Hopes for 2015
I watched as the sun slowly disappeared behind
the acacia tree. As I stood peering over the tall grass, fighting to keep my
skirt from blowing up and my hair from flying in my face, I knew that I would
never be the same.
the acacia tree. As I stood peering over the tall grass, fighting to keep my
skirt from blowing up and my hair from flying in my face, I knew that I would
never be the same.
When I first started going to Kenya with mychurch, there were no evangelical churches among the Kuria tribe. Over the
years, the gospel has spread not only among the Kuria in Kenya, but also in
Tanzania. The zeal of the first generation church there is refreshing.
Seven years ago, I went to Africa thinking that it would be a neat experience.
Little did I know that a continent so vast and a people so different from
myself would take root as a seed in my heart. Over the many years as I’ve
returned, that seed has blossomed into a love and passion that I cannot
contain. I longed for the day that I could share this vision God had birthed in
my heart with my family…for the day that they too, would be gripped by the
beauty of a people who seek to know God and to make him known.
After much prayer, we believe that this summer
my dreams of going to Africa with my family could become a reality. We have
“put our yes” on the table, and Jeff, Jorjanne, and I all three are planning to
go and serve the Lord side by side in both Kenya and Tanzania. This is a
God-sized task. While we have willing hearts to go, the costs are high. It will
cost approximately $12,000 for the three of us to go.
my dreams of going to Africa with my family could become a reality. We have
“put our yes” on the table, and Jeff, Jorjanne, and I all three are planning to
go and serve the Lord side by side in both Kenya and Tanzania. This is a
God-sized task. While we have willing hearts to go, the costs are high. It will
cost approximately $12,000 for the three of us to go.
We plan to host yard sales, sell t-shirts, anddo other odd jobs to try and raise our support. We ask you to join us in prayer
as we step out in faith and trust the Lord to meet the needs for our trip. My
heart is giddy at thoughts of how God will use this trip in our family. He has
already radically transformed my thinking and my priorities as a result of past
trips, and to think that Jorjanne will have the opportunity to go and learn at
such a young age is so stinkin’ cool!
I have taught Bible studies myriads of times,
but only in Africa have I taught for hours and hours and had the ladies beg for
more from God’s Word. They walk for hours just to come and hear the Word
proclaimed. They have a hunger and thirst for righteousness that I’d only read
about. Teaching the Bible to African women has been both a privilege and a
blessing.
but only in Africa have I taught for hours and hours and had the ladies beg for
more from God’s Word. They walk for hours just to come and hear the Word
proclaimed. They have a hunger and thirst for righteousness that I’d only read
about. Teaching the Bible to African women has been both a privilege and a
blessing.
My New Year’s resolution is to know God more
and to make him known. I want to hunger for His Word like the women in Africa.
When I think of 2015, I am excited about the opportunities for our family to
grow closer to Christ and to each other. While I also hope for the traditional
things (to eat healthier and to exercise more), I pray that this year our
family will long for Christ as the deer pants for the water. We pray that God
will use us to point others to the True Joy Giver this year.
and to make him known. I want to hunger for His Word like the women in Africa.
When I think of 2015, I am excited about the opportunities for our family to
grow closer to Christ and to each other. While I also hope for the traditional
things (to eat healthier and to exercise more), I pray that this year our
family will long for Christ as the deer pants for the water. We pray that God
will use us to point others to the True Joy Giver this year.
Happy New Year!
