I have been asked many times before, and again just recently, why do I have a guard at night?

First, please know that I am not under any threat living or preaching the Gospel in Kenya. I am welcomed by both the government and the people.

I will not speak on behalf of other missionaries living in Kenya or Africa...though most have guards as well. I will only speak of why I have them.

Lodwar, the little town I call home in Turkana, is safe! I can leave most things unlocked during the day with no worries. In the villages, things are safe even at night. But here in town, there is the possibility of thieves.

Most thieves work at night when everyone is asleep. If they break into a place, they are normally not violent as long as you cooperate with them and give them what they want.

Having someone in my yard at night elimates that risk. I travel a lot. If I am sleeping in the village (something I seem to do atleast a couple times a week), I can rest knowing that someone is at my house, keeping an eye on things.

I have lived in Kenya for almost a decade and as far as I know, I have never had anything stolen from me.

So what does my night guard do...he sleeps. But he sleeps outside and people know he is there. I have 2 fine Christian men that split the week. One week, Ekidor will work 4 nights and Peter will work 3. The next week, Peter works 4 nights and Ekidor works 3. They split $100 a month for payment. It is good money for them and the best investment I can make to protect my personal belongings.

I also have 2 mamas that come 2 times a week to beat, sweep, and shake the sand out of my house. They also split $100 a month.

Yes, I know, I am living it up in the desert! The missionary life is not all that bad...we have lots of little perks that come with living on the foreign field.

I hope that answers your questions and helps you to see a more rounded view of my life here in the desert of Northwestern Kenya.

Much love,
Ekiru

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Saturday, Pastor Michael, Ruth (a church member who translated Heather Thompson's lessons in December), and I went to Kalokol to hold a children's VBS and a Mama's Seminar.

Ruth did a great job! Over 120 kids came for her lessons on Jesus' birth and death. They received crayons, coloring sheets, and pennies with a cross cut out of the middle.

After the children's lessons, we welcomed the mamas. 36 were in attendance. Ruth taught on Hagar and God's provision and love for her. There a lengthly testimony time as the women shared ways that God has blessed and provided for their families. We also prepared chai, cookies, oranges, and bananas for the mamas.

Thank you so much Heather for your lessons & love for the Turkana people.

Sunday, I went back to Kalokol for church. Standing room only! God is blessing every where. I counted 87 in the service, but there were folks sitting along the building who just could not get in. The place was packed! I love these kinds of problems!

I came home last night and called my grandmother in Florida. She turned 77 years old yesterday. I also finished my report for February and had a strong internet connection...so i was able to send it too.

I was relaxing watching a movie when it hit! A sand storm. I have not idea the strength of the winds...but they were so strong it literally ripped 3 pieces of tin off my roof, blew down my back fence, and filled my house with sand. Literally, in my dining room, there is almost an 1/8 inch of sand. It is every where!

It was so bad, I brought my night guard in the house to get him out of the nasty weather. I have been through some sand storms before...but that was the worst.

Just one of the joys of living in the desert!

I have replaced the tin on my roof and the broken fence posts. Now comes the "joy" of getting all the sand out of my house.

Much love,
Ekiru

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It has been about 3 weeks since my last post. Some of you have emailed to make sure I am okay...I am. Your concern, words of encouragement, and prayers are such a blessing.

I will try and give the just the details.

Before we began 2 weeks of seminar in our Bible institute, we worked to gather the materials to build a new choo in Nanyangakipi. It seemed every turn was met with trouble and disappointment. Supplies are not available and what is will double the cost of this project. So we made the decision to wait.

Thursday (18 Feb), I took the geologist out to Nangolipus to survey the water level in preparation for a well. I was then told I needed to buy a permit from the government. I have never been asked to do this before.... I was shocked when the government told me I would have to pay them 16,500/ksh (over $200) just for their permission to dig a well! I was livid and the preachers that were with me saw a side of me I try to keep in submission to the Spirit of God. I will just say some of my mama came out in me.

Friday (19 Feb), I woke to a flat tire (my first in 2 years...YEAH!!!). I changed it and took it to town to get it repaired. Pastor Michael and I bought all the food for LBBI which would begin on Monday (22 Feb), picked up the lessons from the printers, and began filling the water tank at the church.

