Goodbyes

As a missionary in Kenya it is customary and encouraged to hire house-help. Our house help is Shuke. She is the sweetest woman I have met here, and possibly anywhere. She understands more English than most, but if she doesn't understand she'll still smile, nod and probably laugh. She is known in the community for her honesty and generosity. We are leaving all our donations with her to give where it is most needed Two weeks ago she made chapatis for us, and I stayed to learn how! Actually, she taught me to make Anjera, Chapatis and Tortillas all at once! It was great spending so much time with her and sharing with eachother about our families. This was in some ways my goodbye to her. She had us over for lunch (on my birthday!) and gave us traditional Gabra cloth dresses as a goodbye present to us.

There were alot more events in the last week that all helped us to say goodbye. Here are some of those stories.
The youth put a party on, which mostly involved fingerfood chapatis, beef and spaghetti. The party was also a welcome back for the chairmen of the youth who had been gone to Secondary School. An odd thing about being the guest of hon.or -- they essentially serve you food and then leave you completely alone till the eating is done. Only then can mingling happen.
Another day we went up to David and BJ's camp in the Huri Hills. They are white nomads who own tons of camels, sheep and goats. They had a 2 day old camel calf that had a very protective mama that got right in Emma's face! We also slept outside under the stars right next to all the sleeping camels.
The very last night we walked around and said a few more formal goodbyes after playing a game of pingpong with Duub. I'm not sure Duub understood that it was our last day, but he really enjoys pingpong so I don't think it matters! Then we ran into the two pastor-friends we made, Stephen and Benard. They so graciously helped us with the last bit of painting the living room in our house. They didn't mind one bit becuase we paid them with cookies and swimming!

Now we are in Kabete waiting for conference to start on Friday. I believe there are even plans for a Thanksgiving party tomorrow!

Miscellaneous Joy

We had prayer retreat in Kurungu last week. People from all over Northern Kenya came to it. It was very refreshing for me to take a step back from Kalacha and reflect on my time here and what God has been working in me personally as well. I have been able to come back with a renewed sense of ambition and purpose. Every day since has been filled with activity and ministry. Thanks to all who have been praying. We only have 2 weeks left in Kalacha and my biggest prayer request is that as we depart we show the love of Jesus as perfectly as we can, and that God gives them understanding about the shortness of our visit.

I've really taken to learning as much Gabbra as I can even though it is only 2 more weeks. I know all the greetings now, but I have to prepare myself before using them because it is still very complicated. The other day Asako was coming towards us and I prepared myself to greet him. He beat me to it though and said 'Hello'. Since I was prepared, I still said 'Bara ki'. He responded first in Swahili 'Nzuri' but then realized it was Gabra I said so he switched and said 'eh Bartu'. 3 languages in 3 seconds= Awesome!

I'm developing a Kenyan Accent. I apologize ahead of time to any and all whom I use it on when I return! I use it on Emma quite frequently now, and she 'tells me off' for it! Her accent and mine are both becoming quite obvious when we teach spelling to the children. Emma will say the word spattering with a lazy 'r' and the kids will spell 'spattaing' but then I will say it with a lazy 't' and they will spell 'spaddering'. Lately we'll let them choose which accent they'd rather listen to!


On Monday a fish lorie (truck) from Lake Turkana got stuck in the Chalbi Desert. It was in the clay layer of earth underneath the sand. Eddie went to free it and he was paid in fish! So we've had plenty of meat lately! The fish lorie was still stuck on Thursday though! It kept sinking deeper and deeper! The whole thing nearly spoiled on the desert! This is even more ironic because the Gabbra people do not eat fish. They think only sorcerors eat it! A few of the locals still smuggled it into town though!

The Andersens!

Let me introduce you to the lovely children that we homeschool and care for.

Uriah is 8 and is the oldest. He's been nicknamed 'Dances with Chickens' He goes and checks the coop everyday for both eggs or chicks. It's a good thing too because there are about 13 chicks just in the time we've been here! But it's not just chickens: he LOVES birds! When we were still in Kijabe, all he could talk about was wanting to be here and go bird trapping! I told him I want to see every bird he traps. I also used the bird ID book they have to get him to actually enjoy drawing. (He hated it before!)

