Bwanabob

3/1/2008

Dear Friends,

A couple of days ago the government and opposition agreed on a powersharing deal.  Everyone is feeling a great sense of relief now and we are very hopeful that both parties will follow through on the agreement made and we should pray to that end.  The atmosphere now is like everyone has exhailed after holding our breath for two months, it’s really a load off.

Last weekend I was able to visit three of our churches and help transport one of our Bible Institute graduates, his family and hosehold possesions to where he is planting a new church.  It was a good trip, I had two minor breakdowns along the way but got patched up and gimped along with the old Land Cruiser. The trip was over 300 miles on very bad roads, but we all survived and it was very encouraging to the Pastors and myself.

The young pastors name is Donald Loboko and the new church is in the village of Kainuk.  Some of our church members from other areas have lived there for years and have asked us to plant a church there, but it wasn’t until the Lord prepared and called Donald that we were finally able to follow through.  Please pray for Donald and the village of Kainuk.  It is very unsafe around the village because of the Pokot tribe coming steal animals and kill any Turkanans that  they catch in the bush.  The security in the bush areas of Turkana has been really bad since the government ceased to function a couple of months ago.  It  was like all those bent on causing mayhem and stealing in remote areas knew that the government of Kenya couldn’t even wipe its own nose, let alone take care of problems far into the bush.  So Pastor Donald will need prayer for safety and a heart to comfort and cousel those who loose family members and children to the Pokot raids.

We are getting ready today to go visit the church at Lopur, we’ll stay there tonight and Sunday night and then leave out on Monday morning for Eldoret. We hope to be an encouragement to the church in Lopur.

Please pray with us about a seminar we have planned for the first part of April.  We have invited all the pastors, their wives and two church Elders/leaders from each congregation.  We will generally be teaching on the charcteristics of a mature church, character of leaders and the importance of the churches to take hold of the work of missions.  We will take this seminar time to explain to all the pastors and church leaders that the Bible Institute is now in the hands of the local churches and if it is to be successful it needs each church’s backing.   Since all of the turmoil of the last couple of months most everyone here understands the importance of the local churches being the leaders in ministry.  We missionaries easily come and go, and whatever is built on us leaves with us.  What is built on Christ and is ministry of the local church will stand through anything.

Our family is doing well, this last week we’ve all had the flu and are still caughing and sniffling but I think we are on the downhill side of it.

God bless you all and thank you for your prayers.

In Christ, Bob Clark