October 1994

His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
October 9, 1994

Hi everybody! I'm Havilah Auma Rosie! Do you remember me? My momma says of course you would remember me, but I don't always believe her. She says she's my momma, but really I don't know how I came to live with these crasy wazungu (white people). Momma says they love me very much so they "dopted" me, but I'm not so sure of that. Anyway, I wanted to write you a letter this month and Momma said OK. You see, I'm a big girl now. This month I am one year old. I'm old enough to write my own letters.

These wazungu people must love me cause they sure feed me good. I eat better than all my friends. Can you believe that my friends don't even know what pisghetti is? That's my favorite! Momma says I'm getting fat. Poppa says I'm getting sassy. And bruvver says I'm just a pest. Do you believe that? And they say they love me. Well I'm just still not too sure bout these people who take care of me. They're teaching me to be an "Merican". I don't even like kuon (corn meal mush) and all my friends eat that every day. Yuk! Everytime my Momma puts that mush stuff in my mouth I spit it out. She says bruvver thinks he's a Luo cause he loves mush (and raw fish too, do you believe that? Well, it's true. He runs to Vicky's house everytime Vicky's momma cooks kuon and omena), but Momma says I think I'm an Merican cause pisghetti is my favorite.

Yep, I'm gettin a big girl. I can almost walk. And I can talk too, even if nobody unnerstands me. Shhhhhhh! Don't tell Momma, but I still like to sneak my thumb into my mouth sometimes. I can read too. I have a big bruvver, did you remember that? Well, he's in first grade and he can read real good, but he never gives me a turn. If they would just let me have a turn, they would see that I can read too. Everytime bruvver reads to Momma I drag my book over too and try to read but they always shush me. Do you believe that? Well I get them back I sure do. If they won't let me have a turn then I start to bug bruvver. First I untie his shoes while he's trying to read, then if they still won't let me have my turn then I tug on his pants and try to pull them off . That makes him giggle and then they have to stop to pay tention to me. One day they will give me a turn if I bug them enough then I'm gonna show them that I can read too. And Momma thinks I'm too young for first grade (whatever that is). My big bruvver is so good to me even if he thinks I can't read. He plays with me lots. He gets rough sometimes but shhhhh, don't tell him, I can take it cause I'm tough.. Bruvver is learnin to play wiffle ball and he won't let me play. He says I can't play till I learn to run. Well, I show him. Do you know what I do? I sit on first base and won't move.

You know what? I'm learning bout Jesus too! Everyday when Momma and Bruvver have Bible class I listen real hard so I can learn bout Jesus. Momma says that Jesus must have a special job for me cause He saved me from starvin when I was a little baby. I wonder what kind of job it will be. I sure hope it's not drying dishes or moppin floors or nothin like that. I wanna sing for Jesus. I can sing good already. Poppa says I'm the black sheep of the fambly. I'm happy to be a sheep. Momma told bruvver one day that bein a sheep is good. So I'm happy I'm a sheep. Poppa and Momma and Bruvver sing a song that goes, "I just wanna be a sheep...", so when they sing that, I sing, "baaaaaaaaaa"! I'm gonna be a good singer for Jesus.

Did you know that Jesus gave my Poppa a job. He did! Poppa works real hard too. He goes everyday to teach people how to be more like Jesus. It's hard work too. He always comes home all sweaty and dusty and tired. And he prays alot and asks Jesus to help him to be a good teacher. Some days he comes home all uncouraged (or something like that). Anyway, he says the people aren't listening. Can you magine that? Somebody not listening to my poppa? He's sooooo big. I always listen to him. Maybe someday I'm gonna help my poppa teach the people how to be a sheep for Jesus. I'm good at bein a sheep.

Momma is doin a job for Jesus too. She's teaching other mommas how to teach their children bout Jesus. My momma is so busy sometimes that I just have to cry to get her tention. Then she has to stop and rock me and I like that! Poppa rocks me too, before I go to bed. Bruvver tries to rock me too but he's too skinny so I just scream when he tries. My momma is doin another job too. She's been teaching the ladies how to pray better. Just last night she went to sumbody's house and they all prayed till midnight. I wanted to go too but Momma said no. She said I would just fall asleep. Can you magine that? I need to learn how to pray too.

Will you do some prayin for me? My friends need lots of prayer. Momma says it's hard to believe that I am one year old and they are too. She says we're different. She says I like to play more, and am healfier (whatever that is). I think it has something to do with eatin. Anyway, Momma says it makes her sad to see my friends who are one year old , so can you pray for them? I know if you do that Jesus will help them be more like me, fat and sassy. Can you pray for the Luos too? Poppa says they need lots of help being Christians. Poppa says we all need help doin that, cept me of course, cause I'm already a good sheep. Can you pray for all of us? Oh, and don't forget bout prayin for my bruvver. I just love him lots and want Jesus to take special care of him.

I'm talkin to Jesus bout you too. You try to be good sheep and if you need some help with that then you can just call me. I'll be happy to help you. I love you lots even though I don't know you too well yet.