JournalEnd0207

We do not have electricity again tonight and we are thinking about purchasing a generator or a solar panel. It really wouldn't be too expensive.
We took that girl Irene to the doctor and he thinks it is just allergies! Hopefully the medicine he gave her will help. Everything takes longer here!
Well I better go. We are going to church at the school tomorrow. They have a service at 8 on Sundays. We will probably all be speaking!

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 -- Excerpts from Mark's e-mail to his parents

We do not have any classes on Friday so we have a little bit of time to work on the house and do some other things. The grammar class that Chris and I did yesterday went well.
   There is this girl named Ilean that has a bad eye problem and I think we are going to take her to Dr. Agua tomorrow to see if we can get her treated. Maybe it is just an infection or something that can be treated...
   We got some more pictures on the site... Tell me what else you would like to see.
   Did I tell you about the other day when we spoke at the chapel type thing they have here on Wednesdays? Chris and Nathan and I spoke and I just want to emphasize that I can't believe the way God is working in me and making me able to speak. I don't know why it is a surprise because he tells us that He will give us the words to speak. It is just amazing because it is not something that can be explained in the terms of who I am. Because I am truly not able, but it is something of who Christ is in me. Anyways I just wanted to highlight God and give Him the credit for working in this way in me. It is exciting! Thanks for your prayers and support.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 -- Excerpts from Mark's e-mail to his parents

Note from Mark's dad: This excerpt was Mark's response to a discussion I had shared with him. I'm including this because I hope it might encourage a deeper trust and dependence on God in you the way it has in me.

...I think it is true that sometimes we all base our self worth from man centered philosophy. I really think it is once again related to the fact that in Christ we find a different kind of fulfillment that is truly satisfying unlike self esteem. It is funny because sometimes Christians turn Christianity into a way of making people feel good about themselves when the bible is really about us savoring who God is. It is not about who we can be but about who God is. I guess some people might think that is discouraging but I think in experiencing this, we find true satisfaction. In gazing on God through Christ. So I guess what I think is do what ever you want to me and take whatever you want away including renown for ministry, I have the fountain and taking part in all He is in Christ Jesus is all I need, really it is forever more than anything I could ask or imagine.

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004 -- Excerpts from Mark's e-mail to his parents

We got our beds today, but the rest of the furniture is not ready until Thursday. Two of the teachers came over tonight and ate with us. That lady in Eldoret who everyone calls mom who used to work with YWAM gave us some spaghetti sauce and some spaghetti noodles. We had way too much so we invited Peter the CRE (Christian Religious Education) teacher and Mr. Swingali the physics teacher. We had electricity again tonight!
We start teaching form 1 and 2 CRE next week. We are going to have certain topics that we have to cover in each class we teach. It is weird how Kenya puts a CRE portion on the final exit exam for form 1 students. (form 1 is like 12th grade). And then we have our first youth rally a week from Saturday! It is all coming fast, but I know the Lord will work no matter what. I pray for you all and I love you a lot.