Bwanabob

10/1/2002

Dear Friends,
Sorry it’s been so long since we’ve written, I hope our little updates are enjoyable and encouraging rather than just more Spam. Lord knows we’ve had to deal with it even here, somehow we gotten onto several advertising lists.

First, I’ll fill you in on odd occurrences of life here. We had a mongoose get into our chicken coop, thankfully our guard killed him before he caused too many casualties among the feathered friends. The next morning we met with our guard and a couple other guards from the community, another guard, David mentioned that mongoose was very tasty. I offered him the poor critter and no sooner had I gotten the words out of my mouth than he was producing a bag to put him in. A few weeks later a wild cat began ambushing our chicks, we’d lost quite a few. Our guard, Peter, came to the rescue again. He made a snare out of an 8 foot sapling tree next to our house. The first night the snare proved effective and we gave that cat a permanent headache. In the morning the other local guards came by to see what the commotion had been the night before. They were all pleased to see that we’d caught the local chicken thief and then began commenting on how big and meaty the cat was. Again, I offered the cat to anyone who was willing to take him and again out came a bag. Today, one of our chickens fell victim to a speeding truck. A neighbor brought the poor bird by and let us know who had hit him. We then discussed what to do with the roadkilled chicken, I agreed with our guard that giving it to our dog might give him a taste for young tender chickens. I told our guard I wasn’t sure what to do with the chicken so he walked back to the neighbor who had brought the chicken and gave it to him, the next thing we heard was, “Thank you very much.” On ONE trip into town today a kid tried to throw a stick at me as I passed him, a government truck came around a corner on my side, a crazy guy ran across the road in front of me watching his feet and an old Mama from the bush carrying a stack of skins on her head walked through the main roundabout (Fourway) in front of me.

No, we don’t just kill animals and play driving games here, we’ve also been up to a little work. In August we helped with a youth meeting in the village of Juluk, there were about 120 youth attending from 3 churches. The camp was three days and was focused on encouraging the youth to be strong in the Lord and live according to His Word. After the youth camp we held a pastors seminar here in Lodwar, we also included our 3rd year students from the Bible Institute because 3 of them have already started working full time in new works. We had two guest speakers from down-country Kenya who were a great encouragement. Our theme was Discipleship and Missions! After the leaders seminar 14 of us traveled to a new work in Lokwee. I’m not sure if I’ve written that we have a new-to-us vehicle, it’s a 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 by 4, diesel, it’s TOUGH and can haul about 12-20 Turkanans depending on the comfort level they are willing to endure. It’s already been a great blessing and praise God it’s paid for! Anyway, off to Lokwee. We held crusade meetings for 3 nights, went hut to hut visiting for 3 days and on Sunday held services with about 70 attending and baptized 7. Pastor Eregae said we had 42 professions of Faith while we were there! Pray for Pastor Eregae, Peter and Donald as they follow-up there. After Lokwee we traveled to Neremit for a crusade/leaders seminar. On the way we took 160 feet of 1 by 6 lumber to Lorogum for their benches. Thanks Connie! I didn’t get a count on the professions of Faith during the crusade meetings, but we had about 20 men from 3 churches and one new work attend the leadership lessons. Pray that these men will grow in the Lord and be encouraged to start more churches. After Neremit we had Bible Institute classes and the week after that we put the roof on the church building here in Lodwar. The pastor and church members are now working to make temporary walls of palm leaves, but they already have plans for permanent cement block walls.

Now that we’re all through traveling for a while I’m trying to get the 50 projects finished around the house that I’ve put off for the last 4 months. Ericka and I enjoy spending our days together. It’s been pretty hot and dry. Hasn’t rained since May, so please pray the Lord will send some soon. Ericka is fine and healthy, if you didn’t know, we’re expecting a little one in February. Pray that we all stay healthy.

Thank you all who have been praying for us. Thank you all who gave to help buy the Land Cruiser, we call it our Camel because it does so much more work than our little Mitsubishi “donkey.” Pray for Ericka and I to continue to be an encouragement to the ministry here in Turkana and pray that we will be encouraged in the work of God.

God bless you all, Bob and Ericka Clark