He is coming!

Wow, Christmas is so close. Do you feel it?
      I have been hearing Christmas songs this past week in all the shops
in Nairobi. I still don't quite know what the song "The Yellow Rose
of Texas" has to do with Christmas, but a big mechanical Santa sings
it in every Nakumatt I enter. (FYI - Nakumatts are grocery stores
here in Kenya.) I see Poinsettia trees in the yard of the guest house
where I have been staying. Then too, there is the shopping for
presents for those I will spend Christmas with in just a few days.
Thinking about the things I need to make the cookies that are my
christmas tradition. Traffic jams that seem to be the norm in
Nairobi anymore, but are even worse this weekend. All these things
point to this particular time of year.
     How about introspection. Consideration of the joy of the season.
Wonder at the birth of a savior. God really became a baby. He really
walked this earth as a man. He really is coming again. Are these a
part of your Christmas?
     It isn't the snow, the tree, the lights or even the presents that
make Christmas. I have heat, mosquitos, and bushes, but Christmas is
still here. Christmas comes in our hearts. Hope is born because
Jesus came and walked among us. 

     I hope you all are enjoying the signs of Christmas that you have around you. I also hope you are able to be filled with Wonder and Awe at our great savior. I pray that you allow Jesus to be born in your heart each day and that you anticipate his coming and his coming again! A light has shown among the nations and we are changed because of it.
     blessings from one who wants to adore Him!

A week in review

Hello!

This week has been busy.  Sorry I didn't get this posted on Tuesday night like I have the others.  I had some of my sponsored elementary school students read the book The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis last week.  Then I let them watch the video on Monday.  They had fun seeing what they had read.  I think it also helped them understand what a faun, beaver, wolf and other such animals were.  After the movie I fixed a nice lunch for them and handed out some Christmas presents.  It was a fun day!

Tuesday I held my Christmas party for my workers.  I had a nice beef stew for them to eat (4 pounds of meat for 5 people).  I also got some 100 pound bags of beans and sugar, 50 pound bags of rice, corn meal, and flour, 24 one pound tubs of fat, tea leaves and salt for them to split between them for their Christmas meals.  They also enjoyed receiving the clothes that I got for them before I came back to Kenya.

Wednesday I drove from Lodwar to Eldoret.  The road is so bad it took me 9 hours.  It really needs some attention, but I know it won't get it anytime soon, so I will just have to endure.  Thankfully, when I got a bit closer to Eldoret I was able to see green growing things.  That is always a highlight of that trip.  I also got to enjoy the orange flame trees, purple jacaranda trees and bright red poinsettia tree.  Seeing colors other than brown and dusty green are wonderful!

Yesterday and today, I have been working on getting my paperwork caught up.  I was all ready to do it in Turkana, but my printer would not work.  So, I had to wait until I got here where I could use a different printer.  So, I am now caught up to the end of October this year.  I will have to work on November this next week while I am in Nairobi.  I will drive there tomorrow.  That road is much better than the Lodwar to Eldoret one, so I will hopefully get to Nairobi in about 5 or 6 hours.  

I am headed to Nairobi to meet with David Giles and to do a bit of Christmas shopping.  So, that is about it for this week.  I hope all is well with all of you!

The Season

Hello!
   The season of advent and Christmas are upon us. This always seems a
bit of a crazy time of year to me when I am in the U.S. When I am in
Turkana it doesn't seem so hectic. That isn't to say that I am not
busy, but it is a different kind of busy. What kind of food stuff do
I want to give out to friends, workers and dancers and singers? How
do I help keep the focus on his birth and the meaning of his coming
into our lives? That is one we all have to work at.
   I am currently reading in Exodus and Matthew.  It struck
me that in all the instructions about how to make the tabernacle and
the things in and around it, that God gave the people a reason why he
brought them out of Egypt. It is the same reason why he came to earth
as a baby in a manger and died on a cross.
Exodus 29:46 says, "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God,
who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among
them. I am the LORD their God."
    God wanted a relationship with his people even then. He wanted to
dwell among them. He was able to do that fully only through his son,
Jesus. As we celebrate the season may we remember it is about a
relationship with God. That relationship was made possible through
Jesus in the manger and on the cross. May He dwell with us every day
and may we anticipate his daily coming into our lives!

Truck!

