A Miles of Smiles Adventure...

A-Dollar-A-Day Challenge Video is UP

2011-02-28T07:37:00.003-05:00

Well it took a couple of weeks to process and work through all the thoughts, feelings, and revelations we experienced living a week in poverty. It was a long hard road and I can't imagine what it must feel like to live on $1 a day... for weeks, months, or years on end. I now know how unbelievably blessed I am and I am thankful for the lessons God taught me during this Challenge. Lacey and I made a video and created another blog to give you an inside look at our week long journey and journal entries. It is my prayer that you too will be inspired to sacrifice on behalf of the least of these.

Check em out!

A-Dollar-A-Day Challenge Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOnmzmNFaqY

A-Dollar-A-Day Challenge Blog:

http://adollaradaychallenge.blogspot.com

Let the Dollar-A-Day Challenge Begin!!!!!

2011-02-13T14:08:00.002-05:00

Okay, so the day has come for Amanda and Lacey’s A-Dollar-A-Day Challenge. We are excited to see what God has in store for us over the next week… so excited that we practiced by walking a mile and a half barefoot today. We would like to share with you some pictures of our new home, all our belongings, our daily food portions, and our pre-challenge feet. We are going dark on this Dark Continent, removing ourselves from everything western. We will resurface Monday February 21^st with an amazing story to tell. Each day we plan to journal our thoughts, feelings, and revelations, as well as video much of this journey. We ask for your prayers and support as we step out in obedience to raise awareness for one of Jesus’ greatest platforms…. LOVE for the least of these.

¹This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

~1 Corinthians 4:10-13 ESV

A Valentine Gift to the Nations :)

2011-02-13T13:54:00.000-05:00

I sit here on the eve of a day that might just change my life forever. A few weeks ago I was sitting on the rock at Tumaini reading a book about the millions of people in the world living in absolute poverty. I looked just beyond the pages and across the rugged dirt road into the yard of our neighbors. A grandmother, aged and weathered by years of harsh living, lives with her many grandchildren in their grass-thatched home. These kids were left behind in the wake of the AIDS crisis. I saw sweet Songa innocently running and playing in the yard, knowing his fate had already been decided by the mistakes of his parents. I realized in an instant the reality I was living in as my eyes shifted their focus back to the pages before me. I then began to think about all the comforts I still have within the walls of the compound, even though I live and serve among those in the third-world. Conviction overtook my soul and I knew that I could no longer watch poverty from across the street. In some crazy way I needed to know what it felt like… smelled like… I needed to taste hunger. So as the sun set behind that scene of poverty that night, God proposed a challenge to me. Live 1 week on $1 a day. I will show you hunger, I will show you pain, I will show you what it is to want, and to your surprise I will show you what it means to have plenty. Tomorrow begins a labor of love for my African neighbors and all those living in poverty around the world. How fitting that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I’ve always wondered why we need to set aside a day to celebrate those we love…. Shouldn’t we celebrate the love we have for each other everyday??? This Valentine’s Day I am choosing to show my love to the world by becoming like the least of these. It’s my prayer that this act of love will not just be a day of remembrance, but instead create awareness that one day might change the world. The journal entries that will follow in the coming weeks will document the thoughts and feelings of poverty. As I pen these words in red, may I be reminded of Christ’s love and servant hood… IN RED LETTERS!!!!

A-Dollar-A-Day Challenge

2011-02-09T07:28:00.001-05:00

A-Dollar-A-Day-Challenge

We look around everyday at Tumaini and see what seems to be an abundance of resources. Fields of sugarcane, greens, and maize; water flowing from local streams. As American’s living at Tumaini Miles of Smiles Centre we never have to worry about where our food or water comes from. When the well runs dry we just get in the car and head to the local grocery for some bottled water and our house helps (maids) prepare lunch and dinner for us daily. Although we are infinitely thankful for our accommodations while in Kenya we desire to experience first hand what it’s like to live outside of the walls of our compound. What is it really like to live in poverty? We’ve all heard the staggering statistics about the millions of people in the world living on less than a dollar a day. We want to know what that really looks like, so that’s where our “A-Dollar-A-Day” Challenge comes in.

Disclaimer!!!

Many of you may think highly of us already for giving up our cushy lifestyles in America. DON’T!!! Many of you may be saying better her than me, or I admire your willingness to give up so much to go. We’ve heard all of these things before, and don’t get us wrong, they are encouraging words. Yes we did quit our jobs and leave our homes and families behind, but the truth is we still have access to so much more than the people surrounding us. That being said, we would also like to note that not everyone in our area lives on a dollar a day. Some families are business owners, teachers, drivers, doctors, and lawyers. They are doing quiet well for themselves even according to American standards. Many others are middle class families who work hard to make ends meet. They look much different than our middle class families, as they may only have 3 or 4 changes of clothes, no running water, and a bicycle instead of a car. Nonetheless, these people are NOT living in poverty by Kenyan standards. Another misconception is that a dollar goes much further in a third world country. Yes this may be true for some items such as avocados that go for about a nickel, but in most cases items are much more expensive. An example of this is gasoline that goes for about six dollars per gallon. As you can see a dollar won’t get you very far.

Okay so back to the challenge. In honor of our love for the nations, beginning the morning of February 14^th and ending the evening of February 20^th we have committed to live on 80 Kenyan shillings per day. This is the equivalent of 1 US dollar. We want to fully embrace the lifestyle of those who actually live on a dollar a day. This means we will not be allowed any of the luxuries that currently surround us. This includes toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush, or toothpaste. It also includes electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, ipods, etc. We will only have the clothes on our back, 1 other change of clothes, and we will be barefoot for the entire week. Finally, no flashlights or electricity, only oil filled lamps and candles. Extreme you may say???? Tell that to the millions to whom this is a reality.

We will be using our money to seek shelter, buy food, and of course tithe. Check out our budget for details:

Amanda and Lacey’s A-Dollar-A-Day Challenge Budget

Item	Daily cost per person	Notes
Tithe	8 ksh	Ten percent of our income and this is the most important to us.
1 Room Mud House	17 ksh	(Average cost 500 ksh/month) for this type of accommodation
1 Bar of Soap	4 ksh	One full bar = 48ksh we will cut in half for sanitary purposes J
1 Roll of Toilet Paper	2 ksh	This is not a necessity to others but it is to us… again for sanitary purposes J
Food	49 ksh	This amount will have to sustain us daily

** Special Note: We will be walking to the well or spring daily to fetch our water for drinking, bathing, and laundry, however we will be drinking bottled water during this time to prevent serious illness.

We would love to share our journey with you and you better believe that we are going to need some serious prayer support. After our challenge we will be posting our journal entries as well as a video blog that will allow you to see both the physical and emotional struggles and obstacles associated with extreme poverty. We are filled with mixed emotions as we enter this challenge and pray that it will enlighten us and challenge others to get involved in the fight against poverty in a tangible way… More details to come...

Fun Times and Heart Strings

2011-02-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

FUN STUFF AND HEART STRINGS

So much has happened since I posted my last blog and I’m not really sure where to start to catch you up to speed with God’s activity here at Tumaini and in my heart. So I just wanna tell you some fun stuff and some things that pulled on the strings of my heart! Enjoy ☺

FUN STUFF
Just to keep things consistent I wanted to first of all give a Leroy update. For those of you who are not followers of my blog you may want to refer to the 2 previous blogs… for those of you who know who Leroy is, we did find his grandfather in the shower the other day. We’ve also seen several of his relatives still lurking around the house. His cousin the cricket really liked the movie we were watching the other night as he would sing when the movie was on but as soon as we stopped it to figure out what and where the sound was, he would stop singing. I finally found him behind my laundry basket and we disposed of him and continued our movie in peace. Fun times!!!

Recently I had a photo shoot with my girls and Moses with our Tennessee shirts on. I brought them back for all the workers at Tumaini, plus baby Sara, Moses, Sophie, and Sylvia… We are still working hard to get everyone together for the full photo shoot so I will keep you posted when this happens… Fun times!

This past weekend Lacey celebrated her 24th birthday in Kenya and we decided to have a girl’s weekend in Kisumu, about a 2 hour matatu ride from Tumaini. We arrived in town and found the cutest little tuktuk driver named Sadik who provided stellar transportation all weekend. He was precious! We stayed at this cute little Bed and Breakfast near the lake. We were pleased to find comfortable beds, fast free internet, a hot shower, and the icing on the cake… air conditioner. It was fabulous!!!!! After we checked in we called our driver Sadik to take us into town for lunch. I took Lacey to my favorite restaurant and we had pasta, pizza, and MILKSHAKES!!!!! Need I say more??? After that we walked to the immigration office to renew her visa… YES, she has decided to stay and come home when I do in March. Woo hooo…. Anyway she renewed her visa with no problem and I finally got my alien card… that expired Dec 16th, 2010. But hey, at least I now have a cool souvenir right???? From there we walked to the Maasai Market and visited with my friends there and bought some more souvenirs. It was an awesome day where we just got to be tourist. I am so thankful for a day to just be “normal”, with no agenda about how to minister to the people. When we arrived back at the hotel we realized that we forgot to buy hair dye for Lacey… yes she is a brave woman for trusting me to dye her hair with Kenyan hair dye. So we went back out to make some final purchases for the evening. We came back to the hotel just in time for dinner and there was this precious man named Abraham who was serenading us with a variety of songs including You Raise Me Up. This lead to Lacey joining him in song. It was too cute. One thing led to another and several hours later we found ourselves singing with him and the hotel manager. We covered everything from country, to Kiswahili songs, to John Denver, and finally praise and worship. We had a blast and as much as it was nice to get away from ministry that day, we realized that the call to take the Gospel to the nations is not something you can take a day off from. The Lord gave us an opportunity to encourage our Kenyan brothers with scripture that night and we too were encouraged by their kind words. When we returned to the room that night we realized we still needed to dye Lacey’s hair… Let’s just say it was a late night and if you must know her hair turned out well… Fun times!!!

This past Sunday my favorite taxi driver showed up at Tumaini and wanted to show me his new car. He actually wanted me to drive him, so of course I said Yes!!!!! I got behind the wheel… on the right side of the car ☺ and laughed as I heard the song, Amanda The Light of My Life, playing on the radio. I think he played that song just for me. Fun times!!!!

The stars have been so beautiful lately and I’ve spent many evenings just admiring God’s creation. Our night guard, Ezekiel, came and greeted me as I was looking up at the stars and I started to point out some constellations to him. He asked me why wazungu always like looking at the stars, and then he said that Kenyans never really pay much attention to such things. I told him that I liked it because it reminds me of how big God is and how amazing His creation is. Then I accused him of being an angel because he never sleeps… I see him guarding us all night and then working on the compound all day. He assured me that he was very much human and then we laughed together…. Fun times!!

Heartstrings

On the way to Kisumu for Lacey’s birthday, we stopped in Mbale to wait on more people to board our matatu. It was a crazy busy Friday and I was just observing the hustle and bustle of town. I looked over to my right and saw a lady in the distance just sitting out in front of a shop. She had her head down and looked to be sick. As I continued to watch her I noticed she could hardly hold her head up. It broke my heart as people just passed her by and did nothing to help. As I sat in the front of the matatu God began to stir in my heart to take some kind of action. The lady was far away and the matatu was about to leave the stage, so I grabbed this man who was standing outside my window and said… do you see that lady over there? The one that looks like she is sick? She is sitting down over there. Can you take this water and just give it to her. The guy looked at me kinda funny and this other guy stepped forward and said yes I will do it. I handed him the bottle and Lacey was able to look back and see him place the water in her lap as we drove away. I’m not sure if that lady lived to see another day. She looked like she could die any minute. I just said a prayer as we pulled away that she would know that the good and perfect gift of that water came from her Father above and that she would know that she was loved. God pulled on my heartstrings!!!!

It’s been over 2 weeks since we have seen a drop of rain and people are going without water and food. We have a well here at Tumaini but it has been dry and someone is suppose to come and repair it… I think they are on Kenyan time. In the mean time we have been dealing with water that is brown and undrinkable. Unfortunately many do not have a choice but to drink and bathe in this water. Just the thought that we don’t have to struggle with this in the US pulls on my heartstrings. We take so much for granted!

I’ve been teaching life skills class and the kids seem to love it. I love it too. I’ve notice that the kids write about me in many of the assignments I give them. Today I was teaching the kids to encourage each other with positive words and we went around the circle saying good things about one another. The last student, Ruth, stood up and I told her that I still hadn’t gone. Do you have something good to say about teacha Amanda? She said, I love you. Need I say more… HEARTSTRINGS!!!!

Blessed to be a blessing

2011-01-15T03:47:00.002-05:00

Well to all who may be concerned that our spider friend Leroy has an angry family ready to avenge his death you can sleep easy. Our walls show no sign of his family and we are SO thankful. As for the water situation, we only went a few days without water as some men came to fix the well. It also rained Thursday, which helped settle all the dust and gave the soil a much-needed drink. This week of teaching went really well. We have been talking about self-awareness and the kids really enjoy the activities we do in class. We looked at ourselves in the mirror and talked about our physical features, how God made us unique and special and how we should embrace who he made us to be. They LOVE this, as many of them have never seen themselves in a real mirror before. I have been discussing the changes that occur in our bodies during adolescence with the 6^th grade class, and as you can imagine that leads to some interesting discussions. I love this class and I’m amazed at how often an opportunity arises to relate our topic back to Christ and His love for us. At the beginning of each class we say our Faith Statement together. It’s from Beth Moore’s Believing God Bible Study that I taught the kids last semester. They love it and remembered all of it on the very first day of class. GO GOD!!!!!

God is who He says He is

God can do what He says He can do

I am who God says I am

I can do all things through Christ

God’s Word is alive and active in me

I’M BELIEVING GOD

On Thursday it was time to call all the kids to the office who had received sponsor gifts from the US. I have to share this one story with you… it touched

my heart and soul. Here’s Emanuel’s story:

Emanuel’s sponsor sent some money for me to buy a few things for him here in Kenya. They suggested that I use the money to meet his immediate needs, so I went up to the school earlier this week and just made some observations. What I saw broke my heart. He was wearing shoes about 2 sizes too small. His toes were busting out the ends and the soles were worn unevenly. I also noticed he was carrying his books in a worn plastic bag, like a WalMart bags that had ripped at the handles and been tied together into a million knots. The next afternoon I headed to town to purchase some new shoes and a new backpack. When I called Emanuel to the office Thursday afternoon he waited patiently as all the other kids received their various gifts. Now it was his turn. I called him out to the front porch and presented him with a letter from his sponsor. We read it together and then I handed him his backpack suggesting that he take a look inside. We looked in all the pockets until we came across a shiny new pair of black shoes. His eyes lit up his face like the moon lights up a dark night sky. My guess is that he’s never had a NEW pair of shoes before. This was special. I looked down at his feet hanging out of his shoes and suggested that we try on the new ones. As he removed his feet from his old shoes I noticed the mud caked on them from where he was helping clean at the school just a few minutes earlier. The Lord gently spoke to my heart and said, Amanda, I want you to wash Emanuel’s feet. Show him my love, Amanda, show him my love. Now for those of you who have known me for a while you know that I would barely even touch my own feet let alone someone elses up until a few years ago. Feet are just not my thing. It’s funny how over the past few years God has changed my point of view concerning feet. Anyway, I had Lacey retrieve a basin of water and a towel and I washed Emanuel’s feet. If you are ever in need of a humbling experience, just wash the feet of a kid who walks miles each day to school with huge holes in his shoes. I must say that in that moment his feet were absolutely positively without a doubt the most beautiful sight I had ever laid eyes on. Who knows, these feet may be the very feet that one day carry the gospel to the nations. God has BIG plans for this kid. As I finished drying his feet, putting on his new bright red socks, and shiny black tough soled shoes, he looked me straight in the eye and said may God bless you… thank you. What could I say but you are so welcome and thank you Emanuel for being such a wonderful kid. This kid is going places. Not because he has new red socks and shiny black shoes, but because he knows what it means to be blessed to be a blessing!!!!! I know his response blessed me beyond measure. Praise be to God. It is my prayer that each of you know how truly blessed you are. May you see the overflow of those blessings revealing the glory of the Lord in your life and in the lives of others! Bwana Asifiwe.

