Prayer Requests
Posted on June 2, 2009 - Filed Under General News
PRAYER REQUESTS
• Pray for rain. We are getting a little. We need =
more.
• Praise God for Charlie’s successful knee surgery. =
He is
doing well.
• Pray that we will get accurate information about the =
people who
need help with food. When Charlie was taken to visit a few old men in a
particular area, he was shocked (and angry) that no one had come to him
earlier. The men were skeletal and too weak to leave their homes. =
• Pray for discernment as we try to assist a man who runs =
a home
for the elderly. He feeds and houses over 100 people every =
day.
Say What?
Posted on June 2, 2009 - Filed Under General News
SAY WHAT?
You can tell a lot about people by their language. Someone recently
asked me if I speak Samburu. I don’t, but I know a few words and phrases. I
can greet and say polite words like, “peace, daughter, my son, thank you,
good, elder.” I also understand simple commands such as “get firewood”, “sit
here”, “put the tea in the pot”, “bring water.” Then there are words I’ve
learned because I’ve heard them over and over again. “Child, God, heaven,
milk, cattle, cows, small cow.” Get the picture? Make a list Read more
May News
Posted on May 30, 2009 - Filed Under General News
LITERARY THERAPY
I typically enjoy writing our newsletter each month or so. And to those
of you who are faithful to read it, I’m grateful. At times I’m concerned
about it sounding boring or too preachy or even too personal. Not too
personally revealing, but rather too much information about things that may
only be interesting to family members! But generally, I find it very
therapeutic. Its like having someone to talk with. In case this is your
first time reading, we live in a remote rural area of Kenya. There are
perhaps 3 other white women living in the area. One is French, another is
German and the other is an American. I wouldn’t call them unfriendly, but we
don’t visit. Add to that, the person I talk to inside my head and we can
still count the number of wazungu women on 1 hand. And so, I continue.
Very little has changed in Maralal since my last letter to you. People
are still hungry and the rain which we expected is still scattered and
sparce. Animals are dying. One man told us all his cows are finished. I’m
sure there are others in the same situation.
Our internet service was off for about 10 days. Every day we called and
no one could give us any real information. We are working on it, we were
told. Then one day while we were at the only internet caf in town, someone
called and said, we have fixed the problem.
And that’s the same thing Charlies doctor had said. You had a
significant tear, but I have fixed it. Praise the Lord, he is doing very
well.
Joseph received his 1st school certificate for completing his math
workbook for the year. He is a few days away from completing his other
courses and receiving 2 more certificates. Hes a real African so proud to
receive the cheti (paper). In Kenya, theres no point in completing a
course, unless you get a certificate. The paper is everything!
Charlie’s Knee
Posted on May 2, 2009 - Filed Under Prayer Requests
Charlie went to S. Africa this week to have surgery to repair the torn meniscus. It seems it was very successful. He goes back to the doctor on Monday for a checkup and if all looks well, he’ll be released to return to Nairobi. Joseph and I have kept busy doing shopping and playing in Nairobi, as well as taking in a movie. (Monsters vs. Aliens) Now we’re just waiting to see when ‘dad’ will be able to come home and wondering what goodies he’ll be bringing with him!
Easter in Samburu
Posted on April 17, 2009 - Filed Under General News
EASTER CELEBRATION
“Tobolo mlango, Papa, panying shumata inoo.” We gathered for worship
this morning at the Good Samaritan Home for the Aged. Several different
Baptist churches sang praises, but as one group sang the lines “Open the
door, Father, I’m entering Heaven”, the joy began to spread. The politician
who invited us was moved to dance and sing. It began a wonderful celebration
of praising our Lord and remembering the promise we have on this
Resurrection Sunday. Everyone joined in. In traditional style, several
people met each other face to face and shook hands as they sang. I don’t
confess to understand all of it, but it was genuine rejoicing and praise.
We met councilor Fred during March, just after the food distribution in
town. He told about his work helping the elderly and invited us to visit.
Out of the profits from 2 businesses he owns, he feeds over 100 elderly men
and women every day. He provides housing for some and has plans to obtain
more rooms. He has visions of starting a residential home/rehabilitation
center for street boys. He tries to help some of the drunkards stop drinking
and has had some success in this area, as well. It is encouraging for us to
meet someone who is trying to do good things to help people. It is
especially encouraging to find a politician whose life is an example to
others. He and his wife are both believers.
We also received news today that a church we thought was “gone” is still
in existence and that they are reaching out to others and have begun new
“preaching points.”
Also in attendance was a councilman from the area of Baragoi, to the
north of us. He was also rejoicing and very nearly preaching when it came
his time to greet everyone. If Maralal is remote, Baragoi is definitely out
there. Perhaps he may be the connection we need to help get work started in
that area. Councilor Fred says even he would be willing to go there and help
preach if we needed him!
All in all, it was a day of great blessing for us. Joseph said it was
the most fun he’d ever had.
