• Establishing the Mission Station: During the annual AIM missionary conference at Kijabe in December 1966, the AIM Field Council asked Howard and Doris Andersen, Paul (Junky) and Betty-Lou Teasdale, and Charlie and Doris Barnett to build a road up the steep hill to the top of Mt. Kulal and construct a mission station at Gatab, a distance of 400 miles from Nairobi.
However, Gatab was deemed a dangerous place by the British Colonial Government. They would not allow their wives to accompany the missionary men. But Betty Teasdale (a missionary kid) said, “Hello, I lived where the men were killed in South America. If it’s dangerous for the women, it’s dangerous for the men. They are either taking us or they’re not going because I’m a missionary kid, I’m outspoken.” So the Government said, “You need to have six armed policemen with guns.” But the missionaries objected, saying, “That means we will need to feed them.”
Instead, they agreed to carry six guns to help defend themselves. In the end, they never used them except to shoot over the heads of raiding Boran. Later a contingent of police was stationed at Gatab.
All three men were AIM missionary kids: Charlie Barnett (grandson of Albert Barnett and son of Erik Barnett); Howard Andersen (grandson of Andrew Andersen and son of Earl Andersen); and Paul Teasdale (son of Charles Teasdale).
They all agreed to build the road to Gatab, bought equipment and prepared for this challenge. The work started in February 1967. Earl Andersen brought six Rendille men to help. Massive rocks had to be moved, a major challenge for these men. They used crow bars, seven feet long, to loosen the rocks and roll them down the hill. Tree trunks and bushes had to be removed. For the lower section they were able to use County Council machinery for road making, but the last 3 ½ miles had to be built all by hand labor. Switchback corners were made large enough for trucks to twist and turn up the mountain road. Once the rocks were removed, the road surface was smoothed with a grader. The wind was so strong that it blew their tents down. In fact the highest sustained winds in the world are at Lake Turkana.3471

• Jan 14, 2001
Dear Dave and Gretchen,
Thanks for all of your help in letting folks know about Doris. It was fortunate that Andy and Margaret had the month of October to spend with Doris. Now they should not have any doubts as to whether they made the right choice of time.
When we were at Tammy’s for Christmas, Philip and Eddie were there, and Eddie introduced us to his fiancee Rachel Lucas. Doris was impressed with her as she fit right into the family and was not “stand-offish” or afraid to get her hands dirty. She earns her living as an electrician, but is very skillful in music. She and Eddie sang at church in Maine as well as at the Funeral where she played the piano for the service. It seems she is very good on the piano, guitar, violin and singing. They are planning the wedding for April when Andy and Margaret are in the states. (Just get Margaret through her formalities quickly.)
The Funeral Service was more a celebration than a memorial, as Doris is called Home now without limitations imposed by her body.
With much love,
Howard3472, p 5

• Trust you got the BIG NEWS about Howard’s forthcoming wedding in Sept. That was a surprise for us to hear. I have since received a letter from Virginia Jones, and , to be sure, she is an active kind of person! She’s been widowed for eight years, used to work in the Congo and CAR [Central African Republic] and hasn’t been idle since she’s been in the US. They met through church, she is the “Harvesters” class president, Howard is the class teacher. I’ve received a two page handwritten letter from her by means of introduction - more words, I think, than I ever received from Doris. Don’t mean to compare them, though. However, one cannot but help notice that they most definitely are different kind of gals! For one, Virginia writes about her and Howard as actually engaged in conversation...she writes, “He and I often play ‘Can You Top This’, but his Kenya stories always supersede my Congo/CAR ones :-)” and “your dad tells me all about your boat ministry”...she continues, “It’s just a beautiful story of love from God that brought your Dad and me together.” She sounds a bit like a whirlwind of a woman...I hope Howard is up for it, I’m not convinced a domineering woman is so good for an Andersen, however, I’m sure Virginia is better matured than myself and Howard may well be ready for some energy in his life!3473, p 1

• Your genealogy papers arrived just before we left for Greenville SC & the 50th of my childhood N[ew] E[ngland] friends (I was in wedding). When I read that Howard goes back to John Alden & Priscilla (a story every kid knew when I was young in Mass!), I told him he was “in.” Lil mentioned to sister Fran “why we know nothing of this man Ginny is marrying!! - the JA & P connection worked.3474, p 2

