Concordia Missions in Kenya

Blessed Epiphany

2012-01-06T02:09:00.000-08:00

We are well and give thanks for the blessing of this day. Today we commemorate the coming of the Magi to visit the Christ Child. Here again the Lord draws Gentiles from afar to see the Christ ever reminding us that it is God's work to bring us to him and create faith in the heart. Be blessed this Epiphany!

Matthias seems to like the garbage can in the pantry--thus he got a garbage can with a pop open lid (not this one) for his Christmas present--it holds his toys--not garbage!

Look who is 1

2011-12-20T01:55:00.000-08:00

It has been too long since I have added something--my apologies. Matthias turned one on the 15th! What a blessing. He loved his cake and his presents.

Brothers in the yard...

A Few Days to 11-11-11

2011-11-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

11-11-11. A date to remember for many. In the Rabe house it is Julianna's 6th birthday. We will spend the day in Kisumu. She wants to go to the Kenshop (a bakery!). Pastry here in Kenya lacks the French influence but Kenshop does their best.

The term is over half finished. We are looking forward to the December holiday. In the meantime it has been great to teach at ABC and Matongo training up men for the ministry. Please keep us in prayer as we are thankful for going on a week with everyone healthy! Matthias has been without a cold for 2 weeks!

Midterms and form 4s

2011-10-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

Mid-term break has come at Matongo. It came at a good time! We are now able to visit with a medical mercy group from the US who will be treating and dispensing medicines in Dago which is only a few Km from here. The Bible College is still going but we have mid-term break next week which will give me two weeks of half week breaks. ( I teach at Matongo Mon-Tue-Wed and Atemo Wed-Thu-Fri).

Keep the kids in prayer. Noah is dealing with a virus and he is getting the worst of it since he is the last to get it.

Please pray with us for the Form 4 (Seniors) at Ringa Secondary. We will have a prayer service for them on Sunday the 16th as they begin their KCSE national exams (like the US's SAT).

Almost a month

2011-09-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am in Nairobi again. It has almost been a month since I was here last. Today I have come to pick my son's passport! Talk about a process!

School is underway at Matongo and all the students have arrived. We are now entering week three and busy parsing verbs, surveying the Old Testament and studying the Gospels. This week ABC opens and will bring the business to full strength (5 courses) to teach.

We are also thankful for our visitor's safe arrival. Kathy Sweet from Redeemer Lutheran in Chico is with us for the month. She arrived and brought us a monsoon! They say here that we are blessed when visitors come and bring rain. Kathy will be with us this week, next week in Kisumu working with DCM and the School for the Mentally and Physically handicapped. The last week we will send her off on safari, visits with a deaconess and finally off to home.

Picking Tea in the Fields in Kisiiland and Kukus on the rooftop.

2011-08-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

While on our trip to Nairobi we went thorough the tea fields as mentioned below so here is one more photo and...this would never happen in the US...PETA would have a cow! Kukus on the rooftop on the way to market!

Kericho and Tea Country

2011-08-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

We were traveling to Nairobi to get our son's passport in order and we took pictures along the way. Here are a few photos of the tea country. The above photo is of the worker's homes. The other on the right is of the fields. This was a great "short cut."

Prep for one last exam

2011-08-03T02:05:00.000-07:00

Well, the Ringa Girl's are on holiday. Here they are studying for one last exam. The tent doubles for worship space on Sunday mornings. Lord willing we will be able to begin building some time in the future. Right now we have to be content with worshiping under a rented tent.

We too are on holiday. Stef prepares for the kids school at the end of August and I prepare for Matongo. The holiday is good to relax and prepare.

A Summer Photo

2011-07-26T03:20:00.000-07:00

Things are well. It is the holiday break for the Rabe family. The kids are on break from school and I am preparing for my courses in the fall term. Meanwhile we are enjoying a little less structure around the house and finding how much better a structured life is!

End of the Term

2011-07-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

It is the end of the term at Atemo Bible College. We finished Reformation History. Now it is prep time for August courses at Matongo. Meanwhile, a ONE MONTH BREAK! We are hoping to visit a few sights, take a little time to travel but we won't go to the Mara. (Stef and the Kids went while I was in the US and the roads were so good that they "baptized the side of the matatu" numerous times as they put their heads out the window.

I will be posting photos and sending out the newsletter in a few days.

Thank God for all of you...for your prayers and for enabling us to be here to serve.

The Big fish

2011-06-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well I did get to go fishing while on my great adventure in the US. Rev. Bunting landed the big one...10.5 lbs. He did not let us forget that he caught it all day long! It was a good day

Falls near Atemo

2011-06-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

A little photo of the waterfall near our home.

