Emmanuel

He's 7. His parents died of AIDS. He's a precious cheerful boy! I have video of him talking with me. He understood his extended family wanted him to live somewhere else. He still managed to keep up his attitude. Evidently, he is teased for his circumstances. The pastors hoped that being in an environment of respect and love would be better for him.

Benjamin

He's 3 and he's an orphan. His parents died of AIDS.

Jane, Vivian, Lillian

Ages 14, 13, and 12. They are related. Their parents died of AIDS. One was born out of wedlock. They are not able to get school fees. Their grandmother takes care of all of them plus several more little children. She would like them to go to school.

Jane, Vivian, Lillian

Greeting the orphans

I met with a few orphans today. First was Benjamin and Emmanuel and then three girls: Jane, Lillian, and Vivian. They are related. They live with their elderly grandmother. There were 9 children there today, but the girls said they do not live with all of them.

All the girls said they wanted to live somewhere that they could go to school. they could not go to school in their current situation. School is about $250 a year. They were in ragged dresses and I know it was not staged because when they came to get their photos taken as orphans, they were dressed nicely.

One girl said on command, “We love you and we want to live with you.” God bless her. I was sad for her. Can you imagine having to say such a thing to someone you do not know?

The grandmother gave me 2 eggs, a pineapple, and a chicken. I was very blessed. I had to give the chicken to Titus. Sarah insisted that I avoid killing and eating it. Pastor Steve told me that I could get our hotel restaurant to cook it for me....but Sarah would have none of it.

We started our day heading out to the bank. it was closed. Independence day. We went to Jako market where we spotted a white female dressed up and walking alone. She had sunglasses and high heels and we were amazed. We stared at her as she walked away.

When we got to the church, someone had already taken Medine and Anita to Ibuti church. It is Pastor Wycliffe’s new church. I came late with the other Wycliffe and Doug. Sarah and Steve stayed to do TGD work with Walter, Frank, and Henry.

Anita was preaching on marriage and it was great. I felt like it was good preaching for Doug to hear and I would have liked Sarah to hear it, too. It was good for ME to hear! She talked about how to love one another as men or as women.

When the time came for me to preach, I explained that I had lost my voice and so I was going to do something different. It was hard to speak but I could be heard with some effort. I had Doug read John 14 and John 15 one verse at a time, then Pastor Stanley would read it in my new Luhya Bible, and then Pastor Wycliffe would read it in Swahili. Then we had the congregation repeat it back to us. That way we all had the Word of God in our hearts and minds. Abide in Him and you will bear much fruit. If you love Him, you will obey His commands, His command is love one another. We love one another by caring for others as we care for our own needs.

Afterwards, we ate. I had a terrible time! I gagged when I was eating the ugali! It is because of the association with eating when I was here before and was so sick. We eat this same thing every day so I am praying God will get me through this.

Tuesday June 1st

We went to a funeral for a sweet little baby the other day. It was so sad. The baby was six weeks old. She caught malaria and they took her to the hospital but she was dead on arrival. She had only been sick for 8 hours. She was so perfect and beautiful, appearing to rest in sleep in her little crib coffin. We comforted the mother who was dazed and heavy with grief. We prayed over the couple. Will and Jackie still have a beautiful little girl about 3 years old. God protect them. The mother has had malaria, too, and is very sick and weak.

The whole church turned out and had church in their yard.

Yesterday we bought Bibles for the pastors with the money donated to Anita. We drove over those outrageous potholes that boggle the mind --and the body! Doug and Sarah and I went over old memories and their childhood stories. How I loved those days! I loved being a mother of little children even as I looked forward to a future with them older. Times seemed easy then, before teenagers. And now, with all of mine out of the teens, life is so good and easy again. What a blessing.

I lost my voice yesterday. I didn't go with Medine and Anita to the other new church, but I go to one today. How will I speak? one plan is to have someone stand up and read John ...I think ch 14, 15 but I can't remember. read one verse in Luyha, read it in swahili, have them repeat the verse in one language (asking pastor) and then silence to ponder it. then read it in English. I might do it this way. read it in english, then luhya, then swahili--they repeat in swahili, then a pause to consider. then next verse.

we'll see what God does. that way I don't have to speak, though, but we still preach the Bible. I am relying on God. He is my strength.

Pray for us for strength and health. There is so much sickness here this time. So many hurting. May God remember the orphan and the widow. More on that later, God willing.

one guy testified that he used to steal men's wives, but now he is saved and no longer has a temper. another used to rob people at gunpoint and his partner would make people dig a grave and then bury them alive. His partner died, but he went came to Jesus and is now a pastor. Many are blessed by his change, but some who remember were very afraid of him still.

I'm HERE!

Already things are moving so fast I can barely remember. We are so thankful for prayers for our safety. Our plane from Nairobi to Kisumu was speeding down the runway for lift off and the whole plane seemed to be vibrating and making loud noises. The plane began to slow. I was praying we had enough runway if we were going to come to a stop.--we did! Turns out we had a flat tire. How thankful I am that it blew on takeoff rather than landing!!

We were taken back to the airport on a bus until another plane was arranged. it all worked out fine.

We headed out to Eubulechia. They were having a womens meeting. OH it was good to see friends! I wish I could talk more! but I know so many names, now. It was just me and Medine. We were so happy!

Afterwards, Titus took me to see Deacon Bernard's church. It was destroyed from the flooding and rains. Many homes had damage, but his was the whole side and part of the roof. They can't live in there until it is repaired. He has a wife and two children.

Oh My! The blooger connection is failing. I pray I don't lose this blog.

I got to see Mary, the orphan Laura sponsors. I met two other girls, Diana and Celestine (?)

Diana is 13 or 14. I forget right now. but she is not happy living with her aunt. there are other children in the home. she wants to go to school. she does not always have fees. she needs $50 US dollars to get her whole uniform, there are book fees and school fees.

So Joseph thinks we might need to bring the children to one place so the funds go right to them. She wants to go to school to be a lawyer. She wants to go to school.

the other girl, too. She wants to go to school. they both looked pretty sad. and they were not thrilled to talk to me. they seemed embarrassed or ashamed. Diana likes Ugali and she likes reading storybooks. Celestine likes football.

The problem is that we were TRYING to keep them in HOMES! but we may not be able to get them fair treatment in homes. they work like house girls taking care of the children, gathering firewood, fetching water, washing clothes. It is not the end of the world for them to work as housegirls. but they are without representatives in this world.

It rained while we were at Mahalerie church. they brought a P.A. system out there and it was crazy to see them stringing a wire between mud huts!!

Oh we went to a funeral. It was a six week old child who died of malaria within 8 hours. The mother had malaria when she gave birth, too. it was so sad. the little baby was so perfect. we went and greeted the mother and laid hands

Countdown to lift off......3

I'm ready to be on the plane and in Kenya already. The rains have increased the mosquitoes. I pray the rains cease! It has rained every day and flooding has washed away some friends' homes. We pray against malaria. I suffer with my friends. I ask God for mercy.

