Kenya Missions Update

16 June, 2004

Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!

We wanted to write to all of you on our prayer letter list to inform you of the happenings the last couple of weeks and ask for your prayer for the next several weeks.

We finished Missions Seminar at ACU with our heads trying to catch up processing all the information given to us in the two 6 day courses and the 3 day special focus program. Our fingers are rejoicing as well, as they are not used to writing so much. Maybe the grooves of the pencils will heal as we once again go back to the computer. Do you remember the day of the pen/pencil when you had a groove or callus on that third finger?

One day it was 103 degrees outside. During the lunch hour the air conditioner was working full blast. As I (Keith) returned to class with beads of perspiration dripping from my hair, they quickly became ice droplets. Talk about body shock!! Kirsten and Ruth both went through three days when their cheeks were rosy red, we were told that this was because of the temperature change from Michigan to Texas.

After Missions Seminar, we moved into a wonderful house here in Abilene. One of the major adjustments has been nighttime temperature. After several nights of Keith perspiring and Grace freezing, we have agreed on 77 degrees. Not much news, but something to make you smile for all of you couples who have “different temperature desires”!

New Physical Address until December 21st.

Keith and Grace Gafner
1937 Minter Lane
Abilene, TX 79603-3225

The Lord has provided a wonderful house for us. It has three bedrooms, one in which we have converted into an office. For out of town visitors, we want to say Karibuni (you are welcome). It has come fully furnished and was very easy to get settled. But not for long.

Thirteen days after moving in, we pack up and leave again. We covet your prayers as we leave this Friday for a 4½ week reporting trip. We will start just South of Austin, then just North of Austin, moving to Dallas, and from there to East Texas to Holly Lake. Then we go to Tennessee, stopping in Memphis, Oak Ridge, and Jellico. On the return trip, we stop in Searcy, Little Rock and Hinton, Oklahoma. Leaving on 18th June and returning on the 19th of July. The girls are well stocked with books, coloring books and a wonderful family is lending us a DVD player for them to watch shows on. We also have goals of memorizing scripture verses, books of the Bible, and Kiswahili words, just so we don’t forget them while we are away from Kenya.

Thanks for all of you prayers.

Because of Christ,

Keith, Grace, Kirsten & Ruth