Primary Retreat...

AUGUST 1-2, 2011

Thank you for your prayers! Our primary retreat was a HUGE SUCCESS!!! 26 precious children. No major problems. No major fights. MANY smiling faces.

Monday, we focused on 1 John 3:1 “For how great is the love the Lord has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.” We talked about God loving us. We talked about being children of God. We talked about being part of God’s family. And how, no matter who is or isn’t in your family here on Earth, we all have a Father in Heaven. And we also have brothers and sisters in each other.

We did lots of crafts; we played lots of soccer; we played lots of games and sang lots of songs. I even got my hair fixed by several people (they were in awe of my long, “soft” hair.) It was a very full day!

Tuesday, they came back. I missed the first part because I had to go to the chemist (aka pharmacy) to prepare for the medical camp. But they started the day reading the story of Noah and the Ark – and acting it out. I had found these animal hats – and the kids were happy to volunteer to help be animals that got on the ark. We had ladybugs and horses and dogs and sharks and more. (We had a few strange animals join our ark – because I thought they were the cutest hats. You can be the judge. J )

Then, many more crafts. Lots of singing and dancing and playing. Then chicken and French fries for lunch – their FAVORITE meal (some things are universal apparently).

When I got my food, I went searching for the “Peptang” – which is their version of ketchup. I found two empty bottles on the tables. I was a little frustrated and confused as to how we could be out – but I ate my fries with salt and no peptang.

At the end of the day, David Omondi, one of the oldest sponsored students explained the story. One of the little boys, Domonic, is about 7 or 8 years old. During lunch, he discovered that this was the last day to come to eat and play with us. He went around and got the bottles and covered his plate in peptang – because he never gets to eat it at home. So that’s where all the peptang/ketchup went. I hope his stomach doesn’t hurt today – but he left happy yesterday.

Mid afternoon, the transporation arrived. The kids were disappointed to go home so soon – but we had a surprise for them. A trip to Impala Park (a little zoo here) to see the animals. They were so excited! So we transported 40 people to the zoo. The zoo is on the shores of Lake Victoria – so after the animals, we went to the shoreline to let the kids put their feet in the water. They were in awe. They all said that they had never seen so much water. And many of them were scared to even put their feet in the water. Rida, one of the youngest girls, was impressed by what she saw. She pulled at Allison’s arm and said, “Wow! It looks like a BIG RAIN!” That was her best description of the lake.

Once they were all brave enough to put their toes in the water, we had another surprise for them. We were going on a boat ride! So many of them were scared and said they wouldn’t go. But we explained little life jackets and gave plenty of encouragement and they were convinced. The college kids that were helping us were some of the most scared. But we convinced them to fake it – because the little kids would act as they acted. So we got 40 people on these little boats and took a 10 min boat ride. Highlight of the day! They were all so impressed and excited with the boat ride!

Thank you for your support! Your donations helped buy all the craft materials that we used for the retreat – which they LOVED. You also allowed us to pay the extra money to take the field trip to the zoo and to ride the boat. These little things have expanded their little minds. Their world is getting bigger and they are learning new things. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

From frustration to fellowship...

JULY 31, 2011

Sunday, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe it was the cold showers for the first few days. Maybe it was the jet lag catching up with me. Maybe it was my own wayward heart. But I was CRANKY.

I was feeling out of sorts. For the first few days, I just couldn’t get myself together. I bought the camera in the airport…only to find out here that it requires a special type of SD card. Back again to NO CAMERA. Excited to see my girls in Obunga, they were hiding from me. Ready to feel the amazing emotions I felt last year, I just felt normal. I didn’t feel a fire, I didn’t feel something deep inside. I just felt TIRED. Really, really TIRED. Plus, I was worrying about the upcoming medical camp – that I was getting no parameters to help me plan it. And the weight of it all on my shoulders was starting to weigh on me. Plus, I was not feeling quite perfect. I didn’t feel completely ill – just as if I were about to get sick. My stomach was a little upset, my head was hurting. I just wanted to sleep for a whole day and try to get better – but sleeping is not much of an option here.

So that is how I started the morning – asking God to put me back together again. To put the pieces together in a way that I could make the most of this time. We have so few days here.

And throughout Sunday, little by little He answered that prayer.

We got ready and headed to Obunga for church. They have a new pastor – who is really excited. He is doing great things, but he is a bit long-winded. And even more excited with a crowd of mzungus (white people) in his church, he had to kick it up a notch. 2 hours of preaching. In English that has such an accent it was hard to understand. But that’s okay. We were also treated to a grand performance by the Sunday School class.