2011 Let the Adventures Begin!

2011-01-09T11:43:00.001-05:00

Well, I‘ve been back at Tumaini for a week now and it’s been great seeing the staff and children again. This time it’s been refreshing to have some else from the US living in the house and serving with me. Lacey has really helped me process all that happens here on a daily basis and she is a blast to be around. God really answered my prayer by sending her to Tumaini. This week was the first week of the school year and we worked hard to help the teachers establish a schedule that will work for them. This term I will be teaching a class called Life Skills, which is sort of like a basic psychology class for kids. We will be discussing things like self-awareness, emotions, and communication skills. I will be teaching classes 3-7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. Lacey and I will also be working with the kids during the lunch reading program. For those who have donated books, thank you so much for making this reading program possible. We still have a long way to go to get all the books over to Africa, but I am working on several options to get them here ASAP. These kids LOVE to read and are constantly asking me for books. They are really passionate about learning. Finally I will be helping the teachers establish a club program in the afternoons for the kids, offering such things as Bible Club, 4H, Science Club, etc.

In the evenings Lacey and I will be serving as tutors for the kids at the Children’s Home, and one evening a week we will be having a Bible Study with the young girls. God is really doing some awesome things already this New Year and I can’t wait to see what he has in store.

On another note, we have had several interesting adventures this week. When I arrived baby SaraBeth remembered me and we sang Oh Happy Day together. This week we will be perfecting Rocky Top! She was so cute cheering my name as we pulled the car into the carport. Loved it!!!!

Poor Toba fell on a stick that jabbed into his shin. We worked for hours to remove it, but it just wouldn’t budge. So that resulted in a fun little trip to the hospital in Malava. (note the sarcasm). They told us that Toba would have to go to the theatre or as we would say surgery. After seeing the wazungu girls coming they decided to charge us double what they would normally charge… which was about the same amount of money posted for an emergency C-Section. WOW!!!!! We decided to take him back to Tumaini and have Rose take him to Kakamega where he got the attention he needed. They removed the stick under anesthesia for about 1,000 ksh or about $15.00. We are glad Toba is back to normal!

Yesterday Lacey and I decided to go for a little walk and 2 hours and 15 minutes later we found our way home. Lets just say that we felt like we had just gone through pre-season from the old days. We are definitely a bit sore this morning.

When we arrived home from our walk all sweaty and sticky, we were informed that the well is now dry and we have to walk about a ½ mile one way for water… No big deal for the kids, but us American’s are spoiled. To top off the week, we were getting ready for bed last night and Lacey noticed this gynormous spider on the wall and forced me to kill it . We named it Leroy… it was HUGE, but I will let you be the judge!!!!!

Another Year to Rejoice! Welcome 2011!

2011-01-01T02:42:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! Well it’s been a month and a half since my last blog. My time in the US was great and I enjoyed spending time with friends and family. So much so that I did not take the time to blog about those fun times stateside. Now as I look forward to all the Lord has to offer in 2011 I’m glad to be spending January 1 in beautiful Kenya. I arrived in Nairobi last night at about 11pm. By the time I got my visa and collected my bags it was about 15 minutes till midnight. I spent this New Years in a safari van with my driver friend Alex driving the streets of Nairobi. It was not much different from what you would expect to see in the US. Fireworks, excited people, and a lot of optimism… I spent the night last night at the Hampton House, which is a guesthouse for IMB missionaries. When I arrived, as I suspected most everyone had already retired for the night. We have this thing called missionary midnight, which is about 9 pm. This evidently also applies to New Years J I slept well last night and today I have one more flight and a two hour drive to see my amazing friends at Tumaini. I talked to Rose last night and she was so excited that I was back in Kenya. Then I heard from Lacey (an American volunteer whom I know well via facebook but have never met before) and she said the kiddos had been counting down for my arrival. SO, SO, SO excited to be back! I am also very excited to be serving alongside of Lacey for the next couple of months. She also knows of Tumaini because of International Sports Federation.

For those of you that do not know, I will be at Tumaini until March 24^th. On March 25^th I will be returning home to the US for my brother’s wedding. I am still praying about a return date to Kenya after the wedding so please be lifting that up as it comes to mind. I knew even before leaving for Kenya last June that it would not be a permanent placement for me. I felt as if the Lord was calling me to be an advocate for Africa, and a mentor and mobilizer for young people who may be called to serve as a missionary overseas. I knew that my time at Tumaini would be vital in doing this well, allowing me to learn about culture and real needs. But what really sets my heart on fire, as I again realized when I had a chance to speak at several churches over break, is empowering people to get involved how ever the Lord may lead them. God is already beginning to open doors for me to be an advocate back home and I just ask you to come alongside of me in prayer as I seek to trust Him with the time I have left here in Africa and with the decisions that need to be made in order to come back to the US and pursue my passion of advocacy and mobilization.

Well it’s time for the next leg of my journey to Tumaini. Blessings to you all as you begin this new year seeking Christ and all He has in store for you…. It’s gonna be a great year… this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Rest and Relaxation Reflection

2010-11-24T08:32:00.003-05:00

Well the end of the year exams are over and I’ve had some time to reflect on the last 5 months in Kenya. It’s been a blast and I’ve learned a lot about African culture, servant hood, and the faithfulness of our Father. About 2 weeks ago my friend Amy, who is a nurse, arrived in Africa to visit and help with vision exams and general health physicals for the kiddos. We had a wonderful time visiting and checking vision. One quick story… broke my heart. A young girl from class 5 who had already been held back a year struggled with the eye exam. At first I thought she was having difficulty remembering the names of the symbols we used on the chart, but after several failed attempts to correctly identify the symbols we moved her close to the chart and she clearly knew the names of the symbols… Our conclusion… this young girl could barely see the big E. She also sits at the back of the class in a low-lit classroom… This young lady has been struggling thru school because she cannot see. We quickly notified Rose our director and hopefully by Christmas we can provide glasses for this young lady. Praise God!!! My prediction is that it will change her life… give her much needed confidence she has been missing, and drastically improve her ability to learn. I was about her age when I took a vision test at school and discovered I needed glasses. It changed my world and I hope it changes hers as well.

This past weekend Amy and I decided to go to the Kenyan Coast city of Mombasa for some R&R. The blue-green waters of the Indian Ocean just beyond the Infinity Pool was a wonderful place to admire Creator God and think about the new vision He’s placed on my heart over the last few months. It also served as a very intentional transition to life back in the US. Yes, SURPRISE !!!!!…. I am posting this blog from American Soil! It’s great to be home 10 days early and I am so excited to see everyone soon. My American phone number is the same so give me a call… it’s free J I do miss Africa already and I am excited to be returning Dec 31^st. Too bad I can’t be in 2 places at once… it’s always bittersweet.

I’m still processing and sorting thru the many stories of God’s faithfulness that weigh on my heart. If you know me, you know I have stories to tell…. But this time they are not my stories. They are those of Christ, reigning alive and active in me and in the people of Western Kenya.

Prayer request:

That the Lord would help me to see clearly the best way to continue to serve the people of Kenya.

That I would be able to process and share much evidence of God’s faithfulness along this journey

That I would have a time of rest and fellowship during my time in the US

Oh and finally, that the Lord would forgive me for any and all little white lies I had to tell to make this homecoming surprise happen…..

Final Thoughts… No matter who you are or where life takes you… it’s ALWAYS best to stand on the ROCK!!! ~ Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

General Update:

2010-10-28T08:49:00.001-04:00

Lots going on these days as we begin to wind down for the last term of the school year… the kids are working hard preparing for their exams and I am into all kinds of random assignments and tasks… not really sure how to organize this so I think I will report today with a bulleted list in honor of my very organized dad (who I got to talk to on the phone a few hours ago). So here we go
• Continue to lift up prayers for my friend at the school… if you don’t know what I am talking about refer to my 2 previous blogs.
• I am doing a Beth Moore Believing God study and it’s been amazing… always meets me where I am at and I have been teaching a 5 week series to our children at Tumaini… they are loving it. Pray for me as I prepare to talk about : I can do all things through Christ. We will be discussing the armor of God… can’t wait… drama involved with this one.
• I am continuing to work with the sponsorship program here at Tumaini. If you are interested in sponsoring a child you can do so at the following site: www.tumainimilesofsmiles.org
• Continue to pray for Rose as she continues her driving lessons. She is learning more and more each day but there are many more obstacles here in Kenya than in the US.
• Continue to pray for me as I help with Administrative tasks at Tumaini. God is definitely at work here. Pray that as we work together we will be able to communicate across cultural barriers. This is tough sometimes.
• Sophia and I read the book Heidi together and she loved it. She read more to me than I did to her. This kid reads anything she can get her hands on and she is so smart. I am a proud Auntie.
• Took Sophia and Silvia to town to be measure for their Christmas present from me. We all had matching skirts custom made… I will pick them up this afternoon…. So excited… they are going to look so cute. (hopefully pics to come)
• Last Saturday we had a celebration to celebrate Rose’s moms service in the PAG Church. The party was complete with many chicken, chapatti, mandazi, and a lot of dancing , singing, and praising. We had a wonderful time. I help prepare the meal and even carried water on my head all the way up a mountain. (being a Kenyan woman is hard work) I really admire these ladies.
• I am very excited to announce that I will be having a visitor from the US in 9 days. My very dear friend Amy is coming to visit. WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! Pray for her safe travel and for our time here in Kenya.
Okay it’s time to go for now, but again thanks for all your support. I will be home in Knoxville from Dec 2- Dec 30. Mark your calendars. Until then, much love and joy to each of you!

A Promise of HOPE

2010-10-19T07:13:00.002-04:00

Thanks so much all of you who have been lifting up prayers for the amazing ministry God has here at Tumaini. I wanted to give you a quick update concerning the awesomeness of God and his activity here, especially in the life of the teacher I requested prayer for in my last blog!!!! This time I will do so by sharing my journal entry from Friday October 15^th.

October 15, 2010 Friday am… Just after morning worship service for the Kids

Lord I don’t even know where to begin except to fall on my face in humble adoration of who you are. I AM THAT I AM!!! Oh, and how your WORD continues to be alive and active. Praise the Lord. Bwana Asifiwe! The story I am about to tell is nothing short of a miracle. GLORY BE TO GOD.

So I’ve been praying for a Muslim teacher at our school at his request. Recently he’s begun to notice God’s providential hand at work in the healing of his sister and father, and I believe in his own life. I’ve been praying that God would show Himself in a BIG way to this teacher. I wrote in my Believing God notebook these exact words two days before: “I pray that You Lord come to him and speak words to him and that you would use whatever means necessary. I pray that he would be transformed and that you will give him a hope and a future.” I love how God wants us to be specific when we pray and how He answers so specifically in order to grow our faith.

This morning I was to bring a message “give the Word” at the children’s morning worship service. (PPI). This week we were talking about the topic FAITH: Believing God can do what He says He can do. As I was walking to the classroom to prepare I came across this teacher and asked if he would be joining us for PPI this morning, and then I told him our topic. He smiled and said YES! I began to pray though as I watched him walk the opposite direction toward the office. As PPI began I looked up to see this teacher walking from the office with a HOLY BIBLE in his hand. He entered the room and stood in the back with another teacher. As the children were singing songs of praise, I felt the Spirit of the LORD whoosh, and I do mean whoosh into the Room. I think he whooshed straight to the back corner, as I looked up to see this teacher and the other thumbing through Scripture and quietly conversing. After the singing it was time for testimony and Hesbon, who was leading the service, asked for JUST ONE. Usually the kids are eager to share, but not a single one went forward… not even after several requests from Hesbon for a testimony. It was then that from the back of the room this teacher that all of YOU have been praying for slipped up his hand. I could barely hold back tears as He proclaimed Bwana Asifiwe (Praise the LORD). The testimony he shared was moving although I could only understand “Big Picture” concepts, as he was speaking in Kiswahili, but in my heart I understood every finite detail… God was at work using “any means necessary” to draw him into Himself. He shared how he was riding home on a bicycle this week with the teacher standing next to him and for what seemed to be a completely unknown reason they began to walk. Moments later they observed a truck out of control turn over in front of them… just where they would have been had they continued on the bicycle. He was not just praising God, but Christ Jesus for protecting them! My oh my how wonderful are your works Lord. Then he asked to sing a song… Following the song he shared from Exodus 14 about God being… I AM THAT I AM. Was a Muslim man just declaring Yahweh as God right in front of my eyes???? Why yes he was. In just a few short moments God had prepared me to expound on that very fact… how God is our protector, provider, and a God who sees, from none other than Exodus 14:21-27. Again I love how God calls us to be obedient in preparing to proclaim His Word, but also in His sovereignty, He can and will do a mighty work before we proclaim it….because HE IS GOD!

Lord it is my prayer that my teacher friend will soon come to know the God that he spoke of today. That in the name of Jesus, he will be transformed and rejoice in you as Savior. Teach us around him (and those who hear of this) to be sensitive to Your calling and be obedient in how we can continue to encourage him. Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more: HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.

Again these are the words from my journal last Friday. Since then I have given Hesbon (awesome Kenyan man) a Bible to share with this teacher. In this Bible I wrote several scriptures copied in the back from a paper I carry with me… the same tear-stained paper that I had given my mom to share the Gospel with my grandfather. Since then Hesbon has taken a few minutes to continue sharing with this teacher, and again he is very very close to accepting Christ. I believe the last stronghold is the confession of sin and then committing his life to the Lord. So please come alongside of me in praying that God will again speak to him, this time beckoning… Come follow ME!

I pray believing and know of God’s faithfulness. He even sent me a sign in the form of the most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever seen. As it arched over Tumaini Miles of Smiles I couldn’t help but see the message: a promise (rainbow) of hope (Tumani: Swahili for Hope)

May you find HOPE in the Lord and all HIS Promises!

ATTENTION ALL PRAYER WARRIORS

2010-10-10T08:30:00.002-04:00

Really cool story and prayer request:

A few weeks ago I was encouraging the teacher on duty for the week to lead us in morning prayer and one of the teachers had a concern that not all the teachers are from the same denomination, but what he really meant was not all the teachers are Christians. It was then that I learned we had a Muslim teacher among us. Rose didn't even know, so I had to revisit the plan for the teachers to lead morning prayer. For now I do this every morning. 2 days later the Muslim teacher requested prayer for his father, so I said sure and prayed for his father in the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. I continued to get updates on his father and he is now feeling better. Praise GOD!!!! Fastforward to this Friday and He again requested prayer for his sister and father. Then, no lie, he looked me striaght in the eye and said in the teacher work room, I want to become a Christian. Can you convert me to Christianity. WOW!!!!! A Muslim Kenyan man just sincerely asked a Mzungu Christian woman to convert him to Christianity. I told him I could not convert him but God could. In fear that he wanted favor in the sight of a mzungu woman instead of favor in the eyes of God, I told him that we could discuss further what it means to be a Christian with Hesbon (awesome Christian Kenyan MAN) as well. I planned to talk with him that afternoon but the rain caused me to get stuck at the corner office and I did not make it back to school that day. So on Saturday (yesterday) I went for a long walk and can you believe I met him on the road. I asked him how his dad and sister were feeling and he replied better thanks to your prayers. This was an open door for me to ask him if he was serious about becoming a Christian and he said yes. (I have to be very cautious of motives esp. when dealing with men. I make it a point to minister to women here and defer men to Godly Kenyan men.) I then asked him why, as to be certain of his motive. Praise GOD he replied, because your God answers prayers. I said yes he does because HE is a living God. I am going with Hesbon tomorrow to talk more with Him but I believe with all my heart he is sincere and we could all have another brother in Christ sometime this week. Who would have thought that Tumaini (A Christian School) could have unknowingly hired a Muslim teacher and that the kids and staff have poured into his life, being salt and light, and he wants what we have! Now that is what TUMAINI is all about! Our God is a Sovereign GOD!!!! Please join me in prayer for this man, as you are as much a part of this journey as I am! Blessings to you all, and I pray God meets you where you are at this moment and always!

The need for prayer was the seed that planted the desire for a LIVING GOD, now lets continue praying that this seed takes root!

Much LOVE!

This is My Prayer in the Desert

2010-10-02T09:00:00.002-04:00

Well it’s another fine day in Kenya. The morning sun is up over the hill in the east and my rooster alarm clock was right on time…. Just like always. This morning I am the only volunteer in the house (first time since June). Since I actually have a moment of silence at my morning devotion I decided to take a couple of minutes to keep you in the loop about all that God is doing in my life and at Tumaini.

