Monday, August 30, 2010
Prayer for today.
Wanted to send a prayer request to each of you- One of the guys on our leadership team, Patrick, just received a call that his sister died, unknown causes. She had been in the hospital for the past few days with what they thought was TB, but the results showed a negative test yesterday. The family is heartbroken with grief for the loss of their precious loved one. We have spent time with her and she was a beautiful woman of the Lord- 20 years old, married with 2 children, the youngest being a year. The husband is not a believer, so the family is praying for how the children will be impacted without her presence in the home. They are faithful in God's purpose and are strengthened in how the Lord's Hand is upon them. However, grief is a reality that is difficult to bear when we lose a loved one. Pray for Patrick's family as they make the arrangements for Ester's funeral and for provision over her precious little ones who are left without their mother.
Monday, August 23, 2010
DIscipleship's purpose.
When a label is placed as a missionary, most people begin their questioning of the progress as what are the numbers of salvation. Although to see a bounty of lives transformed in the Word is a beautiful celebration, we have discovered that here in this context, the true transformation is much more of a celebration than the numbers of salvation that may not all be truly lived. We wanted to share with you the joy of a life who is deeply being molded in the hand of the Lord- who is being restored from a tainted view of the ‘church’ and is opening his life to receiving the abounding love of our Father.
Yesterday, Brett had the opportunity to pour deeper into the attitude of his heart and just process life with him. Raised in the church, he has witnessed a negative influence from the church leaders that had pushed him far from any desire to participate in what they claimed was the truth. When we first met him a year ago, his heart was hardened toward the church and it has been 12 years since he has attended. For the past 3 months, he has attended every Sunday. From ‘Christian’ examples, he became jaded by seeing church leaders in the clubs/bars indulging in ‘ladies/prostitutes’, then on Sunday clothe themselves in their best attire, attempting to appear ‘holy.’ He voiced his burden that he did not want that kind of “fake religion.”
Manning states that “Jesus comes to the ungodly, even on Sunday morning. His coming ends ungodliness and makes us worthy. Otherwise, we are establishing at the heart of Christianity an utterly ungodly and unworthy preoccupation with works.”
An area that we have poured into him repeatedly is that his relationship with God is not the same as the church- that is the beautiful part of God- we have an individual access to Him and are able to grow in maturity, apart from what others may decide for their choices. He voiced that the Vapor discipleship has allowed him to receive the “content” of the Word and separate it from the person who delivers the message of the Word. The Lord is allowing him to pull sinful man away from our holy God- recognizing that we are in a sinful world and that people will let us down, but that God is unchanging and His truths are perfect.
Marin Luther voiced “Go to the Bible itself, dear Christians, and let my expositions and those of all scholars be no more than a tool with which to build aright, so that we can understand, taste, and abide in the simple and pure word of God.”
He said that he has grown closer to God. Some months ago, he expressed that he believed many of the Biblical truths, but that he had not accepted it fully. When Brett asked him if he had come to the point where he believed and accepted Christ’s teachings, he contemplated for some minutes, then voiced that he has not yet made a decision. He continued to explain that he does not want to be wavering and when he makes this decision it will be for a lifetime. He described it like a man deciding on marrying his girlfriend- a relationship that once decided upon, is forever.
Lloyd Ogilivie truthfully states, “we have turned the tables; we try to live so that he will love us, rather than living because he has already loved us.”
Hearing his testament of searching the Lord, challenged our hearts to our actions. Have we turned the tables or are we living out of His love for us? Is our testament as believers turning others toward Christ or far away from Him? Our prayer is that he will be overwhelmed by his need for the Lord- that it is not about him getting things straight first, but coming to Him as a ragamuffin in need of His salvation. “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints, and of marrow...”
We pray that as he continues to invest in discipleship and reading God’s Word, that he would be pierced by the truths and would accept his home into the beautiful Kingdom of God.
Yesterday, Brett had the opportunity to pour deeper into the attitude of his heart and just process life with him. Raised in the church, he has witnessed a negative influence from the church leaders that had pushed him far from any desire to participate in what they claimed was the truth. When we first met him a year ago, his heart was hardened toward the church and it has been 12 years since he has attended. For the past 3 months, he has attended every Sunday. From ‘Christian’ examples, he became jaded by seeing church leaders in the clubs/bars indulging in ‘ladies/prostitutes’, then on Sunday clothe themselves in their best attire, attempting to appear ‘holy.’ He voiced his burden that he did not want that kind of “fake religion.”
