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Lodwar, Turkana, is in the northwest of Kenya, where dust and dry riverbeds bake under the sun. Lodwar is a land of pastoralists, cattle herders who drive their flocks mile upon mile in search of fodder and water. They are strong and resilient people, whose only wealth has been their cows, goats, sheep, and camels. Only in recent years has this rocky and barren place revealed another wealth, deep under the soil - both water and oil. Lodwar town, by far the largest city in the area, is booming. Industry is rapidly expanding, merchants are moving in, and the local government is paving major streets. As Lodwar changes, the way of life will change for the Turkana people as well, with the typical centralizing and settling impacts of schools, medical facilities, and wells drawing the nomadic people into more permanent communities. As God's people gather, opportunity presents itself to proclaim the saving name of Jesus Christ.
Work in places where there is the appearance of scarcity is difficult. Many aid organizations have established themselves in Lodwar and there is no end of folks providing assistance of various kinds to the Turkana. Despite the physical environment and meager resources, in this setting raw outputs of aid are unlikely to provide opportunity for Gospel proclamation or Christ-centered influence on the culture. As strange as it may sound, in the midst of saturation by other aid agencies, the best approach may be to preach Christ and then encourage those He calls into faith to determine for themselves how best to show compassion to their own community out of the resources God has entrusted to their care. Under such an approach, action and decisions should be centered upon the establishment of a group of believers. A mission station under this model is a home to a congregation rather than a competing source of aid to a neighborhood.
Through a generous gift by a faithful and eager LCMS family, the LCMS and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya are able to send a local missionary, Rev. Daniel Mutai, to work in Lodwar. He is already active in the community, building relationships, exploring opportunities, and sharing the Gospel. Pastor Daniel is also examining land which has been offered by the community and the local government as gifts to the Lutheran Church for the establishment of congregations and preaching posts. One of these will become the base of operations for work across this area. In support of Pastor Daniel, we sent experienced retired missionaries Delano and Linda Meyer along with other short-term volunteer experts Dr. Jacque Breman and Rich Erickson to provide outside perspective and advise on possibilities related to agricultural work (utilizing the recently-discovered water table), restoration of overgrazed land, and experience-based evaluation of different approaches to the work. From our own office in Nairobi, Mr. John Wolf with one of his children and Shauen visited to encourage, support, receive direction, and advise on a way forward.
Pastor Daniel directed these guests in making community visits, visiting local agricultural projects and aid agencies, learning about local work by other denominations or non-denominational groups, and evaluating potential sites for a mission station. Despite the appearance of the land, there is great potential for that sandy soil to be productive if it can be protected from grazing and from the sun. A mission station focused on Gospel proclamation would likely have significant parts of its land planted in trees to provide shade, under which ground cover can thrive if given the chance. A church, freshwater well, parsonage for the pastor, and guesthouse would be the foundation of the mission station with a drip-irrigated garden providing some sustenance for the pastor's family. Future work could include a Lutheran primary school with a Project24 school boarding facility. This month Pastor Daniel will move his family up to Lodwar into a home he has rented in town.
Pray in thanksgiving for our visitors who provided insight, guidances, creativity, and support - the Meyers, Jacque, Rich, and John. Pray with us for an easy transition for the Mutai family, quick adaptation for his children to a new school, receptivity on the part of those Pastor Daniel has already met and those he will meet in the weeks and months ahead, and good health in a new environment.
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Missionaries gather with members of a preaching station in Lodwar Town
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Continuing Education: Islam
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Rev. Dr. Abjar Bahkou Lectures on Islam
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Many of our missionaries encounter Islam daily. Those of our staff who live in Ethiopia hear the Muslim call to prayer broadcast across Addis Ababa five times a day, competing with the equally loud Orthodox prayers. Those in Kenya see the mosques and those who practice Islam in our communities. Those who work in Tanzania visit the homes of Muslims during door to door evangelism. For all of us, the real threat of Muslim extremism confronts us daily.
In January, Rev. Dr. Abjar Bahkou, an adjunct professor at Concordia Seminary - St. Louis presented an excellent module on Islam. Dr. Bahkou's background with the Syrian Orthodox Church where he served as a deacon-monk and then a priest eventually led him to further studies in Arabic and Islam. Hearing the pure Gospel brought him into the Lutheran Church where he serves today. Dr. Bahkou presented from first-hand knowledge, extensive study, and vast experience. His depth of presentation, suggestions, and approaches to ministry among Muslims were greatly illuminating and encouraging for our missionaries. Praise the Lord for raising up this uniquely gifted and experienced servant and for his own service to us.
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Shauen and the Boys by the River during a Break at Continuing Education
(Photo by Rev. Billy Brath)
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This summer is our regularly scheduled home service. This is a time when our family returns to the States and makes visits to you - our amazing prayer warriors and supporters. Baby Trump is due on June 8th (yup, just a couple weeks away), so Krista is already in Wisconsin where we're establishing a home base. The boys and Shauen will join her at the end of May, hopefully before Baby Trump arrives. Because of the baby, we won't be traveling together as a family as much as we otherwise would but Shauen will be able to make some visits in Wisconsin, Iowa, Western Nebraska, California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Unfortunately, we won't be able to visit all the places we want to but Shauen has recently begun tacking on visits when making his normal trips to the US for meetings, so we hope to reach most of you within the year. Meanwhile, here are the visits we have confirmed:
June 4 - St. Paul in Janesville, WI
June 7 - Our Redeemer in Wauwatosa, WI
June 11 - Our Redeemer in Wauwatosa, WI
June 24 - King of Kings in Cedar Rapids, IA
June 25 - St. Paul in Sioux City, IA
June 26 - Trinity in Madison, NE
June 27 - St. Paul in Arlington, NE
July 2 - Mt. Calvary in Brentwood, MO
July 9 - Lutheran Church of Arcata in Arcata, CA
July 16 - Zion in Burley, ID
July 18 - Peace in Monroe, WA
July 20 - Good Shepherd in Tacoma, WA
July 21 - Light of Christ in Federal Way, WA
July 22 - St. Matthews in Port Angeles, WA
July 23 - Immanuel in Sandy, OR
July 30 - Trinity in Herscher, IL
Please pray for our time of home-service, especially with the baby due in early June, meetings in St. Louis prior to Missionary Orientation, a memorial service for Shauen's grandfather, and another PhD course at the end of the summer. We hope to see you soon!
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Photos in Focus
Trump Boys
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Prayer Requests
For continued health and safety for Krista and Baby Trump
For wisdom, discernment, and patience for Shauen and Krista in their work as spouses, parents, and missionaries
For the missionaries, projects, and relationships Shauen oversees for the church
For safe travels during home service this summer |
In Praise
For God's people in Lodwar, Turkana Region, Kenya
For a God who provides the blessing of children along with the patience, compassion, love, and endurance to raise them well |
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Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 8:05AM 
