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 28^th, 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
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