I'm packed except for the final once-over. I cannot finish because I am waiting on Medical Bridges. They are supposed to complete a hand-carry load of medical supplies. I have to drive over and pick it up in Houston. It will take up one of the extra suitcases. It only takes one suitcase for a two week trip, but I am going for 8 weeks. We usually take another suitcase full of supplies or over the counter medicines. Since Trinity Global Development sent an entire shipping container, I can use the extra suitcases for my personal needs. I already had mine and Sarah's completed. I insisted Steve take an extra so I could put foodstuffs in there. However, with the addition of the medical supplies, I may have to cut back significantly. It is all good. I know God can take care of all my needs and I trust Him for them. As long as I have water and sleep, I can survive. I suppose I am thankful that Sheila insisted I take Malaria preventatives. Looks like those are going to come in very handy! I insisted that Steve go and get some. He's pretty lax about it generally. We got Sarah all that she needed as well. Costly, since she is not on our insurance, but worth it.

I have been praying and reading the Word and preparing spiritually. There was so much physical labor for a while there, that my prayers were not in a quiet time but continual as I worked. I made it through!

Yesterday I was blessed to have Camilla bring her family to church with us. That was fun! and then we went to Ztejas for brunch on 6th street. Lovely. Later I went to Fitzhugh Baptist church way out 290 past the Y at Oak Hill. It was a lovely time with the music minister of Hyde Park Baptist presiding over a small symphony of worshippers. It was awesome. It was perfect. I was lifted. We sang old classic hymns and different members gave personal presentations. It closed with a short message on salvation and rejoicing. I was blessed. I am going to go to Lifeway bookstore TODAY and buy a book of hymns to inspire and encourage during my work in Kenya.

I cannot wait to see my Kenyan family. I cannot wait to go around to the villages. I am eager to deepen relationships. I rejoice in overseeing the work there. It is good to be about the Lord's work. I am a Son of God!

Blogger issues!

I wanted to post how excited I am to go to Kenya. Instead, my blogspot connected this blog with a different profile. I have a google profile which gives me a trinityglobaldevelopment@gmail.com email address. Then I have the one we use for Trinity usually anyway, which is sarivers@sbcglobal.net

Obviously, I cannot get concerned for privacy when I am a public charity--however---I wanted these identities separate electronically. The systems merged them.

Frustrating! For a moment there, it wanted me to set up a whole new profile.

Another weird thing is that I have a Picasa album online that holds all the photos from this blog. I did not even know it. I ran into it somehow. I am setting up different things on this new Apple computer so I am just going down different rabbit trails. Weird again.

My friend Jana keeps pulling her facebook down for privacy concerns. I have several friends who don't even do facebook because they are afraid of exposure or identity theft. Identity theft is serious. We had it happen twice. Wells Fargo caught it for us both times quickly, plus pegged us wrong on two international trips---which is FINE. We worked it out quickly because we really are who we are.

And I have a thousand passwords now. I had forgotten my YouTube account for a long time. It really upset me. It is a very hard password. I have old passwords and so many different log in names. You cannot be a dim wit and do this stuff! I am border line, obviously!

More posts about Kenya next time. I have to get my thoughts in order afresh.

The Rivers minus our Kevin

Kevin was too tired to come over for photos--so we'll try again in November! Glad the puppies made it! They were precious!

I love this picture. No, it is not our most favorable--but we are cracking up! We'll be married 27 years on May 26th. Then off to Kenya on May 27th.

trinityglobaldevelopment@gmail.com

trinityglobaldevelopment@gmail.com EMAIL FOR KENYA TRIP

email me while away

while in kenya, i will not be able to access my sbcglobal.net email because i do not know how to get to that server or what my passwords are--or anything! so I am using my trinity email because I can access it from anywhere as long as I can get online. maybe I'll make it my apple laptop email receiver--if I can figure out how to do it--or get someone else to do it for me.

I've been praying and reading the Bible and encouraging my spirit today. I've been packing. I emailed Medical Bridges about taking another package of medical equipment and supplies on the plane. I messed up on needle sizes but I will have Dr. Kennedy fill out an order form for me--to show me what he knows he will need. Joy Joy Joy. God is good. I'm beginning to have freedom from worrying about food. I'm ready to go.

Packing for shipment

No, this is not a picture of me packing. but i am on my new Apple laptop and to import some pictures--i pulled out my dusty external drive and found this cool photo. Looking through several years worth of old photos is difficult and makes me wistful about the past....BUT I AM MOVING FORWARD! and the forward is delightful! so much good work to do for Jesus through TGD.

Today I packed up my nursing books and midwifery books to send with the shipment. I really want to focus on maternal health and safe prenancy/delivery. There is so much to be improved upon. Many women need iron. They need blood pressure monitored. and when bleeding becomes excessive, they need intervention. I want to teach and promote healthy behaviors to the women who are already teaching others. then they can do the good work of saving lives. i'd love to do it myself --but i see now that my best gift is to empower others--not be the doer. sniff sniff. i'm okay with that.

and back to work I go....packing and planning and training on the mac for long breaks. :-)

FIRST FLOOR COMPLETED!!

I just got news today that the building has an enclosed first floor and they are beginning the second floor!

Building Progress!

You can see here---we have walls! Rose, Immanuel and Samuel all give us a wave.

Hooray! It is a wonderful blessing. Thank you for supporting www.TGDonline.com and the people of Kenya as they grow in their skills and ability to work and feed their families.

The next blog entry is our newsletter--but all the titles and squished together with the paragraphs and all the pictures are missing. I just wanted to post it on here for those who want to read through it online.

Trinity Global Development
May 2010- What’s New?