Looking forward to the travel home...soon

Mission Festival Portland at Redeemer Gresham

2011-06-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

What a two day event. It was a great joy to be with God's people at the Mission festival held in Gresham at Redeemer Lutheran Church sponsored by CLCC.

Rev. Dr. Quill was there to present on Friday and on Saturday had a great Law/Gospel sermon on the miraculous catch of fish which pointed us to Christ Jesus!

It was a great conference led by Gene White and Rev. Dan Freeman with CLCC to equip the laity for evangelism and affirmation. Indeed I forgot that I had gone to Concordia College Portland and seminary at St. Louis with Rev. Freeman. What a day to see brothers in the ministry!

It was a joy to be with another Rabe (the pastor of Redeemer, his wife is a Rabe--even though a shirt tale relative, nevertheless a Rabe!). Only three days until I head back to Africa. All in all what a great trip to the US to visit with God's people who support us in Kenya.

Please pray for the DT7 students who graduated on the 11th of June and will be ordained and installed soon!

Tomorrow is my last day of travel and one last visit before I head back to Kenya. I will be visiting with God's people in Milton, Washington.

Oh, it will be good to be home with family!

Inglewood, Cypress, Sonora, Sacramento

2011-06-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a fast furious trip up and down the coast of California. Holy Cross received me and treated me with a warm reception. It was great to stay with my aunt and uncle and see my cousins too!

It was great to once again see God's people at Good Shepherd Inglewood. They have a great organist! Lunch was awesome as well as the host and hostess!

Sonora welcomed me warmly to a great potluck--we don't have those much in Kenya. What a joy to share with God's people of Sonora all that we do in Kenya.

Lastly, I prepare to go to Town and Country Lutheran Church and Rancho Cordova this weekend. One thing is certain that in all the congregations that I have visited the LWML has truly been supportive--after all that is what they do--support missions!

I thank God for all our congregations, prayers and financial support--you allow us to serve.

L.A.

2011-05-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

It was a great visit with God's people at The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Inglewood. Great Law/Gospel sermon by Pr. Von Hindenberg and wonderful to receive Christ's gifts in the Divine Service. Fellowship with God's people was a joy as was brunch!

Chico

2011-05-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

It is a blessing to be with my home congregation in Chico, California. Tomorrow I will be presenting to the LWML zone rally. What a joy to be with these women who support the work of Christ's church!

Here a few photos while I am able to use the internet--

Rabe Family photo

Noah helping mud a home

Advert in Kisii

Big and little brother

Chico

2011-05-18T20:39:00.001-07:00

On my way to Chico. Will present on Saturday to the LWML Zone Rally, preach at the Divine Service at Redeemer on Sunday. It is a blessing to be at my home congregation!

Trip

2011-05-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

No, I am not nor have I ever been to Spain. Someone hacked into my yahoo email and my contacts sending an email saying I need 120,000 euros to pay a hotel bill. This is a scam!

So sorry for the email if you have received it. I have a new email account and will sent it to you if you contact me via the comments on the blog.

I am in the states now and will be visiting congregations in California from May 21st through June 5th, St. Louis and Washingtion. Will keep you posted.

Portland

2011-05-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it has bee a long, long time since I posted last. Today I arrived in Portland after 30 hours of travel that began in Atemo Sunday afternoon. It is good to be home for a little while to visit our supporting congregations. But, it is hard to be away from family for five weeks.

Over the next few weeks I will be in California, Oregon, Missouri and then back to Kenya. Please keep Stefanie and the kids in your prayers and me too as I travel a great deal over the next five weeks.

Peace in Jesus!

Photos of the Kids

2011-04-01T00:38:00.000-07:00

Since some of you have not been able to access the links to the photos here are some of the kids. We are all well, healthy after a week of 'colds' and thankful for good health. The term is over at ABC and still going at Matongo. God is good all the time, all the time God is good and that is his nature.

Ring around the rosy...

2011-03-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

Although this picture was about two months ago it captures how the kids enjoy their time in Kenya.

Finals at ABC ended this week and now I am only teaching at Matongo. Now I can focus more time on learning Luo and Kiswahili and the PHd.

One Happy Baby

2011-03-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Matthias

I have been a little slack with the blog. The rains have come and it is difficult to get a signal at Atemo. So here is a little smile from a little Rabe.

mid Term break

2011-03-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

We are at mid term break now at Matongo. This last weekend I spent time at Gisage with the assistant principal of ABC and some of our students. It was a joy to gather around the Word and Sacrament. This congregation, although they are building a new building, has not had the sacrament in many months. They are also delighted because as a parish they now have a pastor who was just ordained last week.

I have also uploaded photos.

Are You Lost?