• Missionaries Train Congolese Refugees the Skills of Finding Water
Oicha, Congo: AIM missionaries, Howard Andersen, and his son, Andy, third and fourth generation missionaries respectively, minister in Africa following in the tradition of their father and grandfather as pioneer missionaries. Both have engineering bents along with the natural, “making do with what you’ve got” skills learned by growing up on the mission field. In particular, both are skilled in finding and managing water supplies.
So, Chris Hamilton, AIM’s Congo Relief Coordinator, immediately thought of Howard and Andy when thousands of refugees, fleeing renewed fighting, streamed into her refugee center in Oicha. With water in short supply, emergency action had to be taken. In a flurry of fast-paced radio calls and permissions, Chris had her husband, Dale, a pilot, fly the father and son to Oicha to see what could be done.
Surveying the area, Howard said, “...it became evident that there was lots of water there, they just needed to know how to find it.” Selecting a group of men, the missionaries taught them the skills of finding water. By day’s end they not only located four good spots to dig wells, but were also able to calculate the depth of the water.
While the wells were being hand dug Howard said, “We also made suggestions as to how to improve the water sources that were being used.”
Now, as a result of this hands-on training, the refugees will be able to go ahead and locate water as needed. Not bad for a day’s work.3475

• Flash Flood
[excerpts] The African darkness crept through Kenya’s Northern Frontier District while a steady rain reduced visibility for the three passengers crammed in a heavily loaded Toyota Land Cruiser which slushed along the mud road leading to the Ngororoi water project.
A crew of some 90 Samburu tribal workers waited anxiously for the three occupants to arrive.
Anxious, because AIM missionary, Howard Andersen, his wife Virginia, and missionary volunteer, Roger Green, had the supplies and money needed to finalize the last one-half mile of work to conclude the three-year project of building a pipeline bringing both life-saving water and the gospel to this desert tribe.
Heavy rains had washed out a 50 yard section of the main macadam road, so they were forced to use this less than ideal secondary road. However, with skills learned from 40 years of navigating African roads, Howard effortlessly maneuvered the burdened vehicle around pot holes and through long patches of mud.
But a major concern lay ahead: crossing the bridge-less river. Most of the year it was dry, or at most contained only a trickle of water. However, during the rainy season (which had just begun) the innocent trickle often became a raging torrent.
So it was with a sigh of relief when the missionaries arrived at the river bed and saw it only had about six inches of water flowing lazily toward Lake Baringo. Squinting through the darkness and rain Howard could see a path of rocks strewn across the wide river expanse providing a solid track to the other side. Satisfied, he geared the Toyota into four-wheel drive and inched his way down the steep, muddy bank and onto the rocks.
That’s when disaster struck...
As they started to cross the river, a tire slid on a rain slick rock, wedging it between several other rocks like a vise. Stuck! It was impossible to move the vehicle either forward of back. Howard told his wife and Roger to stay in the Land Cruiser while [he] went outside and try to jack up the vehicle to free it from the wedge.
No sooner did he step into the ankle deep water, when he sensed the sound of rushing water. Then he heard cries from Africans running to the river bank yelling, “The water is coming! The water is coming! Run! Run!”
A flash flood...
The ankle deep water was now up to his knees. Rushing to the car door he yelled for Roger to abandon the vehicle, at the same time he grabbed his wife – the water was rising fast!
Scrambling, they clawed their way up the muddy steep bank just as a wall of water torpedoed an uprooted tree into the Land Cruiser.
Exhausted, they looked in horror as the angry rushing water swept not only their vehicle, but all their supplies, tools, food, clothing, computer, printer, and $5000 worth of Kenya shillings downstream toward Lake Baringo.3476

• Howard and his first wife, Doris, were commissioned in 1965 and began working at Rift Valley Academy, a boarding school for missionary children. In 1967 they began a new mission station at Gatab with church planting and nurturing, construction of roads and buildings, water engineering, managing a fish project, and opening a new work with other missionaries.
They returned to the states in 1998 due to Doris’ illness, living at the AIM Retirement center in Florida. After the death of Doris (due to ALS) in January 2001, Howard continued to work on staff at the retirement center. He continued his 2-month trips to Kenya in 2001 and 2002 to work on the Ngororoi Water Project. He married Virginia Jones, whom he met at the retirement center, (a retired Congo missionary) in September 2002. They are now on staff at the AIM retirement center and have done some short-term assignment in Africa.3477

