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!