As I look at this picture of John, I realize this is how we feel right now – as if we can almost see Kenya in the distance! Just 10 more days and we’ll be heading that direction again.

Last summer when we went, we were stepping into an unknown – unknown people, unfamiliar places and customs. This summer, we’re longing to see loved ones, aching to have our arms around the precious children at our school in Nairobi and our friends and ‘family’ at Ematsayi in Western Kenya.

We have a lot on our plate.  We’ll be investigating the steps for opening an orphanage (Kiwanda Cha Tumaini), and we’ll be taking the first baby steps toward establishing a School of Theology (Hope of Africa), based in Western Kenya. We’re delivering a milking machine, built and donated by two of our long-time and much-loved deer hunters, Mike and Dusty Perry from Jennings, Louisiana.

Bishop Javan Ommani, who was with us for several weeks this summer, and his wife, Rasoha, have three cows. They milk them twice a day, providing milk not only for the Mission, but also for an orphanage in Kakamega, with a little left over to sell. Hopefully, over the next several years, we can add a cow or two to the herd and give them a profitable dairy business to help support the Mission, thanks to the generosity of Mike and Dusty.

I will be speaking at the Bible and Literacy League Women’s Conference at Ematsayi for four days, and John and I will be meeting with church leaders all over Western Kenya while we’re there. We’re also very excited to be visiting a distribution depot for fertilizer.  Here in Texas, we would just go down to the local feed store. There, however, fertilizer is a big deal.  It’s all imported – and expensive – and no one knows how to use it. We’re having to educate ourselves on nomenclature, so we can compare apples to apples, and help them a bit with their farming practices.

This is a picture of John’s garden, so God definitely knew what He was doing when he tapped John on the shoulder and sent him to Kenya! As the excitement grows, as August 1st draws near, you’ll be hearing more and more about the wonderful plans God has for us!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11