Pictures & Prayers

Well, if we can get wifi to work for more than a few minutes we will send a little update! I thought I might periodically just do a bunch of pictures and maybe add in some prayer requests throughout also. So these are some from this past week, starting with a few from our first walk up the hill to the roadside stands by the hospital (they call them “dukas”).

This is literally only steps from our door. True poverty. No running water, no electricity in most homes. Roaming animals of all kinds. Please pray for these people, our neighbors, that we would love them and know how to best minister to them. There is a severe drought here right now, so people in Kenya are suffering. We have plenty of water here, thanks to huge rain tanks in the Tenwek compound that collect rain year-round, but we are praying for the Lord’s mercy and for rain!

Many adventures are being had here, from taking part in filtering the water (a chore they actually enjoy!), putting hammocks up in high places, and catching & keeping chameleons whenever possible. Please pray for these boys, for their protection and safety as they have much more outdoor freedom here. We are still navigating the boundaries, but they are also pushing those boundaries whenever possible. Behavior issues have been plentiful, probably due to the fact that everyone is still adjusting and processing this whole thing. Pray for wisdom in discipline and parenting, as we desperately need Jesus in that!

And these girls…they are so sweet, yet can also be so feisty. We have seen a side of Hannah that has been very interesting since being here. She is grasping for control. It is convicting, actually, as I know I tend to do that a lot also. I think she feels like her circumstances have been so out of control, and somewhat unpredictable, so she just grasps at whatever she can control, and then has a massive tantrum when she can’t! Anyway, we are just praying she will learn to cling to Jesus. And for Abby too. They are so young, but we are praying He captivates their hearts even now and that they learn they can trust Him completely.

School days…are sometimes spent partially outside. We are so thankful for the beautiful weather here. Very warm in the sunshine, but always a cool breeze in the shade. And it never really gets above 80 degrees!

We would love prayer for our school. Especially for these 2 boys. They have been struggling a lot, if I’m totally honest. Struggling to be motivated to do the work, struggling to be diligent, and showing much disrespect when they are challenged or disciplined. It is very hard.

This week we also celebrated Tom’s birthday. He was on call that day, but by God’s grace only got called away once after he got home, and it was after dinner. Hannah very much enjoyed frosting his cake with Stella and Joanne! And David and I had fun walking up to the local market to find a couple unique African gifts for him. We even found him some ice cream (thanks to some missionary friends)!

I am so thankful for my husband. He is working very hard here, and is challenged in many ways he has not been before–spiritually, emotionally, even physically. Pray for God to sustain him and give him knowledge and wisdom as he cares for many very sick patients with very little resources. Pray for God to guide his decisions, and ultimately for him to trust God to be the healer and to be sovereign over the outcome of every patient’s life. He has already witnessed more death here in 2 weeks than he has seen in the past 10 years. It is hard. But God is teaching us both in the process.

Lastly, pray for the many sick people being treated here at Tenwek. I was able to go up to the hospital yesterday for the first time. The conditions there astounded me. It is nothing like a hospital in the States. There are so many resources lacking. There are many deaths, yet God is also working miracles of healing there every day. This baby I was holding is named Faith Ashley. She is a premie, and she was abandoned by her mother. I wish I could hold her every day. My heart just breaks for the many babies up there, the nursery is very full. The kids and I are praying that little Faith will survive despite many odds against her, and that she will grow to be a strong woman of faith, as her name implies. We pray for healing for the patients, but ultimately we pray they would know the true Healer.

Tom and I are battling between the reality of the chaos of our home with 6 kids who are healthy and wild and living in their flesh much of the time (as are their parents at times too), and the reality of the suffering in this place and among the people of Kenya. We just want to be faithful to our callings. We pray that God would use us in any way He wills to further His kingdom in our home, and here at Tenwek. He is refining us all in many ways. Thank you for praying alongside us. To God be the glory!