The brave Sir Jaden

                Hello good people of the United States! I’ve recently learned about some of the political mumbo jumbo that’s been taking place there and let’s just say I’m quite content with living in Africa, it’s seems a more civilized place right now. I’m sorry to all military employees for the threats of poverty you’ve been under.

I have a few stories of our latest adventures that might bring a smile to your face, I’ll start with a messy story of a young boy and the mango he desperately wanted…

                It all started late one night, when young sir Jaden was trapped inside on the kitchen floor by his evil mother who refused to carry him while she cooked him dinner. Finally after fussing for all too long a time in his opinion, she cruelly gave him a mango to play with. Never mind that he had previously showed enjoyment in simply rolling it around on the floor, he was a starving man being teased by food he had not the ability to eat! Did she not understand his plight?? Was her heart so cold?

                Well, he was a clever boy, he’d fix his situation himself. And prove to the world what he was capable of. Slowly and carefully he picked the mango up, though it was nearly half the size of his head, and he threw it on the ground with all his strength. Again and again he did this, until there was a nice soft spot. Soft enough to puncture with his finger. Then… oh sweet reward, he began to suck the sweet juice out of the mango.  Being new to this experience, and not wanting to waste any, he decided to lick up the drops that had spilled on the floor. This however turned out to be a mistake, for the villain of the story then noticed his mud covered face, and came to investigate.  Fate would have it that she took the mutilated mango from him!! Oh but he was not defenseless, he was possessed of a good strong voice, and an innocent beauty that he excelled at using to lure the unsuspecting into doing his will.

                Before long he had her chopping up his prize with one of those nifty shinny things he was not even aloud to touch. And all turned out for good in the end, for he found it much easier to suck the juice out of the pacifier shaped net she gave him. Just one of the many exploits of our brave, brave sir Jaden.

 

                We’ve been attending Bible College classes in Gilthongo now for a month or so… Well, last Monday was our final lesson on that course and we’re working on another now. After class on the way home we noticed how clearly you could see the tip of Mt. Kenya peaking out from behind the hills (haha aren’t I clever). Now let me fill you in on the happenings of morning. First, I woke up at 6:30am to a very unhappy baby eating my ear. I started off by changing his diaper; and clothes since they were just a wet. Right before I got the new diaper under him he decided I needed a shower, and promptly gave me one. I then took him to the kitchen to make him some pourage (his fav. Food) and when I picked him up to feed him, found that not only had he pooped through his new diaper and cloths… but also through the blanket he’d been sitting on and smeared it on the floor. I then proceeded to change him, again and clean up the mess – then feed him; Charly cooked the pancake’s during this ordeal, his first time mixing the batter, and they turned out really good. Finally, it’s 8am… time to leave. Only I haven’t had to time to even change out of my pee soaked PJ’s, let alone wash my face, brush my hair and teeth etc. So I very quickly threw on some clothes, looked at the mirror long enough to feel absolutely hideous, and gave up. I barely remembered to put diapers and wipes in Jaden’s bag. And off we went to learn something new and infinitely useful, Coffee-less, sleepless, and mascara-less.

                Thus, on the way home I listlessly stared at the beautiful peak rising up to the bottom of the clouds, and bespoke my longing to see it up close. Promptly Mike decided to take a drive to a place called Timau, were he told us you could almost touch it. It was a about an hours drive, on paved roads, through some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen, and Jaden slept the whole way on Doreen’s lap. The first car ride I’ve had in ages when I wasn’t clutching him to me to avoid having his lil head bouncing around like a pin ball. Then, all the sudden, the mountain came into view… breathtakingly rising up above all else, so clear you could see the snow sparkling amidst the cliffs. I was in awe. This was God telling me thank you for getting up and searching after him, on a day when I wanted nothing so much and to go back to bed. And gosh dangit I’d forgotten the CAMERA!!! Lol

                I bring the camera everywhere with us… just in case, and today, I hadn’t even considered it; it had completely slipped my mind. But you know what. Mike promised to take me back out early one morning, light a fire and have coffee and snacks while we watch the sunrise – just so I can get you all some pictures. So, now I get a second look, and I’ll definitely be wearing mascara, so I can be in some of the pictures too. Haha, isn’t it funny how life works out? God is great!