God’s Network… Yes He uses Hymnals

When I arrived in Kenya I knew I was coming alone (without another missionary or assisting other known missionaries in my area) As soon as I stepped foot on Kenyan soil, actually even before then, I began to pray for a support system in Kenya. It’s vital when you are in cross-cultural ministry. I knew the chances of meeting other missionaries was entirely possible, as there are many here, but finding them in rural areas would be a challenge! In July, I traveled to Kisumu to pick up the ISF short-term team at the airport. As I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my mzungu friends I saw this man (Wayne) who was waiting as well. Of course I’ve never met a stranger, so as we were waiting I greeted him and asked where he was from and why he was in Kenya. (I knew he was a missionary…. they usually have a certain look about them) Wayne said he was a missionary and he was picking up some hymnals for a missionary friend…. from a girl named SaraBeth. I thought this to be strikingly odd in that I was also waiting on a SaraBeth from the US. Turns out we were waiting on the same SARABETH! We began to talk more and I found out that his wife (Mary Lynn) is from Gatlinburg… yes, small world, and that his wife belongs to a women’s bible study group in Kisumu. I told him, I had been praying for an opportunity to meet with some western Christian women. We exchanged phone numbers and he invited me to come down sometime to meet the missionary women that attend the bible study. He also said that I was welcome to come and visit when I just needed a break from the rigorous life in the rural areas of ministry. I won’t lie, the possibility of running water and a hot shower was more than enough to make me consider this offer.

Filled To Be Emptied Again

Now fast-forward exactly 2 months to the day. I woke up early on the morning of September 24^th pretty much empty. The challenges of working in the realm of education in the rural areas of the western province had completely drained me of energy, thought, or emotion. But this particular morning I sensed that restoration was just ahead, so I pressed on. Two weeks prior, when I began to noticed that I REALLY needed Christian community, I received a phone call from none other than my airport friend Wayne, inviting me to come and meet his wife Mary Lynn and attend the women’s bible study. After looking at my schedule we set the date (Sept 24) and I told him his call was a blessings and I was longing for community! I love God’s faithfulness to meet us where we are at, don’t you??? So back to the pressings on… I packed my bag for an overnight stay in Kisumu and began my 1 mile walk to the bus stop. Along the way I found myself stuck in the mud created by the endless nights of rainfall. My flip-flops were so heavy I could barely carry them, much the same as I could barely carry my heavy heart. I finally reached the bus stop and boarded a matatu to Kakamega, where Wayne had arranged for me to meet a young lady who would also be traveling to the bible study. From Kakamega the 2 of us boarded another matatu and made the 2-hour journey to the Bible study. When we arrived at the house of Wayne and Mary Lynn, she had prepared a wonderful lunch of fried chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes with REAL gravy. I told her it was like I stepped out of Africa and right into my mother’s kitchen. They were the most hospitable family I’ve ever met… right down to their “guard” dog Sampson. I was a bit sad to find out that this would be the last week in Kisumu for my new friends as the Lord spoke to them a month or so ago and asked them to come back to the US for a while. Now it was even more important for me to grow my network in Kisumu. After lunch we headed to the bible study. I really didn’t know what to expect… but God came through in a BIG way and exceeded my expectations! This Bible Study was comprised of over 30 women from age 16 to 65. Some had been on the field for years, while others were missionary newcomers. Many were new mothers (yes, white babies in Kenya), others were single. They welcomed me into their circle of friends as if I had known them for years. We ate wonderful cakes and breads and sat down together to begin the Beth Moore Daniel study. After the study we took time to encourage one another in prayer. I was so overcome with emotion as I looked around the room at God’s answer to my prayer. I shared with the women how I had been praying for a community of Christian women and how God provided that in a HUGE way! Phase 1 of the spiritual re-fill was complete.

After the bible study I returned to the house of my newfound friends and they had arranged a dinner for me to meet some other young people who were currently serving in Kisumu. We shared our stories of how God had brought each of us to Kenya and it was a refreshing time of fellowship and debriefing about our particular areas of service. After dinner I had a wonderful hot shower and retired to a comfortable bed for the evening. Phase 2 of the re-fill was complete.

I woke up refreshed the next morning (Friday) and was planning to head back to the rural area by lunch time, but my host informed me that I was welcome to stay the rest of the weekend and attend the going away party for them on Sunday. With my need to grow my network in Kisumu I decided this would be a wonderful idea. Little did I know that God had a bigger reason in mind for my staying… He loves to make things come full circle! Friday evening after an AMAZING DAY OF REST, I met a woman (Bethany) and her husband (Sherwood) who are managing an orphanage south of Kisumu and they would be staying in the house for the rest of the weekend. Friday evening we were just talking about the ups and downs of missionary life and stories from the field. Then Bethany asked how I met Wayne. It was then that we made the connection concerning the hymnals. The hymnals that Wayne picked up at the airport were from a church in the US and they were for Bethany. Bethany didn’t request the hymnals and really had no idea what she would do with them, but the church in the US insisted on sending them and she graciously received them by way of SaraBeth through Wanye. Wayne discovered Bethany had given the hymnals to a pastor friend and he was using it daily as if singing psalms of praise to the Lord. To all of us the hymnals really didn’t seem very helpful to a couple running an orphanage and it almost seemed useless for them to drive 2 hours to receive them. But they were vital in connecting kindred spirits with a desire to see the Lord raised up and glorified among the people in Kenya. This is a wonderful story of the blessings that come from faithful obedience to our Lord!

Church in the US sensed a need to send a few old hymnals to Kenya.
Bethany was willing to receive something she had no idea how she would use
Wayne was willing to help out Bethany by picking up the hymnals
Sarabeth was willing to bring the hymnals to Kenya
Wayne was obedient in inviting me to his home to be uplifted and encouraged
The Kenyan pastor received the hymnals and now sings joyful psalms unto the Lord.
I was willing to stay longer therefore met an amazing new friend Bethany in great need of encouragement herself
God was honored and glorified in big ways and who knows how many others might receive a blessing from this act of obedience… YES, God can use anything to further His kingdom… even Hymnals!

Phase 3 of the spiritual re-fill was complete.

Saturday was equally refreshing as I slept in, caught up on some reading, and talked to my parents for 2 UNINTERUPTED hours on Skype. How wonderful it was to see their faces and even a glimpse of the barn they are building in the field behind their house. It’s amazing how even small things from home can lift your spirits. Thanks to all of you that encourage me with notes, surprise packages, and emails… words can not express how encouraging it is!!

Phase 4 of the spiritual re-fill was complete.

Sunday morning I attended Christ Church in Kisumu and the praise and worship was amazing. It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ as we were among the rich and poor, black and white, native and foreigner, all ushering in the presence of God by offering up praise to the one, true, Living God. I’d like to think it was just a glimpse of what Heaven will be like.

Enough said… I think it’s safe to say that I left the church that afternoon completely full and ready to pour out again.

On Monday morning I boarded a matatu back to my home near Malava. I could hardly wait to journey down the 1-mile path to Tumaini. When the matatu dropped me off it was pouring rain. The same mud was waiting on me along the path ahead, but this time I was not weighed down by it. I took off my shoes before they became heavy and walked barefoot down the path. This time my flip flops and my burden were light. It’s good to be back at Tumaini!

Joining the Journey!!! A Challenge from East Africa

2010-09-24T09:18:00.013-04:00

This evening I was sitting on the couch in the guesthome re-writing my long term goals. After writing this: work in full-time ministry educating, and empowering, Americans who are interested in impacting the life of an orphan in East Africa… something caused me to pause and say to myself, WOW, I’m living in East Africa. As the word Africa resonated in my mind, I had to stop writing my long-term goals and turn my attention to this blog. Honestly, Africa has been on my heart since I was a little girl listening to my cassette tape of We are the World. I grew up in a generation who watched infomercials of Sally Struthers holding a skeleton clad child with a distended belly as she walked around in heaps of trash these kids called home. Go ahead, close your eyes and picture it. Can you see it? I wish I could say the picture now lingering in your mind isn’t real. I wish I could say that after 25 years of advocating on behalf of the voiceless, these kids now live in houses and eat 3 square meals a day, but I can’t. I live in Africa and that infomercial is a reality that stares me in the face daily. I see with my own eyes real images of kids as young as 3 who walk miles to school, barefoot in the mud, because they know education is their only hope for a brighter future. I see other kids running around city streets selling avocadoes for less than 10 cents each and then using the profits to buy glue to sniff, all because they’ve lost hope.

So yes I live in Africa and my long-term goal is to empower people like you to impact the life of an orphan. So what’s my short-term goal… well it’s to love the children the way Jesus does, to give them a hope and a future. My 2 feet walk the 100 yds. across the field to the school everyday, my 2 hands pick up the little kiddos, and give high-5’s to the rest, my head works to improve the quality of education at Tumaini, my heart longs to see lasting change, and my soul prays it’s in the name of Jesus. I am all in and I ask you to pray about how you can join me. Here are a few suggestions:

· Pray for the children at Tumaini Miles of Smiles School and orphanage pray that they continue to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Pray that they find hope in their Heavenly Father.

· Consider visiting the Tumaini Miles of Smiles Website and contributing in the following way(s)

o Sponsor a Child

o Help Tumaini finish the Guesthouse

o Help Tumaini Finish the 7^th grade classroom

o Contribute to the Tumaini Car Maintenance Fund

Let me take just a moment to elaborate on these needs:

Child Sponsorship

Since June I’ve been working diligently with a team of people at ISF to update and streamline the Tumaini Child Sponsorship program. I’ve seen first hand how this program helps feed, clothe, educate, and encourage children to be future leaders for the glory of God. This option requires a long-term commitment to provide monthly for the child you sponsor. As a sponsor of 2 children myself, it’s well worth the commitment and small monetary sacrifice to receive letters from them and see the smiles on their beautiful faces!

The Guesthouse

This is important to me because it is my current residence. It also serves as the home of Rose and her children. Although it serves as a great place to lay my head at night, it is still unfinished and in need of improvements. Please consider helping us finish the house and who knows, God may lay a visit to Tumaini on your heart and you may need a cozy (term used loosely :) )place to stay!

7^th grade Classroom

The new school year begins January 3, 2010 and the children from grade 6 are excited to be promoted to the 7^th grade. There’s only one problem, the classroom is only halfway completed. Consider what it would be like to have class in a room with dirt floors and no windows. These kids deserve the best education possible and that includes starting their school year in a COMPLETED functional classroom.

Car Maintenance Fund

Okay so this would be my pick if I wanted to make a difference and I didn’t want the hassle of a long-term commitment… A one-time gift will work just fine. Actually, I just made a one-time contribution myself. I was to be in Kakamega in an hour (it takes 30 minutes to get there) for a very important sponsorship meeting, when Rose’s sister says to me… the tire has a puncture! Uuhhhhh, so frustrating, but not surprising if you look at the conditions of the roads. This was our 2^nd puncture since the car arrived in August. So I drove the car to Kakamega on the spare (scary) and purchased a new one at the bargain price of $100.00. Now I classify myself as a missionary and I don’t always have $100 just lying around. It just so happened that the Lord led me to make this purchase and encourage others to help out as well. If I can find the money to contribute then anyone can! Gas is also a burden in that it cost $1 per liter, which is about $4.00 per gallon. We don’t get great gas mileage in Kenya because of all the stop and go in dodging people and potholes. I must say the car has been an absolute blessing in that we are now able to get children to the hospital when they are sick and gather supplies from town without having to pay a taxi an outrageous amount to take us back to the rural areas. But with this blessing has come the overwhelming task of keeping Freida (the pride of Kenya) on the road. Please consider helping us with Maintenance cost and therefore enable us to use the car to better serve the children.

Check out the Tumaini Website and give as the Lord Leads!!!!

www.tumainimilesofsmiles.org

If you would like to support me or any of these urgent needs BY CHECK, feel free to send a check made out to International Sports Federation, PO Box 2788, Acworth, GA 30102. Make sure you put in the memo line which urgent need you are contributing to or to generally support what God is allowing me to do, write "Amanda Walton" on the memo line. Thank you so much for believing in what God is allowing me to be a part of here in Kenya. I could not do this without the prayer and financial support that God has provided to me through you!

Overcoming Obstacles

2010-09-09T16:13:00.001-04:00

Overcoming Obstacles

I recently began driving to and from town. It’s about a 15-mile drive and it takes a minimum of 35 minutes to get there. Why you may ask…well first of all it’s my first time ever behind the wheel of a car with the steering wheel on the right therefore also my first time keeping left. In addition to this, there are many many… did I say many obstacles. Potholes the size of the car and almost as deep as they are wide, cows, goats, children as young as 3 walking along the side of the road, bicycles that never look back, tractors carrying sugarcane stacked as wide as the road, matatu’s that seem to be qualifying for the Indy 500, construction that detours onto a bicycle path now serving as the main road still accommodating all of the above…. It’s a wonder I ever make it to town at all. Once I arrive I have to pay to park and gas is over $1 per liter. So I think it ‘s safe to say obstacles are abundant.

Today the children were at school and in the afternoon I saw the storm clouds rolling in. They were in the last class of the day learning their respective subjects when rain started to fall on the tin roof. It didn’t take long for the pitter- patter t on the roof to evolve into a deafening sound. It’s impossible for the teacher’s voice to project over the noise. So what’s one to do???? They had to wait 30 minutes to resume the lesson. Oh yeah and I forgot to mention the kids have 1 textbook per 3 or 4 kids. They all crowd around the book, dying to get a good look at it. They want to learn… it’s their only hope of overcoming the death grip of poverty. How’s that for obstacles.

I could go on and on and on about the abundance of obstacles here, but I won’t. That would be giving the enemy too much credit. The truth is that obstacles are being overcome here everyday. God is at work in a mighty way, and I have to choose joy!!!! I have to choose to fight. I have to choose to trust that the Lord has it all under control.

I will say with great joy that the grace of Christ is with me! In the daily obstacles I see God so clearly in the eyes of the children. I see him in the majesty of a sunrise over the mountain and in the wrath of the storm. Every time the storm comes, it too shall pass and the sun returns to reveal the glory of the Lord in all things living and thriving. The storm is necessary and it tests the faithfulness of all creation. So lets give thanks to the Lord for He is good and his love endures forever!!!

*I’m usually not one to cut and paste parts of scripture and all of Psalm 107 is amazing… just listed my favorite parts to save space J

Psalm 107

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

¹ Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

² Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

whom he has redeemed from trouble

³ and gathered in from the lands,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

⁸ Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of men!

⁹ For he satisfies the longing soul,

and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

²⁸ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

²⁹ He made the storm be still,

and the waves of the sea were hushed.

³⁰ Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

³¹ Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of men!

³⁵ He turns a desert into pools of water,

a parched land into springs of water.

³⁶ And there he lets the hungry dwell,

and they establish a city to live in;

³⁷ they sow fields and plant vineyards

and get a fruitful yield.

⁴³ Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;

let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Sabbatical Adventures

2010-09-09T16:09:00.003-04:00

Sabbatical Adventures

Since I still find myself behind in posting and I could write for hours about these adventures I think I will just settle for listing some fun and refreshing happenings on my 2 week journey away from Tumaini:

Ate Ox testicles at the Carnivore in Nairobi… I thought the server said ostrich meat balls so I said sure… it was not until it was on my plate that he rephrased Ox testicles…. What was a girl to do, but enjoy the savory taste with my dear friend Bellar.

Experienced God’s creation at Maasai Mara… we stayed in a tented camp and learned more about the traditional Maasai warriors. We also saw a lion walk right in front of our safari van as well as the migrating buffalo and one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen.

Spent a few days in Mombasa with Rose and SaraBeth. Our business there was to buy a car but it was also refreshing to see the Indian Ocean, camels on the beach, and to relax for a spa day including a much wanted pedicure! We also had some time with Rose to discuss the future of Tumaini… and I must say God is doing some amazing things in and thru Rose.

Traveled to Uganda (against my mother’s wishes) we walked across the border and looked into some other possible places of ministry. We met with a pastor named Geoffrey and he took us to several places.

Tororo: our first stop of many and there was something really unsettling about the place we stayed…. It was almost as if my spirit sensed that something really bad had taken place in our room…. I couldn’t wait to get out of there the next morning. We walked to the bus stop and I stood for 45 minutes until there was a vacant seat. I was so tired and sick, so it was a tough 45 minutes but I slept the remainder of the 6-hour bus ride.

