Van and Kathy Davis

Missionaries with The Master's Mission since 1989

March 2004 

Dear extended family,

 Greetings from Malindi!

 We are back and settled in once again. On January 17, we left Lancaster for Falls Church, Virginia, and spent a night with Christy and John. The following day we traveled to Greenville, N.C., and spent a night with Ted, Debi, and girls and said our good‑bys next day and headed for Chapel Hill for a night with Van's Mother's charming cousin. The following day we drove to our mission base in western N.C. and spent two nights there. We left our car there to be stored until we return to the states again and flew back to Washington D.C. and were there for two nights again with Christy and John. Sadly, we only got to see Caroline and Charlie and the boys once during our time at home in Colorado. Our big news is that we are looking forward to the arrival of our fifth grandchild in June. This will be Christy and John's first child. Too bad we are sooo far away. 

Because we were taking four extra pieces of luggage back with us, we had to be at the airport four hours ahead of time. We had to hire a van to carry all our luggage to the airport. The five footlockers and one duffle bag were all opened and inspected while we stood and watched the procedure. That evening we flew to Amsterdam arriving the following morning of January 25. After a few hours layover, we were on our way again to Nairobi arriving at 8 p.m. the same evening. We met up with Ray and Jill and Art and Mary Ellen and a couple who were with Art and Mary Ellen for a month. Come to find out Don Sherick went to Penn Manor the same time as Kathy and his wife, Marilyn, is a sister to Carol Fickinger. What a small world! The four couples dined at the well‑known Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi before the Shericks headed back to Lancaster.

 After a few days in Nairobi, we headed to the coast to our home in Malindi. All was well at our house in spite of the fact that we did not have any long‑term folks staying there to keep the home fires burning. We arrived to 90‑degree weather with humidity to boot.

 We are back in the swing of things again. After two years of not having Bible study, it is going once again and the Sunday afternoon fellowship in our home. We would like to see more people coming. Van, once again, is installed as pastor of the AIC English speaking service and Kathy is back playing the keyboard. Van continues to be involved in the lives of our African pastors. Kathy visits two ladies at the retirement center each week and is hoping to soon start showing more Moody Science videos to some of the European women in the community. Want to share the following experience that took place in February. We were invited one evening to the home of Lee Cashin for whom many of you are praying (a retired American living in Malindi). Also, there were three other guests. The event began about 7:00 p.m. During the course of the meal, and until after mid‑night the discussion and questions were focused on the Bible, end times, our own personal testimonies of salvation, God, Jesus Christ; conversion and the Holy Spirit. One of the guests an atheist ‑ his thoughts and comments were interesting. When responding to their questions we replied by quoting from the Word of God, and in the end one of them stated "...but you are ALWAYS quoting the Bible!!!" Reply: "Yes, because it is the answer!" It was an evening to be remembered.

 Words cannot express our deepest appreciation for all who made our "home assignment" such a memorable experience. Thank you for your prayers and concerns in regard to Kathy's health. It appears that her thyroid has been the culprit plus reaction to strong medications. From all appearances, she did not have chronic fatigue syndrome although her symptoms, were every bit as horrific. She is fine and eternally grateful to the Lord for His healing by natural means. Please pray that she will continue to maintain good health to carry on ministry here. Your prayers and support are very vital to our being here.

 Joyfully in Him,

Van and Kathy

Field Address:

PO Box 137

Malindi, 80200

Kenya   East Africa