Love Me some Lottie!

Its officially my last week in Africa. By Thursday night, I'll be sleeping in my own bed after 20 months.
I thought I would do a post about how Lottie Moon Christmas Offering helps me....

A liter of gas is about $1.20- which is over 4.00 per gallon. Transportation is used to go to campus and hang out with students off campus as well. Much of my job with students is to build relationships. The African culture is very embedded in deep meaningful relationships where they are in your home or you are in theirs.

Another aspect of what we aim to do is to encourage students to "reach" their own. Providing funds to go to places where people have never heard the gospel, can change a students life. A prime example of this is when my friend Emily and I took a trip to the Rendille. With the help of Lottie Moon, we were able to make the trip and encourage students who were spending 6 months there. We were also able to provide for a student to go with us. The student team also takes frequent trips to the coast reaching the Diego and other unreached/unengaged peoples.

Lottie Moon also takes care of us physically. Over the last 2 years I have battled amebas, discovering my acid reflux is not as under control as we though, and gallbladder issues. My medical bills, meds, and tests have all be taken care of thru your giving.

These are just SOME of the ways Lottie Moon provides for those on the field. Not to mention the countless others (i.e. Language, training, education). So THANK YOU. Without Lottie thousands of people will never hear the truth.

Lottie Moon Week of Prayer: Day 5

Day 4 : Beijing, China

Thank God for Steve and Lisa and other workers like them who obediently go despite illness, delays and discouragement.

Pray for divine appointments, good health and acquisition of the Mandarin language for Steve and Lisa.

Day 5 : North Africa

IMB workers Nik and Ruth Ripken* have served in some of the toughest Muslim areas of Africa. They’ve known believers who have been martyred for Christ. They’ve interviewed hundreds of other persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries.

After all that, they’ve learned something about persecution: “The most persecuted person is a lost person who has no access to Jesus,” Nik says. “Satan wants to keep people from hearing about Jesus. If he can’t do that, he wants to shut you up, to silence your witness.”

Everywhere the Ripkens go in the world, they meet Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others hungry to know about God. “Every time we send a missionary through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, we’re saying, ‘We will not stop until every man, woman, boy and girl on earth has access to Jesus,’” Nik says. “Being His heart, His hands and His voice means we’re representing Jesus among all the nations.”

Pray for boldness for believers in persecution as they proclaim Christ.

Pray that the worst persecution — no access to Christ — will end in our generation as missionaries take the Gospel to all peoples.

Your Dollars in NAME

In persecuted areas where relationships are key to sharing the Gospel, just $20 gives most missionaries the money they need to take a group of non-believers out to eat or provide a meal for them in their home. Sharing their resources often leads to open doors to share truth. How many open doors will you provide?

Lottie Moon Week of Prayer : Day 3

Before he found Christ, Bishwa Karmacharya was destined to become the temple priest, making sacrifices on behalf of others. Instead, the Nepalese church planter grew up to tell others about Jesus’ sacrifice.

Karmacharya is Brahmin, the priestly and highest caste in Hinduism, the religion followed by most Nepalese. It’s typically unthinkable for Brahmins and high-caste Hindus to associate with lower-caste Hindus.

But Christ has no caste, says Karmacharya, who was trained in church planting by IMB worker Carl Russell.* Russell watched God develop in Karmacharya a gift for sharing the Gospel and church planting. Now he and his wife, Ramila, plant churches among all castes and people groups in Nepal.

His radical obedience has permeated a growing generation of Nepalese pastors who, like Karmacharya, have chosen the road less taken, braving threats and bombs to see Christ’s name glorified in the Himalayas.

“We don’t pray for one more church,” Karmacharya says. “We pray for one more healthy church.” This means having local, indigenous leadership. That’s why the Karmacharyas regularly pile into their car and drive down roads that hug the hips of mountains to train these leaders.

Many Nepalese would call Karmacharya a radical because he’s chosen obedience to Christ over caste, culture, family and Hinduism. He sees himself as only obedient.

Pray for healthy churches and other godly leaders to be raised up in the Himalayas; pray for safety for the Karmacharyas.

Pray that the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal will be met so more obedient workers like Carl Russell can disciple and train national leaders.

Many of the people the Bratchers work with are illiterate. LMCO giving allows them to purchase materials for oral learners. An example of these materials are picture flip books that tell Bible stories from creation to Christ. These picture books cost $8.

The Bratchers say they use many audio-based materials like the Papyrus Solar Audio Player. This audio player is solar powered so it can be used in areas without electricity. These solar players cost $50.

