Africa is a huge place

It’s a small BIG world.  As followers of Christ, is it honestly possible for any of us to argue against leaving the U.S. to evangelize the lost?  Isn't the final instruction from our Lord to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15)?  If we as Americans, the most heavily populated Christian nation in the world, will not go to the unreached, then who will?  Is it the responsibility of someone else?

Lesson in Obedience

Pushing Against the Rock

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.
This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Noticing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary mind. “You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.” Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These troubling thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why kill myself over this?” I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.
And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his thoughts to the Lord. “Lord” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, When I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”
“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is simple obedience and Faith in Him…
By all means exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves them.
- Author Unknown

A Simple Adjustment

While we live in Kenya, we want to live out the example that Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 9:22 - "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."  In that effort there are going to be many seemingly simple adjustments in our preferences that we must make in order to adapt to the Kenyan culture. 

One of these that will hit us squarely in the face (and mouth) on day 1 is the drinking of Kenyan chai.  I can't stand the taste of the warm, sweet, milky tea that they enjoy every day and share in abundance.  Some Americans have come to love it and I know that I must also.  Bottoms up...

Chai Recipe

Heat together in a 3 to 4 quart saucepan:
1 cup water
1 1/2 tsp tea leaves (or 1 tea bag)

Boil 10 minutes. Add:
1 cup milk

Heating near boiling.  Add to taste:
2 to 4 teaspoons sugar

Serves 2.

"Guy Time"

Just had an inspiration this morning of another ministry activity while in Kenya (could be done anywhere for that matter).  I'm thinking of taking the middle-aged boys out in the bush country for a week of "guy time" during one of their school breaks.  Kind of like a scout week here in the U.S.  Building a shelter, learning to tie knots, preparing meals, learning how to navigate, and spending "guy time" as we dig deeper into God's Word and talk personally of how the Spirit is working in our lives.  Building work ethic and an emphasis on leadership, personal development, teamwork, and personal standards.  I can't wait for Kenya...

Blessings from our family at Grace Life Baptist

  

Wow, what an outpouring of love we received from our home church on Sunday evening!  Thank you to our family at Grace Life Baptist for coming out to hear from us and for the wonderful reception afterwards.  The response was truly humbling to us and we know that you will be behind us as we go...