Happy New Year! For us who are thinking about our return to Kenya next month, January has started off by being a month of great conflict. On December 27th, 2007, there was a national election to elect the president of the country of Kenya. From what we can understand from seeing the news, and accessing the website of the national newspaper, the election may have been rigged. There was a man who had opposed the current president, and apparently, he actually won the election. From what we understand, due to corruption at the polls, the president was hurriedly sworn in for another term, and the country went into chaos. The two men running for president are from different tribes, and these two tribes are fighting each other, burning churches and other buildings, and creating havoc throughout the country. The news has reported that over 300 people have been killed, and 100,000 people displaced and homeless in the country. Shops and gasoline stations are closed , public transportation is limited, and thousands of people in the two warring tribes fear for their lives. The chaos has been likened to the genocide that took place between two tribes in Rwanda a few years ago when a president was assassinated. Please help us to pray for the government to become stable soon, and that the right man will be president. We are praying for our people, for their safety, and for our churches and ministries that they will not be harmed. Due to this unrest and instability, Pam and I have decided to delay our return to Kenya until later next month, in the hopes that there will be stability. Please do pray for Roger and Julie Tate who will be our partners in Kenya. The Tates leave for language school in Tanzania on January 31st, and then will join us in Kitale in early June. We are praying that their flight to Africa will go smoothly, and that they will arrive safely.
Thanks so much to those of you who have prayed for our newest granddaughter, Kailyn, who was born three months early. Kaily spent 101 days of her young life in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and was able to come home on December 8th. She is doing well, and is growing and gaining weight. She suffers sometimes from gastric reflux when her milk comes back up, and she has trouble breathing and swallowing. As she gets bigger, this will be less of a problem, so we are so thankful to God, and to you, for your prayers. She is such a blessing, and an answer many prayers.
As of this month, we have been in many, many churches since our return to the U.S. We have traveled from Michigan to Florida, and many states in between, telling about the Lord’s work in Kenya. We will be continuing to visit churches this month, and will be visiting our families and friends next month before our return. It has been great seeing many of you, and we deeply appreciate all of your prayers for us, and your love and encouragement. Unfortunately, we have not been able to visit every supporting church due to scheduling conflicts, and/or bad road conditions due to snow and ice. Lord willing, those that we have not been able to visit, we will definitely visit on our next furlough. Please know how much that we depend on your prayers, support, love, and encouragement. We are not “lone rangers”, but are a team with you, to do the Lord’s work in Kenya. We could not be out there without faithful people here “holding the ropes” in prayer for us. Each of you is so important to this ministry, so thanks so much for your love, interest, and prayers.
Please do remember the unstable condition in Kenya at this time, and pray for protection for those that we love there. Times are uncertain, but our God never changes, and is always there in any circumstance. Psalms 46:1-3, 10, 11. He uses the trials in our lives to strengthen us, and make us more like Him. Let us strive to make 2008 our greatest year of ministry, as we see the conflicts worldwide becoming worse before our Lord’s return. We appreciate each of you, and thank you for your love.