198A

''To Reach a Hidden People"

Courtney
Christian
Mission
FOR^VARDIN'C AGENTS: Rich &Mary Ann Icnks/ P.O. Box 2053/Satem, OR97308 /1503)585-0394
FIELO AlODRESS: Mike & Linda Coiirtne>' / P.O. Box 900 / Kilale, Kenya
''ol. 6, No. 1 June 19r4
The best news we have to report is the birth of
the church at Kasei! In January we had our first
six baptisms. The church elders, missionaries,
choir, and ministerial staff from the Kiwawa Chr
istian Church all came to take part in this im
portant event. The baptisms were performed in the
cattle watering trough at one of the boreholes,
which worked very well!
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the
name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be
forgiven. And you shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your
children and for all who are far off for all
whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:3S, 39
We are looking forward to having some special visitors in September. Rich and Mary Ann
Jenks, our forwarding agents from Salem, will be coming to Kenya, as will Tennis horley.
Tennis is the minister of the Willamina Christian Church, a member of our Board, and Lindafe
cousin. The purpose of their visit is twofold. Tirst of all, we hope to acquaint them
with the work in a very active way. -They will be involved in preaching, teaching in
Leadership Training sessions, and even hiking to remote villages on the mountains for ev
angelistic work. Their second purpose in visiting is for the upbuilding of the mission
ariesnot only us, but our co-workers as well. This past year we have been required to
deal with much tragedy and several difficult situations. We are looking forward to the
privilege of being ministered to by these servants of the Lord.
In addition to the work in the Kara Pokot area of northwestern Kenya, the Associated Chris
tian Churches of Kenya has also begun new work with the Samburu tribe in north-central
Kenya, and in the Kericho area with the Kipsigis tribe. Kericho is about 250 miles south
east of Kara Pokot, towards the capital
city of Nairobi. We have been privileged
to visit the work in Kericho four times
recently. The church there has had a
good start. They have 20 baptized be
lievers, and on one Sunday when we vis
ited, had an attendance of over 180. The
Kipsigis tribe is more "advanced" than
the Pokot, and we anticipate this con
gregation being able to provide their
own building, Christian Education mat
erials and songbooks, and minister's
salary. The church men in this highly
productive agricultural area have even
been considering a plan whereby they
can provide financial assistance to
their Pokot Christian brothers.
Laura and Trevor vrith some new friends...
m
%
COURTNEY CHRISTIAN MISSION
P. 0. BOX 2053
SALEM, OREGON 97308
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
He was born at night on the cold floor of a small mud hut
situated in the steep valley between Kaptolomo and Karakol
mountains. The traditional midwife delivered the male in
fant by the light of a smoky fire smouldering in the middle
of the hut. The hut was about seven feet in diameter, too
short to stand in, and topped by a rudely thatched roof
which showered down grass and dirt whenever a lizard ran
across it in pursuit of an insect. At the time of his birth
the midwife knew that everything was not right. It had been an easy birth.
The mother required only two cuts through a perineum scarred by her cir
cumcision performed three years previously. The boy was full-term and
plumpa good size for a Pokot baby. But he wouldn't breathe. She placed her mouth over
his and sucked, bringing up fluid and mucus trapped in the infant's throat. Then she be
gan blowing into his mouth, applying her own form of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Finally
the baby began to breathe on his own. But still something was wrong. He never cried. He
wouldn't suck. Shortly after daylight the father and grandmother began the long walk to
Kasei with the baby boy. He was his parents first child. On the way, Grandma tried to
feed him milk laced with bitter medicinal herbs from a small gourd.
I saw the baby at about three in the afternoon. He did not exhibit a Moro reflex,
and had a negative Babinski responseboth possible signs of neurological problems. He
had the look of a Mongoloid child. The grandmother, who was present at the birth, said
that he had not cried in the twelve hours since birth, nor would he take food. Bowel func
tion was normal, as I discovered while holding him on my lap. Grandmother described a nor
mal pregnancy and birth. There was no evidence of fetal distress or birth injury. As I
listened with a stethoscope, I could tell that his lungs were full of fluid. He was not
alert, and would occasionally lapse into mild seizures. We decided to make the 90-niinute
drive to Kiwawa, which has a well-equipped clinic. After arriving at Kiwawa, Diane, my
co-worker, tried many times to suction the fluid from the infant's lungsand each time
came up with the bitter milk that the grandmother had been feeding him. At first we
thought that maybe the tube was entering the baby's stomach rather than his trachea. After
several attempts by both of us, we began to suspect that this child might have a fistula
an openingbetween his trachea and esophagus. He was literally drowning in the very milk
that he needed to sustain life. Tracheo-esophageal fistual is a birth defect which can be
corrected surgically in the States, but certainly not in Kara Pokot.
