Kenya Missions Update

January 19, 2007

January Mission Report from the Gafner Family in Eldoret, Kenya

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

I know it has been some time since we wrote to you. Let me say that the Lord has been good to us! Wonderful things have happened.

1. The first wonderful thing was the National Church of Christ Lectureship meeting that took place in Nairobi. This is the first time that 65 from our area attended. The Kalenjin in the past have not been good about attending meetings. This year was historic, in that they organized and paid for the trip themselves. The meeting was well attended, with over 500 in attendance from all over Kenya.
2. The Gafner ladies got to visit with family during the time of the meeting, which Kirsten and Ruth loved being with their cousins and grandmother. Then we had a chance to be servants to help mom move into another house.
3. I wasn’t able to attend the annual December youth meeting because of other commitments. The meeting was well attending with over 450 youths present. I am guessing the teachings touched the hearts of the youth as 20 were baptized and 133 renewed their personal commitment to the Lord.
4. That same weekend, one of our workers, Leonard married Mildred. It was an exciting time for them and all involved. Kirsten and Ruth love to attend weddings. Especially for someone they know well.
5. Then before Christmas, 10 ladies from the Tungururwet cluster came to Saroiyot Training Centre for lessons in bread making, candy making and of course some knowledge about vegetable growing.
6. Oneal Tankersley, a man who was one of the original Eldoret missionaries (there were here for 20 years, returning to America in 2002) was here for about two weeks.
7. Lastly, we had a wonderful meeting with 6 of 7 men who have been chosen to work specifically with me. We were together for 25 ½ hours. Of that 17 was spent in meetings and teachings. It was hard but wonderful. We were talking about VISION for the 148 churches that are part of our work area. I think they are grasping what the purpose of having a vision is all about. For the Bible does say in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision the people perish.”
8. Goito, is what the Kalenjin’s have as a pre-wedding meeting of the families. It is a big thing and joyous as two families commit themselves in a formal way to marry their children. I went to one last week. The standard price is four cows (bride price). I was allowed in the room of negotiations. A penalty was also asked for as the girl had already visited the future in-laws house. It started at $720, but ended up at $58. Then afterwards, they went outside for feasting and celebration.

Prayer Items
19th of January (today) we have interviews for students to attend the LTE (Leadership Training by Extension) which we hope to start later this year. This will be an extension of our theological training school called the Nairobi Great Commission School.

26th will go to Kitale which is 40 miles from Eldoret with Leonard and Mildred (see 4 above). The Kenya Churches of Christ have a Children’s home there. It has 5 acres, but almost all food products are purchased for the 48 orphans and other staff. Our dream for Leonard is two fold. One is to grow vegetables and take care of the future milking cow or milking goat. Second is to make a demonstration farm out of it, like where he has been working for the last two years at our Saroiyot training center. Therefore, we can then help all the Churches of Christ in the Kitale area.

27th – 28th to go with Ruebin Saina and Jeremiah Rotich and be with the Kuinet Cluster of Churches. It will be a night meeting and then meet with them on Sunday.

3rd February attend a leaders meeting in Kaimosi.

9th Meet with men mentioned above (see 7 above). They will be working on the vision statement and other items. Then on the 10th – 11th we will travel together to be with the leaders in the Koibatek cluster. Still in our work area but about 72 miles from Eldoret.

9th also have a meeting with men who are helping to start the LTE school at Eldoret.

16th youth ministry meeting, meet with above men again (see 7 above)

17th – 18th we will then meet with other elders and leaders. We are expecting about 30 to attend this meeting.

Kirsten and Ruth Korner
Six weeks of school holiday was a bit much for them. They are both happy to be back in school. Two other friends have joined the school, though not in their ACE program, but they get to see them and play with them each day.

Thanks for your love that you send via prayers and financial support.

In Service to Christ,
Keith, Grace, Kirsten and Ruth