Dear Ones in Christ Jesus,

Our loving greetings from us all. I want to send you a news andprayer letter; many things have happened in our country since the last letter in January. The most awful and devastating was the bomb at the American Embassy in Nairobi on 7th August 1998 which caused so much damage, loss of life and many terrible injuries which are causing much suffering even at this time.

About 2 years ago we went to preach the Gospel at a secretarial college in the building which the bomb destroyed and about 20 students gave their lives to the Lord Jesus; 10 of them were killed in the bomb blast also the wife of a pastor who is a dear friend of mine and so I was asked to go to different places in the country to take the funeral services. That cost a lot of money for petrol for the long distances we had to go and to give a gift called 'pole' at each of the homes we went to. But at each funeral we saw many in tears receiving Christ as their personal Saviour - morel than 900 people in all. Since the bomb blast many Kenyans have realized that anything can happen anytime, anywhere and this has helped us with our soul-winning outreach. These funeral services were attended by many important people from all walks of life including Government officials and those from the private sector; we were so excited for the many souls that were surrendered to Christ - our joy is full and we are determined to move on and on. We would like to thank you most sincerely for your love, prayers and generosity towards the work of this ministry.

The work on the Nandi piece of land is going on well - we were able to fence it then plough and harrow. There is now a small mud and wattle house put up and a latrine has been constructed - flowing water is available at the bottom of the land. The girls have been able to stay there and have planted maize and beans and other crops are to follow. They are so happy with the piece of land and we do thank those who made it possible to purchase the land, have it fenced and ploughed and helped us get seeds. The price of firewood has gone so high at present that we are praying for the purchase of' 300 tree seedlings to plant at the bottom of this plot; they would be very quick growing trees and would provide us with firewood later on; the rainfall is usually good in this areas. We have also had to build a more permanent garage on our house at N'joro as so many cars are being stolen these days and we need a strong metal gate to put across the entrance - please do pray for these things.

The girls also help with the ministry and there have been many meetings at the other mud house (now clad with local bricks to help preserve it during the. heavy rains) . We have had a meeting with school heads and education officials for Rift Valley and Western Provinces as well as meeting church leaders; many schools have been visited. Joyce ( secretary of the Team) and Ebby ( one of my adopted daughters ) went to Tanzania to minister at a interdenominational Youth Camp in September; they have recently returned and they had a lovely time visiting and ministering in schools with a group of girls and a pastor from Uganda. Ebby is doing very well and the Lord is using her so much in her personal evangelism.

The latest news of our country is that it is experiencing a real difficult time economically. The teachers have been demanding a 200% increase in salaries but the government calls it ''a great joke" but has given them a 50% increase. The teachers are not satisfied and are still on strike. We are troubled for our daughter Abigail because she is supposed to sit for her Standard 8 examinations at the end of November. She is also waiting for an operation to unblock her nose - all doctors and specialists were called to Nairobi to help with the people who were injured in the bomb blast so her operation had to wait till they return. Gospel ministers are facing a lot of opposition these days. - at one Youth Rally a minister was shouted down - but we go on with our soul-winning ministry. Islamic teaching is being introduced into the schools curriculum so this is making things difficult.

We do thank you for your prayers and help and we do pray for you also.

Yours in Jesus,

Joseph and Jenny Luvisia, family and Outreach Team.

P.S. When I was in Kenya in March/April this year, Joseph asked my advice on the possibility of purchasing a 5 acre piece of land near to the Nandi Hills. I felt that it would be ideal to provide work for a number of the girls for whom he is responsible through formal adoption. Financial provision around this time made it possible for this proposed project to become a reality.

The second-hand van engine referred to in the News/Prayer letter of January 1998 arrived safely in March and I was able, with good local help, to fit this replacement engine and it is giving good service. I am planning to visit Joseph and his family again in February 1999 and this time will take a new windscreen for the van as an attempted break-in cracked the original screen - also I hope to include a new radiator in the same package! Other spare parts will be in my personal luggage and I shall be fitting these during the first week of my stay there followed by ministry of the Word of God in various churches in Western Kenya.

Robin Bough.