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Wednesday, 12 August 2009

First Day of School 2009

Third Grade / Second / First

Saturday, 07 March 2009

Road Trip

What a beautiful day! With a quick stop at the grocery for drinks and ice, we hit the road early this morning for Moundville. Although it's just over an hour from home it is far enough away from the phone and computer and the office that it was a great escape. Brian downloaded U2's new album last night and surprised us with it in the car. U2 up loud, sun roof rolled back, cold coke zero and an occassional girl scout cookie! WOW. I needed that!!

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Dreaming

Dreaming

Monday

Perhaps it is the jet lag or the malaria medicine but I had the most vivid dream. It woke me up and I had to get to my prayer closet to listen to what God was telling me. God speaks to me in my sleep. I whisper to Him, like Samuel when he was a boy in the temple with Eli, "Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening." God led me to Isaiah 58. Mighty powerful the Word of God!!

As I adjust to life at home again I find myself filled with joy for my time in Kenya. In the past I came home sad and burdened for the orphans of the world. But this time is different because I saw hope and a joy in the Lord that I did not see in Russia or Ukraine. We Americans - and yes this is generalizing, but justly so I believe - trust in our own stuff. We trust in our ability to "make it" in the world. We trust in the corner grocery store for food, the bank for money, the gas station for gas, the employer for a pay check. We trust the wrong place and forget where our help comes from. Our help comes from the LORD.

My help comes from the Lord,who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.He rescues them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;yes, I prayed to my God for help.He heard me from his sanctuary;my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6

Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain?Does it fall from the sky by itself?No, you are the one, O Lord our God!Only you can do such things.So we will wait for you to help us. Jeremiah 14:22

A Day of Rest

Sunday. I will take this as a day of rest and will continue to write after a time of fellowship with my family. Please continue to pray for the team members still in country.

Peace.

Bitter-Sweet Farewells
Friday, February 20, 2009

Today as we made our way to splitting up as a team - some staying on for a while, others going on through Europe, and another possibly to Tanzania by invitation of the President - I have been sad. There is nothing like the heart bond I make with team members, and this group espeically. I trust that I will be with them on the field again soon.

I continued to ask myself what God wanted with me in Kenya. I know and I will go home and work toward that end. I will be obedient and He will show me the details.

One thing I know for sure...I will return to Kenya with my family, and hopefully other families. We have much to learn from the Kenyan people about faith and following Christ regardless.

Please pray for our safe travel in the various directions.
The Last Day in Joska

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Today we went to see the land the 410 Bridge has purchase in Joska to build a medical facility and a secondary school. It was an honor for the community leaders to share their vision with us and to know that we are playing a small part in the big picture.

We also visited a quarry where men work for about $3 a day for 15 hours. There are no power tools. Every rock is busted and shaped by hand. Unbelievable! And they also do this on minimal food.

I washed laundry at the Rescue Center today. Clothes for 20 children, by hand. Two washes. Two rinses. Wring out and hang to dry. Not an easy task. I might have hand rinsed a good sweater or something, but have never experienced this kind of chore. And I complain about laundry with a washer and dryer?? Check myself here.

Some of the other team members helped to dig a trench to send rain water away from the house while others helped cook or play with the younger children. The older children were at school. I will never forget the impact that Christine's story has had on my heart. She is a doer of the Word. I want to be a doer.

Tomorrow we will have a pleasure day and go on safari and a boat ride in the area where Out of Africa was filmed. This will be fun and help us to have time to process the many burdens for our new friends. I have seen miracles and the mighty work of God in this place. I will never be the same.
Tuesday Evening from Nairobi

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Joska is about 45minute- an hour drive depending on traffic. We leave the congestion, noise and pollution of the city and enter wide open country side that is green and beautiful. In the distance we see Mt. Kenya and the sky is brightest of bright blue with scattered puffs of white. The soil is diverse much like the soil in Alabama, ranging from red hard clay to rich healthy black. It is beautiful!

More beautiful than the land are the people. They are warm and gracious and when they say "feel free" they mean it. There is a spirit of strength and fortitude that we do not know. One of the team members today said she just thought she was a super-mom. We have certainly met some super moms - mothers of many children who are without a husband and carry water from the well 3 times a day WITH the children under foot. The water to cook, drink, wash and irrigate plants comes from miles away.

The project part of our team has assisted with this week is a trench where pipe will be laid so that water can be pumped to four adjacent communities in Joska. The trench is almost complete. People from all communities came out yesterday and today - some in their 60's and 70's - others in their 20's with their babies on their backs. Side by side they dug and their is a palpable hope among them that life will soon be better.

Many of these families have bought plots of land in Joska to move out of the city. Most of the children at the school where we are teaching were rescued from the streets in Nairobi. They are not forced to stay in the country, but a bed and food and education is there for them if they choose to stay. Many stay permanently. This week there have been 3 new children.

I taught sentence structure, punctuation and capitalization today. The students wrote an essay for me about the most important person in their lives. I am bringing them home to share with students in America and hope they they will write back to the children at the Compassion Rescue Center.

The children we will be helping tomorrow are at Hope Rescue Center. This home is for children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS virus. We will be assisting the founder, Christine, and the 2 house mothers in washing, cooking and mopping. The older children will be at school but we will have time for the younger ones and those too sick to attend school. Some have to stay home and take iv medications.

I feel wonderful today. God has shown his healing power and our home visits were encouraging to me. I am even more grateful for what God has given me in a home and in my family. I am blessed and God has called me to use my blessings to help others. Although it is difficult to eat knowing someone I met today has no food, I will eat my dinner with a thankful heart and pray for nourishment so that I can go again tomorrow and share the love of Jesus with the Kenyan people.

I must mention a great delight for me is getting to know Father Steven better. He is a mighty tower of strength and wisdom! His presence here has made a huge impact on the team and on our host. He says that he is now a Kenyan missionary to his own people. I believe he will return with a mission focus again!

If you have not read much about the agency that I am working with, please do. Their formula for ministry works. I see evidence. The 410 Bridge ....google it!

Until tomorrow! Peace!!