His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
December 1, 1988

December 1, 1988

Fraley's Chapel Church of Christ
c/o Jim Brown
Rt. #8 Box 29A
Corinth, Mississippi  38834

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    We had a special Thanksgiving celebration this year and hope all
of you did too.  We enjoyed a turkey supper with all the dressings,
and spent one relaxing afternoon amidst all the long days of
delivering corn and visiting with the churches here in S. Nyanza.  Our
prayer this month is that you all labor and prosper in our Lord as we
finish out 1988, and that you all enjoy a special Holiday Season.
    Barry and I were deeply touched when we received a call from Jim
Brown on Thanksgiving day, telling us that $2000.00 had been donated
to help with the hunger.  It gave us another thing to be truly
thankful for.  Your generosity is overwhelming.  And the timing was
perfect!  On Wednesday, we used the last of the money previously
donated and knew there were still many fellow Christians going to bed
hungry.  The money you gave will help to feed the Christians for about
two more months.  Thank you so much!   To date Barry has bought and
delivered 7 1/2 tons of corn to 17 of the 35 churches and preaching
points in South Nyanza.  Normally, the Luo's harvest in January, but it
is certain now that they will lose their second crop in a row.  By all
indications, hunger will be worse in June that it is now, so we are
praying fervently for a good harvest in July of 1989.  Because of your
help, we can concentrate on spiritual needs now that the physical
needs are being taken care of.
     Barry's goals for the year 1989 are all in the area of church
maturation.  As Paul planted and Apollos watered in I Cor. 3:6, so
Lawrence Barr has planted here in S. Nyanza, Barry is going to water,
and we hope you all will pray for God to cause abundant growth.  We
are not speaking of growth in terms of large numbers of conversions,
but in terms or spiritual maturation of the Christians and increase in
Bible knowledge.  Barry's theme for 1989 is:  "We are brothers."  In
this culture where tradition deems a tribal chief supreme head, and
modernization has given the country's president the same supreme
authority over men, Luo's find it difficult to live their spiritual
lives without a human authority.  Like a doctor, Barry must always
struggle to heal the "Jatelo" syndrome (Big Chief Syndrome).  Along
with tending to make the white missionary "big chief",  Luo's
themselves strive constantly to become earthly leaders in local
politics and in national politics, as well as in religious matters.
If we could point to one thing as the biggest stumbling block to
church maturation here in South Nyanza it would be this tendency
towards human leadership.  So Barry plans to preach and teach
constantly this year the concept that we are all brothers and Christ
is our only head.  Keep praying!  Practically speaking, we hope to
promote a feeling of unity and brotherhood in Christ, with Christ as
our only "Jatelo" to lead us all to greater heights in spiritual
matters.  We hope and pray the Luo's will begin to look only to Him for
guidance and leadership, and will conduct church matters in a spirit
of brotherhood.
    We plan on having a simple Christmas this year.  It hardly seems
like Christmas at all.  Kenyans try to celebrate Christmas because of
Western influence, but they have no understanding why they do it.  It
is not traditionally their holiday.  So in an almost comical attempt
to copy western tradition, Kenyans "eat their Merry Christmas".  We
plan to eat a Merry Christmas too.  And hope to get a day of rest at
the same time.  You will be in our thoughts and prayers.  Thank you
for everything!

For Him,
 
 

Barry, Stacy & Kit Rosie