I am sitting at our Baptist guest house in Nairobi. Doctor appointments again. David has not ever fully recovered from the terrible bout of stomach problems over a week ago. We threw one medicine at it and it seemed to help and then he got worse, so we threw another medicine at it and had the same results. Figured it was time to go to a professional.
All the problems that we have experienced in our 6 months back on the field can be very disheartening. Living is more difficult, our home situation a little more unpleasant than we'd like (still bucket bathing - and that never gets fun). We've had a lot of illness, disappointments, and unforeseen challenges. And when we really get to ministry the attacks snowball. It is enough to make us want to throw up our hands. Life would be so much more predictable in the States. Sometimes predictable is pretty good. It can be easy to regret our move to Tanzania and long for the joys we had in Malawi.
But then God reminds me of all the ways He has blessed us in this stage of the journey. We did not choose Tanzania - in fact our plan all along was to probably move back to the North of Malawi where ministry was greatly needed after helping the very established area of Zomba get a new vision. But God changed that in a way that could never be doubted. We were then given two job options in Tanzania and were encouraged to take this one. In doing so we went from a 2 1/2 hour flight (or 1 week's drive) from Malawi to RVA where the kids go to school to just a 7-8 hour drive. It has meant that we can see them every six weeks instead of every three months and that we can attend band concerts, plays, and other important events. This blessing has kept us going through many difficult times.
Even since we have been back this 6 months, God keeps reminding me that for every trial there is a blessing. Chloe has had several difficulties - some of which we have shared through prayer requests, but not all. If we were still in Malawi we would have to fly to Johannesburg (another 2 1/2 hour flight, but in the opposite direction) for help. We would have gone down for a week, hoping in that time that we could figure out the problem and figure out the solution. We might have to stay for longer. We might have to return home and rely on our own wisdom and the guidance of the Lord to see if our plan of action was working or not. Any adjustments would be through email, phone calls, or another flight down. From Tarime, Nairobi is an 8-9 hour drive. We can come up for a few days and then return later if we need to. It takes a great deal of stress out of an already stressful situation.
For this, I really do not have words to express my gratitude to the Lord. This is my child and He has taken care of her so very well. He knew three years ago that she would have these issues and He began making provision for her even then. How can I be anything but thankful? How can I refuse to go through any trial that God sees fit - to lovingly take care of my child and to reach the unreached?
If I had any word of wisdom for you it would be to maintain a thankful heart. Even in the bleakest moments God provides blessings of joy - but we have to look for them and we have to appreciate them. Dear missionary friends lost their 12 yr old to cancer just last month. How can I compare our current trials to that? And through it all they have searched for the blessings - and found them. What an encouragement to my heart. If you are working to further to the kingdom of God there will be even more trials. And if it seems that you are disappointed and waylaid at every turn, perhaps the answer is to look for contentment and gratefulness in what you do have.
Enough preaching. I do not claim to be an expert at this - I fall down on the job often enough. But my experience has been that one of the greatest tools for a Christian to conquer in this life in thankfulness.
Be thankful, my friends.
Blessings.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Busy, Busy
This has been quite a busy week for us. A lot has happened.
Last Saturday David taught TEE (Theological Education by Extension - a Bible course) at Remagwe. That is our "young" church. The church is usually filled but only about 6-8 are adults. The rest are youth and children. All of the students in his class are youth and at least one cannot read. He will be out there again today. Please pray that this course will be the foundation for Christ's presence and glory for this generation in this place.
One thing I forgot to mention about our witnessing last week is that we were served a rubber chicken! This is the second time in our years on the field that we were served a chicken so tough you couldn't even take the outside skin off. Chloe, our little carnivore, managed to tear off most of the meat on one leg, but I couldn't even make teeth marks! Chloe and I didn't go witnessing this week. Chloe had big plans for a fancy meal that she wanted to put on for Dad and I needed to study my Swahili lesson for the next day. David said that he and the pastor and his wife had a good time visiting and encouraging some of our Tarime church members.
Thursday, David went out to a village called Shirati. A pastor's house burned down and the little churches up here had gathered some things together to donate. David and our local pastors spent the day down there fellowshipping with them. He said it was humbling how this family took the iron sheets off the burnt house, put up a shelter, and just moved on with their lives. Even though David very much enjoys these times of fellowship, he had an extremely bad headache the whole day. Imagine sitting for 6 to 8 ours in the sun in a dry village with a pounding headache!
While David was gone, Chloe and I walked to Tarime Baptist Church to teach the women's group. It is not a bad walk, except that I wore a pair of Abby's (my older daughter) shoes and immediately had horrible blisters on my toes! On the way there we passed over a stream. A group of men were bathing. Instead of turning away or discreetly ignoring us, they started calling out, "Wazungu!" - which is what we are called everywhere - white people. My teaching was less than inspiring but the ladies trudge along with my language skills and are very gracious.
Then, when we returned to the house there was a huge electrical surge. Lights started blowing out loudly - scaring Chloe to death. The tv started smoking horribly. I turned off the power to the house, but the damage was already done. We lost the tv, dvd player, satellite decoder, and many power supplies and converters. We praise the Lord that the computers (which were mostly not plugged in), the fridge, and the freezer are fine.
