a chance to live...

Sunday we had the opportunity to take a new convert with us from Kawangware Slums to Kibera's Berith Life Church. 

There is a reason why we picked up our new friend to go from one slum to a church in another slum.  Our friend's name is Muhammad and about 8 weeks ago he decided to deny himself and the Islamic faith he has known his whole life to take up his cross and follow Christ.  Muhammad received Christ one day on the streets of Kawangware through Chris' persistent street ministry in the slums.  Chris said honestly, he cannot remember him.  But a few weeks later Muhammad saw Chris in the streets and came to him.  He professed his new life in Christ and the decision he had made weeks back after hearing one of the presentations.  He expressed to Chris the challenges of trying to sneak around because he feared what would happen if others found out about his conversion.  

His brother came to him one day and inquired about him "acting differently".  You see September is the month of Ramadon (actually it has something to do with the crescent moon- but for all intense purposes it's about the month of September)  where Muslims fast sun up to sun down.  His brother asked him why he hadn't been coming to the temple to pray or participating in any of their rituals.  He simply told him "You have your faith and now I must have my own."  I believe his brother was puzzled by that.  

Fast Forward to Sunday: We met muhammad at a gas station to pick him up.  He had this infectious smile when he came to get in the car.  What an honor it was to meet someone who has given up so much to follow Christ.  As he became more comfortable in the car and answered our "get to know you questions" he reached into his doubled plastic bag to pull something out.  He pulled out a old bible someone let him borrow.  My heart was in my throat.  Chris assured him we would get him a bible.  As soon as we got to Kibera Chris gave him his bible so he would no longer have to borrow.  He was so tickled to have his very own bible.

As worship started we began the usual Kiswalhili worship songs.  But they meant much more than they ever have before.  We only know a few words here and there so I normally just do my best to pronounce what I can.  It's more difficult to close your eyes and truly sing words from your heart when you don't know what you are singing.  This time I just stood back and watched... I stood behind Muhammad, just surveying a transformed life in Christ-- truly worship.  He new the meaning of the words being sung and it was so evident.  I could see every facial expression and every move of his hands.  He didn't know the songs by heart... in fact it was probably the first time he had ever heard them.  I guarantee those words penetrated his heart more than anyone there.  

On the way back to the gas station, Muhammad expressed his concerns about telling his family- wife, parents, and siblings.  He felt as though people knew what was going on through other muslims in the area who knew him.  You could tell that he was both nervous and scared.  He leaves today to travel to tell his family of his new life.   

None of us will ever know the sacrifice of converted Muslims.  I encourage you right now to please take a moment to pray for our brothers and sisters who have converted from Islam to Chrstianity.  Pray for them to be "bold and courageous".  Pray for strength and endurance.  Pray for God's hand of protection over Muhammad as he travels and as he reveals his news to his family.  Let's bathe him in our prayers so the enemy will continue loosing ground!   

"... Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." 2 Tim 3:12

In the beginning God created...

I usually try to keep posts like this pretty rare, because I don't want our supporters to think we are lolly-gaging around on their money over here in Africa. But I sent a couple of these picture to my mom on Skype and she insisted I put them on the blog... for her and she promised that everyone would really like to see these. Yesterday we drove to the Ngong Hills (which you can see from our house) to go hiking. We didn't end up going to the top (or the last hump of hill) due to time because we got lost for a little while, but it was a great drive. What a great Sunday afternoon!! As you can see from the pictures there were Kenyans up there just praising the Lord for his beautiful creation. Pictures don't do this place justice. Any of you who come to visit us... this is where we are taking you hiking for sure! Except Dad... we'll figure out some way to get you up there if I have to give you a piggy back! You gotta see this! Next time we go we're going to start early in the morning and make a day of it. We're going to hike every hump, take a picnic, and our bibles. I can't wait. I can only imagine what the top of Kilimanjaro looks like.

To answer someone's question: Yes- we DO go out. But FREE and BEAUTIFUL outings such as this are our favorite!

Enjoy the pictures, Ma promised you would!

this is definitely among my favs. (Chris, Dara, and Jehosaphat)

Jehosaphat is a maasi boy that followed us up every single hill trying to sell us a sucker. We had not shillings, but we admired his persistence so we gave him a little something when we got back to the car. He was such a sweetie! At one point I was huffing it up a hill and he cam right up beside me huffing too. I said politely "Jehosaphat.. i appreciate you trying to make me feel better by gasping for breath along with me- but really it's okay. I know I'm out of shape." He stopped. He climbs those hills twice a day... trying to sell suckers. I think he's do better with waters and sandwiches. So here he in atop one of the hills with his suckers. Great commercial.

