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.

December 1, 2015

Dear praying friends,

We hope this update finds each of you doing well. We wish each of you a great holiday season ahead. This is such a nice time of year, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day all within a few weeks of each other. We had a good time celebrating Thanksgiving with
friends here in Kitale, and are looking forward to celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Day in the coming days. It is difficult to be away from friends and family in America and we certainly do miss these times of year with you. Each of you are so special to us and loved. The Lord provides grace for each situation we face.

Speaking of various situations we face, we finally were cleared to leave Nairobi and return to Kitale a few weeks ago. As I had mentioned before, we took both of our daughters in for doctor appointments in Nairobi. Both of them had been complaining of frequent stomach aches for months, so after seeing multiple doctors in Kitale and Eldoret, we finally decided to go to Nairobi. Although Nairobi is far from Kitale, it has the best doctors in Kenya and we thought this was necessary at that time. We saw two very qualified doctors at a big hospital in Nairobi. One trained in America and the other in Canada. We did multiple tests and even a colonoscopy and endoscopy on McKenna, as stated last month.

We got the results back and then went to see the infectious disease doctor from Canada. He looked over the results and concluded that nothing was majorly wrong medically so there was nothing to treat. He thinks Cami may have had a form of food poisoning earlier in the year, then other possible minor illnesses, but nothing major.

Both doctors met together with us in the final visit and they concluded it was either frequent abdominal pain (FAP), or anxiety. At this time, we think it is related to anxiety, but we are still trying to determine specifically what it is. The main point is that the tests revealed nothing medically wrong and if it is anything, it is something that can be managed. We are thankful for this and for the prayers that each of you offered on behalf of our girls. We cannot tell you how much it means. Colossians 4:2 states “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” We are to continue in prayer, or to pray consistently. What a challenge to pray at all times of life, both during difficulties and times of blessing.

Speaking of prayer, here are a few requests for us in the coming year of 2016. Please pray for our daughters, and for playmates for them. There is supposed to be a family from America coming to Kitale soon, but they are waiting on the approval of their work permit. Please pray that they would be cleared soon so they can come to Kitale. Please pray for McKenna and her schooling. Please pray she would not feel anxiety during her schooling, but would settle and rely on the Lord to help her as she studies. Please pray for Nathan, as
his work permit expires in April of this year. We are trusting God for the renewal to come and for the door to remain open to serve in Kenya. Please also pray for his prison permit renewal, that it would process with no problems.

Please pray for Carrie and all of her responsibilities, both in teaching the girls and her other ways she helps the family. Please pray also for her to have stable friends and relationships, as this is so needed while on the mission field. Please pray for Nathan and Roger as they work together in church planting, that the Lord would give wisdom on the best way to proceed. They have tried different ways of doing church planting and they have all had challenges. Pray as they continue to pray and trust God to give them help and wisdom as they rely on Him. Finally, pray for the upcoming year and the challenges ahead. We know there will be challenges, but we trust God through them and know He is in full control. We will remember to pray for each of you also, as you serve the Lord faithfully wherever He has led you.

With the upcoming year, it is easy to get anxious at times and to falter in our faith. How we need to remind ourselves of verses such as Philippians 4:6,7 which say ““Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Isn’t that wonderful? As we pray and trust the Lord, His peace, which passes all understanding, will come. Do you desire that peace? Do I? I hope and pray so. God bless you all as you serve Him. Have a wonderful 2016 ahead and we are so thankful and appreciative for each of you. We will
be sure to do our best to keep you updated.

Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford

P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa, 30200

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