Made it!

I';m back on US soil...tired and a little sad, but I'm well. 

Today's the day...

Around the bend...

Hi guys! Pray you are all well (and probably sleeping nicely right now).   I cant believe it's already almost over.  The team left this morning early for the safari and here I am now.  I do miss them, but I am excited about spending some time with some of my favorite community members' homes to chat and catch up.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers because the team accidently left with my passport.  I need it for my Weds 7pm flight, so I am praying that the drivers are able to bring it to me beforehand.  The roads are rough, but God is able!  It's out of my hands, so I will trust Him.

I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone on this team.  I was tremendously blessed by each and everyone of them and being able to serve alongside them.  So many different gifts, personalities, talents, skills...,all seeking to glorify God. I wont forget them.  We had a few that are sick, so please pray for them.  I feel pretty good, really tired and a little grumbly stomach, but really this has been the first day out of the whole time I've been here, praise God. 

We went to a women's prison on Saturday.  I am so happy we got to go.  It hasnt worked out in the past few years.  The women were precious.  They were singing praise and worship songs as we entered.  How beautiful. We all shared our testimonies about what God has done in our life.  It was truly my favorite time on the whole trip.  Even though many in there had served or would be serving long sentences, many had such a joy from the Lord.  I pray we were able to encourage them as they did to us.  I really just love being around women and telling them that God is the only one who can make them whole and give them the love they long for.  God receives all of the glory for doing that in my own life. 

Hope to write you one more time in Kenya before I leave.  Thank you for your emails and prayers.  They have definitely been sustaining.  May God bless you richly with His peace and grace!

Time is flying by

Hi to everyone on the other side of the world!  Pray you are all well.  Time is flying by, which is so ironic to me because I rarely see a clock these days :) We are all doing well, learning so much about God, those around us and our own lives.  The Lord has been so faithful to tenderly be by our sides with His grace when our hearts are breaking and our eyes are red.  We have visited some local hospitals in which we saw some broken and hurting men, women and children.  You know, even though it's tough to see, I felt the Lord's peace when I was there.  We were able to pray and talk with them.  I fanned a man who had such a high fever it was burning my hand.  This may sound wierd, but I loved it.  I did love it.  I loved being by the side of someone who maybe the second before we came in was crying out to God to show up.   I love going out to buy a plastic plate for someone who missed getting food because he didnt have one.  I love praying with my team over a man who was shaking so violently that he threw himself off the bed and seeing the Lord show up and calm his seizure during our prayer.  Even so the greatest part that I love is that I have witnessed God being glorified.  It isnt about me at all.  It isnt about what I do or say.  I was just seeking to be obedient to God's leading.   What would really happen in our lives if we sought to follow Him when ever and where ever no matter what?  ...even if it doesnt make sense, even if no one is healed, even if we are in pain...  Every question we ever have comes back to one question, one question alone...Do we trust the Creator of the Universe,...the great I AM,...our God and Savior?  Ask Him to show you the areas in your life where you dont trust Him and "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23). 

We made it!!

Jambo sana (big hello!) to everyone.  Pray you are all well.  Well, we made it, even after leaving on Weds afternoon and arriving on Friday morning in Kenya.  We really saw how the Lord provided for us with the flights.  We made all of our connections, no lost luggage, and I was able to get on the early flight to Kisumu with the team.  Wahoo!  We have hit the ground running too.  I am really enjoying being with the team.  It is really a great group of people with all different gifts but huge hearts for God and for bringing Christ . 

It's wild.  Even the first day, I've felt like I've returned to my second home.  Since the decision to come was so fast, most of the church members and people I worked with on the project last year didnt know I was coming.  It was so fun to surprise them!!  I got some great hugs.  Of course, the kids were coming in droves to hold hands, laugh and play.  What a blessing.  

We dedicated the well today on the church property.  I was able to pray for it.  It was beautiful to see how the Lord is providing for this community.  Even so, this water leave you thirsty the next day, but God gives us everlasting water freely and graciously. 

Continue to pray for us.  We are all leading seminars tomorrow on a variety of topics to train some of the church leaders from around the city.  We are also holding vacation bible school for the kiddos, too fun. 

Well, friends, I am off to get some sleep.  May your dreams be filled with the assurance that God is working in your life and in our world.