Sometimes memes are better than words

Although, I have received far more comments than I feel I deserve for my writing when I share about Africa.......

Sometimes memes just seem to say it better........

I must continue to cling to those truths each moment of every day.

Easier said than done.

Enough said.

Some of it is lies from the enemy.

Hhhmm... yes, but can't there be a place where they overlap?

Now part of my heart will always be in Pande. 

Part of my heart will always be with Amani Primary School.

I sure hope so.....

It is true that this won't happen today or tomorrow or maybe not next week.

But one day all of this hurt, confusion, pain, waiting, and so much more will make sense.

It will make sense because God will be glorified!

NEWSLETTER: September 2015 - not my plans

Big changes ahead because this is the LORD's plan.

The Lord's ways are not mine.....

From my first short term trip to Africa in August 2011, I have used a common phrase known as "TIA". It is pronounced by saying each letter. The meaning is "This Is Africa". It is the catch all answer when one really can't explain the reasoning behind a certain situation. In reality, things are different. Over the last 8 months, Melody and I would often tell people that any aspect of life that they think of is completely different in America. It might be easy to use TIA to explain certain aspects and difficulties of the last couple months. That doesn't work in this situation.

Our Lord and Savior knew that all of this would happen even before I knew there was a place called Africa. He knows what all of this will lead to in the future. It has been a much undesired surprise to me and so many others but not to Him. I must remind myself of this constantly.

Through tears and an aching heart I share with you the next part of God's plan, the plan that is better than mine. It has been decided that I will not be returning to the village for ministry. While there, my physical and spiritual health were constantly struggling. In the coming days, I will be working with leadership to find a new placement that will provide a different support network and hopefully a healthier me. 

The top part is an exaggeration but the bottom seems close to reality at times. 

Hard to believe in the middle of the storm but when the winds calm and the thunder stops, it will be glorious!!

Please join me in prayer in the following areas:
-Pray for wisdom and guidance in the decision process for a new placement
-Pray for comfort and peace as I grieve the loss of what was and what would have been in the village, a dream and a calling becoming a reality for such short time
-Pray for comfort as I process the loss of friendships
-Pray for understanding for all those involved (especially the kids at the school)
-Pray for my return trip to the village to pack and say goodbyes (and how to best do this logistically and culturally)

On a side note: To all my faithful snail mail encouragers and supporters.....please wait for now. There is much transition in the coming weeks and until I have a new placement it would be best to wait for now.

Photo credit: courtesy of google image search results (all photos)

NEWSLETTER: September 2015 - Nairobi

Thank you for supporting not only me but also Amani Primary School!

Thank you for all your support!
Support of all kinds.....prayers, emails, notes, texts, everything!!!

During this unplanned chapter of my journey in Africa so many of you have been so kind to offer support in all kinds of ways.

I am thankful for all the prayers that each of you lift up on my behalf.
I am thankful for the emails full of personal stories, scripture, and encouragement.
I am thankful for those of you in Africa that listen to me talk about every angle of this situation.
I am thankful for those of you that have generously given material things or finances to help me during this time.
I am thankful for the new people that God has brought into my life.
I am thankful for some of the unique opportunities that I have had in Nairobi.

One of these unique opportunities was serving in Kibera over the last two weeks with SPUR Afrika. This organization is completely orchestrated by nationals. They work toward equipping children and young adults in Kibera through facilitating literacy, life skills, and leadership. Kibera is an area of Nairobi that is possibly Africa's largest slum. It is noted by overcrowding, poverty, and sanitation problems. Over the two weeks I joined the team of SPUR Afrika to do home visits, pass out clothes to children, help with bookkeeping, and other activities.

Top photo: Standing on the second floor of a school in Kibera, I was looking out over the vastness of it.



Some of us pausing for a photo after delivering a bag of new clothes to one of the sponsored kids in the program of SPUR Afrika.

I also want to take a moment to thank you for helping me celebrate my birthday last month. The numbers came in and I am thrilled to report that $1,858 was donated toward Amani Primary School. That is such a blessing for Amani during this time. Thank you for giving so generously! Please keep Amani's staff and students in your prayers this week. They will be having their first graduation for the Standard 7 class and everyone is very excited!!

NEWSLETTER: September 2015 - Flexibility

Many changes surprising me but not God.

Blessed are the Flexible

.....for they shall not be broken.

This is one of the lesser known beatitudes. It is also the first thing I learned from my unit leader once I arrived in Tanzania earlier this year. From a small handful of short term mission trips, I knew that flexibility is key, but to have it stated this way really exemplifies the importance. Flexibility has been crucial throughout but its need has increased lately.

