Getting Away

     It is said that missionaries are at a steady state of stress. We felt it when we moved here but we can often forget because the state of stress just becomes normal. The increased threat of terrorism, the conditions of the traffic and the reckless driving, the worry over the ministry and the constant pull of things begging for our attention. It's endless.
     I was reading a blog (http://blogs.ntm.org/brian-pruett/2012/03/23/just-how-stressed-are-missionaries-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/) that stated, "Back in 1999, Drs Lois and Larry Dodds (of Heartstream Resources) were studying the levels of stress on the mission field, using a modified version of the Holmes-Rahe Scale.

     In Holmes and Rahe’s original study, they found that if you reached a level of 200 on the scale in a year, the cumulative stress would have consequences for some time to come.  In fact, they found that 50% of those who reached this level were hospitalized within two years.  The reasons included heart attack, diabetes, cancer, and other severe illness.     So, the Dodds wanted to find out what the typical missionary went through.  As you might have guessed, the news wasn't good.     The typical missionary had not just peaking levels above 300 – they had sustained levels over 300 – – – year after year. The typical missionary, in fact, had [peaked at] double that level – 600 on the scale!"

     

Kenya Missions Retreat, 2014

All to say, the Calvary Chapel Missions Retreat came at just the right time for us! Jeff and Madeline Schlenz from Calvary Chapel DC Metro came to encourage us. I just wanted to share some things that encouraged us in our work out here:     Jonathan and I were encouraged in these words: "We are called to a difficult work, but you are not alone and God says you will win."
     Our hearts cried, "Amen!" as we agreed when Jeff pointed out "We will be tired in the work but not of the work."
     

Lovely Ladies at the Missionary Mixer Night

We were encouraged to remind ourselves of how we came here five years ago: We were brought out here to Kenya by some miracle of God, we scoured the scriptures in search of confirmation, we were at a heightened alert, looking for continued confirmation that God, indeed was speaking to us about our move to Kenya. We doubted at times but the evidence that God was speaking to us concerning Kenya was overwhelming. Once we received the call to go, it was confirmed by Godly men and we were sent out not "only by God but in support of those we loved and have called us "brothers and sisters". 

The Guys Gather for their Picture

    We were encouraged to refresh our memory on the work we do now: "There was once a time where we looked up to this time, where we are and what we are doing." To revisit this truth clears out the weeds of the "daily gardening". When we go outside to the garden (the ministry), the garden in many ways looks the same as it did yesterday. It's hard work. It's stressful work. But it's glorious work.
     We were encouraged that just like Timothy, we will have frequent infirmities with no healing. But we press on. I know that doesn't sound so encouraging but when we read in the book of Acts how the early apostles suffered the same, we feel encouraged that we don't stand alone.
   

The Missionary Kids and Their Teachers

  We were encouraged to work hard and then rest. Such a simple but difficult truth when we don't have a "clock in" and "clock out" time. The work we do can be constant and "inconvenient". But that is the work of a shepherd who tends the flock. True shepherds will stay in difficult times and the sheep don't always know what it cost the shepherd. I'm certain we can't even begin to grasp what it cost Jesus, the good shepherd (John 10:11) to tend to the sheep and ultimately die for the sheep.
 

Women's Session

   We sat together as fellow Calvary Chapel missionaries, laughed at our mistakes, cried with each others over heart breaks, held each other’s hands when we reminisced over loved ones so far away and prayed together for strength to continue on. We left our annual Calvary Chapel Retreat, committed to God's work, remembering our calling and committed to pray for the work each one is involved in here in Kenya.
     I encourage you to pray with us to stand strong. We have seen God at work through Calvary Chapel with several church plants. It's invigorating to be a part of. We are alive and awake in the work God has for us. We desire to be no where else but in the hand of our Lord. Please stand with all of us in prayer. Be a part of the work here.

