To our precious Partners and Friends -
We bring you greetings from our new home community of Mariposa, California - one of several mountain towns in the Sierra Nevada range, near Yosemite National Park in (roughly) the center of the state.
As anticipated, we are in a season of being “transplanted” - putting down new roots even as we process letting go of relationships, ministries, and work patterns that were so much a part of service in Kenya. We have been welcomed in our new church and community. Having family nearby is an additional blessing, and renewing relationships has been a joyful process, especially as COVID-19 restrictions are diminishing.
Even as we enjoy our homecoming, we are often surprised by “reverse culture shock” moments and have had to come to grips with new technology, pandemic after-effects, cultural expressions, generational issues, and political upheavals which are coloring our re-entry into a formerly familiar national landscape.
We are grateful for the years in an unfamiliar culture and country, and the opportunities we had to grow in our faith.
Our prayers are that we would not lose what we gained through those experiences:
o Increased trust in the Good Shepherd when the path is unclear
o Grace to live with less - possessions, status, and personal comforts
o Expanded capacity for compassion, and
o Greater willingness to see Jesus in others who are not like us - and may not even like us!
We are also thankful beyond words for your support during our 12 years of service in Kenya. Attendance at one of our presentations, a thoughtful email or Christmas card, a phone call or zoom chat or generous donation made at just the right time or in response to a plea for help, prayers and even some visits to Kenya - all greatly blessed us in ways that you (and we) will probably never fully appreciate until the books are opened in heaven. Please be assured of the inestimable and eternal value of your partnership with us, even if circumstances will not allow us to express this to you face-to-face. It is our sincere and fervent prayer that the Lord will shower His great favor upon you and your loved ones.
While we gratefully release you from commitments to fund our mission by the end of April, we will not officially retire from WGM until July 2022, so that we have time to share final thanks through mail and visits. Beyond our retirement date, we will continue to have a ministry account with WGM through which future donations can be made towards support of future needs, including opportunities to network or make short visits back to Tenwek to give missionaries there a break. We will cherish your continued friendship, communications, and prayers when you think of us.
In His love and fellowship
Steve and Alene
FYI: You are welcome to contribute to our ministry as well as
Tenwek Hospital’s ongoing projects and urgent needs via the links below:
www.wgm.org/project/tenwek-donate
www.wgm.org/project/tenwek-chaplaincy-scholarships
