12-7-07

Fri07:22ish -Lord, thank You for the small times that you take me aside and blessed me. Please hold my mind steady, and still its wandering. Thank You for friends and food and stars and quiet nights with a slight cool breeze.-

12-6-07

Thu23:04 A ton has happened since I last wrote. I am too tired to write about it all right now, but some of the highlights are… Caleb and Eva Joy got married (I was incredibly honored to be the best man)… Bob, LuAnn, James, and Jenelle flew back to America (I definitely miss them all individually and as a whole)… Aly (a cool friend I met at Keswick) arrived in Kenya (it is definitely cool that she is here)(God’s timing is pretty good, cuz if Aly didn’t come, I would be alone a lot. {cuz Caleb and Eva moved out of the compound, and the other guys left.}{the T.ransformed I.nternational group is still at the compound, but they have their own schedule, etc...})… I’m going to sleep… goodnight…

my family

Thu17:44 Let me tell you about my family over here… I’ll start with James (JJ)…… James Jea Armstrong (21) is my brother, and like blood brothers we have a tight bond of love, and we also can allow our flesh to make us stupid. We are both willing to fight for out friendship (even if that means fighting our own flesh). I don’t think he knows all the ways that God uses hid life. He is a quiet example of loving and caring about people. Many many times I will meet someone, or encounter someone, or talk to, or play a game with someone, and my relationship with them will stop there. Often James will meet them, find out about them, remember their names, and build relationships with them. I am both encouraged and convicted by this. James is one of the people that I can talk to about anything. He is always ready to listen, encourage, pray, or just talk with me. He is smart good at sports and engaged to …… Jenelle Grace Herring (21) is one of those people who makes people laugh harder, longer, or more often then they normally would. The gift of laughter is a gift that I put a lot of value on. She sets high expectations for herself, but often bypasses my expectations. She keeps her eyes wide open (not literally) (she sees the “barcode plastic world” for its fakeness, and the motionless steeples, pulpits, and smiles for their emptiness). She has seen too many Bibles with paper thin pages. When I talk with her, there is no fear or feeling of having to measure up or appear this way or be so strong or know so much. She neither offers or requests any pretences. In her, I see childlike joys and adultlike concerns. I can joke with her more freely than with most friends. She is truly my sister, and her sister is …… Eva Joy Herring (for 16.5 hours)(the time is now 23:30) (27) constantly (almost) reminds me what life is all about. She seeks truth with all her energy and speaks it with a quiet, unapologetic resolve. Her beauty is knit to her soul. She doesn’t claim to be wiser than the foolish or stronger than the weak or more noble or worthy than the dirt jar that God stores His priceless riches in. she isn’t interested in spotlights or titles. She “stands fast in liberty”, and is not “entangled in the yoke of bondage” [Galations 5:1-15]. Eva Joy is about as materialistic as a mud hut. She loves kids, is a little bit ADD, is a little bit crazy, and in about 45 minutes, she is marrying …… Caleb Senecal is a man… and I mean that in the fullest extent of the word. He is a hard worker, and he loves to work with his hands. Caleb bored is like an Alka-Seltzer in a coke bottle. He “seeks God in the morning and learns to walk in His ways”. Caleb would love to live in a mud hut (not to mention build one). God began to build our friendship before we even had a conversation. God just put each of us on each other’s hearts and in each other’s hearts. He is a quiet servant, and he loves the rejected. I have never tired of his company. Caleb is my friend, brother, and comrade.Both he and Eva Joy are like precious treasure: one is not easily separated from them, nor easily forgets them. I cherish their friendship.Ah!!, but I have not mentioned Caleb’s new parents in law (Eva Joy and Jenelle’s parents)…… Bob and LuAnn Herring…… Bob Herring is a name that is rarely spoken without causing a response or reaction. Bob is a faucet of wisdom, knowledge, great stories, and terrible jokes. Furthermore, the supply is all but endless, and the faucet knob is broken, permanently stuck in the “on” position. When Bob speaks, the wise listen, the proud tremble, those hungry to learn draw near, those who want naught but comfortability steal away, those with good timing get words in edgewise, and the religious people cringe. Bob would say that his greatest prayer for us is that we could, one day, be as humble as him (he is very much joking). He realizes that he and everyone else is a great big “fart in a barrel” except for the Christ in us. He is not a “respecter of persons”, and he doesn’t take off his hat or cower before men with titles and positions. God speaks to him and he listens and shares what he has heard. Bob never tires of telling the same sory, or message, or truth or saying, over and over again, and though we grouan or sigh at the retellings, I realized that I am truly thankful that he repeats them. They are etched deeper in my memory after the seventh time hearing them. He loves his family, and is eager for people to share any words, songs, wisdom, and gifts that God has given them. He is less a leader and more an encourager, exorter, light shiner, accountability provider, and advisor. Bob is a father to many and he is married to…… LuAnn Herring is a mother to all who will have her. She serves and toils when no one is watching. None of us works harder than her or are as underappreciated as her. Perhaps it is impossible to appreciate her enough to match her services. LuAnn’s presence brings comfort, even when it is she who needs to be comforted. She does not love people at arms length, but at full embrace. She listens intently and searches for ways to help. LuAnn is a joyful witness of God’s ridiculously awesome provisions, choreography, perfect timing, and strange, mysterious, and sweet ways. When she is happy, I can hardly be otherwise. Her smile can never be lonely, for when I see t, my own smile is drawn out to keep hers company. How her body can manage to contain her huge heart, mystifies physiology and anatomy, and defies laws of science and matter. Soo…. That’s my team/friends/family over here…

