Dear Cherished Interested’s, June 20th 2024
We traveled almost 4 hours away last Saturday
to celebrate an Engagement of a local precious one.
On the way, being directed by a cousin of
the celebrant, we missed a turn. We
missed a turn and when we finally found someone to talk with, it was a Kenyan Border
Guard. I am not going to describe which
region or crossing as what tremendous, God sent, kindness that transpired, is
not something that uniformed members of the Kenyan Armed Forces would likely be
rewarded for.
We found ourselves where we should not
be. I had two beautiful young Tanzanian women
in the truck, neither with a Passport.
Only one with any identification at all.
Those, who know what I look like,
understand that I should have been forcibly removed from the truck, lain face
down in the dirt, and hand-cuffed until, why there were two young women in the
truck with me, why we were no longer where we should be, was resolved.
Instead, the cross on my chest, my poor Swahili,
the linguistically brilliant young Tanzanian woman who was of legal age, and
the presence of Hilda, all moved people to get us safely back to where we
should be. Three of them, at three
different locations, heard our penniless story and chose to believe us enough,
to facilitate our leaving their authority expeditiously, free of paperwork and
expense. The last brave one, at the last
gate, saying to us that where we should have turned, there is no sign so.. we
are to forgive each other.
WOW!!!
Thank you for praying our way..
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Hilda’s US editor for Covenant, her
publisher, wanted chapter headings(numbers, etc). We relented and gave them. Also, Hilda has edited the editing so
far. Nothing at all major, just likely
generationally presumed understanding about capitalizations. Good so far!
Please keep praying, as you feel called..
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Still awaiting parts.. South Africa sent the wrong water pump..
I am not flash enough. Nor do we have a big enough bank
account. But, we are here, one of the few
who have a motor vehicle. A motor vehicle,
now with working 4*4.
We have used the 4*4 in 3 or 4 critical junctures,
so far, and it has worked well. This
last Saturday to climb a bush mountain.
Your praying hearts and minds faithfully
work miracles, you are part of that!
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Sunday Messages still going out as
promised. To two locations, one a local
Lutheran Secondary School.
Your prayer again. Thank you.
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Down to below 40 Sunday messages to be gone
through for the third time before we try the local printer. Getting closer.
I am strongly motivated to continue
writing, this, for the lesser festivals, that aren’t celebrated nor
particularly known here. Guidance
prayers requested
Long way to go. Your prayer deeply sought for this work
too. Thank You.
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We have learned so much about the world’s
approach to problem solving. It cannot
stand the light of day. Ego driven, money
centered, manipulative, false and spiritually abusive to local people. Local people giving years of service, at
disgustingly differentiated compensation, favoring extra-nationals with
multiple homes and suffering psychologically, self-righteously, as walled
behind elitist educations and unwillingness to get truly dirty with
people. So..
Please support Christian mission responses
to poverty, nutritional, educational, and urgent medical care deprivation. Then hold all of us Christian missionaries
feet to the fire. And, Pray for us,
whatever we are doing.
We may live dangerously, but we are
alive. Thank you for praying us the
courage to live this way, if dangerously.
We don’t see it that way.
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You who read
and pray and suffer along with us.
Please believe what we get to see.
Thank you for praying our strength and guidance for each moment with
each face. Folks like you are beyond precious.
Really blessed
while deeply under attack.. all of it is
spiritual.. I wish I could teach that to
everyone so they could truly know it. I
didn’t know it for far too long.
Please keep
crumpling us up and throwing us at God.
That is where we need to be. God
will sort us out.
One day at a time. Just like how you each live. Just one day at a time.
Thank you, each of you.
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What to Pray for:
Our armed forces families, our leadership,
our people, whole world round, all of Gods kids -
All the tough and blessing expressed above
–
The love of folks –
Whatever is on your hearts and minds for us
–
For our children and grand-children who
miss us..
For Makumira Secondary School looking to
share stories and partner in some way with a foreign school, Great leaders,
teachers, students, programs, strong backs, minds, and hearts –
For our health to stay ahead of whatever is
before us –
Pray for YWAM, YWAM families, Tanzanian
families who choose Joy, over and over in defiance of death -
For those who have braved the donate button
to discover Kajun Crofton, our daughter who helps getting each one of your
donations to us and every blogpost to where you can read it -
For each and every one of you –
Each and every one of your prayers, your precious
conversations with God –
Prayers, Your Prayer, Even your groaning
prayers makes all the difference..
Vern W
May life be as Music to your Heart – May Music be as Heart to
your Life – May Heart be as Life to your Music
