They were all women. Some young, some old… all tired. Yet some were singing as they edged through the thick reeds to draw water from dirty Lake Victoria.

Marge, Sherry and I took 24 hours to stay at a tourist spot and sleep in a special tent, beside the Lake. Early morning featured the parade of ladies drawing water, hoping that the crocodiles had gone away for the holidays. Glad that the hippos had returned to the water after resting on shore during the night.

As the birds sang, the otters majestically swam by, and as the fishing boats struggled through the newly-arrived weeds that now clog the harbour, the ladies balanced the heavy, polluted loads on their heads, and made their way home.

One young girl wore a t-shirt with the slogan “I LOVE ME”. I thought, Someone else loves you, too… enough to send His Son to earth for you. To live, to die, and to invite you to join Him for eternity.

Help us pass on the news to her, and others, this Christmas Season. God bless you in the New Year, too.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

Wow. Only 12 minutes.

You see, we now have — for the first time in 11 months and 2 weeks — the internet at home. At Goibei!

Oh, I’ll miss the 1,213,562 potholes to avoid on the way to the cybercare. And the oppressive heat. And humidity. And the driving. Do you know the difference between a Kenyan taxi driver and a runaway cruise missile? The missile is safer to be near.

And it means we will be able to keep in touch more effectively. To tell you about our youth camp this week, with 62 people enjoying our beautiful grounds, great food, and a terrific program. Or about our Certificate class that is preparing to come January 4 …. including a lady from Masai country! Or about our new Diploma program that will kick off in a few weeks! Or the cattle raiders that have been taking local animals in the night!

Thanks for helping us help those around us. God bless you, especially as we go into 2008!

Ken & Marge MacGowan

One of the greatest tasks of a missionary is to empower, train, and equip our national colleagues. We have some dymanic Kenyan contacts, and they keep us hopping.

Maurice was concerned about girls dropping out of school, so he started a tailoring school, with over 30 students. He met a Canadian with fisheries experience, and initiated 80 fishponds in his area of Mumias! He got land from a political donation, and hopes to put up a worship centre and office complex for his projects! He is a treat.

Donald is a CREATE graduate. When I asked him to hand deliver invitations to our Diploma registration days in January, he got hold of a motorcycle, and has been aggressively distributing leaflets and letters. He, too, is refreshing.

Saul is an older pastor, but started a new church recently and it is filling up with young people! What a challenge!

Thanks for helping us help them to help Kenya. You know, as Churchill said, “GIVE US THE JOB AND WE’LL FINISH THE TOOLS…..”

God bless.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

Some noteworthy milestones:

* one year ago I suffered an attack of kidney stones, and was told I was out of my mind to leave the country (and to avoid bad roads if I went to Africa!!!). I arrived in January with two large stones in dangerous locations….and tests in July indicate there are no threatening stones… God is good.

* for the past 5 years, enrolment has gone down for our Certificate program to train teachers. We are now embarking on an upgraded, Diploma course, and we look forward to an overwhelming response.

* Sherry has just completed her third term in Africa, and is dong very well.

* while driving through the Masai Mara Game Park, we saw lions on both days. One was called Eena, so we just said……..are you ready…….”Hi, Eena!”

* the internet has been so slow, that a friend got through to Canada before us, using an abacus.

* the temperature plunged to a frigid 70 degrees the other morning.

* Tom Nimz, a dear friend, has just completed our new web-site, KenyaGuestHouse.com.

* we are just completing our 2nd retreat, and are delighted with the surplus, that will provide a welcome bonus to the 10 families who depend on us…..and you.

Some underwhelming millstones:
* a currency fluctuation lowered the Canadian dollar by 8%.
* a gang of 40 cattle rustlers has been coming through our area at night, robbing our colleague’s cow, among others.

Thanks for thinking of us. God be with you.

Ken & Marge MacGowan