VBS adventures

So last week you may have noticed that a blog was not forthcoming - I was slightly busy.  It was VBS week at DCF Kawangware.  So instead of sending you a blogpost, I was occupied teaching approximately 80 children to put on the full armor of God.  How amazing to see all these little ones learn these verses all week.  Some of you may have seen the FaceBook pictures that got posted.  Some accompany this post, but if you want to see them all, you can check them out here. (And believe me you do, there are some very precious little faces!)

Each day, there was a focus on one piece of armor with a big idea and a key verse - Belt of Truth, John 14:6; Breastplate of Righteousness, Psalm 119:11; Shoes of Peace, Romans 10:15b; Shield of Faith, Romans 10:17; and on Friday we combined the Sword of the Spirit and the Helmet of Salvation with 2 Corinthians 10:4.  The lead scripture for the week was Ephesians 6:11.  I was wonderfully amazed at how many children learned all six verses!  Guess there’s something to be said for the Kenyan education system of learning by rote.

Please allow me to brag on our volunteers for a paragraph.  The week could not have gone off as smoothly without them.  We had people from our church, various DOVE churches around Kenya, and even some Americans!  I love that people gave of their time, energy and talent to see the Word of God imparted into the hearts and lives of the next generation.  I pray that even if they learned the scriptures by memory, the truth goes deep into their hearts and that they KNOW they are equipped by God to stand & fight against the schemes of the enemy - even as children.

This week is the DOVE Africa Apostolic Leaders training, and then I get to take a few days off. Yay!  Wonder what kind of trouble adventure I can find?

How it all started... (the short version)

Apparently I have new readers all the time (who'd a thunk it) and so it is for you that I write this post as to how in the world I ended up in Kenya. Apologies to anyone who knows the story - feel free to disregard this post, well that is unless you're really bored and want something to do, or you really love me so you'll go through this again... Anyway, on with the story

God really recaptured my heart in Aug 2001 and I dedicated my life to live according to His whims and not mine. It was at that time He birthed in my heart a call to foreign missions. I went on my first short-term trip in 2002 to Romania & fell in love with the country and people. After a lengthy process, I finally went on a long-term basis in April of 2006. I spent 6 months that year & 8 months the next. However I got to a point where I was asking God "Why am I here?" I felt purposeless & useless. Not a great place to be. The Father was kind enough to hear my desperation and put me out of my misery by shutting the door and sending me home to the States.

Once home, I had some time to heal and spent some more time in prayer trying to discern what had just happened. He revealed to me that I'd spent much of the last few months in my own strength doing what "I" thought was right & not using the gifts He'd given me. I had wrongly esteemed other gifts above my own. So I went back to work for my church as the office manager and back to using the gifts and talents I had. (I'm an administrator & I like lists)

After being back Stateside for a year, my mission organization (DMI) asked if I would lead a team to Kenya in June 2009. I willingly said yes. However a team didn't materialize and I decided to go on my own, as I'd missed being out of the USA. In March I was at the annual DMI Mission Fest & met up with Diane at the Ladies Tea. I told her that I'd be coming on my own & that I'd do whatever was most helpful for her, even if it meant doing office work. She got very excited at that prospect, and as I would find out shortly her mind went to work.

Apparently she went back that afternoon and began talking about this with Ibrahim. He, being a former journalist, decided to do a little investigating about me. Later that week during the DOVE Int'l leadership conference we had lunch and all of this came out. The conversation ended with the Omondi's asking if I would be willing to come to Kenya long term as an administrative assistant to Diane. I was blown away. Here I was being given the opportunity to use my gifts on an international level. This was my dream! I wanted to say yes immediately, but decided to wait and see.

The 2 week trip in June/July 2009 went well and I decided to approach my pastor/boss with the news and ask for his input. He prayed and told me I should do what was in my heart. I then sought the approval of the DMI board and received that in Sept.

