Upside to Downsizing

Good thing its warm here in Nairobi, not to rub it in to all of you that are snowed/iced in, but I’m probably going to have to spend a week or so in skirts or dresses. Why? Because the upside to living in Africa is the downsizing of my waist. As Diane mentioned the other day as I walked into her house - “You keep shrinking!”

But the wonderful thing is that here, I can go to a tailor fundi and get my pants “reduced” for about a dollar or so a pair. Yay - another upside! I’ve now been to two fundis for different things - a dress at one, and a blouse at another. Not sure if I’ll go to either of those (the 1st is in a sketchy area where I shouldn’t go on my own, & the second though close, didn’t do what I wanted on the blouse & charged too much). I have a friend who’s had success at a fundi near the church property, so I think I’ll try him this time. Worst part about the fundi - getting measured - but I guess its not too bad when the measurements keep getting smaller!

So, not that I’m looking that much different (only about a size or two) but a definite ego-booster!

FYI - I’m going to be in the USA from Mar 17 to April 12 and have openings to share in the Lancaster, PA area on Sunday Mar 27 and in the W Mass, Southern CT area on April 3. Email me if you’re interested!

Driving lessons

Let me paint you a picture. You’re driving, its night and very dark out. The dark is only dispelled by the headlights of your car & others coming toward you, the rare signage by the roadside, or the even more rare yard light.

You realize you are seated in the right side of the car and therefore driving on the wrong left side of the road. You feel a bit disconcerted and off balance. Just as you start to get a bit comfortable you realize how narrow the road is. Barely wide enough for two small to average sized cars and definitely a squeeze if you happen to encounter a lorry truck, bus, or average SUV. You try to see if there is any shoulder to pull onto to be prepared, but you realize that there is a difference of anywhere from 2 to 6 inches between the tarmac and the dirt. This does not look promising.

To keep things interesting, let’s add a few “obstacles.” First - potholes. They can’t be seen until you’re about 6 feet away and can range from minor (5 or 6” in diameter & 1-2” deep) to car-gobbling (2-4’ wide & up to 18” deep) - seriously I’m not making this up.

Next - pedestrians. They are Kenyan and therefore by nature dark-skinned. Their clothing also tends to be darkish and they like to walk on the relatively smooth surface (as compared to the mud/dirt/what have you in the shoulder) of the tarmac. They will also randomly dart across the road in front of you & it is VERY BAD to hit one, even accidentally (so I’m told).

Finally - public transportation. Buses will randomly pull off the road to drop off passengers (who then become pedestrians) or they will arbitrarily pull into the road after picking up/dropping off passengers, often without using signals. Also in the public transportation department are matatus. These haphazardly driven VW vans are crammed with upwards of 14 people and are under the influence of drivers who are either the best drivers in the world because they know exactly how much space their vehicles need, or they are absolutely insane crazy out of their ever loving minds. I tend to agree with the latter theory. You can determine a matatu from a basic VW van by the multiple stickers/placards/decals on them, often referring to God, Jesus & heaven. (which imho is to help their passengers know from where to seek safety & salvation). These vehicles will pass you on the wrong side, pull out without warning, stop short, and generally cause you great anxiety.

There. Now you know the story of night-time driving in Nairobi & why I’m perfectly happy to allow Bouvince to do it. Anybody want to come to Kenya??

on the road again...

Packing... unpacking... packing... unpacking... So seems to be the rhythm of my life as of late. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my life and I'm loving watching the pages of this new chapter of my life unfold in front of me, but wow, this is a lot of traveling, and hoping, and trusting, and wondering... Yet I still "know in my knower" that somehow He is going to take all of this and make it into something glorious so that He will be KNOWN among the nations

I got back a couple weeks ago from traveling to Virginia, Washington DC, and South Carolina... Now that I've actually downloaded the pics, I thought I'd share some of them with you...


This is the flag I left at "The Wall" also known as the Vietnam War Memorial... Why here? My dad came back, but many didn't. I'm as aware of this as I am of my big toe. I remember that my freedoms were paid for by someone else's sacrifice. I wanted to use my Memorial Day holiday to honor that sacrifice and not just to celebrate the unofficial beginning of the summer with another BBQ (mmm BBQ) So I left this flag in a spot without any other remembrances, to say my humble thank you.


1600 Penn Ave... one of the most famous address in the world. Pray for this man & his family, pray for those who work here... God may we truly be a nation that trusts you and not self...


Tomb of the Unknowns (Arlington Nat'l Cemetery) Little did I know when I took this pic the brouhaha that would erupt over this place. Yet still, this is a sacred spot. This is where you can begin to see the price this nation has paid for freedom. And it stirs my heart to know that we even remember to honor those who've served & paid the ultimate price, even if we don't know their name - God does

So there ya go... a few of my impressions of the Nation's capital and the monuments & memorials... take time to remember our history, it will prayerfully keep us from repeating their mistakes.

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!