To Western Kenya

This past week we took a long journey up to western Kenya. It was long because what I believe was only a 250 mile journey, took about 9 hours to complete. Here are the reasons why it was non fun: I had to sit in the middle, squished between Mari and Luiba and at times Larry also; I quickly got over that. I had diarrhea the whole day and night before and it also continued into our road trip. Mari was curled up in the corner of the seat practically dying from some similar sickness. I think the only way to use the breaks in the car was to slam them. Whoever constructed the roads in Kenya thought it would be a good idea to put surprise speed bumps, which are even more fun with breaks like the ones we had. It was hot. No one had to wear a seatbelt. 

 Here are some reasons why it was fun: Kenya is very beautiful. Sometimes its fun not to wear a seatbelt. We drove through beautiful forests, where you wouldn't even imagine you were in Africa. We passed through miles of towering acacia trees that were absolutely magnificent. We saw the Great Rift Valley. We saw Zebras. We saw Lake Naivash. I saw cabbages twice the size of my head. We drive through one of the world's smallest rain forests. We saw baboons. We saw baby baboons. We made it safely to Irwin's family's home just before dark.

 Now, despite have diarrhea throughout the three days and two nights of this mini vacation, I actually quite enjoyed myself. We had to pack a lot of activities in to a short period of time, and unfortunately spent a lot of time in the car, but it was still nice. We arrived at Irwin's brothers house on saturday evening where we met his family, ate dinner and prayed with them. I got to pet a baby cow, that was my highlight. After we left Irwin's brothers place, we set out on another bumpy road to Irwin's parents home which is in the middle of the village in Kakamega, after we arrived there we were able to shower and then they fed us second dinner. After dinner we walked in the dark across a yard sprinkled with cows to a house made of mud where we slept for the night. I loved the mud house. There is something that just feels nice about it, ironically a house made of mud feels very clean. I really loved waking up to all the cows, and the view of the African country side was just breathtaking. The air felt nice and clear, being so far away from Nairobi.

 Sunday morning we drove to Springs of Life Children's home where we met Ian and Betty White who single handedly fund their children's home. Ian and Betty along with the mothers love and take care of over 20 infants, They don't have a lot, but seeing what they do and how happy and healthy all their babies were was truly inspiring. And the babies were so precious, we even got to hold the tiniest preemie I've ever seen. After leaving the children's home we went to visit Luiba's parents where I tried sugar cane for the first time and Mari learned how to chop cabbage like a Kenyan woman. We didn't stay there long, we got back in the car and headed to the Crying Stone. We pulled over on the side of the road and about 5 little children acted as out tour-guides and took us through the hills to the giant Crying Stone, and it wasn't even crying. Then we headed home to Irwin's parents house. After a nice shower, and a good dinner that didn't stay long in my stomach, we headed to bed to get ready for an early morning and a long journey back to Nairobi. 

Monday evening after another 9 or 10 our journey and about the 4th day of continuous diarrhea, Mari and I arrived home and did our best not to die. We have now almost fully recovered and that is why I am now writing this.

Life with God...

Life with God is...

-Fullness of Joy 

-The Most Amazing Adventure 

-Filled with Love that is better than Life 

-Worth Every Sacrifice 

-Secure and Safe regardless of circumstance or surrounding 

-Always, Always, Always Better 


A short video of how sweet our life is with God...

To the Mountain

We headed out again today to see more of Kenya. We left around 7AM and headed towards Embu, a town located near the foothills of Mt. Kenya. I felt like I needed to see the mountain and see it up close. We arrived in Embu and almost immediately the mountain disappeared. I was so disappointed. Instead of heading home we decided to head towards Nanyuki, another town east of Embu and also located near the foothills on the mountain. 

The drive to Nanyuki was incredible. The scenery was breathtaking. You have Mt. Kenya on one side and the Aberdare Range on the other. Every time I look at a mountain I am reminded of how amazing and big God is and I often need to be reminded. I think that is why something inside of me needs to near one.

Somedays I wake up and I am completely overwhelmed by the project that God has placed before me. I don’t know what I am doing. And I don’t know how it will come to pass. I wish there was a book titled “How to Open up a Children’s Home in a Foreign Country.” But maybe if there was I wouldn’t have to rely so much on God. And Maybe this mission wouldn’t require faith. 

