Week One Kenya: Sickness, Salvation & Steadfast

                                            Our Team Of Preachers

Where to begin with an experience which is overwhelming and almost beyond belief, one that will take weeks and months to process?
For starters, all of the fights to return to Kenya went as planned and the luggage arrived with us by the grace of God.  Somewhere between Florida and Kenya I picked up something and have been sick with fever, chills and coughing for three days.  Dr. Tim Myers arrived with the same thing so we have been trying to nurse our bodies along while serving in extreme conditions. Not the best scenario to arrive in a foreign country already sick but God in His faithfulness has given us the strength to push forward and stay on schedule.
We hit the road the first day heading to the edge of the Kerio Valley.   The trip was not easy especially being sick and having already traveled by air on four flights. The next morning we would find out just how bad the roads have deterated  by heavy rains and no maintenance.  The road into the Kerio Valley was totally destroyed which adds hours to the trip not to mention the wear and tear on the occupants as well as the 4x4.

We  arrived at Pastor Timothy Loquardos new home in a remote area known as North Pokot and of course we were welcomed with their best hospitality.   Our purpose was to encourage this young Pastor and His wife Sarah in the work they are doing for the Lord with the Pokot tribe.   Its important to note that God called Timothy from another tribe and an area of Kenya which is considered the bread basket to a Semiarrid near desert region of the Kerio Valley.  We introduced Timothy to this tribe and area in 2010 and he felt God calling him there shortly after.  He is doing a tremendous work at the first Pokot Church we planted at a village called Chepasbei however, each visit I make reminds me of the sacrifice he and his dear family are making for the cause of Christ.   It is hard living in this region of heat and thorns even by East African standards. 

Please pray for this dear family.

We would head out in the village for evangelism and to encourage our converts to stay faithful to the one who died for them.  The highlight of our day was seeing two more villagers make professions of faith in Jesus Christ.  One of them was a old Pokot Mama named Chepsongai who was so discouraged with life due to many of her goats dying and family problems.

You see, we can't solve all their problems but we can introduce them to our Heavenly Father though his Son Jesus Christ who can and will give them sufficient grace for any circumstance in their life.  After meeting with Chespongai we would meet a blind Pokot Mama named Chepsamia who is one our converts from previous years.  She was overwhelmed with joy to receive a new solar powered audio bible in the Pokot language.   What a great blessing for someone who is blind to sit and listen to the word of God for hours and hours all day long.  That is a gift that has eternal significance. 

Thank you to those who have given special offerings and continue to support the "solar audio Bible" project.  The theme of the day would be struggling with life and in some cases struggling with faith in the lives of many of these young Christians.  At the end of the day we have to believe that God did something real and lasting in their hearts and lives to draw them unto Himself.

The next day would be a day of worship at Landmark Baptist Church.  It is alway with great anticipation we return to these young churches to see who has come and who has gone.   I'm happy to report that the original core group of charter members is intact and staying faithful.   What is equally impressive is the number of children which continues to swell and who are being reared in Christian Faith. The next generation is going to grow the church beyond anything we have imagined from its humble beginning. 

Please pray for us as we start a seven day ministry safari which includes Mt. Elgon and Lake Victoria. Thank you for your prayerful support and for allowing us to share this journey of faith.