Well, it’s been awhile since I have written anything. My excuse....it’s been VERY busy.
The summer ended and the teams left. I spent the two weeks of space between the teams leaving and the interns arriving on updates.
On September 6th, all of our interns arrived in Kenya. We have six interns: Robin, Ellie, Chrisy, Saprina, Rebekah and Kara. It’s been wonderful having them here. They are a great addition to the compound and to the projects that TI has.
These young ladies are full of life and laughter and it’s wonderful to have them here. They are doing numerous amounts of things, such as:
- Grocery shopping in Kenya (we need to go to three different grocery stores and one outside vegetable/fruit market – takes about 3 hours to do the grocery shopping here)
- Painting, craft making and loving on 83 babies at our dear friend’s children’s home called In-Step (http://www.rehemaministries.com/ChildrensHome.asp)
- Developing relationships with our Neema girls
- Teaching a group of teen mothers from the local slum, small jobs so that they can help support their children
- Going to the local hospital and spending time with children in the ward, reading to them, colouring with them and praying for them.
- Being a part of bible study with our Neema and Shimo girls
- Learning how to do Kenyan hair
- Learning how to cook Kenyan food
Change
When you are a missionary living full time in a foreign country, you get used to short term mission teams or people coming and going. You get used to meeting people and then saying goodbye to them after a short time. The core group of us that live here full time is minimal and we’ve become a close knit group. Some of my dearest friends are here.
Today, I had to say goodbye...well not goodbye but “see you later” to some dear friends: The Cooksey Family and to my sweet friend Bella.
The Cooksey Family consists of the dad and mom: Brett and Jane and their three children: Daniel, Caleb and Zoe. What a beautiful family they are; a family full of love, life and a heart for the people of Kenya.
Brett is the cool, outgoing dad that can make people laugh with his stories of crazy adventures.
Jane is the rock of the family, a servant’s heart shines through her; she’s an amazing mother, a friend and a woman of infinite wisdom.
Daniel is the quiet fourteen year old who persevered through not having friends his own age here but who made a wonderful impact on the lives of the people in Pokot.
Caleb is the sweet ten year old whom I think my son would look like, with his dark hair and chubby cheeks and always knowing that I loved getting hugs from him.
Zoe is the beautiful little two year old filled with an amazing vocabulary and a sweet raspy voice who took time to let me in but we became sweet friends.
This is a family that I have grown to love, grown to see at our BBQ’s, community nights, bible studies and parties. To know that they are leaving, I can’t imagine another event without them there.
And then there is Bella.
What a friend this woman has been to me. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that she isn’t going to be around. To know that she won’t be just a text message away or a walk down the road.
When Bella arrived in Kitale, she was full of laughter, crazy stories and a wonderful testament of God’s (she calls Him Papa) love, grace and restoration to her life. We talked endless hours of God, who He was, and what He had done in our lives. Bella showed me in so many ways of God’s amazing grace and how I was special to Him. Bella and I shared many stories, laughter and tears together. She became someone that I cherish so very much.
I spent a few hours of the afternoon today with The Cooksey’s and Bella. I’ve spent the rest of the day crying; at the fact that people I have grown to love and who have become a part of my life, Sean’s life, are leaving.
So today, my heart hurts.
