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Narok, Kenya
AFRICA
January, 1990
It is times like these that we are thankful for the praying family of supporters we have in you. During the past several weeks, I have felt the need for your prayers more than ever; it has been a time of testing and of grief
In the past two months, we have been very encouraged by the growth in interest among the villages surrounding our home. The small Ntulele church in the plain below our house has grown to more than twenty adults in attendance.
In addition, a small group has met regularly for the past two months just a few
yards from our house in Ololchoke's village.
I asked the leaders of those two groups to meet and consider combining them into one church. We did meet and they agreed to begin having joint services in a central location. In addition, they decided to begin a Tuesday night Bible study hosted in the villages of various church members. We have now had three weekly studies.
After a long period of prayer for the conversion of Ololchoke to Christ, one day he
asked me to invite the leaders of the Oltiani Church of Christ to come and
preach in his village. I immediately took the news to them. With great rejoicing we planned a three-day campaign of preaching in all the villages of the Ntulele area, culminated by a night of preaching in Ololchoke's village. We were elated!
However, either Satan or God had other plans.
Two days before the campaign was to have begun our landlord, Moson Ololchoke, the head of our adopted Maasai family, the husband of three wives, father of fifteen children, our friend and the acknowledged leader of his Ildamat sub-tribe,
died.
Late at night he and six others were crushed when their matatu (a long-distance taxi) ran off the road into a deep ravine. Having grown close to him and his family this has also been a personal loss to us. Because of our prayer and hopes for Ololchoke's conversion, his death is felt as a blow to the Kingdom of God.
Though this is our third term of service in Africa, we still experience culture shock and struggle with aspects of life here. Circumstances violating our sense of
propriety or justice, which are beyond our control and for which there is no recourse,
stretch our faith and will to the Umit.
One recent event caused that kind of stretching. You have made it possible for
us to begin purchasing components for our house solar lighting system. We have been using kerosene lanterns for lighting. On a recent trip to Nairobi, I purchased $280 worth of copper electrical cable; it is extremely expensive here. I
stowed it in the Land Cruiser imder the back seat while I resumed shopping for light switches.
When I returned and began to imlock the car, my key would not go in the lock. Pulling the key back my heart sunk as I recognized the marks left by a screwdriver jammed into the lock. I looked into the car and saw a sickening empty space where the two spools of black and red electrical cable had been.
It is discouragiDg that old lessons must be re-learned at times, but we trust even more in our Lord rather than in our failing human abilities.
PRAYER TARGETS
Please pray for the family of Ololchoke. They want to follow Christ, but don't know how, yet. They have met together for teaching and worship the past two months. Pray for us and those in our neighboring villages as we seek strength
to recover from the blow of Ololchoke s death.
Pray for the Kingdom potential in our neighboring area and for us as we regroup and replan our strategy.
Pray for us and our missionary co-workers during and after the hoHday season. Our children, especially, feel the pain of separation
from home and their older brothers and sisters.
1/90
PefinilNo.2975
IndanapoSs, Indiana
mission services
editorial dept
^NOXVILLE
p 0 BOX 2427
tn 37901
ItilliliiillilniitniiillliiitI
MOORE
Box 229
Narok, Kenya
AFRICA
June 1990
bathe a little more frequently. Until now we would save up a ton of dirty clothes and take them
with us to wash when we went into Nairobi.
Praise the L#ord, the rains have started! Now we can wash the clothes whenever we like and
that time. We are in the process of surveying different Maasai sub-tribal areas to determine where the Lord might be directing us.
, PTL is thatMaasai the time for ourpermanent placement is drawing closer.toOur Christian Missionary Fellowship team members will meet inJune, and we expect be placed at
other than a Catholic mission hospital at Kilgoris. It is a very rough, undeveloped area. The roads are virtually impassable during the rainy season and extremely rough the rest ofthe year. The elevation varies from 8,500 to about 5,000 feet with much more rainfall than where we pres ently live. There are several large population pockets surrounding a very dense forest.
mate Byron Borden. As far as we could determine there are no missionaries in the whole area
About two months ago I made a 650 mile trip to the Siria sub-tribe on motorcycle with team
ized. We were welcomed warmly bythe area chiefs and political leaders.
