Follow You into the arms of the broken...: October 2014

Dear friends,

It is hard to believe that it is already October and we have been here in Kenya for over a month. It has been raining often, bringing a chill to the air which often feels like a crisp, fall day. The only things missing are the changing leaves, orange pumpkins, and pumpkin-spiced everything. (although the other night, someone brought Pumkin-spiced scones to a baby shower.. so I guess that part isn't completely true ;) ) Rachel and I have maintained much of the same schedule with plenty of opportunities to serve alongside the missionaries here. For the next 3-5 weeks I will take over teaching preschool 3 days a week full-time while the mom whom I was co-teaching with goes to the states for an educational trip for her husband.

About two weeks ago I was able to visit RVA and see my old dorm girls as well as many friends. It was so special to see them again. We loved catching up throughout the weekend and it made me even more excited to be joining them in January. J Will be so wonderful to be around for their senior year. We were already planning for fun get-togethers since I won't be their dorm mom. I also got to meet my new dorm girls and see where I will be living for the remainder of this school year. The dorm is so nice and big! I think I might get used to it. ;) The girls were all sweet and we had fun chatting! Really gave me a taste for being back at school and a little bit of an "itch" to get back there soon. J

I have been reading a book by Paul D. Tripp called "War of Words" with my devotions. I got this book to use for dorm devos each week because I read a chapter with my fellowship group at home and was encouraged by that particular chapter and thought the layout would work great for the devo time with my girls. Well I am reading it ahead of time so I can be better prepared to lead it and God has faithfully been convicting me of my own war with words daily! Living with my sister ,Rachel, can be a challenge. (though often a joy too J ) I feel like this book keeps laying into me each day like the author is talking with me personally! I so often react in impatience just because my agenda isn't matching up with Rachel's. James says that no man can tame the tongue, but Tripp reminds us that in the Gospel we have hope! He says, "In Him the impossible becomes possible. The war becomes winnable. The tongue becomes tameable, no longer an instrument of evil, but a producer of good." God has given us every thing we need with the Holy Spirit within us to combat the desires for control and our own selfish wants when we give Him the control. I am very thankful for His loving patience as He teaches me each day.

Yesterday I was given the opportunity to join a visiting work-team with a building project up at Kenduiwo orphanage. I enjoyed getting to serve alongside the team, even if they were Patriots fans from Boston, MA. ;) We were able to set aside our differences and have fun while working hard. They are building a school-room for the children at the orphanage. Most of the students go to boarding school (a typical scenario for children in Kenya) except the younger children who are in grade 3 or younger. Usually they have to walk very far to school, and it is not very safe for them to walk so far on their own. This building will allow them to walk to school without even having to go on the road, but just walk down the hill through the cow's pasture about 400 yards down. I now have a greater appreciation for all the work that the Kenyans do to build a house. (I always respected them for their hard work, but after experiencing it, appreciate just how hard they really do work) We had to dig out a ditch around the perimeter of the house so the mud doesn't rot the wood when there is heavy rain.. We used short handled hoes to dig and thankfully had a wheelbarrow, the team bought for the project, to haul the dirt farther away. I was glad to switch off chores after a little while with that job! We also had to break the large stones into smaller pieces for the first layer of floor before the cement. Thankfully someone loaned me their safety glasses! We would sit all around on the ground with a huge pile of rocks and chip away with the hammer. Rocks flew everywhere and we all agreed to just say sorry at the beginning and then keep working! J After our chai break (wouldn't be a Kenyan project without 2 chai breaks of course) I switched to the team that was painting the inside of an existing building on the work-site that will function as one of the Kindergarten class-rooms. My clothes and whole front side bore testament to the fact that I used the roller-brush. The village kids who came to watch what we were doing got a kick out of watching me and pointing to my speckled arms. J Towards the end of the day some of the ladies and I went up to the orphanage and sang Bible songs and a read a Bible story. Since the village children joined us, we had somewhere around 100 kids all crowding around and vying for a seat next to the Wazungus. (white person in Swahili) It was fun to have that time with the kiddos! I was so thankful to have this chance!

I want to share some exciting news! I am praising the Lord that He has faithfully provided (through many of you!) 90% of my monthly support for when I start at RVA the end of December. I was so encouraged and thankful to hear how He has been working this last month. Please pray with me for the remaining 10% ($232.00 monthly need) as well as still needing about $5,000.00 for the combined start up home and dorm ministry costs and ongoing work-fund account. It is always such a blessing for me to see just how the Lord provides each time. I am thankful for the body of Christ and team of supporters that are praying for me and loving me from afar. I am praying for you all and would love to hear from you if you get time.

Will you also be praying for my work permit (and re-entry visa) to come through before December 1st if possible? We will leave for Japan on the 1st, so would be great to have it before hand so I don't have to pay for another visa upon my return. God knows these things and I trust He will work them out in His timing! As news comes from around the world of so many uncertain events and more and more stories of Ebola fever in West Africa, I am always grateful to know of the Rock on which I stand. God our Father is sovereign and faithful. He does not leave us to walk in this world alone. I am confident in His plan and love for me.

Serving with you,

Amy