A Time for Everything

Feeling extremely grateful this week and I just wanted to share a little bit.

A few weeks ago we had a team come and paint most of our house. They worked straight for 3 days and it looks awesome! They also spent a lot of time just hanging out with and encouraging us.

                                                           Our main wall color throughout the living room and hallway.

                                                            Accent wall, which I love!

The other rooms are still under construction, so no pictures at this point.

At the same time the team was here, my in-laws were visiting. Brad, who always spends most of his days building something amazing for us, built us a closet! For the first time in 4.5 years, all of my clothes are in a closet (vs. storing in a suitcase)!! They also watched the kids for us for a night so Andrew and I could get away (to celebrate our anniversary), as well as taking us on an amazing safari for a few nights.  Thanks Brad and Karen!!

   Andrew and I stayed at a lodge, and this view is from our balcony where we saw buffalo, water bucks, elephants, and a hyena! It was so peaceful and relaxing.

We are currently turning the workers quarters, which is on our property, into a guest house.  We are building on to make it about double the size, to fit large families. We have several friends who are missionaries up north, in the desert of Kenya. They come down frequently to resupply and get a break. They have no place to stay other than guest houses, which are very expensive, especially when you have 6 kids! The builders have been here for about 3 weeks now. They have laid the concrete floor and are about to start building the walls. It’s so exciting to see that it’s actually being done, and it might be ready for us to use in a few months.

All of these things have made life pretty exciting around here. But the reason I think that I am feeling encouraged is because this has actually started to feel like home for me. Something that I swore I would NEVER say.

A few years ago, I was sure that this life was not going to be long-lived for us. I didn’t like it and wasn’t sure I would make it much longer. I didn’t fit in, and I didn’t want to.

Well, I still don’t fit in fully, but now I am trying! I have found my place and the Lord has been so comforting through it all. He is so faithful! He so gently nudged me (with Andrew’s help) to get involved in the ministry, and I have found it incredibly rewarding. I absolutely love working with the school here at Mt. Kenya Baptist.  The teachers are amazing and are stepping out of their comfort zones and following me where I am leading them…which I know is not easy!

Andrew has been out of town this week. In the past when he has been gone, I hunker down in my home, and never leave. I sit alone, praying for the time to go quickly and that no one tries to break in while he’s gone. But this week, I have been so busy! I have been out every day, met with friends, gone to the school, and enjoyed every second. I have had no fear and actually kind of enjoyed being on my own.  

Also, my kids. My kids are incredible. I love them so much that it hurts..really! If I’m not intentional with my thoughts, I can easily start feeling bad for them. That they are missing out on the American dream—no park days with friends, no holidays with family, no church nursery, no friends from the same culture. The list could go on and on, but the Lord has shifted my view on this too. My kids might be missing some things that we would have in America, but they are actually gaining so much with us living here. They are learning about culture, they will be sensitive to certain world issues that others their age might know nothing about, they will be bilingual (I hope!), and we get to spend a lot of time together as a family! I am so thankful to be raising my kids here on the mission field. 

We will always be in different seasons throughout our lives. I am currently in a season of thankfulness. Thankful that the Lord is good and has brought me through a lot in the past few years, and has taught me to be faithful where he has us. And I am thankful for my life here in Kenya. For my wonderful husband, who is a great leader in our home, and has been so patient with me. And my 2 beautiful children.  This life is not easy, and there are struggles almost daily with things that I wouldn’t deal with if living in America. We face scary situations that we have no control over.  I have to be very intentional with my thoughts and attitude.  But I’ve learned that it’s keeping my faith in check.

All glory be to God for everything!

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:       a time to weep, and a time to laugh;                                                                                         a time to mourn, and a time to dance;                                                                                  

-Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

The steadfast love of the Lords never ceases;                                                                         his mercies never come to an end;                                                                                       they are new every morning;                                                                                                great is your faithfulness.                                                                                                          “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,                                                                      “therefore I will hope in him.”                                                                                               

–Lamentations 3:22-24