Pastor Joe arrives safely in Kenya!

Jambo to family and friends in the U. S. from Pastor Joe,

Today is Tuesday October 9. Arrived in Nairobi last Wed. evening after a 31 hour flight (that includes layovers). Flying

internationally makes a big difference I think in how one is treated (Have not yelled at anyone yet!).

It's hard to find a place with internet but finally I have so here I am:

Stayed over night in a nice hotel and on Thursday evening I flew to Kisumu. Pastor Dennis Meeker met me and

put me up at his new home right on Lake Victoria with a million dollar view. He showed me all around the area

including  his new school (grades 1-6) where I taught the 4th through 6 graders about baptism on Friday.

What a treat this was. But we found at least half the class of 40 kids have not been baptized. Pastor Dennis will

speak to each parent about this for permission if possible. We even found a Lutheran who was not baptised! What's

up with that?

By the way, I have a new name. The kids in the class voted 40 to 0 that my name should from now on should be Pastor

Joseph and not Pastor Joe! What do you think?

On Saturday Pastor Dennis drove me to my mission area in Maseno about 30kil away. I arrived about 2pm at Maseno University

guest house where I will be staying for the next 3 weeks. It's the first time I stayed hear and I must say the accomodations are

great - not what I'm used to. I have my own full size bed, a toilet and shower (although primitive) instead of a trickling water

spicket and a 30 foot open "drop hole" for one to do you know what. Everyone is real nice, friendly and respectful to me. Went to a student

chapel service on Sunday morning. The first hour of the service was great but I started getting "worship fatigue" after the 3rd hour. The

services here are LONG! If St. Pauls' services were 3 hours long Pastor Jim would have a congregation of 1.

I met up with my beloved friend and laison where all funds are sent from the U.S. later that day. Her name is Florence and she is one

of the finest, moral and ethical ladies I've ever known. Without Florence nothing would ever get done around here with regards to

my kids and their families receiving help. This is the lady I am now teamed up with including Nancy Rowe from the U.S.

On Monday we took a trip after hiring a driver to a town 30kil away. I went to see the family I personally adopted and check on how

they were doing. My little family of 5 including grandma were OK but had some problems. First of all they had stopped receiving funds

from me since last December. This was because of the retirement of the people I first worked with. The money was accounted for

but unfortunately they were not getting it for almost a year. I have corrected the situation and there will be no more fund problems.

Secondly and very unfortunately my little Sara who is the eldest and 17years old has vanished from high school. Grandma has not

heard a word from her since June of this year. I spoke with many neighbors and found out that either she was forcibly taken to another

Province to work as a housekeeper or worse she was forcibly married and is now far away. I promised grandma, who is obviously very

distressed and concerned with her grandaughter's disappearance that Pastor Joseph will do everything possible to locate and bring Sara

back home. How I will do this I don't know! But I have been making good contacts.

On Tuesday (today) I will be visiting two families who each has received a goat from my funds. I hear they are doing well but I must see for

myself (follow the money trail). They were both extremely poor so I'm anxious to see how they are doing. Then I'll see the families who have

received cows.

That's enough from me because I'm probably boring you by now. Plus it has just started to rain heavily and that means the electric will go out.

You never know for how long it will be off.

One more thing. Somehow (and not very often) I missed dinner tonight.  So I think I'll take a walk into the jungle tonight and wrestle

with a lion for the carcass of a wildebeast.

Blessings to you all and please keep praying, not for me, but for my kids.

Love to all,

Pastor Joseph (Joe)