Jeff, Shari, Briana, Britney, & Brooke Gilbert from Valley View BC in Tuscaloosa, AL travelled to Turkana to help in our annual children's crusades.

They are dear friends who have stood with me for many years. Once upon a time, we served God together at New Hope BC in Tuscaloosa. Sadly the church has closed its doors, but they are still one of my stops I make every summer while I am Stateside.

Heather Thompson (my Pastor's sister and my very close friend) began children crusades 6 years ago in our churches in Turkana. She has come every year since to help make them possible. She is new administrator of the Texarkana Baptist Children's Home and could not come this year.

When the Gilberts found out we were in need of someone to come teach, they happily signed up to spend their Christmas here.

Jeff taught the Word and shared his personal testimony with the men in each village. He is a living example of how God wants to bless His children if we will just simply follow the Biblical mandate of giving, and Godly living. He was a huge encouragement to everyone here!

Shari taught the women in each of our churches. It was awesome to see God tear away the differences in culture and watch as they met heart to heart, mama to mama, around the Scriptures. Shari taught on making the time to spend with Christ even when our lives are full of caring for our families, (the examples of Martha and Mary).

18 mamas made professions of faith during these lessons with Shari!

Shari and Briana taught lessons from the life of Christ to the children in each village where we have a church. Hundreds came to hear the Word taught, to color pictures, and to sing.

Britney and Brooke helped their Mama and Briana teach 2 songs to our folks. It was fun to see those who are normally so stoic let their guard down to sing, dance, and laugh so freely.

There were 2 youth who made professions of faith during these lessons!

Christmas was awesome this year!

The Gilbert set up a red foil tree in my house and Christmas morning, there were stockings filled with gifts and goodies. We even read Luke 2 together as a family. Then off to church at Napetet LBC. Like I said, it was awesome!

Check out Turkana Tales to learn more about their visit. My newsletter should be posted soon, complete with pictures.

We all flew back to Nairobi just before New Years Day. They journeyed back to Tuscaloosa (their home), and I returned to Turkana (my home).

I can not convey in words just what a blessing this family was to me while they were here. I needed their visit more than I realized.

THANK YOU GILBERTS FOR COMING OVER AND HELPING US! I LOVE ALL OF YOU!

Much love,
Ekiru

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Pastor Stephen from Kalokol LBC and 4 of his church members invited me, Pastor Josephat (Naduat), Pastor Moses (Nangolipus), and Preacher Benedictus (Nanyangakipi) to spend this past weekend with them in the village of Lokwar Angileso.

It is 22kms from Kalokol and very remote. The last 10kms were spent driving through 2 rivers, rocky hills, and dodging thorn bushes because there is no road!

It made me think of a plaque in retired foreign missionaries Eldwyn and Alice June Rogers home in Wiggins, MS. It says, why should be follow someone's path when we can blaze a trail! I LOVE YOU BOTH!

We have been working there for about a year and a half. We take things slowly, building a solid foundation of faith based solely on the Word of God. I was thrilled to see how far this group has come since we first began working there.

There is a young preacher in Kalokol church named Emmanual who lives there. He is the leader of the Bible Study and will become their pastor when they are baptized and organized into a church.

We broke into 3 groups and went hut to hut. There were 11 saved. We showed the Jesus Film, and paused it when He reached the garden to pray before His crucifixion. Pastor Stephen shared what was about to happen (I have learned to do this when we show it for the first time...otherwise, they throw rocks at the screen trying to make it stop!) and why. There were 9 that came forward to receive Christ.

This morning, I taught on what is a church. Pastor Josephat preached on salvation and security. There were 8 saved...making the weekend with a grand total of 28 salvations!

The village chief Christopher (mzee mkuu) gave me a goat and we roasted it after the film.

The elders met with us after church and extended yet another invitation to start a church in their village. They gave many testimonies of praying for years for God to bring someone to open a church and to teach them the Bible. They see us as their answer to years of prayers!

Please pray with us for this village and preacher Emmanuel. God seems to be opening a door to start another church in the desert of Turkana.

Much love,
Ekiru

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Pastor Michael invited me to help in a two and a half day youth camp at his church in Napetet.

There were 20-25 high school kids each day.

I taught on Faith and Works, Our Help is God, and Prayer. Each lesson was 2 hours...I love teaching in Kenya. There are no 20-30 minute lessons here, like you have to teach in the States because Americans are so busy. These students slept at the church. Classes began at 8am and finished up at 10pm each day. They came to be taught the Word of God...and it was AWESOME!

Last night, I showed the "Ten Commandments" to the entire village to wrap up the camp.

I love teenagers. They are so full of hope, dreams, and courage. I pray God continues to draw them near and all those dreams will be accomplished for His honor and glory!

Tomorrow, 3 of our Pastors and 1 Preacher are going with me to Kalokol to meet up with Pastor Stephen and his church.

We will then head to Lokwar Angileso where they are having a Bible Study. We are praying for many salvations, maturing of those who are already saved, and for many steps taken towards the organization of a new church.

We covet your prayers.

Much love,
Ekiru

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It is official, my 37th year has come and gone...38 is here now!

Saturday, Pastor Michael, his wife Elizabeth, and I were invited to the village of Nangolipus by Pastor Moses.

We had a great time. Hut to Hut evangelism, Mike and I taught, and we showed the "Ten Commandments" film (well, the last half anyway...I do not like the first half), and then roasted a goat. We stayed the night and I taught Sunday school while Michael preached.

We also carried 6 more benches out and the church now is full of seats. The house was packed and some folks (kids) still had to sit on the ground because there was simply not a seat left!

By the time the weekend was over, there were 4 saved and 7 were baptized.

With all the rain, the mosquitos in the village could tote off a camel (or a missionary). Nangolipus is right on the shores of Lake Turkana.

You can read more about the mosquitos in Turkana Tales.

Robert is a faithful church member. However, he was not able to come for worship. He sent word that he was very sick and needed prayer. After church, we drove out to his home.

He could not stand, much less walk.

We took him to Lodwar to see a doctor. However, the doctors in Kenya are on strike against the government. They are demanding a 300% increase in pay. We are over a week into this mess...so there are NO doctors at any government hospital, including the one in Lodwar.

I was able to find a doctor at one of the private clinics. Robert tested positive for malaria and typhoid. He will stay in Lodwar through Thursday getting shots and treatment.

Today is a holiday for Kenya...and I am enjoying having a day off.

Wednesday-Thursday, Napetet LBC is having a youth camp. This coming weekend, we will be going to Lokwar Angikaleso to help in the Bible study going on there.

Thank you for reading and for praying!

Much love,
Ekiru

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The Upendo class came back to study through the book of Acts and 2 Timothy.

Pastor Michael taught the evening class (2 Tim) and I helped the men push through all 28 chapters of Acts.

It is hard for me to know who enjoys these classes more, me or the students. I had such a great time teaching verse by verse through the historical account of the ministry of the church at Jerusalem and at Antioch.

Pastor Peter's children came by truck from Nanyangakipi (he was in class with us) to Lodwar. They were sick with Typhoid.

Pastor Moses' wife is expecting their 3rd child. Her baby is not due until after the first of the year, but there are problems. She was hospitalized in September, again in November. She is still not well. Please pray for Peter's kids, Moses' wife and unborn child.

Pastor Michael and his wife Elizabeth are going with me to Nangolipus to work this weekend with Pastor Moses and our church. I was not able to go last weekend because of the rain. The dry river I have to cross was full of water. But it has been a week since the last rain and we are hoping we will be able to reach the village.

Thank you for your prayers.

Much love,
Ekiru

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