K4K Feeding Program

Sunday we had the opportunity to worship with the people of Wayando Baptist Church. Children's church met under this tarp on the backside of the building. We could hear the adults singing and I'm sure they could hear the sweet sound of these children.

The gospel was shared through salvation bracelets. As I helped the children put beads on and tie the bracelets on their wrist I would look into their eyes and pray that they would understand the Truth of the Gospel they were now wearing and that it would fill their lives with hope and joy. I couldn't speak their language but God heard my silent prayer for these precious children.

After church the children all lined up for one of three meals that is provided to them each week through the K4K (Kare 4 Kids) program sponsored by CMN. They all patiently waited in line and when there were no more bowls the remaining children formed another line around those who were eating. As children finished their meal they took their empty bowl to another child until all had been fed. For some of these orphans, these three meals each week are the only nourishment they receive. The meals obviously improve the health of the children, it improves their ability to learn, and it provides hope through the evangelism of young and old as they come to experience the generosity of others.

James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Caring for orphans through K4K:

• $5 feeds an orphan for a MONTH 
• $500/month sponsors a new site
• 5K4K walk/run October 31, 2015, click here to register

We saw siblings sharing their plate.

We saw older siblings assisting younger ones.

We saw abundant cuteness!

We saw joy and hope in a bowl of rice and beans.

As the children ate, this song ran through my head on repeat:

How Good It Is

Matt and Joanna Black

Lately I've been having the time of my life

Don't think I've ever felt like this before

and I've been wondering why I've never seemed to notice

How good it is to serve the LORD

Who would have thought that dipping soup down at the mission

Would leave a smile on your face

Maybe there's more to this than vegetables and ladles

Maybe I'm dipping into grace

How good it is 

To serve the LORD

How good it is 

To serve the LORD

It is

A smile, a hand, a hug, a pat on the back

Can help get someone through the day

So long my eyes were closed to hurts and pains around me

So glad I've finally seen the way

To love the Lord with all my heart, my soul, my strength and mind

Love my neighbor like myself

And offer up my life

For the sake of Christ

******************

One fast food meal or coffee in America can feed an orphan three meals each week for one month. You can make a difference. There is more than rice and beans being dipped out...

How many will you feed?

Click here to make a donation!

Clinic Day Three

Kiumba Beach Region

522 patients treated

2755 prescriptions given

150 children at camp

325 NEW BELIEVERS

who will worship with 

PASTOR CHARLES ODHIAMBO

and the new church plant of

WANYANA

Day three was incredible! People were leaving the clinic after accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior and bringing others to the pastor tent to hear the Good News! Others were coming from the shoreline to hear what was coming from the pastor tent. On average twenty percent of the patients seen will give their lives to Christ but on day three we saw that twenty percent tell others until the number came to around sixty percent of our patient total! I immediately thought of the verse

Matthew 9:37 The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.

I was in awe of what God did in the Kiumba region that day and He reminded me that the harvest is plenty in my own neighborhood, city, and county as well. All it took for kingdom growth on the shore that day was for people to tell...who are you telling? Are you working to grow the Kingdom of God every day?

sweet faces waiting on us when we unloaded

The A-Team
Grace, Heather, Keith, Bob, Bri, Scott, Lori, Aaron,Cathy, Kaitlyn, Erin H, Chris, Briana, Erin C, Kate, Whitney, Liz

The top of the hill is the line of patients waiting to be seen at triage. The providers were stationed down the hill. The pastors were at the base next to pharmacy.

The pharmacy was literally on the beautiful shoreline of Lake Victoria as you can see from the below picture.

Janes and Tom translated in the pharmacy for week one.

Janes lives with the Kenyan director of CMN, Jonathon, and is serving in any capacity he can while he waits for the opportunity to go to school to become a teacher. He wants to get an education so he can go home to his family and support them. He is a precious young soul with a sweet demeanor and big smile. I enjoyed working with him both weeks of clinic. He can also harmonize beautifully!

PRAY FOR EDUCATION FUNDING THAT WOULD ALLOW JANES TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF HIS FAMILY AND THE STUDENTS THAT HE TEACHES. PRAY THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO SEEK GOD AND SERVE WHILE HE WAITS.

Tom's nickname Majiji means, humble and hardworking, which fits him so perfectly. He has five children and his 38 year old wife needs to undergo dialysis treatments twice weekly. They have sold everything they can to afford her medical care but even still they cannot afford to go to dialysis regularly. He said she is in much pain and experiences frequent nausea. 