Thank You

                Why do I exist? What am I here for? Isn’t that one of the most prominent questions of all time? For us believers, it’s more like: What do you want me to do God? God speak to me, say something, anything… Please? Just let me hear your voice. Well, I was speaking on this subject a while back and was searching for biblical back up and a certain story spoke deeply to me. It’s in 1st Kings chapter 19. Elijah is running from the King b/c he’s scared (a whole lesson in itself – after all he’d seen he was scared of a threat from a mortal king) and God sends him to a cave (another lesson – he traveled 40 days and night without cease) and there God says “I will reveal myself to you”; then a mighty wind comes and causes landslides (like a tornado) and then there’s an earthquake, a cave is not the ideal place to be in an earthquake. Finally a raging fire comes… but God was not in any of these. THEN there was a quiet whisper, and in that whisper was such a power that Elijah falls to his knees and covers his face. (Read through this story, there is so much to it)

The point is… all the so called “acts of god” we talk about, God is not in them. He speaks to us most often in a quiet whisper. He’s a gentle God, and he follows this pattern in the way he shows us our purpose as well. In fact it’s even possible to fulfill your purpose in life without even knowing it. You may have been created for one moment in time when you happen to have bumped into someone, making them drop the paperwork they were holding, and thereby lose the phone number of the guy they’d just met oh so romantically. The guy that would have happened to totally ruin their life. Who knows, right? Though don’t we want to do more than just that? Don’t we want to be the hero; the one that God couldn’t do without.

In America if you’re nothing but a mom, even if you’re a really good mom, you’re looked upon as something less; almost wasted space. It would be easy to catch that attitude toward yourself as well, I almost did. I didn’t want to be so busy lovingly caring for my son that I couldn’t do all the other things I’d filled my life with before. Well, I met a women some time ago who wanted a big family with lots of children. She was so sure she was going to not only have said children, but also home school all these children that when she was a just a teenager she bought all the books in the local library when it closed. Skip ahead many years and life is going good, she is now happily married and has one young son and another on the way. Her baby boy is already showing signs of genius, he’s all she could have hope for, and she’s prepared to become the teacher of her hearts desires. Then due to many misunderstandings and quite a few betrayals, her husband loses his good steady job and they move from their big sprawling, shiningly beautiful city, to the boondocks of the Midwest. There were many hard years after that, though the worst came towards the end of her 6^th child’s pregnancy. Their landlord told them that 6 children was more than could legally live in the house and they had to move by the end of the month. So, seven months pregnant, with five small children in tow, she packed and moved to an old trailer that a friend owned. It was more of a junk yard than anything, with a giant gaping hole in the middle of the kitchen floor, and piles of heaped trash outside. But it kept out the rain, mostly, and the cold, sometimes. There was often no running water, and the electricity was quite finicky about when it wanted to work. The plastic over the window frames was pulled tight enough you could see out as if it were a real window. And though she fretted quietly, her children were happy and had not a clue of the lengths their parents went to in order to feed and clothe them. Still she taught them at home, and even the trips to the grocery store were used as lessons. In time God brought them to a better house, and provided all they needed. But through these trials – and many more - She showed her children how to have faith, twice she told tornado’s they could not harm her or her family and they simply jumped over her little house, because they knew they could not stand against her God. She showed her children to be generous, for even though she had next to nothing she would always care for the neighbor children, and even secretly got a warm coat for a man she saw shivering while walking to work in the snow. She taught her children to take care of themselves… not one depends on the microwave for sustenance. She taught them to be bold, and defend what they believe. She taught them to know why they believe what they do. Her Husband taught many things as well, he taught them to know right and wrong. As well as to have confidence in who they are. And to do right for love’s sake instead of for the law. He taught them to always ask questions, for that is how one learns. And he taught them about grace, about what a difference a hug can make. Between the two, they created souls hungry for truth, willing to ask, to search out what God wants for them. Bold enough to tell the nations of they hope they’ve found. Of her seven children, four are now on the mission field in various third world countries. One is attending college so she can join us later. One is only 13 and yearns to teach God’s word too. And one has got 2 wonderful children of his own, and will soon probably be a military man.

She may never set foot in Africa or Thailand, or any of the other places her offspring land. But her life’s work is helping to change the world. Mother is such a powerful word. I only hope I can live up to the standards you set mom. I like it when the bar is high, when it’s a challenge. All of my experiences were preparing me for this time now…

Thank you mom.  

