February 2006

Greetings,

We took this picture during the rainy season when children were drinking milk and the cattle were grazing on green fields.

The drought has changed all of that. Three and a half million people in 37 districts in Kenya are facing starvation. Littering the savannah are the dried bones of cattle that died for lack of water and grass.

In the last ten years, global warming has shortened the two rainy seasons and increased temperatures in southern Africa.

Churches, corporations, the Red Cross, and the World Food Program are trying to assist. But to our dismay, some local politicians have been caught trying to swindle the people by selling the food donations rather than giving them to the people. We can’t imagine stealing food from starving people.

In contrast, we watched a television program about the latest craze in California that is sweeping the United States: Doggie Beer. It seems you can buy a special non-alcoholic brew for your dog for only eight dollars a six-pack. We hope those who splurge on their dogs will also find it in their hearts to splurge on the starving people throughout the world.

Our prayer for you and for us is echoed in the hymn, “God of Grace and God of Glory”

Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation
be our glory ever more.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving Thee whom we adore.

Blessings and peace,

Lyle and Terry Dykstra

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 334