Those happy faces you see here are that way because God has put so many amazing & generous people in the world.Renee & I have been praying for months - actually since we were last in Africa for the Lord to provide our way back to Africa. As you can well imagine, it is an expensive venture. Just to travel there & back is well over $5000Can. Added to that is extended medical, food, rent & overhead for our rented home in Kenya, travel expenses as we visit areas of Kenya & Uganda for ministry, assorted other costs - plus maintaining our home in Kamloops.
When we went last year, we had some financial gifts that helped a great deal, from our church & several individuals. For the most part, we subsidized our ministry out of our personal finances. This year, we haven't had that option as our pt jobs have not been lucrative enough.
Months went by - we prayed - no finances. We completely believe God wants us in Africa; we have a full itinerary through February 09 in Africa & many ministry opportunities in the UK as well on the way there & back. So much has happened pointing to the Lord wanting us there.
We - I say we - had set a date as a deadline to commit to going to Africa....that was the last Wednesday of August. The day came & went without any funds coming in & we had to let our flight tickets be cancelled.
I wondered what the heck the Lord was up to - with that date coming & going & it seeming as if we might have to spend the winter.....brrrr........in Canada working our secular jobs. We kept praying & believing & not wanting to accept this as the final answer.
The first Friday of September, we returned home after a week of very challenging work to find an anonymous blessing at our home. It lifted up our faith & excitement levels - thank you Jesus! The following week, we were invited to share at a Woman's Aglow meeting & we blessed again. The next Friday, an email from a couple we barely know blessing us again. Then, last night another email from someone else we don't know really well commiting to support us with a financial gift!
God is so very good & faithful & loving & giving & providing - our faith has escalated even more & our hearts are so full of gratitude for all these outstanding people who have given so selflessly to support our ministry.
We still have quite a way to go to get the full support we need for these upcoming 6 months in Africa - but we are confident that the Lord will finish what He has started. I said to someone recently, He isn't just teasing us - He has a plan to complete this - He wants us in Africa!
Our hearts are already there - we have so much to do. Please pray & believe with us!
Mungu akubarike sana! (God bless you so much!)
