Come and Celebrate "His Cherished Ones"

What an amazing opportunity I have had the last few months to continue to share the work God is doing in Kenya, Africa with His Cherished Ones. Last week I was able to share with the now 5th graders at my school who followed my journey all summer. As Trena plans her first very benefit dinner, they would like to pass along the invitation to all who would like to come. Below is the invitation with details and a link to her website for how to RSVP.

http://www.hischerishedones.org/donations

The babies are at Haven!!!

Tracy: One of the baby caretaker's daughter, she is 16 months old.

Jeremiah: 6 months old.

Elizabeth: 2 1/2years old

Julia: 9 months old

AND THE NEWEST...
Kate: 3 months old

For more on each baby, check out Trena's blog:

http://thelordprovides.blogspot.com

Finally a complete "story" of my summer in 30 minutes or less

Now to Him who is able to do immeasureably 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 genereations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Haven of Hope

This is the staff working at Haven of Hope, the place where I have been living with Trena. They have become like family to me and it will be hard to leave them at the end of the week.

Here's Trena's blog link, she has done a wonderful job of keeping things up to date. check it out.
http://www.thelordprovides.blogspot.com/

Dedicating the baby center

Tromping down the stairs to deliver Trena her ringing cell phone, still sleepy and in my PJ, I was not planning on staying, but when I rounded the corner I was called by Sarah into the conversation by the staff. Tom, Emmanuel and Sarah were discussing how the devil is the one who tempts (not sure how awake I was for this kind of early morning conversation, but I was not going to miss it) this quickly proved to be a great start of the day.

Someone throughout the day commented about how I have been able to be apart of the start of the baby center full circle, and this morning event reminds me of the first "family" dinner with the staff. Trena has wanted to create a family environment with the staff, so has made Monday nights eating together as a family. The first Monday we were here I was able to see how God has anointed this place because Tom, the Massai nightwatchman, began to ask questions about forgiving others who have wronged him. This conversation led to a discussion about salvation in Christ. How amazing and full circle it was to see Tom again asking questions the morning of the house dedication.

People began to pour into the yard and Trena welcomed them like the gracious hostess of a house filled with love. I have been amazed to watch and learn all that she has shared in the process of "building" a house. Children gathered on the lawn and adults claimed seats in the plastic chairs as Stan began to play his guitar and the Kenyan group began to sing. As Trena shared the process of Haven of Hope and vision for the ministry, we listened to how God has unfolded and sped through the process of getting a house, setting up staff, and bring us to this time ready for babies to come. As I looked around I realized I was surrounded by the hand of God, He had sent me here to build relationships with people and I was delighted to see those around me where not just people, but friends.

Trena had asked Deborah to explain for people to pray over the house as a foundation before babies arrive. This was my favorite part of the day as everyone spread out around the yard, house and rooms lifting prayers for the ministry. As we drove back from town tonight, I shared with Trena the peace I have about not having pressure to feel the need to get the babies before I leave in a week. I have a confident assurance after today, I have come and completed what God has sent me to do as the "second set of hands" I have come and helped set up the house for the babies.

Another busy week

Monday-July 20 We were able to meet the HFBC team at Flomina. It was fun to watch the kids introduce themselves and try to shake hands with everyone. Here I am with the kids in their uniforms. I know many teachers from my school donated money to help pay for the uniforms, so it was important for me to see them coming home from school with them on.

Tuesday-July 21 Picking up Hezekiel and Tyson from Nairobi Children's Home with Janice, Naomi, Laura, and Jackie. We were able to see the dining room and hold some kids while Janice and Trena talked with the admin, about picking up the boys. This was the day I was hit with the reality of a lot of the children in the country and their situations. Below is Tyson and Me near the playground at the clinic.

Wednesday-July 22 Visiting Mike Eden's place, again we were blessed to visit with the HFBC team. Since Monday, Trena and I have been without power (cold showers are not fun) and then we lost the ability to pump water from the borehole, so were without water. (we are in Kenya :) So when we were offered to have warm showers at Brackenhurst by the team, Trena and I willingly woke up early that morning to drive to the hotel. Below are pictures of the kids of Eden.

Thursday-TODAY!!! We are going to meet with the lady from Nairobi Children's Home, she has prepared a list of files for Trena to look through to see if any of the babies match the ages she is trying to target and accept for the home.

Miracles of God are often mistaken for a daily event that has gone our way.

If we chose to acknowledge the event as something we made happen we take our eyes off what God is doing and try to steal His glory. The miracles of God are all around us, are we willing to step away from ourselves so we can see His greatness? A song we sung as children defines a miracle as a supernatural intervention of God, I expect a miracle.

