Tag Archives: Faith

Change of plans

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One attribute I tell anyone looking to go on a missionary trip is to be flexible.  We’ve worked on the mission field in Phoenix, LA, NYC, Mexico, Kenya and places in between and each of those experiences needed flexibility.  Yesterday I left you with the “plan” which we would be heading up to C4KK today to fix the water pump….stay flexible here….as soon as I hit the “publish” button on the blog I found out the repairman didn’t want to meet until Monday.  Then it was time to figure out what the kids would do for water today. Normally Roman isn’t around on Sundays but he said he would stick around and help get the kids’ water supply for today.  God bless you Roman!

I also remember telling you in yesterday’s blog that our Sabbath’s were mainly “moments” not full days.  I’m not telling you this next part for sympathy, just an explanation.  Last night I had one doozy of a migraine…throwing up, head pounding, unable, or I should say unwilling, to move my head.  Thankfully Chuck was there to hold my hair (ladies you get me, right!?) and help me finally settle down.  But the reason I tell you that is because God worked it out for us to have a full day of rest today and after last night I needed it.

Back to the flexible part, making plans isn’t necessarily a bad thing it’s just making sure the people involved, especially those accustomed to making plans and having them go through smoothly, understand many times on the mission field plans do not go as planned!  Be sure to allow yourself to stay open to the directing of the Holy Spirit and let God work out the details, whether they are in the plan or not!

Settled

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Saturday I wrote about a student who had a few items stolen from him at school.  Yesterday we visited him and basically calmed him down.  He was pretty distraught over the incident because he has a strong sense of morality and a genuine fear of God.  He couldn’t understand why a fellow student would want to do this and kept saying “he has no fear of God.”

We explained to him these things happen in a fallen world and our options are to either be angry about it (which I admit I was at first) or know that God is in control and ask for His help throughout (made it to this point very early Sunday morning through prayer).  His foot locker needed to be replaced because the thief couldn’t break the padlocks on it so instead broke the hinges.  We happened to have an extra foot locker at the house, thank you God!

He was given enough money for a new uniform shirt and transport back home at mid-term (both of which were stolen).  He is planning on giving his transport money to the school accountant for safe keeping!  Once he saw things were working out, we weren’t mad at him and we could all move forward, he was much calmer and you could see the stress leaving his face.  He is currently #1 in his school and we encouraged him to let this go and focus once more on his studies.

Yes it was a bummer we had to pay to replace stolen items, that the incident happened in the first place, a trip had to be made to the school and he was stressed for a few hours but I thank God He worked it all out smoothly, or as smoothly as it gets here in Kenya!

Didn’t go as planned

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Today we kind of had a plan of action.  We have come to know that having a plan and actually sticking to it are next to impossible here in Kenya but we are accustomed to it.  However, no matter how accustomed to it we are it can still be frustrating.  Today was no exception.  Things needed to be done today for government deadline purposes.  Appointments were delayed, and outside our control, making the rest of the day off kilter.  Deliveries (to meet government deadlines) which were scheduled for the morning had to be pushed off to afternoon while deliveries to C4KK didn’t arrive on time…actually the delivery hasn’t arrived as of this writing so I’m hoping it still shows up today.

Now, all that is just a nuisance compared to what happened later in the day….4 boys arrived at C4KK, after being left outside last night to sleep on the ground, requesting food and guidance.  I know this type of thing (and much worse) happens all over Kenya and this is “nothing new” but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with and be faced with.  Their “pastor” had dropped them off at a nearby shop last night and then left to go back to his home (approximately 6 hours away).  He told the boys to find someplace to sleep, but the oldest boy is only in 6th grade and they simply decided to sleep on the ground next to the shop.

Arrangements are being made as I write for the boys’ safety and where they’ll sleep tonight.  Can’t get into it much here but we’ll make sure things are ok.

I know I don’t mention all these types of situations, but we are faced with these and similar conflicts each and every day so your prayers are appreciated and very much needed!

Giving up control

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Figuring out if people are lying just to get kids into C4KK could be a full time job.  Re-explaining what paperwork is required by the Kenyan government, not us, to someone who just wants to get rid of a child is exhausting.  Hearing the request for transport because the person bringing the kids didn’t come prepared to actually leave the facility and go home is almost laughable.  Telling a student that just because they did poorly on one exam (final exam for Class 8 ) their options for moving to secondary school are extremely limited and it might just be better to repeat Class 8 (at the age of 16 no less) is heartbreaking.