We began the drive back to Kasei, arriving just as it became dark. We had treated the
baby with Ampicillin, and I tried again several times to suction the milk from his lungs.
Sometime during the night the father carried his baby son back to the mother, who was too
weak from the birth of her first child to withstand the long walk between the mountains to
Kasei.
LORD, -
Make
to
me sensitive
their hurts.
When I reach the point
where I have
'Adjusted'
so well
That I no longer weep with them
in their sorrow,
fear,
or frustration;
I have become
less of a servant.
Linda treating the sick at Kasei
Research/Horizons
0. Box 2^27
Knoxville, Tenn 37901
NON PROFIT ORG.
U'.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #505
SALEM, OREGON
mm
A
/5T
"To Reach a Hidden People"
Courtney
Christian
Mission
FORWARDING AGENTS: Rich &Mary Ann Jenks / P.O. Box 2053 / Salem, OR 97308 / (503) 585-039^-
FIELD ADDRESS: Mike &Linda Courtney / PO. Box 900 / Kitaie, Kenya
Vol. 6, No. 2
We had a busy summer. During the
Spring, the army was involved in
operations in Kara Pokot to appre
hend all of the illegal weapons.
The missionaries were required to
evacuate the area during that peri
od of time, but by the middle of
June we were back to work.
The spring and summer rains have
not materialized, and the people
are already facing hunger. One wo
man gave her hungry children pesti
cide-treated maize seed to eat, even
though she had been warned not to
do so. The children nearly died,
and the mother became unconscious.
Her feet slipped into the fire and
were severely burned. We want to
help our people through this time
of famine, but when two of our co-
workers approached a relief organi
zation for help, they were asked
how many of our people have died
no dead children, no help!
On one morning in July the termites
swarmed. Some of the people had
already prepared their termite hills
with traps to collect the termites
for eating, but others weren't pre
pared. We spent part of the morning
scooping up the winged insects so
the people could have them for
food. Linda has a great recipe for
oatmeal-termite cookies!
Laura and newborn Pokot twins
-
September 1984
^ A /
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M
Please, i_ord, neip tnese people to see your love
for them. Make us very sensitive to Your leading.
Strip us of everything in our lives that isn t
for your glory. Make us servantssimple tools
for Your work in Pokot. When we get bogged down,
lift us up. Give us times of spiritual refresh
ing. Help us keep a healthy perspective on this
work and our reasons for being here. Don't let
us become so involved in the urgent things that
we neglect the important. Create in us a desire,
a hunger, to do what we know is right and neces
sary for building Your Kingdom. Give us wisdom
in dealing with the people. Point out to us those
whom You have selected for leadership roles. We
thank You for the men, Lord--for the ones for whom
we have prayed and who are now coming to You--the
ones who will form the backbone of the church.
'^'3-
We have truly been passing through
deep waters this month. On the 11th,
Laura became ill. We thought at first
that it was the 2d-hour bug that our co-
workers had been sharing around. When
she didn't get better, we took her to see an American doctor who
works in a hospital south of Kitale. Her malaria smear was negative,
but he recommended that we give her the course of treatment anyway
because her liver and spleen were greatly enlarged and she was
spiking temperatures to 105^. She didn't improve, but became very
lethargic and at times disoriented. Her temperature returned to
normal within about five days, but she still seemed seriously ill to
us. On the 20th she was admitted to a Children's Hospital here in
Nairobi. She was dehydrated and severely anemic. She was given
intravenous fluids for two days, and her anemia continued to get
worse. During her eight days in the hospital her hemaglobin dropped
from 7.4 to 5.9. The normal level for a girl her age should be about
14. On the 27th she was transfused with my blood, which fortunately
matches hers.
Laura was discharged from the hospital on the 28th, and
now staying with Lew and Vida Cass in Nairobi so that we can
to the doctor for her frequent checkups. We plan to be here
two weeks, depending on what the doctors find. We feel very
fortunate in having an excellent pediatrician. One of the other
doctors who has been consulting on Laura's case is an American, a
specialist in tropical diseases who works in Pokot and Turkana, so
she is in very good hands.