Josiah Taking a Break for a Quick Dunk

 

Jail Bird

*This post is long! I wanted to jot down my whole experience for my remembrance and for those who are curious. Be warned!*
As the police officer shouted at me in his motorcycle, waving his right arm, I began to pull over.  I quickly told my friend I would call her back and that I was being pulled over. I was sure that it was because I wasn't technically talking on my cell phone "hands free". I had the cell phone clutched in my left hand but on speaker mode. The officer approached the car as I remained calm, preparing myself to be asked for a bribe. The officer spoke sternly to me telling me I have offended the law and speaker phone use was strictly forbidden while driving. Without asking for anything he told me to follow him to the police station and that I was "under arrest". Being under arrest is different here. It's more of like a command to go speak to the office to pay a bail fee to ensure you will be in court the following day or to be jailed until the hearing. The fee was steep. About $125. I followed the officer to the police station, parked my car and followed him inside the building. He looked at me and said, "This is the jail." I felt like he was trying to intimidate me since he didn't point out any other offices. So, this wasn't a tour.....

I climbed the steps to the 2nd floor and met a chubby woman in uniform and a slender woman who sat at a nearby window, looking out at the street. She asked me to sit and asked me about my offense. I'm sure she already knew since she had communicated with the officer who escorted me in. I confirmed my accusation and she said, "So you pay 10,000 shillings now." I assured her I didn't have the amount in my purse and that I would be glad to go to the bank and get it for the bail fee. She told me that I couldn't. This is kind of a game. I was prepared. Like a bargaining strategy. Kind of like if you've ever haggled for a price for a souvenier in a foreign country and the seller firmly tells you a price. They'll walk away and come down in price or make some kind of negotiation after a few minutes. It became clear after a few minutes that she wanted a bribe, asking me to put on the table all the money I had. I took the 1700 (about $20) out of my purse and laid it on the table. She told me to pick up my keys and go home. I asked her if I've been forgiven and if I could take my money back. She told me to just go. I told her that I couldn't leave the money because I am a Christian and wouldn't do that. She spoke back and forth in Kiswahili with the woman at the window. The woman at the window wasn't in uniform and for all I knew, could've been her sister.  I was careful not to call the money on the table a bribe. I didn't want to make her defensive and possibly angry. She was kind and told me to take my money back and go to the ATM for the bail fee and that she couldn't ask me to do something I was uncomfortable with.

I left the office, got in my car, leaving my driver's license inside the office to ensure my return and went to the ATM. After I withdrew the money at a local mall and picked up a few miscellaneous items on my shopping list(I know, it's a little funny) , I was on my way back to the station, determined to share the gospel with this woman.

Upon return the women were no longer there and instead was a kind gentleman in the office who wrote me a receipt and ticket, advising me to appear in Kibera court by 8 AM the next day. He left his phone number in case I ran into trouble. He was very kind and I said nothing about the women before.

I got to Kibera court by 8 AM only to discover that they don't let people in until 9. So we waited. Yes, we. Jonathan came and I was insistent on bringing Benny. My thought process was, "maybe if I bring Benny, he will cause a disturbance. The judge will see how small my offense was and just tell me to go home." I was told by a friend who was at Kibera Court a week before that I could be sitting there for over 8 hours! I was desperate. When 9 AM came there was a large crowd trying to get through security screening and once I passed through, I was directed to a court room for traffic offenses. Shortly after sitting in that room, the traffic offenders were told that the room had been changed. Upon entering the next courtroom the wooden benches filled up quickly and soon, we resembled a can of sardines.  We rose when the judge entered the room and sat when he did. Soon a line of men, cuffed to each other also entered the room. My section was told to get up and shift so the cuffed men can sit. I began to get panicky. I ended up sitting next to two of the men. What in the world were cuffed men doing with the traffic offenders? Two of the men sat next to me, they smiled at Benny, who was sitting on my lap playing Angry Birds on my phone. The guy next to me opened a file and I saw he accused of stealing from a church. 72 chairs, a couple of tables and a church banner. I wonder what he did with the church banner.  The guy he was cuffed to was bring accused of rape of a child.

I sat in the courtroom as the lawyers with stacks of files called out names, some rose when they were called, many were absent. One guy answered when called to which a female lawyer stood and replied, "This man is not such and such...." The judge said, "What is your name?" to the man. He looked sheepishly at the judge and gave the man the same name they had just called. He slowly walked towards the back of the room and shimmied on out the door in plain view of everyone. No one went after him. I'm still not sure what happened there.

