News

Hello!
      Your prayers are working :). I have had an internet connection for the last 4 days. That is really great news. I have been trying to catch up with my e-mails and now I am going to post a few updates for you.
      Women's course - the teaching that I had to do last week went very well. There were about 30 people present. About five men snuck into the gathering, so it wasn't all women. Anyway, the women seemed to enjoy the teaching on how much they are loved by our great God. I also encouraged them to overcome their fear of doing things in the church based on the knowledge of that love. They seemed encouraged and asked me to return sometime to teach again. So, I guess that means it went well.  I was really nervous about this teaching, but God is good and he helped me figure out what to teach.  I was reminded how dependent we all are on God's guidance for our everyday lives - even if we don't acknowledge it. 
      English class - My class is going well.  We met at the beginning of this month for the seventh time.  The students still need more time to practice their English skills and to hear good English spoken.  I teach again next week.  We will be learning some food words this month.  I will also be reviewing what they have learned this year.  This will be the last class of the year as there is no class in December.  I will be trying to use a movie based ESL program for the first time this month.  There is a movie that tells the story of Jesus in simple English and has some exercises to help the students understand the words.  This may be a bit too advanced for my students, but I am going to see how they do.  I have to adapt many parts of it as it is designed to be used with several computers.  I am going to see if it will work.  I'll let you know how it goes.

      I am also looking into getting some small solar powered mp3 players that they could use at home.  It would have the Bible in English.  It is too expensive to get the machine to give a new text each month of the current lesson.  Even so, I think these little players will help them to speak English better if they use them to practice speaking.  It might also help them with memorizing English verses.  They have problems because they cannot remember how to pronounce all the words.  They are an aural culture, so have really good memories if they know the words or at least the sounds.  These players are a bit expensive, but I think they will be really helpful to my students.  I am hoping to have them sometime early next year.  So, if I get them I will keep you updated on how well they are working.

      TBTI - We will be having our Turkana Bible Training Institute's 4th annual graduation on November 14th.  I am helping a bit with the logistics of making sure this goes smoothly.  We will have about twelve students graduating this year.  Pray for these students.  Pray that they would be good leaders in their churches and be able to use wisely the things they have learned.  Pray also for the leaders who will be choosing the next group of students to come for training.  Pray that they find solid young men and women who desire to serve God and his church!

      RAIN - Keep praying for rain!  We had a few sprinkles today.  I had to use the wipers on my windshield as I went to town.  Only twice, but that qualifies as a sprinkle.  We really need some good rain for this parched land!

      I guess that is all for now.  Have a great rest of the week!

Problems

Hello!
Sorry it has been so long since I posted! My internet
connection has been more off than on this month. So, I am typing this
in hoping I can stay connected long enough for it to post. Please
pray for me this evening. I will be teaching at a women's course. I
know more about Turkana men because that is usually who I teach. So,
pray that I will say what needs to be said to these women about God's
love for them and how they can grow as Christians.
RAIN! We have had two small rain showers since Oct 9th.
Please continue to pray for good rain!
MZee - please keep praying for this boy. He is off the
medicine, but the fungal infection is still there. It is much smaller
than when he first started but it is not completely gone. So, pray
that his body will complete the healing. If it gets worse, we will
have to find a doctor to treat him in Nairobi and that can get pretty
expensive. He was on some very strong anti-fungal medicine and the
doctor in Eldoret doesn't know what else to try. So, pray that the
great physician can heal his body here in Turkana!
I hope all is well with all of you! Thanks for being faithful
in checking to see if I have posted anything. Sorry it has been so
long. Keep my internet server in your prayers. It is a real bummer
to be without internet for a week or two at a time!

Novel quote

Hello!
       I like to read science fiction and fantasy.  I recently read something in a book by Terry Pratchet.  His character, Granny Weatherwax, has some comments on religion and faith that she makes to a priest of religion that had an inquisitorial nature in the past.  I thought they were pretty interesting words, so I will share them with you.  Let me know what you think :).

       "You say that you people don't burn folk and sacrifice people anymore, but that's what true faith would mean, Y'see?  Sacrificin' your own life, one day at a time, to the flame, declaring the truth of it, working for it, breathin' the soul of it.  That's religion.  Anything else is just ... is just bein' nice and a way of keepin' in touch with the neighbors. (...)  Don't chase faith, 'cos you'll never catch it.  But, perhaps you can live faithfully."  Carpe Jugulum Pg. 349 

       I hope you had a great Sunday and were able to worship the Lord with a glad and sincere heart!  Keep praying for rain for Turkana!

Culture Clash

Hello!
       I returned this week to Lodwar. I had several good meetings in Nairobi, but I am glad they are over and I am home. When I returned I found out that someone in the neighborhood behind mine had died. How did I find this out? It seems that when someone dies in town, the grieving family must not sleep for several nights. I don't exactly know why this is, but it is what happens. They must play loud, fairly obnoxious music all night long. It gets much louder after about 10 pm and goes on the rest of the night. So, I knew someone had died. 

       I do not know who it was, but the family is grieving according to their customs here in Lodwar. The music is loud and played over a loud speaker so all can hear. I am told this is so that if people are coming for the funeral, they will know where to come to.  It is true that many people here travel at night because it is cooler.  This is especially true if the moon is bright so they can see a bit better.  Even so, I have to say it is a bit annoying.  I find myself trying to go to sleep to the heavy beat of drums.  If I were in the States, I might call the police and complain about them disturbing the peace.  Here, it is just part of the way things are.  This seems to be a recent development.  I think they probably did it before, they just didn't have many loud speakers around to make the sound travel so far.  So, I fall asleep hearing the beat and praying that the family will find peace in the one true God who can raise their dead to real life.  I must confess, I also pray for better earplugs :).

       Please continue to pray for rain!  It has been very hot and dusty lately.  My old knee injury has been twinging the last few days.  I hope and pray that means there will be a change in the weather that includes rain.  You never really know with this knee.  It could mean a bigger dust storm is coming.  At any rate, keep praying for the rain to come and water this thirsty land!

Updates

Hello!

      I am sorry that it has been a while since I have written.  My internet provider has not been reliable.  I hope you were able to check out the link about the drought in Kenya.

      This past week I taught the Church history class for our Bible training institute.  A visitor was going to teach it, but she had to cancel a few days before the class.  So, I ended up teaching it.  It was fun but a challenge to get up to date again on all those people and what they taught.  If it was a challenge for me, think of what it might be like for people who have never studied any history - let alone church history.  The students did well in spite of the challenge and we had a good week.

      CHOLERA UPDATE - There is still cholera in Turkana, but they have treated the water in the area where it is the worst.  The number of cases is going down because they are no longer selling fish in the area.  So, that is hopefully good news!  Keep praying for those that are still fighting this deadly illness and thanks for your prayers!

      MZEE UPDATE - He and his dad went back to see the doctor.  He is much improved, but the doctor said that it should be cleared up by now.  So, he is doing another week of treatment and will check to see if it looks like the area will be closed up and healed.  If it is not, then he may have to go to Nairobi to see a doctor there as this doctor isn't sure what other medicine to try.  So, keep this young boy in your prayers!

      RAIN - KEEP PRAYING!  We really need rain in Kenya.  Please remember to lift this up to the throne of grace!

      Thanks for your patience in waiting for me to get something sent.  I am currently in Nairobi so my internet access is much better while I am here.  I have several days of team meetings and then I will return to Turkana on Tuesday.  I hope all is well with you all!