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We are blessed to add the prayer letter of Joy and Paul Mueller to our site.

Thanks to members Del and Dorleen for sharing this with us.

Mueller Email Prayer Letter – January 2008

Volume 5, No. 1

^{ECC 3:1-8} “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

It has been a time for mourning and weeping for all of us as we hear and experience the sadness of our Christian friends in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) who have lost their family members, property, and earthly possessions during this time of violence post elections results. We lift them up in our prayers as we bond together to help in some small way through a listening ear, hug, or thoughts and dreams of rebuilding lives and property.

We have been in contact with Bishop Obare all week whose home is in Kisii, Kenya. He is safe there with some of his family, others are in the Bishop’s apartment in Nairobi. Paschal Obare, Bishop’s son studying law in Eldoret which is located northeast of Kisumu, is finally safe with his dad. When the violence broke out it affected Kisumu and Eldoret most dramatically. Paschal feared for his life so he walked many days to his father’s home in Kisii since no public transportation was available. It was a hard journey but we praise God he is safe with his parents (see attached map).

Rev. David Chuchu is Joy’s colleague and the Project Director for the ELCK working in western Kenya. His office and Lutheran compound is located in Kisumu. David and his family fled to the country side with his mother and stayed there this past week. He was able to go into Kisumu yesterday and assessed some of the damage and communicated with members of the church. Praise God that the compound is in satisfactory condition. The clinic was looted but those items can be replaced. He will be talking with the pastors and leaders in western Kenya in the coming weeks to estimate damages and find homeless families. Many homes were burned and looted. We praise God for David and his dedication to his ministry in the ELCK.

Today, Sunday, January 6, was our first day back to Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral since Christmas to worship as a congregation on this Epiphany of our Lord with Rev. Carlos Walter Winterle and Rev. Enos Omodhi. We celebrated the birth of the Christ Child as did the Magi so long ago who shared this Good News to the World. It is a time to look to the cross as the healing hands of Christ lift up the Kenyan people during this earthly turmoil and conflict. Our prayer is for peace in the days to come as the political leaders discuss their difference and move toward a more peaceful Kenya. Pastor Omodhi and Evangelist Sylvester were in harms way this past week since their community was a target of killings, looting, and burning. Pastor Omodhi said, “I felt like a prisoner in my own home since we could not go outside. We feared for our lives since people were being decapitated. The food was scarce but we survived.”

After church Joy talked with Sarah Chuchu who was working as an intern nurse in Kisumu when she suddenly had to leave. She came to Nairobi to be with her parents and during that time the home where she was living in Kisumu was burned. She lost everything. She is happy to be alive and will graduate at the end of this month as a registered nurse. We praise God for sparing her life and she would love to work as a nurse within the Lutheran clinics.

Rev. Winterle presented blankets, nets, and food to the newly confirmed and baptized Mbui family who are living in the women’s police shelter in Nairobi since they were driven from their home during a night of rioting. They lost many of their possessions. They will not go back into their community until the rallies are completed. He thanked Joy for these gifts provided by LCMS World Relief several times.

Our three children (who are visiting us), their friend, and Paul and Joy traveled to Springs of Life Lutheran Church, school, and clinic in the Kibera slums which was looted and torched on January 3, 2008 during violent acts from active youth who are protesting the election results. There were three churches burned in the slum area. Though the church is alive, its buildings are destroyed. The members of this church along with Pastor Meeker and Evangelist Emmanuel held service in the burnt building praising God together as they bond to keep His Word Ablaze in the community. Here is a story which Evangelist Emmanuel shared with Joy this morning: “I was here in the compound when youth came into the yard talking with the guards. I approached the youth with a slow walk from the nursery school when they started to pick up rocks to throw at me. I told them, ‘I am one of you and live here in the community! I am not your enemy.’ They yelled at me to stop as they thought I had a gun. After a few minutes they ran to the back of the church where the clinic is housed and looted all the medications, equipment, and Pastor’s office, and the communion chalice. No one could stop them. Then they hurled gas containers into the windows of the clinic and basement which started it ablaze. I could not watch it anymore and had to leave,” said Emmanuel emotionally, “then suddenly it just stopped burning and we don’t know why. The youth destroyed the office/pastor’s home and the school.” Emmanuel continues, “No one is hurt and we are all safe. We now will call on each member and assess the needs of the people in the ELCK. It will take time to rebuild so we will first make sure our people are OK.” The members of Springs of Life Lutheran Church cleaned what they could inside the church, lined up the benches, and worshipped together at the foot of the charred cross hanging from the wall. What a blessing to see the resilience of our Christian friends in the ELCK as they serve Him in Kibera.

The LCMS missionaries cope the best that they can and at times feel helpless. RED24 (monitoring agency for US deployed personnel) has been in constant contact to keep us abreast of the situation by email and calling us daily. LCMS World Mission office has lifted us up in prayer and Travis Torblaa has been keeping us informed of any political unrest and has called the East African Business Office, Rev. Claude and Rhoda Houge to support us. We also have had several emails from many of you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

“There is a time for everything…..” and we pray our time in Kenya will be renewed as we all stand firm in our faith and live with Him Ablaze in our hearts.

Blessings to all of you in 2008 as we share the Christ Child with the World!

Some prayer requests:

1. Peace in Kenya.

2. All the missionaries and national church partners in Africa as they serve the LORD with gladness.

3. New missionary recruitment for Africa: those still not known, and two families on their way: Mike and Cindy Rodewald and three boys; Jake and Michelle Gillard and two small daughters.

1. Regional Business Manager – we need someone who understands finances, relationships, and has excellent management skills to “run” the African support office for missionaries and National churches out of Nairobi, Kenya.

Thanks for your prayers and support. Please keep in touch with us. Paul’s email: Paul.Mueller(atsymbol)LCMS.org. Joy’s email: Joy.Mueller(atsymbol)LCMS.org. Our snail mail address is P.O. Box 22, Karen, 00502, Kenya, E. AFRICA.

If you wish to support our ministry, please send your gifts to: LCMS World Mission, 1333 South Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO., 63122-7295, ATTN: Missionary Support and indicate the support is for us by name. Please inform us of your intentions so that we can thank you personally for your support.

If you are interested in supporting projects of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, please contact Joy for details. You may also visit their web site: http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=891.

If you are interested in supporting projects of LCMS World Mission, please contact Paul for details. You may also visit their web site: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=5878.

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