Kenya Missions Update

13 October, 2004

God the Father

Monday morning, wake up time. Kirsten and Ruth both need hugs to help them to wake up and get out of bed. These are nice cuddly hugs that can last for several minutes if they did not have to go to school. Then the normal routine of getting ready for school.

Then I drive Kirsten to school. This happens to be one of the best times of the day for dad. Though they last for only a couple of minutes in the morning and afternoon, that is walking hand in hand with either of the girls from the car to the school room. That is special time where there is no one else in the world, just us and that is all that matters.

Back home, Ruth does not go to school on Mondays or Fridays. She plays for a while and then comes and checks on us and might give us a hug or say, “I love you” or just want to sit on your lap for a minute or two or join in what you are doing. If you are in the shower, she might bang on the door and say, “I love you”. When it is time for me to go to my classes (Keith), she will beg to come with me!

In the evening before bed, we then spend special time with the girls in song and prayer. It will be a sad day when the girls get too heavy or old to sit on our laps at night. The evening scene is closed with hugs and kisses before little eyes go to sleep.

Isn’t that the relationship that we are suppose to have with our heavenly father as well. We need him, we need his comfort, we need, first thing in the morning to feel his love. Throughout the day, we need to just tell him we love him and also maybe just take a walk with him. Or just resting in his protection and loving care.

Many questions pop into my mind. But probably the most important one is; Am I as an earthly father doing my best to show them what their Heavenly Father is like so that one day it will be easy for them to understand his love for them?

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

BUT... There is the other side of children as well, that is also like us. When I was gone to school, and Kirsten hadn’t come home yet, Ruth had her agenda and she wanted Grace to cater to her and her agenda. After lunch, Grace asked Ruth to lay down and take a nap, but she refused until Grace reminded her that her classmates in Rainbow School were doing it. Then it was okay, and she obeyed happily. What peer pressure at 4 years old!

Kenya

E Mails and still the snail mail post have kept us informed. I wish I could attach two pictures that were sent to me from Francis Koech Yator. A little history first, Francis is from the foothills of the Cherangani Hills. His father’s farm and his have a stream running through them. They have fenced off a little over 1 acre of land for a garden. They managed to get a gasoline pump and that is when I was consulted. Francis would like to have a beautiful garden here, make money for his family and most of all show the other young people that they can make a living at home, if they are willing to work. He needed help to purchase some good quality seeds and a tank to put the water into so he could water the garden and also some information on growing vegetables. So, I copied papers for him and gave him a couple of books to read. We discussed the literature and I went and visited the plot of land.

Picture #1 is of him and his wife planting kales on a raised beds like we talked about. Picture #2 is the most (even though very cloudy in quality) pleasing to the eye. It is of him and I would say 3 points of an acre in two vegetable crops and they look very nice! I can’t wait to visit him and his vegetable farm when we get back to Kenya. Francis will now be able to better care for his young family. Hopefully many of the other young men and women in the area will be encouraged to work hard and intelligently using what the Lord has given to them. Then these young people can stay in the community, helping in very needed ways, but most especially helping the church to be strong.

We hear reports that we are constantly being lifted up in prayer by our brethren in Kenya. My first appointment has been booked as well on December 29th. Two friends will call the families together for “goito”. That is Kalenjin for the families coming together to beginning relationship together and agreeing on their son + daughter to marry. It is also a time to determine Bride-price, which further unites the families together. Marriage is about relationship not only of the two people, but also the families!

Also, the brethren from the Kisii area (Kisii is about a 4 1/2 drive from Eldoret) have asked me to present an agricultural seminar in their area. We are looking at February for such an event. In January, we need to get the girls in school and settled before I (Keith) leave for about a week.

May the Lord be Glorified!

In Service to Christ,

Keith, Grace, Kirsten and Ruth Gafner