Last ruonth I went on a survey trip to the Mau Escarpment^ a mountainous, high plateau area. This time I went by four-wheel-drive with four other team members. The two-day survey revealed an agriculturally progressive area 8,000 to 10,000 feet up which is virtually unevangelThe opportunities and invitations all over Maasailand are reallyoverwhelming. We need your prayer guidance as we try to sort through these opportunities. We finally participated in our first Maasai wedding; it was very interesting. The groom and
her shoes. Then he spewed buttermilk and honey-beer out of his mouth onto the grass and her
feet to give her his blessing.
best rnen "led" the bride from her father's village to her new home near us. As the bride left her father's hut he sprinkled green grass across the threshold ofthe gate and stuffed some ofit into
The father made a tent around her with his blanket (which the men wear as an outer gar ment). After giving his farewell and promisethat she was leavingwith his approval and bless ing, she ducked under the edge ofhis blanketand crossed the threshold to follow the groom.
Praise God for the baptism of this man. He was the driver of the vehicle in which our landlord was killed.
She was elaborately decorated in hand-made beaded jewelry and clothing. She carried a large
gourd of milk from her old home to take on the journey to the new one.
The groom was wearing a beaded goatskin cape and carried a gourd of honey-beer and a gourd of buttermilk from his father-in-law to be used in blessing the new home. Everyone in the wedding party decorated their bodies (especially their heads) by painting them with the tradi
tional red ocher.
I drove the wedding party down Melili mountain to our area of Ntulele. Outside the village, they got out of the Land Cruiser and the groom led the bride slowly into the gate and up to the
door of her new home.
The old women were careful to instruct the bride to walk around the right side of the bundle
of branches used to close the gate at night. This was to establish that she was the first wife-a position of honor. Should the husband marry other wives, they wiU enter the gate on the left.
The rest of the day was filled with feasting. When night came, we all crowded into the hut for hours of traditional singing. At that time the groom gave his wife the new name she would be
called by from then on. The name was blessed by the elders, and blessings from all around were given to the new couple: wishes for green grass, many cattle and children, and long lives.
PRAYER TARGETS: ^"
Sensitivity to God's will in choosing a permanent ministry location. God's blessing of grace to be diligent and able in language learning. Wisdom and patience in teaching Heidi onA Aaron in our home school. Protection from the fiery darts of the Evil One as he seeks to delay or distract us from our purpose and rob us of our peace in Jesus.
With all our love,
NonproflOrganzation
U.S. R)stage
ParmilNo. 2975
Incfanapolis, Indiana
MISSION SERVICES
EDITORIAL DEPT P 0 BOX 2427
KNOXVILLE
TN 37901
Ocfio
Narok, Kenya
AFRICA
August 1990
Dear Ones,
will especially miss the close relationships they formed at Ololchoke's village. God will
provide.
They have really enjoyed David and Marsha Van Wagenen's two girls who live in Nairobi. Hannah and Christy came out to Ntulele to spend a couple of days with us in
June.
have been assigned because they also were unable to find adequate housing.
We will be moving to or near the town of
Bissel located about an hour and a half from Nairobi toward the Tanzania border. Our
that increases our effective ministry time up-country! He takes care of the myriad
tasks that can consimie the time of the man
Sharlene Hoffmaster, will live near enough to us that we should be able to get together at least weekly for fellowship and study.
If you are able to look at a Kenya map, you will see the town oiNamanga, south of
Nairobi, near the Tanzania border. Further
in toward Nairobi is a town called
Heidi sjiA Aaron will feel absolutely abandoned, but I think the four kids will
Ng'atataek. Woods are at Ng'atataek with Hoffmasters nearby; Bissel is along the same
road.
whom He calls to "do a good work." James found two good houses in Bissel owned by brothers, but neither is willing to
rent to us. However, one of the brothers
We are aware that the time is short
works in Mombasa and said he might be interested in building us a house to rent. So, we are hoping that is the solution to the housing problem. We are praying that the Lord will simply show in His own time what He has provided for us, and we have peace in that. Our plan is to stay at Ntulele imtil housing is secured.