Lira: Met Geoffrey’s pastor friend Joel for lunch and then he took us around the city. We toured his church and a hospital with a maternity ward. I’ve never seen anything like it… women laying on the floor on a mat in labor, other women with their newborns laying right beside another woman struggling thru labor… the most disturbing part…..There were no men in sight, the women go thru this process on their own, some even walking or riding a motorbike to the hospital. There were no families waiting with video cameras or gifts, no fathers, no coaches, no private rooms, no beds. Just women bringing life into this world… ALONE!

Lira to Gulu: Rode in a taxi car and ran out of gas, then when we arrived at the gas station the driver only put 1 liter of gas in the tank… enough to get us to the next station. Later I noticed the driver dropping money out the window along our way… come to find out he was bribing people to help him thru police checkpoints b/c he was carrying too many passengers. We finally came to a checkpoint where the police could not be bribed and our driver was fined for having 2 people and a chicken in the trunk. When we arrived in Gulu we met Geoffrey’s pastor friend Michael. Gulu is the site of the original Invisible Children documentary. We learned a lot about the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) from Michael firsthand. He was abducted and held captive for 5 excruciating days by the Rebels before he escaped. The army looked for him for 3 years after that and God spared his life and always helped him escape recapture. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more captivating story of God rescuing one of his faithful servants…. This ranks right up there with the fiery furnace.

Gulu to Nebbi: At first this was an exciting drive. Alex, another pastor friend of Geoffrey picked us up and we found out we would get to cross the Nile River today. I actually put my feet in the Nile… very cool! My excitement was replaced with a somber spirit as we learned of the great massacres that took place as recent as 2007 along the short stretch of road we were traveling. All I could think about was the fear in the hearts of the people as they traveled that way. I can’t even imagine the blood shed and in such a beautiful place nestled between the Nile. Geoffrey would point out to us the remnants of camps where those from the bush would gather for safety and told us his own stories of fear becoming a reality as he was shot in one of the Rebel’s ambushes.

Nebbi: This was my favorite city on the Uganda tour and it was the place where Geoffrey currently resides. There the Lord allowed me to speak to the children of his church. I shared with them a short sermon from 1 Timothy 4:12. Many of these children are orphans and have been left behind because of AIDS or war. My heart broke as I raised my hand to give one of the children a high five and he shuttered at my hand in fear…. I really don’t know what to say to that, other than the scars of war remain… and they are DEEP!!!!! Here we met one of Geoffrey’s best friends named Stanley. He has the joy of the Lord all over him and we enjoyed visiting with him and his family. Both of these men are a true testimony to what it means to live by faith.

Nebbi to Arua: The following morning we left for Arua and on our way we stopped to visit a plot of land where Geoffrey hopes to establish a community that takes care of orphans and widows, referred to by Geoffrey as Acres of Hope. These kids from nearby followed us and taught us to play this really cool game with a top made of wood and a stick with twine on it.. It was fun and the kids were impressed that I caught on so quickly. I also taught them how to make a whistle out of grass. Stanley commented on the sign from God that all the children were drawn to this place. When we arrived in Arua we went to the market and then to a very good restaurant called White Castle for a burger and pizza…. Ummmm good!!!!! After that we drove to the Congo border (again don’t tell mom) but I did stand in the Congo just long enough to snap a quick photo! After that adventure we went to the place where Geoffrey was raised and met his brother’s family. He then showed us the house that he is building little by little so that he can rent it and generate income for his family and ministry. At sunset we went for a walk in the market and then we were off to board the night bus to Kampala.

Night bus to Kampala: This was an adventure! First the guy outside the bus was screaming instructions about how to board the bus in Kiswahili. Then they search all your things (which is a good thing). Then we hear from Geoffrey that we will arrive at 4am but we are not allowed off the bus until 6am because it’s too dangerous. Just as we were getting settled on the bus the conductor boards and says Welcome to the night bus. If you need to vomit we will provide you a bag. Only vomit in the bag and when you are finished please throw the bag out the window. If you do not the whole bus will smell like vomit, which will whereby cause others to vomit. Please do not throw any other rubbish out the window… only vomit. Now, would anyone like to pray for us? The highlight of this ride was when I woke up just in time to see the reflection of the full moon in the Nile River below…. Awesome!

Kampala to the Border: Man am I glad God did not call me to the city. Give me the rural areas any day. I did not like the city but we were only there a couple of hours before it was time to board a matatu for the border city of Malaba. I prayed for people of peace along the way and the Lord provided. As we approached the border we began to inquire about the best route back to Tumaini. There was a lady named Lydia who was from Kakamega but she was traveling to eldoret and she said we could go with her and she would make sure we arrived at our next stop. When we arrived at the border her brother in law was waiting with a SUV and instead of traveling by matatu, they gave us a free ride to our stop. We even stopped along the way for a soda and snack.

Back at Tumaini: It was so good to be back at Tumaini. The adventure was a blast and I love to travel, but there’ s just something nice about being in your own bed… even if it is still thousands of miles from home. To see the kids, to see Rose, and to have fresh eyes gazing upon all God is doing here… IT’s good to be back at Tumaini!

Give To Me a Sweet!!!

2010-08-30T08:37:00.001-04:00

Story 1:

I’m riding down the road in a car at about 15 mph. Kids from every direction catch a glimpse of the mzungu. They run after the car saying Halo, Halo, Halo. Give to me a sweet!!!! A sweet!

Story 2:

I’m walking down the street from the tarmac road to my home about ¾ mile away. After 1^st hundred yards I look back to see I have a following of about 20 kids. They have dropped all they were doing just to see where the mzungu is going. The bravest among them skips up beside me and I say with a smile, Sasa (what’s Up?) The little boy replies poa (awesome) and then giggles. He then looks at me with huge black eyes and says, give to me a sweet!

Story 3:

I’m shopping at the local supermarket and 3 little girls come up to me in the potato chip isle. They stay at a distance at first looking and giggling among themselves. I look up to acknowledge them and I said ,Sasa. They replied, fit (fine, or fit as in healthy) One of the girls looked me straight in the eye and said, buy for me a sweet.

These stories are not isolated events. They occur on a daily basis.

Give to Me a Sweet! Halo, Give to Me a Sweet! Mzungu a sweet??? Do you have a sweet for me? Over and over again these sounds resonate in my ears and break my heart. You’ve heard of starving children in Africa right? Well I’ve seen them with my own eyes and I know with my whole heart that SWEETS are not the answer.

Now if you’ve even been to Africa with candy in hand hoping to bless the socks off of all the cute little kids in the street, this next part may be offensive to you, but I say what I say with no apologies attached. I know that volunteers come with the best of intentions and may even think, what a great way to build trust and earn an ear with the kids. That’s what I use to think too. Unfortunately even the best of intentions do not always translate cross-culturally. In fact they rarely do.

The message we intend to get across with pockets full of candy is this: I love you and God loves you. I want to help you know Jesus and have hope in Him. See this candy? Isn’t it sweet and wonderful? So is Jesus and in Him is a life sweeter than any other.

The message that translates is this:

Wow a white person. They smile all the time and if I get close to them they have great things. They have lots of money… maybe if I say hello they will give me some. Oh, yeah and they always have those sweets in their pockets. All I have to do is ask and they will give me one. I don’t see the white people very often but if I see one it’s a sure thing that they have pesa and sweeties and the ones that smile will for sure give me one or the other or maybe even both. They are so rich and wonderful. I should follow them everywhere they go. Good things are surely to follow.

So here’s the problem with good intentions… they send the wrong message. If our goal is to show the love of Christ… it must translate as the love of Christ. Every time a child comes up to me, a perfect stranger and asks for a sweet, it irritates me. My anger is not directed to the innocent children, but to us who have programmed these children to make such requests. What’s done is done, but my goal is to reprogram the kids that I meet (esp. on my street) to think of the white lady, not as a walking smiling piñata, but as a lady that if you stick around long enough is sharing a gift much sweeter than a piece of candy. Those little sweeties fade away in an instant, but the gift of Christ is far sweeter and lasts forever. Lord I know I can’t change the world, but I can make a difference on my street where you’ve lead me to be a light for you…. May I proclaim you clearly as I should! May these precious little ones find sweetness in you alone!

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. I gain understanding from your precepts therefore I hate every wrong path. ~ Psalm 119:103

The Best Sleepover... EVER!!!

2010-08-30T08:30:00.003-04:00

The Best Sleepover Ever

Well all the kids went home for a 2 week break and 4 of the older orphan girls who had no where to go got a special treat with Teacha Amanda and Teacha Bella. After dinner we invited Matrober, Sharon, Faith, and Sophia over to the guest home. We then escorted them to our room and had a wonderful surprise waiting for them. A laptop with the Princess Diaries 2 DVD ready to play! Their eyes were huge in anticipation…. Oh but it gets better! Now I’m not one for handing out sweets left and right ( more to come on this in my next blog) but tonight was a special treat and I was in the mood for a little spoiling!!!!! I went to the kitchen and collected some glasses and poured each girl a cup of COKE!!!!!! Again picture eyes lighting up like Christmas. And the icing on the cake… a HUGE bowl of peanut M & M’s. It was like our own little fairy tale. We pushed the beds together and watched as Princess Mia gets her prince and we reflected on the thought that they each have a Prince of their own… His name is Jesus! AWESOME night!!!!! After the movie the fun continued as all the girls were allowed to sleep over! They giggled for a couple of minutes and then they were off to sleep… or so I thought. Right after the movie I got a call from SaraBeth who was in Nairobi as the team was on their way back to the US. One of the girls got sick in Amsterdam and they would not allow her to board the plane.

SIDE STORY: The last day the team was here this volunteer felt like the Lord was leading her to give her favorite Bible to Sophia. She asked me if that would be okay and I said sure. Later that day Sophia was looking at the Bible and they began to underline their favorite verses together. At the time Sophia had no idea that later the Bible would be hers . It was such a special moment to seem the volunteer give her special Bible to Sophia and we told her that maybe she could pass it on to someone else someday. Afterall, that’s the way the gospel spreads, finding it and loving it so much that you share it with others. I have included one of my favorite pictures of this volunteer giving her Bible to Sophia. VERY SPECIAL MOMENT!!

After a few minutes of talking with SaraBeth teacha Bellar and I went to sleep. The next morning we awoke to all the girls staring at us sleeping. We heard the giggling resume as the girls laughed at the fact that some had more pillows than others. Why giggling about this you ask??? Well, they usually don’t get pillows so the fact that some had 2 was a BIG Deal! We began to ask if they had a fun night and if they slept well. They all replied with a resounding YES! Then out of nowhere Sophia said I prayed for the volunteer last night, is she okay? I asked her how she knew and she said she heard us talking on the phone to SaraBeth and she prayed that the volunteer would be okay. My heart was beaming with joy. An orphan praying for the safety and healing of a volunteer??? It just doesn’t get much more humbling than that folks. These kids truly understand the power of prayer and they live trusting God to come to their rescue! Unwavering faith abounds here and I’ve been inspired time and time again by the least of these! When all the girls were up and stirring we all piled on my bed for a morning Bible Study. We shared scripture together and we took turns praying. Man do these kids know how to pray. They are so thankful for the gifts of each day. This is probably one of my favorite moments so far!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE these girls and I am so blessed that the Lord allows me to pour into their lives!

Too Many Needs... Only 2 Hands

2010-08-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Too Many Needs and Not enough Hands

This is a Journal Entry from July 30, 2010

I woke up this morning to the same revelation… the everyday needs are overwhelming here. I was bombarded with these thoughts: one of the orphans is sick with the mumps, how is the teacher that revealed to me yesterday that her husband tried to beat her again, are the teachers really understanding that my purpose here is to help them, are the kids really getting the best possible education… this one has jiggers, that one HIV. Snotty noses, ear infections, every problem is magnified here. What about water or the lack of food? It would be so nice for all the kids to have shoes, a uniform with all the buttons, notebooks and pencils they don’t have to sharpen with razor blades. Not to mention a textbook of their own. What happens to this one when they walk home 6 miles in the rain or does this one really have a home to go home to? My eyes have seen each of these things first hand and my heart has no idea where to begin. I have been paralyzed by the sheer number of needs, big and small. I noticed when the team arrived that I am unable to record events of the day like before. I finally realized today that my eyes have been seeing one need at a time and it’s been easier to manage and process thoughts and possible solutions. When the team arrived an amazing thing happened. 20 sets of eyes began to see and process the needs at Tumaini. All of a sudden I was being made aware of 20 very immediate needs at once. My brain began to shutdown and feel helpless to do anything about even 1 need. I’m thankful that while talking with my parents tonight the Lord brought this thought to mind. All I can do is what the Lord brought me here to do and with His strength and power it is more than enough. Every issue big and small is in His hands.

10 Join the Family of God

2010-08-27T08:59:00.000-04:00

10 Join the Family of God

Every year the ISF SportsPlus team comes to share the love of Christ with the Tumaini Kids. They come for a couple of weeks to run a VBS type camp for all the kids, including sports games, crafts, music, and a bible lesson. At the end of the week they present the Gospel message and give the children an opportunity to respond. This year 10 students made decisions to accept Christ. We also gave those who had already accepted Christ but just had questions about how to have a closer relationship with Him an opportunity to grow deeper in their knowledge of Christ. Over the next few months it will be my responsibility to come along side of the new young followers in Christ as they are also being discipled by the qualified staff at Tumaini. We are so excited to watch these young believers grow in the knowledge of Truth! Praise the Lord (Bwana Asifiwe)

Prayer Request: Please pray for the 10 new member of your family, that they may continue to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Also pray for the leadership at Tumaini as they continue to pour into the lives of these young ones. They are doing amazing work here and I am so blessed to be a part of it J

Learning to be a teacher among teachers

2010-08-26T05:00:00.003-04:00

Learning to be a teacher among teachers…

Coming to a place that is not your home, taking up residence, learning all the do’s and don’ts, and trying to fade into the faces is not easy. Many days I wake up and ask God to tell me again why he drew me to this place. It’s not long before the answer is staring me in the face once again. Every morning I walk the 100 yards to the school to see 10 teachers and 220 beautiful children ready to face their day, and I am reminded once again of the task at hand. When I first arrived I thought I would be doing some teaching, preaching, and working on a sponsorship program for the kids. I do get to do these things, but a task I was not prepared for was working alongside of the head teacher (principal) to assist him with helping the teachers be more prompt and prepared. This means I am basically a temporary assistant principal. Now, I do have a fairly good command of organizational and time management skills, and I understand the in’s and out’s of classroom structure and management, but I was in NO WAY prepared for this role, especially not cross-culturally. After talking with Rose, she trusts that I am the woman for the job and looking back at it now , she may be right. Everyday is a challenge to balance what I know to be true and what I know to be culturally sensitive to. For example, time in Africa is not the same as time in the US, so how do you implement a program that requires the teachers to be on time, when they don’t have the same understanding of time as you do… it’s a mystery! The task is always challenging but what I love about it is that in order for both parties to be on the same page, you have to spend time building a trusting relationship. That’s what I’ve been able to do over the last couple of months. It’s difficult but equally rewarding. You may be asking, where does this fit in to your calling to Africa? I asked myself the same thing, I’m not a principal, I’m a missionary. Then I realized, being a missionary involves the relationships God develops while working with the teachers and kids. I am excited to see where this task of helping the teachers leads in the grand scheme of His kingdom. Pray that my heart is refreshed by this thought each morning.

A major encouragement regarding this issue came about when the team visited and among them were seasoned educators. During their stay I arranged for 4 teachers from the US to teach a class with both the Kenyan teachers and students in attendance. The purpose was to demonstrate different teaching techniques using only the resources available to them in Kenya. I think this was a challenge for the American teachers and eye opening for the Kenyan teachers. A few days later I arranged a teachers in-service where the American teachers and SaraBeth’s dad, a former Superintendent, encouraged the Kenyan teachers and talked with them about new ideas, teaching techniques, classroom management skills, etc. Then we had a Q and A time for the teachers. It was such a blessing and again I think both parties benefited. Praise God for working this out and I pray the teachers will be able to implement some of these new ideas this coming term.

Please continue to pray for the children, teachers, and staff at Tumaini as they work hard to raise up future leaders for the glory of God!

