Straight from Africa

An update from our missionary friend.  Enjoy!  Be part of the adventure.  Pray!

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Hello My sisters, pastors, and friends!

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Thanks to those of you who are praying for my team and I and for writing so quickly in response to my last email. We came here to Loki (northern Kenya) for what was to be a short break of 3 or 4 days but turned out to be a temporary withdrawal from Sudan due to unaddressed crime in our village (against us). I want to re-emphasize that we are not in any more physical danger, just that the chief needs to step up and unite the community.

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For the last two years, the team leaders have communicated to the chief and village elders that our purpose in coming is to learn the language and culture before starting any community projects. It was clarified many times, but we have found out that the community leaders did not communicate this to the community at large, so the villagers expectations have been that we were there to build a school and a clinic as they did in nearby a village.

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We do expect to do these things as there is great need here, but everything about starting projects like this that are long lasting & self-sufficient point to the missionary team establishing relationships with the people and learning the language is key to this. Another very key point is that all of the suffering here is basically a result of sin and godlessness, and these people need, more than anything, the Living Water that is Jesus Christ.

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So the latest as of this afternoon is that the community we are attempting to work in, is having a meeting with the area commissioner, the chief and elders, etc. We just got a message from our team leader that the commissioner thinks he needs to arrest the chief!!! So our fate is still unknown to us, but we still all feel very strongly that we want to return to the area as soon as we can.

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However, we cannot go back if there aren’t any consequences given to the thieves who are known, and we want to hear from the people of the village as to how they feel about us being there as learners. So needless to say, pray that God’s will above all is done, that we will get clear direction and have wisdom in moving forward to our next step in all this.

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In the meantime, Loki, though very very very HOT, it is breezy (unusual) and we have an internet cafe (free wireless!) where we can get cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes as well as iced drinks! There is a resort down the street that you can go for swimming for about $7.00US and of course we have taken advantage of that every day. I hate to admit we are eating like pigs, but it is mostly because we really can’t get or keep meat up in the village, so we are eating beef, chicken, pork, and anything else with 4 legs we can get our hands on!!! Our spirits are up and we are very sure the Lord will work all things together for (us) who love Him.

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Those of you who can, please forward this to as many of our mutual friends, relatives, etc that you can, and sisters please make sure Mom is updated and praying with her little old ladies in the Valley. Amy, should I be saying “best wishes?” Any mail will be most welcome, and email in the next few days if we end up staying. My power cord just blew, so my computer use will be even more limited! I love you all and we all can feel your prayers and support and love way over here in Africa. I’ll be in touch!

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Every breath, every step, every move in Him,

Janette

My Favorite African

Email from Janette to her sistors.  Enjoy!

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My TIMO team flew into Loki, Kenya today so I am at an internet cafe. We may be able to check our email once more Thurs. or Fri. so hope to hear from you! I am getting letters about 4 weeks after you’ve sent them–thanks Mary, Martha, and Cathy!

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We had this time in Loki scheduled as a short vacation, but it turns out it is a temporary withdrawal from Sudan. We are all fine, no one is hurt or threatened, but we have had ongoing problems with crimes/theft since even before we came. Sunday was the last straw: we had a flight out on Sunday scheduled (the tribe knew about it) but it was cancelled because the pilot was sick. While we were all at the team house, someone broke through the wall of our hut and stole a bunch of stuff.

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They also broke the lock on my hut but didn’t get in, we think we scared them away on our way home. So my team leader, spoke to the Chief and laid down some conditions as we all toted our five thousand bags and boxes of stuff to the house. He said we were leaving, and unless the past known thieves were caught and punished, as well as the current thieves, we would not come back.

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Another condition was that the chief has to reiterate to the community that we have come first and foremost to learn the language, that we cannot do anything long lasting with the community needs until we learn it, and that the chief needs to communicate we will not build a school or a clinic or anything until that is done, Many people have been complaining about us “not doing anything”  and we are constantly bombarded with requests for soap, salt, tea, and water.

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Other than that, we are doing fairly well learning the language and getting to know the people, even have some we are very friendly with. Life is very physically draining, and having to be mentally processing things almost all day to communicate simple things is draining, not to mention getting used to living here with complete strangers! My hut-mates are really great, and we are still working out our chore schedule and trying to find a sort of household “rhythm.”

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The terrain is breathtaking: we are surrounded by layers upon layers of mountains, and a cool breeze is always blowing. I will be able to get internet for the next couple of days, which is very unusual, and snail mail is really the best way for us to keep in touch. Our internet connection in Sudan is very bad and unpredictable. I am sending Christmas cards today so you’ll get more on my daily living/life especially if you share with each other.

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Please do not stop praying for me and my whole team every day–we really need it. The spiritual oppression here is palpable, the people are lawless, and God wants so badly to show them who He is. Also pray for our physical strength, for quick language acquisition, and for continued team unity. I would even go so far as to say to get a group  together  to fast and pray for us.

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This is a very difficult time for us all, and we all want very badly to stay in the village, but must face the reality that it will not work out. We want the community to give a clear indication through the chief that they really want us there, that it is not just the chief and the state commissioner.

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I love you all and am praying for each of you! Despite what I have just written, I am in great spirits–just had a strawberry milkshake! And the Lord has given me a supernatural peace. Please do not worry about me but PRAY instead, and know that I know that God is in control and He will protect me.

 

Every breath, every step, every move in Him,

Janino