I live in a place where the people depend greatly on rain so that their herds can have grass and water.  When there is a drought the people suffer immensely and the majority of their herds die leaving the people in poverty because they depend heavily on the herds for their income.

We have been in a drought for a long while and many cows became weak and sick and died.  The air has the stench of death and you can't go anywhere without seeing dead cows.  Then the rains came in a furry and killed any weak cows that were hanging on. When you depend on your cows to feed and cloth your family you can imagine this has been an extremely difficult time for the Maasai.

This week I taught ladies Bible study to a group of ladies in our church.  This Bible study has been going on for years without fail and has been a source of encouragement for a long time.  Although, there was a time when ladies just came but had no desire nor love for Jesus; it was a difficult time, but God's Word never returns void.

After our study in Matthew 6 and 11 about seeking God's kingdom and letting Jesus take our burdens many of the ladies shared testimonies of what God has done in their lives.

There is nothing better in life then to hear testimonies of people who have been saved out of darkness and brought into the light of Jesus.

Here are some of the statements made from these precious ladies.

"I had heard that God's word was preached in this church and I wanted to know what God says and not man, so I came.  After a long time, many years of sitting and listening to what God had to say in the Bible, His word changed my heart."

"We have come from a very far place.  Before we didn't care, we did't know Jesus, but now we know Him and we love Him.  Even if the missionaries are not here for ladies Bible study we still meet because we love Jesus."

Encouragement from an older lady who has been saved a long time.

"When you are at church listen to God's word and put it in your heart so that you can remember it.  When you are old like me and can't hear well you can know God's word because you have put it in your heart.  There is only one path to follow and that is Jesus.  He is the only way.

These ladies are all going through a tough time but they all know the ONE who cares for them.  Their eyes are on Jesus!

"I would rather burn out than rust out."  Amy Carmichael

I'm sure Amy Carmichael knew what it was like to be worn out.  She lived her whole adult life on the mission field serving others, mainly children in dreadful situations.  

Travis and I have been on the mission field for almost 11 years now.  My husband is like a locomotive moving from one thing to the next without any regard to his tiredness and I have always been impressed with his strength to keep moving on and doing the next thing.  He is solely motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to see those around Him come to know Jesus.

I was called to missions when I was young and it was no surprise to my family that Travis and I were heading to the mission field as soon as we were married. When we arrived here in Kenya I was eager to jump in and do whatever I could to serve.  As time past and my girls grew in size and number I began to realize that there was a big task in balancing my family and ministry.  Two very big passions of mine.

For you moms, you know that being a mom entails a lot of job titles and I am pretty sure it's like holding down 2 or 3 full time jobs.  Then add homeschooling to that and now your plate is completely full and overflowing.  But then, I added my passion for missions and to be involved in the lives of the people I live among and to care for them and their children.

To balance all these things is a challenge and some days I fail.  I have learned that God's mercy's are new EVERY morning and that when you lay all these things at His feet He will take care of them and show you what you need to do and what can wait.

One of the best parts about all this is we get to do it together as a family.  It's not just things that Travis and I are doing but things that the whole family is a part of.  It's our life.  It's a crazy life of ups and downs and weird things like chasing goats out of the church so he will stop eating the hymnals.  It's a hard life of caring for people with real needs and real hurts.

The past month or so has been hard but I have learned so much about my God. He never changes!
He stays the same!
He loves me all the time even when I fail!
He will always pick me back up when I fall or just can't get up.

I love how Corrie Ten Boom said it, "In order to realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the stress of the storm."

If I could encourage you to hold on to your God the Anchor, He will not let you sink!

Recently I came across the name Karen Watson.  Have any of you heard her name?  Do you know who she is or what she has done?  This article from Desiring God sums up who she is.

Karen Watson wrote her own epitaph. Its message has stirred me up to pray for more radical devotion to Christ. She has not died in vain. She was a Southern Baptist missionary to Iraq and was killed by unknown assailants March 15, 2004. I am mentioning it now simply because I was reading the book Lives Given, Not Taken: 21st Century Southern Baptist Martyrs, by Erich Bridges and Jerry Rankin. In it I ran across the letter that Karen wrote and left behind in an envelope that said "Open in case of death." It said in part:

Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger,

You should only be opening this in the event of death.

When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn't called to a place; I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory my reward, His glory my reward . . .

       The missionary heart:

• Cares more than some think is wise
• Risks more that some think is safe
• Dreams more than some think is practical
• Expects more than some think is possible.

I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience. . . .

There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. I love you two and my church family.

In His care,

Salaam, Karen

How many of us could write this letter?

These days in our culture we are so comfortable, to comfortable.  We buy lettuces in a bag because we are to lazy to clean it and cut it up ourselves let alone try to grow it ourselves.

There is a whole world of people around us who do not know Jesus!  There are some Christ followers that are willing to give their lives just so others can know Jesus.

Please, don't waste your life, your time, your money on things that don't matter for the Kingdom of God.  Look around you, who needs to know Jesus?  Who hasn't heard the wonderful news of Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation?

Give the gift of the Gospel this Christmas season.  Make it clear to those around you that life is about JESUS!

"And I heard God ask, Who will I send"?  Is. 6:8

What will you say?

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,