Manning states that “Jesus comes to the ungodly, even on Sunday morning. His coming ends ungodliness and makes us worthy. Otherwise, we are establishing at the heart of Christianity an utterly ungodly and unworthy preoccupation with works.”
An area that we have poured into him repeatedly is that his relationship with God is not the same as the church- that is the beautiful part of God- we have an individual access to Him and are able to grow in maturity, apart from what others may decide for their choices. He voiced that the Vapor discipleship has allowed him to receive the “content” of the Word and separate it from the person who delivers the message of the Word. The Lord is allowing him to pull sinful man away from our holy God- recognizing that we are in a sinful world and that people will let us down, but that God is unchanging and His truths are perfect.
Marin Luther voiced “Go to the Bible itself, dear Christians, and let my expositions and those of all scholars be no more than a tool with which to build aright, so that we can understand, taste, and abide in the simple and pure word of God.”
He said that he has grown closer to God. Some months ago, he expressed that he believed many of the Biblical truths, but that he had not accepted it fully. When Brett asked him if he had come to the point where he believed and accepted Christ’s teachings, he contemplated for some minutes, then voiced that he has not yet made a decision. He continued to explain that he does not want to be wavering and when he makes this decision it will be for a lifetime. He described it like a man deciding on marrying his girlfriend- a relationship that once decided upon, is forever.
Lloyd Ogilivie truthfully states, “we have turned the tables; we try to live so that he will love us, rather than living because he has already loved us.”
Hearing his testament of searching the Lord, challenged our hearts to our actions. Have we turned the tables or are we living out of His love for us? Is our testament as believers turning others toward Christ or far away from Him? Our prayer is that he will be overwhelmed by his need for the Lord- that it is not about him getting things straight first, but coming to Him as a ragamuffin in need of His salvation. “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints, and of marrow...”
We pray that as he continues to invest in discipleship and reading God’s Word, that he would be pierced by the truths and would accept his home into the beautiful Kingdom of God.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
seeds of different kinds....
So wanted to share with you that our fields are PLANTED!! Saying many praises that the extended efforts of MANY months have led us to this part of the harvest- This week, pray for us, as we work hard toward the completion of the track. Our days will be consumed with taking levels and bringing in all the soil to make the track complete- SO, if all goes well- this time next week we will be looking at a finished field/track! Eagerly watching as the grass grows and beginning to open the track up to the incredible runners of Ngong!! The past few weeks we have had many runners stop by during their training in the hills, ready to begin their speed work. An exciting time for sure!!
We shared with you that we are having a boy:) and wanted to share with you his name! We wanted a name that represented meaning- both with family and with our time here. Gray was my great-grandmother's maiden name and my grandmother's middle name- My grandmother Seales was raised as the oldest of 10 siblings- her life has served as a testament of how the Lord provides for your ‘daily bread’ and that life is more than living for what others call the “American Dream”. Their lives have been filled in joy thru simplicity and for that we value the ways that their hands have tilled the land and how their life has served in ways beyond articulation. We see the connecting bridge of their heritage and the strong history of the Lord’s provision that we are exposed to here. We pray that our son may grow in the same faith as a man who ‘puts his hand to the plow’ and leans upon the Lord, not the pursuit of the “American Dream”. Thomas is also Brett’s family name as well, so this way we are able to connect both families together.
When we climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, our porter's name was Grayson. His name will always remind of us the incredible moments that we spent with the Lord and with one another during the venture of such majestic creation.
So, in a representation of family- both in the States and in Kenya- our son’s name will be Grayson Thomas Ralston.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Plant, Water, and Watch it Grow!
1 Corinthians 3: 5-9
"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe- as the Lord as assigned to each its task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to 'his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers, you are God's field, God's building.'
This passage speaks of the partnering work extended by Paul & Apollos- Paul planted the seed of the gospel message in people's hearts. Apollos's role was to 'water' as he helped the believers grow stronger in the faith.
