Ellie in Chogoria

Hi! We like to walk to Joy's shop. At Joy's shop we buy suckers. My favorite type of sucker has strawberry, orange and gum. Josef likes the creamy yogurt suckers. Today we went to a waterfall with my friends, Olive and Lucy - it was so beautiful. 

 Yesterday we went to lunch at the Chogoria hospital. Mommy wanted to take a picture of the bushes. See if you can find the person hiding in them.

Pizza night. Last night we had pizza night. Every Friday they have Pizza night.
My favorite was the BBQ Pineapple pizza. After that, Mommy left with Josef
and we stayed to play board games. We stayed up until 10:00.

Yesterday this man was washing the Ritchie's car in a suit. 

A couple of days ago we were looking at old pictures. We found a lot
of pictures of Sam that look just like Josef. 

Lower Zone

I spent the day with the kids. Jeremy did a lecture in the morning and then helped with rounds. The kids and I went on an adventure with our friends Martha and Millicent. We drove about an hour down the mountain on a really rough road (thank goodness I had thrown some meclizine in my bag for Sam) to the "lower zone." Millicent explained that the lower zone is poorer due to the lack of the cash crops of coffee, tea and dairy that the "upper zone" has. Millicent and her husband run "The Family Resource Center" near Chogoria that ministers to children. She wanted to buy some supplies for feeding those children - so we headed to a large market. It was a great experience to see the market operate and learn some more about the culture here. Sam doesn't carry the bags quite as easily as the Kenyan women! Funny part was that the women at the market all wanted to buy Josef. The top picture is hard to see, but it is a woman pouring her grain out and letting the chaff blow away. We had some great car ride discussions about chaff and God's biblical language related to it - back to Psalm 1! On the way home (by a smoother road :)) we stopped and shopped for some gifts to bless the kids at the Resource Center on Saturday. Ellie had wanted to use some of her birthday money for kids in Africa and this was Millicent's idea of the best way to accomplish that wish. We bought toothbrushes and toothpaste along with pads of paper and a few books. Tonight we ate dinner with a missionary family from the states - it tasted of home with taco soup and salad - refreshing! Today I have been humbled by Martha, Millicent and the Webbers - their hearts to serve God and the poor is inspiring. They truly have taken up their cross and followed Christ in obedience without concern for self.

Chogoria and Chai

We have arrived at Chogoria and have had a great first 2 days! This bottom picture is the Guest House where we are staying. It even has hot showers!! The top picture is of Ellie and her new friends Olive and Lucy - their family is here with the mission organization Serg. We had to run to the dukas today to get Josef a new pair of shoes - a pair of plastic ones that we could easily wash dirt and mud off of :)....these little children loved to feel Annie's fingernails for some reason.

This morning we had a chapel. We were blessed with singing and a message by Dr. Jim Ritchie on Psalm 1. The interesting thing is that the kids and I had just discussed Psalm 1 on the van ride to Chogoria yesterday. I love the image of "a tree firmly planted by streams of water" and both in the van and in chapel we talked of how this is like the man or woman who "delights in the law of the Lord" and is therefore blessed. Dr. Ritchie reminded us that any tree is exposed to the same conditions - the same storms, or insects etc...but the outcome from those storms vary greatly on how and where the tree is planted. How I hope for all to be trees firmly planted by streams of water that yield fruit and never wither.

On Monday evenings staff and families from the hospital (mostly doctors and wives) have a bible study. Tonight we started with a service project. We took chai tea (Kenyans everywhere love chai!) down to the hospital and shared cups with those working the night shift. Ellie and I started by giving a cup to a man who was sweeping the walks. We sat and talked (through broken English) - he was overjoyed to have us appreciate him. It was a great reminder of how such simple offerings of love can move a spirit. Love to all.

Best First Day in Africa

 - Back in Africa I found my favorite drink!








Had a lot of fun playing basketball.

