May 1996

His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
May 1, 1996

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

This has been a very productive month and busy as usual for us. We had an opportunity to fellowship with fifteen different churches in South Nyanza during the month of April. Some of those churches were visited more than once during the month. A spirit of love and a desire to know the Saviour prevails in South Nyanza. We praise Him for blessing us so richly and for standing so close beside us.

"Keeping yourself pure" was the theme of the second youth retreat which took place this last month. Ten teachers spoke to our teens about purity, both physical and spiritual. 84 youth from ten different congregations officially registered for the retreat but by the time the weekend was over there were over 100 youth in attendance. A lot of curiosity was generated in the neighborhood so our numbers grew by Sunday morning. As in December, adults from the different congregations accompanied the youth to the retreat and have prepared themselves to continue this teaching in their respective congregations. It was a wonderful weekend of drawing nearer to the Saviour. 17 were baptized on Sunday morning. Praise God! One of those seventeen was over 80 years old. Our hearts throbbed with joy to see the bent frame of that "mzee" (respected elder) enter into the kingdom. He literally joined our youth in spirit as he put on the Saviour. Another who was baptized was in his 60's. After the retreat was over and most of the youth had departed to their homes, one of the Christian men went to the home of the new Christian and taught his wife. She was baptized that evening, bringing the number of souls that were added to the church that day to 18. The Oruba church has welcomed the youth to their area for the next youth retreat to be held in December. The churches who have been active in this effort have decided to hold two youth retreats a year. All feel that these precious souls need as much teaching as early as possible. Please pray for those who plan and those who attend.

Five days after the youth retreat was completed, over 40 women from seven different congregations gathered for our monthly night of prayer and our continued study in Hebrews. Those weekends buffet my body, but oh! how they strengthen my soul. Try to imagine it. 40 women stuffed into a 12x12 mud walled room with only a little tin lantern made out of an old can, singing and praying and leaning forward in their seats to hear the words of the Saviour that they love so much and long to know better.

Barry is on his way back to Madagascar tomorrow. In 94, our family made the first trip to Madagascar. Two were baptized in the capital city of Antananarivo. In 95, Barry made a second trip with Doyle Kee back to Madagascar to reach more WBS contacts. Sixteen were baptized. Later that year, a group of Americans surveyed, met with the Christians. Another 11 were baptized. Since that time, several more have been baptized by the Malagasy Christians. They are meeting in two different groups in the capital city of Antananarivo but both are groups are new Christians. They have no one to teach them. In September of this year, a former Malagasy diplomat to the United States, John Ratavohery, who has been a Christian for years and has served as an elder in a church in France, is due to retire from his government position and go back to Madagascar to work with these new churches in the city of Antananarivo. In the meantime, though, the new Malagasy Christians are struggling and have been struggling along on their own for the last year. Barry feels a need to go and provide encouragement and further teaching in the interim. He will be in Madagascar for two weeks, meeting with the new Christians and following up on some WBS contacts and trying to help teach some of the families of the new Christians. Pray for this effort. Barry is traveling alone, making the contacts on his own in a language he is not familiar with, and is leaving his family alone in a relatively isolated spot for three weeks. Pray mostly though for ears and hearts ready to listen and drink in God's word, and for necessary encouragement for a new and struggling church.

We love you, appreciate the part you do in this work, and can't wait for a visit with you later on this year. Our plans for furlough are progressing well. Please pray also for the Luos who will carry on while we are reporting to you. Pray for zeal and wisdom, for strength and energy to do His will. We are praying for you.