Ja-el is the oldest girl. She's 7. She doesn't mind getting dirty and what's even better Rachel doesn't care that she's dirty either. So at the swimming pool, with no hesitation, I did this to her! She loves to tell, read and write stories. I tried interrupting her reading to ask something and she was determined to keep reading, she stopped when she heard 'swimming' but still finished the chapter! She's a complete space cadet most of the time and is way fidgety. However her desire for learning is really fun to watch! Even Rachel says she's 'wierd smart'.

Acacia just turned 6. I'm sure she's named after the tree which is in the background of this picture. She loves to help with baby Ezra. Sometimes we call her 'mama-sita' but she gets real shy about it, as she does alot of things. She has a very tender heart, which I understand, so I work on that with her from time to time. But she's so adorable, its hard not to tease a little bit! She's a girly-girl and has enjoyed all the artistic endeavors I've taking them on. She's taken hundreds of pictures on both Emma's camera and mine for this very reason!

Miriam is 4. She's a silly goose! She named her feet! Kanza and Konzo. Ones a boy and one's a girl. Hilarious! She and I butted heads a bit at the beginning. I didn't let her cuteness let her get away with stuff. But lo and behold her opinion has changed! She was very proud to be able to count to 7 one day and I just so happened to be up to 7 in Swahili so we counted together! Funnier still is Eddie and Rachel then counted in Gabbra! We're all learning here!

Silas is 3. He's adorable!!! He's only three, but talks always in complete sentences. 'Can you do it Si?' ' I Can!' Rachel always says he's a grown man caught in a little persons body. This is kinda what she means:

I call him a squeaky toy, because it's a squeak when he says 'huh' (meaning uh-huh) Most of the time he's really quiet and just loves to watch what you're doing. One time I was sitting with him, and he grabbed my hand and put on this cheezy smile and said 'I'm holding your hand!' This kid's gonna be a heart breaker if he keeps that up!

Ezra's the baby! I love every chance I get to hold him. Rachel cheers when he spits up on anyone. He wants to stand up already! Salo, one of Rachels' house helps, sings to him in Gabbra. He bacame mezermized by my cards during a card game the other day. It looked like he was trying to play!

An adventure & notes from the 'quote book'

I have SOOOOO much to say! But since Emma has already said a few things I would only be repeating, I'll be directing you to her blog. She put in so many hilarious details, I really couldn't have said it better: emma-coates.blogspot.com And if that has not enticed you enough perhaps this photo will:

And yes, that would be a broken rear axle!

Now for some humor and pure randomness:

Because it is very modest here, I often say 'Ah! I'm exposing my knee!'

There is this thing called squash that is just a highly concentrated juice that you pour in the bottom of your glass and then mix with water. I can never remember what it is called when I'm in the middle of a sentence so I've just decided I'll call it 'Sploosh'. (from Holes) this irritates Emma to no end.

There is a surprising amount of things that still need translating even between Emma and myself. For example : 'It's 90 on my side, 30 on yours.' (talking about the thermometer)

Many of you know my awful reaction to finding out that I'm the universal donor blood type. Rachel made sure that Emma found out hers before heading up-country (to Kalacha) and she is the universal recipient! To which I concluded: 'Nurses like you, but bloodbanks like me'

The chickens are pets: 'When I get to Kalacha, I'm gonna hug a chicken!'

The desert is loved 'Yay!! the Chalbi!'

The pets are having babies. There are 8 chicks chirping next to me right now. One got stepped on by a very innocent 5 year old. It nearly died in my hands! I begged Rachel to take it from me before it did. (I was quite pathetic) and she wrapped in a cloth. It survived!

I've obtained hundreds of new words, even in English: I am now regularly calling dirty things 'manky' a flashlight is a 'torch' and chips are 'crisps'. I giggle every time I hear Emma say 'Oi!' or 'Bullocks' and I know the proper pronunciation for 'Worstershire Sauce' though I will probably continue in completely destroying the word.

When we were down country (Nairobi, Nanyuki) there was a way of having a heated shower using a device called a 'widowmaker' (yikes!)

