We are long overdue to update you on our lives and ministry in Kenya. Here is a brief summary of what we've been up to in 2004:
The highlight of our holidays was having a dear friend, Polly Rooker, visit us from Nashville, Tennessee. She and Suzie enjoyed some marathon bird-watching expeditions across the country, and our whole family was blessed through Polly's humor and encouragement. On a sadder note, I assisted with the funeral of a Maasai friend, William Kutingala, following a fatal matatu (public transport) accident. William was 38 years old and left behind two widows and eight children. Please remember the Kutingala family in your prayers.
Suzie and I took up a new challenge this month when a vacancy at our girl's school led to our being asked to teach 8th Grade Health. Since this is Rebekah's grade, she was horrified at the thought of having her parents teach Health Class! Since the school had no curriculum to pass along, we set out to create one using Rosslyn Academy's library resources supplemented by Focus on the Family and internet resources. I think it is fair to say that this has been a rewarding time for all of us including the 45 students we've had split into two groups over two quarters. I have seen Dr. Suzie at her finest passionately explaining the multiple components of health and warning these youth on the dangers of tobacco & alcohol, depression & suicide, AIDS & other STD's, etc. Throughout the class, our goal has been to challenge students to live by the higher calling found in Scripture with Christian values and standards. (And Rebekah was amazed to discover that most of her classmates actually like her parents and the class!) Suzie also enjoyed attending the two-week medical conference sponsored every-other year by the CMDA (Christian Medical & Dental Association).
Now this was a month to remember! Seven brave souls from The Parkview Christian Church in Tinley Park, IL, ventured to Kenya to experience life and ministry in the Maasai bush. At the same time, seven additional medical visitors came to experience bush medicine in our Maasai clinics. Suzie and I had the pleasure of hosting this special group of 14 people in the first half of March. We arranged to have our other responsibilities covered so we could travel together. Everyone was flexible and hard-working making it a fruitful experience for all. The medical group found interesting new challenges in the clinics while the church group worked hard to help lay the foundation of a new church building at our bush home, Endoinyo Erinka. It was a joy to make new friends and this group stands out as one of the most industrious. It was also helpful for me to work on restoring my Chicago accent!
Over Spring Break, our family took the opportunity to fulfill a long-time dream of visiting South Africa. Traveling with the Radnich family, we spent a week in and around Cape Town enjoying this beautiful country at the southernmost tip of Africa. Spencer and Suzie made several bird-watching outings, while Gayle and I took the kids to science museums, aquariums, malls… and McDonalds! Rebekah & Lauren enjoyed having Spencer & Gayle's grandkids, Ryan & Alexandra, to experience the sights of South Africa. I believe the highlight for Lauren was swimming at Boulder Beach with penguins all around! Table Top Mountain, Cape Point, and Robbens Island were some of the major sites we visited.
June 2004 - June 2005
On June 4th, we are scheduled to land in Houston where we will stay with Suzie's mother and stepfather, Nelda & Robert Wilhite, as we recover from jetlag and report to several of our supporting churches in Houston. So, for a couple weeks, we may be reached at (713) 695-6614. You can also reach us through our transitional e-mail address: dsnyder10024@yahoo.com starting in June.
We appreciate your prayers as we travel across the US this summer sharing what we've seen God doing in the lives of people in Kenya, Afghanistan, & China.
From June 5th to July 4th, we will be in Texas (both Houston & San Antonio). Thereafter, our travels get serious!
North American Christian Convention (NACC) - Phoenix: July 5-9
CMF Furlough Retreat - Indianapolis: July 12-16
Chicago Visit: July 17-25.
Vancouver, WA: July 26-31
Winema Camp - Week of Missions: August 1-6
Choctaw, OK - Harmony Christian Church's missions fair: August 14 & 15
By mid-August, we will again be making Nashville, Tennessee, our furlough home.
Thank you for your prayers for our family as we make the international transition from Kenya to the USA once again.
Grateful for your partnership,
Dave for the Snyder Family
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