The past couple weeks I have enjoyed the children from our Mara Children's Home come one by one and  spend the mornings with the girls and I as we do school.  The girls have enjoyed it so much.  It's been good to spend time with them on an individual basis and see what their needs are or what they enjoy doing.

Byron does not like math but really excels in reading.  Soyion can finish two word search puzzles in the time I can do a half of one.  Nayanoi does not like the taste of my hot chocolate, and just because she is deaf/mute does not mean she can not communicate that to me with a very sour look!  Luken and Sipalon love doing math with Savannah and Dodo giggles at everything, which melts me. Simoton loves to read and did very good at her creative writing.

Two things that have really stuck out to me so far is one, that Nayanoi LOVES playing with baby dolls and stuffed animals which absolutely touches my heart because I am so thankful she has this opportunity to be a little girl and play!  Her life before was heading in the direction of a little beggar on the corner.  When she laughs and smiles I am filled with joyful tears.

The second thing is that Byron called me Mum.  This sweet little boy's mother abandoned him years ago and his father just died this year.  He has done very well adjusting here but needs a lot of guidance.  When he called me Mum my heart jumped.  I was wondering what was going through his head at the moment?  For me, I was thinking, absolutely Byron, I'll be your Mum!

I feel so blessed to be a part of the lives of these children.  It is a joy to watch my girls love, help and play with these kids as well.

Sarah, me, Kristy, and Missy

"By this men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  John 13:35

There is always someone who needs to hear about the hope that is in Jesus.  Maybe it's your neighbor, maybe it's the flower shop girl or the lady that rings up your groceries.  We all need an encouraging word and a caring hand.  Christians should be known for their love for one another and their willingness to reach out a hand to those in need.  It's not just the "job" of a a pastor or missionary, it's for all Christians, young and old.

20 years ago my best friend died suddenly which shook my youthful life.  Still to this day I think about her, our sweet short friendship, and I'm encouraged by the short life she lived.  Hundreds of people came to her funeral and the Gospel was proclaimed very clearing.  That is what it is all about about, Jesus.  Sarah was known for her love for Jesus and others, even at the tender age of 16.  The week before she died she shared the Gospel with a girl at school and she came to know Jesus.
Jesus said, "By this men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

If you died today, don't you want to be known for your love for Christ and others?   As Paul said, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  We have one life, one chance to make a difference in this life.  I'm sure life is not about me, myself and I and what all I  can collect and accomplish for me and my own.  
To live is CHRIST and to die is gain.  Life is about Jesus.  I want all those around me to know Him, to love Him, to feel the peace that passes all comprehension.

So, when you see your neighbor who is struggling, when you walk by the girl in the flower shop, when you are standing in front of the girl ringing up your groceries, share the good news of Jesus with them.   Show them where the peace for this crazy life comes from.

May we be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ!

Wednesday was my last day teaching the Girls Club at MCA for the year.  The school is closing for a two month break in just two weeks.  It was sad telling the girls that have been a part of the Club that this was the last meeting until the first of the year.

We have been talking about what it looks like to make good choices as young girls, 4th and 5th graders, and we have explored the 10 commandments along with the commands in the New testament, Love God, Love Others.  For the last day I taught from Psalm 119:9 and Proverbs 3:5 to try and encourage them to be pure and stay in God's Word.  As the girls finished up some of their coloring projects I took the opportunity to pray individually with each girl.  As they came, one by one, and sat next to me I tried to look in their eyes and tell them that I love them and that God loves them.  Then I asked them what I can pray for and most of them said to pray that they would do well on their upcoming test. And then there were a few girls that asked for more personal requests, like, my dad is in prison and it's hard on my family, and pray God can forgive the bad in me, and pray that I can understand the Bible more.  It was a joy to pray with them and I truly hope it will encourage them in their lives.

Life is too short to not share Jesus everywhere you go and to all you come in contact with.  We just don't know what tomorrow will bring.  Some of these girls come from very bad home situations and I'm just not sure the amount of love that they feel.  I am blessed to be a part of their lives and show them that Jesus loves them and cares for them.

