Bwanabob

4/3/2001

Dear Friends,

At the end of last month we were able to go ahead and buy a plot of ground that is next to our church in Lodwar. It’s close to an acre in size and should suit our needs perfectly. All of the pastors were so excited that they want to have Bible Institute Classes there in May. So, I’ve been doing a lot of work on the new plot. We’ve started with an outhouse, and bathing area and hope to have some shade above by next month.

We now have one church building and the Bible Institute construction underway, with three church building projects ready to begin. When I first came to Turkana district, I told the churches that if they gave and showed a willingness to have permanent buildings I would come with them and help. Well, now it’s time for me to live up to my end of the deal. Pray the Lord will give me strength and wisdom as we seek to build with limited resources. I truly believe that buildings are much less important than preaching the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. We only hope that our efforts strengthen the churches.

Our Bible Institute classes went well in March. My Swahili is coming back and seems to be improving little by little which makes it easier to teach classes. We ran short on some lessons and couldn’t find a “working” copier in town, so we had to break out the scanner and printer. Praise the Lord we were able to make copies ourselves. Imagine, a town of about 10,000 people, the district headquarters and no working copier available to the public.

After last months classes we had our friends from down country come to teach a Pastors Seminar for us. Missionary Jonathan Mohler taught a series of lessons, “How to Pray,” Rev. Oyangi, a wise and faithful leader from Busia district taught lessons on “To Know God”, then short term missionary Daryl Adams preached “Moto – Moto” (really good preaching – like fire). I was able to soak it all in and have meeting times with the pastors. The pastors were able to have great fellowship and discuss future plans and meetings.

Hi, everyone, this is Ericka. Things are going well here. I am really enjoying teaching a ladies Bible study on women of faith. The ladies of Lodwar seem to enjoy the lessons. I am learning much from the ladies about their culture, ways of respect, and new Swahili words. I have been working on translating a chorus in to Turkana and teaching to the ladies. They love it and we all have a blast. The ladies have asked me to teach some lessons at an all day seminar in Lodwar at the beginning of next month. I will also be teaching 3 lessons at two other ladies seminars. I will be teaching on a woman’s responsibility in her church, how to raise her children in a Christian home, how to be a witness and example to her unbelieving husband. Pray that God will give me the words to speak that will transcend both of our cultures.

Our plate will be very full this coming month. We are planning a ladies seminar, then a church leaders meeting, then a youth meeting. Pray that we will be able to do a good job of teaching at each endeavor. Last but not least we are preparing for a group to come out for the month of June, please pray that we will have all of the supplies needed, that everything will go smoothly at each village, and that people’s hearts will be ready to receive them.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement, God bless and keep you.

In Christ, Bob and Ericka Clark