The Date

                Whew, *deep breath* --- Hujambo bwana na bibi! (which mean “Hello, how are you ladies and gentlemen”) I know… cool eh?  I’ve been spending my “free time” lately seriously studying Swahili. I’m learning very fast according to the kids here, though I am the first white person who’s really tried so they don’t have a comparison lol. Today we went to actual class at the Gilthongo Bible College, their currently teaching one of the few courses that isn’t not yet available on DVD, so we will do it the old fashioned way and actually attend class once a week for several hours at a time. I personally enjoy class more b/c of the interaction and, of course, the people. But it’s harder b/c I can’t pause it when Jaden gets bored or hungry or poops all over me, or spills boiling chai ALL over both himself and I. And yes, those all happened. I’ll have to use Charly’s notes to catch up on what I missed. All in all it’s been a good day; mostly b/c Jaden slept almost 7 hours last night… not consecutively of course but I’ll take what I can get. I woke up with more hours of sleep in one night then I’ve gotten all week, and Charly, in the interest of actually being on time, had made me coffee with cinnamon sugar toast on the side as well as packed not only a bag with pens, paper, highlighters and snacks, but had also packed the diaper bag complete with toys and a squishy foam pad to lay Jaden on outside. He knows that Jaden is never happier than when he’s outside – preferably in moms arms. I have to say that my husband and a very good man.

                The class has taught me some things that are not on the listed curriculum too. As I listen to the questions posed by the other students I realize just how little they know about the Bible. I mean, most of them didn’t even bring a bible the first day. Now when going to bible school, I just assumed I’d be using my bible. So many didn’t realize they would need one! And things that I’ve known as long as I can remember, shocked them and they struggled as a whole to accept it. Such as… you don’t go to hell for sinning. You go to hell for not accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation. And God won’t smite you with cancer or aids b/c you messed up and sinned. And you can’t lose your salvation and have to be born again. Truths that seem so basic and simple, that are totally opposed to the traditional teachings around here. And anyone who disagrees with these things, please write me and say why, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Still, I feel I’ve gained a bit more insight into the Kenyan mindset, the one we’re trying to alter to a more grace focused, kindness offering, love your neighbors type. 

                On that note I have a praise report for you all: There are two young girls here, Claire and Frieda, who’s mother lives a lifestyle that caused them to run, mostly due to the men that filtered through who saw them as little versions of her. They are two out of 11 or 12 children, mostly girls. While Claire has been here for almost 2 years, Frieda showed up only a few months ago, and still very much misses her mommy and little sisters. Well, several weeks ago their mom and one younger sister came up on Sunday morning to visit… and went to church with them. We were all glad to see them. Then surprisingly, they showed up the next Sunday as well, and after the service their mom asked to speak to someone, we thought she was gonna ask for money - b/c every Kenyan knows white people are rich and should therefore give money out like clowns at a parade- But what she wanted was to know how to be saved!! Our sister Theresa *an amazing woman of God* spoke with her b/c she didn’t understand English very well, and she excepted Christ. She has been back to Church both of the Sundays since and we can’t wait to see her grow in Christ and climb out of the lifestyle she’s been stuck in.

                To answer some questions: Some certain someone’s have asked how they might help us financially. Rather that write multiple letters I will post the answer here. I have a paypal account that I’m told you can set up automatic with drawls from, though I’m still working on figuring out how. It’s my yahoo email address (i.e. lil_mis_lovable@yahoo.com)  and if you have a paypal you can just type in my name, email and the amount. Also anyone who wants to send me their account number and whatever amount they want to give, I can set it up for you. If you don’t trust me to forget your number you don’t know me, and I promise to burn it as soon as I’ve fulfilled your wishes. If you don’t believe me you should probably not send me money for missions since I’m a possible liar and thief. Lol  This is not us asking for money, I know God will supply all our needs and I am not worried about anything (so long as I have a steady supply of coffee) I am simply answering the questions I’ve been asked. And to any and all who do feel called to help with our ministry, THANK YOU. Such amazing things are happening here. Many of which are the changes occurring in us.