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/IP3bp9FC

TGD Services: Our Profit Arm Gets Some Focus.
We are so excited to announce that Shanker Karpe has joined the Trinity Global Development team. Shanker is developing the business model for the new for-profit arm called TGD Services. We are so excited to welcome him! His knowledge, skills, and his abilities will be a great benefit as we move forward towards the consulting business that will help fund the medical clinic and computer lab. Sarah Rivers will oversee the billing for TGD Services. She is training on the accounting software now. She will be going to Kenya with Steve and Stephanie on May 27th along with Medine Watson, Doug Tyler, and Anita Nenonen. Welcome Shanker and Sarah!
Now is the Time to Purchase Items for the Computer Lab!
We are working diligently to ship many items. We had a snag with the paperwork for the official NGO status in Kenya. We’ve had to start over again. Now it should proceed smoothly and be finished within the month. Now is the time to purchase items for the computer lab because we are preparing the shipping container. We can fill it with your donations and get them to Kenya! Donations from literally change the reality of the people in need. Scroll down, BUY so the industrious can LEARN and WORK!
We Have T-Shirts for Sale!
Special Purchase: We purchased a very luxurious soft t-shirt and got a super cool graphics design from The Sanctuary Printshop. (See attachment to email for a sneak peek.) Order for yourself and as gifts for those you love. They are high quality t-shirts in chocolate brown or heather gray with a shield logo graphic on the chest. WOW! Only the best people will have them. YOU!  Come pick one up for $20 or we’ll mail it to you for $25 in Small, Medium, Large or X-Large.
Second Floor Going Up on Trinity Global Development Community Facility
Building Update: You are changing LIVES! You are directly connected to the people in need. Walter says that the progress is remarkable. They are almost putting up the slab for the second floor. He asked me to, “Please include the fact that it has continually touched lives. It has been a source of livelihood to most families.”
Orphan Sponsorship On Hold
Well, I think the orphan program is going to be put on hold even though it is featured in the videos I made for TGD. We do not have a system of oversight created. Obviously, the time is not right. When we can be certain about the children in need, their circumstances, their guardians, and someone watching over the administration of the money—we will proceed. I know many of you are poised to sponsor a child and several of you have chosen that certain child. I hope that when I get everything ironed out, that you will have the flexibility to begin then. Until then, please give to a general fund for TGD, which will benefit the whole community. I will proceed with orphan sponsorship when I can guarantee the program. I am confident that the time will come!
God Encourages Us!
Steve went to the hospital for knee surgery and God sent him two Kenyan nurses! One woman is from our area and speaks a Luhya dialect, Maragoli. We are so thankful to have met Jackie and look forward to partnering with her for the benefit of her people!
Determined To Donate Somehow—God Made A Way!
Anita has been blessed by those who determined that they would give something. She tell us: “One friend saw on my Facebook page that several pastors in the Cornerstone churches need transportation and that I was collecting money to provide bicycles for them. She determined that she would donate $100, which would cover one bike, even though family funds are less than usual at this time. Within a day, she was cleaning out summer clothes and found $100 she had forgotten she had.
A group of ladies in the Southern Illinois area have sponsored an orphanage in India for several years and when they saw that we are trying to provide bicycles for the pastors, they sent $100 because they have provided Indian pastors with bikes in the past and understand the need.
One friend’s company moved out of the area and she is unemployed. It was time for her unemployment benefits to end. When she saw the need for the bicycles, she really wanted to help but had no provision to do so. She told the Lord that if He would provide, she would send me $100 each for each additional benefit check she got until I leave to go to Kenya. That afternoon she got word that the benefits are extended and now she can provide two pastors with transportation!
Another friend really wanted to help by providing sewing machines to the women in the Cornerstone churches. Many people have come to the Lord by first coming to see the machines in the churches. The machines provide many of the women with a way to provide for their families. I told her that I wouldn't be able to take the machines that she owned for several reasons-- so she sold them and was able to provide $500 which will buy two machines and notions and material to get them started. We are BOTH thrilled!”
Together we are all making a tremendous difference in the lives of others.

BUY NOW! GIVE NOW! In addition to the many opportunities that are available via our web site www.TGDonline.com to give, we have a few short term targets, as well. The final stages of the new TGD Resource Center are nearing completion! We are making plans now to furnish the building with the equipment needed to implement our vision for the medical clinic and the computer lab.
Below is a list of the items that we will be shipping and quantities of each needed.
First we will be shipping all of equipment and supplies to Kenya via sea cargo shipping. We will be loading a 40 foot shipping container with the cargo and it will depart from Houston. The port of landing will be Mombasa Kenya. We will then truck the container from Mombasa to Kakamega via an overland carrier. HELP!

40’ Class A Shipping Container and transport from Houston to Mombasa. Cost $3,985.00.
Transport of container from Mombasa to Kakamega $1,250.00. Total cost $5,235.00.
In addition to the 14 pallets of medical equipment and supplies that we have from Medical Bridges, we will be shipping the following equipment and furnishings:
FOR STUDENTS! 21 Dell Inspiron 400 Zino HD Desktop Computers with keyboard and mouse, basic configuration. Unit Price $293.00 Total Purchase $6,153.00
FOR SERVERS! 2 Dell Inspiron 400 Zino HD Desktop Computers with keyboard and mouse, advanced configuration. These boxes will function as servers for the computer lab.
Unit Price $560.00 Total Purchase $1,120.00
22 Dell Inspiron 19” Monitors. Unit Price $119.99, Total Purchase $2,639.78

FOR CLASS INSTRUCTION 1 Casio Slim Line DLP Projector, $499.00
1 60” X 60” Wall/Ceiling Projection Screen, $108.13
1 Royal Sovereign 10,000 BTU Portable AC Unit, $358.00
Oh My! We SO need these…2 Lasko 30” Industrial Oscillating Fan w/Wheels, Unit Price $169.62 Total Purchase $339.24
1 Gentron 10,000 W Generator w/Electric Start, $878.00
10 6’ X 4’ Folding Utility Tables, Unit Price $49.37 Total Purchase $493.70
2 8’ X 4’ Folding Utility Tables, Unit Price $79.74 Total Purchase $159.48
1 60” Round Utility Table, $99.88
Come On! Only 20 Bucks! BUY ONE! (or more) 40 Black Utility Chairs, Black Metal Frame - Black Vinyl, Unit Price $19.99 Total Purchase $799.60
4 Gorilla Rack 6’ x 4’ Steel Shelving, Unit Price $57.98 Total Purchase $231.92
2 Commercial Bin Shelving, Unit Price $113.24 Total Purchase $226.
3 6’ X 4’ Stainless Steel Work Tables, Unit Price $109.76 Total Purchase $329.28
1 Multi-Media Projector Cart, $217.18
5 Commercial Pneumatic Work Stools, Unit Price $29.34 Total Purchase $146.70

Your donations are changing the world.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH! THE PEOPLE OF KENYA APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH!!
We are so thankful to those of you who donated in March and April through Dell Matching Program which DOUBLES your gift!!! And we are so thankful for every gift, large or small and every donation of time, talent, and effort. God bless you!


Send your check to: TGD, 1008 Vanderbilt Circle, Pflugerville, TX 78660
or
Go online at www.TGDonline.com to use Paypal and Please send an email to sarivers@sbcglobal.net noting which item you are purchasing.

or Dell Direct Giving for those who can give online at Dell and double their gift up to $10,000 this year!!

Big Changes!

I'm getting ready to make my May newsletter for Trinity. There have been some exciting developments!

Video for Trinity Global Development

click on the title of this post, "video for Trinity Global Development" and it will take you to a roxio slideshow of Kenya. Please give!
www.TGDonline.com

Our donors have been so good to the people there. Thank you!

http://www.aish.com/j/j/83191097.html

What do I need to live in the villages for a few weeks?

I find myself preoccupied with this question. Jesus said not to worry about what you will eat or drink or what you will wear. So instead I think of things like water, bugs, potty spots, hair washing, medicine and cameras.

What will I need in the villages? I need a little lock box thingy that wraps to a tree so I don't have to worry about theft. In a world where there is so much scarcity, someone like me bringing essentials would be a prime target for pilfering.

I saw a spice box set on uncommongoods.com and I could make one of those for fun. it is not something i feel I need, but i could give it as a gift to mom, or rose, or something. probably for less than the $35 since i have some spices already.

but I need my medicine. I would like to get off medicine so I would be free to just be myself. that's not likely to happen and I wouldn't have a way to monitor blood pressure. without hormone meds, I am the devil, so best not chance it unless God requires it. Medicine has been a great blessing! but it does cause us to look to science rather than God and to bless science rather than God.

my hair.

i have purchased several cheap scarves at Old Navy. I suppose this actually falls under worrying about what you wear. But my hair gets oily in one day (although it is great for having less wrinkles!) and YUK!! I need to wash it AND condition it, particularly because I color it.

