Jambo! Greetings!
It happened today! The cultural collision that was mentioned in an earlier post was actually a pleasant event.
Desmond just happened to be in the neighborhood and spent time with us after church today. We have been welcomed to Kisumu before we even arrive there!
Desmond works in Kisumu with Christ's Hope International. What a delightful man who very much loves God and the people he ministers to. We were blessed to spend some time getting to know each other and to share a meal. (He likes Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza.)
We also got to see where we will be staying and some of the people we will be meeting and working with through a photo presentation Desmond had prepared. Here are some of the words to the song that began
the piece:
"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave:
Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen
Tell them of Jesus, the Mighty to Save."
Until next time...
Blessings from the garden,
Pat
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Satisfaction in a Sun-scorched Land
Jambo! Greetings!
I am looking out of my window at a profuse garden of delights. Bluebirds are feeding their babies, roses are in full bloom and the sweetpeas are so fragrant! The watering is done. I think often of Kisumu and the people we will be meeting. I think of the ancient land they live in and what they might be waking up to in the morning. What does their day look like? Do they have enough food and water? Do they have shelter and safety? Health? Family and friends? All the many blessings I sometimes take for granted? Then I look at a little verse I love that says
"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11
Satisfaction in a "sun-scorched" land. I am trusting you, Lord, for allowing our team to be a blessing to your people in Kisumu. May we offer Living Water to parched souls!
Blessings from the garden,
Pat
I am looking out of my window at a profuse garden of delights. Bluebirds are feeding their babies, roses are in full bloom and the sweetpeas are so fragrant! The watering is done. I think often of Kisumu and the people we will be meeting. I think of the ancient land they live in and what they might be waking up to in the morning. What does their day look like? Do they have enough food and water? Do they have shelter and safety? Health? Family and friends? All the many blessings I sometimes take for granted? Then I look at a little verse I love that says
"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11
Satisfaction in a "sun-scorched" land. I am trusting you, Lord, for allowing our team to be a blessing to your people in Kisumu. May we offer Living Water to parched souls!
Blessings from the garden,
Pat
Two Worlds Colliding!!!
Today Desmond comes, too fun!
Desmond is from Ireland, he lives in Kisumu and oversees the Missionaries there. He (and George, a local Missionary) are the ones I spent most of my time with while I was working there with AIDS patients. Now he is here, in the States, coming to my home! My head is still trying to wrap around this.
Then, my dear friends here in the States, (our team) is going to be going to Africa together, and I will be seeing them, their actual faces, IN AFRICA. This has been two totally different worlds, experiences, parts of my life. I can not describe what it is like to have the "two worlds colliding"!
Tomorrow our team will meet Desmond, what a great opportunity all the way around! Thank you God...
Laura :)
Desmond is from Ireland, he lives in Kisumu and oversees the Missionaries there. He (and George, a local Missionary) are the ones I spent most of my time with while I was working there with AIDS patients. Now he is here, in the States, coming to my home! My head is still trying to wrap around this.
Then, my dear friends here in the States, (our team) is going to be going to Africa together, and I will be seeing them, their actual faces, IN AFRICA. This has been two totally different worlds, experiences, parts of my life. I can not describe what it is like to have the "two worlds colliding"!
Tomorrow our team will meet Desmond, what a great opportunity all the way around! Thank you God...
Laura :)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Trusting God in ALL things!
Jambo! Thank you for following our blog!!
It has been an exciting week for me as I listen to God and respond with obedience. Before I was a Christian I used to think obeying God meant giving up my personal freedom. I was so wrong. The more I learn to discern God's gentle promptings...and follow them...the more I experience His amazing love and His perfect plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future." I am now 100% convinced that God does know best and He wants so much for us!
That is the easy part: knowing He is good. The hard part is following... And yet everytime I do, I am blessed beyond comprehension. So here is my confession: Sometimes I don't trust God enough to say, "Yes", because I am more focused on the details of my life that would be impacted...and without knowing how those will all be worked out...I am afraid to move ahead.
Forgive me, Father, for not trusting you completely. You are so good; and I love you so much. Please give me strength and courage to stop questioning your promptings when I can't see how it all works out.
In the precious name of Jesus...