The church is growing!

Last year, there was no Sunday School class – because no one was interested in teaching the children. This year, there were 30-some children in the class. The oldest 20 did a dance for us, sang songs at the front of the church, and recited individual memory verses. It was sweeet and more than a little impressive. Then, they all came and sat down on their pews. There had to be 50+ kids in the church – and most sat through the extensive sermon without getting too antsy. Wow!

After church, we played with the kids in the churchyard for a short while. I was excited to run into a few of the other girls I had not yet seen. I found Feny and Mam – two little girls. I don’t think they remembered me – they were just weirded out that I knew their names. But I also found Caren and Michell – two sweet sisters. Last year, Michell cried everytime she saw me. She was scared of mzungus. But this year, she came and gave me a hug and held my hand. We encouraged Caren to fill out an application to join Ndoto – and her mom picked one up!

Then, we headed to homes in Obunga to get a taste of daily life. These families had us in for tea. We got to see the insides of their homes – one room structures made of mud and tin. We went and took tea with Sophie. Her oldest daughter is one of the newest kids in Ndoto.

Sophie told us her life story – how she was a single mother to 6 children – from 7 to 16 years of age. Her husband was killed in 2007 during the post election violence. [For those who don’t know, Kenya has a relatively stable government. However, after the last election in 2007, there was quite a bit of controversy over the results. The fight turned to ancient tribal rivalry and things spun out of control. It became Luo against Kukuye – and many (thousands I think) were killed all across Kenya in the weeks following the election.] The mother struggles as a fishmonger (she filets talapia at a local fish-packing plant). Her oldest daughter is a senior in high school and will have the funds to graduate now as well as the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Sophie treated us to hot chocolate and a HUGE plate of rice…and some sweet conversation.

After speaking with her for about an hour, I was feeling back to sorts. Nothing like a little perspective to put your frustrations and your problems in their place.

We met back up at the church and headed home to St. Anna’s – the guest house where we stay. We had a few free hours before dinner. We ended up playing cards together as a team – and I finally felt as if I were bonding with my group. We are many and we are different – but we are here with the same purpose. To love on the people of Obunga. It is interesting to see the personalities God has brought to this group. It is so well complemented.

And after the day had been redeemed, I was even more excited to find HOT WATER!!

Please continue to pray for energy for me. I have still struggled with being SO SO TIRED all the time. Help me to rest well while sleeping and awaken ready to work for God’s glory another day.

Saturday Recap - Take Three

I keep getting distracted by wonderful news! I have so much to tell you all – to keep you a part of things. And usually only about 15 minutes a day to write and share. But I’m trying. If you have specific questions, please feel free to send an email and I will try to answer you.

So, Saturday recap. Rain. Changed Plans. A morning full of retreat planning. Lunch. By then, sunny skies. So back to Obunga for the afternoon. A SUPER FULL day full of hours of video and photo taking.

Our photographers, Michelle and Angel, got pictures of 19 of the 31 new kids. This was a fun time, as we tried to convince shy, quiet Kenyans to strut their stuff and show us big happy smiles. I learned that what we call posing, they call “styles”. So, we had lots of showing our “styles”. Somehow, the little 10-12 yr old girls knew how to style like a runway model without every being taught. It was pretty funny! And the teenage boys were making some pretty primo “styles” as well. Karen shot hours of footage in Obunga. And the rest of us played outside with the kiddos. I met some new precious kids – and I worked with David Omondi to plan out details for the Medical Clinic we will have all day Wednesday.

We stayed until dusk and then headed home. Super productive day. Super satisfying day. Ready for another one just as great.

Back to the Story...

Back to the story…

As I mentioned above, we woke up to some rain Saturday morning. So no trip to Obunga that morning. Previous schedule changed, we adjusted our course. Instead, we spent the morning preparing for the Primary School Retreat we will have on Monday.

We worked on crafts, prepared the schedule and the talks. The primary school retreat is Monday and Tuesday of this week. We will have 26 elementary and middle school kids with us at the hotel/conference center where we are staying. Here, they will play, make crafts, and hear the word of God.

We have chosen two messages for them. The first will be 1 John 3:1 – “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

On this day, we will talk about how much God loves us, how He has brought us into His family. We will also talk about how that makes us daughters and sons of the King of Kings – which means we are valuable and highly loved. It also means we are family! We will do a big discussion on family. What is means to be part of God’s family, to be part of Ndoto’s family and support each other and help each other.

A lot of these kids are missing parents, or separated from their siblings or have no traditional family structure. We will remind them that if they lack parents or siblings, it is okay because they have a Father in Heaven – and siblings all around them.