PRAY FOR COMFORT, PEACE, AND PROVISION FOR THEIR FAMILY. PRAY THAT TOM CAN LEAD THEIR FAMILY THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

While sitting at my desk on day three I saw the mother and three young children in the picture below. All four of them looked hesitantly at the mzungus hurriedly filling prescriptions in the pharmacy. Someone gave them each a simple doll sewn by Sewing for Nations at FBC, Hendersonville and their hesitant faces turned to grins. After seeing each of her children with a new doll, the mother threw a bottle on the ground that the youngest had been holding. The oldest child picked up the bottle while clutching the new doll and I suspect the bottle was the only "toy" the three children shared before that day and he didn't want to part with it.

We have so much and so often want more and often take for granted all that we have rather than being grateful. If we had nothing else in this world but the hope of a glorious eternal future with our Savior, Jesus Christ, and Creator, God Almighty, wouldn't that be enough? Why then do we long for anything in this life more than we long to know and understand and love Him more?

Some of the team members knew that I was looking for opportunities for interaction with the people since the pharmacy was a bit hectic. Whitney came to me on day three and told me to go love on the people and they would clean up the pharmacy area. Her thoughtfulness was overwhelming and it didn't take much convincing for me to gather my things and find a group of kiddos. Heather gave me a sheet of stickers and the children swarmed to get a sticker on their hand. Again, something as small as a sticker with a smile meant so much and brought smiles from their precious faces that warmed my heart.

As we were loading up after clinic, a young mother approached one of the providers through translation asking for help. All of the supplies and some of the team were already loaded in vans but as they began to listen to this mother they found that God held us at clinic a few minutes longer for such a time as this. The mother was in school and so could not come to the clinic we held in her area yesterday (Friday) but walked from her home to this clinic as she was out of school on Saturday. She didn't make it until we were packing up because she walked such a long way to reach us. Her son had not urinated in four days due to two hernias and needed surgery or he would most likely die. The  mother and her son loaded up in one of the vehicles and after many phone calls received surgery and follow-up care. A local pastor walked with them through this process of physical life being restored and spiritual seeds being planted.

While calls were being made I had the opportunity to pray for them and a team member got a shot of the sweet memory.

 Habakkuk 1:5 The Lord replied, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in our own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it."

There are so many ways you can be a part of the amazing things God is doing in the nation of Kenya;

• prayer - which is the most powerful way to be a part of His work
• monetary gifts for:
•  individuals that you read about
•  K4K orphan feeding program
•  church building construction
•  missionaries, Keith & Erin Holloway
•  Miracle Power orphanage
•  sending someone on a team
• going yourself on a construction, children's, or medical team. 

If you want more information on anything you read about on my blog, check out Church Missions Network or you can message me for more info.

Clinic Day Two

Sindo region

347 patients treated

 1388 prescriptions dispensed

420 children at camp

144 NEW BELIEVERS

who will worship with 

PASTOR JOSEPH OGALO

and the new church plant of 

ONYWERA

This sign says "village is a child labor free zone".
Thankful for strides in the right direction. 

The beauty of the people God created

The beauty of the earth God created

A bit of rain and rough dirt roads made for an exciting muddy ride into Sindo. We made it all the way there only to get stuck turning up the drive to the clinic site. The very chivalrous men would not let us get out of the van in the mud so we all moved to the back of the van as they attempted to push us out.

Kaitlyn, Grace, Heather, Bri, Mama Lori, Liz, Briana in the back of the van.

Cathy, Bob, Erin H

The view from the pharmacy window

The pastors tent was set up right outside the pharmacy window and so I had the blessing of hearing the Good News proclaimed in their native language over and over that day. I could hear them singing and praying and it encouraged and blessed my heart.

 On the way to clinic I noticed these bushes along the roadside and was brought to tears at the sacrifice of my Savior. This 'Everybody Duck' song was on repeat in my head:

"The thorns on your brow

They tell me how

You bore so much pain to love me.

And when the heavens pass away

All your scars will still remain

And forever I will say,

Just how much You love me.

And so I want to say,

Forever my love

Forever my heart

Forever my life

Is Yours"

You may have noticed that my pictures from the first two days of clinic are from a distance and there wasn't much close interaction with the Kenyan people. The nature of my work as a pharmacist there was checking prescriptions for accuracy and not much one-on-one time with the people. I prayed for time of interaction, time to hear their laughter and stories, time to hold their hands and hug their necks...and God provided in a unique way. I was sitting in the lobby FaceTiming my girls after clinic when a group of school aged children surrounded me to see why the muzungu was talking at the phone. They were speechless and puzzled until I told Ensley to say "Jambo" (hello). They all replied "Jambo" then looked at me very confused and asked if I was "communicating with her." I told them, "yes, she is my daughter in America and we are communicating." One student looked into the phone and said "Jambo" to which Ensley replied, "Jambo!". The laughter that erupted from the sweet faces around me was priceless. 