They also use “The Hope,” a DVD Gospel presentation that has been contextualized for the Tibetan Buddhist world. Copies of the video cost $10.

Lottie Moon Week of Prayer: Day 2

Grace* shakes her head. Feathered earrings dance, framing her face with motion and color. She is a member of one of the indigenous tribes of South America and is talking about the future of her people.

There are outsiders who would keep them in something of a museum — as living history, she says — stuck in a time that has not been a reality for several generations. It’s not what she wants. Yet the identity of her people in the global community is not an easy issue. “A lot of our people don’t even know our [culture],” she says. “They say they do, but they hide behind it.”

She wants her people to move ahead — to “win.” She wants them to take advantage of all that is going on about them while retaining the best of their culture. That means having to change.

Grace and her tribe are among 3,400 unengaged, unreached peoples across the world. Nearly 400 are in South America. Isolated by language, culture, history and — in some cases, geography — they live mostly in small clusters of fewer than 3,000 people. Most will never have a missionary assigned to them. Yet the church is called to take the Gospel to all peoples.

Gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering allow IMB personnel to identify and understand these often forgotten people, offering Southern Baptist churches committed to embracing unengaged, unreached peoples a basis for beginning their work among them.

Pray that Grace’s people truly will “win” and have the opportunity to hear about their Savior.

Pray that your church will be one to embrace an unengaged, unreached people group that might not otherwise hear the Gospel. 

Your Dollars at Work in UPG's: For $100, a worker can purchase a water filtration bottle needed when trekking through the jungles of South America to find the nearly 400 tribes that have never heard the Gospel. They also spend $30 on waterproof bags needed to keep their Bibles and other materials dry.

Lottie Moon Week of Prayer: Day 1

A glimmer of light shines in Egypt. It’s not pretty and it smells worse, but it’s hope. It’s a sign of God at work. In the middle of a city dump, which more than 3,000 people call home, God is raising a church.

Leading the vision to build this garbage city church is a 31-year-old man who moved to the community as a teenager. “I have a strong sense for what it is like here, since I have lived here myself,” says Joseph.* “So God put in my heart to build a church here. That has been my dream.”

Joseph’s church is but one of many in a country with a rich history of Baptist ministry. “Southern Baptists were very influential through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon,” says Ron Robinson,* who served in Egypt for 29 years and witnessed the beginning of Baptist work. “When we first went [to Egypt], the work was evangelism that resulted in churches. That was our statement.” The work has led to a vital impact on Egyptian churches who are answering the call to reach their own people.

Especially with the unrest in the region, Southern Baptists need to stay focused on how God is working in Egypt, says Ron. “He sent His Son to die for these people and we cannot lose the eternal big picture. [We] have to stay on track.”

Pray for Joseph and other leaders who are carrying out the vision to BE His heart, His hands, His voice.

Pray that Southern Baptists will act now with generosity and obedience while the doors of opportunity in Egypt are open.

How Your Dollars Count in Egypt: 

Today Christian workers are continuing the work of building up Egyptian churches. For $70, a worker can hire a driver and get safely to remote locations like the garbage city. That same amount of money can also be used to transport pastors like Joseph to training events and discipleship seminars.

Lottie Moon Week of Prayer

This week is the week of prayer for Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. 

The Theme for this years offering comes from Matthew 16:24-25, HCSB

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it."

Engaging people groups in the hard places comes with risk and sacrifice for all who obediently choose to be His heart, His hands, His voice. Most of us aren’t threatened because of our faith, but we need to be in prayer for those who are — not that persecution will end but that believers in persecution will stay courageous and bold.

Giving is also a call to obedience and sacrifice. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® enables IMB missionaries to live and work at the forefront of lostness and extend our witness through their full-time ministry.

Each of us and our churches are called continually to take the next step in our obedience so that Christ is glorified and to ask “What am I doing and what is my church doing to be obedient — to BE His heart, hands and voice, no matter the cost?”

Each day I will be posting the 8 days for the offering highlights a dark place where the gospel is working. Thank for you for praying and giving to Lottie Moon. 

"They must really like you" ...

This was said a lot over the last week in reference to Bethany and Andrea coming to visit me last week. People were surprised they would travel such along way for such a short amount of time. So their response would be " they must really like you!"

Bethany, Me, and Andrea at Teafarm 

I am incredibly humbled and grateful for ALL the visits of 2012. When someone comes such a great distance to see what God has been doing and 'walk in your shoes' means the world. Thanksgiving day a man who got to know my parents in their visit of August 2012, said " Ya know, they really like you. They are just so proud of you." I laughed - but its true. My entire family has been so support in the last year and this crazy adventure.