Shall We gather at the River

2010-08-26T04:58:00.000-04:00

Shall We Gather at the River

On the same day that the Amanda Mudd adventure took place for me, the rest of the team traveled to a traditional African Penacostal service. When I returned to the guest home to share of my fundraising goat acquiring adventure they also had a story to tell. I’m gonna let my good friend SaraBeth tell this one for me. Sara Beth you now have the floor:

Thank you, Amanda for giving me stage-time in your African Adventure Blog…….it is my pleasure to recount one of my most favorite Tumaini memories.

The entire team had gone to Sunday School at the school with the children. After that, some of the team members decided to go to the church where several of the adults from Tumaini worship. Hesbon escorted us. We rode in a matatu with Amanda and the Roses for a few kilometers. There were 23 of us in the matatu – which is supposed to seat 14. A few minutes later, we arrived at church – and the praise and worship was already underway.

When I say praise and worship…..I mean Kenyan style. These women have the joy of the Lord that is just not very common in the US. I believe that it stems from their relationship with Christ truly sustaining them. For many people in Africa, their faith is the only constant in their life….so their worship is filled with a gratitude, joy, and reverence unlike any that I have ever seen. Hesbon asked me to choose someone besides myself to ‘give a word’ of encouragement to the congregation. Little did I know that this was because he had OTHER plans for me later on in the day….but we will get there eventually.

I asked Bellar to share, and she did a great job talking about worry and how sometimes women really struggle with worrying about the future. She shared from Matthew 6: 25-34, and it was very good. We were told that the service would be cut short because they were having a baptism service in the afternoon. The lady who was telling us about the baptism was the mother of one of the children at Tumaini – and she informed us that her daughter, Cynthia, would be baptized at the service. This was a really cool moment for me. My first Kenyan baptism service, and God had worked it out to see one of ‘my’ Tumaini kids be baptized.

The service was short (REALLY short for a Kenyan service). Once we were dismissed we lined up in a procession for a “SHORT” walk to the river. Now, after traveling to Africa off and on for the last 8 years, I have learned that when an African says “SHORT” it really has a different meaning than when an American says “SHORT.” The procession consisted of drums, cymbals, triangles, singing, chanting, and praying. About an hour later, we reached the river. Every village that we walked past, we added a few more people to the procession. We started with around 60 people – and by the time we reached the river, there were at least 200 of us!!

After we arrived, Hesbon informed me that I would be preaching the baptismal service. Looking back, this would have been nice to know at the church, so that I could have at least had an hour to prepare my thoughts as I walked my 'short walk.' So, literally, in about 2 minutes, I gathered my thoughts for the sermon. I am not really sure what I said, but I am quite certain that God was shining through the spontaneity and ‘unpreparedness.’ Afterwards, some of the team members were teasing me that I was a little long-winded – not to mention that I had given a theological explanation of salvation from Genesis all the way to the New Testament.

Next, came the actual baptism. The drums and singing continued as one by one each person walked into the river to be baptized. Once they came up out of the water, they literally danced out of the river. It was one of the most beautiful memories that I have of my time in Kenya. After everyone had been baptized, we began the procession back to the church.

By the end of the day, we had worshipped with new friends, walked 6 miles, and watched 5 people be baptized. It was a great day full of memories that I will never forget. 

Sylvia's Story

2010-08-26T04:54:00.002-04:00

One Year Later… Sylvia’s Story

So, many of you know that I sponsor a girl at Tumaini named Sylvia. Last year when I was visiting Tumaini Sylvia celebrated her 11th birthday. We laughed and danced together and sang Happy Birthday. Sylvia is shy so she kept quiet but she really enjoyed the celebration. When it was time for us to leave for the night we shared with Sylvia one last gift: a BIG box of Raisinettes. We told her the chocolate was for her because it was her special day. What transpired next changed my life forever. All the kids from the Children’s Home began to gather and watch as Sylvia opened the box of chocolate treasure. Keep in mind these kids NEVER get sweets like this. NEVER! Sylvia could have stood before these kids savoring ever single bite of the gift given to her, eating all the treasure for herself… after all it was her special day. But she didn’t. In fact she began giving the chocolate away one by one until all the little hands held out before her were full of the treasure. In the midst of this activity she did’t even take the time to try one for herself until all the wazungu watching realized what was happening and intervened by saying, “Sylvia, try one!” At that point she put ONE in her mouth and as her eyes lit up with pure joy at the taste of it she reached into the box again and gave the remainder of the treasure away. WOW what a lesson from the least of these. Sylvia knew she had a treasure in her hand and she had a choice… keep it for herself or give it away. She knew the gift given to her would be sweeter if shared with others. I watched with tears in my eyes that day as I observed the children of Tumaini sharing in the sweetness of the treasure all because a little girl named Sylvia saw more value in giving the treasure away than storing up the treasure for herself. She challenged me that day and now I am challenging you… First of all, do you have the sweetest thing…. That being Christ Jesus? And if you do, are you choosing to store up the treasure of Him for yourself, or are you willing to share the love of Christ with others?

On July 25th I had the pleasure of celebrating Sylvia’s birthday with her again. The ISF team was here so we had a dance party, sang Happy Birthday and of course Sylivia’s birthday would not be complete without… you guessed it…. Raisinettes. This time I brought 3 boxes… plenty enough for her to have some of her own and plenty to give away. The biggest blessing was the opportunity God gave me to share Sylvia’s story with the team and the kids at Tumaini. Praise be to God! I challenge you to think of Sylvia and her gift every time you look at a box of Raisinettes… I know I will!

A Goat Named AmandaMudd... How can you resist this story!

2010-08-21T15:19:00.002-04:00

Many days have passed since I last posted a blog and much has occurred so I will take the next couple of days to attempt to catch you up to speed on all the ways that God is at work. Since the team from the US arrived I’ve spent much of my time ministering to their needs and helping them make the transition to life in Kenya. That’s my passion so I really enjoyed getting to know them and helping them have a pleasant and insightful experience. On the down side that left very little time to keep you informed about the adventures taking place here in Kenya and for that I apologize. Thankfully I’ve kept a journal of the experiences over the last couple of weeks and I look forward to catching you up to speed.

Let’s begin with the story I promised from my last blog. The adventure where I when to a church fundraiser and came home with a goat and a good story. It all began when Rose asked me to accompany her to a fundraiser at a church where she was to be the honored guest speaker. I knew beforehand that it would be a long day and I should be prepared for anything. We arrived in true Kenyan fashion… about 2 hours late and we were escorted into a room full of honored guests and pastors. After about 30 minutes they ushered us into the church. Rose sat on stage and I the only mzungu among the entire crowd sat in the front row. As each honored guest was welcomed to say a few words and introduce themselves it seemed that everyone, including all the other guests were interested in repetitively introducing me ( the visitor from the far off land) When it was time for Rose to introduce her friends including myself, a teacher from Tuamaini named Leah, and Rose 2, I was prepared to address the crowd: I said bwana asifiwe followed by some encouraging scripture from Colossians 3:16-17. I then handed the microphone to Rose and she passed it back to me as the congregation shouted back at me. I had forgotten to tell them my name. I laughed and said Jina langu ni Amanda and the whole place started to laugh. Fun times. After much singing and praising in true African Penacostal spirit, a lady who had been watching me from outside the church danced her way to the front row where I was standing. She was wearing rags and carrying a bundlel of sticks at her side. She had no shoes and judging by the way the other Kenyan ladies were looking at her she was probably a bit mad. I acknowledged her at first but then I began to observe how the other ladies were ignoring her and I did the same. At the end of the song the lady stood directly in front of me and thumped me on the chest while shouting MZUNGU, MZUNZU. Needless to say I was a bit caught off guard. Soon after that, one of the men of the church tried to find her a seat but she refused. She just kept dancing in and out of the service as the music continued. When it was time for Rose to bring the message all ears were ready to hear from her. She is a woman who gets things and gets things done. She preached from 1 Kings 17:8. It was inspiring to see a congregation of men and women inspired by the words God had placed on her heart. After the message it was time for the offering. It gave a whole new meaning to giving of your first fruits. The offering included money as well as ground nuts, eggs, bananas, and 3 stalks of sugarcane. In total this church was able to raise 49, 523 ksh, which is about $650. I’ve never seen such generous and joyous giving. At the end of the service Rose was presented with a goat for her fundraising efforts. This was really a blessing because one of the orphans really loves taking care of goats and we didn’t have any at Tuamaini. After Rose collected her goat the pastor of the church insisted that we ride to his house in the cab of his truck for it had been raining heavily during the service. I piled into the truck with Rose 2 and away we went to lunch… It was about 4 pm. About 20 guests packed into the living room of this house and we chowed down on ugali and the largest most tender, flavorful, slow roasted chicken I’ve ever had in Kenya!!!! After eating we decided we would walk to the tarmac road to catch a matatu, but again the pastor insisted that we ride in the truck. This time I insisted that we ride in the back, standing up with about 10 other Kenyans. All was well until we got stuck in the ditch after sliding off the road. We finally got out after many Kenyans came together to push as the driver gave it some gas. As this point he couldn’t continue on the main road so he decided he would take a short cut through someone’s yard. The deeper we went, the more narrow the path and the truck finally came to rest after taking about 15 yds of hedge out. It was fun (and a bit dirty) working with the others and seeing their spirited efforts to help us return to the tarmac road. When we arrived at the road by foot a lady offered me a basin of water and some Vaseline (not exactly sure what was supposed to do with that). It was so sweet. Also a lady offered Rose her shoes to walk in so that she did not get her dress shoes dirty. What an adventurous day!!! As we were standing by the road waiting on the matatu to take us home I inquired about what we should name the goat. Rose took one look at me covered in mud from head to toe and said with confidence and a laugh….. Amandamudd

So there you have it… a love tap on the chest from a perfect stranger, a wild adventure in the back of a truck, a long walk in the mud, and finally a goat that now carries my name…. I think in the US we call this PRICELESS!

BLOGS BLOGS AND BLOGS to Come

2010-08-15T16:02:00.004-04:00

Hello faithful friends... I just wanted to take a moment to apologize for my lack of blogs recently. I've been very busy working with the team of 19 from the US, making sure they felt at home at Tumaini and serving them and the Tumaini folks in any way I could. Then it was off to Maasai Mara with my good friends SaraBeth and her family along with my llama friend Bellar. We had a wonderful time of rest and restoration. Spending time with God and admiring his creation is one of my favorite ways to feel refreshed. After that SaraBeth and I continued on to Mombasa with Rose to buy a car for Tumaini... Yes that's right... Tumaini now has a car to transport children when they are sick and to make it easier to obtain supplies. In Mombasa we were able to treat Rose to her very first back massage! We also had a meeting to talk about the future of Tumaini while overlooking the Indian Ocean... It was such a blessing. After leaving Mombasa Rose returned to Tumaini and SaraBeth and I continued our adventure to Uganda, which is where I am composing this blog from.... shhhhh.... don't tell my mom ;) We will be in 5 cities in 5 days, so be in prayer for our travels and that we will be able to connect with local leaders and come along side of them as they pursue Christ's calling on their life... so far it's been amazing.

Over the next few days I plan to compose several blogs and a prayer request and praise blog to catch everyone up to speed on this great adventure. Until then, I pray that God shows you a glimpse of His glory this week.... Look for it in the little things! He is everywhere!!!!!

Blessings!

SKYPE IS WORKING IN THE CITY

2010-08-02T12:15:00.003-04:00

So I will make this quick, but my friend "Chewy" had a baby on July 27th and I got to see him on skype today. Praise the Lord for modern technology.... It was awesome but skype tends to draw an audience, so it makes it hard to hear and forget privacy. I really wish skype worked in my room, but so far I've only found it to work in very public places. It's hard to be culturally sensitive when the only white person (mzungu) in the city is shouting and smiling at her computer. This time I did find what I thought to be a private place, but our matatu drivers found it interesting that I was talking on the computer with my friend in the US and they wanted to meet the new baby too! Welcome to Kenya! Lovin it here and lots of amazing stories to come. God is doing some amazing things and challenging me to live a life worthy of the calling. Prayer requests: the team is leaving tomorrow and my good friend teacha Bella (Bellar) is staying behind for a few days and then we will be traveling as well, so pray for us. 10 children accepted Christ after our VBS this week and many more had some very good questions about having a closer relationship with Jesus! Praise GOD!!!!!!! Please pray these young ones will continue to grow in their faith and that myself along with the staff will continue to come alongside of these new believers and encourage them to become active members in the body of Christ. Well it's the last night to be with the team so I should go, and again I have some great stories and God moments to share..... to be continued!!!!!

GOD IS FAITHFUL... thru it all!

2010-07-29T12:59:00.000-04:00

Well when it rains it pours… But God is faithful. The last week has been a stretching one and God is teaching me more and more about His faithfulness but it’s also been full of distractions and flat out attack. Here are some examples:

· Just 5 minutes before I was suppose to receive a phone call from the US about some final arrangements for the coming team, my phone code failed and my sim card locked causing me to lose my phonebook, alarm clock, etc. The information I needed to unlock it was with SaraBeth in the US and I had to go to great lengths to fix the problem. It involved getting on the very limited internet to find SaraBeth’s phone number, taking the sim card out of my computer and placing it in my phone, which also meant that I had a new phone number. I called SaraBeth and left her a message to call me on the new number. It was after midnight when she called me back and we discussed the final trip details. We also talked about her finding the information to reactivate my phone and she was not hopeful. The following morning she called me to let me know she could not find the information I needed. I would have to get a new phone number and new sim card. This would mean a trip to the city, spending some cash I didn’t have , and telling everyone at home that I had a new number. It would take all day… time I didn’t have. I was really upset, although looking back at it now seems kinda silly, but nonetheless I was UPSET. I just began to journal these words…

“So long story short I lost all my numbers and now the only one who has my number is SaraBeth. I’m going to Kakamega today in hopes that my friend at Safaricom (the phone store) can help me restore my number. If not I will just have to get a new one. This is about the worst time ever to lose the use of my phone, but I just have to know in my heart that God will work it all for the best… we will see!

GOD IS FAITHFUL… just as I wrote these words I received a call from SaraBeth and she said in her last minute packing she found the card with the number I needed to reactivate the phone. The Lord’s provision Rocks, Even when Life is Rocky. Glory be to God!

· So as I began to prepare for the team I started to get sick. First a sore throat, then congestion and such. This just made everything more complicated. The worst part… sores in my mouth and it tasted like acid. I thought this is a weird symptom, but I just tried to grin and bear it. As my sickness gave way to the double doses of Benadryl and good sleep, the blisters in my mouth remained. I began to notice that the symptoms were really familiar… just like the “African funk” I had in my mouth last year after my return home. After some investigation my amazingly awesome nurse friend Amy discovered it could be the Malarone… the malaria medication. Turns out it can cause mouth sores and an oral yeast infection. Now I am faced with a great dilemma, keep taking the malarone and keep a constant yeast infection, which is NOT good for the mouth, or stop taking malaria prophylaxis. Neither are good options! My only other choices: a med that causes some to have psychotic episodes or a drug that I’ve had an allergic reaction to before. Again none of these are good options. GOD IS FAITHFUL… My wonderful friends and family went to great lengths to make sure I received a medicine that would clear up the infection in my mouth. And when I say great lengths I mean it!!! My friends went above and beyond to assure that my medicine arrived with the team this week.

· Many of the kids are sick, and I just found out we had a mumps outbreak at the school and Vivian has the mumps… please pray for her. She is doing okay, but she is super sad that she can not participate in the VBS this week. Also pray that those in the Children’s home would be resistant to the mumps. I have a feeling that they will run their course and keep all the workers at Tumaini very busy in taking care of sick kids. GOD IS FAITHFUL… no miraculous story of healing or anything of that sort although God is completely capable of this, but I just think about how he has provided the team from the US at just the right time, allowing them to take care of the kids who are well and allow the staff to give extra attention to those who are sick.