I am so thankful to serve a living God who cares about even the little details that we bring to His throne. God not only allowed me interaction to hear their laughter but He allowed Ensley to see the beauty of His people in Kenya and their big smiles.

My sweet husband captured a screen shot of this memory. This was their puzzled look :)

Clinic Day One

Gumbah region

293 patients treated

 1172 prescriptions dispensed

150 children at camp

45 NEW BELIEVERS

who will worship with 

PASTOR MAURICE OKEYO

and the new church plant of 

UFRIA

Carrying her pots and pans! So let us not complain about washing dishes in our sink or unloading a dishwasher.

View from the pharmacist workbench, I could get used to that!

Catch of the Day in the Pharmacy. Fish in the
window not normal for me...but #wheninKenya!

I was super impressed with the efficient set-up and workflow that CMN has established.

I was overwhelmed all day as I would look up at these tarps under this tree. This very spot is where a new body of believers will fellowship lifting their voices to their Creator and Savior. I could hear praises being lifted under the Pastors tent all day and my heart was full. 

I was singing in my heart (sparing my fellow teammates the joyful noise), 

"We are standing on holy ground and I know that there are angels all around. 

We are standing in His presence on holy ground!"

One of my favorite memories from day one was a sweet little boy who stood behind me rubbing my arm or my back, not because he needed anything but I assume just to touch the muzungu. 

"God I want this with You. I want to come to You just to be with You, just to be near You because You are God, not because I need anything but just to sit in your presence. I want to know You more deeply and more intimately. Help me to be still and just draw near to You."

Planes, Boats and Automobiles

Sunday, June 15, we began the journey across the world. These four ladies have become so precious to me as we prepared for the trip and I got to know them better and as we began to serve and share with one another. Their heart for God and desire to know Him more and make Him known is incredible. What a blessing they are!

Liz, Grace, Bri, Heather and Mama Lori

 We met most of the rest of the team and made our way through security expecting that the last three members of the team from the U.S. would be a few hours behind us meeting up with us in Detroit.

Chris, Whitney, Phil, Scott, Grace, Mama Lori, Liz, Bri, Briana, Heather

 We arrived in Detroit and as we began to board our next plane for Amsterdam it was clear that the last three team members were not going to make the connection. I tend to get a little stressed during travel and God's still working on me...I was taking comfort in Phil traveling with us. I had heard stories of bags getting stopped at customs and the way he handles things and I wanted him traveling into the country by our side. When they missed the connection by 20 minutes I started stressing and God calmly drew me close and said, "Who is Phil? Phil is no one without me. I am with you." I am so thankful to serve the living God who loves me enough to continue molding me.

  We arrived in Nairobi with all of our 23 bags about 24 hours after our journey began.

 We made it to our guest house for the evening and enjoyed a good meal, hot shower and bed for a few hours.

 After a few hours of sleep we headed back to the airport to fly to Kisumu where we loaded up the vans to travel to our first area.

Liz, Bri, Heather, Briana, Grace in Martin's van

 The way of life in the villages of Kenya is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. The fact that they have so little breaks my heart but the way they adapt and enjoy life is beautiful. In America we have so much but so many of us live discontent lives always wanting more. 

To really live is to depend on God with every breath.

The beauty of Suba Island area was incredible!

 We loaded a ferry and enjoyed visiting with the team members, pastors and translators who were already there upon our arrival.

On the ferry ride I had the opportunity of getting to know Keith and Erin Holloway. They graciously played my game of 20 questions and I immediately fell in love with this couple as I heard their heart for the people of East Africa. They were transparent as they shared stories of ways they missed the comforts of home especially their families. PRAY FOR THE HOLLOWAYS. They shared about the difficulties in coordinating ground work for these teams to come in the summer. PRAY FOR THESE PROCESSES AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY MUST BUILD TO ACCOMPLISH THESE TASKS. When I asked what types of things they do on a day to day basis, the list included distributing rice and beans to churches for K4K, going to the grocery almost everyday because their fridge isn't very big, spending time with children in a hospital called Russia, working with and training local pastors, helping with Miracle Power orphanage, and they do all of this before dark so they are in their home before nightfall when possible. PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY. PRAY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. PRAY FOR THEIR MARRIAGE. PRAY FOR THEIR SON, COOPER, AND A QUICK UNCOMPLICATED DELIVERY. PRAY FOR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE. PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES IN AMERICA.

