invited to Rosemary's house for lunch. We ladies watched while some neighbor ladies made chapatis and Rosemary cooked and seasoned beans. We enjoyed the rice, beans, cabbage, and chapatis very much!! But a meal like that makes you feel SO full and almost bloated! We were all so tired when we finally got home that we all took naps.

Friday morning at 8:00 we all met together for a parting prayer and goodbye's for Marlin's family. It was TOUGH!! Marlin and Lavina are great friends of ours now and they have taught us many things. Lavon and Jadon can fix almost anything that goes wrong in the compound it seems. Janette is a very industrious worker and so helpful. She can sing like a bird and we'll miss their family singing like crazy!!!! We often heard them sing together as a family mornings when they had their family devotions. Jerolin and Bradlyn were great playmates, as well as Vanessa and Lanisha. And LuAnn and Shonda!! Shonda is left with no one her age to relate to now. But God knows and maybe just maybe He is calling someone to come join us in Kisumu! Oh that would be wonderful!!! After the tears and partings and right after their van drove out of the gate for the last time I noticed that Christine, a native lady from Kajulu, was crying brokenheartedly. I was crying too but I quickly put an arm around her shoulder and tried to comfort her a bit before stopping my own tears. Such is life in Kenya. There are good times and bad. The partings are hard but life goes on... we are here for more than just good times in the compound. We are here to serve those who live outside our gates. And there is much fulfillment in that but oh my!! The blessing of like-minded missionaries to share our ups and downs with is a wonderful boost and gives us the strength and energy we need to keep on keeping on. Friday eve. Joes, Stacy, and us sat around a fire and roasted hot dogs. Thanks Mom for the American hot dogs you shared with us!

Saturday was a fairly quiet day around here. The pastor's were studying to preach, I just worked around the house, and Clarissa and Shonda were sick all day so they just laid around. Don't know what kind of bug they picked up but its sure hanging on for a while!

Today was the kind of Sunday that we don't care to repeat too often!! Wayne and Bradlyn and I were at Lela with Joes but our girls stayed home because of sickness. Wayne preached a good message on Truth and Application. After the message Wayne asked Joe and Glenda to come up front while he asked them some questions and officially gave Joe charge of the Lela church. And then there was a members meeting that seemed like it shouldn't take long at all but as happens quite often in Kenya, it drug on for a LONG time! Our patience was severely tried, and the seats were hard, and stomachs empty. Bradlyn was about going nuts and almost driving me nuts as well. Poor Glenda had it tough too. And when it finally ended Hesbon wanted a ride home and I was drafted to do it because Wayne and Joe had to stay longer yet to meet with a member who was very disgruntled and upset with a few other members. By the way... we have "inherited" Marlin's van now and since its an automatic transmission I can drive it, but almost wish I'd have a good excuse not to! We didn't know how long the meeting was going to last so Glenda and I and our children took Hesbon and some others with us while the men stayed for the meeting. Hesbon wanted me to take him right to his gate since he can't walk well and he wanted me to turn into a trail that looked a bit muddy but not too bad... so I started out but lo I was soon stuck!! Sigh!! This was about the limit to my endurance!! But some of my passengers got out and pushed while I floored the gas pedal and we actually got out of there! PTL! We ladies got home a bit before 3:00 I think and the men didn't reach until 4!! Whew!! Sundays sure don't feel like a day of rest around here but God help us to have proper attitudes and not get discouraged and long for home. Please help us pray for strength to endure hardness as good soldiers... without complaining!! Please pray also for the member who is flatly refusing to forgive her "enemies" even though they have apologized and tried to make peace with her. Life seems tough right now but we know that God is with us and will strengthen us. God bless! Clara