The Daasanach People of Kenya

February 2008

Jumping back to July, we must share with you how the Lord answered our prayers for the Daasanach/Rendille Christian conference. For the Daasanach, who are truly isolated from the rest of the world, it was an unforgettable experience to fly on the DC3 (seats 30) to the homeland of the Rendille tribe, another pastoralist group living in northern Kenya with a lifestyle and customs that parallel the Daasanach.

It was their first time to meet and fellowship with believers from another people group other than the handful of western missionaries that have been a part of their lives. Their understanding of God and His worldwide family, which will have representatives from every people group on earth, became a more tangible reality. The talking, laughing, crying, praying, singing and dancing that went on during those 4 days together was a taste of heaven for all of us! Both groups came away from that time both encouraged and challenged by the testimonies they heard from one another about the ways in which they are applying Biblical truth to their lives and cultures. We really praise the Lord for making this dream a reality. Please pray with us that the spiritual work accomplished during this conference will bear eternal fruit in both the Rendille and Daasanach churches.

July was also a month of intense spiritual battle for Nalinga, a widow of faith whose two daughters are facing the threat of FGM. There were many unpleasant confrontations with the unbelieving relatives, and our faith was tested as well, as we and other Daasanach Christian brethren joined Nalinga in fervent prayer and passive resistance to the demands. We do praise God for His protection, and would ask you to please continue to pray fervently for this family.

Ultimately, God’s provision of godly husbands for the girls who share this family’s convictions would be the long-term solution to this crisis. Nalinga and her daughters need profound grace to keep trusting in the Lord and depending on Him, as the journey will not be easy. Nalinga challenged our faith when she pointed out that Daniel had to be thrown into the lion’s den, Abraham likewise had to raise the knife above Isaac, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to enter the fire, before God intervened and acted on their faith. On one occasion, she and the girls were fleeing by night to put distance between them and the relatives, and ended up spending the night in a tree they climbed to escape a pack of hungry hyenas, who surrounded them and laughed eerily in frustration for hours. “We were chewed up by mosquitoes while we sat there”, she added, “but we believe God sent them to keep us awake, so that we wouldn’t fall out of the tree!”

Please also continue to pray for the Daasanach believers, that they will stay alert to Satan’s schemes, and press on to finish the race to which they’ve been called! While the stories of the faithful like Nalinga encourage our hearts, we also see evidence of wolves among the flock, seeking to divide and conquer, and move the focus off Jesus. Thank you for fighting the battle for the Daasanach church through prayer with us!!