The man who was accused of robbing a church was called, stood up, and confirmed his name. The pastor of that church came to testify against him. They tried him right then and there. I can't tell you the outcome because it was in Kiswahili. It was fascinating to me. The church was named, "Miracles and Wonders Revelation (at that point I began thinking, "How long is the name of this church?" So I can't tell you the rest of the name).
Finally they began to call the traffic offenders around 10 AM. I was the 2nd called. I stood before the court as the judge said, "You are accused of talking on your phone while driving. Is it true?" I confirmed. The lawyer said, "Please speak for yourself." At this point, all Kenyan eyes were on me. I was one of two white people in the courtroom and I felt small.  Knowing how silly excuses sounded before the court I quickly said, "Yes I was talking on my phone but I didn't know that speaking on the speaker mode was an offense. So I...." I couldn't think of anything else to say. I stopped in mid sentence with the lawyers looking at me, the judge writing something in my file. I didn't try to recover my sentence because I desperately wanted to sit down and hoped that they would just make a decision. The judge said, "10,000 shilling fine or 40 days in jail." They excused me and I sat on  bench that had been cleared for us. Feeling relieved that I was our of the "hot seat" I watched onto the next case in amusement and curiosity. The man called after me had committed the same offense and said, "I didn't know talking on the speakerphone was against the law." The judge replied firmly, "Ignorance is no excuse for offending the law!" I could tell that that response was meant for me too and I couldn't agree more.

The judge listened to the excuses of the traffic offenders one after the other, never dismissing any. One guy was speeding and claimed he had been a driver for over 25 years and never had a ticket. This circumstance he had to speed because his employer was in labor with her 6th child and she and the baby were dying. He went through the dramatic story and  I was moved deeply, feeling sorry that there really is no 911 emergency, no one equipped to meet someone at their home for this kind of emergency. She would've died and the baby too. After the story nearly concluded, the defendant had a big smile on his face and said, "I am happy to report that we made it to the hospital in time and both baby and mother are doing well." He was fined 3,000 shillings (about $35-$40). He seemed happy with the outcome.

After the last case was heard, us pitiful traffic offenders, were asked to leave the courtroom 2 by 2, holding hands with the person next to us. The Kenyan man next to me, looked down when asked to do this, refusing to give me his hand. The female officer came over and firmly told him, "Shika mkono!" (Hold her hand!) Again he didn't. See, culturally, you will see a man hold hands with another man if they are good friends. Even a woman and another woman if they are good friends. But to hold hands, male and female, even if you're married isn't done. Younger generations in Nairobi are starting to show PDA but is still pretty taboo. An Indian man, maybe in his mid-thirties rushed forward and held my hand. I felt so embarrassed. They had us walking so slow I felt the need to laugh at the awkwardness of the hand-holding. I quietly joked to him, "So...I guess we are going to get married now..." He laughed and began to tell me that this was his second offense. He was fined 15,000 (over $200) for obstructing the road when going the wrong way on the street. His defense was there was no sign indicating he was going the wrong way on this small street. We too, had previously been pulled over for the same thing. There are NO SIGNS telling whether you are going the wrong way or the right way on certain parts of the road. That time we had the kids in the car and the officer excused us.

During our walk to wherever they were leading us,  I was texting Jonathan rapidly in broken texts to "hurry!" and that I thought they were taking me to jail. They were. We were marched out the front, hand-in-hand as Kenyans outside were staring at us, trying to get a glimpse of the criminals. I realized then, I am the only woman in the group. I hoped that there would be a separate women's jail I would go to. The guards with AK47s opened the gates around the back and gave me one look, laughed and said, "Welcome to jail!" I knew they were trying to intimidate me but I felt such a peace from God and honestly, this was probably the funniest experience so far. It seemed VERY dramatic. I was becoming aware that things could get a little scarier once they put me in jail. Still I remained unmoved, sure that I would get an opportunity to share the gospel with someone and at complete peace with whatever were to come my way. We were escorted into the cell where I saw a sea of black male faces. "Are you serious?" I thought. I can't go in there. I'm the only white woman. The officers began to shove us back and I stayed as close to the front as possible, not asking for special treatment but hoped the officers would see that I needed to stay in view of the guards. As we came into the cell, two officers held a crate of Tuskers (beer) which were unopened and a keg and were trying to get it through the crowd and moved outside the cells. I was shocked at the openness of it. They weren't trying to hide it at all.

