His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
January 1, 1992

Fraley's Chapel Church of Christ
c/o Jeff Young
Rt. #2 Box 421
Corinth, Mississippi  38834

Dear fellow workers,

On the stage of your life is the director close by, leading your actions, cueing your lines, directing your entrances and exits, providing other characters with the stage directions that affect your life and situation?  I sure hope so.

A mother does not direct her child's life from another city.  A choir director does not direct his choir from the eves of the auditorium.  A stage director does not direct his play from the dressing room.  I do not direct my own life.  Nor does my God and Master direct my life from the far reaches of heaven.  He's sitting right nearby, leading, cueing, providing, directing. . . if I can only believe that.

I've often wondered about the "God set the world in motion" theory, and how He's sitting on His throne in the far eves of the auditorium of this world watching. . . just watching. . . how we are dealing with what life throws at us.  I've often wondered at prayers sent to a God who abides so far away, who must be addressed in the hushed tones of an academy winning actor and who is spoken to in generalities only.  I've often wondered why it is so difficult for us to believe that He dwells so close, just at hand, to lead, cue, provide and direct our every need.  Where is the director of your life?

When we first came to Kenya the director of my life lived in the far reaches. I was sufficient and I was motivated enough to direct my own life (albeit for His glory).  My prayers were spoken with a hushed voice to a God who abided far away.  I spoke to Him in generalities only.  Until the Luo people began to teach me a very important lesson, that He is the director of each and every small detail.  I used to call the Luo's fatalists.  How can they just shrug in the face of death?  How can they smile and say, "God will send me another child to replace this one who has died"?  How can they feed me their last chicken when facing a poor crop and certain hunger?  How can they accept such poverty and do so little to fight against it?  Don't they
ever cry in frustration, I would ask myself?  They do actually.  Luo's do sometimes cry in frustration but not nearly as often as I do.  Smiling at death, feeding a visitor your own supper, and accepting poverty are not as easy as they seem to make it.  But it's easier for them, for the director of their lives is not my formidable God who sits on His throne and just watches them struggle.  Instead, He is their friend, who is close at hand and who walks with then through struggles because they ask Him in specifics.

The following little incident drove this lesson home so forcefully to me.  I would like to share it with you:

A CHAIR AND A PRAYER

    Simeon came into our gate after worship one Sunday afternoon.  He only intended to stop at his house for a moment, for he was on vacation and was anxious to go to his home farm (a two hour trip by bicycle) to visit his mother whom he had not seen for many months.  I headed for our house and Simeon headed to his little house situated just inside our yard.  I did not notice  it as he followed Simeon into his house.  Apparently he wanted to visit Simeon.  A few minutes later Kit came into our house as I was preparing lunch.  I didn't think to ask him what he had been doing.  We ate. I put Kit down for his afternoon nap and then I settled onto the couch with a good book and a promise of a few minutes of peace and relaxation, never giving Simeon another
thought.  Almost an hour and a half later the phone rang.  It was a call for Simeon (a very unusual occurrence for Simeon to get a phone call, seeing that very few Kenyans have telephones).  I expressed my doubt to the caller that Simeon would still be around (after all he said he was in a hurry to get to his farm and he had a two hour trip ahead of him), but I promised to go out to his house and check to see if he was still there.  I stepped out of my back door and called across the yard, "Simeon, are you there?"
    "Yes", came his prompt reply.
    "You have a telephone call", I called again.
    "Yes but can you help me?", he asked.  "I'm locked in my house."  I went rushing over to discover that Kit had pulled across the outside latch on the door and had locked Simeon into his little bedroom.  He ran to the phone and answered his call.  After hanging up the phone, he came to me all smiles, no anger, not frustration, no sweat, just a smile.  I was tripping over my tongue apologizing for what Kit had done.
   "That's all right", he said, "Kit didn't understand that I couldn't get out.  It was not his fault."
   "Yes, but you could have been locked in there for days.  You have a long trip in front of you and your wife is waiting at the farm.  She would have been worried sick.  What would you have done?  Did you try to call out to me?  I didn't hear you.  Did you try to break off the latch?  What would you have done?"
   "No, I didn't call you or try to break through the door", he said with another smile, "but it was no problem.  I just pulled up a chair, sat down and prayed.  I knew God would take care of me.  Maybe I got that phone call because God knew 1 needed to get out of my house."
   All I could do was smile too and watch as Simeon hopped onto his bike and headed to his farm.

                                                 ***********************

When was the last time you trusted God so completely that all you had to do was to ask and you could know for a surety that He would direct your life?  I sure learned my lesson that day.  If God takes care of such a minor detail as a locked door, if He can help a Luo to give up their last chicken with the assurance that He will never let them starve, then surely He is directing all my life and all my actions for His purpose, if only I can believe. . .

If you believe that you can talk to a God about specifics and that He will direct all things for His purpose then here are some things you can pray for.  We appreciate your prayers.

   * Please pray for the leaders courses that are being planned in South Nyanza in an attempt to mature some future elders in the congregations and to help the men to teach more efficiently.

   * Please pray for the harvest in Luo land both spiritual and physical.  We want to see more growth for Christ than ever and, we would like to see the Luo's get a little rest from the almost constant poor food crop situation.

   * Please pray for our upcoming furlough, that plans can go smoothly and that much will be accomplished for Him as we report to you of the work here.

   * Please pray about the rampant inflation here in Kenya.  Prices have increased by 40%.  We are thankful for sufficient support in the past, but we need prayers for that support to continue.  The Luo's are also deeply affected by inflation.  Pray for their needs also.

   * Please pray for Kit as he begins school (at home).  We pray for patience and for school to be a good experience for him.

   * Please pray for our growing relationship with the Luo people and with our co-workers.

   * Please pray for all involved in this work, for the Luo's, for the missionaries, and for the home supporters that all may grow closer to Him and that all may work harder for His glory in the coming year.

We love and appreciate you,
 
 

Barry, Stacy & Kit Rosie