Well, it is time to tell about my truck. The Lord has always been so
good in providing for my every need. I hope that all of you realize
the same is true for you too! Before I even arrived in Kenya, I heard
about a vehicle that the Maasai team of CMF was going to sell. It is
a 2004 Toyota Hilux, double-cab, four wheel drive vehicle. That is
almost exactly like my former truck. There are a few significant
differences. This one is of course newer :). It also has two bucket
seats in front instead of one bench seat. It has a better suspension
which means it has a better ride. That is nice to have since the road
to Turkana is only getting worse not better! It has power steering
which is very important for my poor shoulder and it has air
conditioning which is an added bonus in the heat of Turkana! It does
have a fiberglass shell over the back end. The difference is that it
has some side seats in it. I am not sure yet if I like them, but they
are there anyway. It will be good for hauling people but maybe not so
good for hauling things or charcoal. There are few little things that
need to be fixed up, but all in all it is a true blessing.
I am so glad that I did not have to go shopping for a vehicle in
Nairobi! The new ones were way out of my price range, but this one is
just right! So, give thanks with me that the Lord provided again for
my vehicle need! It is hard to imagine another name for this truck
other than JJ #2 (Jehovah Jireh - the Lord provides), but if any of
you think of a name you think I should consider, then let me know. I
will be happy to consider all entries. Sorry, I don't know how to
post pictures when I send my blog as an e-mail so you will have to
wait for a prayer newsletter to see it. It is white (like most
vehicles here in Kenya) with a couple of gold stripes down each side.
I guess that is all for now. I hope to write again later this week!
Blessing on you all as you celebrate Thanksgiving. Add in a praise
for God's provision in all of our lives!!!!

Back in Kenya - Impressions

Hello All!
I made it back to Kenya on Tuesday night. I drove half way to
Turkana today (Monday 17th). Stopped in Eldoret for a few days of
unpacking and fixing some plumbing in the house we rent. Here are
first impressions.
Nairobi- seems pretty normal. Vehicle explosion on the roads.
Traffic Jams all day long. Some things missing from the stores. Some
new things around. New teammates. New faces. Old faces. Good to
see all. Prices much higher! Not so good. Truck found! Truck loaded.
On way to Eldoret - Busy roads. Road fixed up to half way there!
So, smooth. White & black stripes. Zebras beside the road. Baboons
too. Bright kelly greens. Deep red dirt. "We got cows!" In the
road. Also donkeys and goats. Patchwork gardens. Terraced on
mountain sides. New route. Better road, but still bumpy. Miss the
evergreen forest on old one. Roads are grooved from semi's too
heavy. Rough second half of trip.
More to follow soon on the new truck!

Change

Hello!

    I guess all things are subject to change.  I did not leave on November 3.  My funding for the ESL project has not all come in yet, so I had to delay my return to Kenya.  I will now return on November 10.  It is just a week change, but I hope it will be enough.  As for change, our country is in for a big one if what the president elect campaigned on is true.  Time will tell I guess.

    I guess that is all for now.  Packing and preparing for the return is keeping me quite busy.  I hope all is well with all of you!

blessings!!

busy?

  I have been told I am not a very good blogger.  Sorry to those of you who have noticed!  I have been a bit busy in the past month or so.  I finished up my ESL class and immediately drove back to Denver.  Then I got on a plane and flew to Tennessee.  I went there for a week or so.  I was able to catch up with some friends and supporting churches while I was there.  I went on the Emmaus Walk.  It was a wonderful retreat and an opportunity to see how God is working in my life and in the lives of others.  Thanks to all those who wrote notes and letters of encouragement!!!  I encourage all who have an opportunity to do this retreat to do it.

   Since then, I have been working on my ESL graduate project and purchasing and preparing to return to Kenya.  I still have a few more things to do for the project, but hope to finish it up next week.  I am currently in Indianapolis learning how to train people to do community health evangelism (CHE).  So, I will be busy most of this week with that.   It is good to see other missionaries and hear how they are applying CHE or hope to apply it in the future.  

   It is also good to see folks in the CMF office - even if they do tell me I don't blog very well.  Just remember, I am still new to this and give me a little time to get in the groove :)  Of course, it would help if there was a normal groove to my life too.

   I will return to Kenya on November 3.  So, please keep my preparation in your prayers.  Also pray that my re-entry to Kenya will go smoothly!

    Thanks for reading!!!  blessings to all :)

Go GOD!

Yipee!  Yahoo!  I just got an e-mail from Trent Christian Church in Oregon.  They had a three day VBS this weekend.  It went well except the offering was really low on the first two days.  Their goal was $1000 for the Turkana English as a Second Language program.  Their total on night two was $116.01.  It was looking like they set the goal way too high.  Don't underestimate God!!!

They went beyond the goal Sunday evening.  God is good isn't He!!!!  The kids had studied "doubting Thomas" for one of their lessons.  It is a good lesson for us all to remember.  Continue to keep the funding for this project in your prayers.  God knows the need and he knows who needs to give.  Ask for wisdom for me as I try to discern what churches and individuals to talk to about this need!

ESL and grammar

Hello All!

I am currently engaged in a very challenging endeavor.  I am trying to learn how to teach English to speakers of foreign languages.  I think this will be a wonderful ability to bring back to the Turkana church.  So, I am gamely making my way through the theory, methods, and materials used to teach English.  The most challenging aspect is teaching grammar, because I do not like it.  Since I don't like it, I don't really want to teach it.  I do see the value of it though, so I will plug away at it and hope that I get it and can teach it well. 

I am taking an intense class in Seattle through the University of Seattle and the School of TESOL.  We are covering four semester long classes in four weeks.  As you can imagine, I am not getting a lot of sleep.  I have not been able to even do any sight-seeing.  I go to class at 9 in the morning, get home at 3:30 or so and do homework there until about 10:30 or 11.  I am becoming very familiar with the walls of the classroom, and my rented bedroom :).  

