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Eric and Melodie Perry

Ministry with the Narok Church & Literacy Work
Among the Maasai Tribe of Kenya

3285 Dahlia Lane

Eugene, OR 97404
Phone: 541-688-2752

E-mail: Emelperry@maf.org
Eric, Megan, and Melodie Perry

THE PERRY POST

CMF INTERNATIONAL Prayer A'ewj/effer FEBRUARY 1999

Time and Distance

We left Nairobi on a warm December evening. The

only thing approaching rain was our tears as we
said goodbye lo our teammates. After 24 hours of
travel, we arrived in Seattle to a cold, rainy
afternoon. Kenya is definitely seasons and miles
away -- seemingly more than the last time we
traveled home on furlough in 1996. There are a

a good time to reevaluate our direction in ministry.

After about a year of seeking counsel, prayer, and
hours of discussions with teammates, friends, and

each other, we have decided not to retum to Kenya.

Our goodbyes to some of our friends there may
well be our last until we meet one another again in
Glory.

couple reasons for the increased distance, we

believe.

First, airlines offer little for a two-year-old to do.

Megan can concentrate on what she terms "ABCs"

(i.e., drawing and scribbling) for about ten minutes

max. We were in the air for nineteen hours! While
we braced ourselves for hours of discontentment

toddler-style, Megan actually traveled quite well.

She slept at the times we had hoped she would, and
was quite content with getting up to walk around
periodically. The airport in Amsterdam also has a
playroom for children, complete with video games,

Saying goodbye to friends/teammates: Woods and Pruitts.

duplos, legos, rocking horses, and a slide. Mom and

Dad were the problem there as we tag-teamed to

catch a few winks in the airport lobby. Worrying
over what might happen took more energy than
dealing with what actually did happen.

Time and distance have made Kenya more remote

than we could have imagined even three months
ago. But while our goodbyes were sad, they held
the hope that God Himself would uphold the people
and ministries that we have worked with over the

The second reason Kenya now seems so far away

involves the nature of our goodbyes. As we
watched both the Maasai literacy program and the
Narok Church of Christ mature, we began to realize
that our work was drawing to a close. The other
work that CMP has in Kenya differed significantly
enough from what we were doing that we felt it was

past four to eight years.

Unraveling a Mystery
We have received letters from many of you saying
that you were in prayer over our future. We thank
you for your faithfulness and your concern.

we are primarily seeking a pastorate (either as an

associate or preaching pastor) in the US, but are
also investigating other fields within CMP in which
Eric may best ply his skills as pastor. Please
continue to pray with us as we pray through
different ministry options as they emerge. We
will be sure to update you as the place, position,
and motives unfold concerning our future ministry.

A Work in Progress

Making decisions.

Goodbyes are not finales. They are merely

transitions in a work in progress. One of the most
difficult dilemmas for a missionary is to decide

As we face our future, I am reminded of Sherlock

when to leave the work in the hands of the

nationals. The church is never static. There is

Holmes' inductive strategy for investigation.

Holmes once explained to Watson that the process
of unraveling a mystery begins by deciding what
could not have possibly happened. After that, all
that remains are the possibilities.
We have taken the first step in unraveling our
future. We feel an extraordinary peace about our
decision to leave Kenya. We still cry at our slide
show and think of a few things we wish we could
have done, but we grieve as ones with hope.
The next few steps in our immediate future seem

very concrete. First, we intend to furlough until

June of this year. We have great news to share with
our supporters, and we look forward to visiting the
20 plus congregations that have supported us over

always something to be done, and there is always

the temptation for the missionary to stay and do it.
There is even value in him or her staying to do it.
We prayerfully determined that our time to work
with the Narok Church and Maasai literacy program
had drawn to a close; however, the work goes on.
Please pray for John Saitet, the pastor of the
Narok Church of Christ, as he shepherds the
congregation into a new era in life. Pray also for
Lilian Saitet, John's wife, as she helps lead the
women of the church, prays, and shares vision
with John for the church. Pray also that her
pregnancy goes well, and the new addition to the
Saitet household will arrive happy and healthy.

the years; consequently, we have few free Sundays

between now and June. We also need the time to

rest, pray, and settle into the life of a family of four

which leads me to our second concrete step.
We"ahticipate the arrival of our newest family

member, a boy, around the first week of March.

Dad is especially excited because his birthday is
March 5, only two days off of the due date, March
3. We have a name picked out, but occasionally toss
around alternatives. When Little Mr. Perry makes
his appearance, we will make the details available
as soon as we can.

Friends and co-workers:(I to r) Mark Sankok, Lilian Saitet,

George Lemein, Megan, Enc, Melodie, Grace Saitet, John

Saitet.

Concerning our future vocation, we know this

much. The past year has been a time of affirmation

as well as searching. The pastoral gifts that Eric
brought to the Maasai team and Narok Church were
recognized over and over. My gifts in teaching and
administration were also acknowledged. We also

Pray for Hesbon Govoga, Philip Lemein and

Matthew Ngomo, the elders of the Narok
Church, as they prayerfully make decisions
concerning the church's life, visit the members

feel that it is time to sink our roots into one

the church through the next stage of life.

community for a long period of time. As a result.

of the church, and share with John in guiding

Pray for teammate Steve Limiero as he

continues to work with the Sunday School
teachers and other young leaders at the Narok
Church. People like Daniel Ombati, Maria Naneu,

and Musa Ombati are maturing into the key young

leaders in the congregation. Also, pray for Steve as
he serves as the temporary liaison between the
Narok Church and the mission.

Fray for literacy teachers such as Philip Kobai,

Mary Nampaso, and Naomi Masankai as they
continue to empower Christians to be able to
read the Word of God for themselves. Pray for
the Maasai men and women who are faithfully
continuing to practice their reading and writing
skills in local classes. Pray for teammates Gary
and Judy Woods as they follow up with literacy
testing in several areas.

Continuing the work: Mary Nampaso -- literacy teacher and coworker in Christ.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more

than all we ask or imagine, according to his power

that is at work within us, to him be glory in the

church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generation,foe ever dnd ever! Amen." Ephesians
3:20-21 Join us as we pray this prayer for the

Narok Church and the churches throughout

Maasailand as God's work continues in their

lives and the lives of those around them.

For the Kingdom,

Eric, Melodic, and Megan Perry