If I spent a whole year in Kenya, I would just shave my head and let it grow out slowly. This horrified Steve. I think I have a mandate from my husband to keep my hair if at all possible. but I would be wearing a wrap on my head! not walking around bald. I don't think I have a good head for bald.

Water. OH WATER. WATER WATER WATER WATER. Water is important. and I cannot drink the water there. (neither can they!) I will have some prayer warriors standing in the gap for me before the Lord.

which leads me to remember potty issues. Toilet paper. it is scarce. Titus was so shocked when he came to the U.S. and he saw that someone had papered a house. He could not believe the waste of something so valuable!!! I second that now.

so I am thinking I would like to arrange having a toilet seat placed on top of a bucket that has had the bottom cut out. then we could set that over the outhouse hole in the ground and I could sit down (at least in the mornings!)

and if I happen to get sick in those 8 weeks, I will need to sit because nausea, vomiting and diarrhea make me dizzy and faintish. I could never hold myself up. I end up laying on bathroom floors at home if I am ever hit with such a virus.

chin hairs. I don't usually worry about those stupid chin hairs that begin after 30. but what do you do out in a village for weeks? grow little sparse beards about one's chin? HILARIOUS! and leg hair? ugh. I shall be a circus attraction in no time, if God so chooses. However, if I can come up with suitable alternatives, I will avoid such catastrophe.

I am looking forward to working the plants, sorting the beans, washing laundry with the women, and learning names, words, and the language. I want true fellowship in the spirit.

moods. I dread my pouty moods, whiney moods, angry moods. Should be good discipline for me. I seek it! I want the Kingdom of God to begin with me. I want to live in Christ! I want to throw down the god of the stomach and appetite and comfort. I am too much a follower of the god of comfort. Time for idols to fall and Jesus to be lifted up!

"If indeed we share in the sufferings of Christ..." well.....Stephanie doesn't suffer much here in the U.S. I don't have the sufferings of Christ. I am not persecuted, I am not hungry, i have a NICE place to lay my head. I do not battle the pharisees, I do not bear many burdens of others. Mostly it is a really nice life where I get to do whatever I want to do, I can pay for most anything I need, I get to worship in freedom, I talk about Jesus freely everywhere with little pushback (strange looks though!), I don't have crowds interfering in my life, I don't have to walk everywhere. Very few people question my motives or my direction or my integrity.

I want to follow Jesus.

I DO follow Jesus.

It seems He's led me into the promised land!!!

It seems that He fights my battles and is the lifter of my head!

It seems that He always promotes me.

so I can afford to let this all go and love others, serve others, bless others, forgive others, submit to others. The love of Jesus compells me!

but I do worry about water, medicine, bathroom facilities, my hair, and yes, "what you will eat." I try not to worry. I try to trust. I want to love. I want to go reaching out in love. It is not a sacrifice, it is a joy. I'll probably hate it, though. My flesh is going to scream. My spirit takes a perverse delight in considering how my flesh will suffer. I am an overcomer! I am a victor in Christ! This life is not my own. I pray I can do this well. I think of the Christy Nockel's song--"My light will shine on earth and my Father WILL BE praised!" Normally, I am not into light shining because it smacks of the boasting we are not to do---but let my light shine in this.

Huge diversion here.......which makes me think of Laura Koke of Shoreline church. She shines dimly due to her fashion focus but since her son died last year, her light has been like a stadium and I praise the Lord she serves for how He has upheld her and proven her to be a true child of God in spite of all the criticism. Bless her, Lord. She has suffered. She has loved you. She trusts in You. Let her light shine. You are praised, Lord!

Dr. Kennedy, Rose and Titus

I am so thankful for these three! May the Lord bless them abundantly. Without Titus, we would not know where or how to work in Kenya. Without Dr. Kennedy, we would not be able to move forward on the medical clinic. I cannot help but want to live my dreams of serving others through the gospel, education and medical care. I am always amazed that I have the crazy privilege of doing these things for Jesus.

Dr. Kennedy will help us acquire anything we need for the medical clinic. He runs a hospital in the Kakamega area somewhere between Kakamega and Kisumu. He runs his own private clinic in town. He was able to quickly provide medicine when I was so ill. He gave me some kind of anti-spasmodic for the intestines---what a gift! what a relief! It was a painful illness and his knowledge and availability made everything run smoothly (oh that is a pun, ugh.)

I am so eager to stay in the villages with the people. Even Titus is staying in villages lately to get to know the people more and to love others.

I want to stay in the Ebulechia area. I don't know what all I will need. Water and Toilet paper, for sure.

Beano? I'm not used to eating beans but it is a common meal there.

My medicine's, sunscreen, hair covers since I will get so yucky. I have to wash my hair every day at home. and then my color will be growing out ridiculously by the end of 8 weeks. But Old Navy had wraps for under $10, which means I could purchase many and then I can leave them as gifts when I go. The women love head wraps and scarves. In this photo of 11 women, there are only five with head wraps. But it is beautiful to see all the color in the clothing when I am there. I am not one to wear colors because I feel so fat in colors, but in Kenya, it means you are prosperous---so I get to be fat. so I can wear colors! yay! Another gift from Jesus.

TGD facility develops!

We excitedly watch the building go up. We exercise patience. It is a long process and all is going well.

www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Luhya

Although I have purchased some gospel media in Swahili and even Kikuya, my friends are Luhya and I long to get some materials translated into Luhya.

The Jesus Movie

I have purchased solar audio players with the God Story in Swahili and a DVD of The Jesus Movie in Swahili.

Trinity Global Development facility

It is very exciting getting news about the building progress. How many buildings do you use regularly in your life?

How many times do we take good buildings for granted?

But we are bringing a good building to the Kakamega area. A missionary friend tells me, "Oh they love buildings!" and so do we. I never think about it, but what if I didn't have all these nice buildings in my life? I would wish we had something substantial and clean.

The foundation has been poured as we head into the month of April. We have wired more funds to begin the walls. We are praying daily for the computers to be donated, for the medical equipment shipping costs to be donated, and for our programmers to get up to speed in Java and C sharp so that we can begin the For Profit that will fund the community development. It will be the locals supplying their own community with relief! They are very motivated.

I was speaking to another missionary the other night. She, too, has read Walking with the Poor. She asked me if I had read, When Helping Hurts. She described someone who thought they were doing a good work and had to pull out because it was undermining the life of the locals. I suppose she was asserting that there is a problem with passivity when you come in and "rescue" the poor.

She either said or implied that people were passive. I assured her that our friends are anything but passive. That is why we got involved! They are already working on changing the community on their own. We are just joining them and adding to their efforts.

We have listened to what they wanted to see improve. Bishop Titus said definitely his dream was to have a library. What he really wanted was the computer lab. Later, he said with the change in the local medical clinic, he wanted to see the medical clinic come to his area. The people have asked for wells. And now they'd like to see some support for the orphans and widows.

In the meantime, they are working on improving agricultural yields and income by changing from sugar cane to corn. They have gotten a community tractor and they also rent it out to the area so that they earn income. The church growth has been phenomenal and is difficult for them to keep up with. In remote areas, they are planting many new churches. They are teaching the people the good news of the gospel and promoting a biblical culture above the traditional culture. Whereas a woman formerly had to marry her brother in law when her husband died, she now has freedom to remain single. A man who has many wives is told to take no more. Young men are told to marry one wife and to remain faithful to her. Men are to love their wives and treat them kindly. Women are to respect their husbands and affirm them. Great change has come! Many of the Christians have taken in orphans, even though they struggle. They resist putting the children in orphanages and strive to keep them in families. The churches try to aid widows who care for orphans. Oh they are anything but passive in Western Kenya. They are serving and loving God.