 One of the guards saw me and said,"I have spoke to your husband and he is paying your bail now. Here, sit right here." He allowed me to sit next to the security officers and I felt grateful. I looked as another line of prisoners formed and I could see outside the gates, family members came to get a glimpse of their loved ones behind the concrete wall with a small window. They looked like they would all march by the window and they even got a few minutes with those waiting on the other side. In this line of prisoners I saw women. Some looked at me in curiosity and some giggled, smiled and waved. A man came up to me and asked me for a job. There are no words for that kind of humor.

One of the guards called all of us traffic offenders together and had us sign a form. It was here, I realized that we were getting back our bail money (the 10,000 shilling I had paid the day before). "Wow!" I thought. "I never expected to get BACK the money. I thought it was gone forever!" But why in the world would they give us back so much money IN jail? Were they crazy? This was a mugging waiting to happen! One of the traffic offenders next to me commented, "Now I have all this money from the bail given back to me but my fine is less than this. It's silly that I have to wait till my brother gets here so he can take money to pay the fine. I have it in my hands." How strange. It really was a matter of these guys needing to get someone to walk the money to an office. How frustrating. Later we found out that the office was telling people they had to go to another bank down the road to deposit the fine money. Then they said that that bank couldn't take the money and made them go to another bank, much further away.

After about 25 minutes, an officer came to retrieve me, informing me that my fine had been paid! I was so glad to get out of there. As the officer approached he asked what kind of work I do. I told him I am a missionary and pastor's wife. "HEY!" He shouted in an excited tone. "A woman of God! A REAL woman of GOD!" I began to get embarrassed as the other prisoners began to look at me. I kept thinking, "Hey, keep it down! I'm still in jail!"

As I walked out, a free woman, the officer said, "I can tell that there is something different about you. I have seen you this whole time and there you are, smiling and not worried." I replied, "I would've been okay, even if  I did stay the night because I know my God is with me." I saw Benny and Jonathan walking up when Benny sprang into a run, jumped into my arms and said, "YAAAY! Mommy's out of jail!"

We walked out of the parking lot, relieved to be done, when a man yelled out to Jonathan (who Jonathan explained had been crossing paths with him during the whole "bail out" process as he was trying to bail out his son. He was the father of the Indian man I had held hands with) said, "HEY! Do you have a machine gun?!? This country is ridiculous! I hate it here! I can't take it anymore!" We decided together that a good rule of thumb is:

A civilian should never yell, "HEY! Do you have a machine gun?" in front of a jail.

Apparently that man had been told to go to several different places to pay bail, when he went to the places, they would send him somewhere else. At the moment he was shouting to us, they told him to go to a mall that was pretty far away. With all the running around and especially in Nairobi traffic, it's enough to make ANYONE crazy.

We decided to use some "jail bird" money my grandmother sent to us for a nice lunch where Jonathan and I laughed as we recounted different parts of his story and mine.

After a morning of "busting out of the joint" I attended my home school meeting where we would be discussing curriculum.

Welcome to our New Sr. Pastor, George Murigi, our Elder, Mike Mwaka and our Deacon, Timothy Mulando

Sunday, March 2nd has finally come and gone. The day Living Water would get a new Senior Pastor, elder and deacon. The big day on our calendar. We knew it would be a whirlwind of activities but I never anticipated the emotion behind it. I couldn't help but look back on our last four years with Living Water Christian Fellowship and a flood of memories came bursting through my mind. I can still see Phyllis coming through the doors of our church with a face full of joy and life. Sometimes concern and heartache. She is the person I come to think of when I think of rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn because of the emotion of joy and tears that would come over her at prayer time. She's gone now. I got to hold her sweet little granddaughter a few weeks ago. Tiny, just like her grandmother. I couldn't help but feel a bit of Phyllis in that sweet child. How Phyllis would have celebrated this joyous day. She loved Pastor George. I remember the old house we used to meet in and just about every Sunday a matatu (14 passenger bus) full of men from U-Turn from Christ (drug and alcohol recovery program) would pile out. I could always here them the loudest during worship. Their Pastor, Duncan Muya, just planted Calvary Chapel in Ngong Hills and they have been meeting there for just over a month. A drunk, homeless man used to come to Living Water faithfully when we met in that house, always smelling of alcohol, sometimes standing up in the middle of service and making a scene or sprawled out in the grass nearby but always welcome. We experienced heartbreak there as we learned of a faithful member who fell into temptation, robbing the church. We were shocked and devastated. He has since apologized but we have never really seen him again. Our dear friends, Robbie and Elizabeth, faithful missionaries to Kenya who taught us much and loved these people till God called them to Samoa.  All these moments are deeply