The second day will focus on Noah’s Ark. We will tell the story of how Noah obeyed God, even when it seemed kind of crazy. And then we will tell of how God delivered Noah and how God always keeps His promises. On Tuesday, after a day learning about Noah and the ark and the animals – we will have a special field trip! We are going to take these kids to Impala Park – which is basically a zoo here in Kisumu! Most of these kids have never actually seen lions and impalas and other wildlife. So we will take them to see the animals. Impala Park is right on Lake Victoria – so we will also take them out on a BOAT! There are little 10 min boat rides (complete with life jackets and everything) – so we will do that with them as well.

Pray for us as we prepare for this Retreat. Pray for us Monday and Tuesday as we work with these kids, love on these kids, and teach them just how much Jesus loves them too. Pray that their lives and their hearts might be changed – and that they might then return to their homes and shine as little lights in a very dark place. Already, we have heard some stories about how children are changing through sponsorship and how this is spilling over into parents and siblings. Pray that this might continue today, tomorrow, and forever – that we might touch every heart in Obunga with the love of Christ!

Rain...

July 30, 2011 – Saturday

We woke up Saturday morning to cool temperatures and cloudy skies. It had rained the night before. This is the end of the dry season in Kenya – the rainy season will start in the next few weeks. Rain has so many implications here in Kenya.

For us, rain means complications. Obunga is a dirty place to begin with – with dirt roads and sewer running in ditches along the sides of the roads. Rain makes the sewage overflow it’s banks and makes the paths a thick, muddy mess. Our tuk tuks, our primary means of transportation cannot maneuver through the muddy roads. So rain limits our movements, our plans for the day.

But rain is also a good thing. Rain is desperately needed in Northern Kenya (as well as Ethiopia and Somalia). They are having their worst drought of the past 30 years – just like at home. But here that means temps to 120 and no water ANYWHERE. All has dried up and they have no pipes or water transport system available. The north is less densely populated and the roads are poor to transport water and food from other parts of the country. So many, many Kenyans are dying. There are horrible pictures of people starving all over their papers; it is always the big story on the news. There was also a sadly ironic story in the paper our first day about how there is surplus food rotting on the fields in the central part of the country while people die in the north. With poor road infrastructure, it’s impossible to ship the food up to the North where people are dying. So we welcome the rain if it will help those to the north. Please join us in praying for rain to come again to Northern Kenya (as well as Somalia and Ethiopia). Everyday that you hear of the drought in US on the news, please pray for the people here trying to survive.

Allison told us a touching story when we arrived. The drought and famine in the North has weighed heavily upon her and she is trying to find ways that we can help. She said that Michael Omondi, one of the older boys in the program, is studying to be a pastor. During one of his school breaks, he and others from his school went on a mission trip up to Northern Kenya. 14 hour travel by bus. 120 degree temps, so they risked an encounter with a scorpion and slept in the sand to keep cool. They spent their days walking from remote hut to remote hut – offering the only water they had to offer – the LIVING WATER, praying for families, and helping where they could. He came back changed. He is getting ready to do his equivalent of a vicarage or “student pasturing” type time this year – and is seriously thinking about going back to help the people there. He told Allison, “It was so good for me to go and help those who have less than I do. It showed me how much I have in Obunga, how blessed and rich I really am.” This comes from a 22 year old college student that lives in one of the toughest slums of Kisumu – without running water, sanitation, electricity, whose family often fights to put food on the table.

Wow. Perspective. That is what it is all about.

Lord, please bring rain to Kenya. Rain down your blessings as you bring water to these people who so desperately need it.

It's good to be back...