For those of you who have walked closely with us on this journey, you can echo the position of PRAISE as we are now literally planting the fields. Seeds are being implanted on what will grow to be an avenue of ministry for the children and the youth of Ngong. Children are already lining the gates in anticipation of what is to come. We can hear the footsteps that will fiercely run on the field and the track- And see the many lives that will be transformed as the Lord speaks to their hearts. Although we do rejoice in the grass being laid, we know that this is not the root of praise to be ushered unto the Lord. Grass can wither and die and leave behind its imprint of the once played upon 'perfect stadium.' These 14 months of our efforts have not been labored for the grass or even for the track- rather for the avenue it brings to share the gospel. Yet, as Paul and Apollos, we have been brought here to plant the seeds of the Lord's love within the heart's of the people- and as a testament of that message, our leaders are helping those hearts grow stronger in the faith.
Know that with every prayer you voice in our accord, you plant a seed in a heart that will be watered in the days to come. By the end of next week, our field will be ready to receive the bountiful harvest that has been sown. For this, we give full testament of the Lord's favor and His provision.
Paul voiced in 2 Corinthians 21-22 the privilege we have of belonging to God and the responsibility we have of identifying ourselves as his faithful servants.
'now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. '
Pray with us as we finish out this task assigned to us and for our leaders as they continue to be trained and to be deepened in 'watering' the hearts of Ngong. May God make it grow. May God receive all thanksgiving and all praise for the bounty He has provided already.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Este is really Ice T...
Este is really Ice T...
We had a divine encounter yesterday as we ran into Este, who informed us that his name is really Ice T- we just thought he said Este because he said it so fast. We met Ice T in the same demeanor that we found him last- ragged sweater that shelters him from the cold, worn pants that he kneels in to rummage thru the trash heap, and a small cap that although weathered appears to be his favorite. His teeth are tainted by the daily choice of his glue indulgence and with every word spoken his breath ushers you to also experience the glue’s powerful taunt. Ice T joined us for some ugi, which in Kenya is their porridge, and a morning staple for most. On a cold July winter’s day, it was an inviting warmth that ushered us into conversation. There are several things we both observed in our time with him- genuineness and an unexplained innocence. All of us- be it positive or negative- extend in relationships of some kind. Some choose to invest deeply and to sharpen one another in the faith of Christ. Some choose to indulge in investments of forgetting reality and as Judges proclaims, “prostituting themselves to various lovers.” That may sound harsh in comparison, but its the reality of our choices of relationships. It is true that we are either living for our self or living for the Lord- In this life, we choose to live for our Maker, our Husband, our ultimate Love. Or we choose to live for other lovers that disguise themselves as Paul voices in 2 Timothy 3: “people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power....” in this attitude of heart articulated by Paul, it is voicing the powerful pull of individuals who call themselves believers, can use Scripture & Christian cliché’s to portray a close relationship with Christ, yet reap no true fruit of the Lord’s spirit within them. Paul says that we will be known by our fruit. Many times in all of our lives, we have played that part all too well- Knowing the ‘right’ words to say when someone asks how our life is going- choosing to create a façade of togetherness rather than share the sufferings of our days- indulging in other lovers rather than our first love.
What we saw in Ice T was honesty of his choices and not a mask for appearance sake. We have shared in many conversations with people during our time here in Kenya and it would be suffice to say that 9 out of 10 times someone gives us the desires of their heart to ‘get back into church’ and then takes the notion to debate their problems and the reasons why we need to help them financially. Ice T, a 17-year-old ‘glue head’ daily makes his choice- Kicked out of school 3 years ago, he has been in and out of correction schools to only ‘escape’ them as he liked to voice it. He claims that every morning he gathers his bag, digs thru the trash for plastics so that he can sell them for 20 shillings for his glue, and then goes to work for his Mom. When we asked if she paid him, he bellowed a laugh of an innocent child and simply stated, I don’t work for money- I work for food. Most mothers who have glue head children would not want their child to roam freely into their home, in fear of their influence on the other children who are still there. This mother has chosen to allow her son the open door of working for his choices- he wants food, not money, just food. He could have given us a sob story of the hardships of the streets and the many things that we could do to get him off of them. Yet, Ice T- out of a genuine heart shared his choice of ungodliness- he knows the choices that he is making reaps great consequences yet he chooses to ignore them and reap the immediate-short-term rewards of them. Our hearts were deeply burdened for this young teen who spoke passionately about his desire to be a ‘futballer’ (soccer player)- Of course, we allowed his passions to shine and did not give him the speech of needing to change a few things before he could actually accomplish that goal. We respected his honest approach of conversation and discussed afterwards how many times in our life do we neglect the consequences of our ways? Are we choosing the lovers of this world or the great Lover who established our life? Are we blinded to ourselves that we cloud our perceptions to actually believing that we are living our life for the Lord? Or like Ice T, can we acknowledge our ways and be honest with the entanglements that have entrapped us?
