Greetings:

I have asked Denise to include a letter I received from a dear friend of mine who lives in Kenya.  Rev. Joseph Ochola Omolo is the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya which is a sister Church to our LCMS.  I believe the life and work that our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world helps us focus on what it means to be a follower of Christ and the mission He leads all His people to be engaged in.                                                                                                                 St. John’s has been given a bit of a setback on our mission and there are lessons to learn from it as we move forward engaged in the mission of the congregation again.  We sometimes see the mission of the Church through the filter of things, events and stuff of the world in which we live.  I implore you that as you read the letter from Kenya that you refocus what mission is from the viewpoint of a place on earth which goes about Christ’s work from a totally different environment.  As you put yourself in their midst you can understand that their dedication to the mission of Christ’s Church is just as exciting as ours is in our world.  Indeed may our Lord and God the Holy Spirit move you to see and be inspired to share your bounty with the Church Christ has in another setting and challenge.                                                                                                                            Be assured God has in mind and will bring the pastor here into your mission who will guide you in His work.  Be not discouraged as God’s got this, and will provide as He knows His mission here in you and through you.

Peace and blessings.  Pastor Rehborg

“Dear Gary and Joyce, brother and sister in the Lord’s vineyard,

It is so nice to hear from you and get to know that all of you are well. The year ended 2020 was a real crazy year with such deadly pandemic. It is something that will live in the minds of the people of this generation. We so much thank God none of our family members got the virus. So far all of us are well and safe under the Lord’s protection.

…One thing I wanted to share with you is about my vehicle. Due to bad roads caused by heavy rainfall the last two years, my vehicle needs real big repair (an engine overhaul—buying a new engine, substantial body works, gear box and in the suspension). It sounded crazy when the mechanic told the amount to for buying new engine and repairing all those. But when all is done it will be like having a new reconditioned vehicle which can serve again better for another three or more years. It is also true that, this a very big off road vehicle meant to manage in bad roads. According to the nature of my work, I have to visit people in their places, some of which have real bad roads or other places with no roads at all.

Children program of Hope for the Destitute (HFD) is going on very well. HFD school for our orphans and needy children is progressing so well. I always thank God that I am among the team God is using to change the lives of needy orphans in our country. We have managed to sink the borehole (water for the school children) and made some new desks following the Covid 19 requirements. We are now working on building the water tank tower and the plumber work. When this work is completed we will be able to get plenty of water for our children in school. I thank you people of God for your constant prayers and support for proclamation of the gospel in this part of Africa.

We have done some major repairs on the floors of the HFD school office, chapel and grade 7 and 8…What is so good for me with this is that, we did that cut of our sugarcane in the farm project. The money we got from there helped us to do that big repair. The farm project is very helpful for growing food crops for our orphans and widows, it is also helpful in the cultivating cash crop. It is made us pray for getting another tractor of 4WD that can help us do all kinds of farm, especially during the rainy season and working on the heavy soil…

…Ruth is still doing well with the busyness of chicken: she has goats, sheep and three cows. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support…

We look forward to seeing you and Joyce again, together with your children someday when we come back to USA.

Christ’s peace, brother and sister in the Lord

Joseph and Ruth”