LWCF with Calvary Delco

Worship team leading at the Sr. Pastor Ceremony

LWCF ladies chatting after service

Calvary Delco leading LWCF in worship

Enjoying some barbecue and fellowship time at the Ferguson's

embeded in our hearts and we hold them dear. Living Water Christian Fellowship has left a deep mark on our hearts. These people have loved and helped us and we've learned so much. So many of the faces have changed throughout the years but it has always held this family community and love for one another. I am proud to call our church my family and people that I truly love. Although we are still parts of the church we acknowledge the changes that are taking place and we are feeling excitement as we begin new ministries within the church.

We came to church and hour and a half early with all the things stuffed in our car to prepare for the day. Extra Bibles, worship sheets, screen projector for the movie for Children's Ministry, snacks, crayons, food for the feast afterwards, communion elements, projects for the kids, movie snacks for the kids, gifts for the new elder, deacon and new Sr. Pastor and signs for the church. We had worked all week on getting all these things together.It was utterly exhausting jut trying to remember it all and even then, we forgot the remote to the DVD player which meant we couldn't watch the DVD for the Children's Ministry.

Following along while CC Delco leads worship

We maxed out our service and held a record of over 80 people coming. We met new friends, family members, welcomed our friends and their Pastor from Githurai, Ed, Kelli and Pastor Murigi and his family. We sang, ate, celebrated, laughed and prayed for each other. We have just a few pictures from that day but we are hoping to share more as they come in from others who were taking pictures. Enjoy.

Following along to worship

With great anticipation we welcomed Calvary Chapel DelCo (Delaware County) to join us as well as two other ministries here in Kenya. The team stayed after a Sunday service (making for a very long day) to lead a worship and children's ministry workshop. We were so blessed and encouraged as the team participated in Children's ministry so they can have an open question and answer time as to what would help us improve our children's ministry. Our worship workshop included some helpful pointers on our leadership positions reflecting what is happening in our daily lives, real worship. We had some practical exercises such as warming up our voices, singing together, working on harmonies and learning to use egg shakers while singing. We had a great time together and we are excited to see how the Lord will use these workshops to improve what we are already doing.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We are so pleased that we've made it safely and in God's arms here in Kenya to 2014. We continue to grow through the word of God, in our homeschooling endeavors and in ministry development at Living Water.
We have some very exciting news to share! We are pleased to announce that on March 2nd, Living Water will have a new Senior Pastor, George Murigi! We are so pleased that after much prayer we are able to make this transition. We won't be going anywhere, though! Our plans are to stay at Living Water Christian and continue to develop various ministries within the church. We've got Children's Ministry up and running now we are working on getting a worship rotation in. Please keep us in prayer as we only want to move and develop as the Lord leads.

We can hardly believe that we have been in Kenya for four years. Our visas will expire next month so we have applied for renewal visas and are hoping to get three years. We have some exciting new things the Lord has been leading us to. We can't wait to share them with you!

We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for praying for our family for 4 1/2 years out here, supporting us financially, sending us encouraging letters, notes, gifts. Your prayers, encouragement, faithfulness in support and the Lord's work is what keeps us out here. We always thank God for you!

Pomp and an Unforeseen Circumstance

I have never been to a graduation where a three year old was one of the guests of honor. Until today. 

An unusual situation, no doubt. But even more unusual for me, because my son was the three-year-old guest of honor.