Ice T says that he wants to come work for us- that he will save his ‘trash’ clothes so that he can work hard and dig into the soil to get the soccer pitch ready. Our whole purpose in being here- building this center- are for boys like Ice T. How beautiful to witness a transformation in his life and to see him choose to not kneel in the trash heap so that he can indulge in his love of glue and rather choose a life full of freedom in Christ and kneeling before a father who grants every blessing and every indulgence of his love. We pray that our ugi date isn’t the last time that we see this precious Ice T.
We had a divine encounter yesterday as we ran into Este, who informed us that his name is really Ice T- we just thought he said Este because he said it so fast. We met Ice T in the same demeanor that we found him last- ragged sweater that shelters him from the cold, worn pants that he kneels in to rummage thru the trash heap, and a small cap that although weathered appears to be his favorite. His teeth are tainted by the daily choice of his glue indulgence and with every word spoken his breath ushers you to also experience the glue’s powerful taunt. Ice T joined us for some ugi, which in Kenya is their porridge, and a morning staple for most. On a cold July winter’s day, it was an inviting warmth that ushered us into conversation. There are several things we both observed in our time with him- genuineness and an unexplained innocence. All of us- be it positive or negative- extend in relationships of some kind. Some choose to invest deeply and to sharpen one another in the faith of Christ. Some choose to indulge in investments of forgetting reality and as Judges proclaims, “prostituting themselves to various lovers.” That may sound harsh in comparison, but its the reality of our choices of relationships. It is true that we are either living for our self or living for the Lord- In this life, we choose to live for our Maker, our Husband, our ultimate Love. Or we choose to live for other lovers that disguise themselves as Paul voices in 2 Timothy 3: “people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power....” in this attitude of heart articulated by Paul, it is voicing the powerful pull of individuals who call themselves believers, can use Scripture & Christian cliché’s to portray a close relationship with Christ, yet reap no true fruit of the Lord’s spirit within them. Paul says that we will be known by our fruit. Many times in all of our lives, we have played that part all too well- Knowing the ‘right’ words to say when someone asks how our life is going- choosing to create a façade of togetherness rather than share the sufferings of our days- indulging in other lovers rather than our first love.
What we saw in Ice T was honesty of his choices and not a mask for appearance sake. We have shared in many conversations with people during our time here in Kenya and it would be suffice to say that 9 out of 10 times someone gives us the desires of their heart to ‘get back into church’ and then takes the notion to debate their problems and the reasons why we need to help them financially. Ice T, a 17-year-old ‘glue head’ daily makes his choice- Kicked out of school 3 years ago, he has been in and out of correction schools to only ‘escape’ them as he liked to voice it. He claims that every morning he gathers his bag, digs thru the trash for plastics so that he can sell them for 20 shillings for his glue, and then goes to work for his Mom. When we asked if she paid him, he bellowed a laugh of an innocent child and simply stated, I don’t work for money- I work for food. Most mothers who have glue head children would not want their child to roam freely into their home, in fear of their influence on the other children who are still there. This mother has chosen to allow her son the open door of working for his choices- he wants food, not money, just food. He could have given us a sob story of the hardships of the streets and the many things that we could do to get him off of them. Yet, Ice T- out of a genuine heart shared his choice of ungodliness- he knows the choices that he is making reaps great consequences yet he chooses to ignore them and reap the immediate-short-term rewards of them. Our hearts were deeply burdened for this young teen who spoke passionately about his desire to be a ‘futballer’ (soccer player)- Of course, we allowed his passions to shine and did not give him the speech of needing to change a few things before he could actually accomplish that goal. We respected his honest approach of conversation and discussed afterwards how many times in our life do we neglect the consequences of our ways? Are we choosing the lovers of this world or the great Lover who established our life? Are we blinded to ourselves that we cloud our perceptions to actually believing that we are living our life for the Lord? Or like Ice T, can we acknowledge our ways and be honest with the entanglements that have entrapped us?
