home

Now that I’m home I plan on writing in my other blog. I would love for you all to keep up with me and what all the Lord is doing in my life. You are more than welcome to find me on FB: Bella Mwendwa  … otherwise, check the page out: childatheart.wordpress.com

Thank you all for an amazing 5 and a half months, for your prayers, for your friendship and for you following us even if I’ve never even met you. Thank you for helping me to realize that God is my all and my strength and life.

Torn…

By the time you read this, I will have a little less than 2 days before I leave Kenya. The last handfull of days have been some of the hardest in my life. That is not meant as an exaggeration either. I have learned much in these 5 1/2 months. I realized my faith is weaker than I thought. My heart is too big and too connected making it almost excrutiating to say goodbye sometimes. I’m torn now between home and Kenya, and not sure if I’ll ever be 100% whole in either place.

I wonder almost daily if I’m meant to be a long term or even short term missionary ever again. I do know if I go anywhere I am not made to go anywhere alone. These last 5 weeks have been the longest, and some days, the lonliest of my life…even being surrounded by 18 wonderful people. There is so much going on in my head these days it is even a wonder I can even put a sentence together.

I do know I’ve never felt so connected to something and so isolated at the same time. It really makes you turn to God which is what I think these last 163 days were about. I think it started from being sidetracked in Belgium and it won’t stop when I get back home. Regarding home, I have no clue what I am doing and am scared about it. I don’t know how to handle the rest of 2012. Up until know my life has been a smooth plan.

The point is I have never felt so alive as I have since I have been here. I have checked out and am struggling there the desire of wanting to go home now. I cry when I think of leaving these kids in a few days. I need prayer and peace and everyone at home to understand I will be scrambled when I see you. Maybe only a few days but maybe weeks. And I’m trying to realize that only a handful of people will be able to relate to me fully now. My experiences will set me apart now. Not in a bad way, but in a different way.

I desire these children to be happy and have peace. After I leave, everyone they have had in the last year will be gone. It will be hard and strange until David and Laurel come. Just because I’m gone, please do not stop praying for them. I know I probably never will stop.

Please pray for us and our family. I hope it won’t be too hard to reintegrate but there are changes afoot. And it will be unique from here on out. Please pray for peace and for travel. It is almost two days for me to get home and I hate to fly. Pray for no motion sickness and safe and quick travels, and for all three bags to make it to Atlanta when I do. And for my heart and mind coming home.

Kenya I will always love you and what you have helped me to become. But I’m so longing forward to seeing everyone at home.

Crazy

I’m still alive guys. Sorry for not posting. Things are crazy busy and going to get even more so next week.

I leave in 12 days and am not ready but beyond ready at the same time. It is very hard to explain to be honest. These past few weeks have been a lot harder than I expected alone. But God has really been using this time to grow me. And giving me some precious times with the kids.

Please pray for me emotions since they seem to go out of wack easily. Please pray for peace as I get ready to go. Pray for travel safeties. And for my family as I get ready to be back home.

Update

Looks like I won’t be able to update my blog every week since moving into the kids home. It turns out that charging my computer from the neighbor is going to end up being very expensive, Sarah thinks she has jacked up the price since I’m white. So I am planning on coming into town every week for a “me day” so I will try to come to the  cyber cafe and update then.
Things have been ok since the Medlin’s left. I obviously am not lonely, which is something everyone was worried about. Things are just different. I’m so looking forward to a good shower and a toilet (you can only squat above a whole so many times each day before you have hit your limit.)
The only problem we have had is that a few things have been taken from my room and no one seems to be the culprit. Whoever it is knows what they are doing because they seem to hit the only time I don’t lock my door – which is when I run outside to use the choo. It is just frustrating. God has been showing me lots about contentment though and I think the theft was just another example. I’m trying to realize that it is just stuff, it just stinks because some of it was gifts for other people. Oh well. We are in the 20 something days until I’m home so I can see the end at this point. I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye, but I am looking forward to being home.