Emma put it very well: 'Home is where you leave your shampoo in the shower' (We've only been able to do this the last 2.5 weeks)

A chick just walked across my keyboard.

Africa time seems to be stretched out more by the expatriates than the locals!

When I first saw the pool in Kalacha, I became a very noisy fan of Jesus and his blessings 'Praise Jesus! Hallelujah!'

From front to back: Silas, Miriam, Acacia

Prayers for Kalacha

Greetings from the church in Kalacha!



I want to tell you her story. Kalacha is in northern Kenya. Due to tribal wars, the British government did not allow missionaries in this part of Kenya until 1960 when they let the Catholics in. About 1966 is when the Protestants were allowed. In the past, both Catholics and Protestants have made the mistake of confusing evangelism with Westernizing a culture. Tryinug to avoid this mistake, the exact opposite was made by those first evangelizers to the Gabbra tribe. In Kalacha especially, they presented the gospel as only an addition to the Gabbra traditions. They had many who went to the Catholic church, but all continued the sacrifices and rituals of their past. When the Protestants came and tried to unveil the syncretism of their faith, no one accepted the 'hard road'. They didn't see why they had to either, considering the easy road the Catholics had offered. It took 18 years for the first believer to accept the gospel at all! And now, 44 years later, the church is small but growing. there are supposedly 70 believers in a community of 8,000. Yet all have refused to completely walk away from the traditions that surround them. Noone knows what will happen if they defy the authority of the Gabbra culture and refuse to attend or participate in the sorios (sacrifices). Pray for someone to see that there is nothing for Christians at these events (many are seeing and talking about that) but to also actually take a stand against them by not attending. I was told that a previous missionary worked hard with the youth to inspire this kind of strength, but what often happens is that they get married and have to do the sacrifices associated with that event and they give in to the tradition. I have a friend here who is going to get married in January. Pray specifically for her and her Christian husband to be brave and stand up for their beliefs. Her name is Fadhe.


The growth and strength of the church here is a great burden on my heart. I long to find a way to encourage the missionaries and to walk alongside them in this cause. After a few suggestions, I have been sobered to the fact that their is not much one can do but be faithful and to pray. Therefore, I am asking you to join me in these prayers. Only the Spirit can do the work of the Spirit. I am also sobered as I think back on my own life and how I have rarely had to take much of a stand for the Cross. What we ask of them is so much more than I have ever been asked. To put myself in their shoes is hard to imagine, but even then I find some sympathy knowing that I have never been asked to deny father, mother, brother or sister for the name of Jesus.

Please Pray! (I saw this little guy yesterday)

A little bit about everything

Everyday last week we read with 4 children at the Primary School: Eluid, Sarah, Salome, and Emanuel. I really enjoyed getting to know these kids and their stories. Most of them walk 2 hours just to get to school! And all of them know 3 languages! They speak and read the Bible in Kikuyu, but all of their schooling is in Kiswahili and English. I told them that even though they are struggling readers, due to their languages they are smarter than most people! It was a pleasure to encourage them. We even prayed together and Eluid prayed in Kikuyu which was so beautiful to hear aloud!

We went back to CURE on Monday. Emma and I have both really enjoyed this ministry. We bought balloons in Nairobi for them last Saturday and they all seemed to enjoy them!! 'Balooni, Balooni!' There was a particular child about 4 years old who was walking around on her knees (quite gracefully I might add) and needed to have an operation to remove her legs below the knee and replace them with prosthetics. The father was not understanding, I'm sure he'd never heard 'artificial' before. So Phoebe, who is the paid staff for the waiting room, had me illustrate what was needed to be done. Of course, the father was not ready to hear about the drastic measures needed to be taken. Phoebe and I prayed about his decision. His name is Stephen, if you would care to lift him up as well. He is beginning to know the Lord, but has not committed his life to Him yet, so please pray about that as well.

Emma and I also have extended our child care to another family who had their second last Tuesday. Daniel and Natalie Faris gave birth to an 8 lbs 8 oz boy named William (Liam) Paul Faris. We took turns sleeping next to their toddler during the nights they slept at the hospital. We also gave Daniel some relief in the afternoons as the nights were a bit unrestful. I'm sure that's an understatement.