2011-02-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

"Are you lost?" You might have been wondering why I have so few entries on the blog. Well, internet is slow here in the hills of Atemo and the coursework has been heavy (18 hours) of teaching each week. But it is a joy. In the midst of this I am teaching 16 students at Matongo and 27 at Atemo Bible College. I have visited Transmara and supervising an intern student at the local congregation in Dago. During the last few weeks the students at Ringa Girls asked me, "Pastor, are you lost?" A strange phrase that I have finally got after being here for 4 months. It means, "where have you been?" It was good to hear that they missed their pastor who has had to have the evangelist fill in while he was in Dago and Transmara.

Our time here has truly been a joy. Last week we also met a few people from the LCMS who have been here for a hymnal conference at Matongo. Rev. Dr. William Schumacher from the St. Louis Seminary, a Deaconess working on the Hymnal project in Kenya and a few others. We also have Pastor Charlie Froh and his wife Jan at Matongo. Pr. Froh has been entertaining the students in the afternoon.

All is well in Atemo and we will do our best not to make you ask, "Are you lost?"

Visit to Transmara

2011-02-17T09:37:00.001-08:00

It was a good weekend to visit one of the congregations in the ELCK. I traveled with the principal, deputy principal and four students from Atemo Bible College to the Transmara area. We visited a congregation in Isokon, Kenya. It was a mere 51/2 hour drive. Two hours on “good road” and 3 ½ on rocky, rutted and potholed road. Indeed it was a joy to visit with this Massai congregation which is home to one of our evangelists and first year students at Matongo.

We were treated with the usual welcome meal and spend the observing their childrens program. I spent the night in the home of the congregational leader. They were truly welcoming. Sunday morning service was to start at 10am and about 10 before 10am one of the students wanted to take us to the overlook to the Mara. It was truly beautiful to see the Mara from above. So needless to say, the service began at 10:30ish after we arrived. We had hoped to start the service early (ha, ha) so that we could depart soon and arrive home before dark. Service, though, was three hours and by the time we ate and visited the home of our evangelist in training we departed at 3pm. Overall it was a great trip to visit with God’s people in Isokon and to preach God’s Word of Law and Gospel pointing the Christians to Christ Jesus.

Visit to Transmara

2011-02-17T09:36:00.003-08:00

We were treated with the usual welcome meal and spend the observing their children’s program. I spent the night in the home of the congregational leader. They were truly welcoming. Sunday morning service was to start at 10am and about 10 before 10am one of the students wanted to take us to the overlook to the Mara. It was truly beautiful to see the Mara from above. So needless to say, the service began at 10:30ish after we arrived. We had hoped to start the service early (ha, ha) so that we could depart soon and arrive home before dark. Service, though, was three hours and by the time we ate and visited the home of our evangelist in training we departed at 3pm. Overall it was a great trip to visit with God’s people in Isokon and to preach God’s Word of Law and Gospel pointing the Christians to Christ Jesus.

School in full swing

2011-01-25T11:08:00.000-08:00

School is in full swing at ABC and Matongo. It has been great to teach the various courses and equip these men to serve in the harvest.

School is in full swing in the Rabe house too. Although Matthias likes to interrupt Stefanie is hard at work teaching math, reading and all the other courses. Gabby and Noah are turning out to be great readers and Julianna is following.

This last week we had the joy of visiting with a group from the US who were here for a medical mission trip. It was a great opportunity to visit with friends from the US and see so many helped (300 per day) at the medical clinic north of Kisumu.

A New School Year

2011-01-18T05:18:00.001-08:00

It has been a week of beginnings and preparation. January 11^th began the term at Atemo Bible College. We are now in the midst of studying the book of Acts and Early Church History up to the Reformation. Matongo began classes today and I begin teaching tomorrow (Wednesday January 19^th). I will be teaching hermeneutics, Worship, New Testament Survey and New Testament Theology. It is great to be getting underway with the New Year at both schools.

The children are doing well and back into the swing of school with a few adjustments as we work around Matthias’ schedule. This weekend we are looking forward to going to Kisumu to see Pastor Meeker, Deaconess Lorna and medical group that they are hosting for a medical clinic.

This day we also give thanks for the faithful witness of Peter. Today is the day in the church year that we remember his faithful confession of Jesus as the Christ. May we too be faithful and build our faith upon the solid rock of our Lord Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for our sins!

Two photos of the Rabe gubber

2011-01-04T02:05:00.000-08:00

We are doing great and enjoying the New Year. School begins for the Rabe kids and for most of Kenya as well.

New Photos for New Year

2011-01-04T02:01:00.000-08:00

I have posted new photos on the picasa account. Hope you all are having a great New Year!

