Mission News: The Fire on Which to Focus

"Help me! Help me! I have to get home quickly!" Steve Taylor in Kijabe, Kenya heard this plea, as he was drafting a letter to United States' supporters of his family at Rift Valley Academy, a school for missionary children. The shouts were from Nahashin, a grounds keeper at the school, who had just learned that his home was burning. The two men jumped on Steve's motor bike and sped toward the site. The 5-minute drive seemed an eternity as smoke was visible from 1/2 mile away. When they arrived, there was a large crowd gathered around his wife. All were staring at the remaining pile of twisted tin and burning timbers. All that Nahashin and his family of four possessed was gone. With tears coming to his eyes, he said in a choking voice to Steve, "All that I've worked for, all that I have, it's gone."

Later in the day, as Steve reflected on that statement, the "work" he himself was doing came to mind. He wrote, "The fire reminded me that we do not want to work for things that can be destroyed or do not last. Instead, we want to work for God's glory and that many will give Him praise for eternity." Starting a fire in hearts, burning to know Jesus!

Further in his letter, Steve asks, "Please pray for our ability to say 'no' to the good things that need to get done in order to say 'yes' to the best things that we are gifted to do. It is so easy to see many needs here in Kenya and just jump in and help. We want to stay focused on helping to raise the next generation of world Christians in the African context."

The Taylors are a family of five at Rift Valley Academy. Steve is responsible for the music program for the school. His wife, Amanda, works at the school infirmary. Besides their "full-time" job of parenting, they are the hospitality hosts and managers of the guest house on the campus. This enables them to get to know parents of the students and to learn of what God is doing throughout the continent.

If you would like to help Nahashin's family with a gift, please send a check payable to Steve Taylor and include a note designating your gift for Nahashin's rebuilding needs. Mail it to AIM; 135 West Crooked Hill Road; Pearl River, NY 10965. This is not tax deductible.