Bwanabob

October 25, 1999

Dear Friends,

You wouldn’t believe the contrast we see here. Wednesday was a national holiday, and some other missionaries and I went looking for a rumored trout stream. It was quite an adventure just finding the place and once we were there it was one of the most beautiful areas I had ever seen. “Secret Creek” is located in the Cherangani Hills above 10,000 feet. Once we arrived in the area all of the people were very friendly and helpful to us. We were allowed to park in the Chief’s compound, ( a very safe arrangement), and surprisingly people told us right where we should be fishing. The area looked like something from the Scottish Highlands or maybe even the Ozarks in springtime. It was truly a blessing just being there and enjoying the Lords creation. We were able to fish for about 4 hours and caught one fish. Everyone told us it was a bad day because of the rain and that we should come back once the rain ends. We definitely plan to go back. All in all it was a great time finding the place, meeting the people there and catching the fish, (a 19 inch Brown Trout, small the locals said!)

On the way back we were very excited and refreshed. The area was beautiful and the fellowship was great. Just before we got to Eldoret we had to pass by the Moi University campus. Just before the campus some men had stopped a wagon in the road and tried to flag us down. It was getting dark and I wasn’t sure of their intentions. Since they gave no explanation as to why we should stop, I drove on. As we came up to the campus I could see smoke and some smoldering fires. I slowed down trying to figure out what was going on, and then a mob of students rushed at us from the main gate and began throwing stones. I had never seen anything like it, and hope I never do again. I put the truck into reverse and thank God I didn’t blow the engine driving backward for a quarter mile. It took us almost an hour and a half to detour on safe roads that I knew. When we finally got to Eldoret we thanked the Lord for a beautiful day in His creation and safety in reaching home.

On Wednesday I believe we saw some of the most beautiful parts of Kenya and then we saw the ugly reality of a student riot. Just pray that we will be able to take the Gospel to every part of Kenya and that the Lord would give us safety.

On Sunday I was able to preach at Sosiani Bible Baptist Church here in Eldoret. It was great being with a veteran Kenyan pastor and listen to him talk about how much God has done through the missionaries that have been here before me. Pastor Muthama encouraged me in the work of starting an Institute in Lodwar and reiterated the fact that training nationals has been and continues to be the key to rapidly spreading God’s Word. After services there I was given the privilege of baptizing 17!

We then had dinner and fellowship at he pastors home. After dinner we had a good laugh as to whether we were “Filled”, “Satisfied”, or “Had enough.” We were definitely all three of those after eating the big meal the pastors wife had prepared; cooked cabbage, potatoes, rice, beef, soup, tea and a Coke to top it all off.

Please pray for us this next weekend as Jonathan and I travel to Turkana. We are visiting two churches and then taking a load of supplies on to the house in Lodwar. God has blessed with better tires, so I shouldn’t come back to Eldoret with two flats anymore.

Thank you all for praying; we never know when danger is so very near but God does.

In Christ,

Bob Clark

October 17, 1999

Dear Friends,

In the past few weeks I’ve had to travel more than ever, it was all necessary traveling and thank God there were no serious difficulties. The only problem was being stopped by the police, they began writing me a ticket for no reason and I’m sure were seeking a bribe. In the process they read my window sticker, “Jesus Loves You,” and then some busses pulled up ( a guaranteed bribe) so they let me go, thank God.

I’m now the owner of a new motorcycle, and yes I’m wearing a helmet. It is already saving money on gas,($2.60 per gallon) and when I move to Turkana I’m sure it will really add up in savings along with helping me access interior villages.

Please pray for the Turkana people. There has been drought there since April and there are sure to be harder times if conditions persist. Our churches are doing fine there, although most of the younger men are far away with their flocks looking for pasture. Please pray for Nathan, the converted raider, as he is wanting to attend the new Bible Institute we are opening in Lodwar. His current education may be lacking, so just pray the Lord will help him with his reading skills and spiritual growth.

