Hello dear friends. I hope this finds you well. Here at RVA we just had our Mid-term break. That means there are only six weeks left in this term. That is hard to believe! Things are going well here though it is still an adjustment to not be in the dorm. I would appreciate prayer for me to continue trusting the Lord for the next term and a half. I am tempted to get bogged down in the business and inflexibility of my schedule. I thought I would have more time with my girls, but I am actually so busy with my other responsibilities that it seems like Wednesday nights are my only time to have them over for dinner. I am missing being a part of their lives. Please pray for wisdom in how I can be intentional and creative in ways to have time with them.
I am thankful that the Lord has provided one girl in particular to mentor. I cover for a dorm on Wednesday nights and we have been building up a relationship during those times. She was sharing with me last week that she was really struggling with a lot of people in her life leaving and having to say goodbye (a common struggle with MKs). I think the Lord knew what He was doing when he put us together so I am hoping to keep building our relationship and that I would be able to encourage her in her walk with the Lord.
I wanted to also ask for prayer for my house-helper, Rose. She has become a friend to me and I am thankful for her help. Having a house-helper here in Kenya is a common practice (actually expected). It creates relationships within the community and helps people have jobs. Rose is a grandmother that raises her granddaughter as her own child since her daughter died. Yvonne, her ‘daughter’, has been very sick the last 6 months. She has had many tests that all came out negative and yet she continues to be sick. She missed school for about a month. One other problem is that she is getting beaten every day at school. (A different way of education for sure here in Kenya!) When I first returned, Rose told me Yvonne was being beaten because she didn’t have her schoolbooks. (Rose had been out of steady work since I left in July and could only afford the school fees and not the books.) She had tried writing a letter to the teacher and telling them the situation and that she was now working and would be getting the books and to please stop beating Yvonne. I gave Rose an advance and helped her purchase the schoolbooks and we hoped that would be the end of it. Well that was when I first came and the teacher is still beating her. Rose is at her wits end in how to handle this. Beatings in schools are a common thing in Kenya. She doesn’t know if the situation would be fixed if she changed schools. She is so discouraged and poor Yvonne is throwing up every day. The Doctor thinks she has developed Ulcers. These situations are so hard to know how to handle. Will you pray with me for wisdom in ways I can encourage Rose and if there is anything I can do? I told her I wasn’t sure of answers, but it was something that we need to be praying about for sure. The Lord understands these cultural differences even when I don’t. Please pray for wisdom for Rose as she seeks the best course of action for her daughter. She kept her from school today and said she will not send her back there. (I don’t blame her) Please pray for healing for Yvonne as well. Rose thanks you for praying for them! Below is a picture of Rose and Me. Sorry for the picture quality
Dad and I had a great time on our safari. We were able to rest and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. It is always one of my favorite things to do. It has been so nice having my dad here. I am thankful the Lord knew my heart and provided the opportunity for my dad to be serving at Kijabe Hospital and living with me. I will be sad to see him go to Tenwek in April!
By the way, if anyone is interested in coming to Kenya in the next couple of months, I hear flights are at an all time low!! 750$ Round trip is the word on the street! I would welcome you with open arms. :)
In my Bible study group we are still studying “A Praying Life”. I have been very challenged by this book and one of the things that we talked about one week was to look how God “showed up” each day. I want to share an example of how we saw that happen this last weekend. Term 2 is typically our “summer”. Usually we are in the dry season and it is hot and dusty. However, this year it seems El Nino has hit and we have had several weeks where there is constant rain. Last weekend was mid-term and we were going to have parents and kids traveling. We had rain for 4 days straight and our main road to Nairobi was becoming close to impassable. There aren’t really any better options either for getting to Nairobi. One is too muddy when we have rain, another isn’t safe as there are often hijackings along that road and the other is way out of the way and can only be used by a 4x4 vehicle. They are doing much-needed construction on our main road and they had created a muddy mess. Well we were all praying for the rain to stop all day on Thursday, and yet the rains continued to pour down. Friday morning, the day of travel, dawned foggy but with no rain. Well guess what, as it turns out, the rain actually washed away most of the muddy mess that had been built up and instead of 8inch thick mud, it was just the harder clay on the bottom. God knew what He was doing. We could drive (carefully) on the clay, just not the mud! Isn’t God good?!
Below is a picture of one of the lanes that goes off the main road. You can see just how muddy it can get!! :)
As you know, I am serving at RVA through African Inland Mission. As a mission, the goal is to plant Christ-centered churches among all people. They are very focused on getting the gospel to the Unreached People groups. At RVA we are apart of that support group that helps it be possible for some members to serve there. That means you are also apart of that ministry! There is a website AIM has that will send daily emails to you if you subscribe. A part you could play would be to pray for these unreached people groups. (We call them, UPGs) Here is a link to subscribe to a daily email that would give you information about a people group to pray for that day. http://prayafrica.org/3030journey/ if you are on Facebook, you could also check out their page here, https://www.facebook.com/prayafricapage
Please join me in praying for the Unreached People Groups of Africa. Here is an example of the information you might find on the prayafrica.org site.
“Pray for the Antandroy of Southern Madagascar. They live in a dry thorny area, where it is difficult to live. They are pastoralists and farmers. They are usually tall and strongly built, and known for their fierceness and self-assurance. They acknowledge there is a God, but He is far away and not involved in their lives. They look to their ancestors for blessings and try to appease them to prevent curses.
“So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” Isaiah 30:18. Pray the Antandroy would come and see His love and compassion.
We are excited to hear that over a hundred Antandroy have committed to following Christ, in the area of Toliara. Praise the Lord of the harvest! May He work in the hearts of the new believers, that they would “Be strong in His mighty power” Eph 6:10
Population: 930,000
Location and Background: The Antandroy people live in the arid extreme south of Madagascar. The name Androy means “where there are thorns”, “roy” referring to a mimosa plant with long thorns. They have adapted to a very inhospitable environment, covered with thorny bush and frequent severe drought. It is a constant struggle to find water and famine is regular. Their immediate neighbors are the Mahafaly (west), Bara (north) and Antanosy (east).
History: Not much is known about the Antandroy history, but according to oral tradition, different clans invaded the area called Androy in the eighteenth century from the east, north and northwest and put an end to the ruling dynasty of the Andriamañare. The Antandroy then divided into many small entities, sometimes uniting their forces against common enemies, maintaining their independence from the Merina until 1903 when French troops aided the Merina government.
Culture: The Antandroy are usually tall and strongly built, known for their fierceness and self-assurance. They are a pastoral people, but also cultivate manioc, millet, maize, sweet potatoes, zebu milk, and curd. They eat less rice than other Malagasy people groups because of the extreme arid climate of their territory. Their villages are hidden from the main road tracks, often behind cactus fences. In terms housing, whereas most of Madagascar construct homes from pliable plant material, the Antandroy use wood planks. Tomb structure and burial practices are very similar to the Mahafaly people group.
Religion: The Antandroy believe the blessings and curses of life come from their ancestors and by appeasing their ancestors, they can reap benefits. They acknowledge that there is a God, but they see Him as distant and inactive in their lives. There is no complete Bible translation available in the Antandroy dialect, but some sporadic translation work appears to have been done”
I am so thankful for each one of you. Your support and prayers are such a testament of God’s love and provision through the Body of Christ. Please email me and let me know how I can be praying for you or just an update on what is going on in your lives.
Serving with you,
Amy
