Often we go to pass out John and Romans and tracts in the areas around the churches my dad has started here in Kenya. The first few times I started going on visitation where the people were not familiar with English, I was hesitant. Because I knew that if I handed a tract to someone, I would need to also tell them that they were welcome to the local church that was having a special service for the anniversary or anything else that was going on. The talking part I was afraid to do, but I also knew that the members of the church needed the example of a bold Christian even if it was just over something as simple as that. But when I heard what my mom said to someone she was visiting with, I was able to follow the conversation and start a conversation with someone else. The only problem that sometimes came up was that the person asked something that I was not expecting he would ask. Now my problem is that I cannot always find the right words to answer their question, but I can understand practically anything they say. Usually there is someone with me and they take it on from there. But now my brother and sisters and I are having Swahili lessons, and I hope that after I have studied the language I would be able to speak fluently in it. For now, though, I am thankful that I can speak as much as I do, and that I can understand quite a bit. I also find it a great blessing to be understood in the little that I can speak.

My favorite verse is Matthew 28:19,20 which says “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This verse I think is telling me that I need to be a missionary to a foreign land.

In science class, I have been learning of the vastness of the universe, yet it is so orderly, so neat and precise. The universe is made of uncountable galaxies, but they are not randomly tossed into the heavens but organized into clusters and groups. Each galaxy is not just a random group of stars, but organized into an elliptical or spiral shape. Every galaxy is then divided into solar systems, like our own. Then each solar system is divided to a main star then planets, comets, and asteroids. Our great universe could not just come about; it could not have evolved; as Isaac Newton said “I am compelled to ascribe the frame of this system to an intelligent Agent.” This Agent that Newton speaks is God.

Hello! 

We want to apologize for not staying in contact with everyone through the past few months.  We have a very busy schedule; and then between power outages and computer software updates that had made our website program inaccessible, it has kept us from making updates as needed!  We are very sorry.

We do ask that you continue to be patient with us.  We are trying to make some changes to our websites, but not all of kinks have been easy to work out!  Since I am a self-taught website designer, I often have to do things the long way until I figure out the shortcuts!  But we are working on the problems, and hopefully we will get things all sorted out soon.

Our family is all doing good.  We had a good time during the holiday season, and we pray that you enjoyed the time with your family and friends as well.  We are ALWAYS amazed when we look back over the past year and see what the Lord has done in our lives and ministry.  God has been good to all of us, but then that is NOT a surprise!!  We are looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for us this year.  We pray that you, your family, your church, and your ministry all have a wonderful year!

Thank you for your patience,
Tonya

My Favorite Place (By Breanne)

A hill in the outskirts of Kisii presents a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. The name of this hill is Mount Manga. From there you would first see each house surrounded by its own field; these houses are close together and each detail is distinctly recognized. But as you gaze farther and farther out, you do not see each house with its field, but the fields all begin to blend together into a large patchwork quilt. If the haze is not too dense; from this vantage point, it is possible to see Lake Victoria! Now if you would look slightly to your left, there are two smaller hills (that are contained within the valley) can be seen. First one, then the other behind it; between these hills lie the downtown section of Kisii. This breathtaking view is my favorite place in all of Kisii!