Kenya Missions Update

23 May, 2004

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord, Jesus the Christ!

Our life has been a bit out of a normal routine since we last reported to you. We left Eldoret, Kenya with a flurry of activity the last of March. E mail is wonderful, as we have been able to have communication with several of the Christians in Kenya and continue to know what is going on and what to pray for them and the churches. We understand that those we left behind to guard the house and our possessions have been very faithful.

We did not know that Grace needed a visa for The Netherlands, as our plans were to visit the Zwarts (friends of ours who did translation work in Kenya family) for 4 days. The immigration officer allowed us to stay for 2 nights without a visa.

In Michigan, we were very blessed. It was a blessing to be able to see my father almost every day and to meet Gerry, my stepmother. When the weather warmed up, to be able to help dad with various projects around the farm that he could not do himself. I got to cut the lawn four times and smell the wonderful aroma of Kentucky Bluegrass. I chose to forget the double extension ladder and fixing the electric wires to the barn. And yes, we did have one morning of snow, so Kirsten and Ruth got to play in it and enjoy it before the sun melted it in the afternoon. The Lord also blessed us through an eye doctor and a dentist who help us for free. For all the relatives that we did not get around to seeing, we saw them the last day at the wedding of Brian and Dawn Lietzke. Brian is my cousins son and I had a scripture reading in the wedding. Kirsten and Ruth are in this “princess” phase of life and Dawn looked like a princess and graciously allowed them to follow her around for a period of time at the reception!

Also in Michigan, we felt the warm love of the Brethren at the Tecumseh, Dexter and Ann Arbor Churches of Christ. It was a wonderful time of not only sharing with them the ministry that they are involved in through us in Kenya, but also to learn from them as they shared the wonderful things that the Lord is doing in their lives. If sleep would not have been a factor, we would have stayed much later in some homes, just enjoying the conversations. Even with all of this love extended to us, Kirsten’s heart continues to be in Eldoret and she cries occasionally wanting to go home.

In Abilene, we are presently at Abilene Christian University. We have completed 1 week of 3 weeks of Missions Seminar. I, Keith have been studying about Moslem evangelism and Grace has been taking a course called, Spiritual Development and the Missionary Family. We will soon both take courses on missions.

We have also been blessed here in Abilene this last week. On Wednesday night we went to The South 11^th and Willis Church of Christ (our sponsoring church). We were greeted with much love and hugs. Saturday (yesterday) we were at the Oliver’s house with the family of James Scudder (his parents are missionaries in Nyeri, Kenya and they represented my side of the family when Grace and I married) and had a swimming pool party and celebration of Ruth’s fourth birthday (today the 23^rd). The Mission Seminar program arranged for us to go to a Korean church here in Abilene. Afterwards they had donuts and coffee for us. They also sang Happy Birthday to Ruth in Korean. People have extended their love also in providing a house for us when we finish Missions Seminar and vehicles to drive while here in Abilene.

What do all of these wonderful people have in common, that they love and serve the Lord and know that they have salvation through Jesus Christ! It is wonderful to be IN the FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS!

Prayer Requests

1. That we can be the fragrant aroma of Christ in Abilene and as we travel in June and July.
2. For safety as we travel from about June 18th to first of August.
3. Enrollment of Kirsten and Ruth in a school and preschool programs here in Abilene.
4. As students we would learn the things that the Lord would want us to learn to be better servants of His here in America, but especially when we go back to Kenya to serve Him there.
5. For a Chinese lady that we met last week at lunch to come to a knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Chinese government sent her to America to study more English. She teaches it there presently. ACU was not her first or second choice of where to be, but she is here. She will be here for about 8 more months.

Because of the Love of Christ,

Keith, Grace, Kirsten & Ruth