Catching up

Delayed greetings to everyone.

I pray that you are doing well. I know I am delayed in sending out a note to everyone. It has been a crazy time and moments of rest have been few. So here is a review of the past few months and weeks.

August Willow Chicago

Praise God for the Willow Chicago and Christ Covenant Church team that came to serve at the Eastleigh for one week. In the mornings we ministered to Muslims kids with Bible stories and character building subjects. There was drama, games, crafts, music and story time for 80 kids each day. It was a new experience for both groups to interact with Muslims and have fun sharing God’s love and His word with these kids.

It was a great experience even eating a whole fish (most had the head removed) with ugali and greens. This is an official Kenyan meal with the whole team. This was a great team of Kenyans, American, Ugandan and Congolese members. It was wonderful to see the body of Christ serving together and reaching out to Muslim kids and adults. Even today I see some of the kids from that week and get hugs from them.

In the afternoons it was adult time with the English as a Second language class. These are the students that I serve with weekly. They were so excited and had prepared a drama and word games to interact with the Chicago/Kenya team. For both groups it was a new adventure and was a great success. The students are asking when the team will return next year. On the side, Rick was able to join the basketball games with young Somalia men. He had a chance to do some coaching and even connecting in some interesting conversations about his perspective of the Muslim faith. Pray for these students for many it was their first time interacting with a Christian group and for our group with Muslims.

Sept 2011

Just full of school, classes and confusion. It was a tough month and I finished it exhausted. I great highlight was a visit from David Radcliff from Australia. He was here with a group from his church visiting ministries that they partner with and I had a chance to visit with them. It was a great time of fellowship and encouragement.

I began to volunteer with my church as a school chaplain for two local schools. We have a Bible class for one hour weekly. It is so early in the morning but it is fun. Our subject was MIRACLES. It was a miracle that I got up at 6:30am to do it twice a week.

Praise God my 2 year student visa was approved. Now just waiting for the stamped certificate to go into my passport and it will be final. Thanks for your prayers.

Oct 2011

Wow the last months of the year has come so quickly. I was so blessed with a visit from Deb and Bob Ruzga. They are also with Inspire 180 and we visited Pastor Regina and Pastor Timothy’s schools. Visiting with the sponsored kids and seeing the new building. We encouraged each of the kids to write letters to tell their stories to others. We are looking for pen pals who would like to write to these students and encourage them and be encouraged by them. There are about 160 kids at the school. Continue to pray for them. We also visited a training center for the high school graduates to continue their career training after school instead of going back to the streets. We are also praying to complete Pastor’s Timothy school with 150 desks, teaching material, doors and windows.

Nov 2011

Okay, I am doing a happy dance. The Willow Creek Association Global Leadership Summit came to Nairobi, Kenya Nov 4^th and 5^th. It was a wonderful blessing to my ministry friends and me.

Thank you Inspire 180, Willow Creek Chicago, JL Ministries and Dorris for helping 54 leaders attend the conference. There were about 2000 leaders in attendance. The best part BILL HYBELS LIVE!!!!! I was so thrilled to also see Doug and Gary from Willow Creek. I volunteered for the whole thing but thanks Doug for the DVD set. Now back to class. This will be my last class of the year.

　

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Next week, we will get together here in Kenya and celebrate all of God’s blessings. I am very grateful and overwhelmed knowing that so many of you are praying for me and supporting me in ministry. Thanks Luke, Lydia and Noel for being my youngest supporters to those who have walked with me these many years of ministry. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I could not be here without you. I continue to pray for your family and life. Thanks God for each of you and knowing that He is adding to your account all that is happening here and in the lives of all those we are ministering to in Kenya and East Africa.

Praise God for…

For another year of ministry and YOU!!!

The best medical check up in years my blood sugar was normal!!! Do it again Lord.

A gift certificate from a visiting team to a health club for one month!!

All the team visits from home and GLS.

Student visa being approved

Finished classes, exams and papers.

