A Little Bit of Everything...Including the Weather!

I thought it was time to give you another general update on how things are going here. It’s unbelievable to think that we should be going home next week, as our first departure date was set for August 31. We are very thankful for the extra three months that we have here in Kenya (although we have been talking about home a lot these days and are really looking forward to seeing all of you again!!). Needless to say, we are filled with mixed emotions most days!

• Life at the hangar seems to be slowly getting back to “normal”, although it will never be the same as it was before the crash. AIM AIR voluntarily grounded all their planes after the crash on August 1st in an effort to be there for the Toews and Williams families and to be able to properly assess what needed to be done. Last week they started flying again, although the investigations about what happened are still on-going. Please pray for AIM AIR and all the things they have to deal with.
  
• The memorial service that we had for Ryan Williams on August 15th was another beautiful and God-honouring service. God has been giving so much grace and strength to Dawn and it has been so evident in her testimony. Dawn and her kids, and Tiffany and her kids really need your prayers as they work on plans for what they are going to do and make big decisions about their future. There will be long dark days ahead for them, but we know that God can and will sustain them. They have been such a testimony to us all.


• The weather here seems to be finally warming up some. I don’t even know if I mentioned it before, but July and August are the coldest months of the year in Kenya. We have been experiencing Kenyan winter! And you may laugh and say that surely it can’t get very cold, but I’m here to tell you that it does! Many days we left the house in the morning wearing thick sweaters, socks and shoes, scarf (for me!), and shivering like crazy! The houses here are not insulated and heated like the ones at home, which also makes a huge difference. But…I think that the air is finally warming up, which I am very thankful for!
  
• Kenya is still going through a severe drought. There has been an intense lack of rain, and Kenya’s people are suffering. Many areas have people are dying from starvation. Many animals have been dying. The ground is dying. Kenya is suffering. There is a severe food shortage in many parts of Kenya as well. Please pray for rain for Kenya. It is not the rainy season right now, but God can still make it rain!
  
• Oh…and we are also on a power rationing schedule. Yeah it’s great. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays the power goes off at 6:00 am and comes back on at 6:00 pm. The other half of the city is off on the other three days, and Sunday is a no-rationing day. It’s been something to get used to and quite frustrating at times…but the good thing is that at least we can prepare for it because of the schedule. The reason for this power rationing is because most, if not all, of the power for the city is produced by hydro-electric dams, and because of the lack of rain we’ve been having, the water levels in the river have been too low for the hydro-electric dams to produce enough power for everyone to have electricity at the same time. Add our water rationing to that, and we’ve been having to conserve and save and plan a whole lot more than we’re used to.


• Trevor’s work at the TAM shop is never ending, it seems. One of these days I want him to write a blog entry about his days at the shop and the things he deals with…so wait for that! =) There is only so much that I can write about that, as I am not there to see what actually goes on during his days. He does have someone now to help him with paperwork and the administration side of things, which has been really nice for him. The days that he actually gets to put on his coveralls and get his hands dirty are the days that he is happiest! =)
  



• The kids in Mitumba are on a school break right now. The school terms are different here than they are in Canada…the school year starts in January, with the first term being January, February and March. April is a break. Then the second term is May, June, and July. And August is a break. Then the third and last term is September, October and November, and December is a break. But during their breaks, they have what’s called “tuition” (for the higher classes). Tuition is basically just extra work, maybe kind of like summer school, or tutoring. These kids work so hard, I tell ya! It’s crazy sometimes to see how much pressure is put on them in school. So right now they have tuition. The days that I go to Mitumba, I still work in the clinic, but I’m not as busy there as there are less kids around. I’ve actually really enjoyed this slower time in Mitumba, as I have been able to spend a lot of time hanging out with them, having lots of time to talk about their lives, visiting them in their homes, having some of the young girls teach me how to make Kenyan food like ugali, playing crazy tag through the slum corridors with some of the older boys (dangerous, don’t try this at home!! Ha)…it actually is really fun, trying to avoid the sharp iron sheets that make up the walls for the houses, trying to not trip on the uneven ground, swerving around the crazy corners, trying to not slip on all the garbage and other “stuff” on the ground, attempting to not get lost in the maze of slum houses…it’s a riot! And all the while having the mamas and little babies watching this game, and I’m sure thinking “what a crazy mzungu!” It was so much fun! But seriously, though, I’ve had a lot of time for good conversation and meaningful encounters with the youth during this more relaxed time of holiday…something I’m so thankful for. They are continually teaching me so much about their lives and their hearts, and God has really been using them to change me.
  