Christmas and New Years in Kenya

2010-12-29T04:57:00.000-08:00

It has been a great Christmas in Kenya. Certainly is different being half way around the world from "home." We celebrated Christmas with the gift of little Matthias around our little "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree--thanks to Knakumatt. Service was at 6am here at the Mission Station. I preached and was blessed to baptize 5 babies. Then we went to Ringa for service at 10am. There we had a small but faithful group that has been coming when the Girl's School is out of session. The service is in Luo and the evangelist that works with me translates my sermon. We had "coffee hour" with a Kenyan tradition for Christmas--chapati and chai.

This week is a time of rest before the New Year. Many will go to the church in Atemo and stay there all night singing hymns and with Bible study in the late evening. Early New Year's morning will be worship at 6am.

In the meantime we are enjoying the down time. The kids have a break from home school and I am busy preparing for my lessons that begin in mid-January.

We are so thankful for all who have been supporting us with their prayers and financial commitments. May God bless you!

A blessed Christmastide and New Year from the Rabes!

Rabe Baby

2010-12-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

He has finally arrived--an Advent gift of God. Matthias David Rabe at 3:20 pm at 7.9 pounds. Mamma and baby are well and resting. We will head for home (Atemo) tomorrow. We give thanks to God for this wonderful gift, a healthy baby and a safe delivery. God has been gracious in carrying the baby and Stefanie through it all. Sunday will be a great day as Matthias is welcomed into God's Kingdom through the waters of Holy Baptism, adopted by God and regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

Synod

2010-12-10T00:46:00.000-08:00

It was a joyous event over three days. We gathered from our various congregations in the Parish to hear the word and teachings from the Bible. The topic was the Coming of Christ and many pastors taught those who had gathered. In total we had over 1000 on Sunday and around 800 Friday and Saturday. It was a joy to preach at the Divine Service on Sunday and for many this was the one time a year they were able to have the Sacrament.

Thanksgiving Day

2010-11-26T03:40:00.000-08:00

Well they don't have turkeys so we had to settle for kuku. Noah wanted stuffing or as some call it dressing so we made our own from brown bread as they call it, oil and spices. In a couple of hours we will stuff our kuku (Chicken) and put it in our European size oven made in Italy. The appliances are small but Stef has made out well with making banana bread muffins (cakes they call them here). We just have to remember that everything cooks faster here since we are about between 6,000-7000 ft above sea level.

Earlier we we went for a walk of about 3 miles. Stef is a little warn out. I think she want the baby to come soon! She managed well and so did the kids. We walked around the village and around to a local congregation that is on the other side of a few fields. Women were doing their wash in the river and one little boy was taking his "Sunday" bath in his birthday suit. It is a warm day here as the rains are becoming less and less. It has only rained twice in the last week and a half. Summer is approaching and it will be quite warm and no rain until March. Indeed not as grueling as N. California!

All is well as we give thanks for God's great gift of life and salvation through Jesus' Christ. A free gift received by faith.

New Photos on Picasa

2010-11-18T04:27:00.000-08:00

I uploaded a few photos on Picasa about life here in Kenya. One is the Ringa Girl's High School, the falls near the Atemo Bible College and Julianna's Birthday Pinata.

http://picasaweb.google.com/revrabe/ConcordiaMissionsInKenya02?authkey=Gv1sRgCO6H2rj_9pWWPA&feat=directlink

Chicken Tonight

2010-11-18T04:21:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back someone gave us a chicken as thanks. Being the city boy that I am I did not know how to prepare the chicken. So, they showed me and helped me.

Everyone is well. Stef is counting the days until the baby comes. The children are enjoying school and looking forward to little brother.

A Trip to a Rural Hospital

2010-11-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

I never cease to be amazed when I go to a rural hospital to see the conditions. The thought kept going through my mind "don't get sick here" or "will I get sick here?" I went with a friend who needed to take someone to the hospital for a test and x-ray. Surprisingly it took less time than a hospital here to get the services done but the conditions are meager. The rural hospitals make many of our rural hospitals look like "John Hopkins." I did meet two Japanese women who were working with the hospital. They were the equivalent to our "peace corps." Between us three we were the only mzungus there. Thankfully there are these hospitals and indeed it is a blessing that many of these hospitals can operate due to support from countries such as the US and Japan so that medical supplies are available. Only today the dispensary was out of meds so we had to go off property to a local pharmacy.

Prayer Services

2010-11-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had our last prayer services for the primary schools. We visited two schools one only a few kilometers from Atemo and the other about 10 km away. It is so amazing to see these students and the conditions that are so different than the states. Classrooms usually have anywhere from 30 to 50 students in a room the size the average living room in the U.S. Usually there are three students to a desk which is wide enough for two students and are simple wooden benches. Yet they work hard and do their best even though the conditions are not the best.

