In this post, I want to share with you the people whom we share our lives with the 17 years we were in Kenya. Some of them are church members, many are our missionary family - people who are aunts and uncles to our girls, some are new friends we met in our more recent trips. Our lives are so blessed and enriched by all these special ones. We have fellowshipped and spend time with many others not featured in this blog, If your picture is not shown here, please know that our time with you is just as special, I just don't have the pictures to show for it :) It might be in one of many other devices that I have not sync yet!
We were invited to have supper with Jon and Molly and their parents. Jon's parents, whom many call Papa and Mama Stern are our spiritual mentors. Mama Stern is third from the left, continue the ministry that Papa Stern left behind when he passed away. A great woman of God. All around this table are great men and women of God who have given themselves fully to the work of the Kingdom. Tremendous servants of God!
I met this woman of God a few years ago at the first Masai Women's Conference. She is a powerful preacher and pastors a church in the bush. It was a blessing to pray with her as she interprets for me during the service.
My beautiful godly "sisters" friends. Beckie on the left grew up in Malaysia with her missionary parents and still cooks Nasi Lemak for me! Loretta has been friends with us since the very beginning of our missionary career. She's one of the most generous, caring and thoughtful person I know.
These are my two BFFs ... it's a game that we play. They "compete" to be my BFF by offering me chocolates, candies, etc. It was a fun way to pass time in the camp during the Masai Women's Conference. I met them in the first conference and made an instant connection with these precious powerful women of God.
This young lady is the oldest daughter of our friends JR and Shirley. She's a powerful minister, a God girl, a leader in her church women's ministry, an amazing mom. Our girls look up to her as a role model. She happened to be in Kenya with her mom, Shirley, the same time we were there. We were so blessed to be able to connect with them this trip.
The first picture is Brandi, Melia's mom. I like to tease Brandi that Melia belongs with me because she looks like me! Brandi and Chris are missionaries to Kenya.
Having coffee with Shirley and Shelayne. Seemed like we met in the middle of the world - they from Tennessee and us from Malaysia just to make a coffee date!! We are so awesome :) And Kenyan coffee is so worth it!
This little girl, Clare, is like a daughter to us. Tony officiated her wedding when we were her pastor. She is now an amazing mother of two and works hard to raise them. She spoiled us with an amazing Japanese meal. Tony claims that it was the best Japanese food he ever had. That's quite a statement! They both chowed down all the raw shashimi but I stayed with my boring but safer stir fried udon :)
Roger and Shireen West - one of our bestest and closest friends whom we have not seen for many years. They live in Nanyuki, about 3 hours from Nairobi. We saw rhinos on our way to there house! We drove out to be with them and had tea in the bush :) They are amazing evangelists reaching to Sudan and Congo and Kenya. Shireen is one of the best cook I know and she made us her famous roast lamb during our visit. It was so edifying and enriching to spend some time with them sharing update of our ministries and what God is doing in our lives and in Africa and Asia. Iron sharpens iron!
This picture was taken after our ministry at the East Africa School of Theology, the regional University of the Assemblies of God. They served us tea. There are 2 special person I want to share with you in this picture. The first one is the gentleman in the red shirt on the far left, Harris. He was one of our students in the Bible school we started. Today, he is pastoring a church and also the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university! We were so humbled to be part of his journey in the ministry. The second person is the gentleman on the far right. He came up to us and introduced himself. He said he knew that we would not remember him but he remembers us. He used to be a night guard at the university back in 1993 when we started the bible school and were teaching night classes (which was very unusual at that time due to security). He told me he remembers us driving the old Peugeout station wagon with a baby and carrying the baby (Kathryn) to class and teaching when the baby was a few weeks old! It made an impression on him. Today, he is a lecturer at the University! We are so grateful that the Lord allow us to see some of these fruits of our time in Kenya. Our hearts are so full!
Etnick and Geogette - we knew that as a young couple when they started coming to River of God church. Etnick became one of our Board members and till today, he is still a Board member and a leader in the church. Geogette often reminds me different sermons that we had preached that had ministered to her. Today they are amazing parents to 3 beautiful children.
If you have read this far, I hope you have enjoyed knowing a little of some of the people who were part of our lives in Kenya. We were so blessed this trip to manage to see so many of them, some whom we have not seen for many years. Some who no longer lived in Kenya, so happened to be there the same time we were! We felt that the Lord was merciful and gracious to us to give us the opporutnity to be encouraged and renewed by these friends.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (NLT)
The value of Christian friendship and fellowship cannot be underestimated. What glorious times of reunion we had, often just boasting on the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives as we catch up with each other.
I count myself beyond blessed to have so many godly people in my life from so many parts of the world. My heart is full!
Stay tuned for Part III!
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