Thanks much for your prayers and concern over this time as we prepare for the memorial service and funeral for Joseph Shenk this weekend in Harrisonburg, Va.

The Tanzania and Kenya church leadership requested a viewing and memorial service before the body was sent to the States. This was remarkable, and happened on Monday afternoon. About 120 were present, including nine bishops. Some had traveled all night by bus. The two-hour viewing was a special time as was the two-hour memorial service. Bishop Jackson Magangira preached, with a special focus on friends of Jesus being those who obey Jesus.

Joseph was a dearly loved friend of Africans, as he walked in obedience to the church, its leadership, including servant obedience to the dispossessed. Many of those who spoke emphasized his loving, faithful, servant spirit. I am so grateful that I could be there to share in this with African brothers and sisters. And the singing! It was joy-filled song in the midst of grieving. After the service we shared in a fellowship tea, and then it was getting dark, and suddenly everyone was leaving quickly, many to catch all-night buses back to their homes in western Kenya or Tanzania.

Joseph was a very dear brother to me. We are only 14 months apart, and grew up together in frontier missions in Tanzania. Whenever I have had significant decisions to make, I have sought his counsel, for he was not only a faithful friend, but also a wise and insightful counselor. He was a man of the Word who loved the Christ of the Word, and a faithful servant of the church.

We thank you for your prayers and love in this journey.

In the Peace of Christ,

David W. Shenk