Well, I just crossed over the Atlantic and am somewhere over St. John’s, Canada. I just spent last week in Eastern Europe visiting [dear missionary friends of mine], Al and Stacy Anderson in Czech Republic. It was great to tour about 5 cities in 3 countries in 6 days, but it was even greater just to spend time with them after an experience like Kenya, especially with Stacy who I could process a bit with and know she understands cross cultural adjustments! It was also a blessing to see their lives there and see face to face the people that they serve. God is doing such diverse things in this world!I just re-read my last entry while still in Kenya. I sense God compelling me to share it with you all. I pray that it will encourage you in whatever doubts or fog you find yourself in.
While I’ve shared several stories of the Kenyans here and what God is doing through ELI, I haven’t shared much of what God has been doing in my own heart. As many of you know, this is a pivotal time for me as I finish my Master’s degree (1 more class!) and jump into the next unknown season God has for me. So here goes:
Nakuru National Park, Kenya (8.29.06)
Safari with Adele . . . this is my last full day in Kenya. This morning we hit safari by 7 am and saw hundreds of flamingos, cranes and pelicans as the sun glistened on the water and the mist rose. It was almost blinding as I faced this scene, making out only the black profiles of the birds. Here are the verses that call out to me as I sit at Nakuru Lodge looking down into the park and lake:
“We don’t see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering though a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us. But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” (1 Cor 13:12-13, The Message)
Yesterday, just minutes before Adele and I left, Dorcas, who is on “leave” as a children’s home parent (of 24 kids!) because of giving birth to her second biological child, invited me in for my first chai with her, but last chai with the people of Kenya. The spirit of God spoke through her. She talked about the wrestling match that Jacob had with God in the middle of the night. She did not know this, but this passage has been my theme passage for this past year (ever since my pastor spoke at our retreat last November), so I knew God had something to say to me through her.As I shared with her the longings of my heart and the uncertainty of future calling, especially as a single woman, she shared that maybe God still wants me to wrestle with Him a bit and to HOLD ON to Him with BOTH arms, embracing him. She declared that He would provide these longings of my heart in a way that felt like your voice speaking to me. While I don’t think that your word promises to provide everything we desire, I sensed your promise through her words. As she shared I began to cry. The clock was ticking . . . I knew Adele was waiting for me. Dorcas came and sat beside me on her couch, held me and invited me gently to let the tears roll. So I did. Being held by this African woman was your tangible, healing embrace I will forever be changed by.
Thank you Lord for the arms of healing that embraced my tears, just as you allowed me the privilege of embracing Nellie, the woman we went to visit at Mt. Elgon, as she shed her tears in my arms. You are so mighty and have not forgotten a single one of us. And Lord while I may be frustrated that while I thought I would discover your exact plan for this next season, your Word and the time with Dorcas in the last 24 hours seems to be speaking loud and clear. Just like the mist this morning, I will continue to peer through it, wrestle with you and to simply “trust steadily, hope unswervingly and love extravagantly.” Lord help me to simplify how I view purpose-draw me to the places and times to love extravagantly . . . and there I will see more clearly through the fog!
Lord, your word promises we will see clearly some day! And thank you for your promise through one of the girls at the children’s home that was singing a praise song “open doors, opening the way” (to heaven) . . . You started my time in Kenya with receiving this as my name (Chepyator/"Pioneer") and you have ended it with the same promise in the form of a praise from one of your precious children. Amen! Reveal to me in your timing what doors you want me to walk through and what doors you want me to open for others. Thank you for showering peace upon me during this time of uncertainty and for using Kenya and her people as a vessel!