I have been impressed with the quality of medical care Laura
b^een neceLv-ing She is much improved since the transfusion. Laura
has hemolytic anemia, which means that her red blood cells are being
destroyedbut we don't know why. She has had numerous blood tests,
her bone marrow has been checked, and her spleen was tapped for a
cell sample. From all of these tests we have been able to det-rmine
that she does not have mononucleosis, leukemia, tick bite fever,
kalazar, malaria, brucellosis, rheumatic fever, schistosomiasis,
typhoid fever, yellow fever, tuberculosis, kidney disease, parasitic
disease, and a number of other rare diseases,
waiting. If her hemaglobin
the transfusion), we will
was causing the anemia,
to return to the States
in
time
experienced an
teaching on a
We are gratef
Friday, Ai
igust 31,^1984
lairobi, Kenya
"Do not fear, for I have re
deemed you; I have called
you by name: you are Mine!
When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they
will not overflow you...
you are precious in My sight,
you are honored and I love
you...Do not fear for I am
with you." From Isaiah dS
we are
take her
about
has
We are now involved in
level continues to rise (it was 10 after
know that she is recovering from whatever
If it drops, it will probably be necessary
for further testing.
Mike and Trevor went back to Kitale yesterday,
a Leadership Training Conference this week. This
for the church at Kasei. In the past few weeks
increased acceptance by the people and a desire
Mike is involved
is a critical
we have
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larger scale than we have ever seen before.
ateful for your prayers on Laura's behalf, and will tr
Linda Courtney
to keep you posted.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
COURTNEY CHRISTIAN MISSION
P.p. Box 2053
Salem, Or. 97308
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit #505
Salem, Oregon
Research/Horizons
p. 0. Box 24-27
Knoxville, Tenn 37901
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
DEC 5 1984 /S6
VlNS\v.
"Jo Reach a Hidden People"
Courtney
Christian
Mission
FORWARDING AGENTS: Rich &Mary AnnJenks / P.O. Box 2053/ Salem, OR97308 / (503) 394-3958
FIELD ADDRESS: Mike &LindaCourlney / P.O. Box900 / Kitale, Kenya
Vol. 6, No. 3
M<!=iRY ANN JENKS
F"or-ujaircJi. ns- A ^ e n t.
Today is the day we leave
Kenya, and it has become a
much harder thing than I
ever imagined it would be.
We are anxious to see our
children after nearly a
month away, but on the
other hand, we have become
very attached to the people
here, both missionaries
and the Pokot. God has
blessed us with the privi
lege of going through some
very emotional times to
gether -- the times that
build the kinds of rela
tionships you hate to
sever. We Christians in Am
erica may have a very
strong committment to mis
sions and a desire for all
people to hear the Gospel, but those people are always "way off there"
somewhere and totally intangible to our senses. We see pictures and
may become familiar with their dress or customs, but we cannot touch
their lives and comprehend their personalities, feelings, and living
conditions 10,000 miles away like we were able to experience on this
trip.
One strong impression I had of the Pokot right away is their similar
ity of life to the Old Testament Jews, which revolves around a simple
meeting of basic necessities -- caring for their few stock, growing a
little maize (when growing conditions allow), grinding it with stones,
wearing skins, and being important to each other as a society. As we
spent time with them, it was easy to picture Jesus moving among them,
too, with compassion for their hardships and love for their individual
souls. The little children may be dirty and covered with flies, but
they freely come for hugs
and smiles; everyone
gives welcome with smiles
and handshakes, some very
exuberant! The people
sing Joyfully in church
meetings, happy to share
in song truths about
Jesus; and they are very
affectionate and accept
ing. We were able to
experience these Joys
with them, and it made me
want to be a part of them
in some way more than as
a Christian 10,000 miles
away. That is why it is
hard to leave. I thank
God for the privilege of
Mary Ann helped with immunizations being able to feel this
October !98d
Mary Ann talks to the uomen
way, and pray that somehow these memories we have will not ever fade
to the point of forgetting the individuality of each of these people,
and reverting to the vague concept of "masses."
I oird
mv
and oaarins for the
as it t^as i^ihen 1
and as V o u r-s a 1 ui a v ^
-for LJs a 1 X _
t tender
amon^ them
RICH JEirsIKS , Minister
Conoord Christian Church
--Rich preaching
As I lifted the fly swatter for
the 300th time in twenty minutes,
I again realized that living in
Kara Pokot is much different from
living in Salem, Oregon!--In fact
our whole month with Mike and
Linda has been "different."
I have begun to learn a new out
look on life from my time in
Kenya. I have found that there is
only one thing more dangerous
than a charging Cape Buffalo;
driving in Nairobi! Here in Kenya
a "real man" doesn't drink orange
soda (Fanta), and a gallon of ice
cream costs more than six steak
dinners. Virtually everything
from attitudes to accomodations
is different and unfamiliar.
