Pray for Gilbert...

This is Gilbert. 

 

Gilbert is the son of our good friend Richard.  Tomorrow he has surgery on his nasopharengyl airway.  It is more than 60% blocked.  This is some kind of congenital abnormality.  He has had several different health concerns since he was 2 weeks old.  This is his first surgery.  Intern Teri and I took dinner to them last night (CT was picking up Laura and Ryan from the airport).  I explained to them that in the US when someone has surgery, friends will bring dinner so that the family doesn't have to cook- so they can concentrate more on their loved one.  Since Gilbert will be in the hospital until maybe Sunday, Richard and Beatrice decided last night would be the best.  (Today he was admitted for pre-op stuff).  So we showed up with our Mzungu food- hamburger casserole.  Richard and Beatrice liked it; the kids- not so much.  They took one bite and decided it was not for them.  They'd never had Mzungu food before so I can't blame them.  Then Beatrice walks out of the kitchen with beef stew, rice, and chapatis!  WHAT?  We were supposed to cook for them!  So we went to bless but we, in turn, were the ones who were blessed because it was sooooooooo good!  

I'm embarrassed to say we have known Richard now for a year and a half and never met his family.  We knew they had to be great b/c Richard is so wonderful so we were very anxious to meet them.  We immediately fell in love with all of them.  As a matter of fact, Sylvia had some trouble at first warming up to me.  By the end of our evening Richard asked her if she wanted to go home with her new Mzungu friend- so she was trying to climb in the van to go home with me.  She cried when we went to leave and gave Richard the stink eye b/c he told her she couldn't go with us this time.  I promised her that during her "holiday" (aka- time out of school, which is the whole month of August) she could come and spend a few days with us.  She liked that idea however it wasn't enough.  Richard had to tell her he would bring her by our house Saturday to hang out as well. This appeased her for the time being.   

What a great family!  Please note Sylvia's stink eye!  

So please pray for little Gilbert as he goes for surgery in the morning.  

The work goes on

In just a few short weeks, we will be returning to the place God has called us.  We don't want to miss any of the wonderful blessings that we receive while here with all of you, yet we must remain committed to the soil God has given us responsibility to labor in.   With this responsibility, preparations must be made for the upcoming year.   Arriving back in Kenya, virtually, at the start of a new year, means that all new challenges, questions, needs, rewards, blessings, and work will be awaiting us and our national brothers and sisters.  

I would like to take this time to highlight some specific areas that WE all can be in prayer for as the new year approaches.  Again, this is a very important way that we can invite you all to share in the ministry alongside us.  If you need to, print out this list and place it where you can be reminded to pray each day.  Carry it with you.  Share it with someone else.  

1.  Attitude and Obedience within us first -  Pray for Lindy & Chris to have the proper attitude and demonstrate complete obedience.

2.  Commitment to Ministry - Pray that our national partners remain committed to the ministry.  Pray that our US partners and friends continue to commit to the ministry.

3.  Growth - In order for new ministry to be possible, we need continued growth from believers in Kenya along with growth of our financial resources.  Please pray that we see the growth of faithful supporters in this ministry.

4.  Team - Please pray for the entire Only Servants Ministries team.  Pray for the individual pastors, leaders, and family members who live in the environments we only visit.  Pray for their health.  Pray for their protection.  

5.  New Ground - Please pray that the Lord would reveal any and all "new ministry" endeavors that we are to be a part of.  As we seek to grow what we do, it's paramount that God does the leading and revealing.

6.  New Team Members - Please pray that God sends the servants He wants to partner with this ministry for future work.  

7.  Harvest - Please pray that God would overflow all of our cups as we remain committed to him and his work.  Seeing rewards from faithful laboring encourages us all.   This is all for His glory, so we seek the honor of celebrating with Him.

Thank you so much for your role in our lives and this ministry.  As you have read, heard, and followed the excitement of the last 6 months, we hope you recognize that you cannot say, "their ministry" any longer as you talk about us.  You are now a part of us forever.  When you read blogs like this, when you email us with questions, when you listen to our stories, when you bow your head in prayer for a new believer, when you offer your gift of support and finances to this ministry, you are demonstrating one simple truth:

You are Only a Servant also!   And we are honored to share this work together with you.

Only Servants and nothing more,

~Chris & Lindy Thompson

Beauty from Pain

I wrote this Saturday night, but have had some trouble posting it.  So here it is a bit late:

We've been busy as usual and I will blog about Friday this week- so stay tuned.

For now we had some fun with ol' Keira tonight.  This video pretty much says it all.  But I had to call our (only) doctor friend (whom I've never ACTUALLY met) tonight because I was really worried that Keira was having a lot of calf pain.  It was red, swollen, painful, and warm to the touch.  I just wanted to make sure she didn't have a blood clot as she is supposed to fly home Friday.  Dr. Johnson told us we needed to go to the hospital right away- that she might need antibiotics IV.  So we hopped in the car and drove to St. Mary's Mission Hospital (it's super duper cheap).  I'd only been there that one time with the kids, but we got there without any wrong turns and going a different way. 

We really didn't get any answers from the doctor on call.  He gave her some pain meds, steroids and cream. Then told us to come back in the morning to see Dr. Johnson if need be.  She may have to go back Monday for an ultrasound.  

The good news is that God totally used this situation for His glory.  We asked the charge nurse if we could walk around the ward and pray for the patients.  Some were so pitiful.  All 4 of us laid hands on each and every person on that ward!  We would like to go back and do something similar to that again. 

