Howards in Kenya - update

Here is a helpful, relieving update from the Howards. Thank you for praying. Please keep praying for peace for Kenya and safety for the people.

From: Lindsay Howard
Sent: January-10-08 11:45 AM

Hello all. Just a quick note to tell you we are safe and sound. It's been a crazy 10 days. The violence heated up while we were at the farm and we were running out of food (as is the rest of the country). We spent 3 days waiting for a helicopter evac, which kept falling through. On January 4th, a police station one hour away was looted and all the guns stolen. Two hours later we took the three vehicles at the farm and made a break for the border. We knew there were roadblocks (which is why we didn't leave before), but roadblocks seemed easier to face than AK-47s! We brought local men with us who helped convince the men manning the roadblocks to let us through -- with bribes mostly, and then moving the stones out of the way and back again. At the highest roadblock there were a dozen men armed with machetes. They let us through for a mere couple dollars.

We crossed into Tanzania and spent five days in a small village. We didn't have our passports and immigration wouldn't let us leave. We chartered a plane to pick up our passports in Kisumu and have them delivered to us. All this time we haven't had internet and very limited phone use. We have a million stories to tell, that's for sure! Today we left the other four missionaries behind that we had been travelling with, and drove five hours with a Tanzanian pastor to a larger city where we will fly out of on Sunday. We've decided to come home to Canada. Although our house did not get looted, the rest of Kisumu did, and there is very limited food there and it is not safe to travel around. We get in to Calgary on Monday night!

I can access my internet at the hotel which is great. It may take me many days to respond to the personal emails as it is very slow. I will also try to post my log of events on the blog in the next day or two. Thank you for all your prayers. We have so many amazing stories to tell you about how God led us to safety.

Continue to pray for Pastor Jasper. They are still living in our home as it is not safe for him to return to his home. His tribe is being targeted for violence as well. We have many other friends as well who are in bad situations-hungry and not secure. Despite the stress of these last 2 weeks, we are grateful for the position we are in.

Cooking in Community

In December, Tannis, Tammy and I did some cooking together. We made 5 different entrees for our freezers. We had a great time of fellowship doing this chore and bought us all a lot of time. Our families enjoyed the different meals. Why not consider forming your own cooking groups? It is also a great way to contribute meals to the Women of Heart Freezer Ministry!

Some Nice Feedback

Andrea W. wrote this to Cheryl B. and Kathy T.:

"In light of missing the final 2 mornings of this semester's Women of Heart, I just wanted to email and say thank you. Reading "The Rest of God" and being able to come and talk with you and all the other ladies has had a profound impact on my life and my relationship with God. I can't tell you how much I looked forward to every Thursday morning. I really appreciate you both, and the time you took for me and for our class.

I am returning to work in January so I unfortunately won't be able to physically attend Women of Heart for the next term, but I am hoping that maybe I can pick another book to read and fellowship in with everyone in spirit! Thank you so much and God Bless."

"I do believe it is possible to create, even without ever writing a word or painting a picture, by simply molding one's inner life. And that too is a deed." -Etty Hillesum