Ups and Downs

I want to ask prayer especially at this point for our Form 4 students at the Academy, who will be starting their exams on Thursday 21st Oct. These exams are the culmination of four years of study (their whole time at high school), and they will have a major impact on the rest of their lives. If kids don't pass these exams, or don't get the grade they need in order to move on to university/college etc, they very often end up at a loose end and then get into trouble. Education is very highly valued in Kenyan society (I think too much valued in some cases), and there is a lot of pressure on these kids. Some of them will only have reached this far by their parents/older siblings sacrificing greatly to pay fees, etc, and now they will be expected to move on to university and get a good job in the future so that they can help pay for their younger brothers/sisters' education or support their parents in old age.
So please pray that the kids will be given strength, good health, the mental capacity, and confidence in God during the next few weeks. Pray also that honesty will prevail and there will be no cheating, bribery, or manipulation of results -- both at our school (students and teachers) and also with the external examiners who set and mark the exams -- and also right across the nation. BCFC Academy was the "most improved" school in the district from the mock exam results, and it is not unthinkable (in fact, quite probable) that there are some out there who would not like to see a Christian school rising in the ranks.
We have had disappointments and encouragements alike in recent days -- both in the school and in the work as a whole. I'm not going to go into details, but I do believe that the Lord is moving in hearts -- but at the same time I think that powers of darkness are also at work. Pray for victory in this incessant battle. Pray that God will save souls and regenerate hearts -- nothing else will do. Pray that those who are saved would be given a heart for God and for holiness. Pray for the preaching ministry of the BCFC church -- that the men in the pulpits will be stirred up to preach the WHOLE counsel of God!
I do thank you all for your prayers on a personal level. I know I haven't written here for a couple of months, but I know that you all continue to pray. Keep praying about Liberia as well -- I'm hoping to soon hear that things are moving ahead.

Back in Kenya

Some of you might be surprised to see me on here again, but plans have really changed in the last few weeks! I was due to go home on Aug.12th as I said in my last post, but just at the end of July I was asked to stay on in Kenya for another couple of months. The situation in Liberia hasn't really opened up yet, and then Miss Noreen McAfee's return from furlough has been delayed for a couple of months for medical reasons. So I went home for a couple of weeks' holiday and I'm now back in Nairobi on my way back to Kapenguria for another wee while! I'm not sure how long exactly it will be, but God is certainly over-ruling in all of these affairs. It's good to know that we have a God over us and in charge of us Who is in perfect and sovereign control, and that He works out all things for His glory and our good.

Winding down

My time here is nearly up -- and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that! I'm very excited about getting home to see everyone -- family and friends etc. I am planning to visit McDonald's quite soon after my arrival -- can you imagine, I haven't had any fast food for nearly a year! Very healthy of course but I'm rather looking forward to a burger and French Fries and a caramel sundae! I watched some of the World Cup games for the first time in my life, and the ad for McDonald's kept popping up on the boundaries of the pitch (i don't know what you call that). It will be good to be able to understand every word of every meeting I'm in -- especially the prayermeetings. I've really missed the prayermeetings in Ballymena!
But I'm going to miss the people here so much! Especially the kids and young people I've been working with and teaching. Just pray that God will keep His hand of protection upon them all -- there are so many dangers around (physical, emotional, mental, moral, spiritual, etc). There are still several young people whom I'm concerned for spiritually. Of course, there are many who are not saved, and all of those who are saved have needs and problems, but there a few who have been upon my heart especially and we're still waiting upon God to answer and move. The good news is that I don't have to be in the country for Him to work in these lives! So I'll be eagerly awaiting word that He has answered prayer, even from NI or Liberia or wherever I'll be.
The end of term exams are starting next week -- then the kids will be going home for their August holiday in a few weeks' time.
Please keep the political situation in prayer. Kenya has had a new constitution proposed, including several amendments that believers here are concerned about. One relates to abortion -- it leaves a loophole that could be taken advantage of by those who wish to perform abortions. Of course, "back-street" abortions are performed here all the time, but this would be a legal loophole. Another change from the old constitution concern the clause about freedom of religion. The former constitution gives freedom to "manifest and propagate" your religion. But the amended clause only says "manifest"; so the right to propagate is no longer protected. Another issue is that the new constitution allows for the Islamic population to hold "kadhi courts", which some fear is only the first step for Islamic law to gain a foothold here. Kenya is still nominally a "Christian" nation, but Islam is certainly on the rise!
So pray that when this constitution is voted on on August 4th, it will be overturned. Pray also that peace will prevail -- some fear that the post-election violence from a couple years ago will be repeated.
Well, I don't know if I'll manage to get another post on here before I leave, so if not, remember me on August 12th as I fly, and maybe I'll be seeing some of you in Ulster before too long.
God bless.