Prayer Requests:

• That I will be content.
• That I will use the 26 days I have left to really use my time wisely for God.
• That I will remember why I’m here in the first place.
• For my family in general.

so emotional

This week has been an extremely emotional week. I started getting things together for the kids christmas bags and goodbye cards. I’ve been finding pictures I’ve taken of them that are good quality and getting them together to print in town on Thursday. Just the fact that I’ve started on that shows me daily that my time left here is very short. I’m torn over that. Obviously I’m very excited about coming home and seeing family, my friends, and fellowshipping in good church with right doctrine. But, I’m so upset already about saying goodbye to the people I’ve grown to love here. My 17 children, Sarah, Monica and Titus, Jane, Rosemary and many more little children that come to our children’s church each week.

On top of that, the Medlin’s leave on Sunday. I’ve cried over this many tears already and as the week keeps going I cry more. I love these people. They are my family, period. I feel like I’ve known them my whole life. I love these 4 crazy hairbrained children. Michael’s goofy personality. And the sweetest, most friendly, loveable woman I’ve met in my life thus far – hands down. She’s helped me through 4 months of crazy, getting adjusted here, she’s been involved in my life, in my family back home, she has helped me pray through MANY decisions and continues to do so. These next 5 weeks are going to be hard without them here. But I know God is doing this to continue to draw me closer to Him.

I hit the 30something day countdown to go back home. That is insane. Have I really been here 127 days already??! Where has the time gone? I feel like I was just packing and on the one week countdown to when I was coming. I’m not going to lie, there have been some hard days. I’ve cried a lot more than I normally do. I’ve been so happy I’ve cried until I feel wack in the head. I’ve been so homesick I’ve called mom and just sat on the phone crying for an hour. I’ve been sick, and sick and more sick – which is so unlike me. Ask my family at home, I’m doing good to get sick twice a year. I’ve woke up and hated this hotel, this culture – I’ve ashamedly yelled at Kenyan’s for constantly staring at me and talking about me. Um hello, I know what Muzungu means, and sometimes I’m able to pick out exactly what they are saying. Does that make me not called to this mission field? Who knows. I’ve also sat in a group of people that I cannot understand a word they are saying and just laughed with them. Smiled with them. Instantly loved them. Prayed with and for them, and gotten involved in their life. I have 38 days left here with these people until I’m on a plane coming back home. And to be honest, I’m scared. I don’t know who I am or what I’m doing, but being here in this crazy, emotional state just feels right. I cannot even explain it.

This week I also started moving all my belongings over to the kids home. David (the orphanage director) sent Michael an email late last week saying that he was not very comfortable with me staying in the hotel by my own and asked if I would move into the kids home after the Medlin’s leave. Honestly I did not have anything wrong with that option, I just didn’t want to be the one to make the final decision. I know, I’m a coward. There were lots of reasons to stay at the hotel AND at the home floating through my head. I seemed to be having a really hard time making a final decision, and my parents put in their 2 cents but let me be the one to make the decision. I’m very thankful that God made that decision clear through the opinion of David. So slowly every day I’ve been taking small egg boxes full of my things over and locking my bedroom up until I move in for good on Sunday.

On that same note, I’m not sure if I will be able to charge my computer often at the shop down the street (Since the home doesn’t have electricity this is my only option) so I’m not sure how often I will be able to get on the internet. So this will probably be my last handwritten blog post. The plan if I cannot use the net is to call mom each week since we are still meeting to talk about our bible study, and give her a little information and prayer requests to put on the blog. I don’t plan on leaving you guys hanging these next 5 weeks!! I’m so thankful and shocked really, that you even read this blog and pray for me daily and weekly. Thank you so much!