· It was so good to see the team arrive but it’s been hard adjusting to the “sprint paced” lifestyle and structure a team of Americans bring with them. I want to be completely honest and transparent, so I will say without hesitation that this has been one of the most difficult weeks so far. I was full of emotion and excitement as I stared at the faces of my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ as they walked thru the gate at the airport giving me hugs from my mom… how cool is that. I love sharing Tumaini and Kenyan culture with them and each and every volunteer has so much to give. Once they arrived at Tumaini I was encouraged to see how much more we could get done with more hands to love on the kids, teach, fetch water, make mortar, etc. But all of a sudden, my marathon had become a sprint. I found myself acting like I was only going to be here for a couple of weeks, pouring out in abundance, snapping pictures left and right, trying to capture every moment and detail, and trying to spend every single moment with the comforts from home… spaghetti, poptarts, talking fast and without an accent, catching up with friends who came to visit, and the list goes on. What I did not realize was the extreme conflict this would cause within me. I’ve been here for a month and a half or so and the lens through which I view my surroundings has changed. I expected to embrace the things from home, and while I am greatly appreciative, all the STUFF was overwhelming. I found myself wanting ugali and cabbage more than macaroni and cheese…. Now don’t get me wrong I still like some mac and cheese from time to time, but that much culture from home so fast was just too much. GOD IS FAITHFUL: He provided today for me to get away and collect my thoughts, to resubmerge myself in the “Kenyan way” and take a break from the VBS schedule.

· FINAL THOUGHTS and MY PRAYER

I think you can be prepared to experience some reverse culture shock to a certain extent when you are preparing to come back to the US, but when the US came to me, it just caught me off guard. I’m not quite Kenyan but I act as the Kenyan’s act in many ways. I am making a conscious effort to blend in as much as possible. So I can’t completely relate to someone who is just here for a couple of weeks looking at the picture on the surface. And I can’t relate to the Kenyan’s who call this their home and have an intrinsic understanding of the picture. I’m somewhere in the middle. At first glance the picture is exciting a full of brilliant vibrant colors. But the longer I look at it I see what I consider flaws in the composition and I can’t fully grasp what the picture is trying to communicate. It’s hard to decipher what’s a flaw and what may have been an intentional mark by the artist. As I continue to look at the picture I pray that God will teach me how to interpret the picture before me. May I make it a point to not just look at things on the surface anymore, but to spend more time with the artist in order to dig deep into the culture to find the true expression of his/her work. May I be able to discern the marks that are intentional and the marks that are counterfeit. May I view this picture through the lens of Christ.

A confirmed calling

2010-07-22T17:37:00.001-04:00

The Spirit is Here… and this is a Waging War

Okay so let me begin by saying the last week has been a bit of a rollercoaster of sorts. I’ve been here a little over a month and I no longer feel like a volunteer… I am trying my best to become as Kenyan as possible… I eat with my hands, I’m learning the language, I’m even picking up Kenyan mannerisms like raising my eyebrows with a slight head nod for “yes” and clicking with my mouth as a response to something being said, etc. But the truth of the matter is: I’m not Kenyan and I am not a permanent resident here, so I find myself somewhere in the middle. It’s easy to come for a couple of weeks and love on the kids, make bricks, and experience another culture. But in a couple of weeks you are only seeing things as they are on the surface. You come, you love, you leave, not completely aware of what it’s like on a day in day out basis. That’s it! On the other hand you have long-term (career missionaries) who know they have years to invest. They first learn the language, develop some relationships, learn to get around in town, etc. Then after a while they begin to slowly implement a strategy to reach the people with the love of Christ. THIS CAN TAKE YEARS!!! But when you are serving long enough to see under the surface and take note of all the needs, but not long enough to really implement a plan of action, it can be a bit discouraging. That’s where I find myself today. Staring the under the surface “stuff” in the face and wanting to implement a plan that is relevant and sustainable among the people it’s meant to serve… not an easy task. But the Lord never promised us easy… quite the contrary! But he did promise to never leave or forsake us and today, at a low point he reminded my heart of the rich inheritance I have in Him. The following is a portion of my journal entry from today:

Faith is greater than gold… it’s so much easier to see when there is no physical gold. At home, I often looked at God in a way that my faith increased as he provided a job, education, home, car, and the list goes on. And He did provide all those things and they were good. But, more importantly he provided even when I didn’t see Him at work. This was usually when my faith increased, when I couldn’t plan or predict how he would come through. Well, here I look around and see all kinds of trials and spiritual warfare. Life is hard here and you can see it in the worn faces of the people. But, oh how rich they are in faith. They are accustomed to not “seeing” God, but oh how they love Him. This is a generalization of course and there are many here, just as anywhere, that live under the guise of God is love, yet they steal, lie, or cheat. This is where I find the greatest frustration. I ponder on the scripture that tells us to rid ourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, slander, and envy and tap into the inheritance we have in Christ. As I am writing this a storm has come to Tumaini. The rain is beating down so hard on the tinroof that I cannot hear anything but the provision of God’s rain on the land. So I make this my prayer… Open the floodgates of heaven and let it rain. Lord let your Spirit rain down in a way that your voice is all we hear. What an amazing inheritance we have in Christ Jesus.

Later this very evening I had an opportunity to share in a worship service with the kids at the Children’s Home… we had a special prayer for a couple of kids who were having an especially hard time. It was completely impromptu on my part, I didn’t even have my Bible on me… which is rare, but God laid it on my heart to share with the kids what I’d been learning in my quiet time. How amazing it was to share with them the inheritance they have in Christ. In Kenya a male inherits land from his father. This is often his livelihood… his salvation if you will. It thrilled my heart to share with these kids whose lives are void of earthly inheritance that they have an inheritance worth more than gold, that earthly inheritances are meaningless and fade away but the faith we have in Christ assures us that we are HIS and HE IS OURS… forevermore. GLORY BE TO GOD! I wish there was some way to capture what the Lord did in my heart this night. It was as if Isaiah 61 came to life right in front of me…

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

PRAYER REQUESTS

2010-07-18T15:04:00.004-04:00

Picture: Hesbon praying on the mountain! LOVE IT!

As promised here is a prayer request list in bullet format (my personal favorite thanks to my father ☺ )

• Rose’s request: strength and protection
• Rose’s request: Provision for the funding and building of Standard 7
• Safety and good health
• Continued language and cultural learning
• Continued relationships with those living in the Guest Home
• That I will have time alone with God (I’m often interrupted)
• That I will have time to spend with the children
• That I will have time to prepare for my lessons
• Basically that I will learn to have balanced time here
• That the children will get thru the cold season (they all have colds and runny noses)
• That God would allow me to encourage the teachers in truth and love
• That God would allow me to encourage the head teacher to be more assertive
• For good sleep and pleasant dreams (no matter how vivid they may be)
• A continued servants heart
• For the team from ISF (they will be here July 24th- August 4th or so)
• For my upcoming travels to Nairobi, Mombasa, and possibly Uganda
• For peace and rest to continue in Kenya
• For baby Joshua who is beginning to cut teeth
• For the children who have HIV to have good health, proper care, and medication
• For the children who travel far distances to walk to school each day
• For the leadership at Tumaini who make decisions on behalf of the children
• That I would be sensitive to the needs here and help in a way that is encouraging and culturally relevant.
• Pray that my matatu rides to the city are safe and that I choose wisely
• Pray for the Maasai guards that protect us at night… one is a believer the other is not
• That I would be able to continue a friendship I made at the phone store in Kakamega... Her name is Emily and she is a student working on her MBA.
• As always that those who may not have a relationship with Christ would come to know Him
• THAT THEY WILL KNOW US BY OUR LOVE

Thanks for all your prayers… Those of you who are on my prayer calendar I pray for you all day and I appreciate your prayers for me. .. If you want to be added to the prayer calendar just email me to day you want to pray…. I will pray for you and you for me. This truly has been an encouragement to me and helps me stay connected to friends and family at home.

One Month In ... Intentional Observation

2010-07-18T06:35:00.004-04:00

Well it’s official!!! My first month in Kenya is behind me. If I didn’t know better I would have thought that the first 5 days were equal to the next 25 combined. I would love to say the transition was a piece of cake but that would be a complete lie. I was well prepared, solid in God’s Word, equipped with confirmation after confirmation from God. I had done the research on culture and language. I had been to Tumaini before and for the most part knew what to expect. So as I struggled through the first few days I asked God for more peace, a greater understanding, and a renewed purpose. Of course he provided in His own way and right on time. I just had to wade through all the “stuff” to find it. I came to the conclusion very quickly that no matter how much you are prepared mentally and spiritually, moving into another culture and learning to function takes TIME!!!! So here I sit one month later with many experiences behind and much more to learn. I’ve seen things over the past month that broke my heart into a million pieces; things I wish didn’t exist in this world. I’ve also seen things that made my heart smile and brought about utter joy in my soul. I’ve heard sounds so unfamiliar that it makes my head turn in wonder. I’ve also heard familiar sounds of crickets singing me to sleep at night and children laughing. I’ve wondered why this or why that, and I’ve learned that life is life no matter where you live it. The important thing is not where you are but instead where you are with the Lord. I read an encouraging scripture this morning and I pray it encourages you wherever you may be: For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. ~ 2 Chronicles 16:9a

So now with the Lords strength I would like to share with you more about the reason He’s brought me halfway around the world to serve Him among the least of these. (Warning: this is a long one and includes some processing thoughts so feel free to read as you have time) (The next post will be prayer requests in bullet format )

When I arrived at Tumaini I knew I would be working with the children, teaching English (which cracks me up, b/c I have a biology degree) and PE. I also knew I would be working specifically with the kids at the orphanage to eventually develop an after school program for the children… including a systematic way to complete their chores, study, and of course play. During the first 6 months of this journey I planned to actively observe the system already in place. I’ve been encouraged so far as to what I am seeing here. Rose is a visionary and so many wonderful things are already in place. At the Children’s Home the children seem to go about their business with intent. They know what to do and as a team they usually do it. After school they line up for a bath and then they beginning helping to prepare dinner. It always seems to be a group effort and I love coming alongside of them in sorting maize and beans or cutting sukumawiki. They are also the very ones who taught me to wash my clothes. It’s been a pleasant surprise to see how well they function and how happy they seem to be. At this discovery I began to wonder why God brought me here at all. I didn’t wonder for long. On day 2 Rose said she had a BIG job for me. She didn’t want to scare me (these were her words) but she wanted me to do some administrative work for her. She wanted me to meet with a man (Ishmeal) who does monthly site visits to schools to make sure the teachers are covering the curriculum (in Kenya a syllabus) in a timely manner. Then she wanted me to take over his duties and make sure the teachers are arriving on time and that the students receive maximum instruction time. My first thought was, I don’t know anything about Kenya’s requirements, curriculum, teacher expectations, etc. My second thought was, what will the teachers think and my final thought was I don’t want to do this… this should be done by a Kenyan. After my first meeting with Ishmeal and Tumaini’s head teacher I felt relieved. I found that a really good system was already in place but the polices were not being enforced. So, they just need someone to help them enforce it. So long story short, I will be the one to help them enforce the policies and procedures that are already in place. I am still a bit apprehensive about this. I am a firm believer that the missionary’s role is to come along side and serve as a support role, but at this time those who should be enforcing are not, so my hope is to encourage the teachers to respect the policies and those enforcing them. I had a meeting with all the teachers Friday and encouraged them to abide by all the policies and procedures. I spent several days preparing and it was amazing how God provided just the right words…. And guess what…. All I shared with them came from Scripture. We talked about how God views children (Mark 10:13-16), giving back to the children the gifts God has given to us (2 Corn. 8:7-12), discipline (both for the children and for ourselves) (Hebrews 12), and that God wants us to have a good plan (Proverbs 14:22). For the most part the encouragement was well received, but as always I sensed some opposition. I think this is why the head teacher was so discouraged for so many months, and the reason he found it difficult to enforce the policies. He is such a kind and gentle man. It’s my prayer that the teachers will come to see that the policies are for the good of the children and for their own good. I do not foresee a problem in me enforcing these policies… my heart is for the children and they deserve the best. I will not hesitate to report those who go against Tumaini’s policies. But I will not be here forever and I cannot, and will not be the only one to enforce. My challenge now is to teach the administration to enforce the policies themselves… for the love of the children and out of respect for the profession of teaching. At the end of the meeting I shared with the teachers how I intend to help them along the way…. With listening to their issues, equipping them with new teaching techniques and resources, establishing incentives, and most importantly praying with them and for them. The single best thing that came from my time of preparation for the meeting was the idea the Lord laid on my heart to encourage the teachers to be on time. Each morning we will meet at the flag pole and pray… for each other, for the day, and for the children. What God-fearing teacher would dare to be late, not to school, but to meet with the Lord. I pray it works and ask for you to pray as well! Other than that my purpose here is to grow in my own relationship with the Lord as he continues to stretch me, and invest in the relationships the Lord is growing among those at Tumaini. Oh, I almost forgot... watched my 1st Kenyan Sunset from a mountain nearby.. Sophia went with me (check out this view)

Blessings!

Amanda

A Day in the Life

2010-07-14T14:02:00.000-04:00

So many people I’ve talked with have requested a day in the life of Dub in Kenya and I agree, but this is a difficult request as no day is the same. This again is my best attempt at giving you a glimpse of my world at Tumaini. I hope you enjoy ☺ My next blog will begin to focus more on the ministry that goes on at Tumaini, and the part the Lord is having me play in His great plan for this beautiful place. Prayer Warriors get ready…. This is a waging war!

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
~ Isaiah 60:1

Between 5:45 am and 6:15 am I wake up to the sound of Doreen and Helen (she is a new assistant to Rose) sweeping the floors with a broom made of small sticks. At this point I know that it’s ALMOST time to get up so I usually go back to sleep. NOTE: On Sunday mornings I wake up at 5ish to the ruckus caused by the people on the way to the bullfights outside my window. Ruckus is the best word I can find to describe the wailing, screaming, cow bells, etc. At 6:30 am I get up and look for my headlamp so I can find my way to the kitchen. I walk over to the large black barrel full of rainwater gathered the previous evening and fill up a large stainless steel bowl full of water. I then place it on the propane burner, light a match and wait for my bath water to boil. In the mean time I go back to the black barrel and fill a bucket half way with cold water. This is to mix with my hot water to make the PERFECT bath (I almost have this down to a science). As I am waiting still for my water to boil, I make my morning trip to the bathroom. The last stall of 3 is my favorite because it has what I like to call my western toilet. It doesn’t have a seat so I have to sit on the actual toilet. After depositing waste, I have to fill up the tank with 2 gallons of water (also drawn from the black barrels) and flush the toilet. Now it’s back to the bath water… more waiting. When it’s just right I take my bucket, a basin, and a pitcher into the 2nd stall… my shower/ the squatty potty. At first I thought I was really going to miss the shower, and I do… but not near as much as I thought. The basin shower really is sufficient and I always feel clean when I am finished, especially on days when I wash my hair, which is about every third day. (For those of you that know me and my hair, can rejoice with me every third day). After the bath I head back to my room to get dressed for the day. Most mornings it is cold from the rain the evening before, so I start my day by wearing long sleeves. After I get dressed I take my Bible and my journal and sit in the living room by the window for my morning tea and quiet time. Every morning I have tea with milk (the real milk straight from the cow) and 1 and a half scoops of sugar. I also have one piece of bread with butter and one piece of bread with peanut butter and strawberry Zesta jelly. WOOT! I usually have about 30-45 minutes until Rose joins me and we chat for a few minutes. This is one of my favorite times of the day and it’s always very encouraging. I love talking with Rose about her vision for Tumaini. Between 7:45 and 8:00 I head on over to the children’s home to take care of baby Joshua otherwise known as JO. I greet him every morning and he smiles the cutest laughing smile. First thing on the agenda is the bath. Same goes for him, we warm it to the right temperature and away we go. After his bath I dress him, including the cloth diaper method. (It took me a few days to get the hang of this one). After he is bathed and dressed we usually play until he gets tired and then I give him milk and porridge until he goes to sleep. Sometimes this requires singing, rocking or going for a walk outside. I love my time with Josh in the mornings and so many times I look at him and think, “How could anyone leave this little one to die?” I told myself I would not get attached and I’m not much on babies, but he steals my heart every morning. Now after putting Joshua down for his nap, I am off to school for my PE and creative writing classes. It’s only about a football field’s length walk to school. (YES I am spoiled) My class schedule varies from day to day. At around 5pm I return to the guesthouse to help with dinner or chores or head over to the children’s home for some fun time with the kids. Some of my favorite activities include reading a book on the big rock in front of the Children’s Home, learning to cook the Kenyan way, (ugali and cabbage are my personal favorites) and singing with the kids. The sun begins to go down around 7pm, so I try to be in for the night before the mosquitoes come out to play… I mean bite. Dinnertime consists of more ugali, cabbage, rice or beans and on occasion, meat. The other day I had liver… not my favorite but I took one for the team. In the US I am a HUGE fan of meat, but here I try to stick with the vegetables and let peanut butter be my main source of protein. Preparing dinner is a fun process. It begins with lots of cutting vegetables… the girls begin learning to use a very sharp LARGE knife in the third grade, and they are very good with them. Yesterday I learned to prepare the ugali. It consists of boiling water then adding lots of corn flour and stirring like a champ. I admire the Kenyan women so much for all their hard work. Sitting at the dinner table after working for hours to prepare a meal just gives the meal a special meaning. Every meal is truly prepared with LOTS of TLC. In the evening after dinner I usually hang out with Rose or baby SaraBeth and the rest of the Guest Home crew. We often watch TV (thanks to the generator) We followed the World Cup and of course I was the only one chanting USA when they played Ghana. I’ve also found the Kenyan soaps a great way to learn Kiswahili. I usually head to bed around 10 or 11 pm, depending on the day and how tired I am. After a night full of vivid dreams (thanks to the Malarone malaria pill) I wake up and do it all over again. Like I said, everyday is different and some days consist of a trip to town which is an adventure of it’s own. Yesterday I went to town and visited the Nacumatt, which is sort of like Wal-mart. I purchased some water and realized later that I would have to carry the 10-liter bottle from the matatu stop that is ¾ of a mile from Tumaini. So I did what any Kenyan would do… I put the 10 liter bottle on top of my head and started walking. It was fun and great exercise. I must say the top of my head is a little sore today. So I mentioned the matatu ride. It’s better than King’s Island. The final head count in this 14-passenger van was 21. The 30-minute ride from town to my stop was full of adventure. Many stops, people jumping on and off the van and dodging potholes, and people, you just say a prayer and hope for the best. I noticed yesterday that our driver was taking extra caution and as we stopped he looked at me and said do you know me? I said no, and he said you are my daughter’s teacher at Tumaini. Now how’s that for the Lord’s provision.