Obviously, all is not utopia. We are still on this side of heaven. Family members are killed so that someone can gain their land. A boy was killed for eating a farmer's sugar cane. A child dies because no one knows CPR. Children die of Malaria from lack of treatment--a bed net costing 1.50 can reduce malaria 100%. A house worker steals the furniture from the home. But changes have come and the quality of life continues to improve. People are eager to work, thankful for work, eager for education, thankful for education--this is not a passive people. God is at work in their lives and He is active and powerful. It is very evident.

hmmnn

"Telling people that Christ died to forgive their sin can be hard to understand if people do not know which God you are talking about or understand the idea of sin." Bryant Myers: Walking with the Poor.

I get frustrated with Christians using churchspeak because I was once a non-Christian and could not understand the verbage. Grace, to me, was a prayer for dinner. Sin? Well, I didn't really have a concept of sin. Gospel? I really did not know what this word meant. And Kingdom or Kingdom of God was just as foreign.

Sharing with others has to include the idea of who God really IS. Words that are basic, even childlike, can promote understanding. Every concept should be explained, not given a word name. Every Christian word is so pregnant with meaning for us. When you've studied the Bible and heard preaching and teaching for years, it becomes a different language--a loved, shared language filled with joy and peace. The scriptures bring associations and connections into your spirit and soul that lift you to awareness of Our Great God.

But when you don't know Him, they are crazy words. Forgiveness is easy enough to understand, but non-Christians and even Christians now promote forgiveness as something beneficial to the forgiver! They've forgotten the point. They make it about themselves. No, forgiveness loves the other even when that other is unworthy of love--because we, too, have grieved God with our rebellion to Him, yet He has forgiven us through the sacrifice of Jesus.

What you do hear about is Love. God is love. "God loves you. You just need to know how much God loves you." But the great commission continues with, "Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." and then we know the greatest commandments are, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself." But who is taught to obey?

If my children danced around all the time because they were so happy I loved them and they praised me for it--but they would not do a thing I said and they were mean to their sisters and brothers---what is that to me? It is not worth much. That kind of love is worthless. They would be enjoying the FEELING of loving me, but not loving me at all and not loving their siblings.

The commandments, Love God and Love Others, are to be taken seriously. Okay, so God loves you so much, then show your love for Him by obedience to Him and service to others.

Worship done right

It is awesome to praise the Lord in Kenya! Here we are at Pastor Steve's church as a train of praise is coming through. I am in my element!

It's the song of the redeemed rising from the African Plain. It's the song of the forgiven, drowning out the Amazon rain. The song of Asian believers, filled with God's holy fire. It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation, a love song borne of a grateful choir. It's all God's people singing Glory Glory Hallelujah He Reigns!

and now my beloved sister, Julie Xiao Franklin has given her life to Jesus! and my dear friend Medine is coming with me to Kenya! and I'm taking Cindy's son, Doug ---and maybe Daniel, too--to Kenya. and I am filled with the wonder of God's love and His amazing transformational power. and He gives us the ability to endure this life, to overcome, to live victoriously! How amazing are His tender mercies which are new every morning. Come Lord Jesus!

Speaking about Trinity Global Development

Praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am so grateful to have an opportunity to share about Trinity Global Development with Mothers of Preschoolers at First Baptist Church in Round Rock on Monday! I get 10 minutes. What can I say in 10 minutes! I could take an hour. Stephanie needs to be succinct. and organized.

One problem is that when I think of the work God is doing in Kenya, a thousand images rush into my mind and words spill out onto my tongue and I catch them before I just say......OH! My! because I find it hard to find the starting place.

Do I start at the beginning? that is so boring

and then to me, the beginning could be all the way back when I was only a Christian for one year and God calls me to the mission field during a time I was reading Goforth of China, George Mueller, and Youth Aflame. (just one year into Jesus and having revival already!)

Or do I just go to how God was showing me a time of repentance during an Austin Stone leadership summit in 2008. They walked us through repentance as a group and individually and it was so powerful. God showed me that I wanted to be a missionary to be the elite of Christians. I tried to deny it, but obviously, God is not wrong. I was so grieved. and I was glad I had only been allowed to go on one little mission trip so far.

But then after that, Kenya came! and so I am so thankful He prepared my heart. Not that my heart is good. But I am thankful I am in this with eyes wide open. and I am going and reaching with love. and how graciously that love has been received! it is like going to a place as a rock star. superstar! it is fun and I appreciate my sisters and brothers there. They walk through an entirely different world than I do. They have different strengths and weaknesses. I can't wait to spend eight weeks with them this summer and engage our souls. I can't assume we'll connect on all levels but I can stumble through the process lovingly and being loved. I think you have to stay connected so you get to the deeper parts of relationship. where it gets uncomfortable.

I just finished making some promotional materials. How I want to promote our people! We have excellent Kenyan employees. We have 60 laborers working on the building. and now we have taken photos of nearly 200 orphans in hopes of reaching your heart. Todd (in the photo above) did a great job. I'm not sure a photo captures the hearts of these children--so I wish I had made more video.

For 25 a month, the family that has taken the child into their home will be able to buy food for all. This substantially improves the outcome for all of them and assures the orphan a family even in hard times.

I'm not sure what we consider as poverty--but this is it.
Assured access to clean water is limited. Food is possible, but perhaps they don't eat every day. Many people live above that and always have food and water. They may even have plenty of clothes (although there are many who do not have enough clothing)--but medical care is a problem.

What they DO have is abundant community. Not everyone loves each other, as evidenced by two recent killings. One young man of 19 walked by the sugar cane and pulled off a stalk to eat (nearly universal practice there) and the owner killed him.Another woman lost her husband but she had land through him. His brother wanted the land so he stabbed her to death. The children grow up in this atmosphere. It hurts me.

When I go there, I see only the good. Everyone rejoicing. I know it is not that way all the time. I want to commune with them---not just come in like a tourist for a week or two.
Soon. Soon I'll be there.

adorable

a pic here and pic there....nothing like being there.

OH Hallelujah

God is good. He so encourages me. Even when He doesn't seem to be there, He encourages me. and then I think--duh--You are always with me! You are within me! You hold everything together in the Universe. You know my thoughts. You watch over my ways. Hallelujah!

Thursday we are having a meeting to show Todd's amazing photos and tell his story. I will be there cheering, clapping, and crying. It was a great trip to see friends. They are wonderful. They have such joy and don't need all these trappings that I seem to need now. They remind me about how you have joy in pain and suffering. How you rejoice in Loss. How Jesus is everything you need.

and they remind me regular stuff, too. Like the pastor who got mad thinking that I had promised him a new church building (nope. never thought such a thing nor mentioned it) and so he was mad and thought the head pastor was stealing from him and he left the church.

well, the devil tore that brother down and I pray God build him back up and send him back. Let us embrace him. How often have we felt someone got something we wanted. it hurts.
but don't be an accuser of the brethren.
He was wrong.
No one mistreated him.
sad.

