May 1995

His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
May 3, 1995

It's been a real hectic month for us. You might even say we haven't been a real family for the last month. Work for Christ has taken us several different directions and we hope it has all been to His glory.

Barry was off to Madagascar on the 6th. We counted this opportunity a real blessing in light of our future hopes and plans. The trip certainly seemed a blessing. It gave Barry another opportunity to build relationships with both Malagasy people and also with other missionaries who have interest in the potential work that awaits Christians there. Madagascar is one of the few places on earth where His church has not yet reached. And the potential for the millions of people on this island is staggering. You may recall that last July, when we made a survey trip there, two people were baptized into Christ. They were on the top of Barry's agenda when he arrived in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar. Barry managed to find and visit one of them and was pleased with her progress in Bible Study. The other, he was unable to locate. He did, however, arrive to find a great surprise. Three more World Bible School contacts came to the understanding that they needed baptism and didn't wait around for us to show up. They (the WBS students) went out and searched down someone who could baptize them according to God's plan and were waiting for Barry when he arrived. The two weeks were spent locating other World Bible School contacts and arranging times for further Bible study with them. Two group meetings and teaching times were held in a conference hall in the city during the visit. Eleven more souls were added to Christ, bringing the total to sixteen new Christians. We rejoice in the advent of His church in Antananarivo. It would be easy to just stop there and leave them in God's hands, but we (both you and us) are under a greater burden than ever, for Jesus taught us to "teach, baptize, and teach some more" (Math. 28:18-20). That "teach some more" is the hard part. The original teaching and baptizing can take as little as a few hours, but changing lives and influencing new Christians to become more like the Saviour takes years, a lifetime and maybe even generations of lifetimes to accomplish. Our work for Him in Madagascar has just begun. You can start praying now, for workers to enter that harvest, for Malagasy hearts to be open to life changing teachings, and for His church to grow and thrive on this island.

Meanwhile, on the home front, were the children and I. It was difficult for me to stay behind this time. I wanted so badly to go and be a part of His work there, but Christ had work for me to do here. While Barry was gone, I taught the children, as usual, added lessons in Luo to our children's Bible curriculum, and completed a three week course on teaching children about Jesus at the Dudi congregation. But the highlight of the month happened on the evening Barry returned home from Madagascar. He arrived to find 40 women in our home, ready and waiting to hear God's word. When Barry was on his way to Madagascar, this meeting was only an idea in the hearts of two of the Luo ladies. In just a few days, it blossomed and grew into a large gathering for His sake. In fact, it grew so fast that we had to turn ladies away and promise them another course in October. 40 ladies (most of whom walked, and some of those walked as long as seven hours) gathered from six different congregations in South Nyanza. We studied how to be like Jesus, using the gospel of John. This was not exactly a new teaching but one that we had taught years ago and has dwelt in the hearts of some of the Luo teachers all this time. Those teachers wanted to share it with newer Christian women. So, we ended up with seven women who had already heard the teaching years ago, teaching thirty three new Christians how to be more like Him. I can't say it was easy, what with all the planning for teaching and cooking and welcoming guests with Barry gone, nor was it easy to welcome Barry home with 40 extra people in the house, but the meeting was a blessing to me and I hope was a blessing to those to came. Above all, we hope it glorified Christ.

This next month looks real busy too, but at least we'll be a whole family as we labour for Him. Pray for us, for the work here among the Luo, and for the future of His church in Madagascar. We are praying for you.

PS. As has been the case with everything else here in Kenya, the cost of postage has gone up by 133% as of yesterday. Please bear with us. Most of what you receive from us in the future will be written on blue aerograms. We are having to tighten our belts again. Thanks for understanding.