Kapeguria

One thing I never realized that I'd miss ... roads. The "one and a half" hour trip from the airport in Eldoret to here ended up being three very bumpy hours. I'm glad Brent wasn't here. He would have been tossing his cookies the whole way.

We saw a lot on the drive: "shanty" type towns, a lot of donkeys and pigs on the side of the road, and alot more crazy driving (even at night in the rain). I felt like I prayed 100 times for God to protect us in the truck.

We arrived here at "Miss Timmy's" (our guest house and station for the next two weeks) and had a great dinner. The accommodations are a lot better than I thought they'd be. We sleep on small, thin beds. We eat good English (like from England) food because the guy who owns this place is English. I think the only difference is the mosquito nets on our beds ... and the bathrooms.

We also met a litter of puppies here. They're adorable!

Still miss Brent.

Nairobi

Devotion: Acts 1

-will be witnesses, sent to the end of the earth
-will receive power
-continual worship of God
-power comes from obedience
-how is God going to use me as a witness here - at the ends of the earth?
-look for opportunities to be a good witness
-Matt. 24:30-31; Mark 3:21; John 7:5; Luke 24:45; John 19:30; Eph. 2:4-7; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 7:25

We just left the market. Wow. People are all shouting at you to "promote" them (buy their stuff). You haggle for everything. A little girl waved at me with a big smile and touched my skin - maybe because she doesn't see many white people. It was a really intimidating experience. People would insist on showing you other stuff, so they grab your arm to lead you away. They stand really close to you, and everyone loves America because of Obama. They will trade anything. Lots of people wanted my Bic pen.

Another thing is "Kenyan time." They don't have it. It doesn't matter to them. If we are supposed to leave at 8, we leave at 10:30. One guy had a shirt that said: "I'm not lazy. I'm Kenyan." Awesome.

Nairobi

We've been on planes and in airports for 24+ hours, but we're finally here. Our first night was spent here at the Methodist Guest House in Nairobi. The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Kenya and stepped outside was the smell. It smells like summer camp - or camping in general.

The driving is crazy, but they seem to know what they are doing. Even at a "hotel" of sorts, we can't drink the water or eat anything uncooked (like fresh vegetables, etc). I brush my teeth with bottled water and shower with my eyes and mouth shut tight. I already miss Brent, and I wish here were here with me. But I know God has a plan for me here.

Tomorrow, it's time to start finding out what it is.

Lord, thank you for your protection. Please continue to be with me.

Kenya Trip Preparation

I leave for Africa in two days. It's hard to believe it's finally here. I'm packing and going crazy about what to bring and what not to bring, but I trust that it will all work out. God please prepare my heart for this trip.

Spiritual Warfare Solution

I leave for Africa next week, and I am starting to feel this cloud of spiritual warfare around me. I can't explain it - and maybe you don't believe in that kind of thing. But it is kind of like a fog. A dark fog that smells really bad. I was told it would happen. I was told to prepare for it. But how do prepare for an invisible attack?

So I was sitting on my living room floor tonight with my head on the couch just praying and thinking ... and Giselle came and sat down next to me and put her paw over my arms and then laid her head down on my bowed head.

I felt completely at peace. Like God Himself had jumped into Giselle's body and laid down right next to me. And I realized something ...

Italian Greyhounds are a miniature weapon against spiritual warfare.

They will not only stick by your side when the good times roll, but they will also curl up right there with you in your foggy stink.

9 Days until this MACKEY's in Africa

M - Monkeys.

I learned they are a part of everyday life in Africa. I get a locked sleeping bag to keep the monkey's out. I never thought I would need a lock to keep monkeys out. I never thought a lock would keep monkeys out. Don't they have little hands, like us?

A - Anti-Malaria meds.

It's like a party in your mouth once a day. They make you throw up if you don't have enough in your stomach. Delicious. That's something I am looking forward to.

C - Calling Home.

Probably not gonna happen. Hopefully I will be able to email Brent once to have him get the word out (no pun intended) that I've arrived safely. I'm very thankful that my brother has said he will be keeping an eye on me while I am there. Brothers are awesome.

K - Killer lions.

When asked by my sister-in-law what the most dangerous bug in Africa is, I responded, "Lions."

E - Eating.

We will be devouring granola bars like they are going out of style. When I return, I will probably never want to see another granola bar. My sister says it's either that ... or bugs. Want some advice? Buy stock in Nutrigrain.

Y - Youth.

Seeing the children in Africa will still make everything worth it. Lions and monkeys and Malaria - oh my. Seeing these kids' faces light up will be the best part of this trip. I can't wait to see what God will do with this trip.

"Welcome to the Nest" Baby Shower!

