Dear Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving. Our family is giving thanks to God for you and the work you do of ‘standing along side us’ in prayer as we work among Ms in Northeastern Kenya.

 

Thanks so much for your prayers, (even though most of you received the message when we were on our way home from our Nairobi/Kijabe trip).  I’m sorry about this. But I know that God is still using your prayers.  I wrote the message Monday before I left for the village but as soon as I was ready to send it our phones, & therefore, e-mail, guit.  Unfortunately, even though I called & faxed the phone company, our home phones were not restored until Friday.  Such is life in remote places in Africa.  But also such is the work of our adversary, Satan.  Several weeks earlier our computer almost crashed.  Everything had to be taken off.  I was without computer use for two weeks.  Please pray not only for the specific needs I share with you but also for Satan to be kept at bay and things like our phones & computer to work despite where we live.

 

God told us that in this life we would have many troubles. When He said that “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”, we are thinking that He meant that every day would have its own amount of trouble to deal with. Susan reports that last week while Guy was gone:

-         2 of the children were sick, 1 with malaria

-         Neighbor threw rock at someone in our yard

-         Military police searched adjacent property for cattle-rustlers

-         Torrential rain caused flooding in this arid place

-         Town water supply is running on empty

         

But we are praising God that the mites are gone and our itchy spots are fading. And we praise God for the rain, which we are ‘catching’ in every conceivable contraption and place in this dry & thirsty land!

 

Now to a report on our trip:

-         Abi’s wife, Helen, was able to see the Kijabe dentist.  Praise God. They pulled a tooth-root from her mouth because the tooth previously had already decayed and fallen out. 

-         Abi’s son, Abe did not have warts, Praise God, because they would have been much harder to get rid of.  Rather he has a staph infection.  He is being treated with antibiotics.  Pray that his mom will faithfully give them to him in the village.

-         Abi’s brother, M has a complicated case.  We planned on one day at the hospital for him and instead he needed 2 full days for tests.  They were unable to get the scope down his throat & into his stomach to see what is going on (very unusual). Why this blockage?  His lungs showed significant previous TB damage which is probably old but they are checking to make sure it is not active.  He was given medicine to settle his stomach so he can eat better and iron to help strengthen him (he is very weak and thin).  Continue to pray for him as the doctors try to figure out what is causing him to vomit blood.

-         Sarah was able to visit and be evaluated at the National Disabilities Association.  Bottom line is that they think she should be able to walk at least with crutches.  Very good news.  She was measured for a new BLUE wheel chair to fit her—bicycle-style she ‘pedals’ with her hands.  This is the first step to get her off the ground and help with her mobility.  Next step is to see an orthopedic doctor. (There are several excellent ones at Kijabe.) They could surgically unfreeze her atrophied hip and knee.  Then with some physical therapy she should be able to walk with crutches at least. Her caregiver in the village has agreed to be trained to do Sarah’s PT.  On visiting the Center, where Sarah saw many very handicapped people her response was, “I’m normal compared with them.”  This was a good psychological lift for her. 

 

Overall it was a great trip.  Abi and I had many chances to pray with Helen, Abe, M, & Sarah. We encouraged them of God’s care and love for them.  If nothing else were to happen this is the most valuable thing of the whole trip. 

 

Thanks for your prayers, even in retrospect.  God & His work are not bound by time.

 

Laborers together for Jesus,

 

Guy and Susan