I just got an e-mail from my "brother" Eliud (elly-ood) in Kenya. First off, some background for those that don't know: I went on a mission trip to Kenya this past summer. While there we had an interpreter assigned to us. I think God had a hand in it, because our interpreter ended up being Eliud, the most honest, hard-working, Christian guy I met over there, including some of the pastors! He has a wife and two little boys, and is trying to work his way through school to become a pastor. Since he's such a good, honest, caring person, I believe that the devil is trying to keep him from finishing. He's had one setback after another! Money isn't prevalent there, and he is struggling. It is common for the Africans to consider us rich (which we are compared to them! But that doesn't mean we have extra money to hand out, especially after paying for the airfare to get there!), and we were daily asked for money, over and over. This guy was with us a lot, and never once asked for anything but prayers! That impressed my friend and me, because every single other person we dealt with DID ask, and often more than once! He and I hit it off, almost like we knew each other. By the end of my stay there, we felt like we were brother and sister, and we still e-mail and call each other that. A couple weeks after I left, he was in a bus whose tire blew, and it careened into a wall---right near where he was sitting! His leg was deeply cut and broken, and he went through months with a cast and bandaging the cut, then therapy and time to get the leg working right again. His leg is doing pretty well now. While he was in the hospital, an American lady heard about him, and raised money for him for his schooling and medical bills (I'm not sure how their medical system works, so not sure about his bills for that). She was supposed to send that money long ago, and he started this school year on faith that she was sending the money. She didn't answer him for a long time, and now is saying she's not sure that he really does need the money, so is not sure she'll send it! It IS hard to get the money there where it is supposed to go. There is a lot of corruption there, and if money goes through the hands of too many people, there wouldn't be any left for Eliud! My firend that went with me last summer just got back from going again! She and another couple she went with set up a system while they were there, through which we can get money to it's intended receiver. So, I'm hoping we can talk this lady into sending it to me to get through, or telling her of the system so she can send it through to Eliud's school! Soooo, all this to say that this poor man truly needs our prayers! He needs to stay strong through all this, and be a good, honest, Godly man. And we need to pray for this lady to see that he DOES , truly need this money to get through school! Sorry this is so long, but it's a desperate need right now, and I wanted you to understand it all! Please join me in prayer for Eliud!
Here's a picture for those who haven't seen this. I'm on the far left, and Eliud is right next to me. Ava Rose, you can "adopt" him too if you want to! The other girl is my friend from college, and the two other men are pastors in that area.
Deena, praying here that all will work out - God is still in control and will make sure this godly man will continue with his studies.
Thankyou so much everyone! He is very strong in his walk with God, but it IS getting kind of discouraging and confusing for him. Your continued prayers are GREATLY appreciated!!!
I pray that the Lord will completely heal him and supply all his needs. I pray the body of Christ will function well on his behalf--that those the Lord is calling to send funds will do so with joy. I pray that if there is any way he and his family or church can creatively use what is around them to increase their funds that they will see the opportunities and find ways to maximize profits. (This reminds me of making soap with the beautiful African palm oil. I wonder if soap is plentiful in his region. Just a thought.) Anyway, I also pray that his faith will increase throughout this time of need. Maybe it would encourage him if you remind him your friends are still praying for him.
I honestly don't know what is available for him to do, exactly. He gets work as he can, to save money for school. There isn't a lot available, it's a very poor area! His wife works, but doesn't make much, and they have two little boys---I'm not sure how that's worked out. I didn't see any evidence of them having daycare or anything. Anyway, he has amazingly strong faith, a great lesson for me! He just isn't understanding why these things are happening, and why he can't seem to get through school and become a pastor, where he could be doing some good for others, as well as himself and his family! I will tell him that you all are continuing to pray for him! Thankyou so much!
I got an e-mail from Eliud this morning. First of all he said to tell you thankyou for praying for him! He found a job at the school, so he doesn't have to drive anywhere, since they live right there. It doesn't pay a whole lot, but it's a start on paying the bill from the first part of the school year when he thought the lady was sending him some money to cover it! Please keep praying for him! This was his specific request in this e-mail: "Pray for me to be obedient to Him, He acts when His children are faithful to Him."
Wow! Deena he sounds like a very strong man. Let him know we are thinking and praying for him. Wish there was a way you could get a hold of that lady to help him. That is so sad.
