Famine Relief Project

This last weekend I got to see firsthand how the people of Kenya are living, it is sad seeing even an hour out of Nairobi the lands are so dry, there is no grass in sight.  This weekend ventures took me out to a small place, really have no clue to where it was, we just went 4 hours south east of here, on the way to the coast.  My experience was of the multitudes of hungry people experiencing the worst drought ever.  It was shocking, my goal to go on this ministry trip was first of all to see what our church was doing to serve outside the church, second of all, it was to see Kenya.  Living here in Nairobi shelters you to a life in the city, being able to go to the Nakumat (grocery store) when you need supplies, often 

getting rain when other parts aren’t.  It is a life that can make you blind to the real conditions that Kenyan’s face.

It was an awfully early Saturday morning that we all faced this weekend, getting out to the camp for 7 am meant getting up in the dark, for those that know me well...I don’t do well at early mornings but I didn’t think twice about this, I did think once but knew that this is what I wanted to do.  After a frightening drive out to where we were meeting, our day was about to begin.  

When we arrived, we ended up visiting two churches, at the first church as we were introducing ourselves, I found it neat, that the group we went down with consisted of, three families from the UK, an Australian, a Brazilian, Kenyans, a couple Americans, and myself a Canadian.  It was such a diverse group that I was blessed to be serving with these people. 

 

The surroundings were so dry, there were dirt devils everywhere, and no I don’t mean the vacuum cleaners.  We came across another church on the way, this one there was a crowd outside waiting for the truck to deliver their maize.  As we made our way up to our destination, we go out of the vehicles to the sound of the congregation singing.  There was a group of old momma’s waiting to greet us, they were sweet and making me say things in their tribal language I wasn’t sure of.  But we laughed as I am the language idiot, and continued to greet everyone, and the children.  Walking into the church was amazing, the singing and the dancing, I felt like I was in the heart of Kenyan, nothing like what I have experienced anywhere else.  Then we listened to them sing, and then we sang a song for them, sort of an impromptu choir was made up of our group, never sung together before but we managed to get through it. 

 

The neat part of the trip is that there was a student that choose for a service project he had to do for school was to purchase a bag of maize for a couple of the ladies in the church, so he presented them with a bag of maize to share.  He used his savings to help these ladies out.  It was neat to see how gratefully that they were for this unselfish act of kindness.

From there we were done, usually the group goes to several different churches and gets home rather late, we were all done by mid afternoon, hot and dirty we got back into the vehicles and headed out and back to Nairobi.

As we were leaving I stood back and admired the church, there stood many grateful Kenyans, not for much food but there they received some, and there they stood grateful but the small amount that they got.  This community was reminded that God blesses the faithful, that the rains will come when they are ready, that God is not punishing anyone by not providing the rains.

 

Throughout this week, highlighted for me was this trip, allowing me to see the extremes of selfish people, and those that are totally unselfish, with the willingness to give up what they have.   With people around me having their own agendas to a kid that put out $350 to feed two people for the next month.  I am thankful and blessed that I gave up my weekend morning of sleeping to have this experience, to see how God is working throughout Kenyan, to see the church alive in other parts of Kenya.

 I am eternally grateful and know that there are more trips that I am going to be a part of in the future.  If you want to get involved in helping with the famine relief projects, let me know.  Not that you have to come along, but your donation to a country that is running out of many things can use you assistance.  From the lack of rains, has taken away crops, the lack of crops has increased food prices everywhere.  

What selfless thing can you give up to serve others this week?

Still continued prayer, here in Nairobi, we are experiencing rations of water, electricity, some food.  All the prices of everything have increased about 30% in the past three months.  I have been cutting back in electricity to save on costs, cutting back in water usage, for me there is only a hot shower once a week but then I realize that to some here in the country that is more than what they get.  I am grateful for the roof over my head.

Pictures of Mombasa

Did someone say....Mombasa?

I have been notorious for doing things last minute (nobody ask me about Mexico, please), just avoid the planning, the anxiety of wondering, if you are going to do it, just get it done, no need for the suspense, asking permission or any of that. The best times and memories I have is when I just go and do things, many times it ends up with me packing in five minutes and running out the door, but it is worth it.

Coming here, my spontaneous nature is still there, I have done it a few times, like running into my brother, and getting swept away for the weekend to spend time with family. Then most recently, jumping on a plane and heading to Mombasa.

And we are off, Surprising, no. Exciting, yes!

That was it, I was sold about two weeks ago, my friend Kate here, sent me a message, it went like this:

Kate: Mombasa sounds great, do you want to go?
Joelle: yep, sure thing...how much?
Kate: good deals, just waiting on confirmation from friends there for next weekend.
Joelle: ok, sounds fabulous!

So that was it, through Kate's great idea, and spontaneous nature, I was on board for anything, anything that sounded different, getting out of town, and perhaps involved a beach with sun.

From the past month here in Nairobi, we both were suffering from homesickness, stress, indecisiveness about our futures here on the mission field, and needed sometime to let loose, well as much as missionary single women could let loose.