Saturday (20 Feb), I forgot I had the repaired tire in the back of my truck. So after I went to town, I decided I would put it back on (it is a better tire than my spare). I stepped out of my truck and my back went out. I barely was able to walk into my house.

Sunday (21 Feb), I drove to our church in Kalokol and had a wonderful time with Pastor Steven and folks. There was a house full. Souls were saved, one repented of known sin and was restored into the church...it was AWESOME!

Monday (22 Feb), we started Romans and 2 Peter for the Akicha class. My back was still giving me a lot of trouble.

Tuesday (23 Feb), I could only teach until lunch when my back went out completely. I laid flat on the floor for 3 hours. Class was late to start...but God blessed and I was able to press on.

Wednesday (24 Feb), my back was a LOT better. Praise His Holy name!

Thursday (25 Feb), my back went out at lunch again. 2 hours flat on the floor. I was only able to stand to teach 1 more hour and had to call it a day.

Friday (26 Feb), was test day! The high mark for Romans was an 85 with the low being a 65. These are the lowest grades this class has ever received. It causes me to wonder if the problem was with their teacher... 2 Peter (Pastor Michael taught in the even class) scored a high of 96 and the low was 81. Sorry guys...I failed you this week.

Saturday (27 Feb), I had to replace one of the solar batteries at the school. It had gone bad after 3 years. Pastor David & I also bought paint for his church. The sun is drying the mirara (palm branches). Paint will help. We also had a pulpit built and carried it all at Nakechichok. He blessed my heart as he talked of what God is doing at his church. The past 4 weeks, there has been folks standing outside because there is no place for them in the church...it is FULL! I love these kinds of problems.

His church members make charcoal. They support their pastor by gifting him several bags a month. He has me take them to town and sell them. They loaded my truck with 10 bags. I had to unload them by myself when I returned to Lodwar. (Did I mention I am having serious back trouble??)

That evening, I called my oldest daughter, Breanne. She turned 15 years old Saturday. She is doing very well and I am so thankful for her. She is active in her church and straight A's at school (has been her whole life). I love you Breanne!

Sunday (28 March), I can not say I was suprised when I could not get out of bed. My back was killing me! Also, I hurt all over. Wait...I know this kind of pain. After a while, I dragged myself to town and got tested. Yes, I have malaria again!! But I could not find any malaria medicines. Many of the shops are closed on Sunday. I thought I had some at home...but I was wrong. So I had to wait through a very long night.

Monday (1 March), I bought meds and helped Pastor Michael buy all the food for this week's seminar (Upendo class). I was supposed to teach New Testament Survey and he was to teach on Prayer. When he saw the shape I was in, he offered to teach it all. I told him we would just trade.

So I came home, rested, studied, and taught for 3 hours that evening on prayer.

Tuesday (2 March), I was not well at all yesterday. I asked Michael to get David or Josephat (they graduated from this level of study in 2008) to teach the evening class.

Since I was home in bed, I began reading "The Journals of Jim Elliot" again. My very good friend Heather Thompson gave this to me a few years ago...thanks again, HT!! This will be the 3rd time I have read it.

I am no Jim Elliot...but I find comfort and strength from his short life.

I was struck hard at a question he asked of himself. "Are you willing to lie in some native hut to die of a disease American doctors never heard of?"

He followed the question with this... "I am still willing Lord God. But, oh, I want to live to teach Thy Word. Lord, let me live 'until I have declared Thy works to this generation'."

As I lay in bed, how that is my heart's prayer today! I am willing. My life is yours, my health is yours. If it would please you Baba, I want to live to teach your Word to the Turkana people. Let me live "until I have declared Thy works".

Much Love,
Ekiru

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Pastors Michael, David, Steven, and Moses joined me in a 3 day crusade in Naduat to help Josephat and the Bible study he is leading there.

There were a total of 15 saved and many more gave solid testimonies of salvation. Both are a thrill to me! We have been working in this village for over a year and there is much fruit.

We spent the mornings of Thursday and Friday going hut to hut in evangelism. After lunch, we planned Bible studies under the trees in the dry river. Thursday, Pastor David and I taught.

