Back to the US

End of May found me flying back to the US.  Thanking God for His provisions.  I was able to spend a month in the US, with 3 1/2 weeks in my home Oregon, and 4 days in Charlotte NC to see a very special spiritual daughter get married.

My time at home was a blessing, a time to spend with some family, church family, and a time to have more shots put into my neck and back.

My sister and I were able to spend a day at the coast.  One of my favorite spots to go, as it reminds me of God's Mighty Power, His Creation, the beauty of it all.

And I was able to be at the wedding of Andrew and Karissa, which was so very special and such a blessing.  The last picture is of Christiane and me, dear, dear friend and room mate in Nairobi Kenya.

March, April, May 2013

The beautiful tea fields of Kenya.  Such beauty, so much green, in all different shades.  Nairobi is now where I spend most of my time.  God has been very gracious in helping me make the transition from S. Sudan, into the SIM-Sudan office where I work with two wonderful Kenya brothers in Christ and two wonderful Kenya sisters in Christ along with the other Admin team.

With God's graces we help move our team in and off the field.  Between the months of June 2012 and Feb. 2013, with God's grace we moved over 60 flights, and over 33,000 tons of cargo.  Praise the Lord.

May was also a month for our SLC (Spiritual Life Conference) which we have up at Brackenhurst which sits amongest these beautiful tea fields.  Our SLC is when our whole team is able to come together for a time of rest, fellowship, worship, and hearing God's Word. 

 The top picture is the Nairobi team

This picture is of the whole S. Sudan team as of April 2013

After SLC we started moving the team back onto the field.  There is no normal to the flights, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3.  "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9  We never have a flight that moves the same, but God's Word is truth, and we no that at the end of the day it is only by His grace.

MAXFACTA

 This young girl has been raped twice, testing for HIV she was negative, the second time she has tested postive and is pregnant.   Please pray for her, she is a baby herself.  Pray that God will provide a home for this unborn child

What is MAXFACTA?  it is a rescue home for children.  All of these children you see here have been rescued out of horrible situations. 

God gave me an opportunity to go to the other side of Nairobi  in an area they call Eastland, this area is also home  to the third largest slum in Nairobi, It was a trip to visit this home and to see how these women who have given their lives to reach out to the least of these run the center.   What a honor it was to see how God is working through these women, who are being the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Please pray for them, for the children, for the needs, and that each one of these children will chose to follow Jesus.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me... 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  Matthew 25: 35-36a; 40

A New Day A New Year

Happy New Year 2013!!!

What will this year hold???  We do not know, but I know the one who does.  As I spend time reading His Word, He gives me a deeper understanding of who He is, and there is nothing that happens that He is not aware of. 

I have been reading Psalm 139 for the last several months, and I think WOW!!!!  I share with you His words of comfort.

                “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

            My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

            When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

            All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  Psalm 139:13-16

May these words bring you comfort and peace, knowing that God knows what each day will hold, and He knows what 2013 holds for us all.  There is nothing that takes Him by surprise, and I personally find comfort, rest, and peace in knowing this.

But please don’t just read the verses I typed; be blessed as you read all of Psalm 139, ask the Holy Spirit to open your understanding so that you might get a deeper understand of His love for you.

To God Be All The Glory!!!!!!!

The Stories that Pictures Can Tell

Pictures from my time in S. Sudan;  Thanking God for this time!!!!

Gina, Rasala, Beka and children

Simoni and his family

Joy and Hannah

Leah and I outside the fence in Malakal

Leah in the plane and on her way to S. Sudan, Doro, Malakal and Juba

Sunset on the White Nile River Malakal

Leah resting after a long day in Juba

 Cooking in Juba brings joyful memories of cooking in Thiangrial and Doro

God's beauty, sunset in Juba

God's children

On our way from Juba to Nairobi at 30,000 ft in the air. 

 

Our God is an Awesome God!!!