Prayer Requests:

• The 6 Medlin’s (Michael, Kellie, Gabe, Christina, Jacob and Abigail) as they leave sunday afternoon (or sunday morning our time for back home) and travel to Nairobi to fly back home to the states. They leave Monday morning at 4am (Sunday at 8pm at home), please pray for patience, for travel safeties, and for all their things to show up with them when they get home to North Carolina to visit family.
• Please pray for them as they travel for about 2 months visiting people, visiting their old church and for them as they try to find a place to call home and settle relatively soon. Pray that Michael will find a job quick, and that it is one that he may enjoy. Pray that God will show them daily that He is in charge and that He will give them all they need.
• Pray for me as I move to the home and settle in quickly. Please pray that I will make the most of my last 38 days here. Pray that I will be fearless to love these children and talk to them about Christ while I’m still here.
• Please pray with me as I continue to pray about possibly working in Ecuador, and that I will be patient as I wait back for information.
• Pray for the children at the home as they transition with the Medlin’s leaving, David (A manager who is taking Michael’s place) moving into the home and having some authority over things going on at the home. Please pray that the children will be excited when David and Laurel move here, whenever that may be.

Moving week has arrived!

This week ended up being a big week. After almost a year of building construction, telling the kids next month, painting, waiting for beds to be finished, painting some more, varnishing and doing last minute construction that should have been done right months ago – the kids finally moved into the new house yesterday. Granted the house is not perfect and there is still a lot that needs to be done (plumbing put in, electricity, running water for the big part) which has to wait until David & Laurel get here. But the big part is that the kids are moved in.

They spent their first night in the house last night. In new rooms, which is new since all 8 girls were living in one dorm room which was the size of a normal master bedroom in America. They slept on new beds, with new and great mattresses. They slept with new blankets to keep them warm. They still have to use the outside bathrooms and kitchen but the dorms and big room is up and running. They were so excited.

I guess I thought we were still waiting on other things to be done before they moved in. So yesterday while I was painting the hall ways I kept getting bumped into. I finally looked up and realized they were carrying their trunks with their clothes and all their belongings into the house! How awesome. It was precious to just look at them and watch the joy in their little lives as they moved into the best home they have had, with the best beds and blankets they have ever had. These kids are now living in rooms that are better than most adult houses. I’ve only been here 4 months and have only seen part of the struggles and difficulties that the Medlin’s have been through, but I got very emotional watching them bring their lives into this new season.

Obviously boys will be boys. Their rooms looked like storm areas. Their junk was thrown all over their beds and tables Michael made for them. But the girls were settled before dinner time came around. They looked like they had been living their for months already. It was awesome. I didn’t get pictures because I was covered in paint but I’m planning on getting some tomorrow after church of the settled rooms. So excited this day has finally come.

Also, we should be baptizing the kids from the home that have accepted Christ, as well as the kids from the neighborhood that have been coming to church and accepted Christ in the river tomorrow afternoon so look for a post about that soon. This last week with the Medlin’s has been a roller coaster of emotions and awesome moments.

Prayer Request:

• The Medlin’s as the prepare for their last week in Kenya
• Me as I try to get some closure on my living arrangements for the next 6 weeks

Introducing Nafula, our first ngombe

On Saturday, October 20th I was able to go with Michael and some of the kids from the home and get the cow that Morningview so amazingly funded! I’m beyond thankful that your heart to help these children was realized in such a physical way that I was able to be involved in. Thank you so much!

We went to Pastor Robert’s “cow farm” and talked with him a little bit. We were able to tour the facility and see all the other cows in the pens. When Baba Robert showed us our cow it was easy to see how much smaller she was from the other cows, although she is still a pretty decent size. Nafula (her given name which means harvest) is two and a half years old. She has only had one calf in her life and besides a small, but treatable infection in her right eye, is in exceptional health.

Nafula at the cow farm was giving about 17 litres of milk a day but since being at our home is giving about 10 litres daily. Her giving has gone down some due to the fact that we are not able to feed her the high quality grain that she has grown up eating. The kids at the home are only using about 5L a day so she is meeting their demand and going over it. They are able to milk her twice daily, at 6am and 4pm. The kids have already said many times how thankful they are to have a cow and have fresh milk daily.