• Dear Dr. Ted,
Greetings from Tanzania.
Regarding your question:
My impressions of Dad's work in Gatab surroundings is in regard to the long-term influence of a missionary.  Over many years Dad has been involved in the lives of Samburu people teaching his own workers daily, preaching on Sunday, and sitting in elder meetings across the Northern Frontier of Kenya, as it used to be called.  He worked to meet physical needs as well, creating and maintaining a water supply for a whole village, including a local police post.  He helped build a dispensary and assisted nurses with their mechanical problems (car, electricity, medical evacuation).  When 90% of the cattle of the Samburu in the Kulaal area died due to famine, Dad organized a food-for-work program that both saved many people from starvation, but also improved the infrastructure of the water system and local roads.
This sort of care was summarized for me when Dad was honored by the community, given the ceremonial shuka and fimbo (blanket and staff) of the elders of the Samburu.  Looking back into the Old Testament we read that Boaz went to the city gate to get witnesses.  These were the elders of the community.   In the same way dad has lived and worked among the Samburu people fostering them, teaching them, and sitting among the elders of the land.  I look forward to seeing all the men, women, and children from that community who will see the face of Jesus because God had chosen dad to work among the people of the land in this way for so many years.  Dad traveled over many dusty, thorn ridden roads and paths to bring the good news of Jesus to Samburu villages, and other towns stretching from Wajir to Ileret.  This is the heritage that stretches beyond this world, more valuable than money, more lasting than gold.
I hope this helps.  I could probably write more, but its probably not good to boast too much...
Andy
Andy and Margaret Andersen
PO Box 1414
Mwanza, Tanzania3478

• Even though Howard officially retired from the Retirement Center staff a few years ago he still enjoys providing mechanical and metal repair work for the Center’s shop. Serving as a deacon and teaching Sunday School keep Sundays a busy ministry day too.3479

• You have made the right deductions.  Ellen always went by just Ellen Short.  Sylvia went by Silvia Sheets when I was introduced.  And I think the year was 1970.  That was the year that we were on furlough. Sylvia lived in Long Beach at that time, but I do not have any info as to address.  The only other picture I have of Ellen Short was our Wedding picture where my folks and Doris's mother and older brother show.  I scanned that picture and you should have it now.3480

• Ginny just called me to let me know that Howard died at 1:47 today (Sept 2).They were on their way north to see Tammy and had stopped in New Hampshire to visit friends. While sight seeing in a mine Howard decided he did not want to go farther. When they got out he went into a diabetic coma and couldn't be revived.3467

• We were driving enroute from Florida to Maine leaving our home on 8/25/11 the same day Hurricane Irene made her debut here in Florida. We evaded her all along the way, changing our route outside of D.C. only to meet her in the cottage we were staying in in Rumney NH at the conference grounds. We lost our lights for 2 days and that posed problems with no water & lights so we lived African style until power returned. We vacated that lovely cottage (thanks Dinah T.) & went across the way to friends Ken & Esther Ward for what was to be 3 days before heading to Tammy & Cleve’s to meet up with Phil, Katie & Mae coming from England via Boston. But on Fri. Sept 2nd Howard went into diabetic shock when we were driving through Grafton, NH. I cannot relate the story except to say that the Lord undertook for me in ALL the details to this day. We family members & Wards viewed his remains in New London NH funeral home Sat. evening.3481, p 1

• Howard Andersen, retired AIM missionary, Andy’s dad and beloved husband of Ginny Andersen, went to be with the Lord. Our last word from them was very encouraging, as his health was good and they were in the midst of a three week trip up the East Coast to visit family and friends. If we understand correctly, while sightseeing in New Hampshire, Dad went into a diabetic coma and couldn’t be revived. Margaret [Mills Andersen]3482

• Dear Andy, Eddie & Families,
We share with you in the loss of the father and grandfather of your immediate families.  Though we know Howard is with the Lord, and no longer has any medical problems (or any other, for that matter!), his passing leaves a big gap in the family.
As you know, he was in the same class at RVA as Art, and they/we have enjoyed lots of stories, safaris, and fellowship in the years since we joined him and Doris as missionaries here in Kenya.
When we heard the news, one of my thoughts was that now Van has another bush missionary from Kenya with whom to share stories.
Praying God’s peace and provision for you now and in the days ahead.
With love,
Mary Ellen & Art [Davis]3483