Will you please pray for these girls, that they will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior?

Kotea sporting it in her school uniform.

 This girl was born the same year that Travis and I were married.  Little did I realize then that our paths would cross, never to be the same again.
When Travis and I were first married we knew for sure we were called to go to the mission field to serve God.  We prayed hard and after many years of struggling and some discouragement God provided what we needed to come here.

As I look back on all the prayers I prayed, for the people I had yet to meet, for the children that had yet to be born, I am in awe of God's timing and province.

Kotea's mother died very soon after her younger brother was born.  She has been raised by her aging grandmother and the two other wives of her father.  Her father loves her but having two stepmothers has not been easy for her.  Her grandmother is quite old and so Kotea does a lot of work to help.

Ever since I have known Kotea she has faithfully come to       church on her own. Over the years she has grown into a beautiful young lady who loves Jesus and has a passion for His Word.

I have had the pleasure of teaching her in Sunday school for many years and as of the last few years she has attended my girls Bible study.  This girl is always challenging me with questions about the Bible and has grown leaps and bounds in her faith recently.

She is now in 10th grade and learning the challenges of high school.  Life has not been easy for her but she rises to the challenge and trusts God in all things.  I am truly blessed to know her.  Honestly, I see her as one of my daughters and it seems our bond is growing.  Recently when she was heading back to school, 6 hours away, she stopped me and hugged me saying she loved me.  Understanding the Masai culture of not showing outward affection, her action and words really touched me.

We welcomed Kotea to stay at our Children's Home while she is on school breaks and she has been an abundance of help and encouragement to the girls there.  She has lead them in Bible studies and learning new praise songs and has become a wonderful role model for them.

I am beyond blessed to know this girl.  I am so grateful that God in His providence and timing let our paths cross on this earth.  I have gained a daughter.

Kotea teaching Sunday school for the first time.

Kotea with the girls at Mara Children's Home, 

It's hard to explain the love I have in my heart for the people we work with.  The other day I was walking in the village greeting people, visiting with ladies I haven't seen in a while and inviting others to church and as I was walking around I felt so over whelmed with thankfulness to God for allowing us to be here and serve Him in this way.

Yesterday we had our Women's Bible Study at a ladies house. We do that every now and again to welcome new babies, it's kind of like a baby shower, but different than the way we do it in the states.
When we arrive at the house we all squeeze in and sit where we can and just when you thing no one else will fit, more come and somehow we make room.  Normally it is very hot in the hut but this lady's house is a bit bigger and has a good opening for a door and a window across the room, so, the breeze was nice.  Although, when the wind started picking up the ladies insisted on closing the window so the wind wouldn't bother the babies, (who are nicely bundled I might add).

Elizabeth, my dear Masai friend, shared from the Word to encourage this mama of twins about how children are a blessing and that whenever they start to annoy her just to look at then and say, "You are a blessing," and then you will see your frustrations subside.  She taught for a short time, then the mama who we were there to celebrate had a few words to say.  Now, before I tell you want she said I want you to know that she has 5 or so kids and the last two are twin girls who are just precious.  OK, she started by saying she is thankful we all came to welcome her twins and that she is blessed by us being there.  Then she says, "I'm not finished having babies, I'm not yet satisfied so I will keep having more."  Oh, of course we all laughed in some kind of agreement, but she was totally serious and we all knew it.

Not so much now, but in the recent past, a good Masai women would have around 10 kids.  One of the older ladies in our church whom I just found out recently was born in 1935, used to tell all of us ladies that we needed to keep having babies until our eggs ran out!

After the Bible study all the ladies gave words of encouragement to this mama, it was such a precious time of fellowship.  Then, our hostess brought us chai and bread to enjoy, and two sodas, one for me and one for Sarah.  They are so kind since milk does not set well with me these days.