It was humbling to go to these public schools which are sponsored by the ELCK and pray for these students as they take their exams. The discussions with the Kenyans about how the U.S. public schools and these here in regard to being able to pray for the students often makes them wonder about the future of the U.S.

The Day of Preparation

2010-11-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday. We are ahead of most of you who will read this blog. It is Saturday night and tomorrow will be the Lord's Day. It is a joy to serve here in Kenya as a teacher and as chaplain to 350 girls at Ringa High School. The senior class has one more week of testing to determine whether they will go onto University or vocational training. Tomorrow is the day of Worship to receive His gifts in the Divine Service in Word and Sacrament. Tomorrow we will commemorate All Saints Day remembering those faithful who have gone before us in the faith. There are many that come to my mind of those who I had served for the last 9 1/2 years in Oroville, California and are now with the Lord. But tomorrow we celebrate the foretaste of the feast to come. What a joyous day to give us strength from the assaults of the the flesh, the world and the evil one. But our Lord is greater...greater than our sin and the one who roars like a lion. Our Lord has is the Victor and in Him we rest in true peace.

Thank God for those who support us in Mission

2010-11-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

We thank God for those who are supporting us in mission. It is humbling to receive your continued financial support, prayers and words of encouragement. We have only been here a month and a half and it truly has been a blessing to serve God's people in western Kenya. I have begun to teach at the Bible college and serve as chaplain at the Girl's high school. Indeed so much has happened in the last few months and now we begin to settle down to work and serve in this our new vocation. Truly it has been a joy and blessing to us to serve.

We continue to keep you in our daily prayers as you serve in your vocation where God has placed you whether it be in Washington, Minnesota or California. Again we thank God for you and continue to thank God for your partnership in the Gospel.

Reformation Week

2010-11-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the festival of the Reformation at Ringa Girls with a new Altar, Pulpit and Altar Cloths. The hall now looks more like a church. Ev. Fredrick who has been assigned to work with me translated the sermon into Luo. We will soon begin to have a Luo and an English service. The congregants mostly speak Luo and prefer it to English so we will soon begin a service for them prior to the English service for the Girls.

Atemo was a blessing this week as we continued our study of the Small and Large Catechism of Luther. Working through the Creed and the Lord's Prayer brought many practical and theological questions. I also think they are getting used to my "accent." We are all well and healthy. Stefanie had a good check-up at the doctor in Kisumu and we are thankful for continued health for the baby and the children.

2010-10-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

The month has already gone by and the festival of the Reformation is upon us. What a joy to hear the Good News that salvation is a free gift of God!

I have sent out the newsletter to those who I have their email. If you would like to have a copy emailed to you please send me a note indicating you would like me to send it to you. You may do so at markarabe@yahoo.com.

A blessed Reformation!

Prayer Service at Atemo Secondary

2010-10-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a prayer service of encouragement for the Secondary Students at Atemo School. It is a school supported by the ELCK. I was asked to preach and have words of encouragement for the students (form 4 or Seniors in High School) who will take their KCSP exam. It is like the SAT in the states. It lasts three weeks and they do one portion at a time. The service was like a baccalaureate service for the students but also a time of encouragement for them as they take their exams. For those in the states it might be hard to sit through, on hard metal chairs for 3.5 hours--my sermon I think was the shortest part. Last Sunday we were at Ringa for a similar event. All in all it was a blessing to encourage the students as they spend the next three weeks taking a test that will determine their future, University, Vocational school or ???

Picasa Photostream

2010-10-16T06:35:00.003-07:00

We have added to our blog by adding the Picasa photostream. Some have asked us to add more photos but since the internet is extremely slow out here in the bush we will add more photos when we head into Kisumu about once a week. So we will add more photos on our Picasa account.

The End of the First Week

2010-10-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well today was the end of the first week of teaching at Atemo Bible College. The class is great we are studying the Small Catechism and today we focused our sights on Law and Gospel. I chose selections from the Apology and the Formula of Concord. It was a lively discussion especially when we discussed the freedom we have in the Gospel. Amazing it is how much we want to always want to go back to following the Law.

Pay Pal

2010-10-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

Thanks to our home congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chico, California we now have a paypal account for those who want to send us financial support in this form. We are on Redeemer's website at: www.redeemerchico.org

Our Home

2010-10-13T02:35:00.000-07:00

We have a beautiful little home in Atemo. The grounds are lush and plenty of places for the kids to play--and lots of kids from the village to play with. Gabby says it is better than our old home because of all the kids.

Wash Day

2010-10-13T02:33:00.000-07:00

The girls helped mom on wash day. They thought it was great but we will see how long that lasts.

