the week that was ... and will be

Jambo everyone.  Welcome back.  Thank you all who have been reading and for those of you who dare to put a comment - it is always very encouraging and great to read from you all. 

It seems the days are stretching now in between posts.  I don't think we are getting busier necessarily, maybe I'm just getting pickier.  So, in the interest of everyone's time, here are just a few highligts from the week that just passed, and a look at the great week ahead:

The week that was:

- Scott Harder returned to Minnesota Monday night after his extended stay in Kenya.  He literally went all over the country and experienced quite a bit.  Our kids especially miss him!  We pray this experience will make him a better doctor someday - he'll definitely be a great one! 

- Pamela has done a great job meeting with students from Rift Valley Academy and helping their parents learn more about their kids.  I didn't realize how many hours go into each student she meets with, like scoring tests, interpreting, writing results, etc.  She is really giving a tremendous service over here, "pro bono". 

- Tiffany Weiland, RGV Young Life director, arrived here Thursday for a week's stay.  She is a terrific young lady and a pleasure to have around.  She is meeting several of our ministry partners and hopefully getting a good feel for Kenyan life and culture.  She is a great "first timer" because she asks the Kenyans many questions, showing genuine interest in them and their way of life.  Tiffany has been given great influence over many students back in the Valley and we are blessed to have her there.

- Thursday night's meeting was smaller - just Pastor Benson, Pastor Jared, Sam Are, and us.  But it was amazing!  We moved into Part 2 of the "common grace" God has blessed all humanity with:  Seeds.  (Part 1 was the internal gift of being made in God's image).  It was a "holy moment" to hear Sam Are speak of the bountiful natural treasures found all over Africa, particularly in Kenya.  Kenya has truly been blessed, and is rich in "seeds" - resources that if tapped adequately, could sustain Africa and bless the world.  It was an eye-opening, jaw-dropping discussion.  Then Sam prayed for us, for Calvary, for our family and ministries - and it was as if we had drawn a few miles closer to the splendor of heaven.  He had taken us there in prayer!

- Saturday we visited a breakfast for Christian professionals that Sam's ministry held for the first time, in order to raise awareness and mobilize more believers into cross-cultural missions.  It was awesome to hear the reports of what Christ's Mission to the Unreached has been doing all over Kenya and on how little they have been doing it.  People truly give their LIVES here, literally, for Kingdom causes.  Salary and benefits are not usually on the agenda when people discuss with Sam about missions opportunities.  They simply invite you to join what GOD is doing, and allow the "other things" to be added onto them.  A guest speaker from the Navigators Ministry shared on giving, and it was some of the best Scripture on giving I had ever heard. 

- Today, Sunday, I had the privilege of bringing the message of Psalm 103 to Pastor Moses and Lucy's church, Global Worship Center.  Pamela shared with several women after service on a topic she was due to share at the Conference in June.  Then we were invited to an excellent dinner at Pastor Benson and Janet's house.  It was great to just be in their home and fellowship.  Of course we thought we'd never get there, as traffic after 5:00 pm on a Sunday is surprisingly ridiculous!  What makes it more frustrating, is people start to make new lanes, even into on-coming traffic, which of course simply makes the "clog" at the front even more clogged!  Eventually, police showed up and gave one driver a ticket, stopping that mess.  At least we had worked up an appetite!

The week ahead:

This is a big week.  The three coming in from FBC Keller arrive Monday night and Tuesday night.  Tuesday-Wednesday Tiffany will go to Kitale to be shown Mattaw and help out some.  Wednesday night the big team of 10 arrives from McAllen.  After orientation Thursday, we board a charter flight to Kitale Friday to help at Mattaw for about 6 days.  All is looking good, but surely some hiccups will occur, so we'll be watching for those.  Kim Huffman is the Mattaw director and she is just getting over Malaria, but now baby Elisha has it, so please lift them up in prayer. 

Global Worship Center will be asking us to promote an "adopt a missionary" program where we try to raise supporters for some of their essential staff for a limited time (around 2 years), after which time Global will take full responsibility over them.  We're going to pilot that program and see how it goes.