Over the past year, I have spent quite a bit of time teaching at a local bible college. I taught nine different classes during the year, so I knew the students well. Even though I have left the position there (just too many other priorities), I knew I had to make it to the graduation ceremonies.

Adrienne had scheduled two meetings at church, the first with the leaders of the children's ministry, and another with a team helping plan the ladies Christmas luncheon. Our older two boys were going to spending the day with their friends. That left Benjamin without a place to go.

Adrienne and I were trying to decide what we should do with him. By "deciding" I mean I was trying to convince her to take Benjamin, and she was trying to convince me to take him. I suggested he go with her, as she would be indoors. She suggested I take him, as we would be outdoors, where he would be able to make more noise. "Just give him the iPad, and let him play 'Reading Rainbow'," she said. "You can just sit in the back, and he should be fine."

I agreed, and off Ben and I went. Graduation was scheduled to begin at 10:00, and we arrived at 9:50. I walked toward the administrative offices, and was greeted by the Dean of Admissions. "Oh good, you made it! I didn't think you would. Your cap and gown are in my office." 

"Wait, what? I'm wearing a cap and gown?"

"Of course! You're one of our lecturers! You'll be sitting with the other lecturers on stage."

So there we were, Ben holding his Lighting McQueen lunchbox, me holding the iPad I was going to use to keep Ben occupied. I was expected to be upfront, but I had my three-year-old to find a place to sit. Now looking back, I'm sure I could have politely refused, sat in the back with Benny, and all would have been fine. But everything happened so fast, I just agreed to go along with the plan.

A family friend of ours was there, and she agreed to have Benny sit with herduring the ceremony. I handed her the iPad, and Benny walked away with her to find their seats. I quickly dressed, very glad at this point I wasn't wearing my usual jeans and a polo, but instead had actually dressed nicely. I got in line with the lecturers, and we began walking in to the ceremony grounds.

We made our way to the stage, and I found a seat in the middle row on the stage. It seemed like everything was going to work out beautifully. Until I saw my son.

Now, I didn't see him sitting in a seat with our friends. I didn't see him crying, or running in the grass with the other kids. No, he had walked around the side of the crowd and was walking up to the stage, lunchbox in one hand, iPad in the other. He walked right to the stage, and yells up to me, "Dad, can you help me? I want to play Angry Birds."

Luckily I was able to get him to come up the back side of the stage and tried to hide him behind me in the back row. There was only two people in the back row, both sitting on the far side. I started up Angry Birds, made sure the volume was turned down, and turned around, hoping that it would be quickly forgotten by others. 

So there I was, members of the Board of Governors for the school in front of me, a regional bishop for the denomination on my left, and my three-year-old son sitting behind me playing Angry Birds. 

The graduation ceremony was scheduled to last three hours, and I was unsure how Benny was going to handle sitting there for that long. But I was pleasantly surprised. Overall, he did quite good. Well, except when his bladder notified him that it was reaching maximum capacity.

The guest speaker, a well known evangelist from the U.S., had just finished his speech, and  the M.C. had not yet begun speaking again, when out of the back row, Benny yells, "Dad! I gotta go to the bathroom!"  in front of over 1000 people. I turned around and tried to quiet him, and asked him if he could hold it for a bit. He didn't answer, just gave the little potty dance all parents are familiar with. I tried to exit the stage with him as unobtrusively as possible, and headed to the bathrooms.

Now, for those unfamiliar with the bathroom situation in Kenya, many facilities only use the "Squatty Potty" style bathrooms, the toilet bowl resting level with the floor. This is an improvement over other locations, where it is just a hole over a pit. As soon as we got to the bathrooms, Benny started crying. "Daddy, I can't go in there!" Well, it turned out that it wasn't just his bladder that was full. Benny was too scared to use these toilets, and so I tried to figure out a solution.

We have friends that live on the the school grounds, and they were attending the graduation. I grabbed Benny (still wearing my cap and gown) and ran over to their house, praying the entire way that their gate and door would be unlocked.

We made it, but we did get some odd looks from the security at the graduation. I opened the gate, and ran to the front door. It was open, so we ran in. I hollered to the house help, "Hi, were friends, and my son needs to use the toilet!" and ran right in to the small guest bathroom. Alright, I thought, the worst has happened, and everything is fine.

