Kenya Missions Update

4 September, 2004

September 4, 2004

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

A month seems to have flown by since the last newsletter! Let’s see if we can catch you up on our lives. We started the month with the wedding of Winnie Njeri and John Kemboi. Those sound like Kenyan names don’t they?! They are both students at Abilene Christian University. Fell in love and decided to marry. We got a bit involved in the ceremony as counselors on how to do an Kenyan wedding. Grace was privileged to give a speech before the cutting of the cake, telling everyone how Winnie is to be the frosting on the cake (John). It was a wonderful wedding and reception! We look forward to keeping in touch with them, John’s sister works in Eldoret and his parents live just up the road in Kapsabet.

We watched as the South 11th and Willis Church members extended their love for this event. Now we know who our sponsoring church is! They have extended abundant love to us as well. While standing in the food line at the reception, an elderly lady asked me where I attended church, so I told her here at South 11th and Willis. She said, “It is the best church in Abilene!”

Newsletter correction. Ruth know goes to Rainbow School on Tuesday - Thursday. She is a bit hesitant to go each day, but has an enjoyable time when there. The first day I picked up Ruth the teacher inquired of me, “What does the word choo mean?” She said I figured that she wanted to go to the bathroom. Choo means toilet in Kiswahili.

Kirsten’s experience is school is going well. She has had to make some major adjustments. Because of too many kindergarten students, they made a new class, which Kirsten was selected to join after two weeks with her first teacher. She has adjusted well to the change. The hardest thing for her is: “You have to wear your shoes all day!” Also, when you don’t behave, you have to go sit in a special chair. The Power (discipline) chair gives you the power to do right! She felt sorry for those who have had to sit there, but has told me to not worry, that she doesn’t plan to ever have to sit there.

I, Keith am taking three classes for audit. They meet all on Monday or Tuesday. Grace is taking a class that meets on Tuesday/Thursday mornings at 8 AM. So, we have had to work around Kirsten being at school at 8:15 and Ruth at 9 AM and Grace at 8 AM on the other side of town at Abilene Christian University. Sooo, Grace takes the Abilene CityLink bus and gets to class while I play dad and mom getting the girls fed, dressed etc. and off to school.

Kirsten & Ruth are really missing home as we all are! She said the other day, “If I saw Uncle Paul (Bwire) I would run to him with tears in my eyes!” Paul is our dear brother in Christ who has helped us start the churches in the Kaimosi area. He loves our children - talks and plays with them. Something that a lot of African men do not do even with their own children. They very often remember all of their friends from Kenya in prayer. I must be honest, they are not the only ones who are missing Kenya in the family!

Have you ever heard the story of a young man a long time ago in Europe who wanted to be a painter. But because of life’s hard conditions and having a family, he never could be a painter of great pictures. Instead, he painted signs for people. Eventually he died and went to heaven. There he was asked what he was good at and would be placed in the appropriate job in heaven. After he explained what he did and what he wanted to do, the angel discovered an opening in the sunrise department. Now this man paints the beautiful sunrises.

I try to walk most mornings and when there are clouds in the sky and the sun is just coming up, it is very beautiful! One morning, I couldn’t walk as it had rained hard in the night. Looking outside you could not see the road, as here in Abilene, the roads are the ditches. Grace asks, “Why don’t they put in ditches?” So, I sat in the front and watched it flow toward Fort Phantom Lake. In front of our house are a couple of cracks in the payment with grass growing in them. it amazed me how as the fast flowing water made a ripple when going over these clumps. Short of giving a sermon (as I gave to myself), when the life-giving waters of Christ are flowing through us, are there ripples of sin that need to be repented of?

INVESTMENT

In a conversation with Brother McCurdy, he was long time ago influenced by Wilburn and Susie Hill (Wilburn taught and baptized me in 1978). Brother McCurdy as a young man did not go to church on a regular basis. He went to Oklahoma to study to be an accountant. There he met Wilburn Hill who was at that time preaching. After one year, Bother McCurdy left that area and because of Wilburn’s mentoring him, he was now preaching part time as needed in various churches. He has been an elder at the Hillcrest Church here in Abilene for many years. And he just retired from a long career of accounting. He has blessed many missionaries through the years as well, he has done their Federal Income Taxes for free. May the Lord Bless his retirement!

For all of you who only get our newsletter via e mail and never get to see our ministry in Kenya, we made a 12 minute video before we came to America. Some have said that it really helps people to understand our ministry in Kenya. This is on video tape, but I am sure that we can find someone in Abilene that could help us to put it on CD and mail you a copy. Or, I know we can get video copies made. If you would be interested in receiving a video copy or a CD copy for a small donation, please let us know which (video tape or CD) and your correct address and we will see what we can do in getting it to you.

In Service to Christ,

Keith, Grace, Kirsten and Ruth

1937 Minter Lane

Abilene, TX 79603-3225

325-677-3655

E mail: kggafner@yahoo.com

South 11th and Willis Church of Christ

3309 South 11th Street

Abilene, TX 79605