She is not the most affectionate cow but she is warming up to the children and allowing them to touch her more often. The older kids are loving being able to milk her daily. Her first couple days were pretty rough since she went from an inclosed space with 20+ other cows surrounding her to a new home and is alone most of the time (except she has become pretty friendly with some cows who live on the property that backs up to ours). David, the man who has moved into the home and will be taking over the management opportunities after the Medlin’s leave has also taken the initiative to help make a shelter for Nafula and her food containers.

I’m so thankful to have been part of getting these children a cow, and cannot wait to have my turn milking her. 🙂

Here are some pictures from the walk home, and of her settled at the home.

Thank you to Morningview Baptist! The kids LOVE having milk.

Nafula grazing at the children’s home

Nafula eating as she gets ready to be milked.

Nafula running on the way back home.

Nafula fighting the boys about crossing the street.

Nafula and Wilson on the way home.

the girls & an update

The internet was out for a good little bit so this blog post is going to be sort of a mishmash of information, just a warning before you get started.

First off, let me finish my posts about each of the kids.

The girls:

• Christine: She is 14. Christine pretends to be a quiet and shy kid but this is far from the truth. She is almost always smiling, and if you see her crying or withdrawn there is something serious up. She is an incredibly happy child with a laugh that melts your heart. Christine is top in her class (class 6) in both English and Swahili. She loves to learn and is always reading. Christine is a born cook. She is amazing. She is always in the kitchen if you can’t find her. She helps in making supper almost every night and is great like I said. She likes to try new things foodwise too. She is one of the few kids that likes doughnuts, pizza and other american food. Christine however is not scared to tell you like it is, girl will go off on you if she feels like you need a talking to.
• Eunice: She is 14 also we think. Eunice is an observer. She likes to be hand on but she watches other people do things before trying sometimes. She loves to play with balloons. Eunice is not scared to get her hands dirty. A few months ago Winnie Kiptoo decided she wanted to pierce her ears and Eunice did them in our hotel kitchen with a potato and a sewing needle. We found out she also did her own this way. Eunice loves to laugh. She also walks and talks in her sleep. Like, has whole conversations in her sleep. It can be kind of creepy when I spend the night with the girls. Eunice loves getting new things, and if someone is giving things away she is normally first in line to take them. Eunice is one of the only girls who wants to stick with a traditional marriage, and traditional roles for men and women in the home.
• Brenda: She is our youngest girl at 8. Brenda is the sweetest soul I’ve met in my life. She is rarely upset. She has never met a stranger, she loves to sing and dance. Brenda is a girly girl all the way. Loves pink, lipstick, hairbows (even though she has no hair), painting her nails and playing with dolls. Brenda loves to cook also, and it with Sarah and Christine a lot trying to pick up new things in the kitchen. Brenda is almost always playing dolls, house and playdoh at the home with Abigail. Brenda likes to take care of her things. She washes her clothes and puts them away promptly, she keeps her toys and other things put up if she is not playing with them right then. And she does not take to kindly with people taking her things without asking her first.
• Winnie Awino: Awino is 11. Her favorite color is pink. I’ve never seen her upset, and you can almost always hear this girl laughing somewhere on the compound. She loves to sing. Loves to play games with you. She genuinely wants you to be happy and will do almost anything she can to make that happen when you are having a bad day. Awino is a little goofy and sometimes I just want to pick her up and tell her to be serious now and then, but that is not her personality. Awino helps in the garden, and loves to help with supper and lunch food prep. She takes every opportunity to laugh at me because I cut my veggies to slow, or that my cabbage slices are way to big. But I love to spend time with this girl.
• Teressa: Teressa is 14, and the girl I think I’ve made the most intimate friendship with. This girl can pack away some food, and doesn’t care what kind it is! She likes it all. She is always laughing, making up songs with random words or dancing in the grass on the compound. Teressa loves to help out and be hands on. She helped with painting the girls side of the house, she likes to help in the kitchen but bless her heart, this girl cannot cook to save her life. Teressa loves to paint her toes blue, no matter if she has 4 different shades on there at once. She only has 4 toes on each foot due to an accident as a child but she loves to joke about her 4 toes. She is so incredibly sweet. And she is the only child on the compound who is not ticklish. She just stands there and looks at you like fool please when you try to tickle her.
• Winnie Kiptoo: Winnie is 10. Winnie is a tomboy if I’ve ever seen one. She likes to wear her jeans and button up shirts versus skirts when she gets home from school. Winnie is shy when it comes to singing in our nightly fellowship, if you so much as look at her she will smile and shy away from you. Winnie is very difficult to read most of the time. I can never tell if she is truly happy or sad, until she flashes her smile. It lights up her whole face and completely changes her personality inside and out. Winnie is somewhat reserved until you really get to know her and then she will always open up to you.
• Sharon: Sharon is 12. This girl is prompt about everything. She is like a mother, keeps everyone in line and doing what you are supposed to. She does her homework and studies her school work every night. She is the first one up in the morning in the dorm and has normally made her bed and gotten dressed before most of the other girls are really even awake yet. Sharon is very shy and it takes a good bit of interaction with her to open her up to you. She can have a temper on her though, and is not scared to yell at whoever is around when they are on her nerves. She is the most dainty and feminine looking girl at the home. She loves to wear dresses, and I think I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen her in pants since being here. Sharon loves to help in the kitchen also. She does a lot of cleaning, of her own stuff, the girls dorm, the kitchen – she just likes to keep things taken care of.