So, here I am in November of 2010 after a year of support raising in Nairobi, Kenya. I work with Diane and so far my duties primarily consist of the "busy" work. I do newsletters for the 3 main ministries they are involved in - DOVE Missions Africa, Springs of Africa, and DCF Africa. Soon I'll be learning how to update, upgrade, and maintain the websites as well.

Life on God's terms is pretty crazy, but I wouldn't live it any other way.

hectic but good

Last week, there weren't a lot of posts. Why? Because my life is not all that interesting. Really. I get up, do my daily B90x reading & have breakfast, then I get dressed and go back to the laptop broken up by the occasional trip to Nakumatt or the kitchen. See, VERY boring... so I don't feel like there is anything to post.

But today made up for it. I got up, normal routine, and because its Monday that means leaving by 8:45 for staff meeting @ the DOVE office. When I got home, the first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the smell of BLEACH! This is what I saw when I walked around the corner from the lounge (living room for the Americans) into the kitchen:

Yup, Irene & Mercy had emptied every cabinet & were scrubbing everything down with bleach water. What prompted this you may ask? Me. Yup, yours truly. See last week I casually mentioned to Diane that I'd seen some cockroaches when I went in at night to make my tea before bed, & that the kitchen could really use some organization. I didn't know we had measuring cups until Mercy found one for me while I was making some soup (how else could I figure out how much 850ml of water means in english?) So, she said something to the girls & boy howdy did they get busy.

Now, this means that tomorrow afternoon, Mercy & I get to go into the kitchen & put it all away in a lovely organized fashion. Makes my heart happy... I'm sure this doesn't take my mom by surprise at all because I tend to do this to her kitchen whenever I return after a prolonged absence. (especially corralling the plastic lids & containers, they breed like bunnies!)

BUT that is not the end of my day. Nope, Diane came over a little after 4 and asked if I would go w/ Bouvince to the FOREX office & cash a check and run a few other errands. As a bonus I got to drive! (well at least while it was daylight - no one likes to drive after dark!) So we went to Karen & the FOREX office, then back toward the house to the feed store (gotta fatten up the chickens!), and then back toward town & the Junction shopping mall/plaza to meet Debbi's bus. Just to make life interesting, that meant driving through a 4-way intersection that doesn't line up 3 times. And if that wasn't enough, there was a cow in the middle of the road. Ahh, life in Kenya.

However, there was a VERY big upside to waiting for Debbi at Junction. That is where JAVA HOUSE is. JH is a very western style coffee house/restaurant. That means I was able to get a large iced vanilla latte & a fruit salad. SO yummy... Take a look for yourself:

So, all in all a good day. Tomorrow looks promising too.

Friday Follies...

So here's what happened today...

I got up & did my reading for #B90x - reading the bible in 90 days. It's not easy, it takes dedication, but wow. I'm reading stuff I totally forgot was in there. This pic is from later in the morning, that's why you don't see the french press (an integral part of the morning routine). This is also one of the places I use as an "office"...

This is my other "office." Its also the living room & where I read in the evenings with my mug of drinking chocolate (similar to cocoa, but not exactly)...And here's my room. I finally got to arranging it & putting on my Ikea sheets & duvet (w/o the insert). And that happened because after breakfast I did laundry. And not just my clothes, today I learned how to wash sheets today. Whew... that is not an easy task & my raw knuckles bear the evidence.
Oooo, this was lunch the other day. Rice, fried cabbage & ndengu. I'm not sure of the origin, but its made w/ "green grams" and they kind of look like small oval peas. VERY YUMMY! I'm spoiled here.My last adventure of the day was going to Nakumatt for a few things... and how did I get there? I DROVE!! (and nobody was harmed in the process) Here's the proof:

I took this pic as I was parked @ the butchery waiting for Diane. I don't take pics & drive, especially when its my first time w/ right hand driving (really what were you thinking?!)

highways and by-ways and such...