Atemo Bible College

2010-10-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

Today was my first "official" day of teaching at Atemo Bible College (ABC). It was great as we examined the Commandments and connected them with the New Testament Scriptures. Yesterday I went to meet with the Principal and meet the students. The principal then had me introduce myself and then give a little introduction for the next hour and a half.

Overall it has been great as we study the small catechism together and God's Word. There are 29 in the class. They are studying to be evangelists in the ELCK and will be at Atemo for the next 2 years. Many are married and have come to Atemo to study and reside at the school. I will be teaching twice a week at the school and my schedule at Matongo and Ringa Girls School will come soon.

Home

2010-10-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

We now are settled in Atemo. Gabriella says it is better than our home in Oroville. (I think it is the yard and the bunkbed). We are in a beautiful compound with a number of other houses and a wide open grass area. Photo will follow. The internet is a little more difficult out here and makes uploading challenge

We have a vehicle!

2010-10-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

We thank God that we now have a vehicle. Noah, Gabby and Julianna sang in chorus "we have a car, we have a car" for about 10 minutes when I drove it to the guest house. Tomorrow--Wednesday-- we head west to Atemo. Now we will begin to settle in Atemo and get things in order for our house. I will begin teaching next week. Please keep our travels in your prayers as we head west.

First day of School--Last Week

2010-09-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

Last week the Kids started school--at the Nairobi Rabe House of Wisdom. I thought you might enjoy a photo of the kids for their first day of school. We will probably be in Nairobi for another week while housing and a vehicle are sorted out. Things work pole pole here.

Springs of Life

2010-09-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

What an experience doing the liturgy in Swahili. Pastor Meeker served another congregation and left me to preach and administer the sacraments at Springs of Life. I had help though. The kids once again were able to go to Sunday School with the children of Springs of Life. Noah "wowed" them with reciting the Old Testament books of the bible. They clapped and I think he was actually embarrassed. Thursday we head west to Kisumu. Today we hope to have a vehicle secured. In all this we have learned that things go much more slowly and the joy of waiting on the Lord.

In Nairobi

2010-09-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

We made it! When we first tried to fly out on the 14th we were turned away since we only had a one-way ticket. The 15th we tried it again. So here we are! We are staying in the Lutheran Guest House--a place I have stayed at before with the groups I have led on short term trips before. We will be here until the 2nd when we head west to Atemo about an hour and a half from Kisumu.

This last Sunday I preached at Springs of Life in Kibera. Bishop Obare presided over the Liturgy. We were received with a warm welcome. I will again preach at Springs of Life on Sunday and Pastor Meeker will preach at a mission congregation started by Springs of Life. We then will be heading west on Saturday.

Stef and the Kids started school yesterday, the 21st and are now in a bit of a routine.

We thank God for His hand of protection.

A Great Day

2010-09-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

What a great day. It started with attending the Divine Service at Redeemer Lutheran Church--LCMS in Gresham, Oregon. Sermon was an awesome Law/Gospel sermon preaching Christ and Him Crucified. The afternoon was wonderful to visit with friends and family for a barbecue for one last visit with them before we depart on Tuesday. Now I can stay up late and work on finishing my one last paper before we depart for Kenya.

Bags, Bags and More Bags!

2010-09-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

We mainly spent the day yesterday rearranging bags so that they all would fit what we want to fit in them. Fortunately all the things we want to take will actually go in the bags we can take. Stef is a trooper spending the day doing the hard work of rearranging while I spent the day working on my paper. Four days to departure...hard to believe.

Milton--Beautiful Savior

2010-09-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Well we arrived much too close for my comfort. It was almost like Christmas Eve at Calvary in Oroville--10 minutes before service. We got lost but we arrived 10 minutes before service. The pastor was kind as I was anxious about arriving so close to the service time.

What a joy to worship in the Divine Service with God's people at Beautiful Savior in Milton. We were humbled by the reception of God's people, Pastor and Vicar. It was humbling to preach the Word of God and to receive God's gifts in the Divine Service. During the Bible Study hour we were able to present where God has called us to serve in Kenya for the years ahead. We are thankful for God's travel mercies from Portland and back. I have not kept track of all the miles we have gone in the last month but I know it has been close to 3,000 miles. Thank you Lord for the provision of safety.

This last week I will finish my last class for my PhD and we will pack and prepare for departing on the 14th. Time has moved so fast. Please pray for our sanity the next week. But in all things we are thankful for God's hand of provision and care for us during these last few weeks.

Oregon Rain

2010-09-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Only in Oregon could there be rain and cold weather in the 50's on the last day of August and first day of September. They say it is why it is so green in Oregon--but all I see are brown lawns.