Softball season is over. We ended the season with a party eating ballpark themed food and the 90's classic "rookie of the year." The point of the party was to help Emily with her relationships next season when I'm gone.

Softball girls! 

We have also met some new friends who are Hindu. We had a Diwali party watching bollywood movies and eating Indian food. After the movie they explained to us what Diwali was really all about.
One of the girls even came over and did come henna for Bethany and Andrea during their visit.

Beautiful Henna

Christmas is taking over Nairobi! All the malls are getting decorated and Im doing some shopping! 

Its beginning to look like Christmas!

See you in 2 weeks America!

6 Weeks and Counting!

Here's me riding the camel- I was actually terrified 

The month os October has been a wild one. From Uganda to the desert to the coast. I can't believe its already November. Surprisingly Christmas Decorations are already up at the malls in Nairobi! My friend and I took a break to the coast and had a wonderful time being pampered by the family there and the hotel we stayed at for the night. I even got to fulfill my goal of riding a camel! Halloween I had some friends over for dinner and cheesy "Hocus Pocus" - Em and I carved "african" pumpkins! "Georgia was on my mind" as you can see from the photo. :)

November will wrap up softball. We have had only a couple of games this season. The expectations I had from this ministry kinda proved to disappoint. We have hardly had practice, much less opportunity for devotion time due to girls showing up on time.

Prayer Requests:
- Girls from softball and opportunities to share
- Our University friend's salvation
- My friends Bethany/ Andrea are coming for Thanksgiving!
- Ladies Prayer retreat ( Im leading worship)

Our view for the Saturday Afternoon 

Deep in the Desert

Meet Evelyn 

Nursery School in Kargi 

Patience, Ruthie, and Peace 

Kibaki in Kurkum 

Kids in Kurkum 

Meet my Rendille Mom! 

Pastor Brown 

Story time under the tree 

How creative is Our God in cultures! 

100 KM from the nearest town you find a unreached people group called the Rendille. Deep in the desert- where only thorn bushes and acacia grow. Our trip started with a long bus ride to a town in northern Kenya called Marsabit.  We took an all night bus where the three of us were stuck on the same bench crammed together, attempting to sleep. We arrived the next morning and crashed until the next journey. Our next mode of transport was called a "Lory." This meant we sat on top of large bags ( maize or rice) for three hours while the people stared at us. The dust was so bad I had to wrap my head in a scarf. Finally we arrived to where we were staying for the night. The Ndegwa's welcomed us with open arms. This family has been serving in Kargi for about 5 years. They have 3 beautiful girls who made the house always "alive." Our first day in Kargi I went to the school with a girl named Evelyn. She is a short term missionary. I taught the story of Noah to the kids in 4th grade. Most of the kids just stared at me or wanted to play with my watch. Its so hot you cant possibly do anything for most of the afternoon so each day we took a break from about til about 4 to rest. That afternoon we went to the first Manyatta. A manyatta is a cluster of thatched houses. The children came in droves. Some of the women came over - mostly older women. Emily told the story of the demon possessed man. Day 2 I went to the new nursery school. The kids were crazy and hardly understood any Swahili. This was the first time any of these kids had even been to school so they were restless. In the afternoon we went a different manyatta to do a birthday party for some rescued twins. The kids were anxious to get their hands on the goodies we had for them. We moved to Kurkum that night. We stayed in the manyattas where the 2 missionary guys stay. We had to learned to take a bucket bath in the moonlight praying no one was watching. Day 3 I went to the local school with one of the missionary guys to teach class 3. That afternoon we had the frustration of having no translator to speak in Rendille for us so we just walked a greeted people. As we walked up to one lady she stated she wanted to adopt me. She gave me the name "Kurkumea Nalea" Which meant I was born in Kurkum. (The Rendille believe we were all once Rendille and we have come back home). She gave me a necklace on the last day. She was a very sweet and affectionate lady. We were also able to go to the tree where the old men sit all day. This has been unheard of for me when Ive gone to other places, but they received us well. Emily shared C2C with them and they actually answered the questions when asked what they thought about the story. Day 4 I spent the morning in the Manyattas. We walked, greeted, and prayed for many sick people. The Rendille only eat what "relief food" is provided on the trucks when it comes, which basically consist of starch and beans. No vitamins - which means their immune systems are poor. One lady's house we stopped into gave us soured camel's milk to drink. This was by far the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth in all my trips abroad. The missionary, pastor Brown took the bullet and drank most of it for me. That afternoon we visited another manyatta and shared the C2C story with the women and children. The children were restless and the women didnt respond as well as the men did, but they at least heard the story.  That evening we had to pack up our stuff and leave. It was very sad to go after such an incredible week.
This week I learned so much about "counting the cost" Seeing Kenyans reaching to their own people was humbling. The Rendille have nothing but can always afford a smile. They give sacrifices to a fake god and believe in witchcraft. Their "sin" and "doing wrong" is OK when it is done to someone who has wronged them or have "more" than them. One man will have multiple wives and a girl will marry as young as 9 years old. A woman's role in life is to have children and feed them. Having livestock is more important than food in your children's bellies. Going to school is only for the few. The Rendille need to know the gospel.
Please pray for ...
- Pastor Ndegwa and his family as they minister to the people of Kargi.
- The nursery school as is begins and for sponsors to supply needs.
- Evelyn as she finishes her time there.
- Pastor Brown in Kurkum
- Kibaki as he finishes his time there.
- That the Rendille people would come to know God.

