Greetings from Africa!

Jeff and I are so excited to share with you all the wonderful things we are experiencing here in Africa. We have already spent 5 days in Kenya, living among children in the Fiwagoh Mission and Orphanage. When we arrived to the home, the children bombarded our bus, waving and running beside us. Once we stepped off the bus, we were covered in welcoming hugs. Immediately, three little girls grabbed my hands and shyly smiled up at me. These girls did not stop holding my hand until I left this morning (Sunday, January 1^st).

The past few days, we have received over two-dozen letters from the children, encouraging us in Christ and expressing their love for us. Robert, a 12 year old boy brought to the orphanage a year and a half ago, wrote this to Jeff: “I want to thank you very much for being in Africa, Kenya and Fiwagoh where we are enjoying together and mostly me calling you Uncle Jeff. I have never had such a close friend like you here in Kenya. I am very sure I will cry when you leave us.”

Today was full of tears but also full of encouragement. These children are so spiritually blessed that it has left me completely humbled. We have witnessed these orphaned children praise the Lord for waking up each morning, having clothes on their back, food in their bodies, but most of all for the love of their Savior. A young girl told us that she was very grateful that her father had left her and her siblings and that her mother died. For if she had not suffered and been orphaned, she would not know the Lord. She would rather have nothing at all and love the Lord, then have a worldly family and safe home, but not know the Lord.

Today we also delivered much-needed groceries to an all-boys orphanage called Grace Children’s Home. Located in the hills above Nakuru, the views from this home were almost as awesome as the spirit of the people inside it. 

Here is a quick recap  of the earlier part of our week:

Thursday, we visited the baby’s home, Haven of Hope. These little ones were so eager to be held and excited to have someone to play with them. I was amazed to see toddlers dressing toddlers, four year olds holding 2 year olds.  We were very privileged to present this home with two washing machines, toys, formula, clothing and pipe cleaner bracelets and sunglasses. What a blessing it was to hold a child, so thrilled to have someone to look up to.

Friday was bunk bed today. We presented 20 metal bunk beds, mattresses and sheets to 20 children, who previously were sharing 5 or 6 wooden beds covered with rags and drenched in urine. To see their smiling faces as they received their very own bed for the first time. Kelsey and I were also given the chance to pray with three street children, who were watching all of the excitement from outside the gate.

We spent Saturday (Sabbath) at the Fiwagoh Mission, worshiping and praising the Lord that has been so faithful to provide for us in 2011, and will continue His good work all through the next New Year! We went on a beautiful nature walk down to a lake and up and large hill. The children would gather beautiful wild flowers and presented us with their “special” gifts.

There are many, many more stories to tell, and we are only halfway through our trip! Uganda, here we come!!!  Thank you for your prayers - God is listening to them and abundantly blessing us.

As the Fiwagoh children say, “Our God is so good, all the time. All the time, our God is so good and that is His nature, WOW!”

Love, Jeff and Becca

Sunday, January 1, 2012