Yesterday we went to a Masai Village. Samuel, a guard at RVA, offered to take us. On the way we saw a few baboons and some giraffe! Even though the giraffe were very far away, the fact that I saw some and wasn't even in a game park is amazing! Also we were driving through a few different villages and Samuel was greeting some of the other Masai. Next thing I know one of the Masai opens the door and asks me 'Can you squeeze?' I'm like... ok..... so I sit in the middle and let him in. Turns out he's seen me before, cuz he is another guard at RVA! I would have never recognized him in all his Masai apparel! We spent some time in the village but mostly Samuel and a guide named Daniel led us up to Mount Suswa to hike around in bat caves! So fun! We then ate lunch with Samuel and met some members of his family. It is very complicated, as his father has had 3 wives so Samuel doesn't know how many siblings he has. Also his brother who is in his 40's just took a wife who is about 17. She seemed joyful and was fitting in to the new community quite well. Emma was granted the opportunity to 'book' herself in for a marriage to Samuel's friend. I've been able to deter these sorts of requests quite well so far!

We are still in Kijabe. Our time here is continually getting longer. We are very anxious to go North and the Andersen family is even more so. For most of the kids, Kalacha is home and they miss it greatly. For us, we long to see the remote part of Kenya, to stop living out of suitcases, and to be in the place of our actual ministry. But our flexibility is exactly what Africa is testing us on and though I thought I was good in that area, I too have been stretched! Pray we go soon, and that our travels are safe.

All in a day

Yesterday... I spent an hour an a half on skype with my favorite person, then three hours playing with kids in need of some joy before getting orthopedic correction (At CURE). This mostly involved legos, a balloon, bubble wrap (the universal toy, pictured at right) and some coloring time. This resulted in displaying my skills in the form of a crayon barbie doll drawing. Later, the lunch Rachel prepared was amazing as usual-spaghetti with sauce including chunks of zucchini. I'm eating well here! Follow that with 2 hours of spelling and math (we struggled then, but conquered today!) Then an hour and half at the primary school reading 3rd grade level English books with 6th grade Kiswahili speakers. On the way back we drop by the maket and get some great (English) muffins and a pineapple, eyeing and buying curios (crafts) as well! We return to our humble abode and have our evening 'tea' getting pleasantly interrupted by my chance to soothe an only slightly irritable newborn. I bump into Mama Chiku- owner of the self-named local renown restuarant- and learn her real name: Joyce. I also learned the meaning of Mama Chiku (mother of Chiku). This whole week she is catering about 120 Aids Relief workers at Kijabe Guest House (where we are staying). I retire to bed for reflection and prayer. Now that's a good day! Today was good too, we returned to the primary school and have continued our work with the 6th graders. And as I speak we are currently aiding another missionary family with childcare as the give birth to another. God has definitely placed us here to be used in many ways! All to His glory!

New Legs!

About a week ago we went to see the C.U.R.E International and the prosthetics lab associated with it. C.U.R.E. focuses on helping kids with orthopedic conditions. But the prosthetics lab helps people of all ages. We got a tour of the whole facility and an explanation of the process. It was so neat!

At the end of the tour there we witnessed a Somalian man get a brand new prosthetic. He had come in with a makeshift prosthetic of his own that was completely pathetic but quite resourceful all at the same time. He was very happy to have a new one that actually looked like the real deal. Because he was Somalian and didn't speak Kiswahili, the conversation occured mostly in English through an interpreter that he had brought along with him. I feel honored to have been able to listen in on the conversation. Especially as the Kenyan doctor began witnessing to him so naturally. The doctor told him that it is not by his hands alone that he was able to make this leg but that God is the one giving him the ability, and that God made the original, he is just making a meager copycat of it. Jokes also flew around about what this new leg would mean for his many wives. The Somalian said he will have more now and that he wanted to give the doctor another wife. The doctor said he has only one wife and that he doesn't need any more. But he continued to say that if he prays God will reveal to him that it is His will for a man to have only one wife. From what I understand, this is very rare for even a Kenyan Christian to understand, much less a Somalian Muslim.