Friday night we found ourselves, stuck in traffic on our way out to the airport, Kate was sure that we were missing our flight. I decided how it was story time, and I thought I was going to miss a flight, but it ended up being delayed instead, at least that passed the time. I knew that no matter what we would get there...even if we were going to jump on a passing piki (just like in the movies), yes I can hear you now...life is never dull around me. But the thought of beach...getaway...was insight, there was determination...that we were going no matter what.

We did make it to the airport, Kate needing assistance was glad for a friend to be along, we were wide eyed and all smiles, chatting, excited, ready for the beach...the realities of Nairobi...slipped away quickly.

We arrived to be picked up by friends that Kate met on her journey here in Africa, the feeling of the coastal humid and warm air as we walked off the airplane was refreshing, I had drank in the air of relaxation. Our first stop was dinner, some good Indian food on the Indian Ocean, what a way to start our weekend. It was fabulous. Due to the time of Ramadan, there were very few restaurants open, but I was thankful going for Indian. Just so you know going for Chinese/Mexican just sounds wrong here compared to home.

The next morning started early, we woke up and headed downstairs at 8 am...and it was beach time. I couldn't tell who was more excited...us or the two little girls in the family we were staying with, who were 4 and 2. We ended up at the beach by 9:30 am. We walked through the resort...through the open doors into paradise. I have the pictures to prove it...those will come later.

Then that afternoon, Kate and I ended up married. Well you ask...how did that happen? I am glad you asked.

Well that afternoon our ventures took us out to the market, the friends that we were staying with warned us to cover up, to dress in long skirts, heads covered, long sleeved shirts, this would protect us from being harassed. Well we got to the market, we started walking, checking out things but the time we ended up down the street...we made a friend, we walked across the street, we had another friend. We made a comment that I think that guy is following us, we were quickly reassured by our first friend that he was ok. Within the 1/2 hour that we were there, there was about 5-6 men with us. I started to joke that they were our personal shoppers, we were no soon say that we were looking for something, and it would appear. After an invite down an alley, I overheard Kate telling one of the guys that we were married, to big men, and surprising enough we were both from Canada. We still were invited down another alley.

To say the least we did arrive safely at home, no one followed us home, we are pretty sure. Enjoyed a fun night of games and Mexican food (homemade so it was great).

We went to church the next morning, it was great, this church was one of the larger churches, about 500 people. It was great to be in a large church, I felt like I was at home...minus the A/C, and great worship. After lunch, we headed to the beach again for one last dip. While Kate was out splish splashing in the Indian Ocean, I fell asleep poolside, it was so relaxing.

By that evening, we finished up dinner, and headed back to the airport. I turned to Kate at one point and was like...that was not long enough, next time a couple more days, ok?

Those two days were busy but a much needed break from the life of Nairobi, I have to say that Mombasa is a different world, a place that is culturally rich and makes it evident. It's amazing! I was just in awe over what I saw, to me this was more than a vacation.

This retreat away, was much needed and provided much clarity, what I was holding on to with my health, with my future, and life. I have given away to God what I can't handle, so I can continue being the person God made me to be, to do what He has called me to do, and to be used in a way that I can only imagine what His will is for my life.

As I think about my friends back home, this time of year is special to me, it is the retreat weekend, I am not there to be able to organize it, makes me very sad. But I know that God will speak to you, and to use you in what direction He is calling on your life. I pray that you sense the presence of God this weekend, that you will draw Him closer to you, that you would be able to give up the chains that you are holding so closely to your heart, and be open to Him.

This month for me is a month of new beginnings, I am starting a singles ministry at the church, next weekend is the first gathering. Tomorrow I am going on a famine relief trip, I am eager to see other parts of Kenya, to be reminded that I am blessed, but also to see what our church is involved in. I am getting to know the church and how they serve the community, to understand my ministry.

I hope you all back home have a great weekend...find Rest in God.

Here I am

So I guess I have just had a couple of songs in my head this week!

Sometimes your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes in comes in the Spirit's breeze,
You reach for the deepest part of me,
And call out for the things of eternity.

But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say,

Here I am, Lord send me,
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me,
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began.

These broken parts you redeem,
Become the song, that I can sing

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness,
And the fear that I'll fail you in the end,
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together but you can.

Reign in Us

So today there is just a song in my head...thought to share it!


Reign in Us
You thought of us before the world began to breathe
And you knew our names before we came to be
You saw the very day we'd fall away from you
And how desperately we need to be redeemed

Lord Jesus come lead us
We're desperate for your touch

Oh Great and Mighty One, with one desire we come
That you would reign, that you would reign in us
We're offering up our lives, a living sacrifice
That you would reign, that you would reign in us

Spirit of the Living God fall fresh again
Come search our hearts and purify our lives
We need your perfect love
We need your discipline
We're lost unless you guide us with your light

Lord Jesus come lead us
We're desperate for your touch

We cry out
For your love to refine us cry out
For your love to define us cry out
For your mercy to keep us blameless until you return

You would reign in us

So reign, please reign in us
Come purify our hearts we need your touch
Come cleanse us like a flood and send us out
So the world may know you reign, you reign in us

Whatever you are going through...you will be a better person in the end.

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God .

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: ' He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, ' Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Thank you God, for teaching me to laugh again...but please Lord, don't ever let me forget that I cried.