• The Youth Bible Studies in Mitumba have also been going really well. I’ll give last week as an example. We split up the boys and the girls. Trevor and the guys talked about relationships, temptations in relationships and the different struggles that guys go through. He ended the study with telling them the story of our relationship, which they LOVED! I wish I could have been there! =) He said that they were so interested in hearing about it, and were so involved in the story. It was a time where they were really able to bond together as guys and so good for the youth to get to know Trevor better and connect with him on another level. Lately there had been some of the oldest youth boys that weren’t coming on a regular basis, but on Saturday most, of not all, were there! What an exciting time. Being able to help them, encourage them, be real and honest with them, and stand with them in the struggles and temptations they face every day.
• During this time, I met with the girls. We talked about the importance of bonding together and standing together as girls. We read the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet, and I used that illustration of Jesus serving His friends in this lowly way as an example to us to serve our friends. I brought out the bucket of water as the girls all looked at me with questions in their eyes! I told them that today, we would wash each others feet. We would serve each other. Then I brought out the yummy-smelling foot scrub and lotions and pink and purple nail polish and said that we would also make ourselves look and smell pretty! Their faces immediately lit up and they began to talk excitedly amongst themselves! It was such a nice time of “girly-ness” and having fun and bonding. After I had told them what we were going to do, immediately “my girl”, the girl in the previous blog entry, came to me and whispered in my ear “Andrea, I want to wash your feet.” My heart melted. What a girl. The funny thing was that after most of the girls were done and Trevor’s Bible study was finished too, the boys came to our classroom to see what we were doing. A few of them came in and sat down in the chair and wanted to wash their feet using the pretty foot scrub and lotion! It was so funny! But what took the cake was that they also wanted to paint their fingernails using the hot pink nail polish…I drew the line with painting ONE of their nails each…! We love our crazy fun youth!

So…that’s a bit of a glimpse of what our life consists of these days. We are doing well, for the most part, and trying to make the most of every opportunity, knowing that our time left in this beautiful country is quickly coming to an end. (for now!)
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support, and to those of you who have left us notes of encouragement and let us know that you are thinking of us and praying for us. It means so much to us, more that I can even say. You have helped us through these past few months of difficulty and we thank God for you and pray that He will bless you abundantly for supporting us so faithfully. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

We love you!

Searching for His Goodness

“I think she killed my mother,” she said to me.

Although the conversation didn't start there..

We were hanging out one afternoon in the clinic in the slum. She was troubled. I knew just by looking at her. I asked her how she was, and she answered, “Fine.” I knew she wasn’t fine, so I pressed. “Are you really fine?” “Yes.”

“Are you happy?”

Silence.

Then came the torrent. The waves. The overwhelming story.

“I hate my aunt. She tried to take me away again.”

I just nodded.

“I live with my grandmother. Last Friday my aunt came to the house when my grandmother was at the job and she tried to take me away. I ran away and hid in the game park all day until I knew she was gone.”

I just nodded. And the story kept going.

“I used to live with my aunt after my mother died. She would abuse me. One time she hit me so hard she broke the broom stick.”

My eyes have now started burning.

“She would take me to the witch. The witch would tell her to beat me. And so she did. Do you see my scars here?”

She pointed to her legs. Big ugly scars. I nodded that yes, I saw them.

“My aunt did this. I have many more on my back. Twenty one in total.”

It is getting to be too much for me to hear. My girl, telling me her story so calmly. And yet not calmly as I see the fear in her eyes and the tenseness in her body.

“I think my aunt killed my mother.”

I repeated this sentence back to her, not sure I heard right.

She told me the story of the day her mother died…and in her eyes and in her remembrance, she is sure that it was her aunt who killed her mother.

