December 4, 2006

Dear Praying Friends,

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”, except not on this side of the world. Here we have just finished a very rainy season, and are heading into our summer. As we turn our thoughts and hearts to this special time of year, and remember the most precious gift that was ever given, we are grateful to our Lord for His gift of Himself so that we could be saved, and have an eternal home. We thank Him so much for the blessed opportunity of being able to minister here, and we thank you for your prayers, love, and continued support so that we can share the love of Christ to many who have never heard.

Pam and I made an unexpected trip to the States for the month of November. My father turned 90 years old on November 8th, and my family wanted us to come to share in this memorable occasion. It was great to see my family again, and to see some who I haven’t seen since my mother’s death a few years ago.

Pam went to see a neuro-ophthalomologist also, and had the Botox injections done around her eyes. Pam suffers from a chronic condition called blepharospasm in both eyes, in which her eyelids spasm uncontrollably, and Botox is the only remedy for it. Botox is not available in Kenya, and only lasts for 3 months. However, the injections did not work to open her eyes this time, and her right eye was completely closed for over two weeks after the injections. Now, the eye has opened halfway, so she is thankful for this. Pam wears dark sunglasses to cover the condition, and the glasses help to prevent the glare from the sun, too. Please pray for Pam for continued grace in this disability.

Pam’s dad was in the hospital for a few days while we were home, and Pam’s mother had some health issues, too. Both of us suffered from a virus for a few days as well. So, it was a family time, and we were not able to visit churches or see friends much. It was so great to be able to spend time with our parents who are so special to us, and to be there to help Pam’s parents when they had medical problems. However, we apologize to everyone who we were not able to contact, and we hope to see you next year when we are on furlough.

Right before we returned to Kenya, we had the opportunity to meet with Roger and Julie Tate, and their precious family. Roger and Julie feel that the Lord is calling them to Kenya to work with us in strengthening our churches, and mentoring our men in the Bile Institute. What a privilege it was for us to attend Emmanuel Baptist Church in Bellbrook, Ohio, where Roger is associate pastor, and to meet with Pastor Darrell Messer, and the fine folks there. We spent a weekend with Roger and Julie talking about our future ministry together here in Kenya, and we are so encouraged that they want to partner with us to share the Gospel here.

It is good to be back in Kenya, and we are planning for ministries next year. We want to use our Bible Institute students in more ministries, I want to spend more time mentoring them, we want to increase our community ministries to reach more people, expand our Bible clubs into more areas, and hopefully, start one or two preaching points from our community ministries. As we see sin abounding in every place, we are aware that the door of opportunity is closing, so we must be busy about the Lord’s work while there is still time. Our Lord is coming soon, and we pray that all of us will take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself to be a witness fro our Lord. Thank each of you who have been so faithful this year to pray for us, E-mail encouragement to us, write letters and cards to us, and financially support the Lord’s work here. In the hustle and bustle of this season, let us stop to remember the wonderful gift of our Lord to us. May we make a commitment to our Lord to be available for His use in 2007, more than ever before. We deeply appreciate each of you, the BFM directors, and all who bring us before the Throne of Grace. May our Lord bless you this holiday season, and in 2007.

Your servants in Kenya,

Mike and Pam
II Corinthians 9:15