Barry and Stacy Rosie

P.O. Box 2568

Kisii, Kenya

East Africa

August 4, 1987

Fraley's Chapel Church of Christ

c/o Jim Brown

Rt. # 8 Box 320

Corinth, Mississippi 38834

Dear co-workers for Christ in Kenya,

July has been a very exciting month. I think.' Well let me just tell you about it, and you can decide for yourselves! I've tried to tell you before: THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN KENYA!

EXCITING ???

God has blessed us with another new congregation of the Lord's body in Luoland. Ten were baptized into Christ and have started the Kangiri Kanisa mar Kristo (Kanjiri church of Christ). Rejoice! Rejoice! The angels in heaven are rejoicing too.

This congregation has been started as a result of the zeal of the Christians in the Ruga Gem congregation (another of the new groups Barry has been teaching). Barry presently teaches intensely at four new areas weekly: Misare Kaksingri church of Christ, God Kwach church of Christ, Ruga Gem church of Christ, and Kanjiri church of Christ, as well as maturing some of the older congregations in South Nyanza. Pray for their growth, strength and maturity in Our Lord.

EXCITING ???

I think I've passed the initiation as a missionary wife this month. I'm hanging in there after a very harrowing experience. On the morning of July 18, Barry left on what was seemingly a usual Saturday teaching trip. However, I had no idea exactly where he was going, as he was picking up some of the Ruga Gem Christians and they were going to lead him to a new receptive area in which they wanted him to teach. He expected to be home by early afternoon. At 8:00pm, when he had not yet returned, I sent out the alarm to two other missionaries, who immediately set out to search for him. Their plan was to go to Ruga Gem first to see if Barry had dropped those Christians off yet. If he had, they would see him on their way to Ruga Gem. Unfortunately, Barry had decided to try a new road that day. And about 15 kilometers from home, at 5:30pm, on a deserted bush road, the steering broke. He went over an embankment and landed in a river. To leave the car and walk home would have been an open invitation to have the car stripped bare (the general rule of thumb in this country being: If it is not locked down, it is common property.) So, Barry proceeded to tie the steering back together with a rope and head for home {stopping every kilometer to retie the steering). He arrived home at 11:00pm, all in one piece, but very dirty. Meanwhile, the search party arrived at Ruga Gem to find he had already dropped those people off, and were combing the bush roads frantically trying to find him, afraid to come back without him and unduly worry me. They finally gave up the search and returned to our house at 11:30pm to find Barry safe and sound. (We won't mention the condition of the car. Ha.) Through the whole experience, there was one very bright outcome. After the Ruga Gem Christians had been told that Barry had never arrived home (and we had no means of getting news back to them), they spent a sleepless night. So at 5:00am Sunday morning, Richard Omollo walked from his home to ours (20 kilometers) to come and comfort me, thinking Barry had had a terrible accident. 20 Kilometers! I was never so touched in my whole life. He didn't even stop for breakfast. He was extremely relieved to find Barry all in one piece. But when we invited him to sit, rest and have breakfast with us, he declined. He was too anxious to walk back home so that he wouldn't miss Sunday worship. Is that a dedicated Christian or not?

EXCITING ???

If you didn't believe Barry's news from the last newsletter, I can safely assure you, now that I look like the side of a house, that we are indeed expecting! The little tyke is due on December 21st. Mama is feeling fine, and the doctor reports that all is well. Keep us all in your prayers. The baby needs your prayers for health. Barry needs your prayers for strength, as he has to put up with me every day. And I need your prayers so that I can place my trust in the support I have from God. I’m trying very hard not to let my fear run away with me.

EXCITING ???

Simeon Mumanye, our national co-worker for Christ among the deaf, has taken 7 deaf people to Nairobi to attend the first Back to the Bible Course for the Deaf. They left by bus on July 31, will study intensely for a week, and are expected to return home on August 8. Pray for them as they grow into a stronger understanding of Christ.

Has it been an exciting month? I vote, yes. We are well and blessed daily in Christ. We pray for your health and many blessings as you work for Him in the States.

We love you,

Barry and Stacy Rosie