Back in the USA! (Cathy)

After 30+ hours on three uneventful flights we arrived back in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. We were blessed to find all our luggage made the trip back as well. Thanks for praying for safe travel!

As we readjust to a new time zone (-7 hours from what we were used to in Kipkaren) I've been downloading pictures and thinking about our new friends; so many people to pray for now! This picture captured my attention - a homemade ball I saw in one of the Brook of Faith classrooms. Children all over the world love to play and it seems that creativity always goes along with it. I love the knotted webbing on this ball as it shows so much attention to detail!

Final Days - 21 July (Cathy)

Today is our last day in the village…a day that started off early at the cow dip. Watching long lines of cows fling themselves into a channel of treated water that will rid them of deadly fleas and ticks is pretty hysterical to watch and a GREAT way to start the day! Since morning we’ve been trekking all over the village to say goodbye to dear friends. It is a bittersweet day…one we’ve known was coming but hoped would be slow in arriving. God has shown us in many ways His plans for us and we delight in that knowledge!

We've had many pleasures while living in Kipkaren, Kenya. My favorite, of course, has been time with children. Tonight we'll spend our last evening with the kids at the Kipkaren Children's Home, sharing devotion time with them. Wednesday morning we’re off to ELI’s other training centre in Ilula, traveling by van to Nairobi on Thursday and then starting our way back to the USA on Friday evening.

Not just vision and goals - the joy of the journey (Mark)

In the world of mission we often think in terms of

“What can be accomplished?”

“Without a vision, the people perish”

“How can we justify the cost of sending?”

Somewhere along the road, as we go on the quest of discerning what the future holds, we find ourselves either in fellowship with God and others, or out of fellowship with God and others. And even if we are not enjoying the presence of Christ somehow that’s not the point. The point is “Where are we heading?” And we want to know.

I have recently read the book The Shack. In it, God as the Great Three In One, expresses His joy of the present because the present is where relationship exists. God is so much about relationship – not accomplishment.

In the past couple of weeks as I’ve lived without so many comforts I am used to in the USA, including the lack of running water, Jesus has grabbed my attention and said, “Enjoy the journey.” It is not about the future, and it certainly isn’t about the past…but where He is at the moment, that’s where relationship is….relationship with Him. That’s where joy is…HE IS JOY. Regardless of the amazing wonders we see everyday in the accomplishments of ELI’s clinic, the children’s home, the school – or the heartache of malaria, broken homes, or broken water pumps Jesus walks with us – without a worry – always good – and full of joy. He says, “With Me the joy is in the journey.”

Good Times (Kimberly)

There were a few punches in the beginning of our trip but we’ve kept on rolling. The water pump broke the day we arrived in the village (July 1^st), finally repaired two weeks later. My luggage did not arrive in Kipkaren until about a week after we got to Kenya so I shared clothes with Cathy. Despite the challenges nothing has stopped me from enjoying my time here to the fullest. It’s been great to be at the children’s home, the medical clinic, and building relationships with everyone. My highlights have been encountering an ultra dangerous caterpillar, being with the children, and observing at the clinic. I spend most of my time watching a Kenyan nurse in the treatment room and when it’s a slow day, we (the clinic staff and I) have a really good time talking and laughing. I’ve seen God working in many ways here - from the children’s hearts, to the clinic barely surviving but still striving. The clinic has been struggling financially in the past two weeks so all prayers are appreciated. Even though there is a drought here malaria has flared up. Some staff and many kids in the area have had it recently and the cases are still coming in steadily at the clinic. The clinic’s motto is “We treat, God heals.” Mungu ni mwema. God is good, and I’ve seen it first hand a lot in the past few weeks!

The Kalenjin of Kenya (Mark)

My first impression of our “home sweet home” in Kipkaren, Kenya – itty bitty living space, AWESOME backyard! An absolutely beautiful river is a mere 50 yards from our back door, while mountains and the great Rift Valley are close by.

The people – even though they are FAR behind in normal rainfall, and the water pump supplying the community with clean well water has been broken for several days now – the people, young and old, know how to live! They are full of joy and full of fun. Singing, dancing, and praying are the norm throughout the day. The children – when they smile their faces light up so brightly. They know how to plan in such way you can only watch in delight.

All this without even mentioning the work ELI is doing. And there is so much to do. More coming soon to our blog. Bwana asifiwe (praise the Lord)! PTL!

We Made It! (Cathy)

After a couple of days in Nairobi we headed toward western Kenya. Our drive took us from the bustle of the capital city of 4 million plus people, through the Rift Valley, crossing the equator twice before arriving in Kipkaren. Muddy roads the last few kilometers made us a bit later than anticipated – but we were still welcomed into the village by a crowd that included all the children from the Children’s Home, their teachers, and house parents. Tears overwhelmed us as the children sang and presented us with beautiful bouquets of flowers. It was such a homecoming for me, made even more wonderful because I was sharing it with Mark and Kimberly. We are settling in well, enjoying getting to know those working at the children’s home, school, and training centre campus. We are reminded each day of God’s great love as we experience living in a different culture – the sense of community here is strong and we are blessed to be accepted as part of it!