REACHING OUT MINISTRIES - ROM

(a life for God's Glory)

Recently, Trevor and Regina Derstine visited Kenya. This is not the first time they were here...since they are reaching out to many people caught in the unfortunate straits of life-the dilemma of being HIV+. It is a Kenyan epidemic. Many living in ungodly life styles have escalated the disease and now there are many innocent victims, of spouses and children. Although the disease is not curable, many Christians are given hope to lead a fairly normal life.

The Derstines began this mission of bringing medication to Kenya in the Spring of 2003. Regina's brother, LeRoy Hershberger was involved including Trevor's father, Nevin. They are working through Agape Development Ministries. This time travelling with Trevor and Regina were her parents, William and Elizabeth Hershberger. Being abit elderly, they will both be turning 70 years old this year and are celebrating their 50th anniversary. The Derstines make Oregon their home and the Hershbergers are from Kansas. Having known the Hershberger family for many years, it was especially touching for me having them visit while our family is here. Behind Regina's life is an interesting story.

Trevor and Regina are both in their late 30's and have been married almost 11 years. At their wedding is where we met Trevor, but before that I have known Regina since she was a wee girl. (photo credit goes to Sarah Esh)

Our parents had known each other for some time while they were still in the Amish church in different Iowan areas. Their interests separated and eventually in 1976; our families both moved to northern Missouri; the Brookfield area. I taught 2 years of school there with Regina's older sister, Rose Anna, and had Regina for a student in the upper grades. We had great times, especially in singing and softball. Regina was a normal, exceptionally bright student, but little did we dream what God had in store for her life. Our family moved to Lancaster, PA and I heard Regina married Duane Troyer when she was 18 years old. This was in 1989.

Prior to Duane and Regina's marriage, they had the routine blood test taken for the marriage license...and behold! Duane tested HIV+! What a shock! AIDS?! what now??? this in our Amish/Mennonite world??? why??? many questions....heads spinning..... Duane had a heredity disorder of hemophilia and it was discovered he contracted the disease through a blood transfusion. That was before the days of intense screening. Being in love, Duane and Regina did decide to get married for better or for worse. They started doctoring, but twenty years ago little was known about what to do or what to expect. They did the best they could. Little Sarah was born in May of 1992 and Duane passed away later that year in September. Regina hit the bottom.

By now, Regina also tested positive... and little Sarah. Living in the same Brookfield area with her family, she spent much time with them. In 1995, Regina was really beginning to feel the affects of the disease and one day she went to her mother to make funeral plans. Elizabeth thought surely there HAD to be a way...and upon voicing her frustration to a friend, they were recommended to try a doctor in Kansas City. It was a long hard road, but there they found help. It was emotional therapy as well as physical. They suffered rejection, their friends were scared of them, including the church. Back then, with the disease being relatively new in the states, people didn't know how contagious it was or how to relate or what to say.

As of now, Regina and Sarah are both taking a drug enabling them to live a normal lifestyle. Regina has been on this medication for 15 years and is a picture of health. So is Sarah!

Regina lived a widow for almost 7 years. She matured beyond her years, afterall life WAS a gift!

One day in PA, Sam and I recieved a wedding invitation from Regina in MO. She was getting married to Trevor Derstine from Oregon. They had known each other slightly before in their very early teens but became better aquainted when they both went on a Greece tour with the Overholts from Sarasota, FL. Upon reading the invitation, I imploringly looked at my husband, "please, this is one wedding we need to go to!" We went! It was May, 1999.

They made Oregon their home and ever and anon I would hear about her...... Regina is doing well...... Sarah is growing up .....and what? they are adopting a sibling group of five?! How?Incredible! We met again; this time in Kenya and tried to catch up. We talked about past memories. We shared our adoption experiences.....

Trevor and Regina spent some time visiting our CBF members with HIV+. They visited the local hospital hoping to also make the drug also available to the children and not just adults. Currently there are approx 64 members assisted with ROM. Some are being sponsored but they are still in need of about 20 more. Readers, can you please help? If you feel inspired or have questions, contact them : star@valleyhayco.com. Regina is personally sponsoring, Lillian, our fruit and vegetable lady.

With Trevor and Regina being busy with their schedule, Sam and I were delighted to take William and Elizabeth around to various places. (Whoever thought I would be able to escort these old friends around the mountians of Kenya?) We visited Elida, one of our Kajulu members. Getting to her house was a hike through a deep ravine and around a narrow trail. Elida served us a wonderful Kenyan meal. Wilburforce, a Kajulu brother, was our interpreter.