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                WELL, it’s been a week since I wrote “all of the above” and I haven’t had time to finish and post it. So I’ll fill in all the wonders that have kept us busy. First off Mike had to make a trip to Nairobi to fill out some mumbo jumbo paper work for the government which left us in charge for 2 straight days. I actually enjoyed spending the night on the main compound with the kids while he was gone this time. Partially b/c Jaden actually slept this time, but also b/c we ended up having a quiet, comparatively at least, game night with the kids. Mike got home late Friday night and we had nothing to report except “all’s well.” THEN… Saturday afternoon Mike came by and gave us a lil cash to go have dinner. Now let me say, it’s been quite awhile since Charly and I got to go on a date. And it’s been an even longer while since we went on a date Jadenless. The girls watched my lil man for several hours, and I got to relax and totally enjoy my hubby. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him, even though he’s here every day. We walked down the mountain to the American style restaurant at Nakamat, and ate, and talked, and then walked around the store, window shopping like it was a mall, and headed home towards the end of dusk just as the stars started peeking out, and the moon lit up the clouds. It was just warm enough that the little bit of breeze felt nice…  It was fantastic! It’s been my happy thought all weekend. When one of the kids went ballistic on Sunday and in his wild swinging hit Jaden (barely grazed him but I still wanted to strangle him ;) I focused on the fact that Jaden barely noticed, and that I’d had that wonderful time, to calm me down. It also made me realize that there had been a tension growing between Charly and I. One that is now gone. I can see how easy it is when you get into “work all the time mode” to forget why you love life. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE what we’re doing, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, I know this is right to the core of my being. But we live our work right now. And we have to remember to take some time and remind ourselves what we love about each other every once in a while; preferably more than once a quarter. I honestly believe that this is a major part of why so many marriages fail, you get so busy living – even if your living your dream - that you forget your supposed to be enjoying it too, enjoying it together. My my how subtle the enemy can be. I’m so glad that we have a protector that can’t be deceived who promises he’s got our backs. And fronts. And sides etc. Haha, Love you all!!

Kitale

Yes we watched the lord of the rings a few weeks ago and they’ve been stuck in my head  lol.
Well, we’ve now been home from the city in western Kenya called Kitale for a week. It took that long to get caught up with life again… laundry took two whole days lol. Kitale was wonderful, though also very tiring. The drive there is only 12 hours now instead of 18 because they recently paved one of the roads…  though that apparently is bad for the business of the towns on it b/c now the cars don’t slow down enough to be swarmed by ppl selling everything from mango’s and bananas to sunglasses and watches. Lol

There are several things about our trip that I never want to forget. We traveled around to all the many Bible colleges that our ministry has going there, and at each one we were introduced and asked to say whatever the Lord had put on our heart. For me this was awesome… I think the hardest part about public speaking is knowing when to shut up. However,  the hardest part about “preaching” is knowing what God wants to say to a specific group. I spent a lot of time praying before each session and a few times found myself completely changing topics five minutes before I spoke and having verses I hadn’t thought of in a long time just come into my head, each of those times I found out the “new” topic spoke directly to the goings on of someone there. Once Pat and I went to a women’s prayer group and I had planned this elaborate speech on true beauty, then I felt at the last moment that I should speak on Titus 2:3-5 about how we are to be examples for the younger generation. I came to find out that the pastor of the church had had it on her heart lately that they needed to be more involved in teaching their own children rather than just letting their little brains be molded by a VERY corrupt school system.

Also as the days went by with me spending time searching for what I was supposed to say, I found that every time I would open the Bible, something would arise in me a new revelation. There isn’t a verse that I read that I couldn’t use to teach, everything became a sermon in my head.

I have to say my very favoritest thing though, was watching Charly. At 1^st he started every speech with     “I don’t usually talk allot, so this will be short” then went on to astound us all with the profound truths he’d found in a few short simple verses. While I elaborate everything (for the fun of it) he simplifies things that seem so complex. I think his way is better; he makes people feel like, “wow, it really is that easy”. About mid week Pat told him that he was no longer aloud to say he didn’t talk much, or have much to say, because he’d obviously heard from God and that shouldn’t be downplayed. He got more and more confident each time to the point that when we came home he said, “You can’t tell me that didn’t just feel right, like it’s what we’re supposed to be doing.” I can’t express how proud of him I am.

Of course all these things would have made it an awesome trip on their own, but I must admit I fell in love with Kitale for another reason as well. They had, a real American style *drum roll* Coffee Shop! Named of all things: “The Coffee Shop” haha. I had a real mocha latte, with steamed, thick, foamy, and smooth milk and chocolate sprinkled on top and I was in love. I already miss the place. I think we went almost every single day that wasn’t spent entirely out in the desert villages. I’m told they used to have wifi and a fairly large library but both recently moved to new locations so as to have more room. Drat that. But still, it was a lil slice of heaven; for I’m sure there is the most fabulous café ever in heaven. I mean what’s eternity without a wide variety of the most delicious substance in existence.