It's good to have our placement decided; to always have a feeling of being temporary
between now and September, but it would help us so much if someone could teach Heidi and Aaron and free me up for other responsibilities. I have already ordered the ABEKA Christian school curriculum, fifth grade, for the fall. We have enjoyed the ABEKA curriculum for five years now, and find it's very good for the primary school years. Anyone interested in helping us with this ministry should pray about it then write us for further details right away\
She is a committed believer and a very powerful intercessory prayer warrior. God certainly heard her prayers that night. James took Ole Ntari to Kijabe Mission Hospital because he had been at Narok for three days without any treatment. His
father went with us and stood at the foot of
James spent the day picking up and dehvering people from Oletukut to the various villages where arrangements have been made for teaching. Everyone is so excited about itespecially the men from Oletukut. It will be a busy weekend with some late nights around the fires.
Pray for our good friend and night watchman, Ole Ntari. When we got back from Nairobi, we heard he had been taken to the Narok hospital. We found him extremely lethargic, very weak, slurring his speech, and droolingin and out of consciousness. He decided to follow "the Jesus Way/' as
the Maasai call it. Maasai come to this
His good friend Peter Ole Kutengala, who taught him the gospel, noticed a fetish
bracelet on his arm when he was so sick and
cut off the bracelet for him. We prayed fervently for Ole Ntari, as did many other
believers in the area.
decision very cautiously. He has thought about it for a long time. He was struggHng
with the decision when he came down with a
After three days we were able to bring him home after a nearly miraculous recovery. When we arrived and his father saw the wonderful change, he again wept saying, "When we left him last Tuesday I thought he was dead!" It is very unusual to see a Maasai man cry.
Ole Ntari later told James, 'You have
least that's the best diagnosis the doctors could come up with, even though his blood test showed a negative result.
He was so glad to see James that he grabbed his hands and spat a blessing on him, the traditional Maasai way of blessing.
James was touched that his friend
done a very good thing in coming here. You brought us a New Way-the Jesus Way. We must turn from our old traditions and follow
Him now. I have made a commitment to
follow Jesus with my life. I will never turn back. I am following Jesus now!"
^The-Lord has-beeBr^^iQus4;o Ole Ntari. Ole Ntari is still weak, but gaining strength. He affirms his decision to follow Jesus. Pray for Ole Ntari. Satan never releases his prey willingly.
Well, I hear the car. James has returned
The family said when Ole Ntari was out of his head with pain and fever he called for James over and over. He kept singing
from the ftrst night's meetings; it's nearly midnight. We will tell you all about the campaign in our next newsletter.
of ours late one night. She refused to open the door to him, and the next morning when he was lucid again he told her, 'You are very lucky you did not open [the door] to me because I intended to kill you."
May the blessings of the Almighty cover you and give you Peace.
Lots of love,
Wanda Moore
6/90
Indlaiapolis, Indiana
KISSION
F a BOX
SERVICES
DEPT
TN 2427
EDITORIAL
KNDXVILLE
37901
November 1990
by James Moore
The past six months have been filled with opportunities to minister in the Name of Jesus. Our joy has in creased day by day as we have seen people, hungry for the gospel, gather for teaching. We experienced
the expanding of our vision for the Maasai as we watched Maasai evangelists preach and teach in their own villages. Our relationships with both team members and national Christians were enhanced by participation in the August Fellowship Course. More than 300 Maasai men, women, and children spent three days in praise and study together. It was joy and encouragement for James to spend time with teammate David Giles in teaching the Level 1 men's
James was thrilled to see the men's responses to tiie lesarea, it was good to participate in the monthly 7/dama^
sons he taught on "God's Teaching About Sin" in comparison with traditional Maasai views of sin. Although our prichurch leaders' fellowship to encourage them and to influence the tone and direction of some of their projects. They At Peter Kutengala's encouragement, he and James began
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co-teaching a weekly class for those of the Ntulele area desiring baptism. Excitement and interest increased as a resuit of an extended evangelistic campaign that began with a large weekend gathering of over 150 for non-stop preaching by eighteen evangelists from aU over Damat. We planned subsequent monthly evangelistic visits by leaders
from the stronger churches.