During their stay here, one evening, Trevor treated the whole compound to grilled chicken. The rest of us brought the trimmings. Later, we sat reminiscing in our living room. I picked Regina's memory for a few lines of song this rusty teacher's brain had forgotten. We sang......in that nostalgic moment, Regina said maybe they should leave before we all dissolve into a puddle of tears. It was good timing. :)

The extended Derstine family has a large hay business in Tangent, Oregon. Being blessed with this wealth, Trevor's parents, Nevin and Dorothy, wanted to get involved in some mission. Being aware of their sweet daughter-in-law's HIV+ status and the needs in Kenya, thus was born "Reaching Out Ministries"! There are now five men on the board and it's still growing.

This is the family of Trevor and Regina. Sarah is in red and almost 18 years old. Two years ago, Trevor and Regina had 5 siblings sorta 'drop into their laps'. They came up for adoption and are now part of the family. Two more (sisters) are also now in their home and they are thinking about adopting them as well. God works amazing things in a person's life that's dedicated to helping others. Truly our lives are in the hands of the Lord!

More visitors! John and Barb Glick are happy to have 2 of their sons arrive yesterday, Ernest from Lancaster and Lester with his wife, Crystal, from NY. Linford and Kay Bontrager (former missionaries from IN) are also around for a short visit. Later this week, Joseph and Becky Hostetler are anticipating the arrival of several of his siblings and a cousin. Keep them coming....it's encouraging!

Mattie Kauffman

ANDREW AND CHRISTINE ORWA

Andrew is the second oldest member in the Kajulu congregation. Born in 1929, he just turned 80 years of age this past Christmas. He adds a certain stability to many of our other members even though he has been through some deep waters. His wife, Christine, is 17 years younger. (the age difference alone reminds me of where Sam and I will be in about 2027) Andrew and Christine have been in the CBF church for some years. The Kajulu church started in 2003, but before that they attended Oroba, when Linford and Kay Bontrager were pastoring in 2001. Joseph and Becky Hostetler are now there.

Andrew is a small, wiry man and can still be quite active and animated in his older years. When a youth, he specialized in fighting...challenging other youth and authorities. He was involved in a group called "Youth in Politics"and literally fought against settlers and Kenya's ruling parties. A preacher heard about him and decided to talk to him about God. This was Andrew's beginnings of finding Christ and his saving power. He lived with a divorced women for some time and together they had seven children. When he finally DID become a Christian in 1962, he realized the sinful condition in which he was living and sent her away. He said, he backslid again, until 1970. In 1982, he married Christine and they had one daughter. They attended the local "Maranatha" where Andrew was pastor for 21 years. When CBF was introduced to them, they discovered this was what they had unknowingly been searching for. They appreciate the church 'çabisa' (very much)!

Christine, chewing on a weed stalk, was born in 1946 and still works very hard.

Also living with Andrew and Christine are 12 year old Andrew and 6 year old Eric. Young Andrew is a grandson from the first woman Andrew had lived with. He has a keen interest in Christianity and contributes well in Sunday School class. Andrew and Christine felt led to adopt Eric when they saw the young orphan in the hospital as a baby. Agape Development Ministries helps support these two youngans. Andrew is also an Agape supervisor in his area.

The church helped build this house along the Mamboleo Road.

Today Andrew and Christine are in their older years and still very much alive. They recently were chased out of their home and like "Jacob of Old with his well business" this time Andrew refused to fight and just built another home. About 25-30 years ago, they had lived in the Kabonya mountians. Andrew decided to sell his property for 70,000 shillings (about $1000). The man who bought it paid him 35,000 shillings and disappeared. He was gone for 25 years! Since Andrew didn't have all his money, they continued living there. Ironically, the buyer suddenly reappeared with the remaining 35,000 shillings and demanded his property. In fact, they even moved in with Andrews. Andrews had no choice but to leave, even though by now the property was worth much more. Andrew had by now spent his first 35,000 and with the second 35,000 managed to buy a cheap lot of land from a drunkard. They were assisted in building a small house. Meanwhile, the drunkard drank his life away and died. Recently, his children came to Andrew with again 35,000 shillings and demanded the property back. They even piled sticks and rocks in front of his lane so he couldn't get home. Andrew asked for a month grace to find something else.

About 3 weeks ago, just up the hill abit from the former home, this house was built bigger and closer to the main road. Eighty year old Andrew was climbing around fastening the rafters. William and Elizabeth Hershberger helped mud this house. Elizabeth dubbed the wall in which the children are standing in front of "The Obama Wall". This tickled these children so much and they will likely never forget it. In fact, they reminded us of this when we stopped in the other day to see Andrew and Christine both sick in bed. Life is very tough for Christians in Kenya.