JULY 29, 2011

Friday started bright and early at 4am. Despite the disco music, I slept well. We woke up and had a nice breakfast at the hotel before heading back to the airport. We arrived there prepared for a fight. We had special tickets on British Airways that allowed us to check three bags each. As a partner, Kenya Airways should also honor that special allowance. But in Kenya, rules are never set in stone. Last year, we were only allowed one bag and the rest of our bags made a 6 hour roadtrip to Kisumu.
But Friday morning, we had zero problems! They took our 19 bags – roughly 900 pounds of stuff – without batting an eye. We made it quickly to the gate and boarded less than 30 minutes later.
It is a short 35 minute flight to Kisumu. By 7am, we had landed and were walking across the open runway to the people waiting at the “terminal”. Allison was there to greet us, as well as our drivers for the week – Joshua, Sammy, and Steve. They got everything loaded and we were off!
It felt strange to be back. Surreal as I disembarked the plane and knew where to go, where things were, how things were done here. How different than last year!
We got to St Anna’s and enjoyed another breakfast and then got checked into our rooms to settle for an hour or two.
By 10:30, we had regrouped and were ready to trek to Obunga, the part of town where we work. It was so wonderful to be back!! As I walked the roads to the church, it was amazing to note so many new structures that have been built since last year. And the kids have all gotten so big! Fun to see familiar faces and catch up with old friends.
The kids were all so shy at first. My girls from last year had to be coaxed to come see me. They just wore silly smiles and covered their faces with their hands, but when asked they knew my name. It was not quite the response I was expecting, but it was cute.
As the mzungus in the neighborhood, we got invited to some big ribbon cutting ceremony. We made an appearance, watched the local elementary school perform a dance and then headed off for lunch.
By then, it was 4pm and we had already been up 12 hours. So we came back to the hotel to rest and relax. We met briefly for dinner and then back to our rooms for an early night.
It’s good to be back.

In transit...

JULY 28, 2011

In transit

Thursday was a bit of a blur. The majority of it was spent in the air, in transit.
We landed in London at 9am with a short 1.5 hour layover. We were making good time as we arrived at security to proceed to the next area for our second flight. There were maybe 20 people in front of us. We relaxed; we were doing okay. An hour and a half later, we were still standing in the slowest security line I have ever experienced. We had 3 minutes until our flight left and we were starting to sweat.
Karen and I were the first in line, so the group told us to run to the gate and hold the plane. We went as fast as we could weighed down with all sorts of camera equipment and carry on gear. We turned the corner and came to a tram. Great. We were not as close as we thought we were. We got on the tram – and 15 seconds later ended up at the next terminal. We ran through that terminal too … to the gate at the farthest end of the terminal and arrived winded and ready to convince them to stop the plane.
Luckily, our convincing was not needed. We met with super nice British Airway employees who checked us in and let us wait at the top of the stairs for the rest of our team. We met a woman who is the leader of a medical mission team going to Nairobi. She and her team had been on our flight from Dallas; she was waiting for the rest of her team to arrive as well. Apparently, the plane was waiting on at least 30 other people to make it through security – so we were good.
About 10 minutes later, the rest of our team rounded the corner into view. It was like a scene from a movie. People rounding the corner, running, bags flying every which way. We knew they were fine; but they still didn’t know that yet. But they got to us, checked in, and we all went to board the plane. One 8.5 hour flight down; one more to go.
That flight passed uneventfully as well, and we landed in Nairobi about 9:30pm. We headed to customs and then managed to pick the slowest line ever. Seriously. You always feel like this, but this time it was true. 2 hours later, we finally ended up moving to the line next to us. The woman in front of us from the first line was literally THE LAST PERSON to clear customs. But we met with a very nice gentleman who passed us through customs easily and kindly. And we headed downstairs to find our 19 bags. 20 minutes later, we had 19 bags piled up and we were following Shadrack, our driver, through the parking lot.

We got to the Paris Hotel about midnight. Lovely little place that we stayed last year. The people there are super friendly. We checked in and headed to our rooms to catch a few hours of sleep. After 24 hours of travel, we were ready to rewind and recharge.

One new change since last year – a disco has moved in next door. So we were had the privilege of experiencing a Kenyan disco – complete with blaring music, including BonJovi, and a very energetic DJ until about 2am. This bothered many on the team, but I was tired. I fell asleep within minutes.

We were up again at 4am for breakfast before heading back to the airport for the final flight to Kisumu. And that’s where the story really begins…

"All you need is your ticket and your passport. Everything else is negotiable."

JULY 27, 2011

This is what my sister, Becca, told me Tuesday night as I was packing furiously and more than a bit stressed about the number of things I had to do to get ready and the dwindling number of minutes I had to do them in.
And she was right. This trip is about me GOING TO AFRICA. And the only truly necessity for the trip is...ME. (And God, of course, but He's everywhere.)

Wednesday was a crazy day. I woke up not feeling very well - but hit the ground running. So many errands to complete before our flight left at 6pm.

Over the course of the morning, I ran the following errands:
1) Breakfast with Pastor Preece where I picked up a generous check from Zion's members to further the work of the Kingdom here in Kisumu AND received a wonderful prayer and blessing (and song about spreading the Gospel around the world) from my Pastor.
2) Last minute arts and craft run for the last minute items needed.
3) Stop by my friend Jenny's dermatology office to pick up some medicine to help a little boy over here with a pretty severe skin condition.
4) Pick up printed prayer cards for family & friends to put on their fridges and remember to pray for us in the days we are gone. While there, I spoke with Lori (the owner) who asked what she could pray for during my trip. I told her that I was feeling a bit under the weather and worried that I was coming down with the stomach bug that had been going around Dallas. She prayed for me right then and there over the counter of the UPS store.