These are tough situations (among many we encounter daily) and I’ve had my share of greedy moments and selfish times which contribute to tough situations (still do, forgive me) so I have no right to judge….but that doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to the reality that helping kids in Kenya is a tough job where control must be given to God, not man (or woman).  And following God’s lead doesn’t mean ignoring the circumstances we are faced with either, but handling them in a Christ-like manner instead.  Not always easy for me and what makes it even harder is knowing the kids are the victim in all this greed and selfishness.

Each day I’m faced with the opportunity to give more of my life to Christ…some days I fail, other times I do a decent job.  Ultimately though is the fact my love for God must override any feelings of “poor me” or being judgmental.  Giving up control to the One who can use me for His purpose is a daily adventure.

 

Happenstance?

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I’m not one for coincidence, more God-incidence.  I believe God can use any and all circumstances for His glory and when something comes into my line of sight that seems to be coincidental I take notice.  I certainly do not “catch” every detail, but attempt to see God in it.  A few days ago our electricity went out (big surprise, right?!).  It was nighttime and yes I had high hopes it would turn back on before bed so I decided to open up my Nook Color and test out the wi-fi aspect of it.  This might not sound like a big deal to you BUT using the wi-fi on my phone drains the battery quickly and that is my only option for connecting the Nook to wi-fi…I decided to live on the edge and just do it!

I opened up a couple of apps to see what they were all about.  One of them was Faith’s Checkbook and the daily devotional that came up was extremely timely and thought I’d share with you.  It was definitely a “thank you God” moment for me!

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”

God Always Hears
January 31
My God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

Friends may be unfaithful, but the Lord will not turn away from the gracious soul; on the contrary, He will hear all its desires. The prophet says, “Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. A man’s enemies are the men of his own house.” This is a wretched state of affairs; but even in such a case the Best Friend remains true, and we may tell Him all our grief.
Our wisdom is to look unto the Lord and not to quarrel with men or women. If our loving appeals are disregarded by our relatives, let us wait upon the God of our salvation, for He will hear us – He will hear us all the more because of the unkindness and oppression of others, and we shall soon have reason to cry, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy!”
Because God is the living God, He can hear; because He is a loving God, He will hear; because He is our covenant God, He has bound Himself to hear us. If we can each one speak of Him as “My God,” we may with absolute certainty say, “My God will hear me.” Come, then, O bleeding heart, and let thy sorrows tell themselves out to the Lord thy God! I will bow the knee in secret and inwardly whisper, “My God will hear me.”

YES!  My God will hear me but I have to remember that along with hearing me He is also teaching me so I must listen too!  How does the saying go?  I have one mouth but two ears…so I should be listening twice as much as talking, but it’s nice knowing God hears every utterance of my sorrow, grief, worship, praise and yes, even foolishness.

More welcome homes!

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Along with settling kids into their new secondary schools we’ve had a few additions to the C4KK family!  I am so happy to introduce you to:

Emma - sister to Bonface

 

Bonface

 

Esther - sister to Ben

 

Ben

 

I am so thankful these kids knew each other before arriving at C4KK because “fitting” into the family came naturally!  Emma and Bonface (the youngest in the family) seem to be settling in quite nicely and love running around and playing with all their brothers and sisters.  Esther has a wonderful “you go girl” attitude as you can see from her picture.  Ben is a stoic kind of kid but when enticed to smile he lights up!

Ben and Esther’s father died in 2007 and afterwards “their mother got lost and nobody knows where she is” according to an uncle.  Whereas Emma and Bonface’s parents separated, their father went to jail and they were then being taken care of by a relative before moving to C4KK.  These kids have bounced around, been passed around, and basically been told ‘you are a burden’, but now they have a loving home to finally call home!

Each time I see the kids acting like “normal” kids it brings a smile to my face (even through the discipline!) and I thank God He has allowed me to be a small part of this process (even through the discipline for me!).

