The joys of home school life.  Finishing up your work so you can go outside and do something much more exciting.

Hanging out with our kindergarten class is a blast!

Summer and I had a chance to go out and do some visiting yesterday.   We went to visit a Christian lady in our church whose husband died this week.  She is a very strong lady and was doing very well considering what's doing on in her life.  I felt more encouraged by her than she probably did by me.
After visiting with her we moved on to another house and visited with a 16 year old girl who just had a baby out of wedlock.  She is a sweet girl who used to be involved in our church not to long ago.  I held her precious baby and tried to encourage her to come back to church when she can and that we love her very much.
On our way home we stopped by the house of one of our school kids whose dad was killed last week by an elephant and then tragically finished by hyenas.   We sat and talked with the mom and family that was there comforting them.
As I went home reflecting on the visits we had made I realized that through it all, the death of a husband, birth of a child out of wedlock and the tragic death of a father and husband, that the message stays the same.  Jesus is our firm foundation, our strong hold!  There is nothing outside of that truth that can get us through each day.
My hope and prayer is that we can encourage our neighbors with that truth and live it daily.
"To live is Christ and to die is gain." Nothing more, nothing less. May we live to God's glory no matter what!

Recently, I was at Ladies Bible study getting ready to teach. First we sing then it's open for whomever would like to share a testimony.  One lady had something to share.  She told us that life has been hard for her, that her husband died and that recently her last cow died.  She was in despair and told her children there was no hope to live any longer  and that she might as well burn her house and all that is in it.
She went on to say that her son, who is a believer and a part of our church, told her that there was hope in God.  She said he encouraged her to be strong and not give up.   
My heart was so burdened after she shared that it was difficult for me to teach.
I spoke to the lady the next day to try to encourage her again to be strong in Jesus.  She proceeded to tell me that the teaching in the church and various encouragements from people in the church have been a huge blessing to her.
I think she is starting to see the light from her dark place. God is good to draw us close and open our eyes to His faithfulness.

Life on the mission field can be defined as: be flexible or you are NOT going to make it.

When we arrived back on the field late October after a 7 month furlough we hit the ground running; it was like we had not left!  People came by with their needs, Sunday school lessons and sermons had to be put together, the school buildings had to be complete for the upcoming school year, and of course let's throw in a shipping container that was suppose to be here late November.
We had to leave our station to wait in the Capitol for the shipping container that we were told was coming the next day...and the next day...and the next day, until finally we gave up and return home to our station.
I have to admit I was really struggling because it was December, time to put up the Christmas tree and make cookies with my daughters.  I had big plans to read them a book like I did last year and watch Christmas movies at the end of the day as a family.  Instead, we were gone most of December and when we did return to our station we were so busy trying to catch up from all we had missed out on that Christmas drifted by.  Oh we did put the tree up for the kids and we had a blast with another missionary family that was staying with us while we all awaited the container, but it was different.
Travis was gone Christmas Eve because the container just had to come on Christmas Eve...I mean why not, right?
Although things were different and not how I had planned them, it was good because it was all in God's hands.  There is no better place then to be in God's hands.  A lot of times that means you have to be flexible and roll with it.  When we were gone I was able to finish a book by Elisabeth Elliot, which was a huge challenge to me.  I also was able to listen to some of her lectures and was totally encouraged.  God knows what we need! Because the container was so delayed we got to share our Christmas with another missionary family and we had a blast!

God is so good and worthy to be praised and served!   He is on His throne!!!!

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!