Enjoying Naomi and her kids

Terran, 14 years old

Mia, just turned 3

Tony, 5 years old (he turns 6 in August)

A Few Photos of Me

enjoying KFC with Terran

looking for bugs :)

doing some (actually, lots of) yard work for my Mom

Enjoying the lovely June weather

A Few Final Photos

They fly to India in one month. Husband/Daddy Todd is already there. They'll be living in the Delhi area.

A Great Quote

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. Because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.

- Hellen Keller

Zachary Caleb (son of Charles and Agnes), August 2007

near Kakuma Refugee Camp, in northern Kenya, August 2007

Nairobi, October 2007

Diani beach on the Indian Ocean, south of Mombasa
December 2007

Ngong Hills, December 2007

June Prayer Letter

Matunda, March 2008 (both above photos)

June 2009 Prayer Letter

I left Kenya on May 1^st. I had a wonderful 11 days with my daughter - Jess, her husband - Jason, and my youngest grandchild - 10-month old Cadence! I arrived in my hometown, Omaha, on the 13^th.

I’ve been feeling better than I was during the past few months in Kenya. I’m not 100% yet, but am so excited to be able to bike around on Omaha’s hills!

Somehow - this time around - my re-entry into the US culture has seemed more normal. I’m quite pleased about that.

I met with my newly-formed accountability group. I believe their increased and intentional involvement and investment in my life will reap many noticeable improvements.

On May 26^th I go to Colorado. I’ll spend five days with a friend, likely hiking often in the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

I’ll also attend a 5-day missionary retreat. It focuses on:

• Rest and relaxation
• Debriefing, after living in a foreign land and ministering cross-culturally
• Refocusing on ones missionary assignment and vision

As always, I appreciate your prayers for me! Please don’t stop while I’m away from Kenya.

And, perhaps it goes without saying, but I also need your continued financial support while I’m in the US.

On the rim of Mt. Longonot, June 2008

Flying a kite on my birthday, near Ngong town
June 2008

Bike ride to Denys Finch-Hattan's grave, near Ngong Hills
July 2008

Furlough Focus

During a bike ride behind Ngong Hills, July 2008

Focus for this Furlough

Besides the obvious things such as seeing my friends and family, I have two intended goals for this time back home in the states. They are:

Rest – I need to focus on resting and restoring my health.

“Unlike Jesus, we attempt to live life in our own energy. We think we can keep giving without getting replenished. Then, wearied and weakened by the demands of life and ministry, we become impatient and annoyed with the very ones God has sent us to serve.”

-Nancy Leigh DeMoss, A Place of Quiet Rest

Writing – I want to write another book, with a compilation of more stories of my life in Kenya. In order to do this, it will require much solitude. In other words, I won’t be available for very much socializing.

“True solitude is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body – nourishment and refreshment.”

-William Penn

“One can be instructed in society; one is inspired only in solitude.”

-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

“The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”

-Albert Einstein

Painting at my new house, August 2008

Bike ride to Kiserian, August 2008

Bike ride to Endeset (with Sam, Kim, and Sammy)
August 2008

Touring a tea factory, Kisii (with Linet and her boys)
August 2008

Answers to 5 Questions I'm Commonly Asked

Boat ride on Lake Victoria, August 2008

On top of Menengai Crater, near Nakuru, with Jim
August 2008

Camping on Mt. Kenya, with Treena (pictured) and others
October 2008

Start of bike event on Mt. Kenya, October 2008

Church retreat, Lukenya, near Athi River, October 2008

Five Questions I’m Often Asked

1) "How did you end up in Kenya?"

The short answer is, "The Holy Spirit compelled me there." The long answer is – During a period of three years (which was also roughly the same time my kids were becoming adults and getting established on their own):

• I did much self-discovery re: my spiritual gifts, personality, etc
• I wrote a mission statement for my life and annual "assignments" from the Lord
• I put goals down on paper
• I spent serious time in the Word, in prayer, in fasting
• I got my passport after a sermon by my pastor and I told the Lord I was available to go
• I got my affairs in order; I sold my house and got rid of stuff

I sensed the Lord was leading me specifically to Kenya. My 1st trip to Kenya was for one month in 2001. I went with two other ladies from my church. When I went, I thought it was just for that one month and then I'd go back to my normal life. But... while there, I distinctly heard the Lord telling me to come back. While back in the states, I sold my truck and some land I owned and made preparations to go.

2) "What do you do in Kenya?"

• I actually do the same thing in Kenya that I did when I lived in the States.
• I lend a helping hand.
• I strengthen weak knees.
• I give a word that sustains folks in their weariness.
• I offer a listening ear.
• I come alongside.
• I mentor, counsel, and advise.
• I awaken forgotten dreams.
• I challenge and provoke.
• I break stereotypes
• I demonstrate thinking (and living) outside the box.
• I blow bubbles.
• I fly kites.
• I bake birthday cakes.

God sends me to the confused, the depressed, the hurting, the lonely, the downcast, and the forgotten.

My motivating passion is to affect change in individual’s lives. God has equipped me to do this effectively through one-on-one relationships with an intentional goal of mentoring in tangible and practical ways.

By investing my time and energy with certain people, I’m leaving a lasting impact.

A second way I impact others is through the gift of writing my stories. I foresee publishing more books as God leads.

As I continue to obey God’s leading, He will reveal more and more of the jigsaw puzzle of His calling on my life. I will know I have been effective in fulfilling my calling when I observe those I’ve impacted embracing what I’ve modeled and taught and then in turn passing it on to others. My aim in life is to fulfill my purpose in my generation.

Mother Teresa said, "It is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not so fashionable to talk to the poor." Well… I not only talk to the poor, I listen to the poor. I eat with and play with the poor. God has cleverly engineered circumstances to connect me to a handful of individuals to whom he wants me to minister. They live in the urban slums and in the rural villages.

They’ve become my close friends.