11-28-07

Wed12:54 The Israelites were led, by God, to the Promised Land. He promised them possession of this land. When a group of men went in and scouted the place, they found that it was beautiful and flourishing, and good, but they also saw that large and strong opponents stood in the way of possessing the land. Of the scouts, only Caleb and Joshua believed that God would be their strength and they would conquer. Everyone else didn’t have faith in God’s leadership…. Isn’t it amazing that we become timid and doubting of our future. If we are following God, what can stand in our way? [Psalm 114]. When he is our strength, what burden is too great? When our eyes are set upon Him, how can we be surprised at the indescribable beauties we will experience, see, and know. When He is our protection, whom shall we fear? Recently I was encouraged by my friend Gary to pray. Is there any season or aspect of our lives that God doesn’t have interest in? any area that He doesn’t care to be involved? Anything that we can do just as well without his counsel? Any time when He would rather not spend time with us? Can a wild donkey’s colt be born a man? I am reading the book of Numbers right now, and Moses is always going to God about something or another. He doesn’t seem to think that he is on a solo mission. Is it a wonder that God spoke to him face to face and plainly as a man speaks to his friend [Numbers 12:18][Exodus 33:11]

11-27-07

Tue08:15 A couple of days ago, we went to Uganda for a day trip. The land is soo beautiful. When we (Bob, James, Jenelle, Caleb, Eva Joy, me) got there we divided into groups of 1 or 2, and were invited to different churches as guests and to speak. They paired me and Eva Joy, and we were brought to a small wooden building with plenty of ventilation (the building was made of sticks and wooden slabs nailed to a frame of sticks and poles). I was asked to speak to the church, so I talked about following the example of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and beings the servant to all. As unreligious as it sounds, my favorite part of church was watching the little kids (and trying to make them smile without the adults catching me). I’m so glad that Jesus called us to be like the little Children.On the drive home, I stood up in the truck bed and held onto a bar on the cab and ate sugar cane and loved the wind in my face and smiled and laughed and bounced and counterbalanced to the ridiculously potholed, bumpy road and sang loud praise songs and looked at the sun set and the stars and the mountains and I waved to the kids who jumped up and down because the saw mazungus… it was a good day.

12-7-07

Fri07:39ish Let me back track a little bit… Caleb and Eva Joy’s marriage and wedding were beautiful and choreographed by God. He truly brought them together. Their hearts and their feet were bare before everyone there. Wycliffe very honestly preformed the wedding. Let me back track a little less… on Monday I took a bus to Nairobi. It was around a 9hr ride. And I think that most of it felt kind of like wrestling Hulk Hogan. I could literally feel my insides hitting my outsides and I left the seat a good number of times and bumped my head about 3 times. After I got there, I met up with Daniel (Lipparelli)(the head of T.I. and the compound{and a supercoolguy}) he shoed me where to pick up a bus to the airport. He went back to his group, and I waited in a huge line for an hour and a half, until I was 3rd from the front of the line. If I waited longer, I might have been late, so I took a taxi (much more expensive) and got there with time to spare. It was very cool to see Aly in Kenya. She felt at home as soon as she walked out of the airport and since then she has just been happy to be here. That night we stayed at the Mennonite Guest House. That was a long day (I forgot to mention that the night before, I got to sleep at 5:30AM, because I was organizing photos, and putting them on CD). On Tuesday we spent almost the whole day at the Men. Gue. Hou., and on Tue night, Bob, LuAnn, James, and Jenell showed up. It was great to see them there. On Wednesday they flew to America, and me and Aly drove back to Kitale (the bus ride was 99 times better than the one down).On Thursday (yesterday) our team (Aly, Eva Joy, Caleb, me) joined with Wycliffe to provide food for the widows and families of the children who go to the Tuwani school (school is out until January, so the kids who were eating porridge, beans, and rice at the school, weren’t getting much, if any, food to substitute for it.).