On the Road again.

October will be the month of traveling! Im so excited to get out of the city for a little while. Next week I'll be traveling to Uganda to take part in Passion World Tour Kampala. Louie, Chris Tomlin ya know all those guys are coming over. The last time this took place in 2008 there was about 12,000 people there so I'm sure there will be even more this time. 

I'm really excited to get to see all the students who go to school in Tanzania. I have missed them all so much and looking forward to seeing some familiar faces. 

No less than a week after we return from UG I will be traveling up country to a people group called the Rendille who inhabit the Eastern Province of Kenya. These are a people who live in the forest and speak their own mother tongue. We will be going to tell stories and working with girls helping they are worth more than making babies at the age of 14. 

Facts about the Rendille 

Population is 63,000 

15% Christian but only 4.2% Evangelical

85% Practice African Traditional Religion

They offer sacrifices and pray to the moon and call their god "wakh" 

Pray This month:

- Upcoming trips ( safety, restful nights even on the bus, health)

- My health 

- Softball team at USIU opportunities for Emily and I to be bold 

Not Ashamed.

This past week I worked at RBC ( the church I attend here) for Teen's Week! The theme was Not Ashamed. I wonder if old Christian music songs pop into your head as they did mine. Oh Newsboys. Well anyways it was a great week with about 40 everyday in attendance. We had to do the activities in the afternoon due to the students attending required remedial classes by their parents/ gov. So the youth pastor was a little hesitant about who would even show up. But I think the turnout was more than any of us expected. My role included a lot of juice mixing and constructing " JimmyJamieHour." Which means there is another guy named Jimmy, he and I ran games for the week. Every afternoon we did parody's of game shows in the states and had the teens compete all week long. We wrapped up the week by teaching them Capture the Flag!

             "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, 
for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, 
        to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 

Playing Traffic Jam.

They Cant Figure it Out. haha. 

"Minute to Win it" Wrap a guy like a Mummy.

Cuties hanging around the church to see what's going on. 

Pray For: 
- Uni work starting back up aka Softball starting again. 
- 3 more months! Praying to finish strong! 

Love in Action.

Family came and went. What a wonderful treat to spend some time with them and showing them around Nairobi.


This past week I attended a VBS at the local church I attend and took video all week long. I stepped back on the first day and thought about home much time, effort, and money is put into the VBS's back home and watched a no frills VBS be successful in its own way. Kids met in the morning for group time listening to one of the pastors share about Loving others, loving our enemies and how much God loved them. Then they split off into classes grouped by age for bible story time and maybe a trivia game. After tea time they would get into even smaller groups and prepare for Sunday's "celebration." We even got to take them to the pool one day!! Over all it was a wonderful week of getting to serve along side of the students in the youth group. I was very proud of how they took time out of their break off from school to serve as teachers and leaders.

Here's some shots from the week!

Pray for :
- stamina and added patience with culture
- Cousins as they wrap up Ramadan
- friend we have been sharing and hanging out with, he's been seeking for a while

Grateful

grate·ful

 [greyt-fuhl]  

adjective

1.

warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefitsreceived; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

2.

expressing or actuated by gratitude: a grateful letter.

3.

pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome;refreshing: a grateful breeze.

Its hard to believe I've been living in Nairobi almost a month. As I look back on the last few weeks I can't help but be grateful. Within the first week of arriving I was overwhelmed with information and responsibilities but at the same time - there was great grace in questions. There was a full week dedicated to our rest and company related business. I am thankful our company still sees that week of value even if its a lot of expense and planning. My birthday week was full of fun and adventure. I am still learning my way around Nairobi. The people in my life really made my day special. I attended a weekly small group for the local youth group I've been sort of assigned to get involved with. The other jgirl who goes to the church and I took the youth minister and his wife out for all 4 of our birthdays. I love this couple and their heart for not only the church but the community around the church. I have moved into my home for the remainder of my 6 months here, started learning my way around the shelves of the resource center, making less wrong turns off the roads, and trying to catch a vision of how God can use me over the next few months.