The sibling sets:

• Hillary and Christine
• Vincent, Dennis and Gideon
• Sharon and Victor
• Roy and Benard
• Eunice and Nickson

The cousins:

• Brenda and Winnie Kiptoo

Those with no siblings (or none at the home):

• Ian
• Eluid
• Winnie Awino
• Teressa

I cannot believe the change I have seen in these children in the three and a half months I’ve been here. They really have no shame is being who they are, and I don’t think any of these kids shy away from being honest. I really do love these children.

This past 2 weeks have been crazy. Last weekend I was incredibly sick, from every end possible. I’ve never felt that bad in my life. Since then my stomach still has not been right. It will not settle all the way normally. I can’t eat much without feeling sick again. I get incredibly nauteous. Long story short, after a miserable week of not being myself, and research and several conversations with people here and at home, we think I may possibly have worms. Apparently you can have them without knowing, or showing up on a general worm test, but they can be hanging in your gut and can cause lots of stomach issues. Thankfully, the medicine is available over the counter and for under a dollar. I took it last night and am hoping to be back to normal in my stomach.

I’ve also lost enough inches that I went down a pants size since being here. Which is amazing. I cannot explain how good it feels to know that my working out and watching my food intake is helping me. I’ve got a long way to go but I think I’m getting in good eating habits and am shying away from eating processed foods when I do come back home. I cannot wait to get my body fat % checked again and see if it has gone down since May, I would be shocked if it didn’t.

My last roommate Nati left on Tuesday. It was hard, I’m not going to lie about it. We had become good friends and after I said goodbye I went inside, sat on my bed and cried. I miss her something fierce and it hasn’t even been a week yet. Thankfully, she lives only in Florida so we can visit each other without much effort. I find it funny that after having such a hard time settling and finding friendship with some of my roomies, I’ve made some incredible friendships with both Americans and Kenyans since being here. I have to say goodbye in 51 days and I already know how incredibly hard it is going to be for me. I dread it already.

The medlins leave in 12 days, and while I’m sad about it and don’t want to be here alone, I’m at peace with the situation. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to be doing with them and through them when they get back home in the states and settled. Kellie and Michael have been so welcoming, hospitable and honest with me since being here. I’m going to miss them so much. And I know they are going to miss the children so incredibly much, and the kids the same with them. Please pray for them as they are getting ready for this huge transition.