11-12-07

Mon17:02 If it wasn’t for the supercol family that I have here, it would be very hard for me to come back to the compound (because it is nicer and more comfortable than anywhere else I go) -God, heal those in my family who need healing. Make us one as You are one.-Today I started a time of prayer, fasting, and building relationships (I have been putting it off for far too long). [wanderingmindcomment= it is a weird thing to be the first mzungu (white person) that a lot of people see]. I started the day by seeking God in prayer, worship, and the Word (not because I am spiritual, but because it is simply my only hope of sanity and survival). I am not hearing God speak to me clearly, so all I can do is follow Him as best I can.Anyway… after I joined the house for a morning devo, I left to walk to town, with only my clothes and a cell phone. Soon after I left the house, I met a kid on a bike named Benjamin (the kid was named Benjamin, not the bike). He led me to the place he lived, in an unofficial orphanage in a slum called Kipsongo, about a 30 minute or so walk away. There were about 15 guys and 15 girls who lived there. The guys slept on straw mats on a cement floor in a small 2 room building.After I left there, I went to town and found a couple of street kids. I hung out with them for around 3 hours. I saw where some of them slept (in front of shops where the tin sheet roof extended out enough for shelter from the rain). They taught me some Swahili, and most of them sniffed glue. While I was walking with them, a big fight broke out across the street. One of the kids (Daniel) escorted me away, while a giant crowd formed at the fight. After a while, the kids said “bye”, so they could “find shillings” (mostly by begging) (nobody was going to give money to a kid who was walking with a mzungu [everybody assumes that white people are rich]). So then I walked to Tuwani Slum to go to the school we help. I got to have a good talk with Wycliffe. He is so encouraging. After I left, I walked home in the rain. It was a good day.

11-14-07

Wed16:43 Yesterday, I walked to town to hang out with the street kids. I bought two loafs of bread, and was handing out a slice to each kid, unless he had glue with him. I offered a trade of 2 slices of bread in exchange for the glue. About 6 kids made the trade. It was good to see them trade poison for nutrition (though a couple kids managed to steal their glue back). –Lord, be with Wycliffe. Heal his typhoid soon. And be with the street kids; bring them to You- I almost never see any of the street girls, because they stay out of town. They prostitute themselves at night, almost without exception. Even if they don’t, rape is almost inevitable. –Jesus, protect them-Today I found out that Daniel (the street kid who seems to have the best chance to get off the streets) didn’t go to school to take his exam, so he will have to wait till next year to try it (a year on the streets is a long time).Remind me to write about my team/family/housemates.

11-18-07

Sun20:05 Last night was awesome![A.ttention D.eficit D.isor…Oooh, there is a lizzardy geckoish reptile running along the walls of the guys’ room. It is kind of pale. I wonder if it color changes to blend with the white walls. It’s funny that I can hear him pitter patter when he runs. Oh, he disappeared into a crevice above my bed… I think I will sleep with my mouth closed tonight… anyway…] last night the house (or rather the people living in it) took communion together. Who would have guessed that strawberryjelloflavoredjuice and semisweetbread would be probably the best communion I have ever had. We didn’t “partake” until we were personally given a peace about it. We accepted Jesus’ crucifixion as a gift. We also were united with each other through communion. The fellowship was sweet. A few of us stayed around the fire (which is where we had communion) talking until before 2:AM. God worked things in our hearts, and then He manifested them before us. I saw Daniel (the street kid) today at church. I am excited to see all the street kids again. Yesterday I was reminded of some of the mentality and condition of the kid’s on the streets. James (JJ) gave a small back of flavored rice, and told them to share. As soon as it was out of his hands, they grabbed, hit, kicked, and ran to take it for themself.