It is unbelievably challenging to live by FAITH. 

FAITH: to have FAITH is to be SURE of the things we HOPE for, to be CERTAIN of the things we do not see. 

Sometimes it just isn’t natural to have FAITH. I mean, we are driving around Kenya looking for land that we don’t have money to buy. And on that land we are hoping to build a children’s home, oh and we don’t have money for that either. Then there’s the issue of properly running the home and ensuring that the needs of all the children are met. I could probably go on forever or at least a while with the things we cannot see. 

I have no idea how any of this will come to pass. It is absolutely overwhelming at times. At times I’m terrified to make decisions, knowing that what I choose could potentially affect thousands of lives. 

BUT then I look at the mountain AND I REMEMBER WHO GOD IS. I REMEMBER THAT IT’S NOT ABOUT WHO I AM BUT IT’S ABOUT WHO HE IS IN ME. I remember that my God can move mountains, heal the sick, and raise the dead. My God is in the business of miracles. My God’s power is perfected in my weakness. 

I have FAITH that the vision God has given me will come to pass; I cannot see how it will, but I am CERTAIN and I am SURE. 

While driving around Kenya yesterday looking for land, we realized that God's plan and His timing is always perfect, even if it involves two flat tires.

Luv Way land search begins...

We have come to Kenya in search of land. 

Today we began our search. 

We took four mutatus and a twenty minute car ride to check out this first piece of land. 

Somedays it feels like it will take a lifetime to accomplish this dream and other days like today it feels as if it is right around the corner. 

I know all of this will happen in God’s perfect timing and it’s pretty exciting to think that one day we will own a piece of land in Kenya and it will be a home for so many precious children.

Click here to watch video on YouTube

Arrived in Kenya!!!

We finally Made it! Every time I think about what we are doing and how we got where we are, I am just amazed at how prevalent God has been throughout everything. While checking our luggage for our flight we found out that technically we never had tickets for our flight, but some how that wasn't a problem for God, He worked that one out. He also, took it one step further and upgraded our seats, God knew i needed a little extra leg room. It is funny how God spoils us sometimes, when we know we don’t deserve it, it’s simply because he loves us. Over all the long flights were not bad at all, and that is coming from someone who has only ever flown to New Jersey, one time. Flying to Kenya I saw some of the most spectacular sights in my life. In LA, where the ocean meets the sky; in the Netherlands where snow just piles on tips of an endless sea of mountains; across Africa where the sand has leopard spots; and clouds like whipped cream, so beautiful, you just know that heaven can't be far away.

      

  I don’t really know what to say about Kenya so far, it is both beautiful and terrible at the same time. I feel like there is no way to really understand it, unless you live it. We only spent a few hours walking around the neighborhood here near Roysambu, and there is so much to take in. Sights and smells are all new to me; fruit, dirt, corn, sewage, cows. Riding in a Mutatu was different. They can fit about 16 people into a van about half the size of a VW bus. Now, I made the mistake of leaving my backpack on while trying to get into the Mutatu, and basically I got stuck and I had people behind me pushing me, trying to help me squeeze myself and my backpack through the door of the Mutatu, It was a great experience on my first morning in Kenya.

       

We saw the babies this morning. Every single one of them has the face of an angel, and they all just want to be loved. That is the number one thing that all of them pine for every day, after seeing them, there is no way to deny that. We visited the older babies first, and I was immediately hit with the panicked feeling of: how can i possibly show all of these babies love in one hour? It was very hard to be there, but it was much harder to leave. We went outside to play with the toddlers and younger children. The second that Mari stepped into their playpen, she was swarmed, and overtaken by little hands and little faces that are crying out for love and attention. I finally manned-up and went in also. Everyone just wants to be held and comforted, they don’t care that they just met you. I had three little ones sitting on my legs, two on my lap, and two on my back, it was too hard to turn anyone away. I wished we could have brought a whole army of people to hold them.

We are all ready, packed up, and about to head to the airport!!! Praying and trusting that as we go out God will show us exactly where he wants us to build the future Luv Way Children's home!!!