(Read Part XIV)
Florence had given us an email to contact Gideon and at the time we were naive in thinking it was no big deal to contact him. It was later we found out their access to Internet was sporadic (at best) and they had to pay dearly for downloading email. But Gideon never once complained, even after Chuck contacted a couple of pastors from around the Tala, Kenya (where Gideon lives) area and had them visit Gideon at Nice View Academy (the orphanage) he just asked how Chuck was able to send these people to visit him from the United States? Chuck chuckled and told him it was all the Internet!
Each person who visited Gideon reported high praises for the job he is doing at the Academy – he is working hard for the children, has given much for the children, sacrifices for the children etc. That began about 6 months of talking and emailing between Gideon and Chuck and arranging our first visit to Kenya in March 2008.
That’s where our story began in a nutshell (or several blog posts!). God worked miracles, arranged meetings, softened hearts, humbled us, directed us, questioned us and loved us throughout the entire process and He continues to do all these things, and more, each and every day – moment by moment! The thing He has done, and continues to do, is remind us life is all about Him, not us. It is our service to Him, through Jesus, that sums it all up.
My prayer in telling you our story is to show you God’s love, mercy and grace. He uses individuals, with their unique gifts and directs us to His purpose for our lives. We may think we are perfectly happy right where we are at the time, but if we will allow God to penetrate our hearts, read His word to learn who He is, and follow His lead the happiness we thought we had will be completely overshadowed by the joy God has in store for each of us…we simply have to truly submit to Him not just as our Savior, but also as our Lord!