I’ve also started language training with my friend Monica here. I’m not sure if God wants me to come back here to Kenya or not, but this is a way for me to financially help Monica and Titus out, and a way for me to strengthen my friendship with her. It has been hard work, but I’ve enjoyed it.

Lastly, this is still early but please pray with me. God has been changing my heart in regards to missions and children for the new year. I’m praying about being involved with our missionaries in Ecuador for January to June 2013. Like I said there is nothing concrete about this, just another avenue I’m looking into and praying about.

Prayer Requests:

• The transition with the children at the home with the Medlin’s getting ready to leave. Pray for the leadership that will be stepping in until David & Laurel can make it over here. Pray for the 17 children; that they will be understanding, flexible and open to the people who will be coming in. Pray for them and for this whole situation. They have had lots of changes already and will have more before things can become situated and calm.
• Pray for David & Laurel as they are making their way to get over here. They could be here earlier than June so please just keep praying for this situation.
• Pray for promptness and for everything that needs to get done in these next 2 weeks so the kids can move into the big house before the Medlin’s leave.
• Pray for the Medlin’s as they are packing and getting mentally prepared to leave Kenya for now. Pray for the Medlin kids (Gabe, Christina, Jacob and Abigail) as the Medlin’s tell them that they will not be returning to the home and church they left when they moved to Kenya. Pray that they will handle this change with grace, mercy and patience with each other.
• Pray that Michael will find a job quickly when they move back home and will be able to smoothly support the family.
• Please pray for wisdom, strength and peace for Michael as he makes final arrangements and decisions in Kenya and about the future.
• Kellie asks for a moment by moment awareness of God’s presence for her.
• For peace and contentment for the children as they are transitioning to something new.
• Pray for my housing situation this last month I’m here (if you really want to know the whole story and how this is playing out, feel free to ask my mom.)
• Pray for me as I’m trying to discern God’s plans for me in 2013.

Also, we picked up the cow on Saturday and I’m in the process of writing up a blog post for that. Be on the lookout!

The Boys

I thought I would write a little about each of the kids for you. I wish I could just put their essence, who they really are on paper for you. I honestly think each and every one of you would fall in love with each of them the way I have if I could. I will do my best to tell you what they are really like; their personalities, likes, dislikes, and little quirks down here for you instead. We don’t know their actual age so I’m just letting you know what we believe they are.

The boys:

Hillary: He is our oldest child at the home at 16. His younger sister is Christine. Hillary is in class 8, and will be attempting to get into a private school to go to Form 1 in January. (Which is like 9th grade.) He good friends at the home are Roy and Eliud. They are known as the 3 Musketeers. Hillary is smart and knows how to keep himself out of trouble. For the most part he follows the rules and keeps himself in check. Hillary has an amazing personality. He is very sweet deep down. He has a strange sense of humor, he is funny but not in the way you would expect. He loves to laugh and is almost always building something, helping the workers with the house, or spending time working in the garden during his free time.

Eliud: He is our only true orphan at the home, and one of my 2 boys. He is 14 we think. Eluid is the sweetest boy I’ve met in my whole life. He is very quiet, but he likes to goof around with some of the older boys at the home. He spends time with the younger kids, playing with them and listening to them talk, and he is genuine when he does this. He is the older kid everyone wants to be with because he actually enjoys being with them rather than shirking them off. Just recently he prayed and asked God to come into his life, and from what we can tell this is genuine. Eliud does not have the best english but he is always trying to read and learn how to improve himself. His smile is breath taking, although he is embarassed to admit that he knows us muzungu’s when we see him around his friends. Eluid’s favorite soccer team is Chelsea, which the other kids in the home make fun of because they can’t stand the team. Eliud is a saver of money. He rarely spends anything he is given, and is very frugal about spending when he does.