Lake Victoria view from our door in Mbita.

Pill packing in preparation for Clinic Day One.

Dinner plates and butter knives make for excellent counting trays and spatulas!

During all of the pill packing excitement I began to lose focus on our purpose of bringing the Good News of Jesus to the people of Kenya. I started to focus on the logistics of dispensing meds and the reality of treating these diseases that I had never seen before and I started to panic. Before dinner a group of us went to the shoreline to watch the sunset and I was praying hard. I was asking for peace and God reminded me of our purpose through a picture I took. It wasn't until I was looking through the pictures later that I saw the sun and the heart and was reminded that the love of His Son is our purpose here and it far outweighs the pills dispensed or suspensions mixed. But while we are there telling about Jesus and bringing hope for their soul we can bring medicine, prayer, and healing to their physical bodies as well. 

That night Keith shared during our devotional time from Matthew 14:22-33. Jesus called Peter out on the water and it wasn't until Peter took his eyes of Jesus that he began to sink. I chuckled to myself and said, "I hear you, God. Thank you for Your patience with me and calmly drawing me back when I take my eyes off of You." 

I am humbled that He would allow me to be used for His glory and overwhelmed that He takes the time to reassure me when I lose focus.

He's Been Working On Me

  I can look back over my life and see God's hand preparing me for His call to be a pharmacist and His call to Kenya and I am so humbled by the details He cares about in my life. I am overwhelmed by His provision and the fact that He is allowing me to be a part of His work. Why me? No other reason than because He is full of grace and mercy. I am a little slow and so His preparation for this call to Kenya started many years ago...

  When I was six my family packed up and moved across the country to the Seattle area to help with a church plant. As I watched my parents as a young child, God was teaching me principles in church planting and sacrificing comforts in life and following Him no matter the call...principles that shaped me but I didn't even recognize yet. 

  I recognized my need for a Savior as a seven year old in Seattle. I had been sent to my room after doing something wrong probably having to do with a bad attitude but I don't remember exactly. While sitting there I began to realize that my wrong is why God had to send Jesus. My dad prayed with me and immediately began to disciple me with literature to help me grow and reminding me to spend time in His word. 

  When I was nine years old we moved back to Tennessee. I don't remember anything about our G.A. class growing up except tearing cotton off the back of the tablecloth and throwing it in people's hair (poor choice but still a memory) and learning about the people group of Burkino Faso. I was in G.A.s for years where each week we learned about a different missionary and the people group they were serving and the only people group I remember is from Africa. This was my first introduction to the need in Africa and God began growing my love for Africa even though I was blind to it.

  As a young teenager, I remember listening to Kevin Wright tell stories of his two years in Africa as a journeyman. I remember thinking that the stories he told sounded like they were straight out of the Bible with miraculous protection and people coming to know Christ in large numbers. That was my first close touch with Africa and it was imprinted on my mind.

  As a 16 year old I gave up basketball because it required many camps throughout the summer and I felt God calling me to serve in the summers at a sweet little piece of my heart called Logan Valley. Giving up basketball also meant I needed to find an after school job so I started working at the local hardware/gift store. After a few weeks working there one of my teachers, who worked at Walmart part-time, asked if I would apply for a cashier position in the pharmacy. I was not having much fun sorting screws and cleaning the dishes for the bridal registries so I thought sure why not. God was preparing me to be a pharmacist.

  One of my best friend's since nursery followed God's call to Africa as a journeyman and I followed her updates and stories diligently. I prayed for her and the work they were doing fervently and unknown to me God was working in my heart growing a love for his people in Africa through my prayers.

  After EJ and I were married some sweet friends of ours were going to Africa (Burkino Faso to be more precise) for two weeks and they asked us to stay at their house and care for their two teenage daughters and their puppy while they were gone. Chipping away at our hearts, molding us and preparing us, God used that time to deepen our burden for Africa and allowed us to experience as a family unit the reality of leaving father and mother and daughters to follow Him.

  I defaulted to pharmacy in college because I enjoyed my job and enjoyed helping people. My default was God's plan all along. Shortly after finishing pharmacy school God rocked my world and I realized I was going through the motions of a pharmacist and I had so many opportunities to minister each day that I was missing because my goal wasn't telling people about Jesus as I went. I began to pray for open eyes so that I could see the hurt and pain around me and praying for boldness to pray and minister as the Spirit led. God answered those prayers and I knew God had called me to be a pharmacist for His glory.

