Bwanabob

12/25/1999

Dear Friends,

This is my first Christmas in Kenya and let me tell you it sure has been different. The Christmas season here is nothing like that in the States. There’s no media blitz for the newest toys or latest dinner at Olive Garden, we just hear Christmas music from time to time in some stores. Many stores are owned by Hindus so there’s no Christmas decoration at all in there. A nice change came when some of the veteran missionaries around invited me to sing Christmas carols and even play my guitar on one occasion. It sure was nice and helped cure the homesickness that was building.

Today I went to the Christmas service at one of our churches, what a blessing! We sang many Christmas Songs, read the Christmas story in Swahili and English, had a play and then a Christmas message, followed by Kool-Aid, Coke and Cookies! The play was great, it was put together by the young adults of the church who did a great job. Every person memorized his part of Scripture to quote in Swahili, they all had great costumes. The funniest part was one of the angles wearing a puffy chefs hat he had found. Also the angles “appeared suddenly” in this play, they came running down the center aisle as fast as they could. It was quite a change from our somber, quiet American versions of the birth of Christ. But what a blessing it was!

I was able to spend the day with fellow missionaries opening a few presents and eating some real American cooking! The Lord sure has been good to give me friends and fellowship during this time I would be spending with my family. He always knows what we need to be sustained.

As for ministry, I had been running quite a bit the weeks leading up to Christmas. My partner and I first went to Turkana District and held a two day crusade/youth camp in Lorpur and Katilu. There were 14 saved in the crusade and the youth were greatly encouraged by the lessons in the camp time. I also used that time to encourage the local pastors to continue planning crusades and camps on their own. In years past they would have never done a youth camp unless the missionary paid and led everything. Thank God for the opportunities He has given me to help these pastors become more self supporting and independent. I truly want to assist these churches to have youth camps and I did carry a large share of the expense, but the Lord has really shown me to help lead the churches to a place where they don’t depend on the missionary.

From Turkana we traveled back to Eldoret and then on to Busia district. We attended a wedding, then went on to another youth camp/ crusade. The first night at camp the youth stayed up singing and practicing drama until 2 AM outside our tent. That was a difficult part of the culture to live with, but the next night we found a quiet place to put the tent and finally got some sleep. I’m not sure of the number saved at the crusade, the local pastor took down the names of those who accepted Christ. That’s one of the great parts of having the crusades, they build up the local church and the local pastor is able to follow up on those who accept Christ. We missionaries are there to simply, “strengthen the hands” of the local pastor.

On January 3rd I’ll be traveling back to Lodwar in Turkan District. This time I will be starting the Bible Institute on January 10th. Please be in much prayer about this. I have many things to prepare before we begin. The Lord is good and has brought together some great Kenyan pastors to teach the first year. We have most of the supplies already at my house, but we still don’t have an adequate water supply. The only way to get the water maintenance people to work is by giving a bribe and I won’t have any part in giving out bribes. Just pray that I’ll be able to get the water problem fixed and keep my testimony for the Lord. Please pray for the students who will be coming, that they are truly surrendered to the work of the Lord and ready to serve Him.

I want to thank all of you who sent Christmas cards and especially for your prayers. The Lord has truly uplifted me and given me fresh energy to start the Bible Institute in January. Pray the Lord to give me wisdom and spiritual strength. I could have never dreamed the Lord would be using me to train young men to plant churches in the “frontier” of Kenya.

God bless all of you and have a Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:30-32.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.