260Ujncx0os8dc7fgvjk jk coxpszxycvc9svb8f (btw Jaden says hi – he really likes it when I let him touch the keyboard)

Now it’s back to the basics, teaching in the mornings and watching the kids in the evening. Today is Jaden’s 5 month bday and we’re gonna feed him his 1^st real food, mashed banana in a few hours. I will post the pictures asap. But for now I must away, Thank you all for your prayers. HUGS

settling in

Well, it’s been over a month and since you haven’t heard news of our tragic demise I assume you know we’ve arrived at our new home in Kenya. It’s quite a bit more spacious than we anticipated and has a second room in which I am currently holding a women’s bible study every other morning with our nine girls. I’m finely enjoying an evening of quiet (Jaden’s asleep in his make shift crib i.e. a suite case stuffed with blankets and sitting on a couple chairs by our bed) and I don’t have any urgent tasks to attend to i.e. laundry, lesson planning or grading said lessons. Ah, the freedom. So I find my thoughts turning yet again to all I miss back west. Most of all of course is ice cream! Ah I mean my wonderful friends and family… or maybe internet that uploads face book in less than half an hour. Actually just writing this is reminding me how I miss conversations of words with multiple syllables haha.

Any who, I know you’re wondering what fabulous adventures we are having, 1^st Charly is becoming quite the teacher – who would have known (me) that he had such a natural talent for it. He has the 7^th and 8^th grade math classes and already has a system worked out and a testing schedule. Whereas I get up in the morning, maybe get dressed before my girls show up expecting words of wisdom, and then sit down to decide what I plan to teach in 6^th 7^th and 8^th grade English that afternoon. The difficult part for me is how to simultaneously teach each grade without boring the older students and leaving the younger ones in the dust. I mostly have one half of the class read on alternating days and teach the other, lol. I feel I should interject here that Jaden is now awake. And it doesn’t take that long to write two paragraphs – yes that was my free time today. *sigh*

OOoooo whoa is me – sniffle. Ok I’m done I’ve never been much into pity party’s since it seems to be the only kind you always have to attend alone.  Besides, I’m so happy here. I can’t even explain it, life is hard and I feel as though there is no way I can get everything done (because I can’t) but I’m so in love with this new side of God I see. I can’t get enough of the word, I find myself sneaking away to read verses that just pop into my head, and singing praise songs under my breath without even realizing. The kids I’m working with are fantastic and I feel they teach me as much as I teach them. But although my parents are absolutely amazing; sometimes I needed someone, anyone but Them, to tell me what they saw in me, whether it be good or bad – even it’s was exactly the same thing I’d just heard from Them. (Thank you Ruthie) Now I’m older and wise enough to give them the respect they deserve (Love you both)

I’m now that other, older role model and I think some of them really need it. Sometimes it’s hard to talk to “mom” or “dad” but aunt or … what am I? missionary, teacher, friend, disciple(r)… works just fine. 

Also I spoke at a women’s conference last Saturday and it was amazing, some 50 people in a tiny little mud hut church and so much God. I tried to teach them the love my daddy taught me as a kid and the things my Daddy is teaching me through his word. I have it easier than most women in thinking of God the Father, the overwhelming mighty creator of the universe, as my loving abba – daddy, who wants to hold me close and teach me the secret of life. I’ve been reading captivating and tried also to share the incites it has given me. There is so much truth in that book. Many things I’ve had to stop and check myself on. Charly and I have always been close, never really fought. But we’ve never been closer than now. As we both learn to focus more on God than ourselves, or even each other. I’m going through the screw tape letters as well, and C.S. Lewis if brilliant I have to say. He says that God is trying to take away our fleshly self but only to give it back in a truer form, for once we learn to “love our neighbors as ourselves” then we will be allowed to love ourselves as our neighbors; another great book.

Charly has also taken on the mantle of disciplinarian, as soon as pat witnessed his drill sgt. skills she put him to work smoking the kids when they run… after an hour with him their legs are too tired to walk let alone run. He had a scuffle with one young man the other day, when the boy started swinging on another staff member Charly pinned him until he cooled off, but came away with several full imprint bite marks and more than a few scratches, but only because he was trying to not to inflict any damage of his own. All is well now.

We are leaving this Friday, the 21^st of Jan. for Kitale, it’s an 18 hour drive so we’ll be staying 10 days in order to take care of all we’ll need to do at the bible colleges down there for a month or two. I’m looking forward to it greatly. Beth told me how much she enjoyed Kitale and I’ve wanted to see it ever since. I’m told they serve fried termites as a delicacy…. Eww. I will of course let you all know how that adventure unfolds, eventually. I do dearly love to write, its finding the time that is difficult. But for now I must away to bed, maybe I can even get baby Rain to go back to sleep in his “crib” so I can actually sleep tonight… last night he couldn’t get comfortable with me in the way and wouldn’t sleep in his bed, so I curled up at the foot of the bed and tried not to move and wake him. But only cause he was sooooo grouchy due to his lack of sleep. Wish me luck… hugs and kisses.