11-19-07

Mon15:13 I’m reading Les Miserables when I have some free time lately, and I am at the point where Jean Valjean has recently rescued Cossette. He says that when he is caring for her, he isn’t aware of his own safety or comfort…only hers. Sometimes, when I walk throiugh town, a young street kid (maybe 8 years old) named Lasur (or John) will walk up to me and hold my hand without speaking a word. When he holds my hand he seems to be aware of none of his surroundings. He seems to simply trust me. When we hold hands I feel what Jean Valjean felt.[an honest Kenyan told us that Kenya is about 95% Christian. He said that the Christianity was 100 meters long, and as thin as the paper pages of his book]

11-7-07

Wed.13:06 I just got back from Isabela’s house in the slums of Tuwani. I went with Gladis (a teacher at the school) and Jenelle. Isabella is having a very hard time.We prayed for her and with her. We asked what we could do to help. She looked down and we thought she quietly said “coffee”. We were confused until we realized that she was saying “coffin”. She doesn’t have a coffin for her son to be buried in. We will do what we can to help.

11-5-07

Mon21:18 A woman named Isabela works to prepare food for the children’s who go to the Tuwani Slum school that we are helping. Last night at around 1:30 AM, her 16 year old son died.He was sick, and it got worse, but the family couldn’t get a vehicle to come to the slums at night, so the boy died during the night.The headmaster of the school wept for Isabelas loss. Wycliffe (the headmaster, and the person who reminds me most of Jesus) has been visiting the family, and buying and bringing them food. Kenyan culture causes people to feed anyone who visits in their house. And because Isabella will be having many visitors before the funeral, she would have to buy much food.God provided me some extra money to help to pay for food for her, so she won’t have jinancial stress on top of her mourning. God is faithfull….alot.A few days ago, a supermarket was robbed at gunpoint…this was about half an hour after me and some friends were in that supermarket. I don’t think that I fear danger very much out here. I probably should fear it more. I don’t know. I figure that if I am trying to seek and serve God, He will take me to Heaven whenever He wants. At the same time it would be selfish to be reckless and uncautious. -Lord, I know I am selfish. Please suffocate my flesh-

11-01-07

11-01-07Thursday18:20 In the next room from where I am sitting are two people who God has joined with me in friendship. It always reminds me of God’s supremacy when he works in different peoples hearts independently, yet the work is one. Once again I see how unworthy I am to be blessed with the friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ that God has given me. What is man that You are mindful of him? (Ps. 8:4)The Lord knows us so intimately that He supplies our needs, even when we don’t know them ourselves. All we need do is seek Him, by Love be taught His heart, and by Faith follow His heart. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; neither will the flame scorch you. (Isa 43:2 )

11-04-07

11-04-07Sunday8:06 1 tim 1:15 Jesus came into the world to save the sinners, of whom I am chiefI am nothing but dead wood apart from The Life –Thank You Father for breathing Life into me. I will pour everything that You have given me out upon Your feet-The choice is ever before us: follow our Father, even upon paths that common sense dares not tread, OR die.He doesn’t demand that we understand Him or His paths.He doesn’t demand purity of heart to heed His calling.He simply says, “come, follow Me” We so often complicate GOD’S WILL (oooh, that’s a spooky phrase). The Bible makes it rather clear what His “will” is. (help the poor, the injured, the weak, the hurting, the widows, and the orphans,…preach the gospel to everyone,…Love God,…Love your neighbor,… listen to the Spirit’s leading and act upon it,…abide in Christ,…fellowship and break bread with the brethren… study and listen and heed God’s Word.)… the Bible is chalk full of God’s will for out lives.Love should pull our hearts and our hearts should push our feet. Seek to do the good works that God has prepared before us.“Just keep doing your best and pray that it’s blessed and Jesus will take care of the rest” ~ Keith Green

10-31-07

10-31-07Wednesday22:15 When the Israelites were coming from Egypt to the Promised Land, they were shown miracle after miracle after miracle, but in between each miracle they forgot God’s power and Love. How easy it is to forget God while we are caught up in enjoying a meal of quale and manna-Let all that I see and hear bring me back to You-I am tempted to despair over all the horror in this world, because I can’t see a way to fix it. It is then that I am reminded that the only cure for this disease is Jesus Himself.

