K E N Y A A F R I C A

Subject: Bill and Jerri's letter from Late April

Dearest Friends and Family,

We do so pray that you celebrated Easter with much joy and thanksgiving. Christ has risen and gives us hope for every circumstance of our lives.

I began an email to you this past Monday but did not know the decision yet so had not sent it. This past week has been a most amazing week and Bill and I know without a doubt that it is your prayers that have sustained us.

Easter weekend for Bill and I was a time of prayer, reading, thinking, searching, and discovering. Over the past several months we have learned so very much about God and His love for everyone. If we did not have trials and tribulations, would the richness of human experience be near as rewarding? If we don't walk the lonesome and sometimes dark valleys, would the hilltops look half as wonderful? I don't think so. Thus, I can only thank God for ALL that has happened and for the lessons He has taught us.

God most graciously gave Bill and I the gift of peace during this past week. I have never felt so assured of God's love nor more filled with His peace. I have quoted Carlo Carretto several times to you but I found something I recently read so appropriate to explain some of my new understanding. He states "Life on this Earth is a roped-together climbing party and charity (love) is its bond". I certainly find this true spiritually. Physically, I see too many people fall off and no one seems to notice, but spiritually we are linked together. Thus, we must all love one another. It actually makes sense for me to love my enemies. I know what I'm saying is not new, but suddenly I understand it in a very personal way and face the challenge to use it in my daily walk here in Maua and where ever I may go and with whom my path may cross. My only importance is in the love I can extend to others to help them on their climb. Where I am, what titles I have, what money I make are totally unimportant. I guess that is what is so right about Christianity. It doesn't require education, money, property, power, no, it only requires that we love.

Now to the decision. As I said the decision was made on Saturday 22 April 2000. However, the hospital did not have any official word until late Tuesday evening 25 April 2000. Wednesday I was asked to join the Heads of Department meeting (as I am the only tutor here at the moment due to the other tutors being on leave for sickness, medical follow-up, the birth of a granddaughter and an ill mother). Dr. Mwenda presented the information he had been given by the Conference Office. The decisions, as we understood them, were received with disappointment and deep sorrow. There had been several recommendations made about opening the school but none had been accepted. Principal Tutor was on mandatory leave and those that have told lies and spread hate and evil were still in their positions of power. Bill and I met with Dr. Mwenda and I actually wrote a letter of resignation.

Our Presiding Bishop, a man of great integrity and honesty, was coming to meet with the Heads of Department on Friday afternoon. Bill and I were invited to attend. None of us believed he could do anything to change the decisions as they stood. But God is good, all the time. As we all began to talk we learned that he had been given the power to negotiate what would be best for us. I was able to share that the school should not be opened without Sr. Mubichi, Principal Tutor. Thus everything seemed to change. Rather than the school opening this next week, it will open the week of June 12 - 16th with each of the Sets arriving two days apart. By then Sr. Mubichi will be exonerated (we pray) and will open the school. On Monday 19 June 2000 Presiding Bishop will come with a document that is co-authored by him and the tutors of the rules and regulations of the school and the discipline that results in any breech of those rules. There are several other things that will hopefully happen to make the running of the school and hospital go smoothly and with continued honesty and integrity.

What a wonderful reminder that we work for God, and He does the impossible. We still desperately need your prayers. Many, many things need to happen and often things move slowly here. Please just pray that God's will be done, that each of us will allow God to guide our decisions, that we will learn the lessons God has for us in this situation, and most of all that we will all walk, speak, and act with and in love, love, and more love.

We have great hope. When we read the newspaper and look around us, not all prayers are answered so quickly. Truth does not always win the day. There are terrible injustices that go on and on and on. I read today that malaria kills 72 children ages birth to 5 years daily in Kenya. There is such a great need for love. Thank you for helping us climb this mountain. May each of us though love help those we know on our climb.

Climbing in His strength,

Jerri and Bill

You can answer this letter at savuto@MAF.org

Back to the Missionary Parents Page.

Back to the Home Page.