find a blankie, get a hot drink and prepare to be updated...i have internet tonight!!!

'just let the Spirit guide you'

I've started to help out at the local church. The plan this past Sunday was to get an 'idea' of how the two children leaders ran 'church' for over a 100 children. What ended up happening was the pastor turned to me and said, 'ok, you're going to be introduced...and then you're going to teach the children; just let the Spirit guide you'. My initial reaction was, 'wow, this whole language barrier thing is more real than I thought...no way did he actually just say what I think he did'. Thankfully, I love children, and thankfully, I was able to 'let the Spirit guide me'. ;-) Now, if I only knew how to speak Swahili...and the other 44+ tribal dialects that can be found in Kenya...

never thought I'd say this

It seemed like just yesterday I was discussing with a good friend of mine that I wasn't too keen on learning different cultures or languages...to put it bluntly, I told told her that I would be more content if the whole world was just one big culture consisting of one language. As quickly as those words came out of my mouth, God started chipping away at my heart, my mind and my naive thoughts. In the world we live in today, language is a central component to culture and knowing culture is absolutely vital in building relationships with people of different backgrounds. Learning a new language is not something I see as being easy.  In fact, language  is something that I perceived as frustrating (which it totally can be), as time consuming (which it is!) and as one of those things I  'never wanted to do' because I don't have a whole lot of spare time (which is kinda true too)...but more importantly, I never had a desire to learn a new language because I had no reason for doing such a thing.  But that latter point about not having a reason has now changed...how so?...well, I'll get to that later in this post. I will say this, I'm 100% sold on learning Swahili and the African culture that God guides me towards. It excites me...I never thought I'd ever say that but it's true: the African language and culture excite me...I'll talk more about that and my 'reason' for learning language later, but for now, I'll discuss another part of culture: food...and new creatures!

food, tarantulas and black mambas...

Kenyan food = I love. I've been able to enjoy some real Kenyan and other African foods. I have no clue how to make any of it, but I know that every time a Kenyan invites me to eat with them, I'll gladly accept without delay...besides, their cooking will top my breakfast, lunch and supper of bread and cheese any day! ;-)


Tarantula jumping out of my breakfast bowl? = Not so much love...yes, i was paranoid of eating any food the rest of that morning. ;-).


Black mambas at the hospital? = Yes, it's happened...but only once...and not while I've been here... ;-)


Monkeys playing in the forest = Can't wait to start joining the uncaged monkeys in the forests of Kapsowar. I've always wanted to play with monkeys; they appear so fun and friendly...hmm...on second thought, maybe I'll just stick to monkeying around with the kids...

favourite part of the day

Once I'm done at the hospital, I quickly throw off my shoes and head towards the green grass for a time of 'monkeying around' with the children. They rejuvenate my tired body instantly.  It's become a daily thing that when the work day is done, the play time begins! The more we play on the field, the more children begin to show up. I said it once, i'll say it again, the children have CAPTURED my heart! We usually play until dark and the play time consists of many things...some of these things include them wanting to be: carried, or hugged, or high-fived, or piggybacked, or spun around or chased around, orrrr chasing me around. ;-)  They also enjoy just sitting in the grass holding my hands and braiding my hair...head, arm and legs! I am with them for hours! Yesterday I played with them...I hugged them...I sang songs with them...I loved them.

This morning I had children follow me on my morning walk with God...this isn't rare...in fact, NOT having kids wanting to be around you is rare! ahhh...little do they know that when I'm with them, my heart is crying out.  Knowing that these children are hurt because they have no father...or parents...or home...or food...makes me want to love them and introduce them to Jesus that much more!

continuously learning...growing...

Thankfully, God is great at revealing our motives when we are truly seeking Him. I love the children because they are to be loved...not because of my inner desire to make me feel better about myself or to feel as though I lived out a life that'll be remembered by others as 'good'. It's a battle, but thankfully and truthfully, the Spirit has been keeping my pride, my selfishness and my self-righteousness as close to bay as I allow Him to...and when I'm in His presence, He'll most definitely keep all that junk out in the open for me to see! I mention this because I think it's important that we ask God daily, 'what is my MAIN motive for doing what I'm doing...?' I know I say that a lot, but I think it's a vital question to finding out our true motives...my true motives! If I go for days without talking to God and asking Him these questions, the Spirit will most definitely bring to light my TRUE motives of self-glorificaiton. So, all that to say, ask God 'why?'...ask Him often...ask Him with an open heart...listen...be still...get low...I'm learning this slowly...I know it'll be a lifelong process...

no doubt about it

 Living in Africa was not something I ever had a desire to do...I felt North America was my home, that I was going to get married, have 12 kids, be a family doctor and continue to press God's Kingdom forward in North America. However, God has demolished that ideal and has been creating a new desire...a new passion...and to simply put it: His love is controlling me and overtaking any and all of my previous and current ideals (and this is all happening despite how blatantly sinful I am and can be...which makes His love, His patience and His grace THAT MUCH MORE amazing)! I mentioned earlier how I now have a reason to learn Swahili...and I said that because I can't ignore God's promptings and as of right now, I can say that the main reason for this trip to Kenya has been accomplished...what was the main reason? Well, to follow God's leading and see if Africa was what I needed to fix my eyes on as I continued making important decisions about life and my medical education...and let's just say that all indications = big change ahead for me! 

When I sit down and read Isa. 1:10-17, Isa. 58:1-10, Matt 19:21-24 (need I continue? read for yourself our obligations to the poor and the 'unloveables' of this world...and if you are one of my many great friends who do NOT believe in Jesus....then well, you don't really have that same Jesus-called obligation...so ignore this...)....I have a hard time ignoring the African people.  I have often thought that I could do much good living in North America by helping the church, helping with church ministries and making lots of money in order to give it away to the poor. But as I've started to notice over the past many months...a) I'm not sure I have the discipline or the strength in me to not get too comfortable in North America and then in doing so becoming spiritual paralyzed and complacent...and more importantly, b) I can't help but think I can do SO MUCH MORE in  taking the skills I have to the rural villages of Africa...these people need to hear the Good News (Rom 10:14-17); they can chose to reject or accept it, but they MUST first hear the News! Being a doc opens up so many doors and locations that not all my brothers and sisters in Christ have...but oh man, we all have the SAME CALLING wherever we find ourselves!!! 

All that to say that as it stands right now and as the Lord guides, I will be coming back to Africa...not on a short term basis for a month or two (i'll save my soap box about short term missions for another day...) but for several years...probably for a lifetime. As I needed (and still need as you'll read below) for this trip, I will also be needing your support...your continual support...for the future.  Will you join me???

the most important update

Obviously, the cultural/language barriers is a constant battle so prayer for that would be great. I have also found it very hard to be silent before God, so prayer for spiritual renewal would be appreciated. I also ask that you pray in advance for decisions down the road as I'm starting to reconsider a lot of what I envisioned my purpose in medicine to be...so, continual prayer for guidance, comfort and faith will be important now and for future decisions. Who knew what opening up the Bible would do to me...

wow!

I have not forgotten about you guys and your lives across the world! You are being lifted up to God in rural Kenya!

I write this with much love,
ALL FOR JESUS!!!