Sisters On A Mission

This is Ruth, our good friend from Wales.  She graciously opened her home to us for a three day women's leadership training. She invited us for a sleep over the last day of training and also let us invite our "nieces" Eva (junior), Esther, and Philis. There were not enough beds at Ruth's, so we took over a couple mattresses. Philis is often the spokesperson for our group of quiet teens, whom we have been teaching about God. Children are taught to be "seen and not heard" in the presence of adults.  So learning to chat with us can be challenging, especially since our elementary understanding of Swahili, means we use English.  They have an excellent mastery of English, but it's not the language they are comfortable in. These mattresses, which originally came from the U.S., were much heavier than the Kenyan mattresses.  We carried them up four flights of stairs. I surprised Esther! We enjoyed singing and worshiping t...

Hello Everyone! I was SKYPing with dad the other day and was surprised to find out from him that I I had been carjacked. Then I realized my video blog may have been a bit confusing.  My apologies!  I was not carjacked.  Rather, many months ago I found myself on a matatu (14 passenger van) without a seat.  That matatu happened to be pulled over by a policeman and he began to harass me about not having a seat.  Had the matatu driver not put on the gas, the policeman would have arrested me and taken me to the police station, and tried to bribe me.  I was saying how grateful I was to Sidney First for giving the car, in which I no longer had to take matatus, such as the one I had ridden that day. The car has been a blessing as we have transported people to and from church, helped missionaries move, and have had many adventurous drives across the city of Nairobi to and from ministry events. We are truly grateful for God's provision! Christy ...

Beatrice came in to clean the apartment and I could tell she was sad and downcast.  Over a cup of tea, she told me how her landlady decided to sale the homes they were renting in Kibera slum.  The cost of each home (clay and wood homes with cement roofs), 50,000 shillings ($500.00 USD).  I knew that was three month's salary for her.  She said she wanted to buy two of the homes, one for her family and one to rent.  Beatrice explained how renting a home would give her what was needed to pay her daughter's school fees. I asked her what God had told her.  She said she had opened her Bible that morning to the passage where Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you." I said, "Beatrice!  This is from the Lord!  He's given YOU a message, not me!"  Because locals often hold the view that foreigners are better than them, they also think God only speaks through them. But I knew God was speaking directly to Beatrice. She wasn't convinced.  So ...

I'm Living at a Sewing Centre: My house has now also become a sewing centre!  A 9 month dream became a reality  after Jody returned to the U.S. with a mission to gather a team of women to help support one of the aunties of our orphans to start  a business.  Knowing she was a good tailor, the women decided to raise funds through their friends and relatives to buy her a sewing machine. Three weeks after our auntie received the news that the sewing machine was coming, Jody received word that a boutique was opening locally and requested hand-made purses from Kenya! So today after getting home from my weekend adventure at Hell's Gate, I heard the whir of a woman working her new machine!  It gave me so much joy to come home to that sound!  With this new source of income, our friend will now be able to support the orphans in her family. Conquering Hell's Gate... ...or rather, as I sit here with aching muscl...

Hello family and friends!   This week millions went to the polls to elect a new President.  Despite tribalism and grievances from the past, God was gracious and answered our pleas for peace!   After the advise of several friends and family, I choice to spend election week away from voting centers. The Lord renewed and refreshed me in time spent at the Resurrection Prayer Garden and nunnery . It was also quite humorous,  as I was the only woman there along with a  group of men who were on a silent retreat.  It was hilarious, me sitting in the cafeteria eating at a table by myself, looking at the clock, twiddling my thumbs as men silently walked past with plates of food, all giving glances in my direction.  It was heaven until about the third day, when I could no longer take the silence and solitude, at which time I went to a friend's house at a Christian College next door. There I enjoyed the company of Liam (6), Lila (9), Kiara (12), ...

Nairobi is experiencing an unusually hot and dry season, where the wind is blowing the dusty streets, heaping layers of dirt onto furniture and floors.  As a result many people's lungs have been dry and agitated and there has been a lot of coughing, myself included.  Nairobi, temporarily is a desert. As I was coughing away while preparing supper, God reminded me of times of dry seasons in my life; times when I lacked many things. There are times in our lives when God allows a dry season of deprivation and/or loss. In my experience, these seasons often come one after another. They can involve a lack of material resources, a loss of health or a loved one.  And simultaneously  they often entail the absence of community and periods of loneliness. Some people have compared these times to being in a desert.  Have you ever visited a desert in it's driest season?  The heat bearing down on you is merciless and it is agonizing beca...