 

Settling down

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Needless to say, or maybe I do need to say since I haven’t really said too much about it (except a little here), the past week or so has been stressful.  Not that simply living in a foreign country/culture isn’t stress enough ;) but what with getting the kids into secondary school, shopping for them all, wondering if funds would cover it (thank you to those who helped…shopping and fees are covered!) it made for long days.  Not to mention the bumpy, dusty roads getting the kids to school!  It’s one of those things though where I knew it would come to an end eventually and that helped, knowing it wasn’t a continual thing.  We still have 2 more girls to get into school  and then all our new secondary students will be in school….yeah God!

I had mentioned in another blog post that I was looking forward to the end of the busyness so things could settle down.  A friend actually laughed (ok, she put lol in her email!) and thought that was a funny way to end.  I never really thought about it until she mentioned it….my sense of normality has certainly changed and the “stress” of not knowing if electricity will stay on, or when it will turn off, whether or not water will flow or even just plans for the day are really not stressers any longer.  I’m not saying I jump up and down for joy when the electricity goes off, I only do that when it comes back on!  We simply turn on the flash light and wait.

God continues to teach me more and more how to rely on Him, making Him my confidant, allowing His Spirit to guide and in the same manner chipping away those things which get in the way of His purpose for me, allowing our relationship to be even stronger.  As the saying goes, I’m a work in process!

 

 

What a day or 2 or 7!

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It has been a crazy few days and will continue to be so for a couple of more days.  On Friday seven of the nine new Form 1′s went shopping in Tala for items such as shoes, boots, etc., the kind of stuff they needed to try on.  What a thrill it was for them to actually be able to pick out their own stuff!  After a few hours of shopping we met for lunch at Becky’s (yummy chips and chicken!)

After lunch it was then time to head to the doctors.  While waiting a couple of the boys entertained themselves with a game on the phone.

Kelvin and Erastus

That same day we picked up our items from Sunny Lucky…thank you Sunil for the help with these bulk items!

It was a long day for everyone but I believe the kids had a good time and they are excited to start secondary school!

Then on Saturday it was another busy day.  First we met with the 4 new Form 1′s from Nice View and their guardians to discuss various schooling items and to go over our policy for secondary students (maintaining a C- or above average).  Again, another excited group of kids!

students starting on the right - Ruth, Kelvin, Elizabeth and Irine

The remaining 2 students were also able to finish their shopping.  Then it was off to C4KK so the kids could organize, mark and pack their school boxes.  They had their own mini-shopping mall right on the veranda!

 

 

 

This sort of catches you up.  In the next few days I will update you on other situations that occurred throughout these busy days.  Some sad others happy.  I have to say it will be nice when this week is over because all the secondary students will be in school and things will start to settle down once again.

If only…

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Today I am attempting to figure out how and when to shop for the secondary students and I seem to be saying to myself “if only”.

If only secondary schools would distribute the calling letters in a timely manner, preferably more than a few days before the student has to report to school!  We may not get a couple of letters until Friday and will only know at that time when the student actually has to report to school.  Which means the particulars of their shopping list won’t be known until that time either.

If only I could communicate easily over the phone.  Trying to call a shop owner to get items ready for me to pick up is difficult because when I call,  the connection (network) is sporadic, conversations cut in and out and you just never know what exactly the other person is hearing or not hearing.

I could really go on but instead I must work with the system that is here and move forward with no more “if only’s”.  This is the system, period.  Not to say it doesn’t frustrate me though!  Praying these secondary students will become Godly, moral men and women and make a difference in their country some day.

I’m thankful for everyone who has helped with the funding for these kids to attend school (please visit our donation site if you too would like to help with fees or shopping).  Many others will not have this opportunity for secondary education simply because of lack of funds….if only the government would make education a priority and….oh, wait never mind, just moving forward to what can be done today, tomorrow, Friday…God willing!

He is back at school!!!

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This fiasco is finally over!  That’s all I have to say about that!

Actually it’s been a learning lesson, not only in regards to the school system here in Kenya and dealing with people but also my sanity level :)

The student went back to school with an adult (who also has had run-ins with this school) and was allowed back to school.  He did, however, have to sign an apology note and it was put in his student file.  Remember, this was for forgetfulness….guess I’d have to write a lot of apology letters!

Once the student was in school he immediately went to classes then preps (study time) and wasn’t able to call me to confirm he was in school until 10:30pm last night.  But I was expecting his call so I was just happy he called!

Thank you everyone for the prayers in this time of great stress for both me and the student.  We are grateful for the prayers.