Uzima Children's Home

Uzima Children's Home.  The Children's Home flooded in October of this year, and God has provided a house for them to live in.  Fred and his wife Regina and their three girls gave up their house so that the children would have someplace to live.  We thank God for that.  There are 31 children (the least of these) who live in the house with an average of 5 bunk beds per room.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians  3:20-21

I thank God for all of you and all of your prayers this year, and the way the Holy Spirit impressed me on the hearts of so many to pray for things I didn’t even know I was dealing with and for all your help financially.  I have so much to be thankful for, and if I tried to put it all in the update it would go on for days.  Below are some of the things I am thankful for:

God’s faithfulness:  God has opened the door 3 times for trips into S. Sudan, and given clarity in my return to S. Sudan.  He gave clarity through the length of time it took for my body to recoup after the second trip.  I have just returned from S. Sudan with the blessing of being able to take Leah (our logistics coordinator with me,) she has been with us since 2008 and never has gone into S. Sudan.  It was a great trip, as the Lord showed her so many things, and I was able to reconnect with the ladies in Doro whom I miss and love so very much.  (See pictures below).  In the 10 days we were in S. Sudan we were able to visit 3 locations, Doro, Malakal, and Juba, this involved 5 flights and quite a bit of road travel.  Praise the Lord He sustained this body.
 

Ministry:  Things have changed at the Uzima drug and alcohol rehab center, so I am spending very little time out there.  The last lady to be in the program Susan, graduated on Sunday, December 16^th   and received the Lord!!!!!.  I am seeking the Lord on how to come along side these women (who live in so many different places) and disciple so that they can grow in Christ.  God has given me many opportunities to speak and teach in churches. I thank Him.

Uzima Children’s Home has found a new place for the children (as most of you know the place they were in flooded in October).  It has been a long and hard road, to find someone who was willing to let 31 street children live in their house.  My time at the Children's Home on Christmas Eve was a blessing.  To be with all of the children I love, to see how God has provided for them, and to be able to share gifts that were provided from a dear friend in Oregon.

Bible Study:  With my Kenya staff in the logistics room we are reading the African version of Pilgrims Progress called: “The Journey”, what a blessing and a privilege it is to study God’s Word with them.

Kenya Family:  All of my Kenya families were able to come together in November.  For most of them this was the first time to meet.  God has blessed me with many spiritual sons, daughters, and grandchildren.  What a blessing as we prayed together, worshiped our Lord together in 4 different mother tongues, and shared a meal together, traditional Kenya food, as well as western food.

Sharing the Gospel:  Oh how I love this.  He has given me the privilege to see some come to the Lord.  What excitement when He opens up an opportunity to share the Gospel of His grace, to someone driving a taxi, to someone who professes to be a believer, but has never received Christ, to those who have been taught it is by works, or those who have heard from false teachers.  Thank you Father.

God’s calling into more of a leadership position in Nairobi: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the LORD, your God the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1b-3

God’s promises; His Word, His strength, His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy.   There has been a lot of trying to figure out what, where, and how; trying to learn another culture and how it looks in an office.  Figuring out relationships, saying things that were not taken the way they were meant.  Logistics, oh for the chance for all of you and all of the SIM-Sudan team to spend a week with us.  There is no way to describe what a day or a week in the logistics room is like.  So many challenges, knowing God wants us to plan, but also understanding that we need to hold everything with open hands.  Asking Father everyday and sometimes moment by moment to fill me with His grace as I read emails, or hear words that hurt.  God is faithful and He has shown me many times as long as I keep my eyes on Him this is doable.   I was reading my devotional and I share with you what God showed me. “When you are plagued by a persistent problem – view it as a rich opportunity.  The learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be teachable.  In faith thank Me for your problem, ask Me to open your eyes and your heart to all that I am accomplishing through this difficulty.  Once you have become grateful for a problem, it loses its power to drag you down.” Jesus Calling

His Word is what gives me (us) the strength to go on.  His Word reminds us of His promises.  Father help me to keep my eyes on you, and would you open my eyes and my heart to all that you are accomplishing through this difficulty.  I want to glorify you through this storm.

Praises:  For the safety in all of my travels.  For the time in S. Sudan renewing and continuing to build relationships, For God’s provisions to take Leah into S. Sudan, For all the trials and frustrations.  For the opportunities to share the Gospel, For who HE is!!!!!!

Prayers:  For Uzima Children’s Home.  For God’s continued leading in the ministries He wants me to be involved in.  For Njoki (from the rehab center), who is HIV positive and needing a place to live, For Kenya, as tensions and fear rises as they move closer to the national election in March 2013.  That I would see every opportunity God has for me and ever divine meeting.  For S. Sudan as they continue to build this country, for honest people, God fearing people, for unity, healing, forgiveness and for peace to hold (there are many pockets of unrest).  For more opportunities to return to S. Sudan and share the Gospel, and to train up Timothy’s.