Nothing Wasted

Betsy getting ready to kiss Helen our Interpreter

Update on Kenya Mission trip

Friday, February 17, 2012

We are back at Oldepe church. In the afternoon Betsy taught and I also taught on "Deborah the Judge". Betsy spoke on Marriage and the women asked some questions. We noticed that the ladies are asking more questions than they ever have in the past. One of the questions was, "Are women battered in America too?" Well this was a God sent question. Betsy began by saying, "Yes, some of them are, and let me tell you my story." Betsy went on to tell them how when she was just a baby, her own Father beat her Mother, and then deserted them both. ( I have been given permission by Betsy to tell this) Betsy told this so bravely and tenderly to the women. God's spirit was there. He poured out His Spirit to these women using Betsy's words. Well, I began to cry, and so did Betsy, along with most of the Maasai women. A Maasai woman came up to me and was hugging me, and patting me where my heart is. Another woman hugged Betsy also.

We found out why the Pastor's wife was crying. The exact same thing had happened to her when she was a child. God was using Betsy to console her and to heal her from the same hurt that Betsy had experienced.

A lesson to be learned here is no matter where we live, all around the world, we are the same. We cry the same tears. No matter what color we are, we shed the same color blood. God loves us all.

God does not waste anything that happens to us. No matter what it is, no matter how hurtful, God can still use it! Praise God He did in Betsy's life.

II Corinthians 1: 3-4 says, " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we are comforted by God." Romans 8:28 tells us, " And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..."

Do you see that? God comforts us when we are going through afflictions, and then we can use that to help someone else. God is always at work, and He is working things out for our good. Nothing we go through is in vain! Nothing we go through, no matter how bad, is wasted by Almighty God. Don't you want to praise Him for that?! I know I do.

I have such a heart full of love for these Maasai women. My love grows and grows for them each time I go back to see them. I have so much love and admiration for Betsy too. She has been through a lot in her life but she keeps right on smiling and laughing! But even more than that, I love and admire the Lord so much for using every single scrap in my life and other's lives for His honor and glory, and for the building up of His precious daughters and His kingdom.

May God be praised!

God provides, we teach

Me teaching "Woman with issue of Blood" Carrie portraying Jesus wearing the prayer shawl

Me and Betsy and Sarah

Elderly Maasai Woman named Sarah

Continuing information about our Kenya Mission trip.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

We went to David Olonopa's church again (Mutenkuar Baptist)

Carrie taught the women on the Ephesians passage "Putting on the Armor of God". Betty also taught on "Mary and Martha and Lazarus" she also gave her testimony. While Carrie and Betty taught, Betsy and I went out evangelizing with Will and Steve. All of the people we spoke to were believers and went to a church. Betsy and I met an elderly lady. I believe she said her name was Sarah. We talked to her for awhile. She had a little store that she ran. I asked her how old she was and she said she didn't know. They don't keep up with their age like we do here.

Thursday, February 16. 2012

We went to Oledepe Baptist Church

Betsy and I taught today. Betsy taught on the "Good Samaritan" and I taught about the Woman with the issue of Blood. The Scripture talks about the woman touched the fringe of Jesus garment. So I was so excited to be able to borrow a Jewish prayer shawl like Jesus may have worn back then. It has fringe hanging from the edge of it. The woman I borrowed it from attends Hocutt and she was telling me that they would touch the tassels and pray the names of God. I told the Maasai women that and they wanted to know the names of God. So, off the top of my head, I was trying to remember some of the names of God to tell them. Meanwhile Betsy said, "Oh, I have a bookmark with the names of God on it. I just felt like the Lord was telling me to bring this, someone might need it!" That's what happens about every time we go on a Mission trip to Kenya. God always seems to touch someone to bring something unexpected that we end up needing. I love that! So, I proceeded to go on with the lesson using what Betsy brought. That was a very neat thing! We taught a lesson to the Maasai women and the Lord taught a lesson to us that we should always listen to His Spirit's prompting!

Jesus Loves the Little Children continues in pictures

Rubbing my white (Muzungu) skin.

Pure joy

They are rubbing lipstick on their own lips that they wiped off of Betsy's lips... precious

Jesus Loves the Little Children

The first two days of our Mission trip we taught at Mutenkuar Baptist Church. This is David Olonopa's church. While we waited for enough women to arrive so that we could teach, a group of children came up and surrounded us. They were giggling and laughing and jumping up and down. I decided that I would take some pictures of them. As I was watching these children, the thought came to my mind, "This is why you come." Jesus loves them so much. Remember the words to the children's hymn, "Jesus Loves the Little Children"?

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow black and white

They are precious in His Sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

I know they truly are precious to Him. The Bible gives us an account of what Jesus thought about children and the priority He placed on them.

