Daraja means bridge

What an incredible blessing today (Saturday) was.  I got the priviledge of going with BHBC to see where the Daraja children live.  It was very humbling to see these children within their context.  I thought about all of you as I got to see their rooms, meet their brothers and sisters, and listen to them sing.  My chest felt like it was going to burst as they put on a show for us right in the middle of their housing grounds.  It was even better!  Not only was it better because I wasn't bawling my eyes out, but we got to see and hear all the children that didn't "make the cut".  When we first got there

the children were told to take the hands of one person and show us around.  I was blessed enough to have 2 show me around.  They were absolutely beautiful and so stinkin' cute!  They wouldn't let go of my hands... and that was fine with me!  They were Caroline and Monica- 10 and 12.  I wanted so badly to bring them home with me...maybe when I grow up we can adopt older ones too!

So here are only a few pictures (b/c I'm at the coffee house I can't download the video or the rest of the pictures).  As soon as we get internet- I will try and post them.  Thanks for being so patient!

You may recognize a few of these girls

I thought this was so cute.  One of the boys had this picture taped to the head of his bed above his pillow.  Must be some of his friends he met in the states.  It sure would mean so much to them if some of you would like to write them and send them pictures.  I'll get the address for those of you interested.  

These were my little tour guides- C and M.  Precious!!

What's going on In the Choo...

Well, when we first got here we were faced with a bigger problem than we thought.  A simple leaky pipe, right? Wrong.  Turned out when someone from the BHBC team took a bath in the upstairs tub, it leaked all in the downstairs bathroom.  So- we called the plumber who walked to the house with 1 tool in hand.  So he had to chisel away the ceiling to check on things and found the leaky pipe.  He walked to the hardware store and back to get a new pipe and some glue.  Well- he fixed it, right?  Wrong.  The next time the same person got in the tub, it leaked again.  So here comes the plumber back to chisel away more of the ceiling.  He told us that the problem is the plumber that did the plumbing on the house didn't have enough pipe, so he just pieced a bunch of pieces together.  So there is a joint every... ohh.... 8 inches.  So here are some picture of our gapping hole.  It is fixed now, but I have a feeling this isn't the last leaky pipe we will have!  :) 

PS- still no internet.  

Internet

Hey guys-

back at the coffee shop downloading emails.  We just went to try and figure out what the deal is with our internet.  In a nutshell- we were had.  Safaricom made some money off of us.  So we are currently in the market for a new internet provider.  Be patient with our email responses.  We have to write them at home and then find a place with internet to send them.  

Thanks for your precious prayers and sweet comments on the last blog.  

You know how we love them!  

Baptist Home Baptist Church is tearing up the slum streets.  Yesterday they all went out in the streets of Kibera in different directions with interpreters  to evangelize.  107 people made decisions to follow Christ!!  Wahoo!  They are back at it today.  I had 100 things to do such as go grocery shopping, cook, make detergent, and unpack.  So I didn't get to go with them.  Chris said the kids were telling him how much they missed us and asked where i was!  Melt my heart!  I'm going to see them after lunch for a bit.  

For those of you who are new to the blog, missed "Our presence to you", or just didn't watch it to the end (shame on you)- Chris and I are expanding our family.  Excuse me- God is expanding our family through the adoption  of 2 kenyan babies.  Feel free to follow our new blog once we have internet.  Since the adoption is a "hurry up and wait" process- i will be posting info/stories unrelated to the ministry or adoption at times.  That way I'm not overstepped any bounds by posting things on here that are not ministry related.  OK- great.   

Thanks for your patience guys-

Home...

We're home!!  We had the most eventless trip to Kenya this year!!  No (serious) delays that kept us from making our connecting flights.  Just a frosted plane in Amsterdam.  But Chris said they had a really cool machine to defrost the plane.  I was too busy trying to catch some sleep BEFORE the plane took off- seeing as I can't sleep during the flight,,,, ever.  Want something to make you laugh?  Of course you do!  My boarding pass and passport almost fell out of my pocket and into the commode.  On the flight to Nairobi- I needed to wake up my Kenyan friend I met who was sitting in an isle seat.  I tried to let him sleep as long as I could, but eventually I HAD to get out. So I unbuckled myself amd stood up, bumping his arm on purpose.  Still asleep, I proceeded to shake him a bit on the shoulder.  Still nothing.  Being a bit rusty of my nursing skills, I presume he could be dead.  So naturally, I shake him vigorously as though the plane is crashing.  Startled, his big brown eyes open with a terrified expression on his face.  Did I mention he had ear phones on?  Poor man. He didn't even know what I was trying to tell him.  Note to self: do not ever assume someone is dead that quickly.  At least check to see if they are breathing before shaking them that hard- (nursing 101)

