Quiz time...

What on earth is this thing???

Sunday Supplications...

Lucy

Lucy is a friend of mine that works at my favorite shop in Kenya- Amani Ya Juu. It's swahili for "higher peace". Some of you may recall me blogging about it before. It is a sewing-marketing-training project for marginalized women in Africa. They have sister stores in Rwanda and Burundi as well. One of the first times I ever went there, I went for their morning devotions. Afterward I walked over to a lady that I knew was Sudanese. All I could do was tell her that I have a love and passion for her people and country. I told her I was sorry for the genocide that they have had to endure. I then we just cried together. That was it. We shared a moment and connected instantly.

I don't see Lucy much when I go, because she is so busy. She is one of the 3 women who helped start Amani Ya Juu with the help of a women named Becky. I keep up with a few of the woman I don't get to see through our friend Ali. If I haven't mentioned Ali before, then forgive me! Ali is a designer from Michigan that moved in with us in January to commit to a year of volunteer work with Amani. A few days ago Ali came home and told me that Lucy's husband has been traveling back and forth from Sudan working as a reporter. She was told he had reported some controversial truths about things going on there. Now, Lucy's husband is missing. He has been for nearly 3 weeks now. Lucy is devastated to say the least. She has 3 children one of whom came in Friday from school- she was planning on telling her that he father is missing.

David

David is the day guard for the main gate to our neighborhood. I have never seen him without a genuine smile on his face. We certainly have such a great respect for him. We have witnessed him do things for others that he did without knowing anyone was watching. Last week we noticed someone had taken David's day position. Thomas noticed as well and inquired about David's absence. We found out that David's wife was pregnant with their 3rd child and due around the same time as us. Last week she developed high blood pressure and went into the hospital. David went to visit her after work on her 5th day in the hospital and she was not in her room. The staff informed him that she and the baby died. We are COMPLETELY devastated for them, as this hits very close to home for us. We plan on making meals for he and the children this week as well as taking them some essential cooking items and sharing some of the Manna packs we deliver when the next container arrives.

Please join with us as we lift up these 2 suffering families.

Today...

Today, I remember that I put the kindest, gentlest, most loving human being to death.

Today, I remember that on my best day, I mock him and slap his face with my sin.

Today, I remember that He never hated me, but I hate Him daily through the voice of my actions.

Today, I remember that God cared more about His holiness than my happiness.

Today, I remember that love never looked so radiant.

Today, I remember what I did to that love.

Today, I remember how ugly His form was made to be.

Today, I remember that he downed every drop of the cup.

Today, I remember Jesus loved the Father more than He loved me.

Today,...

... But will I remember tomorrow?

PLEASE: If you have 22 minutes... no,... MAKE 22 minutes available and listen to this narrative.

http://www.sovgracemn.org/_files/2010_04_02GF.mp3

I love you Jesus.

I love you Jesus.

I love you Jesus.

"Beattitude Adjustment..."

Some of the boys wearing their new "Saint Boys Futbol" shirts! (Thanks Rusty & Sarah!)

The boys went from staying with us for 2 days to 1 week! Something tells me I'm going to need to make another trip to the grocery store...

Yesterday was kind of a rainy day and Chris was getting over a sinus thing from Friday so we might have watched 2 movies and played a few video games. ;) They loved every minute of it though. Today Chris woke up with a certain aura that ALWAYS precedes his killer migraines that make him vomit, pass out... all that fun stuff. So thankfully Thomas came and got the boys and took them to their church just down the road. Chris took some medicine and spent most of the day in the bed; poor fella. After church Thomas brought the boys here to eat then I took them all to Embulbul (neighboring town where Thomas lives) to play soccer with some neighborhood boys Thomas knew. They had a blast and by the time they were done Chris was feeling somewhat better. We brought them back, had Bible time, then ate "Pie-Chicken" as the boys were calling it. Yesterday, Chris began talking about Matthew 5 with them. They were going through and talking about the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. Several of them have already memorized some of the beatitudes we talked about yesterday. Chris was doing a re-cap today from yesterdays lesson and he got to "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Keep in mind that the boys' english isn't quite as sharp as ours, but they try. Chris said "What is the 8th beatitude? Blessed are those who are _____?" One of the boys shouts out "prostituted!" Wow... not quite.

Other things I didn't anticipate having to say this weekend are:

*"Get off of Wallace; he is NOT for riding."

*"If you don't start lifting the toilet seat you will have to go in the bushes!"

*"Boys, the trash can labeled "FOOD ONLY" is for food only."

*"Easy on the Texas Pete, you'll burn your mouth off!"

The priceless things we've enjoyed so far are:

*Tonight during our prayers, Julius wanted to pray for Ezra and I- he prayed the sweetest prayer (from what I could understand in kiswahili).

*The boys have been keeping their distance from me- i guess they think I need an entire couch to myself or something. Tonight I was on a 3 seater couch and half of them were standing on the other side of the room just looking around. I said "Ezra is a boy- therefore there is a boy already sitting on this couch so stop being so afraid of me, just because I'm a girl." I ended up on the couch with 4 boys surrounding me and leaning on me. (There are only 8 here!) :)

*They all gave me hugs after dinner for their "Pie-Chicken".

*They got to talk to Rusty and Sarah tonight and they told them how much they missed them.

Thomas told us that his church is having a 3 day bible study for young people from Tuesday to Thursday- 8am to 4pm and it includes lunch. So we decided the boys could really benefit from that this week. Monday they will work odd jobs around the house then go swimming. Tuesday through Thursday they will go to this 3-day Bible study. This will also give Chris and I chance to go to the hospital and get paperwork done for "labor day", get our ultrasound, and get other ministry things done during the day. Everybody wins and we are SO excited for this opportunity for the boys!

