April 25, 2013

 

Dear family and friends,

     Of all the comforts of home, it is the people we miss the most!  There is nothing like living in the middle of rural Transmara Kenya (even though we are literally surrounded by people everyday) that has taught us the life-giving value of real friendship!! Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of our family, the children here and the people in the Maasai community.  There have been times when we have been experiencing the oppression of the spiritual warfare around us and have desperately sought God’s peace and wisdom that your prayers and God’s grace have brought forth.  It has been just what we needed at the time.  We are leaving this weekend to Nairobi to pick up Megan on Sunday night form the airport.  We can’t tell you how excited we are to have her finally back with us on the Hill!  The kids have been asking everyday for months when Megan is “coming home?”  She has done an outstanding job handling school, work, and all the crazy things that have happened with the pets and house since the middle of January. 

 

The week after her return, we have planned a huge birthday bash (complete with cupcakes with candles and plenty of balloons) as part of our devotional series “Who am I?- Being an image bearer of Christ!  They are all extremely pumped for this event!  Many of the children do not even know when they were born or have ever had that day celebrated.  That week we are helping the kids plan a special thank-you party for the staff with letters of appreciation, songs and drama to honor the staff, and, of course, sweets!  Now that the kids have discovered cupcakes, there are no other possibilities for desserts!  The biggest event that we are all looking forward to more that any other is the baptism on May 5!!!  We are not sure whether the kids will be baptized in a tub or the river- but it will be a day of true celebration (special baptism scripture bracelets, pictures, and a big feast are also planned) We have been teaching for a few weeks on the significance and calling of baptism and there will probably be over 50 kids ready to be baptized on that day!!  God is so good and He has made Himself so present in their lives these past two months!!!  We know this will be a day we will all remember for the rest of our lives!! 

 

Sarah is working hard to finish up school work while continuing to play with kids of all ages here.  The mamas in the kitchen are helping her to learn to cook “Kenyan” as well as braiding her hair.  Matthew, James, and Scott are continuing on building and painting projects at the Children’s Home. The kids love it when Matthew plays with them and “flies” them like an airplane.  We frequently hear his name “Matayo” being chanted as they hang all over him.  Scott has been teaching Human Anatomy/Physiology classes to the older kids and Kathi has enjoyed every moment of the Purity Bible Study with the older girls.  Two Oasis interns will be joining us on May 6 to help with preschool, special activities with the kids including their yearly sponsor family phone call and a Women’s Day of Encouragement, Pray and Worship for the women in the community.  James is finishing up the Oasis- Kids on the Hill worship CD and his Maasai culture and history video project.  Kathi celebrated her birthday this week by finishing up the family and children teaching series at church complete with baby and motorcycle dedication.  Yes, the motorcycles (form of the only public transportation around here) were driven into the church and dedicated to the Lord near the end of the four hour service.  God spared us from carbon monoxide poisoning as the cycles’ engines were left running, headlights on and turn signals flashing during the dedication ceremony.

 

 As we prepare to begin our fourth month on the Hill, we continue to pray that God will show us His way each day and that He will truly give us the eyes and heart to see each child as He sees them.  I love it when at the end of the day, my arms are tired from all the holding and hugging of the kids.   I know then that it has been a great day! Please pray for the kids and their baptism on May 5, for the Women’s Day in May- that many women would understand the life changing love God has for them and begin to see themselves as He sees them, for Megan’s safe and uneventful arrival back to the Hill, for Kathi’s health (typhoid complications of the gallbladder), for wisdom and discernment as we seek God for direction here, for protection from the spiritual warfare heating up in this area, and that God would do a mighty work in this community.

 