On Monday morning we will be returning to CURE to visit with kids in the waiting room. In the afternoon we will be going to the local primary school. You can be praying for our interactions to be a blessing to them. I'm very thankful to have a few opportunities like this in our time waiting to go to Kalacha. You can also be praying that the paperwork for baby Ezra (passport, etc) comes through so that we can go to Kalacha.

Labor Day

I have so much to write about, but in order to not overwhelm you I'll just focus on the biggest news!

The Andersen's had their baby yesterday -- on labor day! How ironic! Ezra was born at about 6:30 yesterday and weighed in at about 9lb 4 oz. I have never been this close to a woman in labor before! Other than possibly when my dear little brother was born, but that doesn't count! Rachel is such a steady, easy going mom. I hardly knew she was having big contractions other than for the fact that she finally decided to go to the hospital. Emma and I were completely in charge of the older 5 kids for all of yesterday and most of the morning today. The kids were all very excited to see their younger brother this morning! Even the youngest, Silas, was actually beginning to understand the concept of being a 'big brother'. And then he saw him! Yay!

About half a day before Ezra arrived, two missionaries who were also midwives came to town to help out. The doctor Rachel thought she was going to have wasn't available when the time came, but these 2 midwives were readily available! They handled the minor complications Ezra had (umbilical cord was wrapped twice) with great ease. How perfect did God time that! Those 2 ladies left about a day later too! CRAZY!

Now that Ezra is here it will be 2 weeks before going to Kalacha. I can't wait to meet the people and interact with the culture I keep hearing so much about!

Kibera

Last week Friday we went to Kibera Slum. Kibera is the largest slum in the world. It's population is said to be about 1 million people, but nobody really knows. We went there with Mika who has started his own project there with AIM. I didn't always understand what was being said about his project but it is definitely focusing on children's education. There is also some sport leagues that have been started that go along with motivating the educational side. The kids are really excited about it!

Most of the time I was intrigued by a boy named Meshach. He is absolutely adorable as you can tell! He started following us far before we entered the secondary school tower (our first stop) and continued with us all the way through the slum. We walked the long way out which followed the train tracks through the 'city'. There were many sightings along the way including several kids playing with a soccer ball stuffed with shopping bags and tied together with twine. I actually had a chance to kick it once! The kids will play with anything. Meshach and I kicked around a bottle cap for quite a while.

As we were walking along the railroad tracks, I asked one of our 'guides' about how the kids seem to go wherever they want. He said they know all the paths better than anyone. This slum of a million people and they know it like the neighborhood park! But of course, these kids don't always get back home. I can't imagine what atrocities are around the corner for any one of those kids I just met.

At the end Meshach and Nicholas nearly tried to climb on the matatu (bus) with us. We had to physically hold them back. A ways down the road, as Emma and I were speechlessly processing our experience, the next thing I know is there is a boy beneath my window on the bus. It was Meshach! He had followed the bus down the road and was yelling to us to find out if we'd be back. My hear was broken in that moment for sure. All we could do was shrug our shoulders in reply. However, Emma and i will have some time in December, and we do plan to return. i definitely hope to see my friend Meshach again. I think I will, one way or another... he told me he loves Jesus!

A Squash Banana

Sorry for my delay in posting. The internet is very poor in Kijabe. I have a few things to tell you all, but I shall space it out a bit. The topic for today is language learning. The first thing I learned to say was 'asante sana' (thank you very much) and I was promptly told to leave the 'squash banana' off the end! Language learning is very tough, especially when trying to do so properly instead of just a pigeon version of it. But it is very important: Language learning IS ministry. I have to remind myself of that when I feel stupid or want to give up. They've given us a great method for learning it, which essentially involves finding a tutor, learning a phrase or two a day and going and applying it immediately. Everyone seems to laugh at us and all our stumbles over words but I've learned to just laugh right along with them. It seems laughter is never derogatory here. In that sense, its been more fun to learn the cultural cues than anything else at this point. I even asked if it would be ok to outright laugh when we get the inevitable marriage proposals. They told me it was and also to tell them "you don't have enough cows for me"

I've found that a good talking point for a lot of Kenyans is politics. When I tell them I'm from America (something I can say in Swahili) they all want to know about Obama and what I think about him. They all say they are related to Obama because he is Kenyan. One even told me that I was Kenyan because he was my president! Big laughs at that! In most of the world its a bad thing to be American, but not here!
They also are very into their own politics as they have just instated a new constitution. I am here at the dawn of the Second Republic of Kenya. I bought a paper today just to commemorate my being here. Everyone is very excited about it here. I hope it does the country even half as much good as they expect it to.