Turn after turn, I felt busy but peaceful. I felt surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that hold me up and spur me on. My stomach calmed, I stopped worrying about the little details.

2:30 came and so did our ride. My friend, Rashmi, was generous enough to come pick us up and take us to the airport...in her Civic. Fitting 300# of luggage and 3 people in a Civic proved to be quite the feat, but we did it.

As we drove to the airport, Rashmi asked about plans. As I mentioned the medical clinic I'd be doing, I suddenly realized that it never dawned on me to pack my stethoscope! We were closer to the airport than home with little time. As we debated what to do, Karen used her quick thinking to help us find a DME store not far from us. A few wrong turns later, we had the stethoscope in hand and were back in route to DFW.

We got in, got checked in, and got through security quickly. That's when I realized, I had forgotten my camera as well. Despite the fact that Becca made a special trip to bring me the battery charger, I managed to leave the camera, new camera bag, and everything on my bedroom dresser. A quick wander around DFW, and I was back in the photography game. I'd found a reasonably priced camera and we were good to go!

Proud of my prompt camera purchase, I headed back to the gate and sat down. I reorganized my backpack to find room for the camera. And that’s when I realized that I forgot my journal and my Luo dictionary as well. So much for learning Luo in the air! At least you can find journals everywhere…and I’d have to learn Luo in person. I tried to relax.

I pulled out my ticket and passport as I waited in line to board. Smiling to myself, I thought of Becca’s wise words the day before. Apparently, stethoscopes and cameras and journals and Luo dictionaries are all negotiable.

Words of Old...

From the Red Hymnal...

Song #91: My Song is Love Unknown

My song is love unknown, My Savior's love to me,
Love to the loveless shown That they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I That for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none The longed for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend, My friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend!

Sometimes they strew his way And his sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King.
Then "Crucify" is all their breath,
And for his death They thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run, He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease and 'gainst him rise.

A new chapter...

A page has turned. Another chapter begins. 2011. What will it bring? Who can imagine?

I think of 2010 and all the twists and turns that I never could have imagined on Jan 1 of last year. But before it began, God knew...

He knew of the new friendships to be discovered (ie Ashley & Allison), new family members (making Dave & Lauren official SLOANS!), new talents to be developed (drawing class and my ballerina), new homes to purchase, new processes to learn (BUYING the home), new fears within the corners of my soul to face, new adventures to take (The Bahamas and AFRICA!), new languages to learn, new truths to learn about myself, new projects to support, new goodbyes to be said, new colleagues at work (Sara, Beth, Rashmi, Erin, Megan - new young providers!), and even a new roommate in the last week of 2010 (my sister Karen!). It has not always been easy; in fact, it has rarely been easy. It's been a year of tough questions. God has given me so much this year - but rarely when and how I've asked for it. 2010 has been a year of great molding and refining, but it has been an interesting year to walk beside my Lord. It has been a wild ride! I am slowly but surely learning to let go and let Him take the wheel. SO SO hard for me, but I'm trying...

And so I look forward to the next chapter He has planned. I wait in eager anticipation to see it unfold. Will it bring love or heartache or friendship or betrayal or challenges or setbacks? I pray that be it good or bad, I might stay by His side through it all. I pray that Jan 1 2012 finds me closer to His heart, closer to His image...

I heard the song "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts on the radio today. It resonated within my heart today. May I continue to love Him ... no matter what the year might bring!
No Matter What...


No Matter What – Kerrie Roberts Lyrics and Chords

I’m running back to Your promises one more time
Lord that’s all I can hold on to
I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises You
Before a heartache can ever touch my life
It has to go through Your hands
And even though I keep asking why, I keep asking why

No matter what, I’m gonna love You
No matter what I’m gonna need You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, if not, I’ll trust You no matter what, no matter what

When I’m stuck in this nothingness by myself
I’m just sitting in silence
There’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won’t even try it
I know You have Your reasons for everything so I will keep believing
Whatever I might be feeling, God You are my hope
And You will be my strength

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s OK if You don’t
I’m not here for those things
The touch of Your love is enough on its own
No matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You

No matter what I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, if not, I’ll trust You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, but if not, I’ll trust You

No matter what
No matter no matter what
No matter no matter what
No matter no matter what