And these are just the highlights to a week that involved all the usual life tasks! And it is not over yet. Chloe has the pastor's daughter over today to play and teach English. David teaches TEE again this afternoon. I am supposed to go to the church this afternoon to help clean the little room we use for our services. I say "supposed to" because I am not feeling 100% at the moment. We'll see how the afternoon goes.
Continue to pray for us. Hopefully these little bits of our life will help you to see our prayer needs, where our challenges are, and why the joy of the Lord always floats to the top.
Blessings.
Last Saturday David taught TEE (Theological Education by Extension - a Bible course) at Remagwe. That is our "young" church. The church is usually filled but only about 6-8 are adults. The rest are youth and children. All of the students in his class are youth and at least one cannot read. He will be out there again today. Please pray that this course will be the foundation for Christ's presence and glory for this generation in this place.
One thing I forgot to mention about our witnessing last week is that we were served a rubber chicken! This is the second time in our years on the field that we were served a chicken so tough you couldn't even take the outside skin off. Chloe, our little carnivore, managed to tear off most of the meat on one leg, but I couldn't even make teeth marks! Chloe and I didn't go witnessing this week. Chloe had big plans for a fancy meal that she wanted to put on for Dad and I needed to study my Swahili lesson for the next day. David said that he and the pastor and his wife had a good time visiting and encouraging some of our Tarime church members.
Thursday, David went out to a village called Shirati. A pastor's house burned down and the little churches up here had gathered some things together to donate. David and our local pastors spent the day down there fellowshipping with them. He said it was humbling how this family took the iron sheets off the burnt house, put up a shelter, and just moved on with their lives. Even though David very much enjoys these times of fellowship, he had an extremely bad headache the whole day. Imagine sitting for 6 to 8 ours in the sun in a dry village with a pounding headache!
While David was gone, Chloe and I walked to Tarime Baptist Church to teach the women's group. It is not a bad walk, except that I wore a pair of Abby's (my older daughter) shoes and immediately had horrible blisters on my toes! On the way there we passed over a stream. A group of men were bathing. Instead of turning away or discreetly ignoring us, they started calling out, "Wazungu!" - which is what we are called everywhere - white people. My teaching was less than inspiring but the ladies trudge along with my language skills and are very gracious.
Then, when we returned to the house there was a huge electrical surge. Lights started blowing out loudly - scaring Chloe to death. The tv started smoking horribly. I turned off the power to the house, but the damage was already done. We lost the tv, dvd player, satellite decoder, and many power supplies and converters. We praise the Lord that the computers (which were mostly not plugged in), the fridge, and the freezer are fine.
And these are just the highlights to a week that involved all the usual life tasks! And it is not over yet. Chloe has the pastor's daughter over today to play and teach English. David teaches TEE again this afternoon. I am supposed to go to the church this afternoon to help clean the little room we use for our services. I say "supposed to" because I am not feeling 100% at the moment. We'll see how the afternoon goes.
Continue to pray for us. Hopefully these little bits of our life will help you to see our prayer needs, where our challenges are, and why the joy of the Lord always floats to the top.
Blessings.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Chloe's Work
Chloe, our 11 year old, is starting her own little ministries. This is a big deal for her and we are so proud. She is an extreme extrovert but quite timid of new things at the same time. Perhaps that is one reason she has not embraced being out with local children - the idea of not being able to communicate scares her.
However, she is now starting two neat ministries. One she begins today - inviting our Tarime pastor's daughter to begin learning English. Knowing English is crucial to success here because secondary school is supposed to be taught in English (though isn't always as the teachers are not all that fluent). Certainly any training after secondary will be in English. Neema (nay-mah) is close to Chloe's age and also a bit shy. Chloe's plan is to have her over every Saturday. They will spend time learning English (and my hope is that Chloe will also learn more Swahili - we do lessons as part of homeschooling) and playing. This will also fill a great for a friend.
Chloe has also started her own blog for MK's (missionary kids)! It is at http://www.mkworld.blogspot.com/. Feel free to visit and please tell any MK's you know about it. We just started so it is not polished and there is not much there, but we plan to do more and the hope is that other MK's will contribute so that it will be more in a magazine format than just Chloe's thoughts.
Please pray that her plans to have Neema over will succeed and that nothing will prevent this from becoming a weekly event. Pray also for her blog - that others will join it and that it will be a joy.
Blessings!
However, she is now starting two neat ministries. One she begins today - inviting our Tarime pastor's daughter to begin learning English. Knowing English is crucial to success here because secondary school is supposed to be taught in English (though isn't always as the teachers are not all that fluent). Certainly any training after secondary will be in English. Neema (nay-mah) is close to Chloe's age and also a bit shy. Chloe's plan is to have her over every Saturday. They will spend time learning English (and my hope is that Chloe will also learn more Swahili - we do lessons as part of homeschooling) and playing. This will also fill a great for a friend.
Chloe has also started her own blog for MK's (missionary kids)! It is at http://www.mkworld.blogspot.com/. Feel free to visit and please tell any MK's you know about it. We just started so it is not polished and there is not much there, but we plan to do more and the hope is that other MK's will contribute so that it will be more in a magazine format than just Chloe's thoughts.
Please pray that her plans to have Neema over will succeed and that nothing will prevent this from becoming a weekly event. Pray also for her blog - that others will join it and that it will be a joy.
Blessings!
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