Praying for…

Consistency with women’s fellowship in Eastleigh

A good Christmas season, my first away from home EVER!!!

For continued health, financial support, relational openness and connections.

Direction as I investigate adopting.

Ministry partners and upcoming teams in 2012

For ministry support (do not put my name on check but on a separate note)

also send letters to GUREM students:

INSPIRE 180 Personal notes: KENYA

518 S. Route 31 Esther Hall

Suite 193 BOX 76198-00508 YAYA Center

Mc Henry, IL 60050 Nairobi, KENYA (I would love a Christmas card)

Blesstheglobe@gmail.com

Happy birthday MONTH to me

Praise God I will celebrate 47 years of life August 5th. I will start claiming number 48!!! I have already had a birthday party with friends here in Nairobi. Now to reflect on the place God has me and to discern where He will take me the rest of my life.

I am doing a Bible study of Esther by Beth Moore. Here is the closing statement on one of the lessons. I know it may not hit you the same but this is a great statement for my life right now.

"Some of us with little previous battle experience have no idea why God is allowing us to go through such difficult times in a place we thought was His will. He's trying to make warriors out of us... Rise to the occasion! But we aren't meant to fight unseen forces alone. You and I have the God-given right to lock arms with our sisters and brothers in Christ and defend ourselves with the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. Here's the best part: When we do, we are guaranteed the victory... (If you fully obey God...the Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction and flee from you in seven. Duet 28: 1a, 7)

That is a sweet gift to me.

In ten days I am looking forward to a team from my home church. I AM SO EXCITED!!!

This is a picture with a new friend. Traci, from Chicago, came to Kenya with Mary Whelchel of Christian Working Woman and Moody Church. They did a great conference for women and I was able to enjoy their fellowship. Thanks Mary and Traci for blessing us.

Blessings and grace to you. Celebrate LIFE in Christ.

What keeps you up at night?

What keeps you up at night???

That was the question my pastor in Kenya asked in his sermon yesterday. He was talking about taking risk and getting out of the boat (our comfort zones).

Over the past several months I have been up at nights. Worried, praying, questioning and watching movies. These past few months has been an emotional and spiritual roller coaster ride. Each loop and flip different and more scarier than the last. Praise God only two things were life threatening and I survived. The other twist and turns are more challenging to my spiritual, personal and mental security. God is changing the game. He is requiring a bigger step of faith in my walk with Him and level of TRUST in Him. TRUST!!!! a scary word when you feel out on the limb of the unknown. I know others are facing major life crisis that would make my concerns small and unimportant, but they a huge for me. They have me shaking in my boots.

What's next, I have no idea. I just know that God is good, He can not lie and this too shall pass. Praying that I will remain faithful to what He has called me to and that I will continue to take steps of faith toward where He is calling me. Even if it keeps me up at night.

Still shaking in my boots, praying, worrying and watching movies. Anyone want to share their movies with me??? I have watched mine a hundred times.

29 years ago today

April 1, 1982 During my first semester at Western Ill Univ, I attended a revival service at a local church in Macomb, IL where Pastor Rapheal Green was speaking. That night I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. WOW what a ride. That night I thought I accepted Christ too early because I didn't have a big sin that God could use for future ministry. Thank YOU JESUS for saving my soul. I didn't need a big sin, I needed the love and acceptance of a loving and gracious God. Thank you Lord for your grace and forgiveness. These pass 29 years have been quite an adventure. Full of ministry, struggles, growth, redefining myself in Christ and being shaped (and still is) to reflect His kingdom. I am VERY grateful for all of the people through the years who have mentored, corrected, rubbed me the wrong way, challenged, accepted and loved me all 47 years. Thank you for being a blessing to me. Today I celebrate. I would not live any other way. This is the great adventure. FULL ON FOR CHRIST for the next 29 years.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

New Year and New Ministry for Esther
I have joined


INSPIRE 180

518 S. ROUTE 31 BOX 193

McHENRY, IL 60050

Details in email but will post soon, off to airport for Kenya. Like right now.