Oh I wanted to add a YOUTUBE video from my channel: stephanietexasrivers
I was on there sending the link to Medine the other day and Cheryl today (HI GUYS IF YOU MADE IT HERE!) and i wanted to post it again on here.

It is Pastor Bernard when he was just an associate pastor leading the youth singing this song,
Whom am I to say No?
and I love it!
It is sort of dischordant but they sang it that way on purpose. it was intended. and it captures my attention.

still, my fave is my girls dancing! woo hoo! and Josephs church is the most celebratory and I love them! (i love all the churches!)

I am studying for physiology and pharmacology right now and I can barely keep myself into it. and the exams are monday and tuesday. and I want to apply to nursing school in may.....so off i go. Lord Jesus, put that stuff in my brain. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for bringing it to my remembrance that I may do Your Will, in Jesus' name.
amen!

Orphans came to get their photos taken in hopes of getting sponsors. (girl in fushia/white dress is not an orphan)

Pastor Steve and wife Melab. The difference after preaching about displaying affection to your wife. I think he's got it down now! (above picture is the AFTER. below picture is BEFORE--when my husband told him to get close to his wife and show affection.....he just stood far off and stretched his hands towards her. My Steve said, "No, you look like you are praying for her...get closer." and Pastor Steve took one step closer and this is how that looked...)

I'm getting excited to return to Western Kenya, East Africa. I have tickets on hold while I check the dates. I'm taking Doug as a gift to my friend Cindy who passed away in March of last year. Cindy wanted to serve on the mission field. She wanted to become a doctor. She earned her Masters in Biology and was studying for the MCAT.

At the funeral, I told her son Doug I'd like to take him to Kenya with me as in her honor. Turns out Doug tells me he was called to Africa as a child. He's never understood it, so it is curious that now he will be going there. It is life changing, for sure.

I couldn't sleep last night. I was texting Titus (in Kenya) before bed. Steve wanted to know about buying a house in Kenya.

Steve is saying that he'd like a house where we could stay when we come frequently and a place where visitors could stay. I would like to have a washer and dryer, oven/stove top, refridgerator, shower, toilets, running water, electricity, and Steve wants all that and air conditioning.

So I was asking Titus about that and about the cost of a pick up truck. We would like to have an ambulance for the clinic and a way to have a mobile clinic that could go out frequently. He was texting back about the truck saying it was about 1,200,000 shillings ($16,000) and i thought he meant the house.

OH MY! we'd love to buy a house for 16,000! But that was too good to be true, of course. We could have a mud hut, I'm sure, for the low low price of about $2,400. But that is probably with a thatched roof---too tempting for the mosquitos though. So you need a tin roof, but that is so costly! It is about $2400 just for a bit of roof!

and you know, i'd rather build wells if I were going to spend like that.

but I also know that if I bring people over there, they will fall in love, like I did, and they will be so delighted and filled with joy to give to such wonderful and needy friends that an investment in a house could bring great rewards to the people of those surrounding communities.

I'd also like to set up some way for medical students to come and do internships with the hospitals there. They would learn so much about tropical medicine ---and be a great help in the process. Plus, their dollars for the priviledge would go back into helping the community.

I will be working on setting that up as time goes by.

There are so many plans in my head and I need to be thinking about physiology. I have a pharmacology exam on Monday and a physiology exam on Tuesday---and it is Valentine's weekend! Steve's taking me to Trulucks and the Ballet! Very exciting. but even better is taking me to Kenya for the summer!

I have a trip planned. Contact me if you are interested in going. It is worth the investment for the eternal rewards.

Must return to sanity.

I felt the need to post a Kenya pic so that the blog would return to something resembling normal.
These are women of Joseph's church in Ebulecha, which is Northeast of Kakamega, pretty far back off the roads.
You can't tell it from this picture---but these are some Jesus worshipping ladies! They go all out and they are dear to my heart! Nothing boring with these women! and their church is very generous as well.

Mary, a double orphan in Eubulecha Church

Mary and Brenda sit on my lap. I called them over to me because they are just so cute. Pastor Joseph prepared a presentation for me. The children all sang, some recited scripture, some recited poetry, some did a special dance (oh! four year olds doing African dancing is absolutely enthralling.)

I learned that Mary is an orphan. We took pictures of each one of them and took their names. There were more than 15. Maybe 20? and that is in addition to the 91 orphans from the other churches who were at the big church on Saturday when we did tried to get them all listed. Mom has the list and I need to get it from her. I wanted to try to get sponsors for some of the children. Even 10 a month goes so far there!I especially wanted to find someone to help Mary. and of course, I was determined that if no one cared, I would surely support this girl myself. I have been praying...

I got a sponsor for Mary today. MY DAUGHTER LAURA!! NOTHING MORE PRECIOUS THAN THAT! because Mary has been haunting my heart. I am so burdened for her. Where are her parents? How did they die? why didn't some relative take her in? She must feel so outcast! She is only 8.

Mary isn't alone in her predicament. Maybe there is some comfort in that? I can't imagine. What could be the identity of communal orphans? How do they think of themselves? When parents die, children feel abandoned. But then the other girl in the picture and others like her......she has one parent living. Who is that parent? Where are they? Why does this little girl live with a non-relative. It is perplexing. It must be very painful. I always had my two parents. I can't imagine life without your own two parents who take care of you. Yet there are many orphaned and not just from AIDS. People are always saying, "so many orphaned by AIDS" but when you actually find out that this one is because both parents died in a car accident. Or they died from Malaria. Everyone just assumes it is AIDS now because there are so many AIDS cases.

There is a girl named Sharon who is an orphan of AIDS. She is nearly 13 and she is only the size of an 8 year old. She has terrible little white bumps all over her. She is a cheerful girl and seems smart. She has no one. Who will advocate for this one?

Many Christians in Kenya take people in. There is so much poverty. So much loss. Those who have even a little will share with others (at least in most Christian communities.)

and so four widows have taken in around four children each. I know a little of Mama Violet (the picture of the woman in....violet!)..... She is mother to a man I prayed for---His wife is Praxcidia. (Praxcidia is in the picture with me and her children. She was pregant with Emmanual on my first visit when I prayed for her husband.)

Violet's son cannot help her. He is usually in the hospital with AIDS. He spent four months there. He is still living. Most likely he does not work at all--Although Praxcidia and her children look healthy. That's a good sign.

But Violet has taken in four children and three other widows have taken in children and I am praying for God to prosper and save them. I am praying for sponsors for the children and for the widows. I am praying that the children get books to go to school. There is no one to help them get an education. Those children rely on strangers.

But I am so thankful my daughter has heard the call to meet the needs of a young girl she has never met before. May God stir our hearts and I pray that Mary and Brenda find Him in this world and live forever in the next.

Kenya, O Praise the Lord in Kenya!

Todd has put his photos on a photo website. Maybe not all of them since I am SURE he took more than that! I gave him my photos, too, and they are not all represented. But of course, mine are not so good.

It is good to be home eating familiar food. It is good to be in my own bed. It is good to drive my own car. The familiar is so good.

