Our week at the Indian Ocean flew by in a whirl of cold drinks, hot sun and the sound of wonderful waves. This is our second visit to the Kenyan coast and we went the resort-route; an all-inclusive family style beach club that specializes in comfort, safety and supplying all you want.

Though I missed the danger and excitement of less predictability (I am already planning the next coastal trip to somewhere less known!) we had a wonderful week as a family. The amazing blessing of the trip was watching our children grow in so many ways: new friends, new skills, new thoughts from their hearts and for their lives. Tonight Quinn told us: “I know I am courageous because I share my inner feelings even though it is very hard.” And another gem from him tonight: ” one of my spiritual gifts is wisdom; I often know things that are too hard for me to know. Oh, yea and I have the spiritual gift of humor because I am good at making people laugh.”

I LOVE that kid!!

David and I did a lot of sleeping, reading books related to the new faith-directions God seems to be leading us and NOT talking about work. We communed in the silence of togetherness and stayed away from discussing anything deep except our future and the words God has put in our hearts this month. It is exciting to watch the Holy Spirit begin to show up in totally new ways in my husbands life! And amazing to see God draw us together in updated vision for what is ahead.

I indulged in one flirty tourist-style African skirt which will look ridiculous to the locals but makes my heart happy when I put it on. I also got a wonderful $10 massage and pedicure and a bit of a tan to show off in some new shoes. So now my Spirit is full of new Words, my heart full of new dreams and my body feeling filled up with some beauty and rest. Thanks God.

Now, in the wake of hearing from our Tumaine counselor that we overflow with courage in the face of adversity (what a NICE thing to say), more courage is needed to dive back into life. Two more long days of driving are ahead, a three month grocery stock up, more doctor appointments for our underweight daughter and GI upset son and then back for another term, important meetings with decision makers, and more of a life that at the moment, we are not feeling very excited about leading. (Discontent is often the prelude to new leading.)

I long for my Babba-God to show me some detail about what He has for me in this coming term, how He wants to work in me and through me, what is ahead in this revival he is orchestrating. For the moment I have just have faith, sightless-faith, and a dread of the familiar. But that sightless-faith is enough because it is rooted in a God of miracles, a God of the unexpected, a God who knows why I’m here and what I’ll be doing that can never be done again. Expectant, that’s me. (At least when I’m not wasting time on being apprehensive.)

We are now in Karen, Kenya (a suburb of Nairobi) after a crazy rush at the end of last week,  to complete the second school term and leave home.  Our first experience of driving across an African border went swimmingly and we arrived into Kenya late in the day.  We traveled to Kisuumu, on the edge of the Kenya side of Lake Victoria, and spent the night.  The next day was a lot of driving on a lot of long gravelled paths.  It felt like being back in Bundibugyo except we had no idea where in Kenya we were.  Many hours later we emerged having traveled the right direction and entered Karen several hours later.

God prepared the way for us beautifully here.  Our reservations were not in place until the day we arrived but we have landed at a Lutheran Mission Society guesthouse which has a deep sense of safety within it’s gates.  An “in-ground” trampoline (yep, they dug a hole big enough for the trampoline and put it in level with the ground!) is the high point for our children.  The quiet, peace and delicious home cooked foods bless me.   David is very happy with the missionary-friendly prices and internet connection!!

Being in Nairobi is culture shock for us.  Our first night here we headed out to the Karen Nakumatt and walked up and down the aisles in wonder at all we saw.  I kept getting waylaid by familiar smells of America home and would walk up and down the aisles and then discover a shampoo or laundry detergent that is familiar!   Buying strawberries, eating Doritos, and window shopping in a real mall have been moments of surprise and fun.  Who needs America when you have Nairobi, Kenya!!

We have also had the chance to access care for our family. We are staying across the streeet from Tumaini counseling center, a project of AIM/SIL but open to missionaries from all agencies.  Tumaini translates to “hope” in swahili and it is a life-saver for families like us who experience deep challenges in our rural field and sometimes need help to move through them.  There is an abundantly stocked library of the books that challenge my soul, toys for the children, and many kind and helpful faces to hear our tears with love.

I also visited a high tech dentist yesterday and was cared for without pain (praise God!) Since our dental cleanings in  December in a Kampala dentist office, I have had very severe pain in several teeth and the related gum area.  This dentist thoroughly x-rayed and examined my teeth and gums and has provided a trial course of action.  No more Kampala dentists for me; we suspect they actually caused the pain that has often woken me at night for more than six months now.  Please pray for my mouth to heal and for any infections to be discovered and treated without loss of teeth.

Today we field-trip, taking a break from the appointments to see some animals.  We will head to the Animal Orphange and the Langata Giraffe Center where we will hand-feed giraffes and pet cheetahs.  As usual, it is in the black and white difference of the field and our travel that we again meet God. It is in the contrast between the abundance of nairobi and the simplicity of Bundibugyo that I talk with God and learn new things.  Just as our bodies feast on good foods and sleep deeply in the peaceful safety of this guesthouse without student noise or threatening notes, so our souls have a chance to stock up “talk-time” with our Lover and Friend.  Please shelter us with your prayers and guard us with your intercessions.