We know this is such a God-Send because we decided to close the school for the week since they go to school every single day without breaks. Mama, Deo, and Issa need a break! We also knew that 'idle hands are the devils workshop' so we weren't sure what to do with them since we also had many things we needed to get done. I'm already praying for the ones in the group who are new believers to get clarity through this study and for the ones that aren't yet sure, that this may help them to understand more. We would love you to pray along with us!

Back into the swing...

We're back into the swing of things... mostly. The night we got back we stayed up unpacking and chatting with friends for a while. We finally went to bed around 1:30am and slept until 12noon the next day! (With the exception of getting up to feed the animals and doing a few things around the house; I pretty much slept that late) We were bushed! We went to see the boys as soon as we got dressed and fed. They were SO excited to see us; the feeling was certainly mutual. We had good "family time" and learned that one of our boys (David) had gone back to the street after his mother had paid for him to go to boarding school. Furious that she had wasted her money for him to run off, she decided to take him to the police and let them deal with him...(aka: beat him). As of now, David has just been released from jail and is scared to death. He is staying with his mother and father. Little James has yet another ear infection- I can see it draining and I smell it. It's awful. We just returned from buying some antibiotics to take care of that. Anyone know a good audiologist in Nairobi? We need to know why these are reoccurring, draining, and why this effects his hearing. I'm emailing a pediatrician familiar with the area to see if he has suggestions. The other boys are doing very well. They are ALL so excited about spending the weekend with us.

We figured since we slept so well through the first night then the 2nd would be a breeze. Well, Chris, Ezra and I were all up last night from 1:30-4am. We prayed for our friend Gaylin, watched Ezra do some Kung-fu in my belly, watched part of "Where the Red Fern Grows" then prayed some more . I think tonight will be the night- we'll be over our jet-lag.

Today we went to the doctor and then grocery shopping for the boys. I'm still measuring 4 weeks ahead of where I am so the doctor ordered another ultrasound for me. I could have gone for the scan today, but there're just no time! We're on high demand right now and probably will be for the next little while and we have some minor car problems that need to be taken care of. It also doesn't help that they close for 2 hours at lunch every day. We'll get over to that side of town one day! I'm anxious to see why I'm measuring so large and about what Tiny T is measuring.

We really appreciate your traveling prayers. We both talked about how we felt them. We had a GREAT trip back. Honestly, I was nervous about flying being so pregnant, but there were NO ISSUES! Dottie told me that she had a group of women getting together to pray for Ezra and I. JUST SO HUMBLING. We truly are SO grateful!

It's almost time!

It's almost time for us to head back to Kenya! 8 days as a matter of fact! I think we're both pretty pumped about getting back to see our boys, the team and getting ready for the 3rd member of Team Thompson to arrive! The Lord has shown us so many ways that we need to improve in our communication and in other areas of ministry. I'm all excited about being a MUCH better helper to Chris and I know that it won't truly show until I act on it back in Kenya. I'm learning and understanding more about the administrative side of things- so I can help out more while I'm home with baby Ezra. I'm just so sorry I've done such a poor job at communicating on the blog, email, and snail mail with all of you. I now realize just how important it is to keep this blog updated and our supporters "in the know". I think I figured not many people read this blog, so why update much? The fact of the matter is- it doesn't matter if just 1 supporter reads this blog; you STILL deserve an update!

Here is what we know:

Thomas calls every few days and he and Chris speak kiswalhili for the first few minutes! I'm so proud of my man! He says everything is going well- ie. chicken farm, boys, and school, and the house. NO major crisis! Yay! The only thing we haven't been able to do is talk to the boys. It's killing us to be honest. If we weren't getting back so late at night on the 11th, I think we would drive straight to Kawangware to see them all. They'll be in the bed anyway. They better be!

And the babe shall be called "Ezra Lewis Thompson"

Ezra meaning "HELPER" and Lewis Means "WARRIOR"

We have already been praying that our little boy grows up to be a helping warrior in the great commission. God has been so good to us in giving us this little guy.

Baby Ezra: Is HUGE! I look like I could give birth ANY DAY now... and yet I have 10 weeks left! (And I'm feeling it) Whew! I'm so ready! Although we have a team coming the beginning of March to the guest house. So I'd like him to come early... just not too early. We get back on Monday, the 11th and we have a doctors appointment on Wednesday and she will probably order our next ultrasound.

Praises: People have blessed and blessed us since we have been home. People are so excited alongside of us for our little miracle boy! Several families have blessed us financially and I have been able to work a nursing job while home. We now have nearly enough to pay for his birth in Kenya (barring no complications)! We are so humbled by the generosity and genuine outpouring from others concerning our family. We've received many hand-me-downs, 2nd hand car seats and other items saving us TONS of money! We are blessed beyond words!

I'm so excited about getting everything ready for his arrival when we get back. His daddy is also rather thrilled about making him a crib.

Prayer Requests:

Zipporah- it has been a rather long recovery for her, but she is doing well. Please pray for her emotionally as they deal with her miscarriage and try again to get pregnant.

Noah and Indiazi will be traveling soon to Uganda to teach hungry pastors for 2 weeks!

Normally I don't request prayer for our travels, (but since I'm almost a Mommy I can ask) and will be 31 weeks along when we travel, I'd love if you lifted Ezra up as we fly back to Kenya on April 10th. Pray against blood clots and pre-term labor please.