Not sure if I related the story of the chained man in Simba Chai or not. It was very embarrassing for me, but God used it for His glory. We were holding a crusade at Simba Chai and I was the last preacher on the last night. I was preaching on the bondage of sin and how Jesus can break that bondage and give us eternal life. For an illustration I locked a mans hands together with a chain and large padlock. Through the sermon I asked the man if he liked the chains (NO) and then I asked the congregation if they wanted to see him free. The response was always a loud and enthusiastic YES! When I reached the part of the sermon where I explained how we can repent of our sins and freely accept Jesus Christ as our Savior I tried to unlock the big lock. It jammed, so I continued with my sermon trying not to disclose the problem with the lock. I fidgeted, wiggled and even employed my pocket knife but to no avail. Finally, I just admitted the problem to the pastors behind me and turned the invitation over to a Kenyan pastor. Man, did I feel stupid. We took the poor locked up fellow into a house and sent someone to look for a hack-saw. Thank God we found one and we began working to cut the chain. Praise God the saw was in good condition and the chains came off. The same time the chains came off, the pastor leading the invitation finished his final prayer and so Edwin (the locked fellow) walked outside and held up his freed hands. There was a cheer, much laughter and praising all mixed together. That night I was told about 30 people accepted Christ! Just last week someone told me that they didn’t get a proper count that night, the total number was actually 62!

The moral of this story: Just when you are feeling really stupid and think your efforts are in vain, remember that you’re working for God, that He is in charge and we are just mere men and He will perfect the work. Also, don’t use locks made in China.

Pray for my language studies, I really need to have a better grasp on Swahili before I move to Lodwar. Working and studying Swahili at the same time has been a blessing, but now is the time to really push on the language end.

Blessings: Preached today in Eldoret, four accepted Christ. The Kenyan pastors have told me they are finding my lessons at the Bible Institute very helpful. A church has given money for me to buy better tires for Turkana. God continues to bless with financial support. I have a new glass jar to make sun tea in.

Thank you for your prayers and encouraging e-mail.

In Christ,

Bob Clark

October 4, 1999

Dear Friends,

The past two weeks have been very busy and filled with many exciting things. Sunday before last we visited the Bible Baptist Church in Katilu and the Bible Baptist Church at Lorpur. We arrived there on a Friday and spent two days visiting the pastors in the area and learning more about them. They told me that it has been almost 15 years since a missionary came to visit and eat with them. We had a good time getting to know them a little better and eat lots of goat meat. We discussed building a new building, repairing existing buildings, ways to help their churches grow and starting the new Bible Institute. At Katilu we baptized 13 and at Lorpur 6 accepted Christ as their Savior! I really look forward to spending more time with each pastor and visiting their members in the villages.

After visiting with those churches we traveled to Lodwar to find facilities to rent. The Lord led us to a very large house that we will use as my residence and also for our new Bible Institute. I had wanted to rent a small place for myself and also have another building for the Institute, but the Lord saw best to give us one place to fill both needs. The house is close to 3500 square feet and currently has water and electricity connected. It will easily accommodate the 20 students and staff we are expecting in January and saves me the headache of connecting utilities. You might be thinking, “Bob this house sounds very expensive,” well it’s a whopping $130 US per month rent!

While in Lodwar we met with the pastor at Lorogum and assisted with money to obtain a plot in that village. An acre will cost a whopping $150 US! Not a bad price for desert and thorn bushes. The church in Lorogum is growing and they now have another 15 people ready to baptized, all fruit of the crusade last month. In Lodwar we met one of the men saved at the crusade, I can’t remember his old name, but the pastor had given him a new name, Nathan. Nathan was a raider before he accepted Christ. Raiders are the scourge of northwestern Kenyan and Nathan had been in with the worst of them, stealing, looting and murdering. He now loves the Lord and wants to attend our Bible Institute in January! We also heard that an old man we led to Christ is now a faithful member and really uses his testimony to witness for the Lord. He was the man sitting in the public grave area waiting to die, we had walked by him three times and the fourth we began talking to him and led him to Christ. Don’t pass up opportunities folks.

A few weeks ago I was eating roasted goat and chipped one of my teeth on some bone. I just blew it off and figured it wouldn’t be a problem. Today, the tooth chipped even more and began to hurt a bit. I knew of a dentist that several had recommended, so I went directly to her office after lunch. I walked in, gave my name and age, explained my problem to the dentist and sat down in the patients chair. About an hour later she had repaired the chip and a small cavity with a filling. The bill came to a whopping $13.33 US! I love this country! No the office didn’t have expensive carpet or designer paintings, but the dentist had up to date tools and a very clean place. Now if any of you come for a visit we can plan to get you a great deal on dental work!

I want to thank all of you for praying for me and also for giving to the ministry. I have given a few instance of how I spend the Lord’s money here and I hope it encourages you to see how little it takes to get so much done. God is good and has really blessed here, thank you for being a part of this mission work.

In Christ,

Bob Clark