Bwanabob

1/18/2005

Dear Friends,

We hope you all have been well, we’re fine here in Kenya. We arrived safely in Eldoret back in December, it took us nine and a half hours to get here from Lodwar. Ericka was pretty uncomfortable for a few days afterward, but she’s feeling fine now. When we checked in with her doctor here in Eldoret, she asked Ericka why she had come in because she and the baby seemed perfectly fine. So, we are paitently awaiting little Clark # 3, the due date is mid Feb.

We have just had an encouraging end to the year. In November we had 5 students graduate from the Bible Institute, one man and 4 ladies. In the weeks following the graduation many churches held seminars for the youth, ladies, or a revival. All of the graduates were involved in teaching lessons at these meetings and Bob taught and showed the Jesus Film. At the last meeting that we were supposed to attend, all of us came down sick so we couldn’t travel. But we heard the most encouraging report that 6 pastors and 3 graduates went to the meeting on bicycle or public transport and that everything went really well. It is awesome to see God maturing His people here to take on more responsibility and that they will go ahead without us, help one another and spread the Word of God.

Recently it came to our attention that all missionaries would have to start paying income taxes on the money they bring into Kenya. We received some pretty frightening e-mails from other missionaries about demands for back taxes, fines and penalties. After I had heard enough rumors and speculation I decided to visit the Kenya Revenue Authority myself here in Eldoret. The officers were very helpful in explaining what I was and wasn’t to pay taxes on. It seems we are to pay taxes on all cash and benefits that we receive personally here in Kenya, any money or benefits we pass on to churches or funds we use to promote the work of God is not to be taxed. Once I had the facts I felt a lot better about our tax situation here in Kenya, they did tell me I would need to pay taxes for 2004, but the amount they figured I needed to pay isn’t too teribly much. Please don’t think that I will enjoy paying this new Income Tax, the government here is still as corrupt as ever and I’m sure most of the taxes I pay will eventually end up in off-shore, numbered bank accounts. On the other hand, we feel confident that we will be staying here in Kenya for the remainder of our term and we are still waiting to hear if a final appeal for exemption will be accepted or not before we start paying.

While we were wondering about the tax situation and planning for the worst, I had started to consider moving to Uganda or Tanzania, somewhere that we could start a new work while still checking on the work in Turkana. The option of moving our family to Sudan is still too risky. In what little research I did I found many places in Tanzania with no missionary presence. I’m sure there are just as many places in Uganda where the Lord could use us. Please pray for us that if the Lord is wanting us to consider moving to a new area we would be sensitive and follow his leading.

Report from Sudan. Pastor Gitao came to visit us here in Eldoret on his way from Sudan to spend Christmas with his family in Nakuru, Kenya. He reports that the work of the Lord is going very well, many are accepting Christ as their Savior, he is discipling new Christians in three different villages and has plans to preach in many more villages once he has finished discipling and training leaders. Pastor Gitao has been a great encouragement to us as well as other Kenyan churches and pastors. He is the first one in our movement to go to a completely new area trusting God to provide for his needs and protect his life. We pray that others will follow Gods leading and become missionaries like Pastor Gitao has. Security is still very bad even though peace has been made between Khartum and the SPLA. His area of Sudan is still very much like the “Wild West,” the only law is a gun and whoever has more or bigger guns is the law. Please pray for Pastor Gitao’s safety.

Thank you all for your prayers and support, we will continue to await the arrival of our new little one and also prepare for returning to Turkana.

In Christ, Bob Clark