LATE JULY TO DECEMBER 2010

Catching up on the BLOG: Late July to December 2010

My children continue to remind me how long it has been since an update so I will try to keep it brief as I catch everyone up on our time in Kisumu since the last blog in July.

I think as the saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words so let’s look at some of the last half of the year’s moments:

Late July and August 2010

My sister Kathy and my niece Anna came to Kenya what a blessing for us that they came. One short week we packed all we could in.

We went to the Maasai Mara which is a vast place to witness God’s creation.

Kathy and Anna were able to visit and share with several of our groups.

below a group of widows and a group in Dunga area

When Kathy and Anna were here we had showed them where we thought we were moving but our amazing and all knowing God had better plans for us than we could imagined….

August also brought our Kisumu friends Sandy and Dick to stay in our house while they were making plans for what is next in their future. Moving them out shows anything will fit on a tuk tuk. We laughed so hard as the driver put one more piece on.

We also had the privilege to visit Jackson’s church for their Baptism ceremony. John got the opportunity to speak as we gathered by the river.

Eldoret weekend-- JERUSALEM CHURCH



September 2010

We moved to the little dream cottage. Our friends Mary Lynn and Wayne introduced us to Mike Hawthorne from Australia. He has a beautiful compound and had two places for rent in his compound. Our friend Denise took one and we took the other. The perfect place and a huge savings to our budget.  This has been a big change as we are on the opposite side of town from where we work. This of course has forced me to drive in Kenya. I am reminded I can do all things through Christ. It also has open up new areas of ministry opportunities.

Our home is small and compact but perfect for our needs. So at the end of September we said goodbye to Jackson who has cared for us since we arrived. We now do all our own housework and cooking which we have really enjoyed.

We continue to support Stephen and John usually visits and gets his supplies.

Support Groups and Bibles continue each week:



The middle of September we got to go to Rondo a retreat center in the Rain Forest thanks to a friend’s donation for us to take some time away from Kisumu. It was restful and beautiful and cool and amazing food. A perfect way to spend my birthday



In Mikes Compound at the end of the month we said farewell to our friends Mary Lynn and Wayne as they returned to the USA.

October 2010

Weekend in Eldoret---SAMABUL

When we moved we started going to Calvary Chapel a new church plant a block or so from our house. Some of our missionary friends Peg and Matt are involved in this ministry. The Kenyan Pastor is very good and preaches only truth. This is very refreshing for us on the Sundays we are in Kisumu.

 The Lord continues to open up new doors of opportunity to share Christ. New HIV Support Groups. New Schools to minister to so there is no lacking of ministry. Moving has giving us opportunities in new areas of Kisumu as well.

We still are committed to giving of Bibles and discipleship of people. We still know God has called us to spread His word.

At the end of October John’s mum had a stroke which was very serious and he left to go to help in England. See how moving prepared me for being alone in Kenya I never imagined being here alone. My friends all say “you drove”? Thank you Lord for the strength each day to press on.

November 2010

Emily James and Jessica come to Kenya!!!

How thrilled we were when they called and said we are coming. Who could have imagined it would happen? God is faithful in provision.

I met them in Nairobi and we did some fun things and returned to Kisumu.

Lake Nakuru Safari—about 3- 4 hours we drove from Kisumu

Great adventures and animal sightings!

Kisumu

The Kids got to visit 4 HIV Support Groups and see Bibles given out.

They shared with the groups about iron sharpens iron and encourage them to continue in the word together as a group.

They got to visit Kisumu South School and play with the nursery kids and have great time sharing and talking with the high school age students.

Dunga Beach Ladies and a few gentlemen.

Mama Joyce was so excited that my children came to visit and told me after they left to tell them to write to her.

Thanksgiving in Kisumu—Fish and Chips at Kiboko Bay with Missionaries friends.

What a great time to share with family  and  friends.

We greatly missed having John with us and for them to see him in Dunga but Helen and I tried to point out places that John goes and where his groups meet so they could get an understanding of the ministry.

It is something that is hard to put into words when you have family come and they can share in the work. It was great to show them life in Kisumu and the work God continues to allow us to be apart of each day. Having adult children interested and supportive of the life we live is a blessing from the Lord.

