I will not boast about myself. I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I say or do. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:5b, 6b, 10b, NIV).
In 1990 we went to Mombasa, Kenya, with our church, First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga. The next year, we turned our air conditioning/heating business over to our son and went to Transkei, South Africa, for a two-year International Service Corps (ISC) assignment.
After serving in Transkei for 17 months, we transferred to Mandera, Kenya, to work in the Somalia refugee camp. With the help of 31 Somalis, we helped many refugees get food, medical help and supplies.
On completion of our ISC term, we returned to Kenya as associates to work with water development. We dug wells to get water to several people groups who had little or no water. The physical water opened doors for us to share the living Water.
We had many opportunities to serve the Lord and the people in Africa during the 10 years we were there. With the help of our African brothers and sisters, we established two churches among the Turkana people of Kitale, Kenya — both of which have pastors today. We trained church leaders, including two young men as pastors.
During an Experiencing God course, another young man felt called to preach. He is in Bible school and serves as youth leader and choir director in one of the churches. We sent several members to adult literacy training. The literacy classes they started are still in operation and serve as a great evangelism tool.
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service” (1 Tim.1:12, NIV).
Loyd and Doris Banes
East Africa
May 1991–April 2002
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