I am at the end of the second week.  My grammar teaching point is due on Monday.  So, pray for me that I get it and that I can teach in a fun and informative manner.  If it is fun then my students will not have the same attitude as I do about grammar!  Any suggestions you teachers or students (of life or long-gone school days) want to give would be greatly appreciated!

I hope to resurface again to write a bit more in a week or so!

traveling

This week I have been traveling across a very large portion of our great country. There have been long driving days.  Thankfully, I have some books on tape to listen to when I get bored. I left Indiana last Friday (1st), crossed Illinois, and Missouri on I-70 and spent the night in Blue Springs with some wonderful supporters. Saturday I spent most of the day seeing just how long it takes to cross Kansas and Eastern Colorado. All day! I stayed with my parents Saturday through Tuesday morning. I had to get my car serviced for the next leg of the journey. I thought it would be a pretty quick thing, but it took most of Monday to get that done because of an electrical short in the blinkers.
Tuesday I crossed through Colorado and into Utah mostly on I-70. Wednesday I went north through Utah and into Idaho. I got to spend the night in Boise with former CMF teammates. I had a great time catching up with the Westfalls and getting to see most of the Rich family as well. Ingrid had to work, but the rest were able to come for dinner at the Westfalls. It was great getting to catch up on the things going on in all their lives. Thursday I passed through the rest of Idaho, eastern Oregon and Washington on my way to Seattle. Friday I will go south to Eugene, Oregon and on to Dexter where I will visit with a supporting church. While in Eugene I'll see former teammates, Bob and Karon Chapman, and future teammates, Scott and Kristi Seidel. I am looking forward to that.
Wow, reading all that makes me tired. Even so, I have seen some wonderful testimonies to the greatness of God along the way. The Majestic Rockies, the beautiful Cascades and the high desert plains are just a few examples. I was amazed how similar parts of Utah and Idaho are to Turkana. There are even warnings about areas with frequent dust storms :}. This world is so vast and so very different in many ways. Even so, there is no way we can travel too far from
God. He knows right where we are both physically and spiritually. It has been good to see his many acts of creation this week. It would be easy for me to think that all this travel has confused him about where I am.  I am a bit confused so he might be too.  Praise Him that he is mightier than my brain can fathom. Thankfully, we serve a God who isn't bothered by our many travels!! He even adds blessings along the way – like beautiful scenery and wonderful friends to break up the trip. Thanks God!!!

Flat Rock VBS

This week has been busy.  I have been enjoying the Jerusalem Marketplace with the children and adults at Flat Rock Christian Church in Flat Rock, Indiana.  We learned about the last week of Jesus' life.  It was so exciting to see Jesus after he rose from the dead.  

The children and adults got to see what a market place might be like in AD 30.  It was lots of fun to make a pipe instrument at the musicians tent and wooden dradels at the the carpenters shop.  They also got to make candy, jewelry and weave some at the weavers tent.  They got to try to weave some baskets too and learn about baking bread in ancient Israel.  I got to participate in teaching about the bakery on Thursday night.  I think a great time was had by all.  

The children also got to see some pictures about life in Turkana today.  What a difference from their lives here in America!  I hope they enjoyed hearing about the way the children live and play in Turkana.  They will get to learn a little about worship on Sunday night when they have their closing program.  I will not be able to be there, but I pray it goes well for them all!

Next week, I will be traveling to Seattle.  I will begin my class on how to teach English as a second language on the 11th.  So, I am preparing for lots of class and study time and very little sleep :).  This is a 12 credit hour class that gets done in one month.  So, I will be very busy.  Keep me in your prayers!

About Lynn

Hello!

Welcome!  I am a missionary with Christian Missionary Fellowship.  I have worked among the Turkana people of Kenya since 1996.  Before joining CMF, I was a student in Johnson City, Tennessee.  I attended Emmanuel School of Religion and Milligan College.  I earned a Bachelor's degree from Milligan and a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel. 

I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.  I attended Franklin Central High School there.  While I was in college, my parents moved to Colorado with all my stuff.  So, now I am from Colorado:).  

In Kenya, I have worked with a church planting team among the Turkana people.  My primary task has been to oversee the adult literacy program.  Literacy is a great need in this area because we need people who can read the Bible and lead the church.  I have also taught in our Turkana Bible training institute (TBTI).  Other projects have included translating some simple English Bible studies into Turkana with a team of translators.  

Beginning in 2008, I will begin teaching English as a second language to Turkana Church leaders.  I will also continue to teach at TBTI and oversee some translation projects to get more materials into the Turkana language.  I will serve as a literacy consultant for the Turkana church and help them as needed.  

I hope that this blog will serve as a way to keep you informed about things going on in my life and in Turkana.  Please remember that my internet access is limited, but I will try to get this updated every couple of weeks.  I look forward to reading your comments and to your e-mails!