Keep on Praying!
Hello again! Well, my goal was to update this blog once a month, and I seem to be falling a bit behind, so I?ll hit two major topics on this one to make up for a lacksidasical January in the blogging department.
Topic 1: In mid January, Wes went on another CFS trip ? This time with 18 grade 10 students to a town called Maua, which is near Meru, which (to give you more specific and worthwhile information) was a 6 hour bus ride from Nairobi. A few impressions: first, the area was absolutely gorgeous. It brought to mind what the Philipines must look like (not that I?ve been there), but it was lush, green and chock full of valleys and hills, waterfalls and caves. This was a surprise, because most of Kenya is in the throes of a bad drought (pray for rain people!), and things are getting dustier and dryer by the minute. But, this area received rain big time when we were there, as we spent a full day building a Habitat for Humanity house in the pouring rain. But, the next work day was blistering hot, so we kind of got what we needed to dry out and get warm again. We worked hard, and had a good time with each other and the locals who fed us and worked with us (and laughed at us). We also enjoyed a 3.5 hour church service (complete with disco back beats and the bishop himself), lots of food (ok, so the meat at times was questionable), sleeping on pews, and playing with the local kids. After a night of recuperation at Brackenhurst Baptist Retreat Centre, where we debriefed with the students, it was finally time to go home. 6 days away from home and being on call 24 ? 7 is fun, but enough is enough. All in all, a good time was had, and I am actually looking forward to next year?s installment of CFS; who knows what I?ll see and do next time! It?s all part of the adventure!
Topic 2: And speaking of adventure, our whole family (immediate and extended) has embarked on an amazing adventure together! On December 21 2005, Jean and I and the boys delivered a slide to the Nest, an orphanage about 45 minutes away from home near a place called Limuru. What was surprising was what we came home with ? a beautiful 5 week old girl named Julie (who we now call Julia), who has now (in our hearts and minds) become part of our family. Officially, right now we are fostering this little precious one with the intention of starting adoption proceedings as soon as possible, which happens to be 3 months after we initiated fostering her. So, on March 23, we will hopefully file for adoption. Thus begins a wild adventure for Jean and I (and the rest of the gang) as we strive to become legal and lawful parents of this amazing girl. This process is convoluted and full of red tape and paperwork as you might guess, and so, please know that we covet your support and prayers as we move forward with what we know God has had in store for us for a long time. There are many different things at play, but suffice it to say that we pray that she will be legally and officially ours by summer 2007. The process could be short or long, but many have told us that it should not be a problem to meet this goal. She is a smiley, now pudgified, and happy little gift to our family, and she is growing big and healthy. She loves to sleep (we love that!!) and accepts all the love and kisses that her big brothers smother her with each day. We?ve managed to get a crib and carseat and clothes from generous friends around here, and so are set up quite well for her. We are so blessed by her presence in our family and in our home; God is so good to us. We?ll keep you all updated about the latest as it happens?
So, that?s about it for now. Thank you for praying for us. God is really the creator and sustainer of our lives, and so we ask that you continue to pray for safety on the roads, healthy bodies, for our ministry here (in whatever capacity God has for us), the process of adoption of our little Julia, and for much-needed rain in Kenya.
Blessings!