So this is about the best I can do for a day in the life of Dub in Kenya. If you wanna see first hand just plan to visit. I hope to see you at Tumaini!

Can you Pass the Culture Please

2010-07-08T10:44:00.000-04:00

Can you pass the Culture Please…

Many missionaries often speak of cultural barriers and what it’s like to live or at least survive in a culture that’s not their own. Many struggle with this process and some embrace it to a fault, but nonetheless it is a process and I seem to find myself somewhere in the middle. I’ve been thinking for the last few days about how to convey this in a way that will make the culture “come alive” and this in and of itself is a daunting task, but this is Kenya, so I have plenty of time to figure it out… The following is my best attempt.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN A CULTURE NOT YOUR OWN WHEN…

• You wave hello, but you are really saying come here
• You chase the chicken in the morning and eat her for dinner that evening
• You begin every dish with Kasuku (Crisco), onions, and tomatoes
• Flushing the toilet requires drawing water from the well
• Taking a bath means collecting the rain water and warming it to your desired temperature
• Going to town requires a long walk plus a crazy 30 minute ride sitting on a strangers lap next to a lady with a live chicken in a bag.
• You wake up when the roster crows and go to bed at dusk
• You watch babies toddle around an open fire and small kids cut sugarcane with a knife as big as they are and the adults don’t seem to mind.
• The physical education classroom doubles as a pasture for a donkey, goats, and cattle (they actually serve as the lawn mower)
• You call for a driver to pick you up and it’s no problem if they are 3 hours late… this is SOOOOO common
• Nothing at the market has a price tag so if you are gullible you pay too much and if you are smart you pay very little (the high price is mazungu price and the low price is the African price)
• Doing laundry requires a machine with two arms, 10 fingers, a few basins, and a bar of soap… not to mention a few good hours of sunlight and a metal sheet fence for drying
• A jigger coming forth from the body is explained away as nothing other than witchcraft (google Jigger if your interested)
• A funeral consists of an all night vigil of drums and chanting
• You begin to dream in a language not your own and you can’t understand your own dreams
• Dishes and children and washed in buckets
• The night watchmen carry bows, arrows, and flashlights
• The internet costs a fortune and it takes 20 minutes to load your Facebook profile page
• You see people walking along the road suddenly stop to pee and then continue on their way
• The options for brushing your teeth are going outside or standing over the toilet. Aka the hole in the ground.
• You can’t tell which smells worse… you or the sheets on your bed
• You are speaking the same language but you can’t understand one another

This is my life… this is where I live…. This is where I serve… this is Kenya!

Now some of you may be saying better you than me, or wow that sounds tough, but allow me to share with you my favorite things about this culture:

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN A CULTURE NOT YOUR OWN WHEN:

• Children prepare food and wash their own clothes even as early as 6 years old
• Children sit quietly at their desks even when the teachers are not around
• Children recite numbers, letters, sounds and words as they play on the swing set… they do this for hours!
• People are more important than the day’s agenda
• People take time to breath and say no worries a lot!
• Cleanliness is important even if you are sweeping dirt floors.
• Every meal begins with a prayer thanking God for providing today’s food
• Every resource is used to it’s fullest…. Nothing goes to waste.
• You fix what is broken instead of just going out and buying a new one
• As people pass by they throw up their hand and wave with a smile
• The entire house comes together in the evening to help with all the chores
• Children walk hours to school each morning and arrive at 7 am and leave that evening at 6pm… they also go to school on Saturday
• Tea is served every morning for breakfast and members of the house can sit and encourage one another in conversation
• Children sing about God in the classroom and write about Him when asked to write a story about Rain.

Now it is clearer to me than ever before, one culture is not better than the other… they are just different. I think we can each learn some lessons from one another.

That being said, can you pass the culture please, because I am ready to learn about it, embrace it, and love through it or maybe even in some cases in spite of it. My prayer is that culture is not a barrier that keeps the gospel from going forward, it’s that culture will be the catalyst by which we learn to respect and love each other for who we are as individuals and as a society. Most importantly, I pray that by taking the time to embrace someone’s culture and learn their language I may have the ear of those who have not heard! Blessings my friends!

All by myself... or am I?????

2010-07-01T07:13:00.005-04:00

After being at Tumaini for only 2 days my American friends from Utah left to return to the US. It was such a blessings to have them at the Guest Home when I arrived. It made the transition so much easier. I must say though, when the matatu (van) with all the wazungu (white people) in it pulled away my heart did something I did not expect. I had a HUGE lump in my throat and, had I been alone, I would have cried hysterically. It was like watching everything familiar pull away from me and all that was left was the scary harsh reality of living in Kenya. Not just visiting for a while, but living. Day in day out, the good with the bad, the mosquitoes, the lizzards crawling on the walls, the people who may or may not understand me and why I would choose to come and live among them. I recall lamenting to God, now I am all by myself… No one “gets” me. Now what??? I love the Lord with all my heart and I am thankful that he chooses to speak into my life… even when I am WRONG!!!! He gently spoke to my heart and said, “my dear child, I brought you here, remember. I made a way for you and I will continue to do so because I am faithful. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!” Hebrews 13:5 began to stir in my heart and with an unexplainable peace I could rest in the words, I will never leave you, never will I forsake you. Praise be to God!!! When I rise in the morning and I hear a language not my own, He is there. When I want to withdrawal to a place all my own, He is there. When I wake in the night to unfamiliar sounds of chanting, He is there. I am also thankful to the wonderful people I share a home with… I think it’s safe to say… I am not alone!!!

Rose: Rose is the Director of Tumaini and she is a wonderful Godly lady who seeks to do all things for the glory of God. Even though she is busy with many daily tasks, she takes time in the morning to have tea with me and we encourage each other with God’s Word. I am so thankful for her and all she does to take care of the children of Tumaini and her American daughter… Me 
Favorite Rose Moment: Rose laughing at me when I kept waving at people in the city and they kept coming to me. She finally said, you should not wave that way because it means come here! (I was wondering why people kept coming up to me and shaking my hand then just standing there. I thought they must have thought I was famous and wanted to shake my hand. Hahaha ) Now I know how to wave properly!!!!

Doreen: Doreen is one of Rose’s personal assistants and lives in the Guest Home with me. She is 18 years old and loves to cook, clean, wash clothes, and make fun of my poor Kiswahili skills. We have a good time in the kitchen and hanging out around the house.
Favorite Doreen Moment: One morning I came out of my room and my hair was fixed curly. She said that I looked smart, which means nice or good. So from now on I refer to people looking smart in a totally different light!

Roselyne: Roselyne is also one of Rose’s personal assistants and nanny. She is 22 years old. She also lives in the Guest House and helps take care of baby Sara Beth also known as Ble meaning Blessings! Roselyne loves to cook and clean and she also makes fun of my accent. She is always laughing and full of joy. She loves teaching me new things, especially how to prepare cabbage and chapatti. UMMM good!
Favorite Roselyne Moment: Making Chapati together, she is awesome and I am a mess!!!!!

Baby Sara Beth: Sara Beth is a handful and always gets what she wants. She loves eating meat or anything else for that matter. Yesterday she peed in my floor, splashed around in it and laughed. I had to laugh too! She is so smart and always makes her presence known. Don’t tell Rose but she’s the boss!
Favorite Sara Beth Moment: Rose bought her a new small chair to sit in and she would not get out of it. She was sitting outside and we were all admiring her when she posed with her legs crossed and propped up on the arm of the chair with her arms behind her head. I would have given anything to have a camera on me. TOO CUTE!

Moses: Moses is Rose’s son and he is 10 years old. He loves playing with my iPod, watching me do anything on the computer, and riding his bike. We like to play connect four and just hang out. He likes all things American and wants to come to the US some day.
Favorite Moses Moment: He loves to come up to me all the time and ask Teacher what is this. He also loves to eat my peanut butter!

Hesbon 1: Hesbon 1 lives in the kitchen beside the Guest Home. He loves to sing and play with the children. He works hard everyday to make sure everything is as it should be at the Children’s home. You name it, Hesbon can do it and he always gives 100%. Many see him as the spiritual leader of Tumaini.
Favorite Hesbon Moment: Singing “I Will Rise” together out in front of the house. He is trying to learn new songs to teach the children.

Hesbon 2: Also known as Uncle Sam. Hesbon lives in the kitchen as well and does all the bookkeeping at Tumaini. He also works hard around the house to make sure everything is in working order… like the solar panels and the generator.
Favorite Hesbon moment: We were watching the World Cup and I said, What is that loud humming noise in the background? He said one moment. He went to his room and got his Bubuzela (horn). He blew it at me and laughed. He also blew it at me loud and clear the night Ghana beat the US.

Dennis: Dennis is 23 years old and works at the office. Dennis also lives in the kitchen and he operates the m-pesa, which is kinda like a bank. He also loves football and playing with Sara Beth. Many times he brings us bread in the morning. I appreciate him very much.
Favorite Dennis Moment: I like to kid Dennis about making a washing table for the girls. He always laughs when I say it, but he still hasn’t started making the table  I couldn’t find Dennis when it was time for a photo. I’m sure he was hard at work doing something… maybe even making a table.

So now you see and I know for sure, I am not alone, but instead surrounded by lovely people who love the Lord, life, and love each other. I am glad they are so willing to let me become a part of their family!!!

Welcome, Welcome Welcome to Tumaini Today

2010-06-26T07:33:00.003-04:00

Jambo everyone! Habari yako? All is well here in Kenya and my first week at Tumaini has come and gone. What a wonderful journey so far. So sorry it has taken me so long to post. After multiple attempts to get the Internet set up on my computer, I have yet to find success in this task. Hopefully I will have it worked out by the end of the month. Until then I will continue to use Rose’s computer. So you may be wondering… How in the world is AW doing in Kenya? What is it like at Tumaini? What is she doing right now? How’s the weather? Etc. Well AW is doing well and loving all the time I’ve had to get to know all the wonderful staff and children at Tumaini. Many are familiar faces and some are new, but all are so welcoming and helpful. I am thankful for God’s provision in bringing me to Tumaini and I pray that this adventure brings Him glory!!

I decided that since I have so much to write about I will do this in a FAQ format… that way people can read what they are most interested in  ENJOY and be Blessed!!! FYI: If I do not address your question in this blog and you have a question just shoot me an email: awsmiles4hope@gmail.com

How long did it take AW to make it to Tumaini:

I left Knoxville Wednesday at noon. When I arrived at the airport the airline told me that my flight was cancelled. I was like great this is an awesome way to start the trip. I expected the worst but they said we can get you and the rest of your party on an earlier flight out of Knoxville and the rest of your itinerary will stay the same. (THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH CANCELLED FLIGHTS!) Note they said the rest of your party. I said I’m sorry I am traveling alone. They said well that’s funny because there are several other passengers with your exact same itinerary all the way to Nairobi… All I can say is that I was instantly relieved to hear this. Praise God I would not be traveling alone and we all know I have no problem making friends. This team would be working just outside Nairobi doing a film about one of the slum areas there. One girl was from Corbin, KY and another was a 2010 UC prospective student (Chris if you are reading this she was yours!) Anyway it was a major relief to know that I would be traveling around the world with members of God’s family. What an awesome gift from God and such an encouragement. Talk about encouragement… My dear friend Lisa met me in the O’Hare airport for a quick pre-departure lunch. Yes that’s right she flew to Chicago only to have lunch with me at the airport and then return to N. KY. It was a short visit but I am forever thankful for that time of encouragement during my layover. My flight left Chicago Wednesday evening headed for London and arrived at 5:00 am. I had about a 5 hour layover and then it was off to Nairobi. On this flight I sat next to a wonderful pastor from Florida. He was on his way to do a conference in Tanzania. He was also an encouragement and he prayed for me just before landing. Again, can we say, God’s provision!!!!! I arrived in Nairobi at 9:00 pm on Thursday night, got my visa and ALL my bags… yes they made it . Some were a little tattered and torn but they made it!!!! WOOT! As I walked through the gate to exit the airport I saw a familiar face… Alex our safari driver from last year. He took me to my lodging for the night. The Hampton House was very nice and clean. Friday morning I woke up and took one last shower for a while. Unfortunately I slipped on the mat and now have a huge bruise on my knee. (SEE PHOTO) Oh, and I forgot to mention…. It was my BIRTHDAY. Friday would prove to be one of the most memorable birthdays to date. My driver David picked me up at the Hampton house with a gift of chocolate in tote from my Kenyan travel agent Eva! She also called me to wish me a happy birthday, as did Alex. David took me back to the airport. The flight from Nairobi to Kisumu was delayed about an hour and we were informed that our luggage might not make it one the plane. Well, mine did make it to Kisumu and I was so happy to see Rose 2 waiting on me there. We loaded all my stuff in the car and away we went in route to Tumaini. This was supposed to be a 2-hour ride. All was well and we were about 5 miles from Tumaini when we had a left rear tire blowout. We stood on the side of the road while our driver and a few other guys who stopped to help fixed the tire. Thank goodness for the chocolate from Eva!!!! So I finally arrived at Tumaini at about 5:00 pm on Friday June 18, 2010. It was there that I received one of the best Birthday presents of all time… the beautiful faces of Tumaini Children’s Home singing with their angelic voices… Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to Tumaini Today, followed by a very special rendition of Happy Birthday. I went in to the Guest Home which by the way was built with the very bricks that we made and carried during my last brief stay at Tumaini, and unpacked my things. Finally Home away from Home… Glory be to God!

What does your room look like:

I will let the pictures do most of the talking  Here lets go on a tour: This didn't upload like I had hoped but you can at least seem my room and bathroom and a few other things from Tumaini..

What are your responsibilities:

I wake up at about 6:45 am and have some tea and bread during my morning quiet time. (Currently working on Philippians) At 7:30am I go to the Children’s Home and bathe, feed, and love on baby Joshua. After I put him down for his nap, I help with other chores at the orphanage. So far I have learned to prepare porridge (well I am still working on this one), clean the common room, hand mop the floors, wash mass amounts of clothes, and the list goes on. At about 9:30 am I go to the school for my daily teaching responsibilities. Currently I am teaching Physical Education and English Dictation and Creative Writing. The kids really seem to love it. In the late afternoons I’ve been hanging out with Rose’s house assistants… Roselyn, Doreen, Hesbon 1, Hesbon 2, and Dennis. I’ve had the best time just getting to know them and learning to live in community with them. In the evening I hang out with the kids from the home… always a joy and pleasure.

What do you do for fun:

Well all you have to do is look at a child and smile and it is instant fun and laughter, so of course I play games with the kids.

