June 1, 2002

Dear praying friends,

I just wanted to write and bring you up to date on what God is doing here in Kitale, Kenya. There has been so much that has happened here since my last prayer letter, and I will try my best to give you all the details of the major events in the past month.

I am thankful to God for answered prayer, specifically in two areas. The first area is the need for a work permit. To legally stay in Kenya, you are required to get a work permit after a period of three months. You are allowed to stay in the country for three months on a visa, but you must get the permit to stay in the country for an extended period of time. I grew concerned about the problem of the work permit, as I moved closer and closer to the date of expiration on my visa. I really began to pray about it and ask God to move in this situation. I was expired for three days and was granted an extension by the government so that they could make a decision regarding the permit. At the end of the week, after being expired for three days, I was informed that I had been given a work permit for a period of three years. God is so good! I praise Him for an answer to that prayer.

Also, I have been praying about the opportunity to start another ministry here in Kitale with the main prison. I did a prison ministry during my time at Cedarville University, and really enjoyed it. I saw the impact that it had on the prisoners' lives. I visited the main prison in Kitale with our assistant pastor to inquire about the possibilities in the prison. I was amazed at the size of the prison as I entered the compound. I asked the guard at the gate what the population of the prison was, and he said it was 1,200 prisoners! I later met with the head officer, and was referred to Nairobi, the capital city, to meet with one of the head officers of the prisons in Kenya. After a detailed interview, I received a call from Nairobi informing me that I was able to go and start a ministry in the prison. Praise God! Please pray that God would guide me and lead me with this opportunity.

I had the experience of a lifetime a couple of weeks ago. A ministry in Kitale, named Helimission, helps missionaries to fly by helicopter into areas that are not accessible by roads. I was asked by one of the pilots of Helimission if I would accompany him on a trip to the Samburu region of Kenya. It was an offer that I could not refuse; and I was very excited about the trip, and really had no idea what to expect. When we arrived, we landed on top of a mountain about a ten minute flight from Maralal, the major city in Samburu. As we approached to land, many people came out of the hills to see us and were captivated by the helicopter. We then proceeded to have a church service under a tree, as there were no buildings. Another interesting element is that the people did not know Swahili, the major language in Kenya. The service was translated into Samburu for the people. I was also interested in how the people were dressed, as they wore tribal clothing, and had spears, etc. that you would expect to see in a true tribal setting and situation. Also, the women wore several layers of beads, which indicated if the woman was married, single, etc. as well as other characteristics. Also, some of the men wore feathers in their hats, which indicated their level in the tribe. An evangelist preached to the people, and a doctor treated several people in his role of medical missions. I was then asked to give my testimony to the people. I encouraged them to give their lives to Christ and to serve Him. After I gave my testimony, I was offered goat milk by one of the chiefs of the tribe as a sign of appreciation for coming.

This was only the second time that anyone had come to reach these people with the gospel. It was truly an unreached people group, which I studied in college. Mark 16:15 says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." This was certainly the most primitive that I have seen in Africa, yet they still must be reached with the gospel, and we must be willing to go. My friend that went with me from Helimission, Marcus, told me that I would not see Kitale the same way after I returned from this trip. He was right, for when I returned to Kitale, I appreciative to see developed buildings, gas stations, public telephones, public bathrooms, restaurants, which were nowhere to be found on the top of the mountain and among the people that we ministered to. I now have a greater appreciation for all that I have here in Kitale.

These are the main events that I have experienced within the past month. I would love to hear from any of you that would like to write. God bless you as you serve Him.

Sincerely,

Nathan Radford
Mark 16:15