Sisters On A Mission

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 In soccer, Jody and I tend to cheer for the underdogs and the U.S. was not the favored to win last’s night’s game against Ghana, the team that beat them in the last two World Cups. In the second half the cameras kept focusing on a Ghanaian fan that the announcers assumed was high. But we quickly realized he was a witch doctor in a demonic trance! Suddenly what began for us as a fun sporting match became an acute reminder that we live constantly in a Spiritual battle. The US team kept defending attack after attack and they were growing weary, something that happens with all of us in the Spiritual battle. We too grow weary, we think we are too weak to defend against the Enemy anymore and we feel like giving up. Despite suffering injuries, exhaustion, and dehydration, the U.S. team never gave up, even though their opponents were physically stronger. God really used it to show us how the Enemy often gets us to think that...

"For evil to triumph, it is enough only that good men to do nothing." -  Edmund Burke

September 21st, just three days before I was scheduled to fly back to the U.S., highly trained terrorists stormed a crowded mall in Nairobi, killing men, women, and children.  It wasn't until I returned to the U.S. and read the news, that I learned friends of mine in Nairobi had survived a horrible ordeal. I'm grateful to Phil Walton and his wife Katherine who helped me as I struggled to write a business plan one year. And it was Phil and Katherine who were the few brave ones willing to drive us single women home after Bible studies ended late at night.  I was deeply moved when I saw them share their stories on Dateline the other night.  I've posted the link to the show here, and hope you are encouraged as I was.  God reminded me that He brings hope in the midst of evil and that He hears our cries and comes to our rescue. Thanks to Phil, Katherine, and Blaise for your courage to share your stories! I know it will take awhile to recover from all this, but God ...

...even before I finished asking my Heavenly Father for it.   "Even before they call out to me, I will answer them."  Isaiah 65:24 When I returned to the U.S. at the end of September, I experienced several weeks of illness.  As I lay in bed  one day, the Lord kept bringing to mind the need to praise Him.  Anytime I opened my Bible, the pages fell open to verses about praising God and rejoicing in suffering. A couple of years ago, I bought a guitar in Kenya and taught myself to play.  I found such peace and joy in praising God through my guitar!  Bad days in Kenya turned to days of praise and comfort!   As I lay in bed in the U.S., I thought how much I missed playing the guitar.  And then I wondered, why am I not asking Baba (Daddy, in Swahili) for a guitar to praise Him?  So, I did just that! The following morning a friend of mine called and shared how family from Iowa had asked if she needed a guitar. ...

Hello friends, we are excited about our Fall Collection for Streams of Mercy Africa.  Purses are sewn by Eva Fwamba (Streams helped her start her business. You can read about Eva in the June 11th article). Jewelry is made by Njoki & Angela of Zawadi, a business which supports several women in the slums.  All profits go to educating & mentoring our orphans. Halloween bag with outside pocket Leopard  satchel with wide strap and zipper enclosure Leopard cotton satchel with two straps & zipper enclosure Halloween Bag  An assortment of  imported West African beads & glass beads on brass Here is a shorter version of the West African Bead work in a variety of styles. Matching bracelets also of West African bead work All products are hand-made by women who are care givers for orphans. Keep checking our blog for new products! Email us if you are interested in purchasing: streamsofmercy58@gm...

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. ...

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...