“I remember that day.” she says. “I hate my aunt for what she has done to me.”

I reach for the tissue as my tears have no choice but to fall. And still my girl keeps talking.

“I am fearful. I don’t know what my aunt will do to me. I don’t know if and when she will come back to try to take me away from my grandmother.”

“One time she tried to make me be a prostitute, you know. But I bit her arm to get away and then I ran.”

I tell her that I am glad she ran away.

She looks at me, as if aware for the first time that I am there. So lost in her own memories.

“I should be in Form 1, you know. *(form 1 is like grade 9). But I am in class 6. After my mother died, my aunt kept taking me out of school and so I kept having to repeat the years. Some days I did not even go to school. I should be in Form 1.”

I hear the frustration and pain in her voice. She sounds like a small child. Hurt. Sad. Alone.

“My grandmother is old. I don’t know if she will die soon. And then I will have no place to go. I will have nobody to look after me. I don’t know what I will do.”

At this point I feel helpless to know how to help my girl. I tell her I love her. She looks at me, and says “Me too.”

I try to encourage her, but my words seem so trite. So useless in the face of her fear and suffering. We talk for a few minutes and I see a smile on her face.

“Let’s go now.” she says. She is done talking.

I wipe my tears and reach for her. She comes willingly and lets me hold her. I repeated my earlier words.

“I love you my girl.”
“I love you too.”

And she calls me “Mommy”.

We walk down the steps of the clinic, and to the field where we run around and act silly and twirl like little girls. Her walls have come back up and she has pushed the vulnerability back inside. And it’s okay. Because she knows that I know. And she knows that I care.

Another story. Another child. Another life lived in fear and pain. Another reason to pray and plead with our Father in Heaven to help these dear ones. Another opportunity to trust in His goodness.

Because we KNOW He is good. Sometimes, though, when we see pain like this, when we see lives being torn apart, when we see people that we love who are hurting, our hearts just don’t quite believe it. And we just have to trust that we KNOW that He is good and ask Him to help our hearts believe it too. Because it is true. He is GOOD.

Some would say that You can not be found
And some would say that You are far away
But I know You’re the God who lives in me
And I know You will always have my heart

‘Cause You are good
And Your love endures forever
You are good
And Your love endures forever
You are good
And Your love endures forever
You are good
You are good

You are the only one
You are the one that I desire
You are the only one my King.
You are the only one
You are the one that I desire
You are the only one my King
{Jeff Deyo}

“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:5

Willing Hearts

Often it starts by being willing.

That’s what we’ve come to see as true anyway. It’s when we are willing to step out. Out of our comfort zone. Out of our “world”. Out of what is easy. That’s when the biggest blessings are found.

Sunday was a baptism service in Mitumba. The week prior was a difficult one for us, with attending two memorial services and dealing with the grief that comes along with that. These kinds of times are emotionally draining, as we all know. We were looking forward to having a quiet Sunday…going to our Church here, which we love, and then spending the rest of the day at home, or walking, or whatever, but just being together and not having to give of ourselves at all. One of our youth, Rueben (who also works at the TAM shop with Trevor), came to the memorial service for Ryan Williams with us on Saturday morning. It was there that he mentioned that he would really like it if we came to Mitumba for Church the following day.

My first instinct was to say, “Thanks for the invitation, but no thanks. I know what kind of a day that will be, and I just don’t feel like it.”

But…..Trevor and I talked about it, and while we were both feeling that way, we also both felt like we needed to go to Mitumba. So…(reluctantly, I must admit) we said yes.

Rueben’s smile as we parked our car at the slum on Sunday morning did it for me. His face was completely lit up, and his eyes were happy. Really, really happy. He hurried to the car, and immediately gave us hugs and said “You came!!” Yes Rueben, we came. I felt guilt at my bad attitude the day before, and felt truly thankful that we decided to come.

It had only been a week since we saw our youth, but it felt like so much longer! Hugs were given all around, genuine smiles on all our faces…it felt like we were home. Home with our youth that we love so much. Aahhh…we came. And my heart felt happy.

