Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting. God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40: 28-31).

Dear Praying and Giving Friends,

Warm greetings to you in the strong name of Jesus. Thanks to His strength, we are continuing on here at the Rift Valley Academy. How wonderful to know that not only does He not get tired—but He gives strength to those who do!

We are thanking Him for His help each day, as none of us know what that day may hold. As superintendent at RVA, at any moment an African brother in Christ may walk through Jim’s door asking for help. No appointment is necessary. His door is always open. Some days there is a line of people waiting to see him. The needs range from a local pastor requesting Jim to preach at his church, needing fees for his son’s schooling, and wanting to sell his chickens to RVA staff. Other requests include money for seeds, money for a local school to celebrate their having been recognized for improvement, and the list goes on. Presently, one of our local pastors who is a good friend of Jim’s is suffering from cancer of the spine. Please pray for Him. What can we say? God gives the strength. God gives the wisdom. "Give thanks unto the Lord for He is good."

At any time, one of the RVA staff members may come through Jim’s door to share with him that a parent or a brother is terminally ill and they need to go home. Lately one of our staff members had a problem with kidney stones. His operation in Nairobi did not help. Jim made the decision that it was best for him to fly to the United States for treatment. There he was operated on again but due to the fact that his kidney was infected, infection spread through out his body and he became gravely ill and was put on a respirator. Later they removed one of his kidneys and the doctors didn’t know how he was still alive. Praise the Lord he is now recuperating. What can we say to these things? "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!"

At any moment one of our dorm girls may receive devastating news that her father who is a missionary in Lesotho is deathly ill with cerebral malaria. Kathy hugs her, cries with her, and prays that the Lord will spare her father and give his daughter strength and peace to carry on here at RVA. God gives the strength. "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!"

News from home may be unthinkable and the separation unbearable, but once again we go to our Shepherd who comforts us and reminds us that He is in control and knows what He is doing. He restores our souls and gives us strength to go on. "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!"

Praise the Lord with us that He is indeed a good God and that His love endures forever. Thank you for your prayers and support of us while we carry on here at RVA. You are the ones who are lifting up our hands and enabling us to be here.

We pray that He will strengthen you today as you face whatever comes your way. "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!"

Much love and prayers,

Jim and Kathy Long

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 37