Missionaries to East Africa

Monthly Prayer Letter ~ December, 1999

Dear Prayer Partners,

THE BIBLE SAYS: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalms 90:12. This verse has spoken to our hearts for the past several years, but even more as we approach the last year of this millennium (even BBC thinks 2000 is the beginning of the Third Millennium but they will probably get it straight before the end of the New Year)! We all need to number our days as we serve Him and remember the opportunities to serve Him are either used or lost. May He help us to be more faithful every day until He comes.

DECEMBER was busy as usual with the famine and more and more people becoming sick around us. The government now reports 13% of adult Kenyans are carrying the AIDS virus. The rains continued through the month of December and we got 13.99" for a total of 32.11" since the rains began in October. In the lower areas of the Meru Districts some have had green beans to eat and now as the rains stop the beans should dry for harvest. The maize looks good everywhere and maybe by the end of January the famine will be broken.

THINGS HARD TO UNDERSTAND. The Asian brother who was bringing maize from western Kenya at half the local price had an accident with his truck (a $100.00 part in the front end failed) and has been unable to bring anymore the past two weeks. The timing of the accident is hard to understand as is all the suffering we see here from so many causes, yet we trust He is able to "make all things work together for good" to them that love the Lord Jesus Christ.

SECURITY IN OUR AREA continues to deteriorate and the pastor of our town church had his house broken into while he was on vacation in western Kenya. He lost more than 10,000/= Kenya Shillings worth of belongings (about $140.00). We were able to repair the damage to the house before he returned. We praise God for His protection. We have only had our house broken into once in our 10.5 years in Kenya.

KENYA DOES CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, somewhat as the British do, since they were a British Colony. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. They like to have a nice family meal and new clothes if possible. We did not have services as we usually do since the next day was Sunday.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts! We love you in the Lord Jesus Christ!

His and yours for souls,

Dean and Connie McClain
"Wise men still seek Him!"