Random news

YIKES! I guess you have realized that faithful blogging is not my strong suit. I am sorry. So, here is a bit of an update:

We are enjoying life in Nairobi but sensed the need for a break/ get away. The kids and I  traveled with Chris, the journeygirls on our team, and the students who went on the trip to the coast to pass out water filters and share their faith in April. We stayed with friends while the team went out. The kids had a fantastic time, we all did. We love it here, we know we are where we are suppose to be, but it was a good change of pace/ scenery.

One of my new jobs here in Nairobi is overseeing our education resource center on the compound. I have been able to help out homeschooling families in our company within our region as well as Kenyan homeschoolers! It has been a blessing and a joy. The job also comes with some stretching. Those who know me know I am not an administrator. It is a challenge to attend to the business side of the position. Please pray that I will have wisdom and strength. It has been exciting to see the growth in the homeschooling movement in Kenya. These parents are pioneers in their country. I am so thankful that we can help them in their journey.

Our visit stateside is coming up at the end of July. We will be in the states until the end of December. We will be doing quite a bit of traveling so I would ask that you pray that we will be refreshed in spite of all of the driving and sleeping in different beds ;) We are in the process of lining up our housing situation and transportation. I can't believe we will set foot on American soil in less than 4 months.

We have been enjoying front row seats at what God is doing here among students. Chris spoke to a young man a few weeks ago, sharing his testimony as well as how to experience new life in Christ. The guy couldn't wait to put his faith in Christ and insisted on praying that day. Afterward he said that he had to go tell his friends this wonderful news. Chris met with the guy and his friends to talk and answer questions about the Gospel. Long story short, after a couple of weeks or so, every one of the guys has counted the cost and chosen to follow Christ. The true joy is that they seem to be understanding that it isn't a religion they have joined, but a relationship. They are processing that their new faith isn't necessarily about what they do/ don't do, but what is in their hearts that matters.

Chris is meeting with the group of guys each week (most weeks they meet twice) so please pray for their roots to go deep, their foundation to be strong, and their love for and knowledge of Jesus to grow.

Also, one of the guys who went on the trip to the coast grew up in the "town" where we lived on the coast! He is from the people group we worked with! He and his parents are believers and he was able to go back to the area to tell about the change in his life to those who are very resistant to change. So cool.

In other news, we have been raising chickens. We have 50 layers who keep us and some friends in stock of eggs. We also raise broilers to eat. We slaughtered (what an awful word) our 98 chickens a few weeks ago.  I CANNOT believe I didn't get pictures. It was exhausting, but it is over and my freezer is stocked. Emma really enjoyed asking questions and helping in any way she was able. Zephan just wanted to keep a chicken head (gross).

The kids and I have been studying American History in preparation for our return to the states. I love homeschooling because I learn SO much that I just didn't really value when I was in school. Also, I am constantly reminded that the number one thing I can teach my children is to seek God first. I pray every day that they will love Him with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are doing a study right now using different stories from the Bible to show various character qualities.

offering

“Sometimes a task we have begun takes on seemingly crushing size, and we wonder what ever gave us the notion that we could accomplish it. There is no way out, no way around it, and yet we cannot contemplate actually carrying it through. The rearing of children or the writing of a book (and I would add, learning the Albanian language) are illustrations that come to mind. Let us recall that the task is a divinely appointed one, and divine aid is therefore to be expected. Expect it! Ask for it, wait for it, believe that God gives it. Offer to Him the job itself, along with your fears and misgivings about it. He will not fail or be discouraged. Let His courage encourage you. The day will come when the task will be finished. Trust Him for it. ~from Elisabeth Elliot's A Lamp Unto My Feet

‘For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded:

therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be

ashamed. (Is. 50:7 KJV)’”

My sweet sister in Christ (and by marriage), Chelle Stire, had this on her blog. What timing. We feel so overwhelmed right now with school, work, family, responsibilities, etc. Today I was thinking to myself, "HOW IN THE WORLD am I suppose to cook healthy meals, home school our children, be a frugal shopper, give my Lord my priority & best time, exercise to keep my body healthy, keep the house reasonably clean & managed, help my husband, be good mother, daughter, sister, and friend, etc. " I do have a point- I am not complaining, I genuinely wanted to know! This is about the time I read Chelle's blog. Who says we don't have a sovereign God? I know that my Redeemer lives and that He cares about me. He has made me wife to Chris, mother to five very precious people, and all of the other things I mentioned. Do I think He really gives these big jobs with no desire or ability to see them through? Raising children, for example, is a God-sized task!

As you can see, this is part of God's grace in showing me that I can't do all of this on my own (see previous post: Broken...). I need Him and He IS there! Chelle encouraged me in an email to not miss this time thinking about and preparing for the future. God is working here and now. I have said before that I believe that God is more interested in my relationship with Him than what I think I can do for Him. Sounds like He is giving me the opportunity to put this into practice.

May my life song sing to Him!

Exploring Countries & Cultures

We started "back" to school the day after Labor Day. Here are our world travelers applying for their passports.

We use My Father's World (www.mfwbooks.com) curriculum. We are so excited about this year's curriculum (Exploring Countries & Cultures) as it allows us to focus on one of our passions...the nations! This year will be an intense geography year. We also study Bible, Science, great biographies, English, math, Spanish...most of it is all connected as a kind of unit study. I am soooo excited!

The kiddos really loved the passport day. Chris and I pretended to be passport officials. The kids had to apply for their passports, write checks for them, and have their pictures taken. We laughed and had a great time.

I think this one looks a little suspicious! or should I say mischievous?

Ready to travel!

Smiling for Mr. Travelogia, the photographer (Chris),

Definitely a ring leader!

Exploring Countries & Cultures

VIOLA!

We ended our second week with a world cake. If you use your imagination you will see all 7 continents and all 5 oceans ;)

It took me (Jamie), our 5 kiddos, and 4 kiddos from down the street to decorate this bad boy. We enjoyed the process, reinforced what we learned these past two weeks, took a picture, and then ate the world! I think I ate Africa? Jaden is pretty sure she ate Australia. We may have some North America left over if you are in the neighborhood.

Rainy days

This picture reminded me of something I heard a few years ago..."Sit and wait on the front porch of your soul and meet with God." Well, this had to be done in a physical way today. The day just begged for it!

We have rain today. It is the beautiful, soft falling type. We lit the citronella candles, fixed some hot tea, gathered our coloring and reading books, chairs and blankets (did I forget anything?) and met on the porch for devotion and reading time. It was awesome! God's creation- His handiwork. The weather has cooled from the 93 degree days to a very pleasant 71 degrees.

We started In Grandma's Attic today. What great stories. I am really trying to let go of what is planned for days like today when a change of schedule is in order. My hope is that years from now my children will smell a smell or experience a rain like today and remember "that day on the porch" when we sang thank You, God, for rain... I hope that you too will seize the moment- they are so easy to let pass, aren't they?

I should disclose that the porch time was not without the usual distractions and little conflicts;) but it was a gift from God to me in my mothering journey.