Pictures in the next post, I promise!

Address

Sorry this has taken so long to post. There is really no excuse for the delay. Things will take about 3 weeks to get here.

Rebecca Postma

AIC Kalacha

PO Box 21028

Nairobi, Kenya 00505

East Africa

Also, I'm at 32 Loginye Road Nairobi Kenya right now if you want to give Google Earth a try. Apparently you can see the entire house very clearly including the yard where we just played some football (that's soccer for you American folks!)

Correction:

I am jet-lagged. I thought jet lagged meant sleeping at odd hours of the day. So far that hasn't really been the case, though I did go to bed at 8 last night. My jet-lag has manifested itself mostly in my entire body just feeling 'off' I'm not all that tired, but I'm definitely not as spunky as normal and move just a bit slower in general. I'm excited for my body to adjust.

There were a few opportunities to get out and interact yesterday. Steven took us downtown on a matatu which is essentially a 15 passenger van that is jam-packed and starts moving a bit before everyone is actually sitting down. Then we walked through downtown at a decent pace and he pointed out all these government buildings including the old American embassy. There were also a few neighbor kids who came over to play with the little Scottish boys. They seemed a little hesitant around all us extra white people, but it was fun for me to help them feel more comfortable.

All systems Go!

After 18 hours of flying, 5 hours of layovers, 3 security checks and hopefully enough sleep, I've arrived in Kenya! To be honest, I don't really know how jet-lagged I am. I slept almost all of the last 8 hour flight from London to Nairobi, though I was sure to eat the meals given out on the plane! and then I slept pretty solid all night long. There was the call to prayer at 5 am that I definitely didn't sleep through, and was quite alert by 7 am this morning. I plan to stay awake all day so as to get on track with the time here. Up until about an hour ago, I wasn't quite sure of the day, much less the time!

I met Emma right before getting on the London plane. She is my teammate. She has a strong English accent, and we continually have to stop mid-conversation and explain what we are talking about. It is so wierd that we speak the same language but still have to translate! She seems very laid back and pretty mature for just coming out of secondary school. I hope we become very comfortable around eachother so that we can be an emotional and spiritual support for eachother. Pray that this happens at a natural pace.

Right now I'm staying with the hospitality missionaries here in Nairobi. Their house is essentially a constant flux of missionaries. In this house right now are Scottish, German, English, and American. Actually this house is the home of some Bolivian missionaries that are currently on furlough. So the decor is an odd mix of South American and African influences. The house is quite full right now, and their really isn't enough space to even look through my luggage. I felt a bit embarrassed last night, feeling I am the typical American with too much stuff, but this morning at breakfast, I heard of other stories that were far worse (47 bags for a family of 3!) Now that is ridiculous!

I'm anxious to learn the language and get involved! But so far all I know is Asanti (Thank you) which is to be my response to Karibu (welcome). And I've hardly talked to any Africans. Until that happens, I think I'll just feel out of place, instead of at home in God's work. Pray I get opportunities to do so soon. We will be in Nairobi till Friday or even Monday, so this time of limbo could be very long otherwise. But we are right near Kibera Slum, the largest slum in the world, so the opportunities are great if we are given the chance. Also pray for emotional strength and rejuvenation after many good-byes and getting used to not having your amazing support and encouragement so close and tangible. Thanks to all of you who continue to pray and support me from such a distance. You mean the world to me!

