Dear Friends,
This has been written several days ago. We hope to streamline this blog once we are finished with language class
 


Subject: A brief update...

 

Misawa Uru! (Hello to all of you!)

 

                As you can tell by the above greeting, we are “up to our heads” in language class. We are finding the following verse to be true: “Much study is a weariness to the flesh”. I am experiencing extreme exhaustion, so this e-mail will be shorter. (If you wish to learn more about our lives, you will find more info on Clara’s blog: luolandchronicles.blogspot.com. No pictures were posted yet on our blog yet. We have a lot of other things to occupy ourselves with, and that has been pushed to the back burner for now. I am looking forward to figuring that out soon.)

 

                I will add a few things to Clara’s last update…

                               

We enjoyed learning to know the Kenyan CBF pastors’ team better last Thursday and Friday. As I listened to the Native pastors speak, I had to think of the joy it would bring to the former missionaries, who poured their energy into nurturing these precious native souls in the baby stage of their life in Christ, to hear them speaking so sincerely and wisely in a pastors’ meeting.

 

                The communion service on Sunday was very nice. The germs did not shock me so much this Sunday, as I was feeling much healthier. Wayne and Clara do so well with these people. We are so glad we will still have their wisdom to back us up when the time comes for Wayne to give responsibility to Joe.

 

                When Bishop Eric told us how Luos spend little on preserving life, but spend extreme amounts on funeral services, I was very appalled, until I thought about weaknesses in our culture such as spending much to preserve social status, life, and health, (which is important at times), but little on preserving the spiritual health of ourselves, families, and loved ones.

 

                Yesterday and today, we are grieved in our hearts. I will explain by giving you a sentence from a paragraph I needed to write in Luo about my day yesterday… Nyoro, ne acheiw gi kuyo, nikech nyathi osiepna ne otho. (Yesterday, I woke up with sadness, because my friend’s child had died.)

 

As I was preparing to end the day on Monday, I was thinking about Wanda Peachey, a dear friend from home. I knew she was nearing the time for her baby to be born. I prayed that all would go well for her. Not long after the prayer, Joe brought the sad news. By the look on his face, I knew it was very sad news before he even showed me the vox. Johnny and Wanda Peachey’s long awaited, prayed for child was in the arms of Jesus, and they were left without their baby to love and hold. After three miscarriages and nine years since the last living baby, the whole church family, and of course, cousins, grandparents, uncles, and aunts was anxiously waiting for the arrival of this baby for Johnny and Wanda. The dream is crushed. Our hearts feel crushed too for Johnny and Wanda and their two adorable children. We did not sleep well after news like that. A short funeral is planned for 10:00 A.M., EST, and our thoughts are at home right now. Amy, Johnny’s youngest child and I had a conversation about this baby not long before we left for Kenya. She was jumping up and down with excitement and just shining. She is taking it so hard, and I have cried much for her.

 

We continually feel the need for God’s protection here both physically and spiritually. Yesterday was our first experience with this kind of warning: STAY OUT OF THE MAIN PART OF TOWN THIS MORNING.  IF YOU NEED TO GO BE VERY CAREFUL.  HEADING OUT OF TOWN THIS MORNING JOSEPH SAW RIOT POLICE WITH STICKS AND TALKED TO  BROTHER JOSHUA FROM NYAKOKO. HE TOLD HIM DOWN TOWN PEOPLE ARE RUNNING.  NO MORE DETAILS AT THIS TIME. Wayne and Joe did go out on visitation to several church members in the afternoon, and thankfully the police had things under control by that time. It is amazing how peaceful we feel in the midst of this violent world. We know the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.  I must say one more thing. Thank you to our dear church at home for the meaningful send off service two days before we left! Those beautiful songs ring through my mind during sleepless times of the night and give me peace as I wonder, “Will the robbers strike this compound again?” Your prayers are much appreciated! – Joe, Glenda, and our little/big blessings

 

 

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