Checking in Again

Thought it was about time for another update! It's been awhile! The trip to Liberia went well -- it was REALLY, REALLY busy but profitable I hope and believe. God intervened with the ash cloud and everyone got there on time. My flight was a little bit delayed in Ethiopia on the way home but it was a technical problem rather than weather! It gave me a chance to buy a lovely pair of Ethiopian leather flipflops -- I decided to step out of character and go airport shopping once I finished the book I had with me and got bored!
Most of our days were once again spent in the seminars. Dr. Allison taught this time from a Bible Doctrine course, and I taught the kids in the afternoons, once they got out of school. I also spoke to the women one morning about children's work/Sunday school etc. It was the first time I'd done that, and I hope it made some sense! We also spent a bit of time looking for property or an apartment to rent for me when I go. There hasn't been a final decision made on either of those yet, so pray that things will continue to move ahead and God will open doors.
The wildlife in Liberia (and in the guesthouse) is as friendly as ever! We had the usual visits from lizards, crabs, cockroaches, spiders, etc. I really don't like cockroaches, but the rest of the creatures I can put up with, even in my room. But then the mice saga started again . . . I didn't mind them scurrying around on the floor in my room when I was reading in bed at night with the light on -- at least I could watch them and make sure they left the room again. But then one rather bold fellow got into my suitcase one day when I was out and chewed up a lot of cereal bars and left his calling cards all over (my fault, I suppose, because I had forgotten to zip up the case). And the final straw came one night when I had just switched out the light and was falling asleep -- all of a sudden I felt a mouse crawling on my stomach! (thankfully there was a sheet in between!) I DIDN'T scream . . . . but I did let out a sound somewhere between a yell and a moan and knocked it off and then pulled the sheet over my head. After I stopped shaking (about 1/2 hour later) I searched every corner of the room --no mouse -- and then barricaded under the doors and every crack I could find. I had no more trouble with mice in my room after that - maybe the poor mouse was as scared as I was. But I still get a bit shivery when I think of it. I guess I'm just a weak female after all.
The work in Kenya is going well. I'm continuing to teach at the Academy, and really enjoying it! Keep praying for our kids. One of the young men there has been troubled about salvation for some time now --he's been talking to me and one of the other missionaries, and I had really been burdened to pray for him. I was talking to him this afternoon again, and he told me that he got saved on Monday night! I'm so thankful! "Rejoice with me . . . ." And pray for him please - he's got a lot of temptations to face and he has a lot to learn, even about his salvation (as we all do).
It's hard to believe I only have 2 1/2 months left here! Time has gone so quickly. My brother Stephen and two friends are coming out here at the end of June for a couple of weeks -- can't wait to see them!

Liberia vs the Ash Cloud

I'm heading up to Nairobi tomorrow so just thought I'd drop you a note now in case internet doesn't work up there. Keep the proposed trip to Liberia in prayer -- we're not quite sure what's happening because of this ash cloud from Iceland! It won't affect me unless it moves a lot, but Dr. Allison and Paulcy Cange fly from US to Brussels and then to Liberia so at the moment I think the airport in Brussels is still closed. So pray that the cloud will have moved to Antarctica by Thursday please! :-) It's all in the Lord's hands, and He's the controller of the weather so we'll leave it there.

How Great Thou Art!

Kenya truly is one of the most beautiful countries I've been in! I went hiking yesterday afternoon with some of the young people here -- we spent a few hours climbing up and down a mountainside, under a waterfall etc. It was spectacular! I've been there once before -- a place called Tartar Falls, but we went further this time. The majesty and beauty of God's creation made us all think of the power and glory of the Creator!

