There's been so much to write about, yet I've had a difficult time slowing down enough to be present in the moment and get it done. Not to worry....I've kept a list and hope to send the rest of the news by the end of the week.
THE DAY JOB:
Things in the office continue on per usual. There are a number of meetings in Kenya over the coming weeks and some from the office will be there. A few of us will hold down the fort.....or maybe we will just go relax by a pool and eat ice cream. We have seen the completion of a team within the region. Throughout the last year or so, teammates have trickled in to come and serve in Moroto, Uganda. The team is serving among the
Karimojong in northern Uganda. This is a very large people group that has many barriers and strongholds that each must overcome to know the Lord. Please pray for this team as they continue to grow together and support each other through challenges and successes.
PRESENT VS ABSENT:
Have you ever realized how these two concepts are so tightly related? It is similar to saying that there is no such thing as dark. There is only absence of light. Inspired by
this blog on Velvet Ashes, I've been really torn with this concept lately. The more and more I get engaged here and build relationships, the more and more it seems like I am missing out in the events and happenings of your lives. This truly is a daily battle recently. If I set aside time to be available to you and invest through some form of technology, then that takes away from my ability to be present in my life here. This isn't simply a matter of time management.
It is more closely related to never truly being at home. Yet, at the same time I write this from my apartment that is definitely a place I call home and love to spend time here. ..........I hope these contradictory ramblings make some sort of sense.
THE CAR:
Probably one of the biggest noteworthy items is that I was able to buy a car. Or maybe you bought a car. Or we bought a car. Many, many thanks to all of your financial support over the years that has enabled me to make this life changing purchase. Part of the monthly support goes into an account called "work funds" and I was able to use the money from this account to buy the car. I am truly endlessly thankful for your ongoing faithful giving and the support structure AIM provides so that I was able to move quickly when an ideal car was available!!
PICTURES:
L-This was the day the car was brought to me and the keys handed over. I just kept looking at it and smiling. It was hard to believe it actually happened.
C-My friend, Kelsey, graciously rode with me on the first day (and other times) to help and offer much appreciated advice.
R-Some things never change and buying a car does come with the reality of other aspects.
THE CHURCH:
The church I found just a few months before returning to America continues to be my church home. I am so thankful for the people there and the Bible based teaching that is challenging and encouraging. Today, a group of us spent the afternoon celebrating the birthday of a friend who also happens to a be a pastor at the church. Although we were there to celebrate and honor him, it was actually quite the honor for me to be there and join them. It is small things like these that really make you feel part of a community.
Last month I also started attending a cell group at church. This is equivalent to life group or small group or.....probably a number of other terms. We gather on Tuesday evenings and dig deeper into the sermon from two days prior. The only downside is that it makes for a long day early in the week as I leave at 7:30 to get to work and don't get home until around 9:30pm. I'm thankful for the opportunity to get to know a few more folks from church and around the city.
THE PRAYER REQUESTS:
The first thing I want to ask you to do is to check out
PrayAfrica!!! That is a website that has been put together to share prayer updates for specific unreached people groups. I encourage you to subscribe to the website as a whole or to individual pages for people groups. You could subscribe to just the ones for Central Region and join myself and those I work with in seeking to reach the lost in the countries we serve.
-praise for good health. Though I had one of these pesky colds a few weeks ago, I have actually been quite healthy so far this year and it is lovely.
-pray for a fast learning curve as a piece together a map of the city while driving and for safe journeys around town with this new form of personal transport
-pray for my friend as she navigates the logistics and emotions of moving back to the states in about 6 weeks (just typing this fills my eyes with tears)
-praise for the opportunity for my brother to visit in July
With love and hugs from me to each of you,
With unending gratefulness for all the support you provide,
and with amazement at how fabulous our Heavenly Father is each and every day,
Katherine
PS: For a fun little flashback....check out this
news from October 2016. It is crazy how things are similar yet so different from 18 months ago!
