Bwanabob

2/23/2005

Family and Friends,

The newest Clark has joined us. Riley Isaac Henry Clark was born February 22nd, 10:22pm. He is 8 pounds and 19.3 inches. The labor was 2 hours and 3 pushes.

Mom is doing well. We were discharged from the hospital this
morning. Mom is planning on taking it easy and enjoying the new little one.

Bob, Ericka, Vance, Edward, and Riley

3/7/2005

Dear Friends,
We are so glad to report the progress that the Lord has brought about in the ministry here in Turkana District of Kenya. I would like to begin by giving credit to the missionaries who came to Western and Northwestern Kenya years ago and started the foundation of our work. We have simply continued to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone who many Kenyans have accepted.

This last week all of the Pastors we work with from Turkana and South Sudan went to a pastors conference in Eldoret sponsored by a fellow missionary, there were over 150 national pastors in attendance. At the end of the conference it was suggested that the pastors try and assist Pastor Julius Gitao our missionary/pastor to South Sudan. Upon the motion of assisting Pastor Gitao many began confessing that they had taught and preached to their congregations about missions, but none had ever done anything about it. At that time all of the Pastors, all nationals, took a collection to assist Pastor Gitao with his travel expenses to and from Sudan! They also committed to present before their churches the possibility of supporting Pastor Gitao in his mission work in Sudan! At that meeting there were no “white missionaries” present, all of the motions, giving and commitments were made by Kenyan national pastors! I believe this indicates that we are nearing our goal and the goal of missionaries before us to have Churches led and pastored by nationals, those churches starting new churches and finally sending nationals to foreign fields and supporting them. The commitments made at this last pastors conference are making this happen. We are so thankful to be a small part of what God is doing here.

In Turkana District we have two churches that are ready to begin building permanent buildings. Please pray for Paulo Loreng, he has been an evangelist to the village of Neremit for the past 3 years and has completed Bible Institute training. His home church would like to commission him to pastor and formally start a church with the Christians at Neremit. Pray for the continued spiritual growth of our pastors and leaders, the past three seminars our pastors have attended have greatly encouraged them.

We would also like to report the latest addition to our family, another boy. Riley Isaac Henry Clark was born on February 22, at 10:22 PM. He weighed 8 pounds and was 19.3 inches. Ericka started into labor about 8:30 in the evening and we had just enough time to get the kids settled with fellow missionaries, get to the hospital and have the doctor arrive about 10 minutes before the birth. They were released from the hospital the following morning and both continue to do well. Having children is much cheaper here in Kenya, the final cost of delivery including hospital, doctor and medication was only $135 US, which we were glad to pay. God is so good!

God bless you for your prayers and support.

In Christ, Bob, Ericka, Vance, Edward and Riley Clark
Sending Church:
Fellowship Baptist Church
17818 Lawrence 2200
Aurora, MO 65605