But I am thankful I will return to Kenya. I wish I had a house there. Sort of a base camp. I'd like to have a western style house. I think Steve is spoiling me with his Western comfort choices. He gets a rental car and stays at a western style hotel. But I'd also like to have a washer and dryer, a refrigerator, iron, bathtub/shower, toilet, oven/stove top and air conditioner. Gee. Not much sacrifice in that!

but if you are READING, you probably would like to hear about KENYA....not my silly ramblings.
Let's see....

I'm continually thinking of Mary. She is an 8 year old orphan with no father or mother who is living with one of the widows of Joseph's church. I think he is trying to help support the orphans by putting them with the widows and then trying to help them. They've got a school set up to teach them. I asked what kind of student Mary was....the woman looked at me, looked at Mary, put her hand on Mary's head and said, "Not bad." Hmmmnn. Not a good answer. Mama Violet, the widow who cares for her chimed in quickly to add, "She has trouble reading. It hurts her eyes." Mary just stared down at the ground. I had no way to know if she understood English or not. Some do, some don't. I forgot to ask where her living relatives resided. There is always so much happening at once.

I think of Mary several times each day. When they presented songs, she was smiling and singing. I thought she was very pretty. Then Joseph had her stand up along with another girl who lives in the same home as he described the plight of these children to the congregation. After that, I think she was ashamed, embarrassed, or sad about her parents....God knows. Later, I called her and the other to come sit in my lap. I just wanted to take Mary home. I just wished it was that easy. "Here, child. Come with me. Do you want to go to America?" but no----I didn't say such a thing. Besides, she would have difficulties adjusting if I only brought her. The English problem is one thing. And how would she discover herself? but really, I'd take her.

and so I think we will look into adoption procedures there. just in case. although there are plenty of African American children languishing in our own country....still.......who is to say why God favors one of us over another? Who are we to say that Mary shouldn't come here? I hear the arguments. I imagine people saying it is unkind to take her away from her own culture. But what is she going to do there? Maybe if I could bring a couple of the girls over here. but I only want Mary today. I pray for her. I want to find a way to get her to the optometrist and get her some glasses. Hopefully, that is the only problem. She is 8 years old and the normal size for an 8 year old so she's been able to eat, thankfully. Some children are 13 and they look about 7. That's always really bad. They haven't had enough food. It is difficult to see it and know.

We also went to Pastor Steve's church. That was Tuesday. Oh....the schedule went something like this:

Saturday: We arrived in Kisumu by plane. We drove around Kisumu doing business--like going to the bank, going to the lumber yard, and somewhere else. We were driving to Kakamega when Titus' car broke down. We had to go back to Kisumu when we realized we did not have all of Todd's luggage. We headed to Kakamega again and stopped at the Golf Hotel to unload. ( I think!) Then we went to the church compound where we were greeted by singing. Hugs all around and then photos of the children. I don't remember after that.

Sunday: Five hour church service. Patsy made it through the whole thing even though we'd had so much travel and such a busy day on Saturday. God really poured out His Grace. I think we may have gone to see Dr. Kennedy that evening, but maybe he wasn't there. He was going to be back after 6:30pm. I think Steve got to meet with Walter. I was there ( I remember vaguely!)

Monday: Todd and I went to Panadol's church which is really Pastor Stanley's church. Panadol is going to preside over a new church plant coming up. That whole area is really responding to Jesus in greater measure than Titus' dreams! He can barely keep up! He is going to hold a four day revival in the area and then plant churches there.
Maybe on this day we got to see the children in the school. I saw Eunice. Maybe we met Henry? He was in the computer class. Steve met with the computer class. Oh they were so blessed. They were so excited about the opportunity that had come to them. Steve spoke with them at length. I had an opportunity to bless and praise them and encourage them. They had a chance to say thank you. They are just so encouraged that God has brought them this opportunity!! I cannot repeat it enough! Just that one thing alone was such a tremendous blessing. I was glad to be a part of this whole thing.

Tuesday: We went to Pastor Steve's church. His wife is Melab and she is one of my favorite women. She is beautiful and gregarious and she sings. She has a tailoring business. When we drove to the church, they had planted banana trees in our honor lining the road on both sides so you knew which way to turn as you traveled through the dirt roads. Titus said they were honoring us. It was wonderful.
When we got there, they were singing and clapping. We came out and went into the church. There were flower petals all over the ground laid carefully. It was beautiful! and there were small flower plants lining the tables at the front. They presented us with a traditional gourd. I was so happy.
We sang and praised. We sang, When Jesus says yes nobody can say no. I love that song! I love proving nay-sayers WRONG! Jesus is always right. and even when Jesus says no, you can swallow it because He is always right. He's not just a know-it-all, He really is THE KNOW IT ALL!

and my Steve was always doing other things. He did not go out to the churches on Mon, Tues, or Wed. He was meeting with a lawyer to get NGO status in Kenya and things like that. He met with two new guys and hired them as programmers. We are going to set up a FOR profit company which will feed money to the non-profit to keep the medical clinic running and low or no cost for those in need. One of these guys is already programming in Java, which he pulled off the internet as open source code so he could learn. He is very excited about becoming part of Trinity Global. He is taking a pay cut just so he can be connected to what Steve is doing. His name is Frank.

Frank has wanted to go for training at some computer schools in Nairobi, but he says so many of them are quacks. They will charge exorbitant fees for useless knowledge--but you won't know it is useless until after you have finished paying and try to get a job with those skills. There is no point in it. Unless you already know what you need, you will be clueless and they can take advantage of you. At last, Frank felt he was going to be connected with someone who knew how the western world did business. He was grateful and very excited about it.

Maybe on that night we also met with Dr. Kennedy and showed him the packing list of the medical supplies from Medical Bridges. He was amazed and wanted all of it. He brought Edwin, the pharmacist along. They reviewed the list going through it line by line on Steve's computer. Edwin said it will be the only medical hospital of its kind outside of Nairobi.

That night we also worked out the plans to have Todd come back and do a mobile medical clinic for a summer mission trip from Austin Stone community church. We learned that for $2000, we could set up a 2 day clinic ready to see 600 people per day with 10 different medical professionals--doctors, nurses, eye doctors, dentist, and pharmacists. That is a great bargain! OH HOW I WISH I HAD A FEW THOUSAND TO BUY THAT EVERY OTHER MONTH!!!!

But God will provide.

I'm being faithful to all I am called to do-- I must just keep walking in the light He gives me. I have to focus on obedience to what I CAN do right now. and even do what I cannot do --if He asks it of me.

But my heart leapt! It did summersaults and cartwheels. It did fireworks shows and musical dance pieces. Man....I really need to be a more laid back kind of girl. but it just aint happenin' these days.

:-D

So, Todd is bringing information to Joey Shaw and Ryan King at Austin Stone and they will decide how to proceed. Todd will bring a group of young people on one trip.....then one of those young people will be raised up as a leader for the next trip. Both of those will take place this summer. I think they are going to see how that goes and then determine their future plans based on the success of those visits.

I know they will be AMAZING!!! (i am tempted to make this be in 24 font or something!)


God is so good!

What else?

The school is going well.
Children fed twice a day. several teachers now. This is all great. I think another church is paying for renovations on the building.