I am grateful for your continued prayers!

the 4th!

Now in Kenya!

I have been here since Sunday. Yesterday was enough for me to want to update on my new life. Nairobi is chilly and busy. I have been staying with a friend from training back in VA. Its been fun hanging out with the Jgirls here and getting to know them. The family whom I will be in staying in their home has also been wonderful with their hospitality and information. I was a bit timid driving until this morning when I mustered up the guts to ask a friend if I could drive back from the local grocery store, and I did just fine.

A Jgirl here has gotten involved in a local softball team at USIU. I went to practice with her on Tuesday for the first time and lets just say, ' I whipped them into shape.' They all said they had learned more about the game in that one afternoon, than any other, so hopefully I didn't scare them too much.

The other families on the compound all got together yesterday for the 4th. We all brought sides and our own meat for the grilling. We just hung around all day playing cards, roasting marshmellows, and fellowshiping. It was beautiful weather for all of you who sweated in the states- but no fireworks here!

Happy Birthday 'Merica! 

Mk's are so cool! 

All the yummy food! 

I am thankful for where I currently am and the freedom and I have in Christ. I am also excited about this upcoming month with arrivals of old friends, making new ones, retreat, moving into my house, and my parents arrival.

He is Faithful

Packing up and cleaning out my apartment for the last year has been such an emotional chore. As I was going thru a box of letters, cards of encouragement I received over the year I stumbled upon my first 2 journals here in Tanzania. As I read the pages of smudged pencil there was an overwhelming theme of doubt and uncertainty. As I read I couldn’t help but weep “How faithful He has been…” Sleepless nights of feeling unsafe, driving fears and mustering up the guts to get out my gate once a day, crying out for relationships.

Now, Dar is truly been “home” to me. I adore the people that come in and out of my life everyday, I drive like I’m living in a video game, and my apartment has been very comfortable. He has been ever so faithful to me in my time here.

I’m looking forward to Kenya but for now I just want to spend every moment I can with these amazing students and friends that God has placed in my life. Tanzania will always have a piece of my heart.

Song I cant stop listening to "He is faithful" by Bryan and Katy Torwalt 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJMQKCCAm6I

Psalm 33:4 
 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 36:5
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 89:1  I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

Movingggg

With less than 30 days left in Dar, my time will be flying by.... 

I guess time to announce IM MOVING! Nairobi, Kenya will be my new home in one month. Due to some circumstances here, its best for me to finish my time there (7 more months!). It's kinda funny God would be sending me there. I fought going to a place I had been before- wanting to be stretched but now I've come full circle. I'm looking at this as a new adventure, things " if I could this over again" - well now I can, and obviously another country/ experience under my belt. Truly, I know this is the best thing for me right now - so I'm trying to embrace and frankly wrap my mind around it. 

 I don't really to think about saying goodbye just yet so no sappy blogs so far. I went to a wedding last weekend and took some shots of the happy couple! 

This next week is the last week of swimming and the semester is winding down. 

Congrats Raziki and Jehovaness 

Me, Angela, and Comfort

My date- Aneth

May in Dar

Drown Proofing Day 

Girls at the Beach! 

City Scape 

Webber's Bday with CoWorkers

Girls Bible Study for Webb's Bday

Joy, Carol, and I 

Learning to Dive 

Oh. Swim Class 

Love You Webber! 

The month of May has roared by and I never once really stopped.  This has probably been the fun-est month I’ve had here. Weeks have been busy filled with bible studies, swimming classes and meeting one on one with students. 

Weekends have been busy with beach trips, birthday fun, and simply hanging out!

A week from today we are saying goodbye to our volunteers we have had for 4 months. Through the ups and downs they have proven resilient to the city around them. I will be sad to see them go, but one in particular will leave a mark in my life. Webber has been not only a wonderful friend but also a partner in ministry. It has been a joy to watch her grow over the last 4 months with the girls that I invest in here.  In my weaknesses she has strengths and has been able to guide and mentor these women into better followers of Christ. I will miss our hang outs and cooking together. I am so grateful for her time here.

Pr@y For:
- HandsOn as they "unpack" their time here
- Lisa is joining me next month here
- Last month in Dar to be Awesome!
- Prepare my heart for moving and new City!