" People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the
disciples saw this, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called the children to him
and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [17] I tell you the truth, anyone who
will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:15-17

Jesus loved children and He still does. Think about how these children must have been drawn to Him also. For them to want to go to Jesus in the first place. Jesus wants us to come to Him like little children too. To love Him with a heart full of love.

The children I saw at Mutenkuar Church those two days were soooo happy. They are so full of life and joy, and it is contagious! They love the smallest things... stickers...balloons... pipe cleaner crowns... Since they don't have many possessions, these things are precious to them. You will see them wear the pipe cleaner crown the next day. They sing and dance with such exuberance.

Some of the children were rubbing my arms. I guess the novelty of a white person (Muzungu). It is the first time that some of them have seen a white person.

One of the things that I loved was they saw that Betsy had on lipstick and they took their little finger and rubbed her lips and then rubbed it on their lips. That was so precious and they are so precious. They just make me smile...

I bet they make Jesus smile too.

Why we go on Mission to Kenya

We have returned yet again from another Mission trip to Kenya. You may have silently asked the question, "Why would they go around the world to another country?" Well I'm glad you asked!

We go first of all because the great commission is still in the Bible! We belong to Christ, and He is our Lord, and Master. So we do what He commands. The great commission is a command, not a suggestion!

Matthew 28: 19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Secondly, we go because Christ has appointed us as His ambassadors, so we have a job to do. We have been sent by Christ to represent Him and to give out His message.

II Corinthians 5:20 says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Thirdly, The love of Christ compels us to go. When you love who He loves, you want to go and tell it!

II Corinthians 5:14 "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..." So because Christ did so much for us, and died in our place, the least we can do is live for Him. We are to be obedient to Him and what He wants us to do.

Fourthly, I go because I love the Maasai people. They have gotten under my skin, and wormed their way into my heart. I have made friendship and relationships with these people, so I look forward to going back and seeing them every year.

I am already making plans to go back next February. I hope that more new people will go with us next time. If God tarries, and I am in good health, and it is still His will, I will continue to go while there is still breath in me and work to be done!

Tim Terrific!

I first heard about Tim Tebow in 2007. Steve and I and much of our church staff went to the Pastor's conference in Jacksonville, FL. While we were there we were introduced to a young man that played college football, named Tim Tebow. He spoke for a few minutes and I was so impressed with him.... I still am.

As far as I can tell, Tim Tebow is the same young man that shared his heart with us that day. As a member of First Baptist, Jacksonville, he grew up hearing great preaching from Jerry Vines. He was taught a solid Biblical foundation.

What is so impressive about Tim Tebow is that he gives God the honor and glory. When he scores a touch down, he bows his knee and thanks God. Back when he played college football he wore the black paint under his eyes with the Scripture verse, John 3: 16.

Once he started playing in the NFL, he was probably told that he couldn't wear that. But the Lord has a way of getting His message out anyway! Recently the big game that Tim played in, the numbers 316 kept turning up. In fact, they turned up at least three different times. The result of this was many people Googled "John 3:16". So many people found out the message that,

"God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." You see God was not sharing His glory with Tim Tebow. He will not share His glory with anyone! God loves people. He wants them to hear that message. The good news message of John 3:16.

When I think of Tim Tebow, I also think about the verse Proverbs 3:6, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

When Tim Tebow bows the knee during a football game, he is acknowledging God. He is acknowledging Him in everything he does. That is what is so great and inspiring to watch!

Tim Tebow has caused this woman to start watching football and the reason has nothing to do with football! I am just drawn to someone who acknowledges God in all of his ways!

Our young people need a good role model to look up to. Our society is lacking in this area.

I think they are safe to look up to a guy who bends that knee, and humbles himself to an Almighty God! I thank God for Tim Tebow. I will pray for him. We need more young men like him. Keep on Tebowing Tim! It's a good example for us all.

I need to get out of the Way

2012 is here, another year is gone. The natural ebb and flow of life. It is the time when we reflect on what transpired over the past year, and the what will be in the coming year.

I have but one New years resolution for 2012. It is based on the verse, John 3:30. "He must increase, I must decrease".

John the Baptist is the one who said this. He was a forerunner of Christ. A man who came before Christ to prepare the way for Him. When someone asked if he was the Messiah he said, "I am a voice crying in the wilderness". He looked at himself as being unimportant. He was just "a voice", a vessel. He could have become proud and haughty. He drew a large crowd everywhere he went. But he was a humble man who knew his purpose in life. It was just be a voice!

That's what I want to do. Be a tool, an instrument of the Lord. Be a voice. Be whatever God has placed me here on earth to be. So, with that I realize... I have to get out of the way!

I have to decrease... He (Jesus), must increase.

That's something to really think about...

By the end of this year, I hope you can barely see me at all.

By the end of this year when you look at me... I hope you just see Jesus.