Letter From the Meadow

July 2005

To the Praying Family of James & Heidi Roland

 

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

 

Dear Family,

 

We thank God for you who labor and pray with us in this adventure of life. Summer finds us busy with thesis writing, pastoral ministry, wedding attending, gardening, camping, swimming and planning for our move to Nyahururu, Kenya in January. Many of you have asked us about this adventure, so we decided to share more of the details so you could pray for us with specifics in mind. For a general outline of the work, see our website, www.cafezanzibar.org.

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To begin with, we want to extend our personal thanks again for all who helped send the shipping container to Nyahururu. It arrived there last month and the contents have been put to good use. The tools and welding equipment are being used constantly and much of the children’s clothing has gone to five Rwandan orphans now living in Nyahururu under Wachira’s care. These children are refugees of the genocide depicted in the 2005 movie Hotel Rwanda.

 

Please pray that our hearts would be prepared for the trials to come. Also pray for the staff and students at the new Bible college. While I was there last December, I met with a group of young pastors who will form the core of our student body. They told me that the Kenyan people have had their hopes destroyed so many times, it is difficult for them to believe that we will really come, so classes will not even be scheduled until they can declare “the teacher is here.?Pray that we will not damage their faith.

 

We will spend the first month or two in transition and preparation and then begin classes in February or March. We will hold regular terms from May to August and September to December. Daystar University, a large Christian school in Nairobi has agreed to partner with us and offer college credit through their institution.

 

We will be joined by Pastor Macharia who is a Kenyan national and will be assisting us in the teaching and administration. Macharia also recently graduated with a graduate degree and is currently serving the Hopi Africa Inland Church near Nyahururu. As we help them develop in the area of Christian thought, we will be dealing with issues of wealth and poverty. A common question among the students is “What does it mean that the U.S. is rich and Kenya is poor? Is this God’s doing, or man’s??This is challenging—if we want to love and understand these people, we must see things from their perspective. Also, if the African church is really following Christ, it must make a difference in the lives of people.

 

Another aspect of our ministry will be hospitality among our neighbors. African culture is very friendly and we hope to make our home warm and welcome—a genuine reflection of Christ’s unconditional love. We will document our experience as a “missionary family? and the relationships we build in a film journal. Hopefully it will bring glory to God by communicating His Story to a wider audience.

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Another part of our work will involve duties as an assistant English pastor at the Africa Inland Church in Nyahururu. The experiences I am currently gaining as an associate pastor at the Evangelical Free Church in Algona, IA have been precious and are preparing me to train pastors in Kenya. We thank God for these opportunities.

 

Please also pray for our upcoming July 21 interview with Warren Day of Africa Inland Mission. We are considering joining with a mission board for guidance, accountability and support.

 

Another concern is for our children’s adjustment to this uprooting and transplanting into a new home and culture so far from our families and friends. This is not an insurmountable hurdle, but we would appreciate your prayers for these little people in our care. We each have our passports up-to-date and an appointment at the Ames travel clinic in August for final vaccinations, medications and consultation. Flight plans are being negotiated by Heidi according to price and scheduling.

 

Pray that we would have time to do more reading about mission ministry and East African culture. Speaking of books, we are beginning to organize our household belongings into “store?and “jettison?categories—it feels good! We will take only our allowed flight baggage and purchase all other needed items in Kenya. Vehicles in Kenya are expensive, so we are planning to walk unless the Lord provides in a miraculous way.

 

Now that I am at the end of my degree requirements, pray that I may complete my thesis and defense and finish well. I plan to graduate from Trinity this Fall. If you are thinking about short-term mission trips, we would love to host you in 2006. We can organize teams devoted to agriculture, women & children’s ministry, medical/dental, college teaching or just friends who want to visit and experience Africa. Thank you for your prayers.

 

God’s love to all,

James, for Heidi, Sophia, Maria, Peter & William

 

Meadow Run, July 2005