Vincent: Vincent is my other boy. Vincent is also 14 according to the other kids. When he was found he was taking care of his 2 younger brothers (Dennis and Gideon) on his own. He came from an abusing home and is a little hesitant to open up really and can be shy until he gets to know you. When he smiles it opens his whole face to almost another person. Vincent is an amazing dancer, but refuses to dance for you if you ask him to. Such a goof ball, he is always doing things around the home to get attention and make people laugh. Vincent has a great singing voice and it so fun to listen to when he leads worship. His favorite soccer team in Manchester United. He is normally tagging around with Roy and Eliud. He is very protective of his brothers, and will let you know if they need anything if he cannot provide it for them. He likes to help serve supper in the kitchen but gets really ebarrassed if you thank him for his service.

Dennis: Dennis is 10 we think. This boy has a smile that will knock you off your feet, but it is a little work to get him to show it to you. He is very curious about everything that other people are doing. He will sit with you and watch you read or color or write in your journal for hours if you let him. He is so incredibly ticklish but doesn’t mind you touching him or hugging him, unlike some of the other kids around the home. He very much craves attention, and one on one time. He is very thoughtful and spends lots of time with the younger kids also. Like his brother he is also a great dancer and doesn’t mind showing you. Dennis really enjoys coloring and reading.

Gideon: Gideon is our youngest child at the home, at 6 years old. This boy is hysterical. Loves to be tickled. Loves to give long hugs. Loves to roll in the grass and play with Victor, who is safe to be called his best friend. Gideon is very quiet, very soft spoken and knows the least amount of English out of all the children. Gideon loves to be read to, for hours and hours. Gideon will take one of the other kids turn to “preach to us” during fellowship in a heartbeat. But he does get embarrassed very easily, and takes it very personally if you say a harsh word to or about him. This child can eat like a grown man. Gideon is like a small spy, always rolling around on the floors, playing with tires, loves to play soccer. The child is always running everywhere. He is so incredibly fast for such short little legs.

Ian: Ian is 11. He wants to drive so bad, he is always asking for the truck keys. He is a little hard to read with his personality. He gets upset easy when people leave and tends to draw into himself a little more than the other kids. He is so sarcastic, and can be a bit of a brat if you are not careful. He also likes to work with his hands and build things. He is always asking questions about america, about you, about all kinds of things. His personality is very sweet but he will not show you that side of himself in front of other people. He is very private but also very determined when he makes his mind up about something. He loves technology. He loves to trade his possessions to get new things.

Benard: Benard is 9, he is Roy’s little brother. This child loves to give hugs. Loves to hold hands. Loves to cuddle. He loves to get, but also give lots of affection to you. He is always smiling and wanting to see how you are, especially if he has not seen you in a couple days. Benard loves to read to you, loves to color and do finger paints. He is very sentimental and keeps almost anything you give to him, no matter how small it is. He is a very sweet boy. I absolutely love this child. I don’t like the idea of favorites but it takes everything I have to not ignore all the other children and spend all my time with Benard.

Victor: He is 7. His older sister is Sharon. Victor is a mess! He is always laughing, always rolling around in the dirt. Always playing in the water, or rolling tires through the ditch with Gideon. His favorite article of clothing is a small suit jacket that he wears with EVERYTHING. Victor is always making some kind of strange noise, cackling, screaming, laughing – just being loud in general. He is a very happy child and rarely shows himself being sad or hurt. Victor loves to play soccer or play with water guns. This child is very affectionate. He loves to color (I probably have 5 or so pictures from the child). He is very tiny for his age also.

Roy: Roy is 13. He walks like an alien from the movie signs, and it cracks me up everytime I see him. Roy is almost always with Hillary and Eliud. Roy is a trouble maker, and always looks like he is hiding something that he did recently. Roy is a really funny guy, he is not terribly affectionate physically but he is in his words. He is a funny dancer to watch, flailing around a lot. He is a joker in what he says. He is rarely serious. Roy likes to wear his soccer shorts all the time, even though they happen to be turning into short shorts on him.

