Tim and Gertrude Wambunya - Kenya |
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Prayer Letter December 2008
Dear Friends,
Our last Christmas in Kenya was in 1989. For the children, this will be their first Christmas ‘away from home’ and already it is proving a challenge. Three weeks ago, David our youngest son asked if we were going home for Christmas. I answered yes without much thought but soon realised the true meaning of his question when he asked me what airline we would be using. After I revised my answer, he then asked me when we would be getting the Christmas tree and whether Father Christmas knew where Kenya is... I’ll leave you to imagine the rest of the conversation.
Soon it will be twelve months since we arrived in Kenya. It has been a fulfilling but challenging year for all of us – ministry wise, socially, school wise and economically. Running a theological college is an awesome responsibility. I have never had to do so much work related international travel. I now accept that the older you get the harder it is to make friends or renew friendships. And I have had to learn a great deal of finance to cope with the economic challenges we face at work and on the home front.
Praise God for giving all of us good health and stamina to do the things we have had to do. Okari’s burns have healed reasonably well and he has adjusted to the huge scar that remains on his left thigh. After 8 months of getting to school at 0740hrs instead of 0730hrs the children are beginning to forget there was once a time in life when they begun school at 0900hrs.
I have now come to terms with my 0630hrs start and 2000hrs regular but undesirable finish.
We are hoping for a short break this Christmas to regain our stamina. As I said in our last newsletter, Gertrude and I haven’t had the opportunity to take a proper break since the mission partner’s conference early this year. It just hasn’t been possible with many urgent issues at work and overseas travel engagements as well as sorting out the home front.
Praise God for providing all our needs despite the difficult economic circumstances. Inflation has accelerated upwards - from 6% in January to approx 26% in December. The cost of ordinary food stuff has risen by an average of 50%. We are astounded to see staff and students at the college continue to work so cheerfully when we know that behind the smiles they can barely make ends meet. Our economic challenges as a family cannot compare to theirs.
We have a new test on the home front. With rising inflation and a difficult economic environment, the letting agent is planning on raising the rent and local utility rates are set to be revised even though we still have some dark nights and dry taps. The way it usually works here is that the agent complicates the tenant’s life leading to a move or acceptance of a new higher rent contract.
Praise God for Carlile College - our new students remain hardworking and yet very needy. Many have performed exceptionally well this semester. We have had to find fares for 20 students who would not otherwise have been able to travel home to join their families for Christmas. Those from Burundi and Congo have chosen not to travel back home. It is simply too expensive for them and there is a limit to how far our emergency fund can stretch. We are grateful to those who have supported this fund.
The Commission for Higher Education (CHE) finally sent their formal comments. The CHE recommendations will require lots of stamina and God’s grace to fulfil.
Future and Prayer points
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Give thanks for the way the Lord continues to sustain, provide and protect us. Pray for good health, stamina and provision of our needs
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Give thanks for those who continue to support us financially and in prayer. Pray for all our friends and church partnerships.
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Give thanks for our student body. Pray for their training and economic needs and for those who have pledged to donate to our bursary and emergency funds.
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Give thanks for our other mission partners - Colin Smith (UK), Tim Ryder (USA), Noel Clarke (AUS) and Emil Chandran (INDIA). Pray for the churches and individuals who support them
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Pray for the University status application process especially the next stage.
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Continue to pray for the challenges in our new home.
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Give thanks for the overseas visitors to the college.
Allow us to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Hope to write more frequently next year.
Yours Sincerely
Tim, Gertrude, Tim Jnr, Okari and David