Let me first apologize for being so out of touch the past few months. It has been a bit rough for us as we passed our one year anniversary of having left home at the end of August. We have since been in a place of realizing what life as a foreign missionary is really like, after all the novelty and excitement wears off. We are at a point of evaluating what we've been able to accomplish in the time we've been here, and looking ahead to the next two years, trying to make sure we finish what we've set out to do. It's easy to outline the physical improvements to the program, the buildings, etc. However, we are having a harder time quantifying the spiritual impact we are trying to have. We find ourselves so regularly wrapped up in the day to day administration and physical needs that often come up in "emergency" situations with the kids and staff, that it seems the spiritual needs are the ones less well attended to. We are trying to find ways to be more intentional about seeing to the spiritual needs of the children and staff at the Home in the coming months and years.
A few of our personal family updates:
*A few months before Ethan was supposed to start boarding school at Rift Valley Academy, he asked me, “Mom, how are we going to pay for this?” I told him, “Honestly, I don’t know. But it seems clear to us that this is where God wants you to be, so we will have to wait for Him to show us how He’s going to pay for it.” At that exact moment, my phone beeped to alert me to a new email. It was from an amazingly generous couple, letting us know that they were going to pay for Ethan’s schooling! Not only is God’s provision overwhelming, but His timing is impeccable. Ethan will surely forever remember that precise moment when God confirmed His plan through His provision. Ethan started school 6 weeks ago and loves it. He has made friends from all over the world; has academically flourished with the transition from a low-structured homeschool to a highly structured and rigorous academic setting; and has developed a love for bunson burners.
*Ellie has just celebrated her 12th birthday. She got braces on 6 weeks ago and is already sporting a straighter smile, despite having recently popped a bracket off by eating forbidden popcorn. Her orthodontist is 6 hours away, next door to Ethan’s school. We will now be traveling there once a month for brace adjustments and visits with Ethan.
*Mei (like the rest of us) is greatly enjoying having Betsy Ingalls, a friend from the States who recently graduated from High School, living with us until December. Betsy brought with her a fine collection of new books for the children at our children’s home. She is working on starting a library program for the kids, encouraging a love for reading and teaching them how to properly care for books. In town this week, both Betsy and Mei were approached by Kenyan boys looking for “girlfriends”. Later that day, Mei complained, “At least Betsy’s boy had a job. Mine was just a street kid!”
*Tomorrow, we will say goodbye to our new friend, Ted Chen who is a reporter and co-anchor for NBC news in Los Angeles. Ted has been with us for 5 days, working on a story that will air in November to raise awareness of the plight of orphans in Kenya. We have greatly enjoyed getting to know him, and watching him fall in love with the children here.
*Next month, Jason’s parents, aunt, and two of our nieces will come for a 3 week visit! We are very excited to spend time with family around the holidays (they arrive the day before Thanksgiving) and soak up some of what we’ve been missing for so long now.
