Clarity

This post is going to be a bit more direct and I apologize in advance if it hits you the wrong way, however there is a need to post this for clarity. Please read to be updated and clarified:

We have learned that a few people back in North Carolina have, unfortunately, heard some mis-information about our return to the US and have also passed on incorrect information to others. Before I offer information from the horses mouth, let me address this because it's implications are vital to this ministry and our lives. If you did not hear the information directly from me, my wife, this blog, or an email, then please refrain from passing on anything to anyone else. I'm not sure about what all is being passed around, but I can assure you that if you want to participate in causing discredit to our ministry, you will succeed if you continue. We ask that you return to the person who told you something contrary to what I am about to share, and ask them politely to stop. I implore you to go back to whatever "well-meaning" individual thought they would take liberty to purport about our lives as if their "interpretations" were correct, and correct them in the name of Jesus. (Lay hands on them if need be) This is very important to me that you speak to them to clarify what they are sharing. Gossip looks like a harmless thing, but can damage so much. I don't think anyone intended harm through their words, but nonetheless, it cannot be allowed to continue.

Here is what's going on in our ministry:

Lindy and I have moved from adopting in Kenya to adopting from Rwanda. The door has closed in Kenya for American's to adopt for right now. God began to open the door and show us Rwanda long before we knew there was an impending problem. In the coming weeks, we'll share more about the changes in our adoption and how you can pray, specifically, for it. If you would like to be part of our "invite only" adoption blog please email us.

As the door to Kenya closed, so did the longer stay we were planning here. As you adopt from Kenya the time required to live here is lengthier. We would be allowed to stay under a pseudo "adoption visa." Well, unless you have a work permit, any "visitor" or guest in Kenya has a maximum length of 6 months they can remain in country before having to leave. (you are only required to leave for 72 hours, so we could possibly go to another country for a short visit- but it has to be OUT of East Africa).

Of course we are excited about seeing family and friends, but that's not the main reason for our decision to return to US for a shorter visit. Since we switched adoption countries, we lost some of the funds we invested with a different agency. We can't get those funds back. Lindy has an opportunity to work in the hospital for an indefinite period of time which will gain us some funds for adoption and for our family's future needs.

In early January I will be returning to Kenya with a couple of our accountability team and continue the various ministry projects here. I will probably remain here for only a short time as I don't want to be a part from my wife for very long. This couple has served in Kenya with this ministry for years and are quite capable of continuing them for a few months.

We are planning on returning to Kenya TOGETHER before the summer begins as God has some very very exciting things in store for next year.

Lindy will work until we receive a referral from our new agency or the summer months approach. WE will then travel to Rwanda together and return to Kenya with our 1/3 larger family (or 1/2 larger). We will remain in Kenya for an indefinite period of time continuing the ministry as we have been. Teams will come. Guests will stay. Street Boys will be reached. We may seek another part of our ministry team to consider coming and taking the responsibilities of the guest house so we can focus on our family for those first critical months together.

Everything else from there is merely speculatory since God has not shown us that far in the future. What is most important right now is my family, THEN this ministry. The decisions we make are out of obedience to God and considering our family first.

Now, if you heard anything different than this from someone else, ... act accordingly and respond to them soon with this clarity. We love you all and seek your help in this.

Recovered...

Just wanted to write a quick note to say that we arrived home safe and sound. We are recovering from a bad case of DAE (dry-airplane-eyes). It's great to see friends and family again. It was only 10 hours after we arrived on Thursday night that we were out and about working on adoption stuff.

Some of you may know we have a house full in kenya when we left. We are so thankful that our friends and Only Servants board members- Mimi and Coulson could come and fill in for us while we are gone. They are a FANTASTIC couple and we consider ourselves SO blessed to have them on the OSM board. I'm asuming all of you are going to want to continue keeping up with teh happenings in Kenya while we are gone. Mimi will be keeping up with thier new blog- http://gothope4.blogspot.com/. So now you can continue following the street evangelism and all that is going on even while we are home...

Familiar faces...

What a treat to see some all too familiar faces from our home church this past weekend.  Chris and I were like little kids Thursday night before they came.  We stayed awake until about 1:30am wide eyed and so stoked.  Friday night we ate dinner then sat around hearing each persons expectations of the week to come.  (Obviously I was unable to go to South Horr seeing as I have internet access)  They had a great time of sharing and bonding.  I was very impressed with how well everyone's responses made sense on such little sleep.  It was very nice weather for their safari at Nakuru Saturday.  (Chris and I went, but we weren't caring so much about the animals).  I had a great time rekindling an old friendship with a girlfriend from childhood.  God has done miraculous things in her life.  Seeing her glow about what the Lord has done in and through her was such a blessing to me.  

Yesterday we took the team to our church.  We had communion for the first time in Africa.  I think it is so cool that their first acts in Africa was to take communion.  How special!  We stayed up late again last night trying to get all our chatting in before they left this morning.

  

I stood on the porch this morning waving at my friends as they left for Wilson Airport to set out for the bush.  I turned around and started into the house.  I realized right then- that I was totally alone for the first time: no guards, no house help, no husband, and no friends.  The tears began to build, but not because I was alone.  I really did want to go to South Horr, but I know I'm supposed to be here this week- for many different reasons.  I took this opportunity of being alone to sit on the steps of my soul and pray for the team.  I'm looking so forward to what God will be doing in Kibera this week.  

 

I am so humbled by the care packages sent by our family and friends.  It was like Christmas!!  (And I'm sure I was acting like a child opening it).  I must say I had a hard time coming up with legitimate things to request when asked.  I found there really wasn't anything legitimate.  I just kept thinking "But we aren't suffering over here- there really isn't anything we can tell them WE need".  Oh well!  It was fun to get some surprises.  I did ask for pictures and we received a massive family calender from my sister in law's (I'm pretty sure they all had a part in making it because I found some secret pictures in there that few people would know the story behind.  It's probably my favorite (besides the embarrassing amount of peanut butter).  My best bud sent me a stack of cards to replenish my initial stack.  I have had a card to open every Sunday since we've been here.  I've even had one when I was sick and for when I needed encouragement.  This time she's helping me to study women of the bible every Sunday.  I LOVE IT! I just can't begin to put into words how amazing it was to get things from "back home".  Thanks for spoiling us everyone!!

Unfortunately you won't be seeing any pictures I took of our team nor will you be seeing any new photos for a while.  My camera is GONE!  I believe it got swiped which doesn't surprise me.  I'm not going to dwell on it.  Bottom line- it's gone and that's that.  Sorry guys...

I do have some pictures from Thursday I downloaded (thankfully) before my camera was MIA.  These are my buddies that are coming to hang this week.  

 Doing a little song and dance at the school for the kids. (Check out the synchronization here)

"Read God's bible, pray everyday- you will grow, grow, grow"  
So this is humorous now, but it wasn't at the time.  I was trying really hard to cross over a big chunk out of the bank, not slip down the muddy embankment, and yet dodge the train (Which was stopped when we first started on the tracks, but started moving once we started walking)