Lessons from the Grass

I was standing there, my arms resting on top of the van roof catching the intense rays that were shining down from the heavens above.  Music was flowing through a wire and being deposited in my ears as I gazed out across the vastness of Masaai Mara.  We bounced and jerked our way across the Savannah catching our breathe at the beauty that was all around us.  Truly my Dad is awesome!! I saw His fingerprints across the sky in the sunset as it framed the hills.  I saw His beauty in the majestic Elephant as it crested the hill in the distance and made it's way toward us... in the giraffe as it gracefully ran through the grass... in the lion as he rested his head in the shade to escape the heat. It all shouted MAJESTY, and GLORY, and HONOR, to Him the Great Creator God... my Dad, the One who dreamed it all up and spoke it into existence.  And as I stood there my head bobbing to the praise that was being piped into my ears and soul, I was astounded by what I saw.  We had been driving for a while across the empty grasslands.. there was not another soul in site... and as we dipped down into another valley I noticed the grass.. tall and graceful, swaying in perfect time to the music I was hearing.  ALL of creation is praising Him... and i get to join in! What a privilege!! There was the grass... not toiling or worried.. just standing where God had put it, praising Him.  Waiting for someone to notice so that they to could join in its song and dance to the One who is WORTHY! And there I had been an hour before lost in thoughts that primarily revolved around me instead of Him.  Consumed with wondering about the future and what it might hold. Worrying about the details as if i could change them.. as if my life was n my hands and i could direct it's course.  And I was stopped in my tracks... that grass beckoned me to come and join it... to just stand where God has planted me and praise Him!! And so moment by moment as I am learning this art of abiding I am seeking to be like the grass...  not to toil or fret but just to stand... arms lifted.. swaying in the breeze of His beauty and grace!!
We are loving the time spent with family! We have felt like we are on holiday.  It has been a real blessing for sure!!  These are the moments when we wish time could just slow down... but it doesn't so we just take every moment... and try to take it in and be thankful!! We have been spoiled by all of the gifts that were brought.  I know many of you contributed and we want to say thank you! We were blown away as we went through the bags.  God does not forget such kindness shown.. and it is our prayer that He will repay!
We are settled in our new place! Trying not to get to attached to these temporal things.. but to remain open and sensitive to the Shepherds leading! You can pray for us! It seems the devil doesn't want our door to be open after school for whatever little one desires to come.  We are facing some opposition but we know the One who is greater will sort it all out!! The faces continue to grow.. in the last week it seems we have been shaking new hands almost daily.  Most of the new ones that are coming are not from this nicer area where we live.  It has been so fun loving on them and playing with them. The shy looks and smiles don't last for long... usually some tickles can drive them out! We don't know what their lives are like.. what they need.. but Jesus does and we pray we can be vessels through which He can work! Some are hard..  dominating by their street smarts.. others are so soft and practically melt when pulled into your arms for a hug.  We love them all and pray that their lives can join those of the Redeemed.. That they might experience life as a child of God!! That they might have a revelation of Christ and like the swaying grasses simply stand.. and praise Him where they are.. trusting Him for what is to come!!

Showing off some of the gifts.

Our lovely visitors!

Saturday feeding

The Valentines meal was a success!!

A typical day!

Mom and Dad had just crossed this.. There may have been some
shrieking involved. hehe

A full table!

Bwana Asifiwe

Just sat down with my bowl of oats ready to write this J We are sorry for the long delay…I actually had a blog written out and forgot to post it in the middle of our move and company. The weather is starting to cool off around here as the rains are coming in. It is a very nice break from the sun and all its family! So yes we moved!!!!! We have a house now with our own compound :D When our friend went to meet the Landlord to confirm that we got the house (but he wasn’t going to pay her until we saw it)  there were 3 other people there wanting to rent it and he had no choice but to go ahead and pay her. So that took care of any uneasiness as we had been praying the whole day that He would give us peace about it if it be His will and close the door if it wasn’t. It was a little bigger than we thought necessary and more than we wanted to pay but that is in the Lords hands. There isn’t much time to think and pray when it comes to renting a certain house… they go fast! Whether He is going to fill it up or we are going to move in a few months we are not sure..but we know He knows what He’s doing :) Moving was quite a site for those watching… we had lots of help. I led a trail of about 12-15 kids through the streets to our new destination, each with something in hand. Most of the somethings-in-hand were too heavy or big for them to carry well but they were all very determined and we finally made it. 1 white girl with a train of kiddos. Dickson had the big green laundry basket on his head dancing all the way and little 2 year old Marvel was carrying a heavy trash can about the size of him, happy as a lark to be helping out J

Our dear friend Crissy is staying with us until Wednesday, a total of 12 days J She was our leader on our very first trip to Kenya! She came without a plan just wanting to do as the Lord lead…We laugh and laugh at what we can find ourselves doing. The other day found us laying under a tent with a HUGE needle stuck in our arms, giving blood at a hospital in town. Haha We had been planning something totally different for the day. A friend had a baby and had lost a lot of blood, so her husband was asking for anyone willing to give blood. You can also be praying for her, as she is still very weak and has been in the hospital for 7 days now. Her name in Norah.

Our friends introduced us to a school called Rusinga that we will now be doing school ministry at every Wednesday morning! We went last week for the first time and had sooo much fun! We each have our own grade so we are very excited to get to know the kids well.

Saturday, our friends watched Eric Ludy’s mens conference simulcast at our house while we did the feeding program. So it was the 3 of us Americans with 200 kiddos. We were very thankful when a friend showed up and helped keep the wet firewood burning. It was soo much fun…the kiddos are really getting comfortable with us and we are starting to get to know them pretty well. The guys have started a mentoring program for the kids 10 and up so they stay after lunch and learn more in depth. This coming Saturday we will be serving the kiddos at their Valentines dinner with Jesus J The guys came up with this idea and we want to help make it as special as possible for them. The kiddos are from rougher homes and I doubt they have ever done anything very fancy! The boys will be escorting the ladies to their seats and they will each receive a flower J

Thank you all for your prayers! We are very excited to pick up Holly’s parents from the airport this Friday J Like very very excited! May Jesus Christ receive all honor and glory. We are so thankful for His life, to be clothed in His righteousness and salvation! We don’t have to spend our days worrying about earning our righteousness and salvation, but we can spend them rejoicing that we already have it! All PRAISE to our GREAT GOD!

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout before all the nations.  Isaiah 61:10-11