The past few days God has been working soooo fast it is hard to even keep up with what He is doing much less have time to blog about the events. So here's a quick run down of the events:

7/17/09 praying the night before we did not want to have to travel to Kajaido in order to submit more paperwork, but felt a peace about staying home, I think we rested well that night with the thought of a slow morning. Friday morning we had a message from the children's department officer that he would be in Ngong that day, so we could come there instead. (the Ngong offices are 5 minutes from home and the Kajaido an hour and 30 minutes) another of the small miracles was that he even called to tell us. When meeting with him, he said was very polite and said he was even encouraged by our progress with the paperwork. Our goal that day was to get a letter from the department saying that we could accept children. Although we didn't get a letter, we are close, he told us that if we have children identified that needed homes along with their background, then he would give us the approval to accept them.

7/18/09 meeting the Houston First Baptist team to feed the community around Heshima. What fun as the children played and were able to eat rice/veggies prepared by the teachers.

7/19/09 Amy spent the night and we got up to travel to elephant orphange, giraffe center, and market. I was able to drive the two of us around all day and only had to call for directions once!

7/20/09 Flomina orphanage was where we spent the day with the Houston team. We again played with the kids, they were so cute as they would start with a handshake, but then not let go of your hand and cling to it as we walked around the compound. The morning started with an amazingly smooth trip to the area with no traffic and plenty of time to pick out fabric for the rest of the baby rooms.

God is so good, because that is His nature and it is fun for me to see Him reveal Himself.

God is working things out, will you join us in prayer?

We went to turn in the registration paper work today for the BABY HOUSE. (I think I should mention that I drove all the way back home, Trena is so trusting after only a day of practice)
We were very encouraged as we talked with the assistant children's director of the area, because he was very interested in hearing Trena's heart with the ministry and listened to her desire to be so specific in how God is directing her to serve the community.

So as we walked away we prayed:

*For the senior children's director of the area to be open and willing to listen to the explanation of the assistant, who heard us speak today, so that he can also hear the heart of the ministry
*That the assistant is able to communicate the goal and vision of the ministry the way we have expressed and God would have them see what He is doing in that area
* For the committee who has to meet to give approval to meet quickly and agree that they should allow the go ahead of the babies to be accepted by the baby center
* That all the remaining staff (cook, ground keeper, night watchman) travel safely to the house this week
* The certificates of good conduct, resumes, and all remaining paperwork for staff come in quickly, so the registration process can be complete so we can submit to the government headquarters.

So amazing to see God go before and after us, please continue to walk with me as we go.

A trip to Haven to visit the boys.

What a fun day! A trip to Nakumatt for “treats”, picking up friends, sitting in traffic to realize we were passing the football stadium at the “right time” for traffic, and winding through the bumpy dirt road to finally see a small face peek around the corner of the house when we honked the horn at the gate. We were finally at Haven. The four boys that live at the orphanage, Kelvin, Joshua, Godrey, and James greeted us with smiles and helped unload the car with the treats we had brought. They were soon giggles as the three of us (Kirsten, Alisha, and myself) chased them around the car to tickle each other and they had even more fun climbing on and off the car. At one point, kids from the road noticed there was fun going on in the yard, so they wandered in through the gate. Concerned they were not allowed into the yard, I went to get Trena and the house mom. They said it was fine and even had the boys offer sweets to their friends. (what a great skill to teach them in sharing and making friends.) The best part was we had just talked about playing Duck, Duck, Goose, so we went up the hill to the flat portion. I explained in English how to play and then one of the house mom’s translated for the kids and the game was on! What fun to watch these kids interact and take turns being sure that everyone had been picked at some point to chase. They caught on quickly and we told them we would be back next Saturday to play some more games. So we brainstormed already: red light, green light; Simon Says; hopscotch; red rover. Any other suggestions? :)

Update from Trena and her pictures of the house for the babies.

Just to update you.....I signed a two year contract on Friday and will go through the house tomorrow with the owner's son to finalize all the updates/repairs they need to make and to exchange keys. So exciting!





I am SO looking forward to having you here as we set up the baby house!!! It would be overwhelming to think of doing it myself. I see God is so sovereign in His timing and I am so thankful that you will be here when you will. I somehow knew that He would work everything out this way; I had a great peace in His timing and thought it would be so perfect for you to be here.





I don't know if we will be registered by then or not, but I am hoping to "open" or at least move there July 1st.

Side view of the house

Front room-big enough for toddlers and babies to play

One of the bedrooms

The goat and cow pens