A nice surprise

    I had already made a clinic run that day but I wasn't about to let that stop me from helping out a friend who's wife needed a ride because she was close to giving birth.  He and I headed out the gate on my four wheeler to his hut to pick up his young wife in hopes that we would make it in time. He reassured me that she was not to close and that we had plenty of time.

    Upon arriving to his hut I entered in after being welcomed by about 10 kids outside the hut door...they were all anticipating the birth of the baby.  The scene was very familiar; ducking down to get in the door, walking around a small corner to the main sitting area, complete darkness, groping around trying to find a seat, a small fire in the center of the hut, and a small hole for a beam of light to trickle in from.

    There were already about 6 to 7 ladies there who could all see me since their eyes were adjusted to the light.  I greeted them all trying to figure out who they were by their vioce or silhouette.  Finally my eyes adjusted as well and I was in toon with what was happening.  One lady was quite drunk trying to encourage us all with her babbling and the other ladies seemed very busy trying to help the pregnant lady whom I had come to take to the clinic.   We all chatted for a bit and I began wondering what was taking everyone so long to get this lady to stand up and put your jacket on so we can hurry on to the clinic.  

   All of a sudden one lady hands her baby to me and says, "here, hold him!".  So I happily held the little fellow trying to keep him from crying.  All the ladies, 6 or 7 of them, where all huddled around the pregnant lady and I was very curious as to want was going on. The drunk lady was curious too, so she stood up and was standing on the hot stones that surround the fire trying to look above the other ladies. The 10 kids that I had greeted outside were now all inside trying to get a peek at what's going on.  

   Then I heard a tiny little cry! At that point I realized the baby had come!  Next thing I knew I'm standing up watching this scene in excitement as all the ladies are buzzing around, each helping one way or the other.  I was handed a flashlight to shine on this new tiny life so that they could rub oil on her and wrap her up in a blanket. 

   A minute later I was looking into precious, tiny black eyes and marveling at this adorable life. 

There are moment in life that I'm so happy to be apart of and this was one of them!  How amazing it was to watch these ladies all work together helping thier young friend give birth for the first time. How beautiful it was to witness a life being born.  How blessed this baby girl is that her parents love Jesus and will raise her in Him.

   To God be the glory!

This is not a picture from that day but this is what the hut looked like inside. 

   

Home sweet home

      We have been in Kenya for two weeks now and we are so happy.  I always find it amazing how God gives you such a peace when you are in His will.  I must be getting older or something because this time around I have really felt the jet lag. Ugh.  Tired with head ache for a week.  I look forward to feeling normal again...if that's even possible.

       When we arrived in Kenya Traivs and I had this bright idea that we could get up the very next morning and I would do all the grocery shopping, with the girls in tow, and he would run the gazillions errons he needed to do.   Well we did do it, maybe not so gracefully, but we accomplished all we needed to do and headed for home two days after landing.

Summer helping sort all our supplies !

      We jumped right back into things when we got home, for me that was cleaning the layers of dust off every thing, sorting all our supplies and helping the girls get back into a routine of school and chores.  Our school, Mara Christian, was hopping when we got back and we got involved right away, finding out how they fared this year and helping them come to the close for the year.  We couldn't be happier with the school.  The teachers have worked hard and the students were in good spirits and very well behaved.

     My first Sunday back I taught the fist chapter of Daniel to our upper elementrey kids.  After not speaking Swahili fluently for a year I felt like a drunk baboon trying to teach!  But, with God's grace I made it through and also taught the ladies Bible study.  I enjoy teaching both of those so much.  Our church kids have grown so much over the years, they really know the Bible.  God's word never returns void!

    I think my biggest struggle back has been trying to balance all I have to do in a day which includes, house work, homeschooling, helping Traivs and tons of ministry oppurtunies and needs.  God is good to show us where HE wants us to serve.  I came across a sermon by Martin Lloyd Jones, whom I love to listen to speak, and he was talking about Mary and Martha and how the duties that Martha had were important ones, but what Mary chose to do was what was spiritually important at the moment.  I've really tried to cling to that thought as I spin all the plates of my day and truly seek from God what is important for me at each moment.  Your prayers would be much appreciated! 

    To God be the glory in ALL things! 

       

Packing up

    We have been packing the past couple days getting things in order for our up coming journey back to Kenya.  It seems like the packing gets easier the more you do it...and boy do we pack often.

    I remember packing for out first trip to Kenya; boy was it stressful. I think not knowing fully what was ahead added to that stress.  We were so excited and got on the plane with such anticapation for the future.  For years we had prepared to move to Kenya to be missionaries, so the moment had finally arrived for us to go. 

   When we landed in Kenya we were so tired from the flight with two little ones plus we had made the mistake of carrying on with us way to much stuff which added to our fatigue.  As we were heading to our base for the night I remember being amazed at all the people out walking, even at night! Neither Traivs or I had been to Kenya yet so it was all so new! We got to our base and settled in for the night.  Fellow missionaries had bought us a little bit of food so we ate some and got our kiddos ready for bed.  We were staying in a 20ft container with the door bolted shut. There were handmade wooden bunk beds that we shared with the kids, Traivs and I were on the top.  Oh my it was tight, like a coffin!  I left the fan on, since it seemed stuffy in there, and the light on since there were no windows either!  I laid there while everyone fell happily asleep and I wondered what in the world had a gotten myself into!  I cried like a baby half the night!  That excited I had turn into tears very quickly.  

   I began to that God's mercies are new every morning! I also learned that a good hot cup of Java coffee is good for the soul! I was so thankful for our fellow missionaries who brought me a hot cup of coffee that first morning.  

   It's fun to look back at how God has worked in our lives and has grown us through different circumstances.        

  

             This is Skylar's idea of packing!               

  

    May 2006 Travis and I bored the plane for Africa.  We had a free spirited 4 year old and petite 2 year old tagging along with us on that 18hour flight plus layover.  Oh Travis and I were excited and ready for any obstacle that came our way.  We didn't know what God had in store for us, but we were willing to count the cost.  We had already started counting that cost when we said our good-byes to our families and friends and took our sweet girls far way...to another country we had not even seen before.
   We began the life of good-byes.  No, it is not easy.  Yes, Jesus is worth every step, every mountain climbed, every valley walked through and every good-bye said.
    I want to record my journey and share it with you in hopes that it will bring glory to God because that is my ultimate goal.  Some of my thoughts and stories will be from years past as well as present day as I want to recount all God has done and brought us through.  I hope this will encourage you in your own personal walk with Jesus.
   Just remember...Jesus is worth it!

Travis, Sarah, Summer and me in one of our first years in Kenya