Time.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
~William Shakesphere

mornings

I thought of all my friends in cold places this morning. To awake and go to work you must first grind your teeth against the cold outside of the warm bed blankets, jump into an even colder bathroom, defrost/scrape/dig out your car, and drive to work in overcrowded rush-hour traffic where you sit and try not to get worked up before the day begins. Ok, maybe your morning is not so bleak. I sincerely hope not. But I do remember those days myself. Not too long ago.

This morning I awoke with sunshine pouring in my window, birds singing outside, a warm breeze rustling the treetops. I stepped outside to a beautiful peaceful morning. My walk to the office takes me down a quiet private street lined with lush green and bright flowers, past two primary schools where I listen to children sing, past my friendly taxi driver having his morning chai, and across the main street to the corner fruit and veggie stand just before I am greeted at the office gate. To make you all even more jealous, I am living in one of the finest countries with delicious coffee that is brewed fresh all morning in my office. (It's even java house coffee!) Please, never let me complain!

There is peace this morning. I find joy. And am overwhelmed with the blessings before me; praying they will keep fresh in my mind when the overwhelming work hits full force.

it's snowing!

"No, no, Mr. taxi man. That's not SNOW, my friend. It is hail. A hailstorm in Nairobi! And no, it will not break your windshield. ;-)"

a promise.

My dear Ada Joy,

Today is your dedication at church. A dedication of you and Mommy and Daddy, Nana and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Carrie, Auntie Nicole, Uncle Andrew and Auntie Kristi to commit in love and support your life to our family and to God. And all the friends at church who share in their commitment to pray for you and teach you and support you as you grow. We thank God so much for the joy you bring each day - your sweet smile and voice (especially your singing!) You bring so much happiness to us Ada! We love to watch you grow each day and are so excited to see what God has planned for your life. It's going to be fun!

I am sorry I am not there today to celebrate with you and Mommy and Daddy. I wish I could be! But today I am in Kenya (its a very long airplane ride away!) and I want to tell you about my church service this morning. I thought of you. Ada, I cannot wait to show you Africa! I do hope mommy and daddy bring you here to visit soon. Sharing in worship in the African church is one of my favorite things to do. You are going to love it! The singing and dancing is so beautiful, so alive, so contagious! You will love the music so much! I can already see you singing your little heart out and moving to the songs. I think your daddy will really like it also. And you know what? Our God is here too, in Africa, he is working in many hearts and in many homes here - you will see his excitement and love when you meet people. They will smile and welcome you!

There were so many children today - you will have many new friends to play with and run around in the sunshine. It is very pretty here, Ada! It feels like a hot summer day with a nice breeze. Lots of sunshine, bright colored flowers and many green trees. Some of the trees look like they do at home; others look like ones you will see on a beach. But guess what? There is no snow! Only sunshine and warm. It will kiss your little cheeks and nose until they tickle, you will see. And today Auntie Kristi found a new home! It's right behind the church too. When you come to visit, you can have your own room (or you can stay with me in my room so we can catch up on our girl talk!) and on Sunday, we can walk to church together. There is also a pool to splash in when the sun feels too hot!

I celebrate your life today, Ada, with all our family. I love you so much and miss you like crazy each day I am away. But I do not worry, because you have the best parents and they too love you so much and will teach you amazing things. And when you come to Africa, I will teach you things too.  I think you will love Africa just like Auntie Kristi! Your Mommy and Daddy definitely will. I am so excited they are coming! I can't wait to see you again and show you so many beautiful things here.

I send you a big hug and lots of kisses from across the ocean, over the mountains, and all the way from my little home in Kenya. I love you, Ada Joy! And I promise to support and encourage and teach you in the grace and love that Jesus gave us. Please give Mommy and Daddy and Nana and Papa and Auntie Carrie a kiss and hug for me today, ok? I also miss them very much! Maybe you can even convince them to come visit with you. :-)

All my love, my sweet niece,
Auntie Kristi

hello, sunshine.

I need just a moment to brag. Tis another warm and sunny day in Nairobi. Ahh...love it!

(to want) beautiful feet

I sit once again in the calm chaos of Nairobi, Kenya. I have come back. To a city I call home. To a country I fall deeply in love with over and over. But this time I come with an organization that has a very bold and unapologetic mission pulsing throughout their work. As a Christian I believe we are each called, by faith and obedience to our God, to live out his words of Truth. This includes being His hands and feet. Responding to the needs of our communities, our families, our brothers and sisters. Even our enemies. To love our neighbors, to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry. It also includes sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I spent a week at headquarters in orientation before heading out to the field. It was a difficult week for me. I don’t enjoy being preached at. There is a passage in Romans, chapter 10, where Paul is speaking to the Israelites. Asking them of their unbelief and in all logic, what they are to do about it. Verse 8 begins:

“’The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’.  14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone sharing with them? And how can they share unless they go? As it is written, ‘how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

I strongly believe verse 17 to include all of Christ’s words, including those of action calling us to ask, seek and find. To go, to be beautiful feet, means using them. Our feet were made to keep us standing strong, to give us the ability to run, to close distances, to step forward. I wish it were as easy as a good soap and water scrub and a pretty pedicure. I have a feeling Paul had a dirtier picture in mind. The earlier verses are pressing me to read over and over again that it is not only through our actions, but also by our words. Our confessions by mouth, our faith by heart, and our actions by reaching out and stepping forward.  

I am great at the behind the scenes. I love getting my feet dirty. I’d rather not at times open my mouth. This calling, Paul’s command to the Israelites, is a challenge for me. Wise women passed on the reminder before I left to come here that it is fearful and more dangerous to live outside of God’s calling, than it is to answer it. I’m begging to differ. But I know they are right. Thankfully, I am not asked to do it alone.

its the little things

• jacaranda trees
• red dirt between my toes
• crazy squaking jungle birds fleeing the treetops at 6am
• cars being washed early morning in the parking lot - every morning
• roadside stands of colorful fruits and vegetables
• chai, chai, and more chai
• habari, sawa sawa, asante sana, karibu!
• giant skeleton keys
• chipati
• beautiful smiles
• children in uniform laughing and running down the street
• toast with blue band and jelly from a can
• matatu drivers shouting and pointing
• SUNSHINE!!