Is is never easy to say good bye when anyone comes but to Emily, James and Jessica it was hard as it is such a joy to have time together. It passed so quickly I was glad we had pictures so I knew it really did happen.

DECEMBER 2010

Now John is still in England and his mum improves. I am working on getting to as many groups as possible and complete the Bibles for the month and on December 7 I am off to England until the end of December. Thanks again to generous gifts during this time of added expenses.  Our prayer is we will both return here together. We look forward to seeing our children in England around Christmas. John has not seen them yet so that is to come. We will be blessed to see Benjamin in his school play this year. He is the donkey.

We wish each of you a Joyous time celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

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We are back.

The past 4 months have flown by. We spent a month in the USA and almost a month in England. It was wonderful connecting with our family in both places and with our church family. We loved seeing friends and wished for more time to see everyone.

We arrived back in Kisumu in late May and had new missionaries staying in our house. Bev and Charlie from the UK. We have become fast friends and they were with us a few weeks until their house was ready here in Kisumu. We hit the gound running as you would say getting back with our groups and work.

It was also fun to see our Kisumu missionary friends and find them all well.

It was a joy to find that many of our groups had continued in the Word while we were away. This is a great encouragement to know they are listening that we may not always be here and they need to study their Bible with each other. The HIV Support Groups are always encouraging me more than they realize. Their singing and the way they care for each other is an example to the church. If all churches were as good at looking after each other as these groups then Christianity would spread and everyone would see the light of Jesus.

Late June brought the Amarillo South Team our home church. What a joy for us to share with them the work God has called us to do. It was our first opportunity to include others in the ministry and we can not begin to say how wonderful it is to have especially our home church team. The team included three of our support team and it was so exciting to get to show them the work. Each of them was touched in ways words can not explain. A Question asked to us was: :How can you tell people what you do?" The answer is it is not easy if one has not seen it with their own eyes. The team was very encouraging and that was affirming for us.

We had fun times with them on Lake Victoria on a Hippo watch and we did see the Hippos. We took them to the place we spend our afternoons off to relax and refresh.

They followed us by the Lake and through the slums of Kisumu. Each had their own special memories. We got the great pleasure of seeing our work throught their eyes reminding us that telling people about Jesus is what we are called to do.

Then we said our sad goodbyes and sent them home.

ELDORET:
We took off for Eldoret the first weekend in July. To our surprise the roads were improved since our last journey there. I like it there as it is so much cooler than Kisumu. We even used a blanket. HA.

It is always a joy to be with Francis Bii and his family and now they have a new baby. We had a lovely Saturday with him and evening with his family.

Sunday we were at the Kipkaren Church which is always fun. They have lively praise and worship and sing with all their hearts. The children and youth sang for us as well. The church leaders ordained us and it was a moving time to share with them.

We left in the afternoon and made it back to Kisumu before dark.

Next:
Renovo Church in Seattle arrived.
We spent two days with them trying to let each member of the team experience all aspects of the work.

We made new friends as we did not know anyone except Larry Wu who was here last year. Larry blessed us with dark chocolate which we are rationing out to savor as long as possible. It really does not take much to get us excited.

Our new friends will forever be in our hearts. They came with much joy and it was catching. Once again seeing our work in and through their eyes. We spent an evening together sharing special moments of their trip and all they had seen. It was a rich time of fellowship for us.

LADIES MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY:
July 17 took us to Lakeside Orphanage for the monthly study. It was the first time we had seen the ladies as they had had a national meeting in June. So there were greetings and hugs all around. Several of them had returned with their Bible studies so New Bibles were given out. And many more took the studies.

It was a great time in the Lord with the Ladies. They really know how to sing to Jesus.

Now the Central Church from Amarillo is here. We have spent an evening and day with them. They have too followed us around the slums and the lakeside. Some are old friends returning from last year and some are new friends that we will cherish the moments we have shared here in Kisumu.

They have been also blown away by the caring of the groups for each other.

So this has been a recap of the "winter season" here in Kisumu. There is so much more and John will write some bits and pieces soon.