New Wilmington Mission Conference

I don't like alarmist titles like this, but don't know how else to say it. Lois Anderson and her daughter,

This e-mail comes from Margie Stock, sister of Bill Anderson.

Dear Praying Friends,

   Some of you have already heard from various sources of the tragedy which struck our family this week.  We want to share details so that you can pray for all of us and especially for the family of Margie's brother Bill Anderson.  Over the years many of you prayed with us as Bill lost the sight of one eye, and later was hit two different times by a car resulting in multiple injuries especially to his leg.  Each time he rallied with tremendous courage and will power, determined to walk again, which he did!

Your prayers helped release God's power to help him in all these struggles.

This time he needs your prayers for a different reason.

    BILL and LOIS ANDERSON are retired missionaries who served in Sudan, Uganda and Kenya for nearly 50 years. They were especially involved in developing African leadership through Bible Schools and Seminary teaching.

Many present day pastors in Sudan and East Africa are their former students and love them dearly. They are now retired in South Carolina but still very active as advocates for the millions suffering in the Sudan.

    This Christmas they decided to have an almost complete family reunion in Nairobi, Kenya where their two married daughters live and work..  Sylvia is married to Otto Moller, a Dane in charge of the European equivalent of Peace Corps.  Zelda is married to Craig White an official in the US Embassy in Nairobi. The White¹s three college-age children came for Christmas along with Craig¹s parents. Bill¹s son Phil and family also came from Mississippi.

The only family missing was their younger son, Steve who works with World Food Program in Rome.  Margie¹s younger brother and his wife, John and Joy Anderson who work with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Uganda were also part of the party. They visited game parks, mountains, waterfalls, and other famous sites and had a wonderful time. These happy memories will be a comfort in days to come.  Bill and Lois stayed on into January.

      Saturday, January 27th, five of them drove in an embassy car to visit some Kenyan friends on the outskirts of Nairobi. Not knowing the exact location they parked on the side of the main highway about 3 p.m. waiting for their friend to come and show them the way. Zelda was driving with Lois beside her.  Bill, Sylvia and her son Alexander were in the back seat.

Suddenly a vehicle pulled in front of them. Four armed carjackers jumped out and motioned for them to get out of the car. Without waiting for them to obey they opened fire. Lois was first wounded then received a fatal shot.

Zelda was hit only once but it killed her instantly. The other three got out unharmed and somehow got the two women out. They were left by the side of the road as the carjackers took off with the car. Sylvia could find no pulse in either of them. Eventually police came and took them to a hospital where it was obvious they had already gone to be with the Lord. Both knew and loved the Lord dearly, so we have no doubts as to the joy they are experiencing at this time. It is the ones left behind who are in great pain.

You can imagine the shock and horror in the hearts of all of them! Later the police claimed to have shot and killed two of the carjackers and the car was recovered. The motive seems to have been robbery, not anti-American feeling, terrorism or religious prejudice.

     Zelda¹s three children, Elijah, Arielle and Max flew out from the USA as well as Craig¹s parents. Bill's sons, Phil and Steve, have also come, plus John and Joy from Uganda. We long to join them but have used up our two entries on our present visas. It is a laborious process to get new visas.

So the family is gathering to mourn their great loss together. Hundreds of African friends are also flocking around to show their sorrow. So often we foreigners are whisked away to our home country when ill or injured. Our national friends seldom have a chance to see how the Lord can help us in these situations. Nor are they able to express their love and sorrow to us in tangible ways. This time it is different!  We know it will mean much to Bill and the family to have their many African friends join with them in their sorrow. We trust the witness given will also bless their friends.

     The funeral will be held at 10 am Friday, February 2nd in St.

Andrew¹s Presbyterian Church in Nairobi where Bill and Lois often worshipped. Pray that it will prove a blessing, comfort and challenge to those who attend. A private family burial service at 3 pm will be held in Limuru 25 miles from Nairobi where St. Paul¹s Theological College is located. Bill taught there several years when Zelda was a girl. She also has been taking classes there recently, working toward a degree in theology. It is a beautiful and appropriate place.

    We cannot understand why God would allow this tragedy. But we learned at the time of our son Dale¹s death that it is not helpful to ask ³Why?² The right questions are: ³What do You want me to learn from this?  How can my ministry be deepened and made more effective because of it?² Pray that all of us will find answers to these questions, so that their deaths will bring us closer to Jesus.

    Thank you to all who have already shared with us your sorrow and assured us of your prayers.

Fred and Margie Stock

Lois Anderson, a longtime missionary to Kenya and friend of many at New Wilmington Mission Conference,

This is just a quick attempt to summarize and organize links to the information about the deaths of Lois