Fraley's Chapel Church of Christ

C/o Jim Brown

Route 8, Box 320

Corinth, Mississippi 38834

U. S. A.

December 30, 1985

Dear Fellow workers in Christ,

It was dawn on Christmas morning here in Kenya. The sky was blue, not a loud was in sight, temperature in the 80's, and a gentle breeze cooled me as I carried our daily water supply on my head from the river. I thought of all of you, our family and supporters, our fellow workers for the Luo in Kenya, and I knew the best way to describe our life in Kenya was to describe our Christmas Day.

We have been "bonding" (living in an African village) for 3 weeks now. Our home is a tent until our mud house (African style) is finished. There is no electricity and the water must be carried from the river, 200 yards uphill on my (Stacy's) head. All our clothes must be washed in the river. Cooking is done over an open fire with a very few meager utensils. No one here, in the dala (village) of Zachariah and Rebecca Ngoje speaks English. We are working very hard at learning the Luo language.

Christmas day was to be very special for this Luo family, because they were hosting an Mzungu (white) family on their very special holiday. Christmas in Africa is a holiday borrowed from the British, about which the

Africans know nothing. But because of their profound sense of hospitality they were preparing their best for us (the likes of which we have never experienced before). So, after donning their best clothes, and even wearing

shoes for the occasion, we were ready to go. ”Go where?" you may ask.

We were all invited to the home of a fellow Christian who lived three miles away, so it was necessary to take a bus. Normally they would have walked, but they could not imagine an Mzungu walking three miles. We waited 2 hours for the bus.

Patroba's house is a small one room house with plastered walls and a tin roof. It is about 10' x 12' and the only furniture is a small table and chairs. He served fourteen people for lunch that day. Our meal consisted of

beans, greens and corn washed down with tea. Barry and I had much difficulty understanding the conversation of 12 Luo people speaking at their normal rate. Mostly, we just ate and watched. As the meal drew to a close, Patroba entered carrying a covered bowl. He proudly set it in front of Barry and I, lifted the lid under which sat a plain un-iced cake cut into small squares (something most Africans never even see let alone eat), and exclaimed, "Barry and Stacy, eat your Merry Christmas!"

Barry and I had no immediate reaction. Maybe we were too surprised, or maybe we were experiencing some culture shock. I don't know. But later, when we had time to think about it, we were very touched by their extreme effort to make us feel at home on our very special holiday.

The Merry Christmas cake was not to be the only shock of the day though. After the meal, in the course of the conversation, they put the only English speaking man in the group up to asking us one very important question. He said, "Because we learn everything from Americans, tell us, why do we celebrate Christmas?" Needless to say, we were at a loss to answer him. Here is a group of people who set aside a special day and talk a lot about Christmas, but don't know why they celebrate. They think Americans eat their Christmas. It has surely been. a Christmas that Barry and I will not forget.

When we retired to our tent that evening, we both cried a little. We were homesick. We wanted to be with all of you. Barry especially wanted ham and scalloped potatoes. We missed the Christmas we have always known.

Rut! We are over that now, and getting along just fine. We intend to spend one more week bonding at the Ngoje's, then we hope to go to Language School for awhile, and finally, return here for another month for additional practice in speaking Luo. This Christian family takes very good care of us, so you are not to worry. However, we need your continued prayers. It is very difficult to adjust to such a primitive way of life.

We welcome and look forward to your cards and letters. They snake us feel closer to you. Please keep them coming. Also, we want you to know that Lawrence and Faye Barr are taking very good care of us. They visit us here in the bush each week and bring us necessary supplies. They also provide much needed emotional support. We feel blessed to have them for co-workers. Because sickness is such a problem for them, we ask your prayers for their good health.

Until next month we say, Oriti (goodbye). You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Barry and Stacy