My life feels like its so much "on the go" lately. I spent the end of last week and the weekend in Lancaster County, PA. I was there to help man the DMI booth @ the Missions Fest at Lancaster Bible College, which in itself was interesting. Our booth was between Voice of the Martyrs and Village Missions. (Both really great mission organizations, I encourage you to click the links and check them out.) So that was Friday afternoon. Then on Friday night I got to spend a lovely 1 1/2 hours (read 3 hours stuck in bumper to bumper traffic) on PA highways driving to the young adult cell in Chambersburg, PA. Overflow is a great DCFI church in that area and God is using them to expand His kingdom.

Then I got to spend Saturday @ my blessed host's home mostly, except for a brief jaunt out over Lancaster twisty back roads to meet a friend and discuss my "next steps" in fundraising. She was so helpful!! What I thought would be an hour to share hearts and tea turned into a 3+ hour give and take. She was able to give me some references to those who had a heart for both Africa and the Omondi's who I will be serving when I get there. It was so encouraging to remember that $2000/month is not an insurmountable obstacle to God!! Plus she just encouraged me personally when it comes to being a woman running after God's heart in spite of what some may see as my "lack of a relationship." I say I'm in a very deeply committed relationship with the love of my life - His name is Jesus!

So then, Sunday morning I got the chance to share a bit at Newport DOVE. God bless them, they are joining the support team on a monthly basis!! I'm jazzed every time someone says that they believe in the vision God has given me and want to support that. As Rich keeps telling me, "Projects are great, but projects don't happen without people." I know, Rich. I know. Now if only everyone who tells me "its so great you're going... God bless you... Wow you're really brave..." would actually take those sentiments and act upon them! If everyone would do a little, I'd be able to really look into dates and get ready to GO.
This weekend, I'm packing up/ getting rid of stuff and moving back to my parent's house. They are being so generous in allowing me to impose on them rent free until I'm actually on the plane. But I'll still be part-time at Lighthouse thru March and then on and off as they need me until I'm gone. So I'll be seeing a lot of I-91N.

But, I know this is what God has called me to for this time in my life, so I'll choose to be content and seek Him above all. At the very least I guess it'll give me some great prayer time!

Oh, and if you're a pastor type or have a venue where you'd give me a chance to share, shoot me an email!

where to now?

Change is in the air. God is moving, and so am I - in more ways than one.

Some may know this, and some may not, but God has had me in a state of perpetual divine confusion since the summer of 2001. That was when I told Him, that no matter what (including my personal feelings), He came first. And my life has been crazy, wonderful, and full of change ever since. I've lived in 2 states, 10 homes, 3 countries, and 2 continents since then.

And I'm moving AGAIN - to a new part of Connecticut I've never lived in. But in moving there, I'm also preparing to go back overseas. Yep, God has stirred up my "itchy feet" and renewed my passion for seeing His Kingdom expanded to all cultures. I'm going to serve DCF-Africa in an administrative role supporting Ibrahim and Diane Omondi in their roles as the apostolic leaders.

I'm going to KENYA!!

I loved being there for my two week trip this past June/July, but I know I'm in for a lot more than I experienced then. But I felt just as "at home" there as I do here. I'm excited to know that I can serve God with my talents, and still feel like my life is making an impact globally.

DCF Africa is in a state of transformation, and it is a privilege to be a part of it. If you’d like to find out more about what’s going on in Kenya and the East Africa region, you can check out the DCF Africa website, or Springs of Africa, and there's the info on transformation.

As I've said before, let's embrace change - at least it keeps life interesting.

here I go again!

I love traveling.  I really like doing things for God's Kingdom.  In June I get to combine them again.  I haven't done anything really "missions" like since I got back from Romania last March.  So I'm really excited about this opportunity to visit the DOVE Kenya churches.  DMI asked me to lead a team in June, and right now it seems like a team of one, I'm still planning full steam ahead!  Who knows what will happen?

I wrote my support letter today and will hopefully send them out soon, but that kind of depends on financial status.  I did though post it on my facebook notes, so perhaps that will produce some interest.  

I wish I knew more html stuff to make this blog more interesting, but I guess I'll work w/ the given layouts 'til I can get more creative or have enough brain cells left over from work to devote to spending time to figuring it out.

Want more info about the Kenya trip? - email me!