Preparing to Return to Kenya

Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.

April 1, 2017

Dear praying friends,

We are now in the month of April, and time is passing so quickly. It is a very beautiful day in WV today, nearly 80 degrees. This has been a very good furlough for us but as we begin to prepare to return to Kenya we have many prayer requests to share with you. God is in control of the future and we know we can trust Him. What a mighty God we serve.

It has been a great year of schooling for our two daughters, McKenna and Camille. As I have mentioned previously, one of their big challenges on the mission field is socialization. There are very few children their age for them to have as friends.

God knows all about this we depend on Him and His grace, trusting in His perfect will. Please pray for our daughters as they are finishing up the school year in WV and also for their return to Kenya in June, Lord willing. There will be transitions for them when we return to Kenya, but we believe they will adjust quickly as they know Kenya as their home. We know God will provide the grace and strength for them in their adjustments.

Please also pray for my wife and me and our adjustment back to Kenya. It is always difficult emotionally to leave our home and family in the States and return to Kenya. However, we have recently learned that there are some new families in Kitale and we are excited to meet them and hope to build new friendships. Missions has many challenges and we need one another. We need to pray for each other, encourage each other and be there for one another. Adult missionaries have struggles as well, and how important these friendships are to day to day life on the mission field. Of course, we need to depend on God first and foremost, as He is always there for us and will never leave us or forsake us. Proverbs 18:24 says “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Praise His name.

Please pray for us and the many things that are needed in the days ahead, such as packing for a long period of time in a foreign country, all the last-minute details that are needed, etc. I really appreciate my wife as she works very hard to make sure we have all we need before departing for another term. This is a huge job and stress for her, yet she is so faithful to do it well each furlough. I hope and pray I never overlook her sacrifices that she makes and all she does for our family. She serves behind the scenes, but I know the Lord will reward her for her faithfulness, servant spirit, good attitude, etc. I am a very blessed person. When I think of her, I think of Proverbs 31:10, which says “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Please pray for her and the many sacrifices she makes daily on the mission field, and also as she raises our daughters overseas.

Thanks so much to each of you for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. All of you are such a blessing to us. I will keep you updated. God bless you.

Nathan and Carrie Radford

Nathan and Carrie Radford
Furlough Address:
56 Lobo Lane
Culloden, WV 25510

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.


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Missionary Update: The Tates in Kenya [April 2014]

The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is indigenous church planting.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing this on March 28th, 2014.  By the time you read this letter I will be gone from the United States because the family and I leave for Kenya in just five hours.  Six years ago when I was just five hours away from leaving the States and heading to Kenya on my own for the first time I was scared to death.  My stomach was in knots, my mind was whirling, my chest was tight and my head hurt.  I am thankful that today, even though I know we are just hours removed from our flight back, that my mind is at peace, I am fairly calm, and I don’t fear the future.  I can sum my feelings up right now with the following sentence:  I am ready to go but not ready to leave.  I hope that is understandable to you who are reading.  We are all ready to head back to Kenya and get back to ministry there, but we are not ready to once again leave family, friends and church in the States.

As we head back to Kenya, I thought I would show you my checklist/to-do list.

DONE

  • Visit all the churches, report on our work in Kenya, remind everybody who we are, make sure everyone is praying for us
  • Spend time with our home church, friends and family as we will probably not see them again for over three years
  • Pack up the house where we are currently living and clean, clean, clean
  • Discontinue all services (internet, phone, utilities, etc)
  • Return all borrowed items
  • Pack the luggage we are taking to Kenya.  Weigh it.  Re-pack it.  Weigh it.  Re-pack it.  Weigh it.  Re-pack it…
  • Have “going away” dinner at church.  Say goodbye to church members.

NOT DONE

  • Wait 4½ more hours
  • Call Emily
  • Weigh luggage one last time
  • Get to the airport on time
  • Say goodbye to friends and family; cry
  • Travel 10,000 miles and arrive in Nairobi
  • Renew life and ministry in Kenya
  • Terribly miss all our loved ones back home

So, as you can see, much has been done and much has yet to be finished.  Thank you all for your continued love, prayers and support.  The Lord be with you.

Until next month, beloved.
May God’s peace and joy be with you.

For the glory of God in East Africa,
Roger & Julie Tate (and Emily, Amy, & Josiah)

rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!

Click here to donate to BFM.


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