We were asked to be “spiritual parents” for some of the youth. This means that at the baptism, we hold their towels for them, help them out of the water, and carry their things for them. In the long run, it means that we commit to be there for them, to follow up with them their decision made to follow Christ, and be a mentor to them. It is an honour to be asked.

Trevor was asked to be Derek’s spiritual father, and I was asked to be spiritual mother to three girls : Alice, Jane G. and Jane N. It was so great to be so directly involved in this special day (something we were not expecting).

Trevor and Derek

My "daughters" and I: Alice Barongo, Jane Gathoni and Jane Ndinda

The actual baptism service was like something out of a movie played in fast-forward! It was so quick, unorganized, people everywhere, and included me running around like a chicken with her head cut off! Let me explain!! =)

We were waiting in the Pastor’s office with all the baptism candidates. We didn’t know the order of who was first, second, and so on, and there were people everywhere. And it was loud! So we would wait until all of a sudden we would hear “Andrea!! Alice is next! She’s already out there! You have to go!” So I would push my way through the crowd of scared candidates who were terrified at the thought of getting dunked in the C-O-L-D water, give hugs where necessary, all while trying to get through with Alice’s towel so I could be ready for when she needed me. I got there, helped her dry off somewhat, hurriedly walked with her to the classroom where she could change, and then rushed back to the office, where I heard again “Andrea!! Jane Ndinda is out there! Hurry!!” So, I followed the same process all over again…rushed out to the baptism pool, helped her dry off, hurried to the classroom, and then back to the office…where, you guessed it, a third shouting of “Hurry up Andrea!!” By this time I’m a little stressed, and by my third round out of the Church with the third girl, the teachers are laughing at me, as it seems that all I’m doing is running laps from the office to the Church to the classroom and back again! Good times! After my three girls were through, I was able to help all the girls who were getting changed by getting their things them, getting water so they could wash their feet, and so on. I missed most of the actual baptism, but was thankful to be able to help the girls in these ways.

Trevor was able to relax a little more as he only had Derek to help. There were less boys getting baptized and so each “father” got only one boy. He was able to spend more time just being there instead of rushing around.

Both of us felt truly blessed in the roles we got to play in being there for our youth. God is so good.

The congregation watching the baptism!! =)

After the baptism part of the service was over, we sat through a graduation for six adults who have gone through a Bible study and faithfully completed the requirements of the ten week course. From there we listened to the message, and then participated in Communion.
I should mention that we were sitting in the front, with the preacher shouting into the mic directly in front of us, and the speakers turned up on high volume directly behind us. Needless to say the service felt long and we left with pounding headaches! Oh well, it was okay. We didn’t get out of Church until close to 4 pm (so the service felt long for good reason!!)…where we were then treated to sodas and cake from the Bible study graduates. From there we were given a big lunch of ugali and stew and interesting conversation with the Pastors.

The last thing on the list of events for the day was to spend some time in Mama Kamau’s house. Mama Kamau is the mother of one of our youth, Kamau. She asked if we could come to her house to pray with her family, and celebrate Kamau’s recovery from his circumcision surgery. This was one of my favourite parts of the day. I love being able to walk through the slum, greet the women, hug the children, smile at curious neighbours who are wondering why we are there, and just continually learn more about slum life. I always wonder why we enjoy being there so much. It is a dirty place. It is a smelly place. It is a depressing place. And yet, when we are there, we are so content. We love the people of Mitumba so much. We love spending time with them. We especially love being invited into their humble homes made of iron sheets and being able to just be there with them.

We spent some time encouraging them, praying with them and accepting the sodas that they had for us to drink. It was a sweet time of fellowship. Mama Kamau was one of the ladies who just graduated from the Bible Study course, and I am looking forward to see the spiritual growth in her life, and the transformation of her family.

Mama Kamau, Kamau and I

The sun was beginning it’s descent as we left Mama Kamau’s home and made our way back to the Church. We leave feeling thankful that we decided to come to Mitumba for the day. We are thankful that we were willing. We are thankful for the public commitments made to Christ, and for the growth that is happening in this small Church in this small slum. We are thankful that God is continually teaching us more and more and allowing us these amazing opportunities. We are thankful.