Personal note:  I remember writing on our last blog that there had been two newborn infant deaths in this small community right before Easter.  Pregnancies are not publically talked about because home abortions and murders of newborn babies are not uncommon.  Some women feel hopeless to be able to feed and provide for a new child or are totally overwhelmed with the number of children and responsibilities they are “burdened” with so they feel that they have no choice but to “dispose” of their new baby.  We found out about a newborn baby boy thrown into a outhouse pit soon after birth only 6 days before Easter Sunday. The mother of this baby lived right down the road from us, only a stone’s throw from the Children’s Home- why couldn’t she have brought him there?  Family members found the baby and called authorities- the baby laid face up in the feces with the placenta still attached and appeared to be doing fine.  This precious baby boy was taken to a hospital down the Hill and the mother was arrested.  The whole community celebrated that God had saved this baby from death and our family prayed fervently for him.  I (Kathi) asked around the community about what would happen to this little guy- was God calling us to love and care for him?  Would he someday become part of the family of children on the Hill?  Three days later, I was meeting with many women from the community for Bible Study.  Toward the end of the study, a woman blurted out that the baby had been given back to the mother (who was still in the hospital being treated for “stress”) to be fed.  The mother killed the baby as she fed him earlier that day. What?  How could this happen?  I felt like I couldn’t breathe or speak.  My grief was so raw I could hardly see through the tears as I ran from the room to the back of the Children’s Home overlooking a pasture.  I cried out with everything that I had for this beautiful baby boy who would never be held in loving arms, would never know the feel of the sun on his face. Three months of grief, frustration, and disappointment was all pouring out of me at once.  I don’t know how long I stood there until I heard several small voices behind me, “Mom, Mom?”  I turned around to see precious little faces that I had grown to love looking hesitantly toward me.  I put out my arms to them and they all ran to embrace me until we almost fell in a heap.  One little girl, who has the sweetest voice and brightest smile, looked up at me and said, “Mom, why are you crying? It’s Easter!”  Out of the mouth of one of His precious children were the words of hope, truth and love.  We had spent weeks talking about Jesus and the Easter story!  This little one had learned the true message of the death and resurrection of Christ!  Yet, we live in a world of sin, death, hatred, suffering- we, as children of God, followers of Jesus Christ, live in  joy, peace, and love because Jesus’ victory!  Halleluiah!!  Only in Him can we live our lives, despite our circumstances, in this victory and bring God’s message of life, love, and hope to this world so badly in need of Him.  This beautiful baby boy is safely in the arms of Jesus!

 

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.  Until then, God’s blessings to all.

 

Scott, Kathi, Matt, Megan, James and Sarah

April 25, 2013

 

Dear family and friends,

     Of all the comforts of home, it is the people we miss the most!  There is nothing like living in the middle of rural Transmara Kenya (even though we are literally surrounded by people everyday) that has taught us the life-giving value of real friendship!! Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of our family, the children here and the people in the Maasai community.  There have been times when we have been experiencing the oppression of the spiritual warfare around us and have desperately sought God’s peace and wisdom that your prayers and God’s grace have brought forth.  It has been just what we needed at the time.  We are leaving this weekend to Nairobi to pick up Megan on Sunday night form the airport.  We can’t tell you how excited we are to have her finally back with us on the Hill!  The kids have been asking everyday for months when Megan is “coming home?”  She has done an outstanding job handling school, work, and all the crazy things that have happened with the pets and house since the middle of January. 

 

The week after her return, we have planned a huge birthday bash (complete with cupcakes with candles and plenty of balloons) as part of our devotional series “Who am I?- Being an image bearer of Christ!  They are all extremely pumped for this event!  Many of the children do not even know when they were born or have ever had that day celebrated.  That week we are helping the kids plan a special thank-you party for the staff with letters of appreciation, songs and drama to honor the staff, and, of course, sweets!  Now that the kids have discovered cupcakes, there are no other possibilities for desserts!  The biggest event that we are all looking forward to more that any other is the baptism on May 5!!!  We are not sure whether the kids will be baptized in a tub or the river- but it will be a day of true celebration (special baptism scripture bracelets, pictures, and a big feast are also planned) We have been teaching for a few weeks on the significance and calling of baptism and there will probably be over 50 kids ready to be baptized on that day!!  God is so good and He has made Himself so present in their lives these past two months!!!  We know this will be a day we will all remember for the rest of our lives!! 

 

Sarah is working hard to finish up school work while continuing to play with kids of all ages here.  The mamas in the kitchen are helping her to learn to cook “Kenyan” as well as braiding her hair.  Matthew, James, and Scott are continuing on building and painting projects at the Children’s Home. The kids love it when Matthew plays with them and “flies” them like an airplane.  We frequently hear his name “Matayo” being chanted as they hang all over him.  Scott has been teaching Human Anatomy/Physiology classes to the older kids and Kathi has enjoyed every moment of the Purity Bible Study with the older girls.  Two Oasis interns will be joining us on May 6 to help with preschool, special activities with the kids including their yearly sponsor family phone call and a Women’s Day of Encouragement, Pray and Worship for the women in the community.  James is finishing up the Oasis- Kids on the Hill worship CD and his Maasai culture and history video project.  Kathi celebrated her birthday this week by finishing up the family and children teaching series at church complete with baby and motorcycle dedication.  Yes, the motorcycles (form of the only public transportation around here) were driven into the church and dedicated to the Lord near the end of the four hour service.  God spared us from carbon monoxide poisoning as the cycles’ engines were left running, headlights on and turn signals flashing during the dedication ceremony.