We are also excited to begin the water survey in Masailand this week.  We pray that a good, accessible, abundant water source will be found that will become a means to help Maasai villages to improve their way of life and to tranform their worldview into believing God for all things.

It is going to be a hectic next couple of weeks.  After the teams leave, we will have 2 days to wrap things up here - nowhere near enough, but we will be ready to be home anyway.  So we ask for wisdom and effectiveness, and for preserving individual and family sanity!  And we are beginning to ask also:  What's next here - for the Imagine network?  For us? 

We hope all of you are well.      

Comments

[tyne White]

Hi David and Family, it is so encouraging to hear what the Lord is doing there. We had a great visit with Wynell at church this morning and were so jealous of her time there. She said that the brothers and sisters there were so on fire and committed to their faith. She told us about the all night prayer mtgs. so awesome!!! Caleb and Tyne

[Bobby]

David,
We appreciate your service and energy you bring to God's work. Will continue praying for these last days in Kenya, for Kimberly and baby Elisha. God Bless.
Bobby

[zarsesin]

David,
I'm so glad that you and Kristi are enjoying your time with Tiffany. She is an exceptional person...during the school year we meet weekly to pray for Young Life, the students, and its outreach to the unchurched teenager in the Rio Grande Valley. Tiffany has a wonderful heart and passion for kingdom work. I'm amazed that God's plan put her in the midst of His work through our Calvary connections there in Kenya. We can never expect to know all that He has planned...which is part of the excitement in serving Him. He will "outdo" us time and time again. There is nothing more wonderful than serving a faithful and loving God...and Tiffany couldn't be in better company. She is very dear to my heart, so I am delighted that part of her mission has included spending time with your family. God really let's me see Him when situations like this happen. People that I care about getting to work together for God's glory...that's a definite "WOW" in my book...the only thing that would have been better for me is if I could have still been there too. I really miss what is happening and greatly appreciate your updates. I know He is well pleased with your service! Be blessed! Angela

[Bobby Byrnes]

To all,
Most of us at our ABF's(Sunday school) @ Calvary are studying "Jesus: It's In The Name" We are learning(me re-learning) that Jesus is, The Messiah, The Deliverer, The Rock, The Bread of Life, The Living Water and more. Imagine that, MORE..ALL..EVERYTHING we need. God is so awesome how he works sometimes so subtly.(duh! we do miss it at times.) How he feeds us bits and pieces at a time. Kind of like our Savior coming to us in manger. Kind of like in Kenya many miles away from here,(for most anyway) how HE is opening our eyes, wider & wider. Our King, HE won't let us get away- we just need to turn our ear slightly towards heaven,our eyes and minds to his word. The closer we get; If we bow down- in devotion, in prayer, in service, we lift him up so others can see. We can accomplish so many things thru HIM. Jeremiah 33:3- "Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know"
God Bless to all- Bobby

[zarsesin]

David,

Just an FYI...I sent some items with Heidi:

-Yarn for Huruma Ladies Group
-Loom Kit for Kristi
-More hats for Mary Kaduki's children at the Children's Home
-Shawl for Florence (Jared's wife)

If you'll just hang on to the space bags and my duffle bag...I'd appreciate it. If Benson comes in October, I will be able to send more back with him. I hope all is going well. I think about the group everyday and the amazing work you are all accomplishing to the glory of our Lord Jesus. Tell Anna, Elisa, and Andrew that I can't wait to see them when they come home. I miss you guys. Forever HIS, Angela

[Bobby]

David,
Miss you all.
Godspeed, matters.God bless, Bobby

[RUBEN ROJAS]

Dave,

KENYA is constantly on my mind. It seems like that is all I can think about, especially since Amanda is now over there. I am so happy to see how God is blessing the work. I know that Amanda is also very excited to be there with you all as a first-hand participant in the labor. Can't wait to see how everything looks like at the end of the summer. Love you all.