• JOHN HOWARD ANDERSEN
J. Howard was born on August 13, 1942 to Earl and Esther Andersen in Kaimosi, Kenya. He was the youngest of three boys, Herbert (Dilly) four years older and Willard two years his senior. As His parents were second and third generation missionaries, Howard grew up in Kenya as a very immersed MK in Africa culture and living.
He came to the Lord at an early age schooled in the Word at the knee of his parents. His childhood was a happy one. He had all his schooling at Rift Valley Academy, except for two different times in the states, with first grade in Rhode Island and seventh grade in Pennsylvania with eighth grade in California. He attended and graduated from Azusa Pacific University in CA where his grandmother was a professor. He worked all four years in the maintenance department. During his first week he wandered over to their shop and saw a disabled forklift which no one could start. He asked them if they wanted him to fix it and they gave him a try. It ran and he was hired on the spot and expected to finish up when he received his BA in 1964. But he continued to work in the maintenance shop for a year after graduation until he and Doris left for the mission field, debt free. He had met his first wife Doris at APU and they married on June 12, 1964.
His goal when he began college was to return to Kenya as a missionary. As a member of Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles he also received more excellent training and preparation for the mission field. Doris shared his missionary vision and soon after graduation and marriage their support came in quickly. By November, 1965 they began their safari across the US (in the winter so it was eventful) to Brooklyn NY and AIM. Their first assignment in Africa was to Rift Valley Academy at Kijabe where Howard rebuilt Jubilee Hall and Doris was a 4th grade teacher. They were content with this assignment but God had more in mind for them.
During this time the then Field leader, Erik Barnett, his father, Earl Andersen, and Dr. Propst were concerned about the Northern Frontier District of Kenya. The British had never allowed missionaries up there except a few Anglicans and R.Cs. These three men made a survey trip to Mt. Kulal where a desolate place called Gatab rested. They heard that there was water at the top of the mountain above Gatab that the British had harnessed to some extent. With the permission of the new, independent government of Kenya, they made the trek and returned to find recruits. Howard, Charles Barnett and Paul Teasdale answered the call. They left with their wives in February 1967 for this new pioneer work. Just building the road up to Gatab was a challenge as they had to have firearms in one hand and pick and shovel in the other. This was due to the fact that raiders made havoc in the area, killing people and stealing cattle. Tribe fighting tribe. The fact that they had a spot light at night in their camp (that scanned the area hourly) and rifles constantly on hand, made an impression on the locals. One day 200 Samburu were found in their camp when they returned from road work. As 11 had been killed and cattle taken in a raid the night before, these people wanted to live near them. They didn't mind that.these men were missionaries and had the Words of God for them. They wanted security and peace, From two or three men they had previously seen about, they now had an instant village of 200 plus. Thus began the missionary work at Gatab. Howard and the other two missionaries built the church, school, and dispensary before Charlie and Paul left Gatab for other ministries. From 1967 to 1999 Howard and Doris remained at Gatab. During this time their four children were born; twins, Andrew and Tamara, sons Philip and Edward. They all are serving the Lord with the three boys as missionaries in Africa and Tammy as a wife and mother serving in a church in Maine. As Howard continued at Gatab he saw the need of a Dormitory for the children of the nomadic Samburu herders and thus built Haven Home that was funded by Merv Rosell Ministries. He also built a Nursery School and some Outstation Churches. Many of the students who went through Haven Home are in high positions today in government, medical, church and education jobs. Gatab has contributed greatly to the spiritual, material and physical life of the NFD.
Beyond Gatab, Howard was Executive Secretary of the DCC and responsible for the entire Marsabit District for AIM and AIC. He traveled on a monthly circuit visiting each church in the district and covered many miles over rough terrain and desert tracks considered roads. He did many water projects, and made 130 kms of road building, sometimes with his father and sometimes with his brother Dilly. He built over 45 kms of pipe lines. His most amazing accomplishment in this area was when he was asked in 1999 by the chief at Gatab to harness the water in the Ngororoi Canyon to bring it down 8½ kms by pipe to the water tank sitting empty at Ngororoi. This was attempted unsuccessfully by another NGO. It was at this time that Doris became unwell and she left for the states in April to be near Tammy and have further treatment in Maine. When the possibility of Lou Gehrig's was the diagnosis Howard left Gatab in September of 1999. They were assigned to the AIM Retirement Center in Florida in October 2000 where he eventually became Maintenance Manager while caring for Doris. Doris passed away on January 2, 2001. Howard continued in his assignment at Media but returned to Gatab for three months the following two years to get the water project started. On September 28, 2002 he married Virginia Jones, who was residing at Media, and she joined him in this water project venture in May, 2003. The water project was successfully completed in July and he began to build a church and pastor’s house for the new village of Ngororoi. They returned to the states in December 2003 with the completion of Phase One (the physical water) and Phase Two (the church and pastor’s dwelling). Phase Three followed with the completion of the airstrip, and yet to come a school, a meat processing plant and a dispensary to make Ngororoi a strategic village of Marsabit District. It began with an African Chief’s request to harness water in a canyon high up in Mt. Kulal to come down to a tank and trough, producing 500 gallons of water an hour, for the benefit of people and animals in an arid area of Kenya.
Howard retired in 2007 with over 40 years of faithful service. God alone knows the fruit of Christ that has resulted from his labors. His favorite hymn was “I will sing of my Redeemer, And His wondrous love to me. On the cruel cross He suffered, Paid the debt and set me free.” He was a man of quiet humility who only wanted the Lord to be glorified in his life and in his death with a song of praise only to his Redeemer, Jesus Christ.3470,3481, pp 4 & 5