Ice T says that he wants to come work for us- that he will save his ‘trash’ clothes so that he can work hard and dig into the soil to get the soccer pitch ready. Our whole purpose in being here- building this center- are for boys like Ice T. How beautiful to witness a transformation in his life and to see him choose to not kneel in the trash heap so that he can indulge in his love of glue and rather choose a life full of freedom in Christ and kneeling before a father who grants every blessing and every indulgence of his love. We pray that our ugi date isn’t the last time that we see this precious Ice T.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Our little MAN!
Yesterday, we were blessed with the news that our little birdseed is a BOY!! Its incredible that sitting in Africa, we can be blessed with a 3D picture and an abnormality scan. All body parts- inward and outward are healthy, developing on track, and doing as well as expected! The Lord is faithful to tenderly care for His children. Baby and Mom are gaining weight well:). For those of you who do not have facebook, below is a picture of the 3D scan of little man's face! Such a miracle to witness this precious child in the womb. God is so intricate with all details!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=14086142&l=c91a261685&id=611190289
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Update on the Ngong front...
It is hard to imagine that July has already passed us by and that now we look ahead at our 3 month stretch of time to completion. There are many facets of ‘progress’ seen within our days thus far. From the construction aspect, our changing rooms and our local offices both have walls and the roofing is being installed this week. We now have our water pump installed, which allows us to be ready to plant the fields. Our fields, believe it or not, are NOW finally as level as they can be! The soccer pitch and the running track have been marked. Our next steps within the next few weeks are to dig the trenches for the water pipes around the pitch (for our sprinkling systems), cut out the track with the grader, build the track, and plant the grass. We anticipate full completion of the field by mid-September! It is such a praise to witness progress and forward movement.
From the discipleship aspect, our guys have taken on more responsibility and have alleviated a lot of burden from our plates. We have witnessed such leadership skills in them and see how their differing personalities will fit perfectly into the full-time positions that we will be offering them shortly. Pray with us as we continue to discern who God is leading to fill which positions. From our conversation with them individually, they have all voiced their desire to continue on with Vapor. We pray that the Lord would boldly show us if there is any heart issues that need to be surfaced prior to this transition. Pray for them by name: Elly, Vinny, Patrick, Peter, Bizmark, Shadrack. The enemy does not want this center to be successful and we feel the spiritual opposition daily. In reading Psalms today, we empathize with David’s prayer unto the Lord- for sustenance, for assurance, and for strength.
Psalms 16:7-11 “ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Pray with us as we daily seek counsel from our wise Father. Daily, we are faced with opposition, with difficult decisions/ situations, and with opportunities for grace. We believe in the instruction from the Lord and seek to set Him always before us- believing that he has foreseen the outcome of this center- the children who will gather to hear His Word- the coaches who will lead them on spiritually- the opposition that our leaders will face- and the purpose of ‘success’ that He has in store. Pray with us that we will not envision ‘our’ own plans, but that we can rely solely on the purpose of the Lord to stand. Pray against the spiritual opposition (Ephesians 6) that we are fighting against- the powers of this dark world. It is a strong force on many days, and in moments, it can feel too heavy to bear. But, we know that we have a Savior who takes our burdens and carries them for us. May we have the strength and the courage to release all of them unto His care.
As a praise, we have seen how the Lord has used the spiritual leadership of our guys to disciple other new believers in our community. Thuku, one of the street kids who sniffed glue, has become saved- been working with us and is now attending our church regularly. Two more men on our work site have been saved and our guys have brought them into their lives to live life in fellowship with them! So no matter what opposition we face, the Lord continues to work boldly and most faithfully!
From a personal aspect, we are strengthened as we have spent much time with the people. The Lord is granting us the ability to prioritize our investments, which can be a difficult thing to do. Our little one is growing well and receiving the nutrients that he/she needs. Now 20 wks!! We find out on Friday if its indeed a lil’ man or a lil’ lady! We continue to pray as the Lord gives testament of His provisions- both financially and physically. We entrust this season of great faith unto His care, as we know that our little one’s life gives full testament that the Lord truly shepherds over his flock. Pray for the continued wisdom and counsel we need in making decisions toward our little one’s care and for the Hand of the Lord to provide in His provision. Pray for us as a couple that we can continue to sharpen one another and to connect in a deeper way as we walk this season together. It has already been a sharpening experience for us.