Drought in Samburu
Posted on April 2, 2009 - Filed Under General News
A LITTLE HELP
I’ve been hungry, but I’ve never been starving. I’ve never been so desperate
that I picked up individual pieces of spilled dried corn and beans out of
the dusty ground. I’ve never held out a plastic container and begged for
“just a cup” of corn. You probably haven’t either. But as food was
distributed at the Baptist church in Maralal, Kenya and greed overtook some
people who grabbed and pushed, others sat in the dirt with their plastic
cups and bags and winnowed the remains in the hopes that it might be enough
to make a meal. I couldn’t see how such a little amount could make a
difference to anyone, but I suppose that is the difference between want and
need. I beginning to believe there is a certain psychology accompanying
extreme hunger that affects people in a way that most of us will never
understand. In the Samburu district in Central Kenya, we have not seen a
drop of rain fall for over 4 months. If drought persists, conditions will
worsen. As grasslands dry up there is no pasture for livestock. Cows no
longer provide milk which is vital as a source of food and also money to buy
other food staples like flour, tea and sugar. This is the life of the
pastoralist. The water holes where women walk daily have become little more
than cracked and dried depressions of dirt. They now must walk much further
and in some areas must wait for elephants for to have their fill before they
dare draw their own daily supply.
Many Samburu are having a difficult time these days; some more than others.
While some are still able to walk and wait and survive on a little, others
are in real danger. They are sick with HIV/AIDS, elderly, widowed, orphaned.
These are the ones we sought out as we gave food provided by Baptist Global
Response. Over a period of 4 days, we were able to give 31,680 pounds of
beans, 63,360 pounds of dried corn and 3,520 pounds of fat. Each person
received enough food to get them through the next month. Purchasing goods
and transport through local vendors with whom we have relationship allowed
us to provide adequate nutrition for one month for approximately 5,760
people. Living and working in the area allowed us to utilize local pastors,
church members and community leaders who worked (without pay) to distribute
food with honesty and fairness. At the same time, we demonstrated the
incarnate love of Christ as we gave to the “least of these”. Thank you for
your prayers and support of our work, our ministry and the Samburu people of
Kenya. Continue to pray for rain.
www.imb.org
www.baptistglobalresponse.org
REFLECTIONS ON A SAMBURU VILLAGE
Posted on March 6, 2009 - Filed Under General News
We’ve been living in this remote area for 7 years now so we’re used to a lot of the things that are a part of normal Samburu life. i.e. animals everywhere, animal poo everywhere, dirt, dust, drought, disease. Still, there were a few things I noticed this past weekend when we took our tent and spent the night in the village. Here are some of them.
samburu ministry notes
Posted on March 2, 2009 - Filed Under General News
There is so much going on right now that it is hard for me to keep track
of it all. People living in the areas near Kisima and Suguta Marmar continue
to show great interest in the News of God. Charlie has met with elders in
different areas and they all want him to come again and tell them more.
After hearing of God’s plan for redemption and reconciliation, most of them
say they want to follow Jesus. They want to be with God and they are
confident that the message Charlie has brought them is true. Others have
come and been rejected, but we are seeing a positive response, at least in
these areas.
Up in the forest, people continue to meet, grow and reach out to their
neighbors. There are still dozens awaiting baptism, but lack of water has
prevented it. The line from the Bible is easily understood here. “Look,
there is water. What prevents me from being baptized?” Sometimes, the thing
missing from the equation is not the desire for obedience, but merely the
water.
As the drought continues and the food crisis deepens, we are in the
middle of planning to distribute food. In the 3 years since the last project
of this kind, the price of maize has increased by 118%, more than double!
The price of other commodities, such as beans and fat has also gone up.
These have also contributed to the widespread hunger being experienced
across the country. Other factors include inadequate planting, harvest and
corruption. Pray for Charlie as he initiates a plan for short term relief.
Pray for rain and good crops for the country.
Samburu News
Posted on February 23, 2009 - Filed Under General News
COMING AND GOING
It was a weird Saturday for Charlie this past weekend. In the morning,
we learned that our yardworker’s wife had given birth to a new baby girl.
Valentine’s Day is not celebrated here, but we thought it was kind of neat
she was born on the 14th. Then he left for a regular day’s work. As they
drove higher into the forest, they noticed a group of men digging a hole
nearby. They stopped to see what was happening. The hole was being dug to
bury a man who had died suddenly the day before. He was a member of the
newly started church in that area. Just the day before, he had come to the
high school behind our home to enroll his son. They told him he would need
more money. He began to have a pain running up his left arm. His son wanted
to take him to the hospital but he refused. He felt he just needed to go
home and lie down. They began the long walk home and on the way, he
collapsed. The boy ran to get the elders; his father had died. The man left
2 wives and numerous children. How will these families cope? Is there
anything left behind for them? Neighbors were shocked and saddened by his
sudden death. Please pray for this family and for this community who has
newly received the Gospel and begun to follow Christ. They desire to reach
others in surrounding areas and are making plans with Charlie to go soon.
They want to tell them how God has changed the lives of individuals and how
their village has improved since they began to study and obey God’s Word.
Prayer Request for Upcoming Meeting
Posted on February 5, 2009 - Filed Under General News
PRAYER REQUESTS
One of our biggest problems continues to be the lack of trained leaders.
Pray for us to hear God’s solution to this challenge. Ask him to make it
abundantly clear if there is something new we need to begin in this area of
training.
In 2 weeks, Charlie will hold a meeting with elders from an area where he
has been training a small group of men. Pray for God’s plan to be revealed
and accomplished with this group.
Pray for the son of one of our Samburu friends. The 2 year old has been ill
since November and has not yet been diagnosed with a specific illness. In
January, he was transferred to a different hospital in hopes of getting
better diagnosis and treatment. Charlie and some pastors drove 3 hours one
way to visit them last weekend. He says the child is still listless and
emaciated. Please pray for healing and good health care for the toddler and
encouragement for the entire family.