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Formal application has been made to the Ntulele Group Ranch Committee for acreage to build a church. We have a positive written reply-froiBr4fee Group Ranch Chairman. Pray for the successful granting of this petition.
Daily activities seem to be the the best way to build relationships. We have administered first aid to scores, taken dozens to the hospital, and grieved with them as they buried their loves ones. We just rushed to Olentari's village three weeks ago to see his five-year-old daughter die in her grandmother's arms. She was ill for only six hours; the diagnosis: meningitis. We have participated in the coming-out celebration of a mother two weeks after the birth of her new baby; assisted in "leading the brides" in two traditional marriages; attended a purification ceremony for Maasai men; learned how to kindle a traditional fire using the olpiron (fire stick); and many more very common
activities.
TODAY
by Wanda Moore
The above report was written by James on the 19th of October. The next morning he left on a four-day trip into the Loita Hills to meet church leaders in the ministry area of teammates Tim and Marcia Ross. Since housing had eluded us in Kajiado, we had agreed to be furlough replacements for the Rosses begin ning November 6, moving into their house at Entesekera, and continuing their ministry.
James never came home.
His motorcycle crashed a little over halfway there, and he died on impact of a broken neck. His body was
discovered by local Maasai who sent a runner to Tim's house to get help. It took team members until dawn of the following morning to get his body and cycle back into Narok, then they had the difficult task
of coming to tell me.
We buried James at the CMF training center at Ewaso Ng'iro near Narok, on Saturday morning, October 27. Many, many dear friends, Maasai from our area, and team members from all over Kenya came to help us lay his body to rest. Their comfort and encouragement meant more than we could ever tell them. The same is true of you, dear friends. Your telephone calls, cards, and telegrams were deeply appreciat ed. The twins and I were amazed at your immediate response in sending me our three children whom we left Stateside. They have been an immeasurable source of support to me. Thank you for your faithfulness, both in the past and the present. You are a great blessing to us and to the Kingdom.
TOMORROW
Heidi and Aaron and I will be coming home the end of November. We will be on reporting furlough status for six
months from the date of our arrival home from the field.
We will need you to maintain your support for that period of time in order to enable us to settle in and bring you a slide report to conclude our partnership in this work. I plan
to do this personally.
The schedule for my visit with you will be arranged by the CMF staff in Indianapolis. Those visits will begin sometime after the holidays.
Our address Stateside will be: Wanda Moore c/o Warren Heard
We can also be contacted through the CMFoffice in Indianapolis. I look forward to seeing you to share personally what the Lord is doing among the Maasai of Kenya. He is
I
James teaching.
Faithful and True. His purposes will be accomplished in the earth. I will close this report with the words of a song which James and I shared with many of you during the months before we left for Africa. It is
entitled "Faithful Men." We concluded the interment service at Ewaso Ng'iro with:
FAITHFUL MEN
We are thankful for the immediate and generous response of the Moores' friends, as we notified you of James' death and the needs of the family.
The children, Chris, April, and Tammy, will return to the U.S. in mid-November. Since there was not advance booking for the flights, their tickets, along with Mick Smith's,
totaled over $11,000.
Approximately $4,500 has been received toward that expense. If you still plan to send a
contribution for this purpose, would you kindly notify us? This will help our planning as we work through financial details. A response card is on the back page.
Maxisai bride.
I am enclosing
I can send
City, State, ZIP Make check payable to Christian Missionary Fellowship, P.O. Box 26306, Indianapolis, IN 46226-0306.
U/90
Indianapofis, Indiana
KIMOXVILLE
TN 37901
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