Kisumu Yoder's: Good Times and Tough Ones.......

" 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