As we all sat enjoying ourselves I just sat and watched and listened to these ladies go on and on.  Sometimes you would think they are fighting, but they aren't, they are having a wonderful time. I speak Swahili and so do most of them, but Masai is their mother tongue so they were rambling on in Masai and I usually just pick up bits and pieces of what they are saying.  I love watching them have a good time with each other, passing babies back and forth, sipping chai and munching on bread and tons of laughter!

It's times like these that I sit back and think about how much I love Jesus and how grateful I am to be here serving Him, and how sweet fellowship with Christ is because there are no boundaries of tribe, race or tongue!  God is amazing!

"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; life up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.  A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widow, is God in His holy habitation.  God makes a home for the lonely..."  Psalm 68:4-6

God is faithful in all He does and we see His hand daily in our lives here on the mission field.  I have learned over the years of my life the importance of trusting God fully, especially when He prompts your heart to do something.

Starting a school was not easy for us and is a lot to put on our shoulders. In the bush things are not easy, if something breaks you can't just run to Home Depot and pick up a replacement.  You make something nice and then it gets ruined by the very ones you made it for.  But, you just keep on going, you keep on loving, and you keep on sharing Christ in all you do not matter what.

There are 7 little children who live on this mission station who have come from some hard situations.  Some are fatherless, some come from homes broken by alcohol and some come from great poverty.  Either way, they need help, they need hope and they need love.
Making a difference in a child's life like these sounds inspiring, doesn't it?  Let  me tell you, it's heart breaking and there is nothing easy about looking in the eyes of a child who's father died and who's mother abandoned him, never to been see again.

But, you know what is inspiring?  God, the father to the fatherless. God, who makes a home for the lonely.  God, who loves us and sent His Son to DIE in our place.  If that doesn't put a fire under you then I don't know what will.  If that doesn't motivate you to DO something, than I don't know what will.
If you really trust God, like we like to say we do, then step out of your comfort zone and do something for the Lord who loves you and cares for you.  It's not easy, but, He is with you every step of the way.  He won't call you to do something and then leave you.  Trust Him.  Follow Him.

 This has been a very exciting week for us.  Not all weeks are like this.  Some times you go day to day with the same old stuff, same old routine, nothing to write home about.
But, oh, this week has been full of different emotions, excitement and joy mixed with some sadness, feelings I didn't thing about when we started a girls home.

Ndoto feeling very determined to figure out how this puzzle works. 

All of our girls at Mara Girls Home are settling in and couldn't be happier right not.  I'm sure a clean bed, three meals a day and fresh water are helping with that.  One little girl (Ndoto) that came from another village just keeps smiling and giggling  It's very contagious!  I had never met her before but I am completely in love with her.  I'm sure if you heard her giggle and saw her determination to try things she has never tried before, you would melt too.

Ndoto showing off her new clothes.

The day we opened the home we invited the guardian or parent to bring the child and to see for her/himself where the child will be staying.  One parent came with her daughter and first thing handed me the death certificate for the girls father.  That was very sobering.

Savannah explaining how the floor puzzle works.

An older girl we invited to stay at Mara Girls brought a few cousins and friends to see where she would be staying.  The look on those girls faces broke my heart.  I'm sure inside they were excited for their friend, but they seemed very down hearten that they would not be staying as well.  That was such a mixture of emotion for me, as well as for those girls I'm sure.
At that moment I realized,  I can't take all the girls.  As I go about in the village or go to church and I see those little faces of the girls that won't be coming to stay at Mara Girls, and I get that sad little face looking at me, I feel so broken.


So, its a mixture of feelings, excitement and sadness.  We will keep praying that God will send us the girls that He has planned for us, the girls that don't have a safe place to call home.  For now, I am so thankful for the these sweet and innocent girls that God has brought us to care for!  Each moment with them is a gift for which I am so thankful!

They got it done!

This week we also finished putting in the playground for our school and community. We are so thankful for the VBS kids at my sister's church that gave for that!  I am amazed that those kids gave so much and I hope that they will see and know just how much their gift means to the kids in this village!