Medical clinic has two potential nurses, but they have to be cleared by Dr. Kennedy pending review of their documentation. We have the Medical Bridges 100,000 worth of equipment which we bought for $8000 already. Now we are working on shipping (we foolishly assumed that they were including shipping! ha! NOW we know.) and Titus is working on getting us tax exemption and a guarantee of it going through customs. Then we'll store it in Nairobi until we complete the building, hopefully by May.

We intend to go again in May. I finish my classes by May 15. Geesh, we will be married 27 years by May 26th. What a great way to celebrate!!

okay......I think I write too long. It discourages reading. darn.

More later!

Link to pictures....

Check out Todd's site. He will likely continue posting updates and more information from his viewpoint. We had an awesome time!
www.toddwhite.org

I'm home. I'm tired. But I can't sleep. I'm too tired to be productive. I'm too awake to return to bed. Maybe it is a good time to review....
Oh my Kenya friends. How good to see you! What a reception! and Todd and Patsy were received as family and will remain in the hearts of the people.

On our first day in Western Kenya, one car broke down on the road. It was hot. Todd got out and went over to photograph some children playing in a school yard. They came running from all directions to meet this white guy with a big camera by their fence. He got some precious pictures of their beautiful faces. It turned out that we had left some luggage at the airport in Kisumu and so even when we got another ride to pick some of us up, we had to return to Kisumu. That put us way behind schedule. Rose had arranged for nearly 100 orphans to be at the church compound so they could get their pictures taken. They had to wait on us for hours. It is the Kenyan way, but it grieved Todd and he wanted to make it there before the sun went down so he would have natural light.
We made it. As we turned into the compound gates, the children were lined up on each side of the driveway singing and clapping to welcome us. Todd and Patsy were overwhelmed! I laughed with joy and love and wanted to jump out and hug my friends. Many I knew had come to greet us. I didn't know who to hug first! It's like when you come home to your children----you don't want to favor this one or that one---if only you could give a big hug to everyone at the same time! but you can't. I went around hugging and greeting those I recognized and used their name when I knew it since I know so many brothers and sisters by heart but not by name. (It is hard to remember so many names, but i am trying and each trip adds several more names.)
We headed into the church and I think we began photos immediately. Mom helped by writing the number of the photo and the name and getting the small detail. Some were of a single parent. This constitutes "orphan" in Kenya, but to us it is sort of "half-orphan" because we use the word to mean you do not have any parents.
There were 91 photos taken. Later, we went to Joseph's church in Ebulecha (or something like that) and took 17+ or more photos......I'm not sure. One little boy would NOT get near Todd and that camera! He was terrified! The church members or extended family seriously wanted him included in the photos in hopes of getting him sponsored but that child would not have it. He climbed up the woman holding him like a scared cat climbing a tree. I feared he would launch off her shoulder to get to the other side--away from the ferocious monstor threatening him. Poor baby. He was cute, too. But he had probably never seen a white man before. Many times little children can get frightened by our presence---we look quite ill to them, I'm sure.
Pray with me for the support of these children. How terrible it must be to live in the world without either of your parents! That seems so lonely. And who will advocate for them?

The next day was the church service and Todd was going to speak. It was such a great service! It was five hours long. Each church and several ministries had a presentation for the guests. We ended up cutting it short....not sure why. But Todd expected to speak at 11 but he spoke about 1 or 1:30pm. I had an opportunity to pray in the follow up of his message for people to commit or recommit to Christ. Steve said there were over 25 people who responded. I had Pastor Sony (sunny) pray over them. We also had a time where Todd blessed the babies. Many women came forward with their children for a blessing.
We had the school children sing, orphans sang, computer class had a presentation, Joseph's daughter (Pastor Joseph is the brother of Lead Pastor -Bishop Titus,) and Mama Selfa spoke. Some children came and sat on Patsy's lap. I think Ian was first and Lillian--children of Eunice who teaches in our school and now we have employed her husband Henry as an accountant for Trinity Global in Kenya.
Worship was awesome and lively. The women came over and danced with me and pulled me out to the middle. I praised with my whole heart and body and let the love flow in me and out from me. I loved everyone. I loved the universe! I felt one with everything and everybody! A taste of heaven, I am sure. I was high as a kite, on cloud nine, and every other cliche invented to describe happiness. My body just cannot contain the joy I feel when I am there. It is too much glory! No wonder God is invisible now!!! We would implode at our joy to behold Him in truth. Oh but I'm ready to implode! Come Lord Jesus!
Truly I was getting a taste of the love and unity of eternity.
The next day, we went to Stanleys church. I was so happy to go out to Panadol's area and hoping to get GPS coordinates so Charity Waters could work towards building a well there. It turned out my GPS is only for OUR SIDE OF THE GLOBE! That stank.
but I know God has it under control. Even though there are barriers, the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. we are going in and we are taking the land for Jesus! We are casting out injustice and poverty and suffering. We are bringing LIFE!
Jesus is the living water and He desires His creation to be pure and lovely. We are partnering with God to see His Kingdom come and His Will be done. We are only servants doing our duty. He is using us as a tool. I know it is His Will to see a well there. It WILL HAPPEN and nothing can stop it.
But I asked the people to pray. I assured them that I wanted to see a well there and that God wanted to bring a well there. I currently did not have the resources to do it and that they needed to do the praying. It is something like 1500-2500 USD to create a deep well. I will see it with my eyes as I see it in my heart.
God gave me a message the night before. It was about the woman at the well. How Jesus spoke with the rejected one, the immoral one, and how we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He accepts us and so we accept others and reach out to the unlovely. Also, God had mercy on Hagar and made her son great. She was cast out, abused and used. But God came to her and SPOKE to her, revealing Himself as El Roi (Row-EEE) the God who Sees. What is curious is that God gave me these references and so I reviewed them in the Bible. I never knew or noticed that after God spoke to Hagar, she opened her eyes AND THERE WAS A WELL THERE!!!! Okay, maybe I'm crazy, but I think that was God's confirmation. God awoke me at 2am with this message of the Samaritan woman on my heart and I was so excited that I just got up and never went back to bed. At least I had a good four hours of sleep, but I was so jazzed about the fun we just had and the fun that lay ahead that I could not sleep.
The people received the Word with gladness. Todd wanted to do a Question and Answer time regarding cultural exchange. The questions were about multiple wives, bride price (dowry), adultery, and bride inheritance (when a woman dies, she becomes her brother-in-law's new extra wife). Other things, too, like birth control and number of children. It was a good time of sharing.
We went to have a marvelous meal and I was so full of happiness that my stomach could not handle it and was jittery. I was crushed that I could not just dig in and eat it all up. It was a lovely meal. Soda, chipate (?), pineapple (I did eat the pineapple) and plenty of delicious Kenyan food, but I could only eat a small amount.
Todd got pictures of the sewing machine in Panadol's home. His wife, Mama Robei, showed us some of her handiwork. They told us how people could come to her for clothing repairs instead of going all the way to town or too the next market area.
Titus told us that people would come to see the machine and try it out. They would stay for church. They would come to Christ! Hallelujah!

okay......I think writing such joyful news is making me MORE awake and since it is 4:43 and I've been up since 2am, I will return to bed in hopes of a little nap before the day begins.