Friday afternoon while Pastor Steven was teaching, cries went up and people began to run toward where they are digging for gold. All those in our study went too. So we went to see what all the comotion was about.

One of the mines had caved in and 6 men were buried alive. This happens more often than I would expect. It seems like atleast once a month, there is a cave in.

People began to try to dig them out by hand. The chief called for a tractor to come from Kakuma (30 kms away). We had not reached them yet when the tractor got there. They began to remove large amounts of rubble and finally reached the men. 5 of them were still alive!

It was such a joy to see these men being pulled out that we broke out into a song of praise and thanksgiving.

Friday night, we showed the Jesus film (in the Turkana language) and Pastor Moses preached.

Saturday, we held another Bible study until lunch. Pastor Michael and I taught. After lunch, we returned to Lodwar.

God showed me so much these last few days. There is much fruit in Naduat and He has pressed my spirit to see that He is leading us to start a church. This has been one of the hardest villages for me to fall in love with. I can not explain why...but things changed for me on Friday.

The open fields are full of shafts where folks have dug down to depths reaching in some places over 200 feet. There are tunnels running hundreds of feet. Strong young men die each month from cave ins. Mamas and children all have some kind of cough from all the dust they inhale while sifting through the rock and sand. These people has forsaken the traditional way (herding) in search for gold. They are paying a high price...some the ultimate, their life.

They are receptive to the Gospel and desire a church. We hoped to organize them in August. But I was moved these past days with a sense of urgency. There is a saying here, "to go quickly, there are no blessings". I do not like to push things ahead. I would rather wait on God and His timing.

Please pray with us about God's timing for the village of Naduat. If the Lord wants this work organized before August, then I am ready.

Much love,
Ekiru

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Sunday kicked off a 3 day crusade in Nakechichok. Pastor David invited me and Pastor Michael (from Napetet) to come help. Sunday was a FULL house with over 140 in services including 10 guests from an anthropology work crew near the Turkwell River. There were 7 saved during our extended services! I praise the Lord for these!

Monday we served everyone breakfast (hot tea, bread & butter, and fruit) and began a long day of teaching. I counted 167 present...on a Monday morning!

I taught for 2 hours on unity in the church. Pastor David taught 2 hours on God's love towards us and His desire for us to show it to others. After a nice lunch of beans and rice, Pastor Michael taught on giving.

It was during Michael's teaching that Mzee Paulo showed up. He was not acting like his normal friendly self. So after the teaching, I asked Pastor David if he would help me talk to my "African Dad".

Saturday, bandits stole 6 of Paulo's camels. You might remember it was just a week ago he was in church praising God for protecting his herds from the bandits. Now he is torn...6 camels are gone and he is blaming God.

So I listened to him blame God for his loss and prayed that God would help me show him His love.

I asked Paulo if God was to be blamed for all the evil in the world...sickness, death, disease and drought?? He sat for a long time without a word. Then he said no. He has seen through my life and my ways that my God is a good God and wants to bring blessings not take them away.

I was shocked by his answer! You are not allowed to cry in this culture...it was all I could do to keep the tears from flowing!

I asked him if he would welcome my God and allow me to share some things from His Word. He was ready to hear!

I first shared how sickness, death, and even theft are not part of God's plan. However, He can overcome the pain of a bad situation if we would just open our heart to Him.

I then slowly began to share Jesus...why He came, why He died, and how He can become our Savior. Paulo was so ready!!

Every salvation is special to God and I am so blessed to have been present when many have been born again. But every once and a while, God seems to open the veil...the Holy Spirit so fills a place, you can almost hear the angelic choir as they begin to rejoice over a sinner crying out in salvation. Those times are extremely special...an eternal moment. Watching my African Dad cry out in prayer for salvation was one of those times!

The heaviness in Paulo's spirit over the loss of his camels was replaced with the very Spirit of God. He was rejoicing and thanking us many times over.

We showed the Jesus film that night. After the film, Paulo brought 2 goats for us to eat!

I thank all of you who prayed for Mzee Paulo to be saved. God answered your prayers in a big way!

Tomorrow, the pastors and I head out to Naduat for another 3 day crusade. Please pray with us for souls and a maturing of faith. We hope to organize this Bible study into a church in August.

Much love,
Ekiru

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