-Sam

Amani

 We are in Nairobi!! We have had a very relaxing day today at Amani Gardens Inn. Amani means peace in Kiswahili and I have felt God's great and deep peace on the trip so far. The travel went well and was filled with blessings - from "Toodles" (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) on the first airplane t.v. for Josef, to Sam seeing that I dropped my money bag with all the passports in it on the train, to the "Flying with Confidence" video by British Airways for me. It wasn't the easiest journey to our London hotel - although a quick subway ride downtown sounded like a breeze - when you factor in 9 very heavy suitcases and lots of flights of stairs up and down to get to that subway it changes things a bit...but we spent several hours seeing some London sights and then got a good nights sleep! Today in Nairobi we went shopping and then rested and played. Amani has a swing, a playground and a basketball/tennis court - something for everyone. Matilda (our friend from the last trip) came and visited tonight - we had a sweet time of fellowship with her. Tomorrow we will go to church and then travel 3 1/2 hours to Chogoria. Love to all and special thoughts and prayers to Tammy and her family -her dad passed away today. PS -Ellie wants you to know she lost her tooth on the plane :)

Refining

My friend who prayed with me during my fear crisis asked this morning how I was doing...I thought I would share some of what God has done in the past 24 hours. I share to remain transparent and to hopefully encourage some of you as well. As the Hymn we sang this morning in church says, "so that all may see I triumph only through His power." My response to my friend was that the fear sent me to the foot of the cross. I have been communing with Jesus for the past day and through scripture, song and a booklet on fear (that another friend picked up for me at the conference) I have been loved by the Savior and His mercy. I have realized the sin of fear, I have confessed and I am replacing it with truth. Slowly I am finding a deeper and more stable peace. I will share just a few of the words that God has brought me to...

-"When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path. He will hold me fast; for my Savior loves me so." (a hymn on the Getty's new album)

-At the heart of fear is sin - the sin of idolatry and unbelief.

-"We are immortal till our life's work is done." George Whitfield

-"Our lives are in the hands of the Savior King who is never taken by surprise and whose loving purpose can never fail." from Women of Faith in a Culture of Fear by Colin S Smith

-Do I trust this fear more than what God has promised me?

-Jesus is the living water

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I am sorry this blog has been about me these past few days - hopefully the next few posts will be more about the adventures of the trip :).

Two Spirits

It’s a little over one week until we leave for Kenya. I wanted to share an experience I had this weekend and ask you all to pray in regards to it. I spent Thursday and Friday in Indianapolis at the Gospel Coalition Women’s conference. The topic was “Resurrection Life - In a World of Suffering” and the text studied was 1 Peter. Thursday was an amazing day of teaching and worship. It seemed as if this conference was so timely for our upcoming trip as it forced me to gain perspective - me in light of God and our details in light of God’s sovereignty. As I let statements like “don’t fear the shifting sand when God is the rock” bathe over me and the truths of 1 Peter settle deep within me, I experienced joy and peace regarding our trip. Excitement grew within me for our trip and all that God would do.

Then Friday came. In an afternoon session I opened my email to read a statement sent to us from Samaritan’s Purse regarding the terrorist threat level this month in Kenya during the month of Ramadan. Immediate palpable fear overtook me - fear like I have not experienced before. I trembled and I cried. Where had the peace and joy gone? The next few hours felt like a war. I later realized the war was between two spirits - the Spirit of the Living God and the spirit of the enemy. I couldn’t stop crying from the fear and the loss of peace. Thankfully I was surrounded by women of God who held my hands, laid their hands on me, prayed with me and over me, and gave me scripture including this now very precious one to me:

“Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” 

Proverbs 3:25

As I then spoke to my dad he helped me to realize the issue was a war between two spirits and we would have to discern between the spirits. It was while I was in the Word that I had peace and joy - this is of God, not of Satan. Real peace and joy comes from our loving Savior. Trembling fear is not of Him. I had prayed over so many parts of our trip - from the airplane pilot, to the meals we would eat. I had not prayed about terrorism - Satan took that unguarded area and struck. He knows my weakness is fear and he is playing that weakness to try to defeat and to rob. I have prayed against this fear. I have meditated on scripture over the past few weeks. The war is on. My God will win - He has already defeated Satan (Hebrews 1:14) and He will not let him win in my life as I am His precious child. 

Friday night we were back in 1 Peter where it says:

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctity Christ as Lord in your hearts”

1 Peter 3:14

Our speakers first point was “Do not withdraw.” I will claim the promises given to me. I am blessed. Christ has all authority. I will not withdraw. 

Please pray for me in this continued struggle. Pray for real and deep peace and joy. Pray that I recognize the Spirit of God and “draw to Him as He draws near to me” and that I resist the devil that he may flee from me (James 4:7-8) Pray for this threat - the physical threat and the spiritual threat. Pray for our safety. Thank you.