Birthday Party!

On August 1st we had the privilege of being invited to Steven’s (one of the men who works in the TAM shop with Trevor) daughter’s birthday party! Her name is Pauline, and she just turned 2 years old.

It was a really full day for us…we went to Mitumba in the morning for our youth Bible study, had to leave there early much to the chagrin of the youth, went to buy a birthday present for Pauline, then went to meet Steven at the matatu stop so he could show us the way to his house. We realized once we started driving down narrow, rough roads that we never would have found it on our own!

Steven and his brother got into our car, and the first thing he said when asked how he was, was, “I’m good. Well not so good, but good.” We weren’t sure what he meant, but then he pointed to his face. The whole right side of his face was bruised, cut up and swollen. He told us that he had gotten beat up on his way home the night before…a group of thieves jumped him and managed to steal his money and flashlight, but Steven fought them off to keep his leatherman tool. Just another reminder of where we live, and the dangers faced by people here everyday. Sobering.

It was wonderful to meet Marcy, Steven’s wife, and also Steven’s mother and sister, along with some nieces and nephews. We spent time visiting, and eating so much food that they had prepared. Being the honoured guests in a Kenyan home will always leave you feeling so incredibly welcomed and unworthy of all the special attention, and will also leave your stomach very, very satisfied!! =)

Pauline was so scared of us, and felt very overwhelmed with all the attention lavished on her! She kept a very close eye on us, and would peek at us from the safety of her mother’s arms. We hope that the next time we see her, she’ll maybe remember us a little and not be so terrified of our white skin!

Marcy helping Pauline blow out the candles.

One thing that really struck me was listening to Steven’s mother pray before we ate our meal. Her voice broke as she thanked God for the food, and prayed for all those who do not have food in this country…the most heartfelt thanks for food that I have possibly ever experienced. A lesson for me to be so much more thankful for the blessing of food, something that I so often just take for granted.

Steven's mom outside of the house.

August 1st also marked the day of the AIM AIR crash. We first heard about it at Steven’s house, but didn’t realize that it was one of our planes until later on that evening.

Like I said, August 1st was a really full day…not just in events but emotionally as well.

As we left Steven and Marcy’s house, Marcy gave me a hug and said “Please come again when we can spend more time together. Please. You are welcome anytime.”

Here in Kenya, friends are not hard to find. It’s just a matter of stepping out of your comfort zone a little and accepting invitations like this one. You are guaranteed to leave feeling like you made a life-long friend. What a privilege.

“And I think that’s what our world is desperately in need of - lovers. People who are building deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way and who actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned with.”
{Shane Claiborne}

Scars

“To be alive at all is to have scars.”
{John Steinbeck}

Scars.

They come from wounds. Wounds that hurt. Wounds that bleed.

Scars.

Heal. Fade over time. But stay as remembrance of the hurt.

Scars.

Tell a story. Show that you have not stayed in your safe bubble. But you have lived.

To be alive at all is to have scars.

I feel as though this year has left our hearts covered in scars. We have been wounded. We have been hurt. But thankfully the wounds don’t stay fresh and bleeding. They heal. They turn into scars. And it is through these times that we can look at our scars and see how God used those times of hurt and pain to change us. They serve as a remembrance of God’s greatness. Of Him revealing Himself through those times of darkness.

We would not trade this year in Kenya for anything. We would not trade the difficult days for easier ones. We would not change it even if we had the chance. We are alive. We have lived. We have scars. We have wounds that we know will heal and will fade with time. God is not finished with us yet.

Please continue to keep us and the AIM family in your prayers. We attended the memorial service for Frank Toews on Tuesday afternoon. It was the most beautiful memorial service and celebration of a life well lived, and a tribute to a man who served the Lord with all his heart. What a blessing it was for us to be there. It was such a God-honouring service. Tiffany and her kids need your prayers as they face the days ahead and make a lot of decisions. Their wounds are still fresh.

We have another memorial service to attend. We will remember Ryan’s life and his service to the Lord on Saturday. Continue to keep Dawn and her four kids in your prayers. God has already been working in their lives in amazing ways, and given them divine peace that we know can only come from Him.