Orientation Week & Testimony

August 2-4 was orientation in NY. I had a very small orientation group, which threw me off a bit, but the community was awesome. I loved hearing the stories of how my fellow missionary friends came to the point where they are at now, to share our hearts for Africa with eachother and to encourage eachother in our journeys. I left the orientation feeling very blessed, prepared and excited to hit the mission field. Most people leave the orientation with a direct path to Africa. However, I am in the midst of waiting an extra 2 and half weeks. Its been somewhat awkward, but mostly a blessing to have this extra time to indulge in the fellowship and encouragement from so many people who surround my life. Please be in prayer that in 10 days, when my departure date is actually here, that I still feel the readiness (in full) that I felt last week.

During orientation, we were giving a guideline for sharing our testimonies concisely and in the African fashion. I only find it appropriate to share mine with those who will be praying for it to be delivered to and welcomed by open hearts.

My Testimony:
Greetings from Fellowship Church in Greeley Colorado! My name is Rebecca and came to know Christ when I was 16 years old. I feel very blessed to have grown up in a Christian home and to have many examples of strong faith to follow. My family had many struggles growing up, and when I was young, I chose to see those struggles more than the faithfulness that God had shown us threw all of those events. When I was older, my faith was challenged by a Mormon. I chose to face those challenges directly by seeking the truth without assistance from parents or pastors. And, indeed, the Truth of the Bible was been made evident to me! Soon after this I confronted the fact that my sin put Jesus on the cross and a new idea that he would have died even if it was just for me. Furthermore, through a song about heaven, God spoke assurance into my life that I would be with him forever. I always doubted whether my faith and God's hold on me would sustain me until my death. Since these words of comfort (nearly audibly spoken!), I do not doubt Him for a second. My biggest struggle now and throughout my life is trusting in God's provision. I love the name of God: Jehovah Jireh (the Lord provides). Clearly he has proved himself time and again but I still need the reminder. Psalm 146:3 &5 are the verses I call to mind: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.... (but)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. I love that:"the God of Jacob" as this is a reference to a man who literaly struggled with God. My struggle is not in vain, God is not done with me yet!

Pics of Art for Sale

This is my art up at Zoe's coffee shop. It's not in a high-traffic area unfortunately but please look for it if you are there!



This one sold already! Praise God! Even though it was hard to let go, I'm glad I did, especially as someone with connections to the 'art world' bought it!


A triptych batik I made only a month ago


Man, this one is gonna be hard to let go!

From the imagination of yours truly.
It's ok if you don't understand!

An African Landscape

Another Batik (Batik is an Indonesian/African art form by the way!)

Art for Africa

Hey everyone! Thanks for checking the blog already. I plan to keep this thing up to date for sure! This morning I took the time and organizational energy (which is limited in my case!) to set up artwork at Zoe's in Downtown Greeley. I plan to sell my artwork there as another fundraiser for my Africa Mission. Zoe's is located at 715 10th Street for those of you who don't know. Also it is a non-profit coffee house of Christ Community Church.

FYI: some of these items for sale are otherwise on my NFS list. I hope you like 'em as much as I do!

The Adventure Begins Here

As many of you are aware, I have longed to go to Africa for a very long time. I thank you so much for your encouragement of these desires. By God’s good grace and perfect timing, I am now presented with the opportunity to serve the people and the culture that I have been mysteriously drawn to for so long.

Last fall, I began seeking opportunities to go on such a missionary journey. I had felt the Spirit confirming my desires through a recent trip to Haiti. Unlike any mission trip I had been on in the past, this time I knew God was asking me to take the initiative. I was eventually led to Africa Inland Mission (AIM) as the organization that would be best for my situation. They have found an urgent need for me to fulfill. I will be with the Andersons, a missionary family that is located in Kalacha, Kenya. By the time I arrive, this family will have a brand-new member of their family! I will meet them in Kijabe where the baby will be born and ‘when the time is right’ we will go back to Kalacha together. Kalacha is located in the Chalbi Desert and is home of the Gabra people. I will be assisting the family with home-schooling and anything else they would have me do to help out during this time. In the afternoons, there will be opportunities to help with a variety of ministries in the community, such as the Nomadic Girls School. I feel blessed to be able to help out in so many ways. This mission assignment seems to be perfectly orchestrated by God!