His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
March 9, 1992

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

  Dear family in Christ,

                         WHY DO I DO IT?

  That's a good question!   Why do I do it?  And there are lots of
  other questions too, like:

  Why do I live so far from my family and friends?
  Why is my most formal footwear a tennis shoe?
  Why do I consent to traveling these horrid roads?
  Why do I put up with all the dust and dirt?
  Why do I exist on greens and corn meal mush?
  Why do I take the risk of getting malaria and exposing my child
       to it and to all the other sickness here?
  Why do I struggle trying to communicate in Luo?
  Why will I sleep on the hard, dirty floor of a mud house?
  Why would I agree to go for days without a bath?
  Why can I live in a constant struggle with cultural values that
       are not my own?

  The answer is easy!  I can do it because when I jump into my
  vehicle, dressed in my old jean skirt and tennis shoes, go bump
  bumping along the terrible roads, leaving my nice soft bed and my
  bathtub behind, and arrive in a Luo village knowing that more
  corn and greens await with my name on them and a space on the mud
  floor has been swept for my bed, I also know there will be a
  smile waiting for me and a hand reaching out to pump my arm in a
  vigorous greeting.  There will be a sister in Christ carrying her
  tattered Bible, waiting to fill her heart with His precious
  words.  And there will be sweet sweet fellowship.  Can there be
  any doubts about why I'm here?  Not in my mind. . .

  I have another question for you:

                        HOW WILL WE LOOK?

Many of you already know that our furlough (after four years on
the field) is just around the corner.  Our tentative plans are to
arrive home sometime in September 1992. We'll be publishing our
exact plans in a future newsletter.  I just wanted to give you
some advance warning.  The question is:  HOW WILL WE LOOK?

You'll see a very distinguished touch of gray.  (I speak
     of my husband, not of myself.)
You'll see a few wrinkles.  (Now I speak of myself.)
You'll not find the baby you saw in 1988.  Instead you'll see a
     young man of almost five years, who thinks he's twenty, but
     to whom America is a foreign country.  (Don't be surprised
     if he asks you what a vacuum cleaner is.  He's never seen
     one!)
I can guarantee that we'll look a little outmoded to you.
     (There's no way we can keep up on fashion trends after four
     years in the bush)
Don't worry if we look a little lost.  America is becoming like a
     foreign country to us.  You may see us driving down the
     wrong side of the road, or running away when the coke
     machines talk to us.  Or worse yet, we may not laugh at
     your jokes.  (No offense intended.  On our last furlough, I
     spent three months trying to find out what a couch potato
     was without having to ask and admit my ignorance.  I wonder
     what will be so new to us this time!)
I know you'll see three pairs of shining eyes and three broad
     smiles.
And I hope you'll see hearts just bursting to share Him with you!

We love you and can't wait to see you and to share with you.  In
the meantime, take care and know that we are praying for you!

Love,
 
 

Barry, Stacy and Kit