Nickson: Nickson is 10. He is always smiling, and it is great. He is a very happy kid. He likes to talk a lot and likes to be up to date on his schoolwork. At night time he is always studying and doing prep work. He takes care of his posessions, his clothes, shoes, etc. He is a very organized child. Does not like to be tickled unless he is in a specific mood for it. His older sister is Eunice, and Nickson likes to help out in the kitchen. He enjoys learning new things and is NOT afraid to get his hands dirty.

 

Prayer Requests:

• Pray that the house will be done within the next week. For patience as we continue to work on this.
• Continued prayer for leadership to fall into place over the home until David & Laurel get here full time.
• Continue to pray for me as I pray for mission involvement in the new year.

Kenya Plans

The big thing going on right now is an issue concerning my time here in Kenya. As some of you know, the Medlin’s will be going back to the states in November when their visa expires and have no plan on returning back to Kenya per God’s leading. Obviously this affects me in many ways.

The Medlin’s came here on God’s calling to work with this children’s home as a middle man until David and Laurel (the founders) would be able to move here in summer of 2013, which is a life long decision. David is a native Kenyan who met his wife in the states. After being here for a year the Medlin family feels they have done all they can ministry wise for this home, and for these children for the time being. They feel God is calling them to go back home, possibly to a new state, and do ministry in the states.

My family, and the pastor body at church, understandably does not feel completely comfortable with me being over here for 6 months by myself. When I say by myself I mean with no other westerners present, being in charge of the money for the home and several other responsibilities I may have. This is a valid concern obviously.

While I still feel called to do a full year of international missions I am praying for how to complete this last 6 months. I have several options that I would like to lay out (some are not concrete) and ask you to pray individually for each of these. For me to have wisdom and guidance in this situation as I work to find God’s will in the new year.

First, there is the possibility that I can go to another children’s home about an hour to an hour and a half away from here and work. I’m currently working through the application process for this home, and communicating via email with the founders. Their response was not an immediate no to the request of me working with them, but they still have to go through the application with me and see if they have ways, based on my interests and abilities, where I would be useful to their ministry. This home is very established, about 30 years old, and is run by older western missionaries. This place has anywhere from 70-100 children.

Second, there is the possibility of when I come home in December in staying home until David and Laurel move to Kenya and then finishing my other 6 months out with them present. This could be around June to December of the next year. I’m still working at getting in contact with them to see if this is a valid option.

Lastly, my other option is to continue praying and see if God is only wanting me to do July to December 2012 mission work at this season in my life, and coming home and trying to find ways to be involved in missions state-side, or possibly working with one of our international contacts through church to work in their missions.

If it was my decision I would find a way to do one of these options of work in Kenya. I love this place, I love these people, I love these children. I feel like I am supposed to be here, I feel a call to do missions. That much is rooted in my heart and mind and I have no desire to turn away from missions. The biggest thing I am praying for is clarity in God’s desire for me.

Please pray with me about this.

Other Prayer Requests:

• Eluid prayed to accept Christ into his life yesterday. We are pretty certain that this is legit. We are still talking to him and seeing what we think, so please continue to pray about him and this new salvation.
• Pray for staff and leadership to come together for the interim time at the home (from November to June-ish.)
• Pray for David and Laurel who are planning on being here by June and possibly earlier. They have 2 small children and will be moving here permenantely. David is a native Kenyan but his wife is from the states. Pray as they are getting ready for such a big transition.
• Please pray for the children’s hearts to be open and receptive as the Medlin’s plan on telling them of their leaving in the next week. Please pray that they will handle the news in a good way.
• From Nati: For future plans after December. Please begin praying for her now, for safety as she leaves to go back home on October 16th.
• Please pray for me as I will be the only girl here after Nati leaves, and a few weeks after that will be the only Westerner here from November 4th until I leave to come home on December 10th.