let me tell you a story

Let me tell you a story…… There were once two men (as there undoubtedly still are). One man was poor, yet he cared for many children (who were poorer still). His love for God, the children, and his brothers and sisters in Christ, radiated luminescent from his face (and to look directly upon it is nearly blinding to the natural eyes.). This man’s embrace of love and welcome could melt any ice that had formed on parts of the receiver’s heart. The other man was a wealthier man, yet he worried about losing his money and status. He was learned in the Bible, yet his eyes began to lose sight of “the least of these”, because his vision was blurred by more complicated or more pressing matters. He wanted to do good, follow Christ, be a good example, etc…, but he was under the pressure that comes with authority and prominence and being in a very visual position.The pressure he was under caused a tension between himself and the servant of love (the first man). The trail that love blazes is not always the most logical or economically sound. Eventually the wealthier man began to listen to conspiracies against the poorer man. There was much talk about removing the servant of Love from his position of helping the poorer children (by the way, each child was worth more than all the precious materials that have ever rested in Africa…)(…and the poor man knew it.). Late one night the poor man heard (in his heart) God telling him to sleep in the wealthier man’s house. He didn’t know why God was telling him to do this, but he knew that He was. So he stayed the night in the house and froze his but off (not literally)(nor the term he would have likely chosen.). The servant of Love had never realized how cold the more prominent man’s house was (for those of you who are wondering, Kenya can be rather hot in the day and rather cold at night.). Later, the poor man took almost his whole months salary (which was a very small one to begin with (also consider that he supported himself, his wife, and 12 children who lived in his very small house (about half of which he adopted, because they had nowhere else to go))), and he used it to buy cinder blocks to complete the wealthier man’s unfinished fireplace. Later, the second man, who had been blinded by pride came to the servant of Love and told him that many wealthier men had stayed at his house before, but none had moved to help him heat his house. The wealthier man confessed his pride, blindness, selfishness, and conspiring. He then declared that he wouldn’t interfere with anything the servant did to help the poorer children.
i pray for continued provisionfor the servant of love i pray for continued humility and rightfocusfor the man who was shownthe Love of Christ in a poormans heart.

habari

Habari (hi/how are things/what’s the news) my family,I am sorry for not sending you guys some sort of indication that I was alive earlier, but this is the first time I have had a really good chance to use the internet.Thank you all soo much for all the prayers that you have given me (my sneaky plan is to abruptly stop contacting all of you for the next month, so that I can be sure you are praying hard for me.) (just kidding, I would never even want to do that). I have been blessed upon blessing since I have been here. God has once again choreographed the lives of his servants. Kitale’s children are in great need. Many run away from home to live on the streets, because they are beaten or orphaned or other reasons. The vast majority or street kids either sniff glue, prostitute themselves, or both. Little girls are getting raped at ages of two or three years old. Some are mothers before they are ten years old. Please pray for these children and pray that God provides us more ways to protect them. They are the seed of Kenya. They will either grow into great trees, that bear the fruit of the Spirit, or they will grow to bear bitter fruit. The seeds must be protected and watered and fed. There are already schools and churches that are offering help to these children, but the street boys are hesitant to give up their glue and their lack of responsibility. Our team is working with and helping the schools and churches as well as building relationships with the street kids we meet in town. Some of the people who live in Kitale have the most amazing spirits. They don’t think twice about giving aid to others before even considering themselves. It is the vision and heart of these people that we want to join with and follow and support and stand behind. We aren’t out here to try to change Kenya. We are here to offer ourselves to God, and allow Him to pour us out wherever and however He wants. Not all of us will spend the rest of our lives in Kitale, and when we leave, God’s work will not leave with us. Please pray that God opens more and more doors for us to help those who have God’s heart to change Kitale for Him. Christ must be our first and last focus, otherwise we are caring for bodies and neglecting souls. Even the little time we have been here, we have been able to walk in some of the works that God has prepared before us. 1 Thessalonians 5:14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. Until later,Love the Lord your God,Love your neighbor,Tim(o)

today was beautiful

10-26-07 Today was beautiful!So many children just want to be shown love. We (Eva Joy, Jenelle, James, Bob and Luann Herring, and me) went to the Tuwani slum school (GraceWay) today. The children aren’t viewed as valuable in Kenyan society. What a mistake-Lord guard me against distractions-I am so encouraged by the people that I am with. Their faith and love bring Christ before my eyes.I could live here.

hi from Kenya

10-25-07 I got to Kenya last night and I got to Kitale tonight.God worked some rockin’aweseomeness to get me here.He gave me PeaceHe provided the meansHe gave me confirmationHe blessed me beyond my imagination. I forgot how much I missed Africa. Seeing the children and the slums opened my heart and readied my feet.I pray for increased faith and love. Also for wisdom. I thank God for the awesome family that He adopted me into.