It truly is a blessing to stay in the house I grew up in before we depart for Kenya. The kids have some stability and we can pack and repack our suitcases to make sure we are within weight. (2 each at 50 pounds max).

Less then two weeks--time is moving fast.

Holy Cross--Albany, Oregon

2010-08-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

What a joy to be with God's people at Holy Cross Lutheran in Albany, Oregon. It was a blessing to worship in the Divine Service and receive God's gifts and an honor to preach God's Word. Pastor Ley and his congregation received us well. We thank God for their support.

While in Albany we were also blessed to see some friends from Oroville enjoying a meal together at a local eating establishment.

Home away from home

2010-08-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

We have now 'landed' in Portland for the last weeks before we depart for Kenya. Still much to do. Stef plans on pre-packing and weighing bags so that we can maximize books for home schooling in our baggage. I, on the other hand, have one class left to complete for my PhD--then the dissertation.

Sunday (29th) we will be in Albany to visit a congregation and the following Sunday (first Sunday in Sept.) we will be in Milton, Washington to visit another. We are certainly glad to have a little stability by staying in Portland these last few weeks before we go. We are all craving a little routine!

Keno Oregon

2010-08-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend! It has been a joy to spend time with our friend Darrell an old classmate from St. Louis Seminary. We were welcomed by Saving Grace Lutheran Church and it was great to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Today I preached for the first time in a month and shared about our Kenya adventure in Bible class. Tomorrow we head toward home and will be in the Portland area for the next 3 weeks. Pray for our safe travels. We cannot wait to stop spending so much time in our van!

St. Matthew's Sonora

2010-08-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

We thank God for a great visit with God's people in Sonora. What a wonderful and encouraging time in Sornora with God's people. They treated us to a great potluck, fellowship and encouragement. We look forward to seeing them all again.

Great Visits

2010-08-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

What a blessing it has been to visit family this last weekend and visit with Good Shepherd in Inglewood, California. God's people at Inglewood were wonderful hosts and we heard God's Word preached by pastor Hindenberg. Good Shepherd even had a mini reception for my birthday. Thanks Good Shepherd!

You say its your Birthday...

2010-08-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

For many years it seemed like I was always able to be somewhere or do something different on my birthday. Today we are doing just that. We will be spending my birthday with God's people at Good Shepherd in Inglewood, California. And with my cousins, uncle and aunt in Cypress, California.

Monday begins our busy week of visiting family and traveling to 5 places in 7 days completing our journey in Oregon.

Homeless and Wandering

2010-08-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our home is sold, escrow closed and out of the house by 10:30 am. Now we are homeless as we now visit our brothers and sisters in Christ at Redeemer. We have been received into membership at Redeemer and they are now our home congregation. What a blessing to have their prayers, encouragement and support. Now we will stay with Grandpa for a five days until we head south to visit Good Shepherd in Inglewood and family too. We will miss Oroville, the congregation I served for 9 years, friends and fellow brothers in circuit 12.

But now we are homeless and it seems like we are wandering. Yet when we really think of it as Christians this is not our home, life is but a breath and time is short so we are sent and so we go and tell others the Good News about Christ and what He has done for us--for you and for me. As the old hymn goes, "heaven is our home" pointing us outside of this sin filled world to Christ, His victory and the promise of the New Heavens and New Earth. We are merely on a journey in the Ark of the Church awaiting That Day, living our our vocation and pointing others to Christ.

Ouch!

2010-07-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

Preparations continue for our adventure in Kenya. Today we all had the joy of receiving our immunizations. I never thought a 4 year old could be so strong...nor a 6 year old for that matter! We all enjoyed a little "shot in the arm" but not from a friend.

Thank God for the vocation of those who practice medicine so that we can have such immunizations so that we can be protected from diseases.

Bye Bye Jetta

2010-07-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

No more blue. She has been a good car these last 9 years. Certainly would not make it on the roads of Africa very well. Would not be worth the price to ship...Oh, well. Now comes the final week of packing, yard sale and more packing. Maybe Toyota makes a 4X4 in blue...hmmmm.

Ringa Girls School

2010-07-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

I have been asked about the Ringa Girls school which has been in the process of moving from its old building to the new one. Well, here is the new building! Part of the new school building is still in the process of being finished but is being used as much as possible. The center section is administrative, the section on the left are classrooms.

Countdown the days

2010-07-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

It has been rather hectic. I dared to look in the space above the garage today. How much dust can accumulate in nine years? And the box I took down was packed from before Seminary! Is that something I have not used in 14 years?! Yard Sale! Pray for Stef as she is stressed and with child! The 100 plus heat does not help.

The days are too overwhelming to think. At least today I did not wake up and stress about something. God is gracious!

