Author Archives: joshuaruthbarron

Eton Kira Parmang’at

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We’ve learned a new phrase in the Maa language.  Parmang’at is an adjective that describes that state of in-between-ness experienced by those in transition.  It means being neither here nor there, but being somewhere in between, or perhaps being mostly here but still a little bit there.  When you have shifted your cows because of drought (maybe walking 10 – 100 miles on foot), but have not yet built a new village, you are parmang’at, unsettled.

So we find that “Eton kira parmang’at” — we are still not settled.  (For those of you who don’t know, we arrived back in Kenya just less than six weeks ago.)  But since we are sojourners, “strangers and aliens” as Peter puts it, that’s not a bad place to be (even though uncomfortable).  After all, our forefather Abraham was but a “wandering Aramean” (Deuteronomy 26.5).  And the Lord whom we serve had “no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8.19-20; Luke 9.57-58).

Back in Kenya

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Entasupa pookin!  (Greetings to all of y’all)

After an extended furlough, we are now back in Kenya.  (We had let our prayer partners and our supporting churches know of our return date, but had been so busy that we had not sent out a general update.)

We arrived in Nairobi late on Saturday evening.  We’ll be in the city for a couple of weeks for meetings and to look for the right vehicle.  Then we’ll head to Narok to look for a house.

We are looking forward to getting reconnected with our Maasai co-workers in ministry.

Glad Tidings!

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Greetings and glad tidings to you all in the name of our Lord who saves us!

Our little one has arrived; both Ruth and baby are well.  The three big sisters are very excited to have a new baby brother.  Zerachiah Joshua was born yesterday at home (as planned).  Those of you who have been praying for Ruth and Baby:  Thank you.

For those of you who must know, Zerachiah was 21 1/3 inches long and weighed 7 lbs 15 oz.

grace and peace to you all in our Lord Jesus,

joshua & ruth barron,
with alitzah, hannah gail, eliana AND zerachiah

Where in the World are the Barrons?

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We have NOT just returned to Kenya …

Click here to download PDF of our February 2010 newsletter.

When people are interested in learning about our life as missionaries, my favorite question is “Describe a typical day.”  That request always makes me smile, because sometimes we would really like to have the predictability of having “typical” days.  The Scottish poet Robert Burns pessimistically observed that “the best laid plans of mice and men / often go astray.”  But biblically, we know that “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 33:11).  In other words, thank God that his planning is best!

The question of character

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For those of you who haven’t signed up for our email updates, it has been a while since we last wrote.  Much has happened since then with meetings, teaching classes, curriculum research and writing, and family life.  Scattered throughout has been a lot of questioning and learning. …

… It was the right question, and they had much to say on the issue of character.   …

Click here to download a PDF of our August 2008 newsletter.