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!