 

 As we prepare to begin our fourth month on the Hill, we continue to pray that God will show us His way each day and that He will truly give us the eyes and heart to see each child as He sees them.  I love it when at the end of the day, my arms are tired from all the holding and hugging of the kids.   I know then that it has been a great day! Please pray for the kids and their baptism on May 5, for the Women’s Day in May- that many women would understand the life changing love God has for them and begin to see themselves as He sees them, for Megan’s safe and uneventful arrival back to the Hill, for Kathi’s health (typhoid complications of the gallbladder), for wisdom and discernment as we seek God for direction here, for protection from the spiritual warfare heating up in this area, and that God would do a mighty work in this community.

 

Personal note:  I remember writing on our last blog that there had been two newborn infant deaths in this small community right before Easter.  Pregnancies are not publically talked about because home abortions and murders of newborn babies are not uncommon.  Some women feel hopeless to be able to feed and provide for a new child or are totally overwhelmed with the number of children and responsibilities they are “burdened” with so they feel that they have no choice but to “dispose” of their new baby.  We found out about a newborn baby boy thrown into a outhouse pit soon after birth only 6 days before Easter Sunday. The mother of this baby lived right down the road from us, only a stone’s throw from the Children’s Home- why couldn’t she have brought him there?  Family members found the baby and called authorities- the baby laid face up in the feces with the placenta still attached and appeared to be doing fine.  This precious baby boy was taken to a hospital down the Hill and the mother was arrested.  The whole community celebrated that God had saved this baby from death and our family prayed fervently for him.  I (Kathi) asked around the community about what would happen to this little guy- was God calling us to love and care for him?  Would he someday become part of the family of children on the Hill?  Three days later, I was meeting with many women from the community for Bible Study.  Toward the end of the study, a woman blurted out that the baby had been given back to the mother (who was still in the hospital being treated for “stress”) to be fed.  The mother killed the baby as she fed him earlier that day. What?  How could this happen?  I felt like I couldn’t breathe or speak.  My grief was so raw I could hardly see through the tears as I ran from the room to the back of the Children’s Home overlooking a pasture.  I cried out with everything that I had for this beautiful baby boy who would never be held in loving arms, would never know the feel of the sun on his face. Three months of grief, frustration, and disappointment was all pouring out of me at once.  I don’t know how long I stood there until I heard several small voices behind me, “Mom, Mom?”  I turned around to see precious little faces that I had grown to love looking hesitantly toward me.  I put out my arms to them and they all ran to embrace me until we almost fell in a heap.  One little girl, who has the sweetest voice and brightest smile, looked up at me and said, “Mom, why are you crying? It’s Easter!”  Out of the mouth of one of His precious children were the words of hope, truth and love.  We had spent weeks talking about Jesus and the Easter story!  This little one had learned the true message of the death and resurrection of Christ!  Yet, we live in a world of sin, death, hatred, suffering- we, as children of God, followers of Jesus Christ, live in  joy, peace, and love because Jesus’ victory!  Halleluiah!!  Only in Him can we live our lives, despite our circumstances, in this victory and bring God’s message of life, love, and hope to this world so badly in need of Him.  This beautiful baby boy is safely in the arms of Jesus!

 

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.  Until then, God’s blessings to all.

 

Scott, Kathi, Matt, Megan, James and Sarah

Long overdue post from Kenya...

From Out of Africa (more precisely, Out of Kenya on the Hill) Blog Entry

                                                April 5, 2013

 

Dear family and friends,

    

We apologize for not writing more last month- we actually started a few entries, but did not finish them before there was more to write.  We are beginning our fourth month here on the Hill and just returned yesterday from Nairobi where we went through the process of renewing out visas for a longer time.  It was great to take very hot showers and soak in the hotel pool to take off several pounds of dirt accumulated during these months!  We decided to spend yesterday morning at the Nairobi Wildlife Park where many species of wild African animals live and wander in from the Mara.  During the few hours we drove around, we saw wildebeests, several species of antelope, a sleeping lion only 10 feet from our van, zebras, various birds and small mammals, and (the highlight for Sarah) were a herd of giraffe very close to the road with their young.