• I was comforted a few days ago in talking with Esther. You remember we were with Ken and Esther when your father went Home to Glory. She said that when they went to Ken’s diabetic doctor in Laconia NH, they told her the story of what happened. She said your father didn’t die of Diabetes, but of heart. I can believe that as he developed a heart problem a year or so ago that put him in the hospital. He had to carry a bottle of nitroglycerin with him but I never knew how it worked and I believe he developed a problem down in the mine that didn’t appear to be from diabetes. I can’t understand how doctors can give the patient that little bottle and not clue his wife. Under those circumstances he is unable to use it. It is of no consequence now but it does give me understanding as it was a great trauma to me. God is mindful!3484

• Dear Andy,
In catching up with the AIM emails in my inbox I just read about the home-going of Howard. I did not know until just a few minutes ago that he passed on to glory in early Sept. I feel bad now that I missed this news and thus missed a chance to sit and reminisce a bit with you at conference in Dar. In fact we never really got to chat this year. Purity and I were plenty stretched with being liaisons for the children’s team and with our little ones. In fact conference wasn’t all that enjoyable for me this year. But, so be it.
In thinking back about the time I spent with your dad and mom at Gatab in the summer of 1990 a few things stick out and I wanted to pass it on to you. Did you know that your folks were the very first AIM missionaries I met? I stayed with them up at Gatab for 2 weeks. I remember hearing your mom say how much she looked forward to the annual missionary conference as she cherished the time to hang out with other ladies. Your dad followed up on the heals of her sentiment with something about how much work needs to be done around the station and that it’s fine to go to such events but “plenty of things to do here as well.” He definitely was a hard worker. I remember another thing and that was how generous your dad was one day to the police chaps that happened across Gatab station one morning. They showed up with some story of an old Land Rover that ran out of fuel out in the Chalbi desert. They needed to be bailed out and hoped Howard would spot ‘em some litres with a promise to bring some back to repay “kesho.” He laughed a bit with ‘em and then we all took off in his (tan) car to rescue them. I didn’t think much of it that day, but now some 21 years later and with my African experience I realize that he was being a good neighbor and was just plain generous, even with such a rare and treasured commodity as fuel in the bush. I think he even told me on the side after they barreled off something to the effect that “they’ll never pay it back but I’m glad they’re around to help patrol.”
Last memory was one of those nasty hairy little caterpillars they got up there. One day your dad gave me and the other 19 year-old I was with a job to chop away the bushes from the generator housing. He warned us to watch out for the little buggers cause they are fire on the skin. I was as careful as could be but the hairs they left behind found their way into my arm. Ouchie-wawah!!! It was not pleasant. And soon they gave me some black Protex soap to wash it off. We ate meals with them, had chai and heard stories. Your parents were both good to me some 21 plus years ago Andy. Your dad took time to tell me about the candelabra trees and then even allowed me to snatch a photo of a small group of camels as this herd boy raced toward me yelling and mad as could be one day as we cruised across the Chalbi desert on that police rescue trip.
Your father Howard was hospitable to me, a young 19-year old whipper snapper asking a lot of questions and I’ll always be grateful to God for those two weeks I spent with him.
I know some weeks have passed now since his passing and I’m sorry for you and your siblings for it. But just wanted to share with you this.
God Bless you Andy!
Forrest [Haskins]3485

• I got to thinking today as we cleared up from a windstorm, just how much time is spent surviving out here in Dukana. It reminded me of a saying my Dad (Howard Andersen) used to tell visitors. He used to say "living in a bush location one spends 90% of your time surviving and 10% doing the ministry you thought you were supposed to do." That seems like some pretty inefficient work if you measured it like an industry but what I found when visiting his old ministry location was definitely the opposite. Everyone I met had a story of how my dad had changed there lives and one man in particular pulled me aside to say that Dad was one of the greatest men he ever knew; one of greatest of this past generation. One who will never be forgotten. Apparently the ministry of survival spoke to the hearts of those whom my Dad worked and maybe the 10% helped. But really God definitely will make use more of us than we ever think possible. Everything we do speaks volumes! Praise God that he calls us to greater things than we can imagine!
– Eddie Andersen on Facebook, 7 Nov 2021