Kenya Missions Update

7 December, 2004

Greetings in the name of Jesus the Christ!

As we prepare to go back home to Kenya after a 9 month furlough/sabbatical in the US, we wish to share the following thoughts with you all.

After Dec 18th our contact will revert back to:

Keith & Grace Gafner; P.O. Box 4001 ELDORET – 30100, KENYA. EAST AFRICA

Tel: 011-254-53-2061128 (please note that our telephone number now has the number 20 added at the beginning of it)

email kggafner@africaonline.co.ke For those using the yahoo email account, please switch to the old africaonline address. Departure date = Dec 21; arrival date = Dec 22; Christmas with Graces’ family; and arrival to Eldoret = Dec 27.

We wish to thank everyone who made it possible for us to take this much needed rest/refreshment time. Your prayers and ministrations have been received. We are feeling refilled and ready to go back and just so very grateful that there is a river of the water of life in God, that thirsty souls may drink from. God is so good to us, is He not?

As we renewed old friendships and made others; as we were encouraged and challenged by our faith family and by God's Holy Spirit, we see Gods' hand in everything. How grateful we are, to God and for all of you.

As the Lord has refilled our cups, our confidence level has been growing..., that we WILL receive from Him the wisdom we need for the ministry He has planned for us in the new year. James 1:5

Could you pray for us - daily?

Sunday – Our spiritual life : Time to read and pray. Spiritual growth. Encouragement. Fellowship with local Christians. Good links with sending churches and prayer supporters. For integrity, reliability, consistency. Ability to hear Gods’ voice and to obey promptly.

Monday – Our personal life: Relationships between Keith and Grace, and with our children. Maintaining contact with parents and family. Friendships with nationals. Health and strength. Physical and spiritual protection.

Tuesday – Communication: Progress in language study. Adaptation to culture, customs and people. Clarity, creativity and relevance in preaching and teaching. Biblical emphasis. Involvement with those hearing the message.

Wednesday – Relationships: Harmonious relationships with other Christians, other missionaries. Partnership with the local church.

Thursday – Evangelism: For boldness and power. For sensitive, Spirit-led ministry. Hungry hearts and the opening of spiritually blind eyes. For the establishing of Christ’s church. For national missionary movements.

Friday – Discipling: For patience and empathy. Training young people. Encouraging new believers. Equipping those with leadership gifts. Equipping the saints for works of service.

Saturday – For KENYA : For President Mwai Kibaki and those in authority. The political situation. Religious freedom. Openness to the gospel and revival. Favour with officials. Visa renewal.

Keep on keeping on : Paul urged the Ephesian church leaders to ‘keep watch over yourselves and all the flock’ (Acts 20:28). He saw the danger of ministry where the leaders neglect their own spiritual lives.

It can be as hard for Christian leaders to maintain a disciplined spiritual life as for anyone. Probably harder. The devil knows where to strike. So pray.

Colossians 1:9-12; Ephesians 1:16-23; 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11 teach us about Paul’s faith and about Gods plans for his Church. Why not use them in praying for us and the Christians in our area? (Adapted from © OMF Intl.)

Finally, a very blessed Christmas and joyful New Year to each one of you.