Kwaheri (goodbye)
Kwa-ku-onana (see you later)
XOXO Pamela
It has been an exciting week for me as I listen to God and respond with obedience. Before I was a Christian I used to think obeying God meant giving up my personal freedom. I was so wrong. The more I learn to discern God's gentle promptings...and follow them...the more I experience His amazing love and His perfect plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future." I am now 100% convinced that God does know best and He wants so much for us!
That is the easy part: knowing He is good. The hard part is following... And yet everytime I do, I am blessed beyond comprehension. So here is my confession: Sometimes I don't trust God enough to say, "Yes", because I am more focused on the details of my life that would be impacted...and without knowing how those will all be worked out...I am afraid to move ahead.
Forgive me, Father, for not trusting you completely. You are so good; and I love you so much. Please give me strength and courage to stop questioning your promptings when I can't see how it all works out.
In the precious name of Jesus...
Kwaheri (goodbye)
Kwa-ku-onana (see you later)
XOXO Pamela
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday? Sunday? What day is it again?
Well, I must say, Time is flying! It was just yesterday I was meeting these ladies as my team and now we have 23 days until we leave! I am so excited to have been chosen to take this journey and feel so blessed to have such a great handpicked team!
While time passes I can slowly see new light to what God has in plan for what he wants me to focus on in my lifetime. I can't help to notice God laying a passion in my heart for teaching girls the importance of sexual purity. I have been surrounded by a great group of young ladies at CCC to help spread this message but now get the chance to go to where something like premarital sex is not only "the thing" but in most cases fatal.
God has blessed me with the tools and resources to be used as a vessel to help spread the message of the gift sex can be. I can only see what I have already experianced here with the youth helping me more in Kisumu and know that what I experiance in Kisumu will help me with what I have to offer here even more.
Love, Tanea
While time passes I can slowly see new light to what God has in plan for what he wants me to focus on in my lifetime. I can't help to notice God laying a passion in my heart for teaching girls the importance of sexual purity. I have been surrounded by a great group of young ladies at CCC to help spread this message but now get the chance to go to where something like premarital sex is not only "the thing" but in most cases fatal.
God has blessed me with the tools and resources to be used as a vessel to help spread the message of the gift sex can be. I can only see what I have already experianced here with the youth helping me more in Kisumu and know that what I experiance in Kisumu will help me with what I have to offer here even more.
Love, Tanea
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
"Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord"
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40: 1-3
This week God has shown me his unfathomable love, righteousness, and mercy. In my time of need he listened and answered my prayers. He was always making his presence know. Even though I am undeserving of his love, he is so faithful. It can be so difficult to wait patiently for the Lord in times of need, but no matter what he always listens to our cries, even if cries are all we can manage. God will always be there to pick us up out of the pit and lift us up like wings on eagles. I praise God's Holy name! He is Good and Faithful! HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
Jessica
This week God has shown me his unfathomable love, righteousness, and mercy. In my time of need he listened and answered my prayers. He was always making his presence know. Even though I am undeserving of his love, he is so faithful. It can be so difficult to wait patiently for the Lord in times of need, but no matter what he always listens to our cries, even if cries are all we can manage. God will always be there to pick us up out of the pit and lift us up like wings on eagles. I praise God's Holy name! He is Good and Faithful! HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
Jessica
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday - Back in town...
Thank you God that you are good, thank you God that you are faithful. Not because of what you do or do not do for me, but because you are God... and you are good and you are faithful.
I find myself stopping whatever it is that I am doing lately to be still and to listen to what ever it is the Lord may be saying. It seems to be easier to hear him speaking through the day when I have started the day setting aside time to sit with him.
I seem to be more aware these days... aware of Him walking the halls here at Christ Community. His presence here in my office, the silent listener to every conversation. More aware of him as I come and as I go...
Again, I thank you God in all things, thank you.
Laura
I find myself stopping whatever it is that I am doing lately to be still and to listen to what ever it is the Lord may be saying. It seems to be easier to hear him speaking through the day when I have started the day setting aside time to sit with him.
I seem to be more aware these days... aware of Him walking the halls here at Christ Community. His presence here in my office, the silent listener to every conversation. More aware of him as I come and as I go...
Again, I thank you God in all things, thank you.
Laura
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