Move the Family to Kenya

Esther and Jody 

Jody sat across from Esther and Emily, two of the nieces of our heart. The room was silent at times, accept for the ticking of the clock.  There was an unspoken sadness that held thick in the room as this was there last day with us.

Finally Esther expressed what she had been pondering over the past week,

"Auntie Jody, tell your father to move the family to Kenya."

The perfect solution! So it seemed to Esther and Emily, who having grown up in a communal culture where the entire family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins all had an active role in their lives.  Surely, if the father of Auntie Jody and Auntie Christy moved to Kenya, then their American aunties would never have to leave them again.

Jody assured them that though we would be miles away, God's Holy Spirit connected us as though there was no distance separating us.  It was a small comfort to two girls who a year and half ago lost their last living parent to illness.

We wish we didn't ever have to leave them, but due to continually fluctuating instability of finances and strict immigration laws in Kenya, we have to return to the U.S. every 6 months, where we work and once our funds are replenished we return to Kenya again.

Our girls were good at coming up with excuses for a car ride!!
(From right, Eva Junior, Esher, Philis, and Emily)

After doing this for over 5 years now, Jody and I have decided to return to the U.S. together and share the stories of what God is doing through our girls!  We realize not enough people know what really goes on when we are here and how God has developed an on-going in-depth discipleship program with teenage girls as well as a joint businesswomen's fellowship.

The latter has come about in recent months as God has connected several of us missionary women doing grass-roots social entrepreneurial work.  Ruth, from Wales and married to Alex, of Kenya, helped Jackie and Debbie, two former street girls, start a baking business.  Angela, from Australia, has started a rapidly growing jewelry business and employs several women from the slums of Nairobi.  Jody and I helped Eva, the one supportive auntie of Esther, Emily, and Philis, start a sewing business.  What we all have in common is that, we all run our businesses out of our homes, we support the women from our limited missionary resources, and the women under our mentorship all support children and extended family members.  It has been wonderful to get connected with one another and be a support to each other in these new entrepreneur endeavors.

Emily had been wearing school shoes that were too small for her,
so Jody surprised her with new ones!

It is our goal while back in the U.S. this Fall to raise the funds needed for our group of businesswomen to expand our social business efforts and to make them more sustainable.  We also hope to employ book keepers and accountants as our businesses continue to grow beyond our current knowledge and expertise.

At times, it is overwhelming and we learn to rely on God.  But always, it is a joy to see our new businesswomen grow and learn.  We could use your prayers!  We are not sure what our financial goal needs to be yet, but I continue to gather information, such as, how much for baking supplies, costs of beads, and sewing supplies and material, etc.  Our current expenses always seem to exceed the income, but somehow God gets all the bills paid!

We'll keep you updated on this exciting new development!

Cheers!

Christy

Eva (Junior), Esther, Jody, and Philis