His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
March 1, 1994

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

Dear Family in Christ, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.  To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.  (James 1:27) The Rosie family has occasion for great rejoicing this months and we want you to rejoice with us.  We also have a very important prayer request for you, knowing that you are faithful in prayer for us and this work.  It started with that same old monster rearing its ugly head at us.  TRADITION!  It is the weapon that Satan uses against the Luos who are fighting him as they try to walk with Christ.  This particular battle against tradition began on October 19, 1993.  We were not even in Kenya.  October 19th was the last day we spent in Namibia, and our thoughts were all on the survey trip we had just finished.  Meanwhile, some of the Christians here in Luo land were preparing for the fight.  That same old fight against tradition which attacks them almost daily. October 19 was the day of the birth of a child.  Her mother left a church meeting (Catholic, we think) to return home to give birth to her fourth child.  She was alone and bled to death immediately after the birth.  When the rest of the family returned home they found the live baby.  The child's father was also dead.  Luos don't often discuss it (maybe out of shame, or maybe because it's the way they've done it all these generations and they have no reason to discuss it) but they believe that the spirit of the dead mother takes care of her own child, so out of fear of the spirits, they do nothing for the child.  Many many Luo babies are starved to death because of fear of the spirit world.  This child was no different.  She would have starved to death like the rest if it wasn't for a few Christians who are members of the mother's family.  Normally they would have little to do with the situation because when a woman marries she becomes part of the husband's family.  There is little contact after marriage with her own family.  But these Christians crossed the first barrier of tradition by going to see their in-laws about the new born child.  Their belief in Christ would not let them rest in thinking that the spirit of the dead mother was calling to her live baby. They (the Christians) prepared to cross the second barrier of tradition when they came to us.  Joshua Saria explained to us that he would gladly raise the child if he didn't already have sixteen children of his own and wasn't already struggling to feed them.  He asked if there was anything we could do.  We went into high gear.  The child was already over several weeks old by this time and hadn't been held, washed or fed.  She was left to lie in the mud house and wait for her mother to take her.  Barry raced to the Child Welfare office along with Joshua and a relative from the father's family, and arranged for the child to be placed in an orphanage.  We were so proud of Joshua.  He defied his family for the name of Christ.  You see, in a Luo's eyes, to attempt to help the child will bring the wrath of the dead mother upon you.  And who wants to be haunted?  But Joshua knew that Christ was stronger than the dead mother. We were not prepared for how fast things progressed.  Barry received a court order from the judge that very day and the next day, November 17, the children's officer went along with Barry and removed the child from the home.  The orphanage was not ready for her so they brought her to us.  A young man from the mother's family carried her into our home.  Now I can chuckle about it.  He carried her at arms length as if she was lethal and his face surely looked haunted.  He must be a brave young man to defy the dead spirits in carrying that child to refuge.  I was not chuckling on that day though.  She was a shriveled, filthy little ball of humanity, weighing in at just 5 lbs. at almost one month of age, and on her face was a look of suffering that I have never seen before.  She was wrapped in rags and wore a little cotton shirt (which we found out later, they took off of her three year old sister in preparation for visiting the white man's house).  Her eyes seemed to be popping out of her head and her little hands were fisted so tight we were unable to loosen them when we gave her a bath.  We had a house full of Luo visitors that day and they were shaking their heads in despair.  She will die this night they told us.  I just ignored them and prepared the first bottle of her life, which she drank right down.  A few days later she was a glowing, happy little baby, and her dead mother didn't take her. Thanks to those Christians, who put Christ first instead of tradition, who were willing and not afraid to defy the spirits for His sake, and who crossed enormous family barriers, this child would not end up like the rest.  But that is not the end of this adventure for Christ's sake.  Can you guess what happened next?  Kenya showed it's best through the next few days.  The hospital lost the child's medical test.  The doctors were out of town.  Things came to a halt.  One more month passed then two and we were still caring for the child (who still didn't even have a name at this point).  You've probably guessed!  Our little boy fell head over heels in love with this little girl.  So did his momma and poppa.  Joshua was also encouraging us to become attached.  He just knew that she would be better cared for with us.  We became convicted by James 1:27 and the possible example we could set for the Luo Christians. Adoption in Kenya is almost non-existent due to the extended family type of living.  Generally there is someone in the extended family who can take care of an orphan if he or she is strong enough to work for the family.  Even at that, the orphan's life consists of little more than begging, and he or she suffers from neglect.  In the case of an infant, this fear of the dead mother's spirit, allows them to starve the infant.  If the orphan child is a girl, the family is unwilling to give her up because of the bride price she will eventually bring in the future.  Very few would consider adoption as an alternative.  We, however, had some very strong Christians on our side, who stepped in, placed themselves in jeopardy with their family and acted for Christ and in the best interest of the child.  On February 24th, this child became Kit's baby sister.  Joshua attended the court hearing along with us. Later, he told us that he would never be able to visit with those in-laws again, for they would always think that he interfered with the wishes of his dead sister.  We apologized to Joshua for causing this problem between him and his family.  He, however, responded with this statement, “You did not cause me a problem because I didn't do this for you.  I did it because I wanted this child to grow up and learn to serve Christ.  Think no more of it.” Please celebrate with us for Havilah Auma Rosie whose life we dedicate to His service.  The name Havilah is the name of a place in Bible times thought to be in southern Arabia, where precious things (gold, silver, etc.) were found.  There is something far more precious than gold that rests in the body of this child.  Please pray that what we have done may help the Luos to understand that a dead mother has no power over her child or the family, and that each Christian has a responsibility to Him to practice pure and undefiled religion for Christ's sake. For Him, Barry, Stacy, Kit and Havilah