Yet Another Change

We received news this morning that we will be leaving as scheduled for Nairobi tomorrow (New Years Day). It is believed that this is a narrow window of opportunity for us to get into the country before an expected increase in violence on January 3rd (when the opposition leader who lost the election will declare himself the winner).

We will be taken to the guarded/fenced missionary compound in Nairobi to wait out the disturbances.

Last night when we attended the Methodist Church in downtown Dublin they did a traditional Wesley Covenant Service. The prayer of John Wesley below is especially poignant and applicable at this time....
"Lord, make me what you will.
I put myself fully into your hands:
put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and with a willing heart give it all to your pleasure and disposal."

Amen! THAT is true freedom and peace.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Nan & Mark

Challenging News from Kenya and Change of Plans

First a little background: When we were in Kenya in October, political campaigns were in full swing. We saw two different large rallies for the incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, and his key rival Raila Odinga. A week or so ago, the elections were held, and the early returns showed the rival Odinga ahead. After some delays, new reports showed the incumbent ahead and President Kibaki's party declared themselves the winners. Obviously, this made the rivals unhappy and suspicious and there is some unrest in the country. One missionary wife in Kenya reports that there has been some violence and some looting, although there have been no election-related deaths reported.

As a result of the unhappiness about the elections, the situation is challenging for ordinary Kenyans and for Nazarene Kenyans and missionaries. The missionaries are staying inside their compound in Nairobi. They report that their street is uncommonly quiet with no sounds of traffic outside.

The picture to the right was taken just outside the Central Church of the Nazarene in Nairobi. We'd ask you to pray for Kenya in general, but especially for the Kenyan Nazarenes and others who live in the slums of Nairobi. Because they don't have refrigerators, they need to shop for groceries every day. With the shops closed because of the unrest, the poor are unable to buy fruit, meat or eggs. Please pray for all of Kenya, for a safe resolution to the election turmoil, and especially for the students and staff of ANU and for the Nazarene missionaries.

Change of plans: We have been monitoring the events in Kenya from our comfortable situation in Ireland. We have felt no waivering of our love for and sense of commitment to Africa Nazarene University or the work of the Lord in Africa. Even so, we received word from our field director, Don Gardener, and from the University Vice Chancellor Leah Marangu that they want us to delay our flight to Nairobi until the unrest stabalizes. Right now we're making alternative plans for a week to ten days. Worse things could happen than being "stranded" temporarily in Europe, but we choose to believe that the creative and redemptive Lord we serve will guide us in turning this surprise into something that benefits the Kingdom. We are safe and warm and dry, but we covet your prayers for our brothers and sisters in Kenya. We'll keep you posted.

Dublin Visit

Well so far we've had a wonderful time in Dublin. Since our arrival on Thursday, December 28th we've done a Dublin city tour; seen a wonderful concert by the Irish folk band "The Dubliners" with 2000 singing, clapping Irish; attended the Fowcett Family Circus (good acrobats--bad clowns); attended an evening service at a Catholic Church (pictured) last night and an evening service at an urban Dublin Methodist church this evening. Our hotel is very nice with good amenities even though it's a 45 minute ride on a state of the art tram to the downtown area. We'd spend more time talking about that, but we have more important news to share on the next post.

Personal Update 12-3-7

As we head into the Christmas season, we wanted to make sure to thank you for your prayers and support and to give you one last update, in case the rush of activites keeps us from posting before we leave for Africa December 27.

• We’re finishing “crunch time” for handing in projects and papers at NTS. (We’re pretty old to be studying so hard!) Mark just handed in his last paper and Nan will hand in her last one later today. One more online exam after that and then we're done. Kansas City has been a good experience. We've made some new friends and expanded our world.
• We did our last deputation service in Chariton Iowa (on the right) on Sunday. The Lord protected us from some icy roads and gave us a good service there. Thanks to Pastor Greg Neer and NMI President Geneva Jessip and to the people in Chariton for their kindness and support. We are not sorry that our time of deputation is over, but we have genuinely enjoyed getting to visit so many churches and see the work the Lord is doing among his people.
  
• Many of you already know, but the “money’s in the bank” on the sale of our house. Thanks again to Arlen Gingrich our realtor and friend and to Eric Forseth another friend who sent the buyer our way! We'd also like to thank each of you who made this request a matter of your own prayer. Once again we're reminded that God is seldom early but he's never late. Praise the Lord! For those of you who wonder, we loved our house while we were there. It was a comfortable and pleasant gift from God, but it has not been hard to trade a piece of property for a new level of adventure with the Lord. We praise Him for the privilege of serving the Kingdom.
  
• While we were in California in mid-November, we got to spend some additional time with our kids. Mark and Ben went to see the Ronald Regan Presidential Library and Museum in the Simi Valley (and to tour a retired "Air Force One" jet that had served five presidents). Nancy got to say a “long goodbye” to Andrew and Birge, who will not be with us for Christmas.
  
• A special thanks to Mary Winkle and Dan Edgar and Bob and Kim Cantrell at our "home church", Nampa First, for helping us get our shipment on its way to Kenya. We had HOPED to have it shipped by the beginning of November, but we're learning to live with fairly lengthy decision-making processes and the shipment should be picked up in Idaho this week for 8-10 weeks on a ship getting to Kenya's port city of Mombassa.
  
• We continue to be amazed at the richness of our lives and the opportunities our journey with the Lord allows us to have. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support! We’re looking forward to Christmas in Indiana with several of our kids there. Just after Christmas, we’ll head for a few days in Dublin (pray for us as we celebrate New Years with the Irish!) before flying to Nairobi January 2. Blessings on each of you and your families as we head into this holy season. We love and appreciate you all!

Unexpected Support

Just recently we were in King Chef—a “not too bad” Chinese restaurant across the street from World Headquarters—when we struck up a conversation with an African-American man in his 60’s. He first commented on Mark’s small computer, and then on how hard it was to stay up with technology. We talked briefly and then started to eat. He apologized for interrupting and asked us if we were Jewish (not sure why—you get to guess!). In explaining that we were not, we told him a bit about our plans to go to Kenya as missionaries. We discovered then that he is the founder and senior pastor of a 1000+ member Pentecostal church just outside of Kansas City. As we were preparing to go, he said he wanted to contribute to our ministry. We said we’d appreciate his prayers and any advice, but he insisted on writing us a check. When we got back to Headquarters we discovered this black pastor had contributed $200 to our deputation fund! We love the idea that there are common hopes in the Kingdom that are larger than our denominational or ethnic differences!