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.