In awe... together.

We still can't believe we're in Africa. Maybe next time we say that we'll be saying it about Sudan.

Do we love it here, or what?

my other favorite

Joy on top of the world...

Praising the CREATOR!

Walking by faith... NOT by sight (at all)

Why are we so scared of the dark? Why do we think being in the dark is a "bad" thing. Maybe the Lord is just trying to teach us something while we're in the dark. Maybe it is in the dark where teachable moments happen. Maybe it is in the dark where we truly have faith.
You may laugh, but i used to try to run down the road or the beach with my eyes closed just to see how long I could stand it. I would count my steps aloud as I squeezed my eyes as tight as possible only to open them again. Each time I would try to beat the record before. Though I could plainly see the surface I was running on and I could SEE there was nothing in my path to trip over, I could still only run about 20 steps.
Have you ever heard Africa referred to as "the dark continent"? Well, I figured out why tonight. Because when there is no light pollution: no flashlights, headlights, or fires... it is "DARK". Chris and I had an experience tonight and now I know why. Before we stepped onto Kenyan soil I wanted pray about some things specifically so I wrote my prayer out in my journal during one of my sleepless plane rides. I want to preface this story with a portion of this prayer so you can see HOW God answered it.
"...Lord prepare the way- be the lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Plant my feet so firmly on the Rock and foundation of your spotless Lamb and Holy word. Oh God please use us in a mighty way. Take away any pride or timidity that may stand in the way..."
With this prayer in mind- here is how our evening went:
Our night guard, Noah, lives "not far" from Kawangware slums. His wife lives about 8 hours west of here due to family and money situations. Lucy surprised Noah by showing up on Sunday. (Mind you, he had not seen their 4 month old baby boy yet, b/c when he took his vacation in January to go see her...she never went into labor until after he had left to come back here to work.) So we invited them over for dinner tonight. (I made Mexicalli. One of Ma's famous ones.) After dinner CT and I drove Lucy and baby home because it was dark- Noah had to work. (Every time we are out past dark we tell ourselves we aren't going to make a habit of it b/c the pot holes are a doosey in the dark... so are the Kenyans. They're a bit hard to see walking across the road at night. Somehow it has become a habit.) We pulled over once we got near her house. I still had the baby strapped to me at that point. Lucy said "Come now and see my house!" CT said "Well, I really can't leave the car right here." Opening my door Lucy said "Then Mama come, let's go." Personally, I didn't want to go trudging through the mud and unknown in the pitch dark. That was not my idea of fun. Falling out of my mouth as I swung out the car door with child in arms were the words "Chris, it's okay, it's okay... she said it's not far". Looking back I'm sure those words weren't so comforting, but Lucy had shut the door before Chris could say anything. So down the muddy embankment we went together. The further we walked away from the road the darker it got. I was squeezing that baby so tight. We followed a path between some bushes and past a few houses. I literally could not see a single step I took. Naturally the obvious fell out of my mouth "I can't see!" Immediately I was embarrassed. Lindy, do you think she CAN see? Do you think she's been able to see in the dark for the past 30-some years? She's been walking by faith her whole life. We finally got to a rusty old gate. She pulled it open and we proceeded to her house. She stepped into the house, held one arm out and with a smile on her face she proudly said "This is our home." In about 8 to 10 steps I walked from one side of the house to the other. She pulled out a chair and asked my to sit. I politely declined knowing CT was going to be flipping if I were gone much longer. I thanked her for her hospitality and I began out the door with her right behind me. I was sure that she would only walk me to the gate. As I approached the gate I saw a small light and heard my favorite familiar voice say "Lindy- I'm right here." We started back to the car together with a light. I told him how we walked to her house in the dark. He said "I know" and tried to turn off his flashlight...we tried twice. But since we HAD the light, we couldn't NOT use it. I thanked Chris for coming to get me. He replied "I wouldn't have stayed in the car." He confessed that as soon as the door shut he pulled off the road as far as he could, shoved it in park, found a light and jumped out. I asked him how in the world he found me and how he knew where to go. He said "Lindy, honey, Kenyans are quiet and very soft spoken... and you... aren't so much. I just followed your voice." (I had no clue I was being that loud. I mean could i please draw any more attention to myself?)
Tonight... my prayer was answered.
May your faith abound... even in the darkness.