We all know how hard it is to build a good testimony and how easy it is to destroy one. The bible tells us that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. Recently we have seen two miraculous salvation decisions that were a direct result of a testimony.

Lenah began attending the church seven years ago, God worked on her heart and she trusted Christ, was baptized and began to grow in the Lord. She has faithfully served in the ministries of the church since her salvation. Her husband Joel did not want anything to do with the church, God or salvation. He was very clear that he had other priorities in life. The church prayed for his salvation while Lenah quietly went about life showing her husband just how much salvation changed her. It was with great joy that Joel finally received Christ and there was a great AMEN in church two weeks ago when he followed the Lord in Baptism.

Many are aware of the terrible election violence that engulfed Kenya last year and how it affected the Grace Bible Baptist Church. The church maintained an unspotted testimony in the most difficult times and the salvation of Bethany is a direct result of that testimony. Bethany's father is the local leader of the Mungiki sect that meted out the violence in our area in the aftermath of the election. He was directly responsible for arming them, directing them, feeding them and has the blood of many Kenyans on his hand. It was under his direction that an estimated mob of 500 people attacked our church building where 200 people had sought refuge. Their intentions was to burn the building down with the people inside. God miraculous spared our people when the Kenyan army arrived just as the torches were about to be thrown in the windows.

Bethany is very much aware of who her father is and what he does. She is also very much aware of where the church stands. She quietly began attending services a couple months ago and when her mother found out she was sharply rebuked. Bethany is 19 years old and humbly told her mother that she would continue attending church. She told her mother that of all the churches she had attended and all the youth she had associate with she had never met people who were so "different". She of course meant different in a good way. What a time of rejoicing we had when she got saved and we welcomed her into the church, the daughter of the man who was trying to kill many of us. What a God we serve! what a great reminder of the importance of a testimony!

Things in the Congo are going well. There have been a total 39 saved and there was 72 in church last Sunday. The men have begun to have some deep opposition from the "more established" churches, especially over the issue of baptism. Continue to pray for them as they serve in a very difficult place.

We are doing well as a family. We are trying to get all the loose ends tied up before we leave for furlough next month. The days are busy and at times a bit stressful but God is good to us. The kids went to MK Kamp last week. It is run by the Stamper family and they do a tremendous job ministering to the missionary kids of East Africa. Amanda won the trophy for saying the most Bible verses (her third time winning) and Timothy won the trophy for camper of the week. We sure were proud of them as we are of all our kids. We are blessed to have children who love God and love to serve God here in Kenya.