Update after writing this post:  God has really impressed upon my heart (and Joy's) to go back weekly and spend time on the women's ward praying over them and talking with them.  One patient in particular I cannot shake from my mind is a young girl about my age.  She's probably very close to dying with the debilitating terminal illness which we are all familiar with: AIDS.  I cannot get her suffering off my mind.  We felt like our purpose that night at the hospital was to pray over each and every patient.  Now we want to take it a step further and visit them to tell them about the hope that is in Jesus Christ.  Though they are terminally ill- they can experience the peace that passes ALL understanding.  

I will shamefully admit that in the past I have desired different spiritual gifts than what God has so graciously given me according to what He knew was best for me.  Now i have grown to LOVE my gifts of mercy and compassion.  I've shared with you all before I am thriving from my bible study "Get Uncomfortable" (partially about compassion).  Maybe this is where I have grown to embrace and LOVE my spiritual gift of compassion; as it means "to suffer with".  As I've expressed already, I literally can FEEL others pain sometimes when I put myself in their shoes.  My skin crawls, chills form, and my body aches when I see someone hurting.  The pain and suffering of others is one of the easiest ways to bring me to tears.  (Like it's that hard these days.)  

Now, I wouldn't take anything for my spiritual gifts.  I gladly take hold of them and attempt to glorify Him in some way with what He has considerately supplied me with.  

Praying to share in the growth

Today I was emailing those who have requested and committed to "Share in the growth."  (If you have no idea what this is- then you may not be getting our emails.  If you would like to receive them, please email us at chrisandlindyt@gmail.com.)  

Recently I have been really convicted about my prayer life.  I began to wonder about all those people I told "Yes, I will pray for you", then I never did.  It's so easy to say that one 3 letter word when people ask us to pray.  One person replied to our email and transparently said "I want so badly to share in the growth.  I've never been good at long term prayer, but I'm willing to give it a shot."  I thought about that and there has only been one person that I have prayed for ALMOST every day for over a year. (Notice I didn't say EVERY day b/c I FORGET!)  The fact of the matter is- I'm not good at long term prayer either! Yet, I'm asking others to be.  So I want you all to know that Chris and I are picking up a few names of these newly converted believers too.  We are in this together.  There are people that I emailed that I just KNOW will have no problem remembering to pray for their people.  As for me, I HAVE to make a list.  When I don't is when I get way behind and forget.  If at the end of your day you find yourself saying "Oh no. I didn't pray today," then you have to MAKE TIME for it.  A wise old pastor friend once said something like "You will only do what you make time to do.  If you make time to serve, then you will serve."  It's the same way with prayer.  You will only pray if you make time!  So maybe we should get up a little earlier.  Yea- I said it!

I started wondering if we will one day be accountable for all those people we have said in passing "I will pray for you" or the simple "Yes." when asked to pray.  This sent my A.D.D. on a wild goose chase.  I was really trying to keep in mind not to take scripture out of context.  I found something I wanted to share in Samuel 12: 

"22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you." 

Could it be?  Do we sin against the LORD by failing to pray?  Lord- help us!  

I learned from Jill Briscoe (my hero) when I was in India last year that when someone asks you to pray for them, either you do it right then or you say "As God calls you to my mind I will pray for you."  She and Stewart travel all around the world speaking and get asked by a billion people to pray for them.  I thought that was some very good advice.    

After emailing all those who replied that they were anxious and willing to "share in the growth", i found myself looking at over 50 blanks next to names that have no one to pray for them.  Chris is out again today, in the streets of Kawangware Slums, evangelizing as we speak.  So more names are coming home this evening.  If you are willing and can commit to at least 4 months of praying for 2 people- please comment below (click on open ID- you do not have to be a blogger) or email us with a simple subject line saying that you want to share in the growth.  These people desperately need your prayers.  They have 4 months of discipleship lessons to complete before they receive their bibles.  They need YOU to pray them through.  There are several people who never finish it and never receive their bible.  We need you to pray for them, their lessons, their family, their work, their eagerness to learn God's word and finish the lessons.  We need you to pray for them to take the savior to their homes and to their families.    We PRAY that you will choose to TAKE TIME share in the growth!

"Oh Lord, God!  Forgive us for sinning against you by not praying for the people that you love and care about!  Pardon us for all the times we have said  "Yes, we will pray" out of haste.  God, I'm so guilty of this!  Lord I am heartbroken about this matter.  You deserve so much better than what I give you and your people!  Lord make us sympathetic and compassionate toward your people... OUR NEW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST- that we would have the ZEAL to pray for them on a daily basis.  Jesus, we thank you for the awesome gift of prayer and ask that we do not take it lightly nor will we take it for granted.  Get us EXCITED about praying for these people.  For they are the potential to change this country and point it to the one true God!  I pray now that the Holy Spirit will descend on the hearts of those who want to share in the growth of the kingdom, and prompt us to pray diligently.  For this is all an important part of the great commision!  We love you- now let us show it...   

Amen"

Answer to prayers

I have been told multiple times that I need to start updating the blog every other day- especially once we get there.  I promise to do my very best. 

Today I wanted to share an answer to prayers.  About 8 or so months ago we can remember sitting in the basement of a couple's home sharing what God had laid on on hearts about going to Africa.  We talked about how absolutely sure we were that God was pulling us to go soon.  They reciprocated that exact thought, only about foster parenting.  They received their foster parenting license exactly 9 days before we were to leave for Kenya.  Jessica and I both confessed our prayers (unbeknownst to the other) that we were praying Chris and I would get to meet the little one God put in their arms before we leave.  Last night Chris and I got the incredible privilege to hold, pray over, and cry over a beautiful, tiny newborn.  What a perfect family to share God's love to such a tiny guy.  We couldn't be more excited or thankful for the Beaver family.  Please pray for this family as they receive "baby D" into their home and begin their many sleepless nights.  Praise God for people like them who don't mind being uncomfortable, loosing sleep or getting dirty to spread the love of our precious Savior.