We survived the graduation, but I did learn a big lesson that day. The next time Adrienne and I have to decide who takes Benny, she's taking him.

Benny and I, dressed to our finest

The farmer

Victoria and Gillett Doggett

Our life, like any of yours, has been a whirlwind of events since our last post. We continue to plow, plant, work and soften the ground, much like a farmer. It's easy to get critical, negative, lose sight, lose hope, give up. The temptation is always there. The comforts of our life in America seem to be calling out. But we never came to Kenya because we would be comfortable but because the God of heaven called us by name, our Jesus died for our sins and it is out of the love that Jesus once showed us that we received that call to go out and make disciples of all men, wherever He may take us. The call in America wasn't always easy just like here. Oh friends, but let me tell you, IT IS WORTH IT! It is beautiful and we are privileged and blessed beyond measure. We have spent the last three days on a missions retreat for Calvary Chapel Missionaries. We were privileged to have guest speakers Gillett and Victoria Doggett encourage us on the topic of unity. It fell on and refreshed our souls like a rush of cool spring water bursting through a dry land. As I sit in my room with dirty clothes from our trip still strewn about the house, I want to share with you some of the words that moved us.

Our Little Apple Tree

We studied how we, as Christians, as followers of Christ, are much like farmers. Now, I don't know much about farming, but since moving to Kenya and starting a little garden, I can imagine the intensity and the hard work of the life of a farmer. I can relate as a person who has watched the hard and exhausting work it takes to be in ministry. It doesn't stop. Ever. Much like a farmer we have to be purposeful and intentional with our time. We can't be lazy. A lazy farmer doesn't reap the rewards of a crop if he hasn't worked the ground. And as much as you work the ground, you don't see things happening right away. I know this to be true both in ministry and with a little apple and avocado tree we planted in our front yard. We planted the apple tree 2 years ago. It hasn't grown much. We planted it from something a bit bigger than a seedling. With the promise from the woman who sold us the plant that we'd see fruit in a year and a half we almost tore it out of the ground in a year. The leaves had died off on top, it looked pretty sad and it hadn't grown an inch. Just as we almost pulled that tree up we noticed life just on a little twig of a branch. A little bud. So we left it there, dug around it, put fresh, red, mineral-rich African soil around and waited. Well it's been two years and maybe that tree grew an inch. But a funny thing happened. Not only are there leaves on it, but an apple! It looks like the tree that Charlie Brown picked out at Christmas with a single ornament weighing the little tree down, but it's there. A healthy little tree. Not what we thought it would be at this stage but alas, there's fruit! That's what full time ministry feels like at times. We can forget about patience and perseverance. We learned we could have years of lost crops, uprooted and stolen crops, but we keep diligence.
We keep planting the seeds, even if we don't get to see the harvest. And oh friends, what Jesus said is true as well when he said, "The harvest is plenty yet the laborers are few." There is so much to be done in this wonderful country.  We need more light penetrating the darkness here. We need preachers, teachers of the word of God, we need people who will stay and disciple. We needs to be Christians who are sober, alert and to keep tilling the ground. Keep watering, keep pulling the weeds, keep pruning.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

A Beautiful Season of Life

For those of you who are reading our blog for the first time, WELCOME! If you have heard and want to see the video of the "cobra slaying" mentioned in Jonathan's interview on KWAVE, make your way to the blog post below. And let that be a warning, too. There is a video involving blood, a Spitting Cobra and a decapitation....all in the same video! If that freaks you out, be forewarned! DON'T SCROLL DOWN PAST THIS POST!!!! (; 

 

I am sitting at the computer, grinning from ear to ear over this season of ministry and life. All I can say is all glory goes to our God in heaven for the great things He has done! This post will be loaded with pictures for you! (Hooray!) 

