Bwanabob

3/30/2000

Dear Friends,

Things are going well here in Turkana district. In the last two days I was able to complete two land agreements, one at the village of Kalemenyang and the other in Lodwar. In Kalemenyang we purchased about 3/4 of an acre for the pastor in that village to use as a means of supporting himself. The price agreed on was 4800/ Kenya shillings, or the equivalent of 12 live goats. It appears the rains are just starting so pray the pastor will be able to plant a crop this season. Here in Lodwar we bought about 3/4 of an acre for a church and Bible Institute. We have already sealed the deal with the owner, but the Catholics near to us are opposing the sale. I talked to one of their leaders today and asked him to speak with me directly if they had any problems. It seems the local diocese has written a letter to the District Commissioner opposing our purchase of the plot. Just pray that our work would not be hindered and I will keep a good testimony through this.

Will be leaving soon to work on a church in the bush at Juluk. We have our work cut out just getting supplies there, let alone building the church. Pray that we will be able to carry the supplies over the river without too much difficulty. Just this morning it rained here in Lodwar and from the clouds we are sure that is has rained near Juluk. You can’t imagine the thrill and excitement that a sprinkle of rain brought to us. There hasn’t been a good rain here for about 8 months and having rain was quite a sensation.

The longer I am here the more work I see that needs done, there are many places we need to take the Gospel and many young men needing to be trained in the ministry. Just this evening I was talking to one of our pastors about visiting a village near the Sudan border. It is very far but they say that there have never been any preachers or missionaries to that place. Please pray that the Lord will continue to guide and protect us and thank Him for all he has done.

In Christ, Bob Clark

P.S. My E-mail address will be changing to: bwanabob @africaonline.co.ke

3/22/2000

Dear Friends,

This last week in Turkana was a filled with many blessings and challenges. I arrived there last Wednesday during our Bible Institute to find all had progressed well without me. This was very encouraging because I have always been telling our teachers there to be ready to move on without me and it was good to see they had. I arrived with singers and pastors from up-country Kenya to help with our Crusade in Lodwar. Before we began the crusade we visited the area all around the church and passed out Gospel tracts. Then late in the afternoon we picked a spot with some shade and began singing and preaching. Again, the Kenyan pastors were in the lead and I simply gave my testimony in Swahili. I have to admit that training indigenous people to carry on the ministry is of utmost importance. Sometimes they do things in ways I wouldn’t, but they get the job done and when it comes to following the Scripture most have learned that the Bible is our final guide no matter what culture (American, Turkana or Kenyan) dictates. The Crusade was a blessing to the Church in Lodwar and also to the many who accepted Christ as their Savior. We also met many members from Churches up-country who didn’t know that we had a new church in Lodwar town. I need to add that the Berea Bible Baptist Church of Lodwar is really growing and maturing. The pastor and church had arranged to feed all 9 crusade guests for 5 days. That might not sound like much in America, but let me tell you it was a real effort on their part. They bought 3 goats, (nice tender ones I might add), plenty of fish, kunde (greens) and ugali, (corn meal mush). They even gave gifts of food to the main speakers to take home, (the district is currently in a state of famine). Please ask the Lord to really bless the church and Pastor Gitao for their giving during the crusade.

While in Lodwar I tried to make two land deals but couldn’t complete either. The first owner was away the day I arrived at their village and had left word for his wife to sign over the plot. But I thought it best to wait for the Mzee to sign for himself. The second land owner didn’t have any type of document at all to prove that he owned the land, his explanation was simply, “I’ve always lived here, everyone knows this is my plot, I don’t need any papers to prove that.” He was quite right, but we thought it best to wait for the plot to be registered before we buy it. Pray that both of these matters will be completed in a way that will honor God.

I’m now preparing to return to Turkana on Monday to begin building a church in the village of Juluk. I’ll be doing a new kind of building with concrete pillars. It goes up quickly with minimal cost and the exterior walls are completed as the church is able to give toward building. The church has already given several things including, kichelong (small T- looking stools to sit or lay your head on), wooden bowls, abarite (wrist knives), and mikeka (palm leaf mats). The pastor had told me the church wasn’t able to give any money toward building because they were so far into the bush few people had money. I told him that if the people brought ANYTHING as an offering I would take it to Eldoret and sell it, the money going to the Church. It has started well and I’m eager to show them the fruit of their giving. Many missionaries have told me working with the Turkana is more difficult than working with most other tribes. They are commonly referred to as the worst beggars in Kenya, so to see these people give to the Lord is a great encouragement.

Please pray for me as I continue to adjust to the culture and way of doing things in Turkana. I always thought of myself as a patient person able to handle most situations without blowing my top, but since I’ve begun working more closely with the Turkana people I’ve come to the end of my ability to deal with many frustrations. Please pray for me to have a love for the Turkana people that would allow me to serve them and help them grow in the Lord. Thanks so much for praying.

In Christ, Bwana Bob