We Are Back

Greetings to our friends and family!
Well here we are three weeks later overwhelmed at what God has done and feeling as though words cannot express the gratitude for an amazing experience like traveling to East Africa. The churches we visited in Africa would like to pass on their greetings to each of you. The missionaries of Wycliffe and SIL also pass on greetings and would like to thank you for sending our team to their annual conference to care for their children. Many parents expressed thanks as they truly were able to relax and refocus knowing their children were cared for and enjoying learning themselves.
The last few weeks have been stretching, inspiring, tiring and eye opening. We headed to Kenya with bags full of children’s toys, curriculum, arts and crafts- not knowing more than basic information about the children we were to care for the next week, feeling a little anxiety and inadequacy. However once we met the 9 children (from the U.S., New Zealand, Kenya, and Holland) and began spending the days sharing truths about God or playing, we began to enjoy the personalities of each one. Throughout the week we were able to visit with the children’s parents over lunch or supper and learn about living in another culture long-term, raising a family overseas, homeschooling or sending kids to school, figuring out God’s call on your life in ministry, and hearing personal testimonies. The conference quickly came to a close and I believe both Kevin and I were impacted by the informal mentoring that took place through many missionary families from Uganda, Tanzania, Congo and Kenya. We were able to meet people involved in ministry we’d only ever heard about and challenged to consider filling some of the needs on the field. Kevin began to show a unique talent and interest for language learning. The scripture-in-use program has caught my eye (Melissa) as I keep a look out for ways to use teaching in the future.
The next week we had a taste of ‘real Africa’ by shopping in the market and only speaking Swahili, attending a Literacy class & Bible study in the Giryama language, and visiting a Baptist church full of vibrantly charismatic believers full of love for and faith in God. We experienced first hand the poverty and deep needs of a country with little to no income, those who had lost one or both parents, struggling to make ends meet or find food for the next meal. We were shown the homes inside a village which were made from mud and/or dung, sticks and a thatched roof of grass or palm leaves. These people were so inspiring! They reminded us that we depend on God spiritually and physically and we can be content no matter what since God is in us.
After sitting through a 3 hour literacy class and Bible study in Giryama, it is easier to understand the importance of Bible translation in a person’s mother tongue. Translating the Bible so that all people can hear and understand it more fully is an amazing privilege and gift. We invite you to join with us in supporting this effort so that many more people can understand God’s word and as a result know Him better!
Asanteni Sana/Hunamuvera (Thank you all very much!) for loving and supporting, giving and praying for us before, during and after our trip to Kenya. It has been an amazing journey that we hope will continue to impact us throughout life.