In the Know...

What's going on??

Here is a random list of what's been happening lately with Team Thompson and OSM:

1. Today, some of our best friends moved back to South Africa. We are sad for ourselves (and Ezra as he had a fantastic Auntie) but excited to see and hear what God has in store for their futures.
2. A week and a half ago we were on our way, following our friends, to camp in the Masai Mara. On the way our car completely died. We had to have it towed back to Nairobi where we were told we needed a new engine! Stink! We decided to proceed with our camping trip since we didn't have the money for a rental car and didn't want to just sit around the house all weekend. We had a fantastic time and Ezra was a trooper. The past week and a half we have been trying to do ministry without a car. It has been quite a challenge, but we have some really great friends who have gone way out of their way to help us. If we ever didn't have money for a new engine, it's now.

Ways I have seen God in this:

• We broke down in a GREAT place on the side of the road.
• We were in a convoy with friends who were able to come back for us and tow us to a gas station.
• We have a great mechanic whom we feel we can trust.
• Friends of ours have let us borrow enough money to pay for the new engine until we could pay them back. These are some of the same ones bending over backwards to help us get to ministry sites.
• We got an email today from some supporters saying they just sent a check in. It's almost enough for a new engine!!! (All of this is still cheaper than getting a new vehicle. It's the best option we have.)
• Our friends gave us all their left over groceries since they were packing up to go home! So we had enough in our pantry to last us until October!

God TRULY gives us our daily bread!!

3. Ezra is sleeping through the night!! And he is just an amazingly great baby.

4. We can officially announce that our Welsh friends are expecting a baby in February! They have been trying a long time as well! God is faithful!

5. The Helsby's are dropping in!! (an unexpected treat this Friday)

6. Thomas and Noah slaughtered 160 chickens Friday and put them in the big outside freezer. Thomas came on Saturday and moved them around hoping they would freeze. I began smelling an odor Sunday and told Chris. He thought it was just spilled chicken juice. When Thomas came Monday he realized that hardly ANY had actually frozen. Ugh- this makes me sick to say: We had to burn nearly all of them. It was SO disappointing.... to say the least. That was a pretty big blow, I must say.

7. The boys are doing well in school. A friend came and took some video of them in class the other day. I nearly cried. They look so big and grown up in their uniforms. I'm just so proud of them! Their teachers have come to Chris saying "These are really good boys." I miss them though...

8. Chris' Dad is bringing a team in 2 weeks! We are so excited about him finally meeing our sweet boy!

Berith Bible College Graduation...

What a joy it was to get to be a part of BBC's first graduation. Here are a few pictures from the graduation in Kibera last Saturday:

All the graduates together with Professors Vitalis, Indiazi, Sukresh Padri (and Chris)

Pastor Indiazi finishing the graduation ceremony by "turning each student's tassel".

Susan M.

Wesley Langat

Vitalis translating the ceremony for Indiazi

The procession of students entering

Thomas' proud family

Ezra and Uncle Thomas

Sunday Supplications...

Praises!

Berith Bible College had their first class of graduates this past Saturday! Six students graduated. Their families, from all over Kenya, were able to come and participate. It was such an exciting time for the ministry and we were so blessed to be part of it! (Stay tuned for an update this week with pictures.)

Chicken farming is going extremely well! There was a profit this month! This is a great encouragement for our partners.

Prayer Requests:

Please continue to lift up those up country who are affected by the famine.

I ask that you please visit our friends- Bryan and Libby's blog: http://bryanandlibby.blogspot.com/

They were recently evacuated from their home...please...just read it. While Ezra is happy to have his girl, Annabelle, back in Nairobi- we are so sad at why they had to return. Please, please pray for the people of North Africa. They are in desperate need of us to petition the help of our Savior on their behalf. Honestly, I just sob every time I read their blog. I sob for an array of reasons: Grateful for their friendship. Thankful that there are people like them in HARD HARD war torn areas. Relieved that they are here, safe in Nairobi now. Heart-broken for these people. It's so different now when I see pictures of a Mother/Father holding their wounded child because they just couldn't run fast enough or they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Why is it different now? Because I look over at my sleeping boy swinging peacefully and cannot, for the life of me, imagine myself running for my life and his. I cannot imagine trying in find a ditch for he and I every time I hear a plane flying above. I can't help but sit here, helplessly, in my bed- crying.

So I ask, on behalf of these people, that you do what I'm about to do. And that is get alone with my Savior and take these people before the Throne.