I know this blog has been heavy lately. But it is a reflection of our past few months. Life has felt heavy. Sometimes it feels like it is too much. God is working in our hearts through it all, though, and is continually doing great things.

All we have to do is look at the scars we have accumulated throughout this past year to know that God is in the business of changing lives and is showing us how to live. Truly live. To live, and to hurt, and to bleed, and to heal. And through it all being able to see our great God at work.

Thank You Lord for our scars.

I'll Be Found In YOU...

It is with great sadness and confusion that I bring you some more news.

Ryan Williams, the AIM AIR mechanic who was also on that airplane that crashed, has gone Home. Home to Heaven. He was suffering from severe burns and internal injuries, and had been medi-vaced to Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday to a burn unit there. Upon assessing him there, they realized that his injuries were more severe than originally hoped.

This morning we got a text message just saying “Pray for Ryan now!”. And then this afternoon we got the news that he had passed away.

It’s too much. It’s all too much. To think about these two amazing families, doing so much and serving the Lord, now having to deal with this, and having to live the rest of their lives without a husband and a father…to know that God could have saved both Frank and Ryan, and yet didn’t…to not be able to understand the purpose behind all of this…it’s just too much.

Serving the Lord comes with a price. We all know this. All of us have had to pay one price or another…for some it may be getting ridiculed, for some it may be changing friends, for some it may be moving away, for some it may be leaving family…and then for some it is paying the ultimate price here on earth. We do not grieve for Ryan and for Frank. We know where they are. We know that Heaven is our home, and not this earth. We know that they are happy and whole.

They are with their Maker!

They are with JESUS!

They are HOME!!!

We know this. And yet we grieve with those who are left behind. We grieve for Dawn (Ryan’s wife) and for Tiffany (Frank’s wife). We grieve for the loss of their dreams. We grieve for the loss of their lives as complete families. We are so sad with them.

Pray for Dawn Williams, and her kids, Caleb, Levi, Seth and Chloe.

Pray for Tiffany Toews, and her kids, Aline, Tabitha, Teagan and Lowen.

Pray for the AIM family.

Please pray. It’s going to be a long, long road.

Walking, stumbling, on these shadow feet.
Toward home, a land that I’ve never seen.
I am changing, less and less asleep.
Made of different stuff than when I began.
And I have sensed it all along.
Fast approaching is the day…

When the world has fallen out from under me
I’ll be found in You, still standing.
When the sky rolls back and the mountains fall on their knees.
When time and space are through, I’ll be found in You.

There’s distraction buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it’s easier to stay
But I’ve heard rumours of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me
I’ll be found in You, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in You
{brooke fraser}

Frank and Ryan...see you guys on the other side. We’ll miss you.

With Heavy Hearts...

The AIM family is grieving right now. On Saturday, August 1, at approximately 2:30 pm Nairobi time, a Cessna 206 owned by AIM AIR crashed into some apartment buildings here in Nairobi. On board were the pilot, an AIM missionary, a mechanic, also an AIM missionary, and two passengers who were on board to film Kibera slum.

The pilot, Frank Toews, did not survive the crash and went home to be with the Lord. The mechanic, Ryan Williams, is in the hospital with severe injuries including burns, a broken hip, crushed pelvis, and other fractures. One of the photojournalists is also in the hospital, and the other one was able to get out of the plane in time and only had a few cuts and scrapes.

These families need your prayers. We don’t know the cause of the crash and won’t even begin to speculate and would ask you to do the same. What we know is that we need to pray for the Toews family…Frank left behind his wife and four young children, and also for the Williams family…Ryan has a very long road of recovery ahead of him…pray for his healing, as well as for his wife and four children as they deal with this difficult time.

Please also pray for the photojournalists that were on the flight. Pray for God’s will to be done in their lives and for God to work in their hearts.

We don’t understand why something like this had to happen, but we rest in the fact that God is in control. We know that God is good. And we know that God hears our prayers. So please pray.

If you want to see news footage, you can go online and check out “airplane crash Nairobi”.