First 100 Days

Presidents are often critically evaluated after their first 100 days in office to get a measure for how they act. It seems those one hundred days allow sufficient time to learn the ropes and push through the most important items on their agenda. Well, my First 100 Days have come and gone (last week). And while I'd love to present a list of majestic accomplishments, I'll share instead some of the challenges that I've encountered. My first one hundred days were a bit overwhelming - I could use your prayers.

February

• I take over responsibility for the East Africa Field Office in Nairobi, Kenya, an office that has been in place for at least ten years
• I am informed indirectly that one of our three church partners in my area has democratically voted on an issue of theology and church practice that has implications for the nature of our partnership - the scramble begins to see exactly what they did and exactly what that means for our relationship
• I am made aware that another one of our three church partners in my area is on the verge of splitting and in the process of excommunicating one of their bishops to prevent a wider schism - an LCMS-affiliated (but not LCMS-employed) missionary is involved in the conflict
• I am informed by our landlord that the rent on the compound our mission has rented for six years (which comprises our home and our office building) will "substantially" increase when the lease is up in October, that our lease does not allow subletting of office space (which we are currently doing), and that the new lease will be a year-to-year lease instead of long-term - househunting and the search for office space begin while we wait to hear what "substantially" means

March

• Our mission's registration with the Kenyan government to operate in Kenya as a Non-Government Organization (NGO) is revoked without explanation, the implications of which are unknown - we continue to operate in the meantime under a non-profit business license
• Our landlord indicates they will bring in an appraiser to value the property - still no word on the exact amount of increase - househunting and the search for office space continue
• We have a "security incident" at our property late on a rainy night - our excellent night guard performs admirably despite a non-functioning mobile panic button (turns out the mobile panic buttons they've been carrying for six years are not even connected to an alarm system) and the security response company that our guard called on his phone executes on-the-spot justice to the one suspect they manage to apprehend - we immediately replace the mobile panic buttons and have the security company give us a quote for a complete system replacement

April

• Our property is appraised, the results are presented, and we are informed that our rent will almost double in October - the search for new housing and office space continues but costs show to be on par with the rent increase we've been quoted

May

• Our landlord appears flustered that we are pursuing other property and requests we submit a counter-offer to be considered when their board sits in June - I promptly do so
• Six days into a fourteen day deadline, our office receives a demand to pay an income-tax-in-arrears bill of US $178,000 from an audit completed in 2007 - we immediately schedule an appointment and begin negotiations with the Kenya Revenue Authority
• My First One Hundred Days is complete

Now don't get me wrong. These are just the challenges that have come in my First One Hundred Days. I've also enjoyed the actual work I'm here to do - teaching, visiting, preaching, and working with short-term teams. But these are some of the distractions (mostly still unresolved) that are taking up substantial chunks of my time. Fortunately, God is at work, even in the distractions. Please keep us in your prayers!  -Shauen