  Our church began partnering with an organization called Church Missions Network and the college class we lead was asked to pray about creating a team to go to Kenya the summer of 2013. I wanted to go but didn't feel God was leading me at that time. As the team returned and told stories of their journey my heart ached to go. I began praying for the next year and possibility of going but again didn't feel led so I came to the realization that when my girls were older I would go. I continued praying for the people of Kenya and the people involved in the ministry there but wasn't praying about going anymore. The Spirit began prompting me not long after the team returned in 2014 and I began my 20 questions game with God that He so patiently plays with me. I reminded him that He had not been leading me there because my girls were so young and we had already finalized the proposal that when they were older I would go. He chuckled and said they are older than they were last year. We went 'round and 'round for weeks...me knowing He was calling me but me wanting Him to audibly say to me GO TO KENYA WITH CMN IN 2015! I prayed for clarity and God so graciously answered through His Word one morning and asked a few of our students that had been before to pray with me as I listened to His voice.

  I was reading through Hebrews and reached chapter 3 where verses 7-8 say "That is why the Holy Spirit says, 'Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts...". I stopped and prayed, "God are you talking to me here?" I continued to read and verse 15 says "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hears as Israel did when they rebelled." I closed my Bible and prayed, "God I am pretty sure you are calling me to Kenya next summer. I want to go but not if you aren't calling me there. Make it very clear to me that is where you want me. Thank you for your patience and love."

 The next morning I picked back up with Hebrews 3:16 and I reached chapter 4 verse 7 which says, "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." I closed my Bible and thanked God for his clear call and his patience with me. Before work I printed the CMN application. 

  I completed the application and put it in the mail on a Saturday morning. Sunday morning Ensley wanted to go to "big church" with us to see the baptism of one of our students. The service started with Pastor Jonathon Abongo from Katito Baptist Church in Kenya telling us of the work God is doing in Kenya and thanking our church for the partnership with CMN. I smiled and thanked God for the assurance. As Jonathon began to close he said "You will come to Kenya and you will be blessed." EJ knew of my wrestling with God the past few weeks and knew I had surrendered to His call but we had not discussed it with the girls at this point (I had just put my application in the mail the day before.) Ensley was sitting in my lap and turned with her finger on my chest said "He is talking to you, Mommy." I began sobbing and said, "Yes, baby, He is."

After the service I told my two sweet prayer partners in this journey about the recent events and that I was going to Africa. They took me to meet Phil (founder of CMN) and Jonathon. I was introduced as the pharmacist which apparently is a big deal on these medical mission trips. They expressed excitement because the need for pharmacists is great but they have so few willing to go. God has had a plan for me all along and He is giving me glimpses in unexpected ways.   As the time for trip drew closer I held these memories close as a reminder that He has called me and He will be with me. I was not afraid for me or my family because I completely trusted His call and knew no matter what happened He would be glorified. I have returned from my first (but not last) trip to Kenya and I am not the same. As I continue to adjust to the 8 hour time change getting up at 3-4am I will try to post precious moments and pictures and ways you can join in praying for the work God is doing in Africa.

Blessed with pure sweetness!

I haven't blogged in a long time because there is so much to say and so little time. I have been making notes of things so when I have time to sit down I will remember all the milestones and memories. Ensley has been so sweet that she has brought me to tears three times today and I wanted to make sure I never forget this day so I'm making time to journal these sweet things.

We were running errands this afternoon which Ensley loves to do (mainly because most places we go someone gives her a sucker or a sticker) but Ellie not so much (because she doesn't do well in the car). Ellie was crying and Ensley was trying to calm her by saying things like "ohhh Ed. It's ok. Ensley's right here." "Don't cry sweet girl. We're almost home." And singing Jesus loves me to her. She is such a good big sister and watching her love on her little Ed is such a blessing.

We sat down to dinner and Ensley prayed "Thank you God for this day. Thank you spending time with Mommy and Eddy. Thank you for dis pea and dis pea and dis pea and for carrots. Thank you for my food. Amen" then she took a bite and said "Mmmm, that's good. Thank you for my supper Mommy." What a sweet precious heart!

Ensley asked to listen to a song from Steve Green's Hide Em in Your Heart which is a children's album that puts scripture to music so of course I said yes. She was trying to sing along with every song and I got choked up hearing her sing "I will twust in You. I will twust in You." And "Love da Lord your God wif all heart soul and miiiiind."
God I pray these songs and scriptures will be hidden in the hearts of Ensley and Ellie that they will not sin against You. I pray they will delight themselves in You and Your Word and I trust You will give them the desires of their heart.

So blessed. So grateful. So undeserving. So humbled.