Dearest Friends and Family,

Greetings in the name of our loving God, who is good all the time! So much has happened in the last 2 weeks since I emailed you, I hardly know where to begin.

It was recently reported that this year is the poorest year for rain in Kenya for 40 years. President Moi has made a plea for international aid and most of it is in the form of emergency food. 1.9 million people are at risk of starvation in Kenya. Only two rivers are flowing and they are down significantly.

After one week of electricity outages for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, the government said it was not enough and created a new schedule. Our schedule here in Maua is as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and alternate Sundays we have electricity from 6:30am to 12:30pm (6 hours). Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we have electricity from 12:30pm - 11pm (10+ hours) though we have never had our electricity come on at 12:30pm but rather at 2pm or 4pm or 1:30pm today. The alternate Sundays there is no electricity.

We are adapting, learning, and occasionally struggling. I can't believe how thankful I am for electricity or how disappointed I am when they don't follow the schedule. I guess what is hardest is not being able to use the computer very often and communicate with you. The first 2 weeks of no electricity I struggled daily with the inability to correspond personally, but one night this week as I lay awake in bed I realized that I had to let this go. You would understand and there is really nothing I can do. Thank you for understanding.

The hospital is struggling to decide on a schedule for the generator that is both affordable and will not wear out the generator. As we improve care and services, we add to the necessity of electricity --- that's good news, bad news! Please pray for our hospital leadership. They have so many difficult decisions to make.

Maua has had very cloudy, cool days with some rain but we need much more for crops and we aren't near a hydro-electric plant! However, we are very thankful for any drop of water for it adds, if even a little, to our river and supply of water and to keeping the dust down.

The School of Nursing opened on 5 June 2000. We were in Nairobi at meetings with our GBGM Area Secretary and picking up a work team from June 7th until June 10th. We made it back in time to meet with the students and Presiding Bishop Sat. afternoon. As I sat in that meeting for the first hour, my heart sank. The students seemed angry and bitter and it didn't seem the school could stay open for even a week. However, the Presiding Bishop became very clear and direct about exactly what he was expecting to take place and what would happen if it didn't. Suddenly the students began to realize how serious this was. It appears that the majority of students want to be back, want to work, study, follow the rules and finish their education. It is our constant prayer that the majority will be strong enough to stand up to the vocal minority. Please pray for the students and the tutors.

There have been Conference meetings in Nairobi all week. The persons responsible for much of the unrest are at those meetings. Today is a very important Conference Standing Committee meeting which we have all been praying about.

Our local Synod, church district, has taken our Presiding Bishop and Sr. Mubichi to court. The first court date was 9 June 2000. After 3 hours the case was withdrawn. It was refiled and the second court date was 15 June 2000. The injunctions requested were not permitted but the case will continue next Wednesday 21 June 2000. Please pray for the court case. Also pray for next Friday, 23 June 2000 when the Presiding Bishop will chair a Hospital Management Board meeting. Many very important issues concerning the running of the school and hospital are at stake both in the court case and in the board meeting. We NEED your prayers and support.

Yesterday 8 more street boy's or AIDS orphans went to school. That makes 25 children in school. We are prayerful that over the next few weeks six more will be able to start school. Thank you for your prayers and loving support.

We have had a work team here from the Texas Conference for the last week. They have done many different projects from screening the Pediatric unit, helping to renovate 2 houses, and painting the hall in the administration block. It has been a joy to have them and what a testimony their coming is to the hospital and community. We have enjoyed some candle lit dinners and fun times together!

I so appreciate the many birthday greetings I have received. Thank you for your loving kindnesses. Tomorrow Bill and I celebrate our 29th anniversary. Our relationship with God and each other is the center of who we are and what we do. I am so grateful for my loving husband and our years together.

Please don't stop emailing us. Though I don't have time to write you personally, we still love to hear how you are and what is happening in your corner of the world. We look forward to seeing many of you in Oct., Nov., or Dec. while we are on home assignment. Thank you to all our supporting churches that have written so quickly with dates. We are waiting to hear from others and then will begin telling you our schedule.

In His light,

Jerri and Bill

You can answer this letter at savuto@MAF.org

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