August Newsletter
Posted on August 19, 2008 - Filed Under General News, Newsletters |
SMALL BOY IN A BIG WORLD
As we walked down the long, dirt path to the gate, Joseph ran ahead. What freedom, what fun, I thought. When he got a certain distance away, I found I was not only watching him run, but I could see far beyond the gate to the vast expanse of open land. The view opened up to reveal hills, goats, sheep and an unending sky filled with cottony clouds. And then I noticed how small he was and how big a land he had to conquer in front of him. The next day, I took him up the hill behind our house to give him an even bigger view of all the area around. From that vantage point, we could see even more hills and now the animals looked like small spotted stones all scattered about.
This week has been a revelation as people seem to have come out of the woodwork with reports from locations where we haven’t worked in years. Tuesday, Charlie came home from his pastor’s meeting with a list of about 11 villages that were either asking for us or had someone who still expressed an interest in learning God’s Word. Then he met a former worker who says he is teaching in a town about 30 minutes from Maralal and has 2 other men he is working with. Later, some men from a village we haven’t been to in 3 years came to visit at the house.
We have asked God to show us where He is at work so we may join Him there and it is proving to be a Big World indeed.
MINISTRY NOTES
We are getting some exciting reports this week about several people being saved, others who are ready to be baptized and additional places to start or re-start what we call “loips”. These are places where people come together to hear the news of God. The meaning is actually that of “under the tree”. This is the most commonly used phrase among the Samburu for the Bible teaching Charlie brings because the “loip” is typically the meeting place. While some bring buildings, “religion”, rituals or other things, few bring the simple message of scripture. For a people who cannot read, there is no other way to know God’s Word and so we strive to give it to them as straightforwardly as possible and we are met with gratitude for doing so.
The next several weeks will find Charlie covering a lot of ground as he seeks to visit these “old” and new areas to determine what, where, who and how. What should be done, where should he go, who should he work with and how can it all best be accomplished?
August is also a time when school lets out for 4 or 5 weeks in Kenya. Some of our women have just expressed a desire to hold Holiday Bible clubs this month and would like some help with stories. Yes, it seems quite last minute and it is, but that is the African way. I began thinking about it in June. Charlie has now challenged the pastors with this task and we pray it will be a wonderful opportunity to teach even more children and hopefully reach their parents also.
FAMILY NEWS
Thank you for all your prayers and emails about Charlie. He spent a week in the hospital in Nairobi after being ill 2 weeks at home in Maralal. While there was no conclusive diagnosis for the high fever, and awful headaches, he is clear of anything now and feels better than he has in a long time. God is so merciful and we are so grateful for His healing.
We now ask your prayers for Charlie’s father who has had a recurrence of throat cancer. He had surgery this week to remove a tumor and now we are waiting for pathology results which should be available next week. Please pray for his healing and salvation.
The 2 boys in Texas are doing well. Sam will finish working at Camp Tejas soon and head back to Virginia to look for a job and an apartment with his friend. Travis just moved into a new house with several of his musician friends in Dallas.
You can catch Joseph in his latest exploits by going to Facebook. In addition to reading, writing and ‘rithmatic, he is learning Xbox. No letters on being too young, please. He loves to have a few minutes on Tiger Woods Golf or Guitar Hero. And every day brings a new cast of characters as he assigns each member of the family a part in today’s imaginary play. “Today, we’re all those Fantastic Fours. I’m the stretchy guy, daddy is the strong man,” and so on until all 5 of us have been turned into someone else. Never a dull moment.
And we have added a cat to the mix. His name is Java and he belonged to colleagues who have retired to the US. He sleeps a lot, but I haven’t seen a snake since he arrived.
PRAYERS and PRAISE
- We are most thankful to be well and at home. We had friends from Nairobi come back with us on our return for a short visit. Others are planning to come this month. We are grateful for the company as it is a long, hard drive to get to this beautiful place!
- Many thanks to all of you who give to the International Mission Board through your local church cooperative giving and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Your gifts will soon provide us with a new (to us) 4 wheel drive vehicle. This is a vital part of our work. There are no roads to most of the places we go; only dirt paths through the bush or the mountains. Thank you.
- Pray for Charlie as he seeks to develop a new schedule of work to enable him to reach more people and go more places. Pray for his body to be strong as he does more traveling on the rough roads. Pray for his mind to be discerning as he looks for approved workers to disciple.
- Pray for many children and even adults who will have opportunity to hear the gospel via holiday Bible clubs this month. Pray for the leaders to be sensitive to the needs of those in attendance. Pray for the teachers to be able to learn the stories and communicate the spiritual truths of each one.