 

As Sarah’s little puppy Joey is growing, she found several animals that she thought would make nice pets in our home here.  We were excited to get back to the kids at the children’s home-several younger ones where very surprised to see us today as they thought we had gone back to America. 

    

We had the best celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus last weekend with the kids and staff!!! Devotions for two weeks prior to Easter were dedicated to the teaching of the life of Jesus, His last week on earth, His death on the cross and resurrection.  During these weeks, over thirty more of the children gave their lives to Jesus and we had the privilege of seeing the presence of God in our worship, group prayers, and in the questions and comments made by the kids.  The day before Easter, we had an Easter party with resurrection eggs and more Easter teaching, crafts, and games before the strong rains came which happens every afternoon now.  The highlight for the kids was to dye eggs (thanks to Megan for sending the egg coloring sets) and, after many pictures were taken of every child with their brightly colored egg, we all ate the eggs!  After Easter church service, which lasted six hours with foot washing and communion, we all worked with the mamas to cook an extra special Easter dinner for the kids and staff.  The mashed potatoes were a huge hit along with rice, cooked carrots, cupcakes, and more meat than you can imagine which stunk up our home the night before.  While we were still cooking during the late afternoon rain storm, the kids wanted to watch the kid’s version of the Jesus movie for the second time (we had never seem them watching a movie so intently= even compared to their all time favorite- The Lion King).  Praise God!

    

Scott continues to work on projects in the children’s home, taking care of minor medical issues and will soon start physicals on all the kids.  He faithfully makes popcorn all afternoon on Fridays for movie and popcorn night with the kids which they all really look forward to.  Matthew and James worked hard with our friends Nate and Kurt for over a week on building projects in the kids’ bedrooms and other areas of the children’s home.  They are both getting pretty handy with power tools and are determined to finish these projects before we leave.  James finished the church’s first worship song video- over two hundred people crammed into that tiny mud church to see the premiere and went wild when they saw the drama spearing scenes and picture of Jesus at the end!  The second video is planned to be taped this Sunday after church with a large crowd to support the singers.  Sarah still loves to work with the mamas in the kitchen cooking and serving the kids at meals.  They love to hear her sing and tell stories!  Sarah also helps with the little ones in the afternoons and can put a baby to sleep faster that anyone on the Hill.  I am continuing to teach a family series at church, loving women’s Bible study, and the devotions with the kids each night.  Along with the pastors, who are on staff here, we are planning longer into the future now and are excited about the big baptism when the high schoolers return for break. We still have kids to the house on Saturdays for lunch. Pasta is new to them, but they love the cookies, crafts, and games.  The Oasis team, who visited right before Easter, brought new wonderful games and toys for the kids- especially the little ones. Preschool time will have renewed energy now!  

 

Megan is finishing up her college classes and will soon be joining us here.  We have really missed her and so look forward to seeing her again.  The kids are counting down the days until her arrival and all the fun she will bring to the Hill. Please pray for her journey here. Megan is also bringing many materials for the kids and staff to use as they grow in their faith.

    

Lastly, there have been two deaths in the past two weeks which have been very hard on everyone.  Infanticide is still widely practiced here (along with illegal abortions) and two newborns never had a chance to know love here on earth before entering into the arms of Jesus.  Mamas worry about not being able to feed one more child or they want to hide the fact that they were pregnant at all.  Life is so hard here.  There is much child and spousal abuse and alcoholism.  Some of this behavior is accepted by the culture and some are acts of desperation.  Please pray for the people here so that they may receive the forgiveness, freedom and love they so need from the Lord and will follow Him above all else- even their cultural traditions. Thank you for your prayers and for taking an interest in these beautiful children here.  We have grown to love each one of them more than we could have ever imagined. Over time, they are opening up their hearts and lives to us and that is a very precious gift.  We are learning so much and yet now realize that, somehow, it seems we know less than we did in January.  God is using this time for all of us as a refining fire and we are praying that He is changing us more everyday into whom He is calling us to be. We really miss you all at home and eagerly await seeing you in a few months!

 

Love,

 

The Derse family

Easter fun pics.  We will write more soon but we had a great time celebrating Easter with the children and staff.