The Cake & Nest Cookies

Birdhouse favors & Placemats for Guests!

Painting birdhouses

Birdie cutouts!

Birdie Banner!

Feather Wreath

Giselle's baby shower outfit!

A New Spin on the Lion’s Den

I had one of those light bulb moments this morning during my Daniel study. I was reading through Daniel chapter six (the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den) for the fifth time this week, and something clicked.

This isn’t just a story of Daniel trusting in God and being saved from some hungry lions. This is God’s way of showing the people His heart and what His plans were. It happened – but it is also an allegory of Jesus and His life. Darius is God. Daniel is Jesus. The satraps and administrators are Pharisees, Sadducees, regular people, etc. Follow me here.

Darius appoints these satraps and 3 administrators to power. Daniel is one of the three, and he does such a good job that Darius “planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (v.3). So the satraps and administrators get jealous. They “tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of governmental affairs, but they were unable to do so.” (v.4) Finally, they figure out their only hope is to make up some charge against him having to do with “the law of his God.” (v.5)

Sounding familiar at all??

When Daniel finds out about this law that Darius has passed saying he can’t pray to God, he continues to pray “just as he had done before.” (v.10) He gets told on by the satraps and other administrators, and they tell Darius, ‘you have to do something. This law cannot be repealed.’

This is the part that gets me: “When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.” (v.14)

If you aren’t catching on by now … that should have done it. Just like Darius, God was distressed to have to punish us for disobeying Him. He was determined to rescue us – at every effort (even sacrificing His son!), any cost.

So just like Darius had to throw Daniel into the lion’s den, God threw Jesus into the lion’s den (metaphorically). A stone was even placed over the mouth of the den Daniel was in (like Jesus’ tomb), and at first light, the king came to the lion’s den (like the women who visited Jesus). He finds Daniel … and this is what he says:

“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouth of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” (v.22)

Don’t miss that. He was innocent, having done no wrong. He conquered death.

This story is more than lions … it’s another example where God is shaking us saying, “do you get it??” Jesus died for us because God didn’t want to punish us. God made every attempt to rescue us from our ‘lions’ and our ‘pit’ by throwing His own son to them. He was determined to make a way for us to be able to get back to Him.

A Healthy Snack

Brent and I are trying to watch what we eat ...

A Call for Realism

Let’s face it. We’re pretty fake as a general population. People criticize the church/Christians a lot because people go to church with a smile and act like things are all perfect and great and roses. Very Pleasantville-ish. The truth is none of us are there because we have it all together – so there is no point in pretending we do.

Does that mean we have to be a Debbie-Downer all the time, or we need to tell everyone all our business? Of course not. But you know there are times when someone you are close to asks how you are doing and you reply, ‘I’m fine, how are you?’ or ‘I’m great, how are you?’

Why is that?

Why is it so hard to say what’s really going on? “Well, I’m struggling with ____, and I could definitely use some prayer. But I’m doing okay otherwise!”

The devil has such a stronghold on people, including me, in this area. He whispers lies that no one needs to know these things that are troubling us or tiring us or stressing us out. He tells us that we shouldn’t burden others with our problems. We can handle things on our own. We will forget about it if we just give it time. People will think we are complaining too much. People will think we don’t trust God or have enough faith to get through the hard times. Lies, lies, lies.

Christ is three in one. We were made in His image. We were built for relationship, companionship, fellowship. We were created to work together, to walk this life side by side, to share the load, to carry each other’s burdens, to pray for each other. When we hold on to things that hinder our relationship with God, we are also hindering our relationship with others. Vulnerability breeds vulnerability. Open hearts lead to more open relationships.

We stand in the way of that when we shut people out, when we wear a mask of perfection and togetherness.

No one has it all together.

I pray that today you and I both trust someone enough to say, ‘Ok, here it is. Here is what’s going on. Please pray for me. WHEW (deep sigh of relief).’

I don't know about you, but that is the kind of relationships I want.

The Massacre of Mr. Fish

This is not for the faint of heart ...

This is what I came home to find ...

Another prey falls victim to its predator.
Poor Mr. Fish

Weary? Get Yoked with Jesus.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11: 28-31

I didn't know this ... but a yoke is that thing oxen wear to plow. Farmers put them on to teach them and guide them so they don’t get distracted and walk off the plowing path.

When two are yoked their heads are both together, and they have to learn to walk together and stay on the path … So I figure if we are yoked with Christ, He’ll walk next to us and keep us on the path – even when we get distracted and want to stray.

It also says His yoke is easy ... meaning maybe following Him is easy if you let Him be the guide. If we take HIS yoke upon us ... and not try to put OUR yoke on to Him.

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling the need to get yoked up with Christ these days.