This past week we were privlidged to host the AMA delegates, Earl and Edna Peachey and Ivan Beachy. One evening they treated the whole compound to an evening out to eat at the Kiboko Bay. Merle and Sue, Sam and I accompanied them early Saturday morning for a boat ride on Lake Victoria. However, hippo sightings were a little lean. It was still a lovely morning with the calm water and pretty birds. On Tuesday, the whole compound headed to Nakuru for a unit meeting at Ab Fishers. For dinner, Ab treated us all to home-made sausage; Kenya style. It was delicious!! Too bad we can't chew our cuds for a later day.

Weather was hot for a week causing the land to become parched looking. The heat broke and slowly the Spring rains are beginning. May the rest of you wallow in your snowbanks.

Sam Kauffman family

HARVEY YODER IN KENYA

According to my opinion there hasn't been a series of good books for

our growing Anabaptist children since Christmas Carol Kauffman. That

is, not until Harvey Yoder arrived on the scene. Harvey has been hired

by Christian Aid Ministries and keeps writing books based on true

happenings experienced by real people. He has traveled extensively to

former Communistic countries and elsewhere collecting information to

compile into book form. This past week we Kenyan missionaries had the

privledge of hosting Harvey and his wife, Karen, as he interviewed

numerous people of our CBF churches. Some of them have quite the

stories; having difficulties surviving and how God delivered them from

the grips of alcohol and witchcraft.

Harvey was the youngest of nine children and predominantly grew up in

the Amish community of Oakland, MD. (For you Iowa folks; Iddo is his

older brother) Harvey left for Faith Mission Home when he was 20 years

old and met Karen. Together they were blessed with five children.

Harvey and Karen now live in the small town of Spruce Pine, NC. The

children have all married and the empty nesters now travel the world

together. Being in their upper 50's/early 60's this can become a bit

tiring when roads get rough and the chairs are hard. When Harvey was

asked whether he has always aspired to be a writer, he answered, "No,

it just sorta happened!" Being tall and slim, he certainly didn't fit

my mental image of the portly, balding, older man I expected him to

be.

Having always had an intense interest in Eastern Europe, I personally

find Harvey's books very fascinating. Not given to many childhood

fears, I did struggle with one that was very real to me. I was afraid

the Communists would someday come into our country. As a little Amish

girl in Kalona, Iowa, I was very impressed and moved by the 'Jesus

behind the Iron Cutain' newsletters.....how the Christians stood up

for their faith.....how the little children had their pastor fathers

taken away and locked into prison...... maybe to never see them again.

In my own childish way, I would kneel on the hard wood floor beside my bed and cry

and pray for these children. You see, my father was a bishop, ( and a

rather dramatic one) and once the Communists came, in my mind, they

would be sure to get him first! Years later, things turned out very

differently, but I'm thinking this experience had a great bearing in

our adopting a child from Ukraine.

Interviewing Puis from the Lela Church. John and Barbara Glick are

pastoring this church and took this photo. Puis and his wife are

caring for 28 children; orphans, biological, etc. Wow! Watch for the

story in the book.

Sarah Esh gets credit for this photo. Years ago she had taught school

with Harvey Yoder in Bedford, PA. She took them out for an interview

in the Oroba church. Somewhere Harvey and Karen got a piki-piki ride.

Sarah wondered who was most delighted, Harveys or the driver?

Merle and Sue Beachy took Harvey to interview Sylvanus and Perez from

the Rabuor Church.

(photo credit goes to Sue)

Strolling in our back yard; Monica, Daniel, Mattie, Sam, Harvey and Karen Yoder.

Martina took the picture, and the 3 youngest were in school.

This afternoon, the AMA delegation, Ivan Beachy and Earl and Edna

Peachey will be arriving and staying a few days. It's always an

exciting time, but we are disappointed that Elsie, wife of Ivan and

Sam's sister wasn't able to make the trip. Ivan is also a brother to

Merle Beachy.

Tomorrow, we are anticipating baptism and Communion in our church in

Kajulu. We have 6 baptismal applicants: Joseph Omula, Stanley Otieno,

Helen Anyango, Margaret Aoko, Angeline Ohongo and Bentor Auma. These

are all in their 30-50's and it will be a special day for them. Merle

and Ivan both plan to be there, along with Jonathan Martins who

recently have begun attending. These natives will be excited to have

four white pastors in one service. :)

The weather continues to be warm. We were, however, spared of the

typical two month, hot and dry season. El Nino made the difference,

locals say. The Spring rains are due to begin soon. The equator sun

can be downright hot but the shade is surprisingly cool, making it

quite pleasant. We have chickens in our back yard and you know how

they do sometimes, they lay their eggs outside instead of in the nest.

We found two baking in the sun. Upon breaking them open, we

discovered they were half cooked...poached.....really!

hhmmm....interesting.....makes you wonder if that's why we have some

half-baked people around...?!

Continue to pray for the work here in Kenya.

Mattie Kauffman