Again getting to know the people I am sharing a living space with is super fun. As a matter of fact we are sitting around watching the World Cup as we speak… we do this every night at 9:30 pm. Yes we have a generator and the TV works well. Last night we watched a movie in the kitchen (Sister ACT II) It’s just fun living together. We dance, laugh, play games and my most recent fun activity: Language learning!!!

What do you miss most from the US?

For those of you who know me well this one is a no brainer: and yes my prediction was correct…. I miss my hairdryer!!!

This next thing came as a complete surprise to me: I miss my southern accent… It’s gone, I am now British 

I also miss my friends and family… well all of you reading this, much more than I thought. So any of you that have not yet planned to visit, you must consider adding it to your calendar.

What do you miss least:

Surprisingly I don’t really miss the food as much as I thought. I have a new found love for cabbage, greens, rice, and a new smaller waistline… yes already. (it’s the difference between living to eat and eating to live… I really like the later)

Are you able to communicate with people in the US?

Yes, the service is not always the best and sometimes it’s hard to get through if I am in the house (must be the tin roof) but I’ve talked on the phone to several people so far. If you are interested in this you can get a Kenya calling card at www.telephonekenya.com and calls are like 10 cents a minute for you and I have free incoming calls from anywhere in the world. Woot!

I have skype… which they video and audio are not yet working but the chat works well…

I can also facebook chat which is nice.

How is your health?

All is well. I’ve seen very few mosquitoes and or bugs. On Tuesday night I couldn’t sleep for dreaming in Kiswahili and woke up the next morning very nauseous. My stomach was a wreck all day long, but after taking a break from the Kenyan food on Wednesday and sticking with the traditional P B and J I felt much better. Other than that and falling in the shower the first day I am FINE!!! I am getting a lot of rest and exercise. It’s been refreshing!

What’s the most touching thing you’ve seen so far:

WOW this is a tough one for there are so many moments… let me just share a few!

1. I was rocking baby Joshua to sleep today and I was singing to him and thinking… how could anyone leave such a precious little one in a riverbed to die. It just hit me hard and I am so thankful to the staff here for giving so much love to these kids everyday. They work so hard and truly love looking after orphans. It’s not easy but they are so faithful!

2. One day we had popcorn at the Children’s home (the Utah ladies team made it) I have never seen such popcorn eating in all my life. Baby Ruth was especially cute… she had it running down her elbows!

3. After church on Sunday I asked Silva (one of the girls I sponsor) as we were walking away from the church and toward the orphanage, where are we going now? She looked at me with her huge smile, and said HOME… These kids really do have a home in Tumaini !

4. I had a very encouraging conversation with Rose (the director of Tumaini) on Monday just before I went to check out the school and my responsibilities there. I was a bit overwhelmed and still adjusting to this time and place, and she just took the time to encourage me with the Word and with the vision God has given her for the future of Tumaini.

How can we be praying for You?

Please continue to pray for the children, for their health and their willingness to learn. Pray for the staff and teachers here, that they will continue to pour out their hearts in love to the future generation.

Pray for me that I would be resistant to major sickness ( so far so good) and that I would be able to focus on building significant relationships here. Pray that I may cling less and less to what is comfortable and more and more to stepping out and trusting God with the details. Pray that I am able to manage my time will, giving the first fruits to God and others, while also making time for myself. Pray that I will continue to work on my language skills. Pray most of all for God to be glorified in and through this adventure.

Philippians 1:3-5 Namshukuru Mungu wangu kila ninapowakumbukeni; na kila ninapowaombeeni nyote, nasali kwa furaha kwa sababu ya junsi mlivyonisaidia katika kazi ya injili tangu siku ile ya kwanza mpaka leo.

What to do when the Party's Over

2010-06-07T21:23:00.005-04:00

So the last few weeks have been super busy. Making last minute preparations to leave the country is tough. So many things to think about... did I pack my toothbrush, does that really matter, better yet how many toothbrushes should I pack? I've also been trying to visit with all the people I care about.... making time to ensure all the important people in my life truly understand how much I value and love them!

In the few moments I've had to spend by myself my mind had been filled with thoughts of anticipation and excitement. I think the time has come to GO and I couldn't be any more ready for the adventure that lies ahead. I find myself looking at my current surroundings and appreciating them all the more. It's the little things like refrigerators, traffic lights, the vast expanse of WalMart and the mall that look so much different today, knowing that soon they will be things of the past... at least for the next few months. In the past I may have looked at these things as necessities, but today I see them as just things. Things I am ready, and even looking forward to leaving behind in order to embrace a new culture and share with the people of that culture the love of Christ!

The party is over, and oh what a party is was. Lots of fun, food, friends, and family at the Walton house. It was a perfect day to celebrate this upcoming adventure and all the wonderful people in my life that have influenced me along the way. Now that the party's over and the final preparations begin, I hold tight to what I know as true: the unfailing love of a Savior who has a plan for me in Kenya. I can't wait to see what He has in store. The Party is just beginning!!!!

The Countdown is On T- minus one month... WOOT!

2010-05-17T10:34:00.003-04:00

Well in exactly one month from today I will be on Kenyan soil. I just want to say a quick thank you to all of you out there who are supporting this journey. Over the last few months many have spoken into my life and offered endless encouragement and I am forever grateful.

Friday May 14th was my last day of work. It was bittersweet to leave the office and drive around the UC campus for the last time (at least for a while) as an employee of the University. All day long I could feel the tears just behind my eyes. My heart was heavy and dreading all the goodbyes to come at the end of the day. But as I walked out the door and pulled away I had this overwhelming sense of peace in my heart. Words can not explain it. As I turn the page to a new Chapter I am optomistic to embrace what is ahead.

For those of you who are prayer warriors: I encourage you to read Colossians 4: 2-6 This has been my prayer over the last few months and it's one of my favorite passages. Also pray for continued peace and that during this busy season of preparation I would continue to fix my eyes on Jesus, and take the necessary time to rest in Him. I am also still raising support and trust God completely with this. Please pray that God would encourage others to be a part of this adventure both prayerfully and financially. Finally, one of the children at the orphanage where I will be serving has cerebral Malaria. Her name is Matrober and she is a very sick little girl. If you are interested in supporting her urgent needs see the website listed. www.tumainimilesofsmiles.org

Please let me know if I can be praying for you in any way. May you be blessed to be a blessings now and forevermore!

Much Love!!!!

The Provision

2010-02-14T22:17:00.001-05:00

As promised I am now writing about how God made this Miles of Smiles Adventure possible. It is the ultimate story of God's faithfulness and a testament of His provision when we are simply obedient to His calling. The best way to share this story is to give you a glimpse into my heart as God was/is shaping this vision by sharing with you portions of my journal entries. So here it goes:

The Stirring of my Heart:

Friday August 7th, Nairobi Airport post 2 weeks in Kenya

Ahh.... this trip is coming to an end and there's so very much to process. This morning I woke up early because I could not sleep for dreaming of orphans climbing up in my bed. I love the people and country of Kenya. Thinking about it keeps me up at night. God I know I have much to discuss with you and much to process over the coming weeks. It just seems as if you continue to confirm my coming to Kenya for a longer period of time. When I'm here I feel as if I have purpose and direction. My heart is at peace. My fear of not knowing your calling has turned to fearing that now I know and I'm just scared to give up the security and comfort of home. I know I am struggling with you God and I just need time to sort through all the possibilities. I know I want to serve you with my whole heart, soul, and mind. I trust you will lead, guide, and protect me. Lord I am trusting you to provide the wisdom and knowledge to seek you first. May you take my heart and shape it to be like yours. The next few months will be interesting as God tugs on my heart more and more regarding his passionate plan for seeing His kingdom come.

This is my prayer: Father God, creator, sustainer,deliverer, God provider, God of peace, God ever present. Lord I praise you that you are all things wonderful. I'm thankful for you counselor and defender of the weak and helpless. Father of the fatherless draw near to me. Lord I come before you with a humble heart rocked by the vision of tin roofs of poverty as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of thousands of your children starving and living in less than a 1/2 mile area. Astonished that these beautiful people are helpless and hungry. In them I see a vision of you, even a glimmer of hope in their eyes because of YOU. Lord I know you are doing so much in the lives of your people in Kenya. The Hope Center and Tumaini are proof of your activity there. I'm not sure why you've given me a heart for Kenya. Many ask, "why not just serve the people in the US..." for this question I really don't have an answer. I trust that you know Lord and that you will give me the words to speak, and an understanding as I come to terms with it myself. Above all else, I know you are faithful and just and you will prove faithful even in the scary uncertainties of life. I'm beginning to understand that you call those who are serious about you to do radical things (at least by the world's standards) There's really no better place to be than at the center of where you want me, even if it's scary,doesn't make sense to the world, unorthodox, unstable, and lacking all security. My hope is in You and I can think of no better place to be. I have resolved that I will never be rich by earthly standards, just able to sustain life. My salary comes from you. I have resolved that I may be uncomfortable, but I will find comfort in you oh God. I have resolved that my life is to lose only for You to find me and redeem my heart. i love you Lord and I aim to seek you first. Forgive me when I worry, doubt, and cling to the comforts of this world. Continue to break my heart for what breaks yours and reveal to me how you choose for me to serve you best! I bow at your feet Lord... I surrender ALL!

Continued Confirmation:

August 20, 2009 Williamsburg, KY

Today was a pivital day in my understanding of God's plan and His timing. For several years I've been praying to discern the direction I should take in pursuing missions. It was as if today God chose to answer two years worth of prayer in a few short hours. Over the last few weeks God has began to unfold a future before me with confirmation big and small. It all began with a conversation with Rose about her need for me at Tumaini. This was confirmed by several of my teammates as they observed me at Tumaini. Again God began to speak to me once I was home through timely emails from friends and mission organizations to facebook messages suggesting my time at Tumaini may come sooner than later. Then God answers my prayer that my parents would understand and be supportive. God seems to be on the move and I am so thankful. No matter what happens at this point I feel my time in the burg is short and I'm excited about all that lies ahead. Thank you Lord for meeting me where I'm at and revealing yourself to me. I am forever thankful and You are forever worthy.

A Renewed Calling

November 23, 2009 Knoxville TN Rose and Vivian visit the Us

Ahh, how the adventure continues. I find myself rising early to meet you Lord, as if having a renewed purpose and vision for what you have in store for me. It's like a dream to have Rose and Vivian here in my home, my world. World's are coliding here. You oh Lord, have confirmed in my heart yet again a calling and direction on my life. it is not necessarily Kenya that I has my heart, it's the people there. I believe fully in the cry of James 1:27 and the heart you have given to me to look after the least of these.

So Long Home Sweet Home:

December 7th, 2009 62 Windy Hill Lane Williamsburg, KY

Well much has transpired since my pencil last touched this journal and my oh my how I wish I could recount all the details of this journey... all the small things that collided in my world to make today's events a reality. Truth is, half of me has been so busy living it and the other half is so numb to it effects that I just haven't taken the time to put this on paper. At this moment reality is staring me in the face. I'm leaving! Leaving the comforts of my cute little house with a carport and white picket fence. Leaving behind friends and family, leaving a job and community I love, all for following a calling I am quite certain of, no matter the cost. Some may say I'm crazy, and at times when I'm tired or scard I half way agree, no, but really I have total peace about packing up and moving on. God always has something bigger and better in store.

Reality Check:

January 4, 2010 Balltown Apt. 4 Williamsburg, KY

Ahhhh... A new year, a new beginning, or so it always seems. But, really it must be just a contginuation of something that was set into motion, even befoer time began. I often ask myself, what might God have in store for me this year and without fail, it's always full of opportunity, even the most bizzare of possibilities like "this year I want you to leave your dream of working in healthcare behind and return to school" or "how about you not teach, instead I want you to be a college coach", or "now I would like you to follow me into the world of public relations", and then my recent favorite command from God, which I like to say was inspired by Matt 16:24 and if I didn't get it loud and clear the first time Matt 19:21, " sell all I have so graciously given you and follow me to Africa... LOVE GOD

Now I'm not opposed to any of these things and in retrospect I'm quite fond of how God alone worked out all the nitty gritty circumstances surrounding this adventure one by one, right on time, but I sit here in an apartment that is not my own, on my bed because my couch is currently in my parents garage with all my earthly belongings piled on top, JUST WANDERING what next and why me? I don't think God "owes" me any explanation for I am His and He is mine and that should be more than enough in reason, I just can't help from wondering. What I do know is that his calling is real, He has something special going on in Kenya and I am somehow connected to that. Oh how I wish I could go back and recount from the beginning the journey I'm on. It pains me to think of all the amazing testiments of God's faithfullness I will soon forget as time slips away and my fresh memories gently fade into the past... all because I didn't take the time to record them. My confession: I've never been good at that!

I know this journey is real... too real at times. I know these next months of preparation will pass so quickly and it will be time to go. I'm excited, nervous,anxious,ready, wide-eyed, sad, scared, all in one. I again ask why me, why now, why alone, and then I ask... WHY NOT? I have no worthy answer so now with my whole heart I submit with wreckless abandon.... Running full speed into the arms of Jesus!

For HIS Glory Let the nations Hear:

January 26th, 2010

My prayer is that the overflow of my heart speaks tonight. This journey continues to test matters of my heart and challenges me to seek the truth from God's Word. I've been thinking about the rue motive for serving oversees and I've been checking my heart. Through Perspectives on the World Christian Movement( a class I've been attending in K-town each Tuesday night) God has opened my eyes to see that compassion for the broken is not enough. It's really not about the broken at all. It's about glory, about God's name, and sharing his redemptive plan thoroughout the nations. I think this is the 1st time I've stepped back to examine the purpose for this calling. I no longer see the broken. Instead I see hope and opportunity in reaching out and proclaiming Him whom we ALL should find our HOPE. So I must ask again, am I supose to go, and from God I hear a resounding YES. I am thankful for this time of preparation and time of growth.

All I can say is : How Great is Our God!

Every Minute Counts: Get Involved

2010-02-05T23:19:00.001-05:00

Everyday we hear reports of injustice, poverty, and disease taking place in this world. Often times, the problem may seem so vast, that we are paralyzed into submission. Statistics like: “Every 6 seconds a child dies because of hunger and related causes, or “A child dies every 30 seconds from malaria”. These are not numbers we are talking about, these are lives and we don’t have time to be overwhelmed by the problem. So, let us change the focus from the despair that takes place every minute, to the HOPE we can provide each minute, when we decide to somehow become part of the solution. I would like to encourage you for a moment to examine how you can make your God given minutes count for his kingdom and I think it’s safe to say… every minute counts.

If you are interested in becoming a Financial Partner then please see the "Support the Adventure" tab to the left to get involved today. You can make a one time donation or you can choose to become a monthly sponsor. Be sure to log in from time to time to see how God is using your financial contribution to grow His kingdom.

If you feel lead to become part of the solution by committing to be a “Prayer Warrior” then complete the form titled "Join the Prayer Team" at the bottom of this page to stay up to speed on how you can pray for this adventure. I will send you a card as a reminder to pray for the Kenya Mission Trip June 15th, 2010 thru January 2012. May it be a reminder to pray for all missions whether it be abroad or in your own backyard.

May God Bless you and keep you in His Mighty Grip!

Abiding in Him

Amanda

Called To Kenya

2010-02-05T23:15:00.000-05:00

As you may know, for the last 2 summer’s God has given me the opportunity to travel to western Kenya to serve orphans and widows and I fell in love with all God is doing there. I must say I left everything in Kenya; my clothes, my shoes, and my heart. I ask God how He might have me continue to be a part of His work at Tumaini. His Answer, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21. Over the last few years God has been gently tugging on my heart to take a BIG STEP OF FAITH to come follow Him by serving an extended amount of time in Kenya. Our God is so faithful and He has provided in countless ways for me to return to Tumaini Miles of Smiles orphanage... This time for an extended stay of 18 months. So in June, I will be walking away from the security of a full time salary job that I love and stepping out in faith to follow the heart of Jesus. His provision in itself is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness to those who seek to know the plans He has for them. If you are interested in knowing the full story you can check my entry titled "The Provision". (coming soon)

Let the Journey Begin!

2010-02-03T20:00:00.000-05:00

Hello. My name is Amanda, better known as A-Dub. I invite you to come along side of me on this amazing adventure as God continues to grow his kingdom in Kenya. Check back often, cause He's up to some super exciting things! Sincere Blessings as you seek out God's calling upon your life! He is so faithful.

Matthew 6:33