Thank you again to all you precious people who poured and poured and poured out your hospitality to us the whole time we were home.  Though, it's so wonderful to be back "home"- we still miss the mess out of all of you.  We love, love, love you so much.  We're going to get to bed so that we can hit the ground running tomorrow!  We are excited to get our hands dirty with the group here from Baptist Home Baptist Church.  Pray our bodies adjust quickly to the time change so we can be nice and alert tomorrow.  YAY!!!!  

As soon as I see my Paul, Brian, and Sylvia- I'll post some pictures of how they've grown!  Oh- I hope they haven't forgotten their Auntie Lindy! 

Love you heaps!

Lindy

PS- Obviously this is being posted a bit late.  what do you know- the internet doesn't work.  So be patient with our responding to emails until we get the bugs worked out.  TIA- people...  (This Is Africa!)

Our Presence to you...

There is no way we can tell each of you ALL the ways you have

blessed us. We've been speechless so many times over the 

past few weeks because you have demonstrated your great

love for us. So, on this Christmas Eve, we want to attempt 

to share our gratitude with you the best way we know how...

from our hearts...

Correction

Just a brief note about a correction we needed to make.  The address for Outreach Christian Fellowship (OCF) should be PO Box 7637.  On the right, we have had it listed incorrectly for several months.  We hope that this hasn't been a source of confusion for you.  If it has, we apologize and would like to send you all a free toaster as a peace offering.  ...  Actually, I have just been informed that the toasters are a no-go.  Instead please receive this warm smile compliments of our friend and pastor; Michael Bowers:

Thank you,

~Management

We are not consumed...

     Jeff and Vickie Rollins at Matt's BLET graduation

This past week has been one of the most challenging and difficult weeks of my life.  But God has proven not only His faithfulness, but that His word truly does not return void.  

Sunday we traveled with our friends Kim and Casey to speak at a church in Sanford, NC.  After we spoke we went to Kim's parents for lunch.  As we finished up a delicious meal I received a paralyzing phone call from my mom.  My precious Aunt and Uncle were in a terrible car accident in which my Uncle had already died and My Aunt was in critical condition.  It has been a long time since I lost someone so close.  The way that the accident happened is tough to swallow, but as my Dad has put it "It is what it is" and it came as no surprise to God.  We can choose to be bitter and angry or we can choose to believe that we still serve the same God who continues to be merciful and sovereign.  We can choose to cling to and remember that my Uncle Jeff led a wonderful and rewarding life and now he is with our Heavenly Father.  The same Father that hovers over my Aunt right now at Baptist Medical Center.  The same Father that is grieving with my family as we recall this scripture:

 

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, 

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:21-23

We will choose to trust God's plan and believe that, through this tragedy, HE will receive the glory.  We have already seen evidence of God's compassion that never fails and His sovereignty over the whole situation.  This is evident in through friends of Matt's being at the scene of the accident to friends of mine being part of the critical care transport team and Vickie's primary nurse at Baptist.

Jeff and Vickie both were so passionate about what God is doing through this ministry.  They were, no doubt, our biggest fans.  They coordinated meetings with Kenyan friends, volunteered during the silent auction/benefit dinner, prayed for us continually, and were actively following the stories of God working in Kenya.  We spent several meals together telling "our stories" to them for long periods of time.  The whole time, they viewed us as their own children.  Such honor bestowed upon such unworthy people as us.

Vickie is one of the toughest people I have ever met in my life.  She truly trancends and exemplifies that wife of noble character in Proverbs 31.  I have no doubt that she will pull through this only having grown in her faith that much more.  

We ask that as you read this, you might pause and offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for their lives and for her complete restoration.  To God be the glory ... even in tragedy!