Bye bye Katie

2010-07-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

No, we are not saying goodbye to Luther's wife. Our dog had to find a new home and off she went to her new home today. We all cried--but Noah the most. He loves animals and has a big heart. She went to a good home, will have a fellow dog to play with and will get to be an inside dog! That, was Katie's dream--oh, to be a dog that goes in the house instead of like Kilroy looking through the window into the house. A sad day to say goodbye but at least she found a good home instead of the SPCA and waiting for a new owner only minutes from...

House Prep

2010-07-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

Busy preparing the house. Had to replace posts on the patio. I tried to replace the door on the side yard but it was not the right size--will have to have one made--imagine Home Depot doesn't have it.

Only a few weeks left before the house closes. Packing, yard sale, packing, much to do. I feel like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland!

Senior Class from MLTC

2010-07-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

The Chapel at the MLTC

2010-07-03T21:13:00.001-07:00

Entrance to the MLTC.

2010-07-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

MLTC will be changing its name to Neema (grace) Lutheran University of Kenya. MLTC will be combining with the teachers college (MLTTC) in response to the changing needs in Kenya.

Overwhelmed

2010-07-01T20:11:00.001-07:00

I never thought that there would be so much to try to "get in order" before we go--but there is. While the house went in a week--thank God--it was just one more thing in a long list of "gotta get done before we go" items.

A friend helped in packing today. We are packing incrementally. So when the boxes exceed the space for the car in the garage I guess we will know we are done packing or have too much stuff.

Tomorrow off to the bay area to meet the principal and his wife (the principal of the MLTC where I will be teaching). Hopefully the traffic will be light and the conversation encouraging. Then when we come back I can work on the house, replacing doors, wood under the sinks and posts for the patio!

Preparations, preparations, preparations

2010-06-26T20:11:00.001-07:00

We continue to prepare for our great adventure in Kenya. Our house is in escrow--must be out August 7th. Hope to visit my uncle and aunt in So. California before we live temporarily in Portland. It will ibe an adventure living with family and "homeless" for the month and a half before we depart for Kenya and travel to So. California, visit with Stefanie's dad for a time and then off to Portland.

In the meantime we still wait for one more passport, need to get shots, apply for visas.

I think we are so busy preparing that we don't have time to stop and think.

Preparing for Mission

2010-06-23T13:15:00.001-07:00

It is amazing how much is to be done and how everything is falling into place by God's grace. I have been called to serve as an instructor at the Matongo Lutheran Theological College in Kenya. The college trains pastors and deaconesses to serve God's people in the Evangelical Lutheran Church Kenya. We will be leaving in mid-September 2010 which only leaves us a few months yet God is always at work. A good friend reminded me that "God works while we are sleeping" and that is so true!

We needed to sell our house and by God's grace it will soon be in escrow. Out we must be by August 7th. Now comes the FUN of packing and moving what we don't sell into storage with family.

In all of this I am continually reminded--God is Good!

Concordia Missions in Kenya

Blessed Epiphany

Look who is 1

A Few Days to 11-11-11

Midterms and form 4s

Almost a month

Picking Tea in the Fields in Kisiiland and Kukus on the rooftop.

Kericho and Tea Country

Prep for one last exam

A Summer Photo

End of the Term

The Big fish

Falls near Atemo

Mission Festival Portland at Redeemer Gresham

Inglewood, Cypress, Sonora, Sacramento

L.A.

Chico

Chico

Trip

Portland

Photos of the Kids

Ring around the rosy...

One Happy Baby

mid Term break

Are You Lost?

Visit to Transmara

Visit to Transmara

School in full swing

A New School Year

Two photos of the Rabe gubber

New Photos for New Year

Christmas and New Years in Kenya

Rabe Baby

Synod

Thanksgiving Day

New Photos on Picasa

Chicken Tonight

A Trip to a Rural Hospital

Prayer Services

The Day of Preparation

Thank God for those who support us in Mission

Reformation Week

Newsletter

Prayer Service at Atemo Secondary

Picasa Photostream

The End of the First Week

Pay Pal

Our Home

Wash Day

Atemo Bible College

Home

We have a vehicle!

First day of School--Last Week

Springs of Life

In Nairobi

A Great Day

Bags, Bags and More Bags!

Milton--Beautiful Savior

Oregon Rain

Holy Cross--Albany, Oregon

Home away from home

Keno Oregon

St. Matthew's Sonora

Great Visits

You say its your Birthday...

Homeless and Wandering

Ouch!

Bye Bye Jetta

Ringa Girls School

Countdown the days

Bye bye Katie

House Prep

Senior Class from MLTC

The Chapel at the MLTC

Entrance to the MLTC.

Overwhelmed

Preparations, preparations, preparations

Preparing for Mission