January-March 2012 Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Hello from Kenya. Over the last couple of months it has been very busy here, and God is blessing in different areas. Everyone in the family is healthy and doing well. Tonya is having a problem though of keeping and producing iron in her blood. While we were still on furlough in 2010, she had a series of appointments with a specialist in Arkansas. She was given an infusion of iron, and she has been taking weekly B-12 shots. She was able to do a similar test here after a year, but not as complete as in the States. She sent her results to her doctor, and he says that her blood is not producing any iron on its own nor is it holding onto iron over a long term basis. It has been recommended that she has a blood transfusion in the States. We are planning for her to go in June this year after the kids are finished with school for the year.

Our Bible College finished its 10th year in December, so we had a reunion of students at the graduation. We had 8 more students finish the three year course and graduate. The college has also expanded with two branches other this year, one in Sidundo (which began in January) and the other in Rongo (which will begin in May). We already have 31 students for the year, and we are expecting at least ten more in the classes in Rongo. We are also now offering the three year course in English, Swahili, and Dholou languages.

The orphan ministry has continued to grow in awareness, and several gifts have helped us to get to the finishing stages of putting windows and doors on the buildings in Sidundo. This month we will begin meeting with orphans and guardians, to confirm those who will need to be cared for in the orphanage. We will also be arranging to make the beds, chairs, tables and other furnishings that will be needed in the near future. We have also begun looking at the cost of building a second Orphanage in the town of Kuresoi, because of the great need in that area.

Also Calvary Baptist Church in Kisii has voted to start building phase one of an extension that should be completed in a few months. The extension will double the seating capacity. It was agreed that the church itself will cover half of this cost which will be around $2,000. We have already raised $500 since December (among the local church congregation) for this extension project. We will continue to raise funds over the next 2 years for phase two (to build a larger building 35x50) that will cost approximately $12,500. If you would be willing to help this church with their part, we will raise and set aside funds for this project. I already have the estimates; and we will start making payments soon to the contractor, for the materials of the larger building. 

Serving Him in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya