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.