I went to Rev. Kendagor's for dinner that night, and one of the young men was speaking at devotions from I Cor. 1 -- the last few verses, in the light of what we had seen that day. The God who has made all of nature has chosen us (weak and base and foolish) to serve Him. So all we can say is "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

Don't have time to write much because things are as busy as ever! School closed on 31st March for Easter, but the kids will be back next Monday for "tuition", which just means more classes! They stay for two weeks, then one more week off, then back for the official new term on May 3rd. So I've been marking exams and preparing work for the next couple of weeks. Below are the secondary school students in their closing assembly, just before they headed home -- you'll see their bags and bundles scattered here and there. The umbrellas are to keep off the sun, by the way - not the rain!

The Sunday School term has come to an end in the BCFC churches. Kids have been taking exams for the last few weeks, and now April is the month for Parents' Days, when a concerted effort is made to get family members into the Sunday services, prizes are given out, and special speakers come. I'm one of the "special speakers" in two churches on the next two Sundays, so pray for me and for all the other missionaries and pastors who are taking part.

There is a special youth rally tomorrow in the Kitale church -- youth from all the churches will be gathering there. I don't know much about what will happen, except that I've been told that it lasts all day! (no surprise there really!) Keep the young people in prayer as they travel and as we meet before the Lord. For about 10 months out of the year, many young people are in boarding school or away at university, so it's important when they are at home to take the opportunity to try to reach them, and for those who are saved to have fellowship with like-minded believers, and to be taught as well.

I'm heading for Liberia in two weeks' time! I wasn't sure for a while there if there was going to be a trip this spring (usually it would be at the end of March), but Lord willing, I'll be leaving on April 22nd and returning to Kenya on May 5th. Dr. Allison and Mr Paulcy Cange from Malvern FPC in USA will be going, and I'll meet them there. Pray for us all as we travel, and for the meetings that will be taking place during the trip. Dr. Allison will be teaching the pastors and other adults who are able to come, and hopefully I'll have an opportunity to have some meetings with the kids. So I booked my flights last week, and I'm working on getting the visa sorted -- pray that everything will fall into place swiftly!

Losing your Life

"Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35b)
I was reading the biography of Henry Martyn again -- this young man truly lost his life (as the world would see it) for the sake of the Gospel. He had a brilliant academic career ahead of him -- he was made a fellow in Cambridge at the age of 19 after excelling in mathematics and winning the coveted post of "Senior Wrangler" for the year. He also had a great gift for languages -- during the course of his life, he learned at least 10 different languages (from what I've been able to find) -- Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Portuguese, Bengali, Hindustani, Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit. But he gave up his promising future, left behind his family and friends and the woman he loved, and at the age of 25 he set out for India as a missionary. He was already suffering from tuberculosis at this point, and the disease was exacerbated by the harsh conditions and climate of the land to which he went. But he counted all these things as loss so that he might gain Christ, and serve Christ.
Just after he arrived in India, as he surveyed the work of other missionaries around him while he was still waiting for an official appointment, he wrote in his journal -- "I feel pressed in spirit to do something for God. Everybody is diligent, but I am idle . . . I have hitherto lived to little purpose, more like a clod than a servant of God; now let me burn out for God." Some debate whether the idea of "burning out for God" is not simply used as an excuse for being presumptuous and careless with your life, but I cannot help but feel that if more of us had this true desire in our hearts and put it into practice in our lives, we would see much more being done for God in our generation. We are too caught up in our comforts, in our relationships, in our own desires and ambitions. Martyn said, "Let me forget the world, and be swallowed up in a desire to glorify God."
Martyn did burn out for God. He died at the age of 31. But in the few short years that he spent in India and Persia, God accomplished so much through him! He preached the Gospel to many lost souls, opened several schools, and translated the New Testament into Hindustani, Persian, and Arabic.
I am 29. What have I done with my life thus far? More importantly, has the Lord done anything through me? Or have I been so caught up with my own plans and ambitions -- even "spiritual" ones! -- that I have been of no use? "I have hitherto lived to little purpose . . ."
Let me leave you with not the words of a man or about a man -- even such a man as Martyn -- but the words of Christ. "I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4)
"The brightest life on earth was one of loss;
The noblest head was wreathed with sharpest thorn.
Has He not consecrated pain -- the Cross?
What higher crown can Christian brows adorn?
Be we content to follow on the road
Which men count failure, but which leads to God!"