The best laid plans...[of anyone]....often don't go in the expected way. Our Savior is the only one that has the best plans. Right now, His plans are not my plans. A few weeks ago, I left the village and came to Nairobi. Please read my blog titled "Iceberg Missions" for more detail as I want to share more than what would fit here.

I will continue to stay in Nairobi for now. As of last week, Melody has joined a team in Kwale, Kenya and will continue to be with them while I am in Nairobi. She will travel to Pande as needed to continue to help with administration at the school and fulfill our commitments there.

Please continue to keep the staff and students of Amani School in your thoughts and prayers.

One afternoon I took a break with some friends and went to visit some of Nairobi's tallest residents.

Be Flexible, Keep Calm, Love Africa. This might need to be my new motto.

For my visual friends....it feels like this:
Melody and I were playing a game of bananagrams and dutch blitz at the same time. It was a little crazy but we were still having fun. A few minutes in, someone sets up an industrial fan, two muddy goats walk in and start eating cards, and three chickens are all over the place pecking at the letter tiles. It reached a point that we could not clean it up on our own.

Right now it takes continual conscious effort to even just "be ok" with the situation. I expected to serve with Melody for two years in Pande and just shy of three months we left abruptly. I can read and know scripture and know His ways are better, know this will work for the good. But for that to continually make the journey from my mind to my heart takes great effort at times.

I often cling to Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (ESV) If you would like to join me on a few more specific areas, please pray for:
-Amani school as they work through financial needs and shortage of teachers
-Melody has she settles into Kwale and finds her way during this time
-financial wisdom as the finances of Nairobi vary a bit from that of the village
-Wisdom for leaders and doctors as they make decisions
-Acceptance and patience for myself during this time
-that I may be able to identify and rebuke lies from the enemy

With love from Nairobi,
Katherine

[Top picture: After crossing into Kenya, I was blessed to pause at the coast and get my feet wet in the Indian Ocean before coming inland to Nairobi.]

Iceberg Missions

Let’s look at missions like an iceberg.

The top of an iceberg is beautiful from planes or ships. It provides great photography opportunities and a mystique that captures the attention of so many. The visible part of missions includes cute kids, exciting adventures, new friends, and success [defined differently and individually]. Beneath all of this, is so much more. The iceberg has jagged edges, sharp corners, great depth, and unpredictable weaknesses in structure. The unseen part of the mission field includes: language difficulties, cultural barriers, medical challenges, spiritual warfare/intimidation, sleepless nights, unwanted responsibilities, missing important events with friends and family, doubts, criticism, risks, failures, disappointments, and hard work.

History and Hollywood showed us how dangerous the bottom of the iceberg can be.

At the beginning of August, the bottom of my iceberg started to weigh me down. With Melody’s help, prayer, and great effort I kept my head above the surface. With time, it became clear that I needed to get out of the ocean. A few weeks ago we left the village and made our way to Nairobi. While here, I am gaining the rest, medical help, and knowledge I need to help me stay focused on the top of the iceberg.

While in Nairobi God is showing me the following:

-He is my comforter

-He is always with me = I’m not alone.

-the importance of joyful trusting throughout turbulent times

-His ways are better than mine [Although, this is quite difficult to grasp beyond head knowledge during this time. I think this is much easier to believe with hindsight.]

-He has not forgotten about me and still has a plan for me, it just isn’t what I thought it was

The future is not known from my view. From God's view, everything is working out exactly as He planned, exactly as He knew it would. This is very hard to accept. As with any twist and turn in our plans, we usually don't appreciate them until afterwards and we realize the amazing opportunity that we would have missed had we gone straight. Some days it takes frequent intentionality to accept all of this. Life in the village may have had its challenges but it was my home. Being in Kenya has definitely taught me that my heart is there in Pande and I have longed to go back. 

Some decisions will be made at the end of this week and beginning of next week. Right now I am not sure what to hope or expect regarding these. I can only pray for wisdom for my leaders and acceptance for myself.

Please join me in praying for the following:

-Amani school as they work through financial needs and shortage of teachers

-Melody has she settles into Kwale and finds her way during this time

-financial wisdom as the finances of Nairobi vary a bit from that of the village

-Wisdom for leaders and doctors as they make decisions 

-Acceptance and patience for myself during this time

-that I may be able to identify and rebuke lies from the enemy

One weekend in Nairobi, we stayed with friends. 

I was able to get some much needed dog therapy.