JANUARY 2020

9th Reformed Family Conference Group Picture

Dear Friends,
 
Giving thanks in all situations
A dear sister in the Lord who is a widow and has been battling ill health now for many years recently wrote to encourage me. She wrote: “I always remember a Bible study you taught us at TBC adult class... when I joined the church on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. The emphasis was on verse 18. I vividly remember the debate…Many questions arose on how we can give thanks in “bad situations.” You labored to explain. From then on, I see that verse in a totally different perspective and I’m able to give thanks in ALL SITUATIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES…It is very fulfilling.” This Bible study took place over twenty years ago! I was greatly encouraged by this reminder. Below, I share with you the good and the bad circumstances in which we are thanking God.
 
Reformed Family Conference
It was really worth being at the 9th annual conference held from December 9th to 14th under the theme of “The Holy Spirit – Our Help To Glory.” Over two hundred delegates gathered day by day to receive God’s word. They also joined daily in cooperate prayers, fellowshipped with each other and enjoyed very good food! The two able speakers were, Francis Chishimba from Lusaka Zambia and Matt Foreman from Medea, Philadelphia, USA. The conference took place at the Tom Mboya Labor College in Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya. Reformation Carried Forward by Kenyans (ReCFoK) group of churches who organizes these conferences were stretched beyond limit in seeking to provide a seamless conference. In all, this was a very encouraging time in deed and we thank the Lord for His goodness.
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Leave that never was
It was my plan to take an annual leave from work immediately after the family conference and be away from Eldoret at least to the village. Challenges to our leave plan began with the unfortunate kidnaping experience that our son Tim went through. Refunding the monies that the kidnappers had illicitly solicited through his smart phone has been a difficult experience. Three days after that scary ordeal, Tim was playing football with a number of other young people outside the church compound when he ruptured his right Achilles tendon! The Doctor at our first visit to the hospital ordered for an Xray and sent us home with pain killers saying there is no bone fracture! Four days later (December 6th) we were back to the hospital asking to see a specialist; Tim had been combing the internet and was convinced that he had broken this important tendon. The Surgeon, after his examination, concurred with Tim and marveled at his research! Surgery was immediately ordered and so the following day Tim was admitted and surgery was done on Sunday the 8th early morning. This meant that Helida had to cancel her plan of traveling to the family conference so as to provide the post-surgery support and to facilitate Tim’s discharge. Tim is now on his second cast after the first one was replaced on December 25th after many hours at the hospital due to scarcity of Doctors on duty. Our family plans have had to change drastically and the leave plans had to be shelved. Tim confesses that this has been a unique time of reflection and meditation upon God’s mercies. Full recovery will take many months.
 
Teaching at TBC
I have been invited to travel to Nairobi on January 14th to teach at the Trinity Baptist Church (TBC) Pastors’ Training College from 15th to 22nd. I will be teaching on Cults and Eschatology. I have also been asked to preach there on Sunday the 19th. Personally, I have been unwell and so request for your prayers.
 
In Christ alone,
Naphtally & Helida Ogallo.
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