No matter how much a missionary family prepares to live and work in a
culture like Kenya, they face dramatic changes and pressures which
bring about feelings of insecurity and helplessness. Perhaps working
through-these feelings while ministering to the people -is on.e of_-th_
greatest challenges a missionary faces.
Let me briefly share two other
short time we were in Pokot:
challenges which I experienced in the
(1) Preaching and teaching through an interpreter is a unique
experience and a challenge. On one occasion everything I
said was entrusted to two interpretors, Pokot and Swahili.
Another time I was invited to speak to an informal gathering
of Pokot men, but because. I had no interpreter, I could not
share the Gospel in an understandable way.
(2) Living with constant changes and an uncertain future affects
daily plans, disrupts schedules, and demands short rather
than long-range goals.
These and other challenges face our missionaries every day. The frus
tration and discouragement can be overcome by a strengthened relation
ship to Jesus, the prayers aiid encouragement of personal correspond
ence from home, and a visit whenever possible. Praise the Lord, who
is helping Mike and Linda be overcomers!
Mike does some final
teaching prior to
baptisms. 46 people
were baptized on this
day.
DENNISMORLEV, Minister
Miila-ininsi EHristian CHurohi
1 don't know if words can de
scribe the excitement I feel
after spending a month in
Kenya with Mike and Linda.
Seeing, firsthand, the work
they do has convinced me,
more than ever, that they are
people God is using in a
special way. Seeing them work
in two main areas led me to
the above conclusion.
The first area concerns the
mission team -- all the mis
sionaries working under the
A.C.C.K. banner. The Court-
neys, Sylvestres, Schrages,
and Tierneys are primarily
committed to evangelizing the
Pokot people. The clinics,
borehole work, feeding pro- ^
srams. and schools are only Handing out new school uniforms
used to facilitate evangelism. While Rich, Mary Ann, and I were there
the team re-evaluated and dropped several projects because they were
taking too much time away from evangelism and leadership training.
This team is a solid, committed group that is accomplishing great
things to the Lord's glory. They work well together and help each
other fulfill their various ministries.
The second area concerns Mike and Linda's primary ministry at Kasei.
What a Joy it wa^ for us to spend nine days there becoming acquainted
with the beautiful Pokot people and meeting our brothers and sisters
in Christ. Especially exciting was the opportunity to worship on two
consecutive Sundays with them. Th^ worship services are an expression
of their unreserved love for Jesus Christ. Their pure Joy is evident
in their singing, praying, and fellowship together.
Growth of the new Christians is a great concern of the Courtneys. The
men's leadership classes and ladies' meetings are a part of this
growth process. How well this works was shown at the communion service
following the baptisms. One of the women stood up and said, "Linda
told us to go and tell others about Jesus. We have and now we are
many!"
That, to me, is what missions is all about. Not only are people being
led to Christ; they are being encouraged and trained to lead others to
Him. Ninety-five baptisms in the last month show that the Gospel is
spreading among the Pokot at Kasei. Praise the Lord!
Mike and Linda deserve our continued support and our prayers
Lord uses them to accomplish His will among the Pokot.
Rich, Mary Ann and Dennis
portrayed for us the mean
ing of the word "servant"
during their time in Kenya
They taught classes, both
for the missionaries and
the Pokot people. They
preached. No Job was too
lowly for these servants
of the Lord. Rich and
Dennis built shelves and
benches for the church.
They even took their turns
at washing and drying
dishes, and washing cloth-
es--by hand I
Mi
as
..*7
'ti.
the
Daniel, Linda's medical
helper, immerses a be-
1i ever.
II
KASEI CHRISTIAN CHURCH
September 1984
In October, 46 more Christians were added
7?6D
RRAISE GOD- - -
Laura is home from
hospital and healthy
the
We have had 96 baptisms at
Kasei since August -- make
that 97. Laura was baptiz
ed October 21 I
RRAY ROR . . .
Us as we teach these new
Christians.
Food for the Pokot during
this time of hunger.
The safety of the Pokot
people. In October the Tur-
kana came and raided. They
stole several hundred head
of cattle and killed 11 men
'Yeah I got him, but I can't find the other end!'
COURTNEY CHRISTIAN MISSION
P. 0. Box 2053
Salem, OR 97308
Research/Horizons
P. 0. Box 24-2?
Knoxville, Tenn 37901
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit #505
Salem, Oregon