A smile for your day

Trust in God

One of the great joys of travel is the people I meet around the world. There are so many wonderful and amazing stories of lives lived in every corner of our globe.  

Common to them all is fear.  In each story, as you listen, there will be times of fear and anticipation.  Times when we simply don't know what to do.  I saw what to do in this little baby in Kenya.  She was a momma's girl for sure! Security was being wrapped tightly on her mother's back as her mom worked in the kitchen.

She never let us get too close, we had white faces, and I'm sure it terrified her to see such strange people, but her mom gave her security, safety.  

This morning, as I read Psalm 56, I came to these words that reminded me of this little baby,

When I am afraid, 

I will put my trust in You. 

In God, whose word I praise, 

In God I have put my trust.

For David, as for us, it's not "if I'm afraid" but "when I'm afraid".  Fear always comes and the right response is trust in God.  It feels like this little girl feels, protected and safe next to momma.

Home at last!

I just got home after a marathon flight from Dubai. It's so nice to be home!  I'll post updates and some thoughts after a bit of rest.  Thanks for your prayers.

Traveling

Have you ever noticed that the night before a long trip you hardly sleep at all with anticipation?  That was my night last night.  Anticipation of many hours of travel. Anticipation of being home and readjusting to life there.  Worries about home and work I had dismissed for 10 days all came flooding back into my mind.  Strange how our minds work...preparing us for the change in life.

This has been a wonderful week with these 50 pastors.  We have laughed together, visited, shared important truths together, hugged and done the traditional Kenyan hand shake until I know it by heart.  I'm thrilled to be going home, but now the worries of life back there overtake my mind and I prepare for what I will face in Texas once more.  Off we go.  We will see you all soon.

Our week in Kenya is done

The week is over so it's time for our parting group photo.  

What a great group of men and women!

And here's our team- Luke, Bo, me and Charlie.  

We just got back to our rooms.  Rest today and then travel for the next two days to get home.  We are all exhausted, but it's been a wonderful week together with men and women growing in their faith and trying to pastor their flocks in a difficult part of the world.  I hope we were an encouragement to them.

Our team in Kenya

Our team is nearing the end of our week here.  It's been a great team, but a difficult week.  Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.  Tomorrow is our last day and then off to home.  

Thoughts on Kenya

Today we begin day three on the east coast of Kenya.  We are meeting with and training 40-50 pastors.  These men and women are great, but I'm concerned for them and their churches.  It's really bothering me.  There are very few men in any of the churches!  They have women and children, but the men have disappeared!  I was shocked and wondered what is happening.  As I see it, and of course God works in spite of what I see, many of these churches are already dead and just don't know it yet.  What happened to the men?  Where is the message that would challenge men for God?  How did this happen?  It's very much on my mind.  It will be a matter of prayer for me.  Today, another day of teaching and time with some wonderful men and women.  I hope we can help them do well in the days ahead.

Smiles from Kenya

Church in Kilifi, Kenya

This morning I had the great privilege of speaking at the church of one of our pastors in the bible college.  Here are a few faces from the morning.

Sunday morning in Kenya

It's Sunday morning in Kenya.  This morning we scatter to different churches to speak.  Some of our team have never done this before, so it will be an exciting day.  I will have photos as soon as I can for you, but we just got in a night ago and used the time to catch up on sleep.  Moving 9 hours ahead in time is more difficult as I get older, but a good night sleep and I'm ready to go.

One of the things we learned, as we talked to the pastor coordinating our day today, is that most of the churches have very few men.  The men, like in Russia, have "checked out" and chosen alcohol instead.  I wonder how often this happens in a culture.  I'm sure, if you take the men out of the church you take away its life, ultimately killing it.  Women are so wonderful to respond to faith, but what happens to the men?  (Forgive me, I'm just thinking out loud.)  I think this is something I will need to work on some more....

I'll post again when I have some photos.

On the way...

It's 4:30 am and we just got to Dubai.  A couple hours here and then off to Nairobi.  It's been a great trip so far, but very tiring.  I guess that missing a night of sleep will do that.  Thanks for your prayers.  I will keep you updated as I can.

Packed and ready....

Off to Africa! This morning we board a plane and head east...or is it north?  Anyway, when the plane lands tomorrow evening we will be in Nairobi, Kenya.  I'll write as I can and keep you updated.  I would appreciate your prayers.  JAMBO!

Unpacking history with humor

Waiting

Here we come...ready or not!

Tomorrow we are on a plane for Kenya.  We leave at noon, but won't arrive in Nairobi until Friday evening.  But it will be worth it!  

We are traveling to spend a week with 50 pastors we have been discipling for three years now.  Next week we begin our third year together.  These are such wonderful men and women it will be sheer joy to see them and spend time with them once more.

As I think about each face I long to see them once more and spend time with them.  I think of Francis, and Martin, Winstone and Grace.  They are all such a blessing it will be great to be with them once more....I know I've said that.  Ok, let me move on....

The week ahead will be about the faith of Islam.  Our goal is to help these pastors understand another faith that is alive all around them.  I think, for many of them, there is some fear and distance between them and the Muslims in their area.  I hope we can help them understand this different faith and reach out with the love of Christ to their Muslim neighbors.

As we have prepared for this I realize how unconnected I am to the Muslim in my world.  To be honest I don't look for those opportunities as I could.  Most of them are truth seekers, just as I am, and there would be great common ground for friendship, but I haven't pursued it as I could...as I should.

It's funny that when I prepare to teach someone else I find I usually get more out of it than those I teach.  It may be that I'm just a poor teacher, but I think it's honestly about the work of the word and the Spirit as I prepare....in the preparation I am changed as well.

So today....pack.  Tomorrow....travel....all day!  Ready or not, here we come.