Continued movement: After much prayer, we are affirmed in the Lord’s next steps for us. Brett has accepted a position with Vapor as the Manager of Capital Projects/Operations- where to communicate it more simply- he will oversee the completed centers (Ngong, Kawangware, Togo) in communications and will be working alongside the missionaries building Vapor’s next center in Haiti. He will be primarily working from Vapor’s headquarters and traveling periodically to the centers when needed. We feel assured that this is how the Lord wants to use the skills that we have attained from this season and continue to help further the cause of Vapor. We will be moving to Vapor’s headquarters in Fayetteville, AL (outside of Birmingham) by Feb. 1st. Pray with us as we solidify these details and enter yet another season of faith with our most faithful Shepherd!
From the discipleship aspect, our guys have taken on more responsibility and have alleviated a lot of burden from our plates. We have witnessed such leadership skills in them and see how their differing personalities will fit perfectly into the full-time positions that we will be offering them shortly. Pray with us as we continue to discern who God is leading to fill which positions. From our conversation with them individually, they have all voiced their desire to continue on with Vapor. We pray that the Lord would boldly show us if there is any heart issues that need to be surfaced prior to this transition. Pray for them by name: Elly, Vinny, Patrick, Peter, Bizmark, Shadrack. The enemy does not want this center to be successful and we feel the spiritual opposition daily. In reading Psalms today, we empathize with David’s prayer unto the Lord- for sustenance, for assurance, and for strength.
Psalms 16:7-11 “ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Pray with us as we daily seek counsel from our wise Father. Daily, we are faced with opposition, with difficult decisions/ situations, and with opportunities for grace. We believe in the instruction from the Lord and seek to set Him always before us- believing that he has foreseen the outcome of this center- the children who will gather to hear His Word- the coaches who will lead them on spiritually- the opposition that our leaders will face- and the purpose of ‘success’ that He has in store. Pray with us that we will not envision ‘our’ own plans, but that we can rely solely on the purpose of the Lord to stand. Pray against the spiritual opposition (Ephesians 6) that we are fighting against- the powers of this dark world. It is a strong force on many days, and in moments, it can feel too heavy to bear. But, we know that we have a Savior who takes our burdens and carries them for us. May we have the strength and the courage to release all of them unto His care.
As a praise, we have seen how the Lord has used the spiritual leadership of our guys to disciple other new believers in our community. Thuku, one of the street kids who sniffed glue, has become saved- been working with us and is now attending our church regularly. Two more men on our work site have been saved and our guys have brought them into their lives to live life in fellowship with them! So no matter what opposition we face, the Lord continues to work boldly and most faithfully!
From a personal aspect, we are strengthened as we have spent much time with the people. The Lord is granting us the ability to prioritize our investments, which can be a difficult thing to do. Our little one is growing well and receiving the nutrients that he/she needs. Now 20 wks!! We find out on Friday if its indeed a lil’ man or a lil’ lady! We continue to pray as the Lord gives testament of His provisions- both financially and physically. We entrust this season of great faith unto His care, as we know that our little one’s life gives full testament that the Lord truly shepherds over his flock. Pray for the continued wisdom and counsel we need in making decisions toward our little one’s care and for the Hand of the Lord to provide in His provision. Pray for us as a couple that we can continue to sharpen one another and to connect in a deeper way as we walk this season together. It has already been a sharpening experience for us.
Continued movement: After much prayer, we are affirmed in the Lord’s next steps for us. Brett has accepted a position with Vapor as the Manager of Capital Projects/Operations- where to communicate it more simply- he will oversee the completed centers (Ngong, Kawangware, Togo) in communications and will be working alongside the missionaries building Vapor’s next center in Haiti. He will be primarily working from Vapor’s headquarters and traveling periodically to the centers when needed. We feel assured that this is how the Lord wants to use the skills that we have attained from this season and continue to help further the cause of Vapor. We will be moving to Vapor’s headquarters in Fayetteville, AL (outside of Birmingham) by Feb. 1st. Pray with us as we solidify these details and enter yet another season of faith with our most faithful Shepherd!
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