Monday, May 31, 2010

I know where I am but where is my luggage?

Jambo!!  Greetings to you from Kenya, Africa.
     The weather here is very cool and I would put my jacket on if I had it.  It seems that somewhere in the travel from DFW to Detroit, from Detroit to Amsterdam, or from Amersterdam to Nairobi ALL seven of our luggage bags were lost.  After traveling for 30 hours I waited in a three hour line to fill out lost luggage information.  While I waited, Paul kept Kaden entertained by secretly putting his American money on the conveyor belt for Kaden to find.  So far Kaden has found a Euro, some Canadian money and of course Dad's pennies and nickels from the states.     
     Micah and Kaden were excellent international travelers.  We were so proud of the way they behaved on the long flights and they worked so hard rolling their carry-ons through the airports,  One connection in particular was extremely close and we had to navigate a very large airport.  Kaden had just woke up and it was all he could do to keep up with us.  Bless his heart, at one point he thought he had left his Nintendo DS on the airplane and he started to cry.  Knowing that my word was not going to be convincing enough, I took the time to stop and show him where I had put it in my bag.  On every flight, we sat on the VERY last row of the plane.  While Paul and I knew we were sitting in the noisiest spot, it worked out really well for Micah and Kaden to be near the bathrooms and they got lots of special attention from the flight attendants.  Everyone was very complimentary of the boys and their behavior.  On our last flight they were invited into the upper deck of the 747.  When they came back down, Micah showed us his pictures they had taken. 
     Kaden is jumping right in a bringing smiles to the African faces as he greets and thanks them in their native language.  Micah is our photographer and I suppose I will pen the documentary.  Hope you enjoy the great adventure!

Micah and Kaden arrive safely in Nairobi, Kenya.  Thank you pilots !

Saturday, May 29, 2010

What a team !

A big 'Thank you' to Tiffany Hornick and Laurel Brown for giving so generously to the African orphans. This morning, before the TCA awards ceremony, Tiffany and Laurel brought us a 53 pound suitcase filled with bubble gum, jump ropes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, balls and balloons that their children helped pack. Thank you Hanna and Maci (not pictured),  Preston and Mason. You shopped, you packed and Micah and Kaden will deliver. What a team !

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Two days till take off. Time to pack

May 25 Our Anniversary

Today marks our 14th anniversary and I would do it all over again. Life with Paul is full of laughter, encouragement and grand adventure. With Paul's extreme undying passion for the people and country of Africa, I knew when I married him that going to Africa was not a matter of "if" but "when." But, I must admit, God's timing for this trip is blowing my mind. God's word says that He will do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine and that is certainly true in this case. Wow!
Never ever would I have imagined:
* That we would be traveling to Africa during a long season of
unemployment for Paul.
* That God would move the heart of a close friend to send us.
* That Micah and Kaden would taking their first international mission
trip at 10 and 8 years of age.
* That two very good friends would ask, "Can I take one of your suitcases home and fill it for the orphans? "What do the children need?" "If it weighs more than fifty pounds can I pay the difference?"
And the list goes on. EVERY need we have is being taken care of because the Lord is the stirring hearts of His children and you are responding.

Lord, will you abundantly bless everyone who has helped make this ministry trip possible. Please bless them with your presence and love and prosper them in everything they set their hands to do.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Unexpected, Extravagant Blessing of God

Easter Basket Bulbs

If you know me very well, you know I LOVE to garden. A day spent manicuring our lawn and landscaping flower beds is my ideal day. I love the smell of fresh blooms and every time I plant a flower, I tell it to "Rise and shine and give God all the glory!" So for Easter when my mom asked me what I wanted in my Easter basket the answer easily rolled off the tip of my tongue, "Flower bulbs." Amongst several wonderful gifts, I received flower bulbs and I couldn't wait to get them in the ground.
(Plants in the ground... Plants in the ground... you can sing the rest.)