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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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