Pastor Steve's Kenya Update!

02 August, 2010

Dear Praying friends,

Well, our part of the conference is completed. During the conference, one of the pastors became ill of a long term condition, and Papa took him to the Dr. who did what was necessary, kept him 5 days and charged us $560 approx. The man can now walk normally.

The Point Man Ministry came and gave a leadership presentation Friday.

Our group, including Mama and Papa left and went to a lunch, a game viewing walk,then to the Ark. On the walk, we saw warthogs, zebra, and got very close to 6 giraffe. We were thankful for the nice cool weather, and gentle breeze. The Ark is a large building with 3 floors and viewing windows overlooking a lake that has salt in the dirt in front of the Ark. The animals come to lick the salt, and to drink from the lake. Mama and Papa rode the tour bus out there, we took a game drive. Unfortunately, the vehicle broke down before it got to us, or maybe fortunately. Anyway, it was supposed to leave at 2:30pm but did not leave until 5pm, and was a bit disappointing in viewing any game.

We saw an elephant on the horizon, and Anna almost fell out of the vehicle pointing, and screaming at the elephant she saw. I had offered 80 Kenya Shillings for the first one to see an elephant, I promptly paid, but it was dusk and far away so we drove on to the Ark and a wonderful dinner.

Dad had befriended a businessman from Holland, and we invited him to join us for supper, his name was Peter. Charlie had a long interesting talk with him after supper. A drizzle set in, so all that came was buffalo, bush buck and some giant forest hogs, but no elephants. Charlie and I got to watch two buffaloes skirmish for a while, and then went to bed.

We got up early, ate breakfast and boarded the Jeep for a game drive at Solio ranch. Since our drive was poor the evening before, our driver took us by the long route, and we got to see a nice, big elephant up pretty close. We all praised God for that. Mark and Elaine had to leave Sunday afternoon, and we so hoped to see an elephant. We saw 22 rhino, oryx, buffalo, warthogs, zebra, monkeys, gazelle, some beautiful giraffes, and some beautiful birds; no lion this time. We did see the remains of a buffalo that had been killed.

On the way home from Solio ranch, we detoured to go see the Equator. We took pictures in front of the sign, and mingled with 3 busloads of Scouts from an international scouting jamboree.

Sunday morning Charlie and Mike went to Ihwagi, Mark and Elaine taught kids class at Karatina, Donna and Anna helped with another group of kids. I preached from Haggai on " how to get into the place where God can bless you". It was about 60 degrees and people were very cold in church. Mark and Elaine left after lunch; we miss them. Mark had done some really neat magic tricks, and both had bonded well with us, and the people here. Donna, Anna, Mike and I went to visit the local government run hospital. There were lots of sick people, and poor conditions in several places, but better than nothing. We had prayer with several of the patients, and their friends and family.

Monday morning we walked in town, and then ate lunch, then went to visit the Jamii hospital, owned by Dr. Kibuku, who Papa and Mama won to the Lord Jesus. It was a good tour, and a clean, private hospital. Anna played with the children, Donna went to visit with Kennedy's family, and Charlie, Mike and I went to see the new building progress at Ihwagi. It is almost up to the ring beam, and will be ready to put a roof on soon.

Tomorrow, we head to Solio ranch to see the area where we are being given some land to build a church, and a pastors house. On the way, we are to meet with the police Commander, in Nyeri.

We are already missing Donna and Anna, we pray God's richest blessing on their labors and contacts here, and their trip home Thursday morning.

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement.

IHMXS
Steve, Papa, Mama.