Living Water Christian Fellowship in our last Sunday in the youth hostile

I was completely surprised when Jonathan called me on a Wednesday night to inform me that the youth hostel we have been calling "church" for over two years was sold and we needed to leave. "How long do we have to find another location?" I asked. "They close on Sunday." I can tell he wa still a bit shocked. "THIS SUNDAY???!!!!" We had just three days to find a new location so when the church comes on Sunday we would be able to inform them of where to meet for next week. Let me say that God does His most amazing work through willing hearts that are open to His leading regardless of time constraints. Jonathan left the next day feeling flustered, yet hopeful. He came home that evening discouraged. A church location in the city is quite pricey and he couldn't find anything that would fit into our church's budget. I encouraged him to take along our elder, Pastor George, for some encouragement and help. He and George left on that Saturday together to look for a location. Jonathan called me after just a few short hours raving about the fantastic location of the YWCA which is situated next to the University of Nairobi. We have been praying over opportunities to reach the youth in the area and couldn't have a better place to do it! The location fit our budget and they gave us a separate location for children's ministry for just $7 a month! 

Our first Children's Class Sunday

Sheila helps the younger kids color

Brian draws some pictures for the kids

I am pleased to announce that Living Water Christian Fellowship has begun our Children’s Ministry Program! Now, you may be thinking, "All this time this church hasn't had a Children's Ministry?!" Well, the short answer is, "Yes". Well, kind of....We came to Living Water almost 4 years ago where the church was meeting at a rented house. Our friend, Elizabeth Gorden, had a small classroom she would teach the kids from. The room didn't have any real lighting and no room for the kids to spread out. Elizabeth would faithfully serve and have a few volunteers every once in a while. Eventually the Children's Program died. Looking back, it just didn't seem to be the season for our church to have a program. The youth hostel we had moved to after the house had no place for the children. We made due by trying to quiet them and keep them busy through the service. It was a real struggle and you can believe that the enemy laid lots of guilt trips on me, personally, for not having something in place. Fast forward to this season of life and the Lord has abundantly blessed us with an AMAZING room for the kids. It's roomy, far away from the main study where we can make noise and have fun. It even has a small area for the kids to run around outside. Not only did God give us a space but He also put it on the hearts of 6 volunteers other than myself to help! For this, we are so grateful.

Good looking bunch, aren't we?

Vicky and Ramsey host a dinner for the team

We have had the pleasure of getting to know Calvary Chapel Deleware County in the last couple years. We were surprised to hear that they would be bringing a team of over 20 people to Kenya this year. This team just blew us all away with their willingness to serve and love the Kenyan people.  After they ministered a few days in Nairobi they went to Kisumu (Kenya) to help our friends Matt and Peggy Pottenger and Stephen Otieno at Calvary Chapel Lakeside. Not only was the ministry  amazing but they also lugged out over 90 lbs. of homeschooling books for us!!!!

Before the race

I had such a neat time to take part in a 5k held at a private school known as West Nairobi. The 5k benefited disabled children in Kenya. Heshima offers physical, occupational, speech and language therapy and medical care. For more info. you can go to www.heshima.org. It was such an honor to hear about the organization and to run for such a cause.

Don't let these guys fool you, they didn't run (;

Finished! Josiah wanted to finish with me. This blessed my heart.

We bid farewell this week to our friend, Josh Grossman, who has become like family. As you may have read from a previous blog, he took part in a five month internship from Biola University to work at an orphanage in Ngong called "By Grace". It was bittersweet to say, "Goodbye". Saying "goodbye" can be rough so we have adopted a new way of saying "goodbye" since coming to the mission field. It's "See ya' later". That way we don't have to do the "ugly cry" in front of friends and family. (; We are confident that God did incredible things in the life of this young man and we were glad to witness it.

My grandmother doing a clock project with the kids

One of my greatest joys is watching my kids with their family. It has been hard to be an ocean away from our dear family and when they can visit, we are beyond glad! My grandmother, Judy, flew in last week to spend some time with us and do some sightseeing. I was overjoyed to hear the kids talking and asking about their "Gigi" for weeks before her arrival. They had no idea the fun they were about to have with her. My grandmother brought loads of presents and projects from all of our family. She had a fun idea to throw the kids a "Froggy party". They opened presents,  worked on their projects and got to spend tiime together. The kids painted a beautiful bird house, made a clock and a keepsake picture frame box for me. I have the most wonderful memories of doing projects and having tea parties as a little girl. To see my grandmother doing the same with my children is wonderful. These memories I will hold dear to my heart forever.

My grandma has a way of making everything beautiful and special