Back in the US

We made it back to the US a little more than a month ago and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to see family and many friends.  After a few short weeks in Texas, we are currently staying in Nashville for about 3 months.  Erik is working a couple of months at Vanderbilt while Amanda home-schools the kids.  The kids are missing Kijabe but are happy to be able to spend time with grandparents and even eat at McDonald’s.   

The support from so many that we’ve received over these last two and a half years, both in prayer and financially, has been humbling and much appreciated.  It is being one small part of His multi-faceted Body that has allowed us to see God work in the lives of children and families through the mundane but also the miraculous.  We have been used of God to reach out to hurting people of different cultures and different faiths and to show them the love of Christ. 

We are transitioning from support through World Medical Mission to SIM as we are now “active” SIM appointees.  This has various implications, but perhaps the most notable one is the need for our financial support base to have almost doubled by the time we hope to return to Kijabe in August.  (WMM provided a stipend for Erik, as the physician, for the duration of the two-year program Post Residency Program, and God provided the additional requisite funds through so many gracious and faithful supporters).   We continue to trust God for His provision and are “prayerfully confident” that He will provide all that we need to continue in His work in East Africa.  What that looks like for us is monthly commitments from churches and supporters that will cover the on-going expenses of life in Kenya. 

We’ll be in various parts of the country during our time back in the US and would be happy to catch up with folks either in person or by phone.  If there is a church, small group, or even a business group that would like to hear more about what God is doing in East Africa, please email us as we’d welcome the opportunity to meet with them and share about the work.  Additionally, if anyone wants to partner with us in this, especially on a monthly basis, but hasn’t yet signed up to do so, he/she can click here or on the “Thank you for your support!” link on the right-hand banner of this blog.  If you would drop us a line of your intent using the "Email Me' link, that would be helpful as well.  

Mudslides

I just wanted to share with you a blog post from some of our Kijabe missionary friends that shows you the damage from mudslides in the area.  Apparently, Kijabe had over 5 inches of rain in a period of 2 hours on Friday night leaving roads impassable and damaging the water supply to the hospital.  

Kijabe Mudslides

Update

It is with a sad heart that I share with you that Hannah Kelley died this morning. You can read her Daddy's words on their bloghttp://www.aaroninkenya.com/
We see many deaths here, but when it is a coworker from a nearby hospital who loses their baby, it hits a little too close to home. A good reminder for us to celebrate each day.

Prayer Request

Would you please pray for Aaron and Stephanie Kelley and for their 1 year old daughter?  They are fellow post-residents in Samaritan's Purse Post-Residency Program and have been serving at Tenwek hospital in Kenya.  Last night they learned that Hannah has a very aggressive brain tumor.  They've come here to Kijabe where we have Leland Albright, a wonderful pediatric neurosurgeon.  Hannah is having surgery today and we are asking for God's miraculous healing in her life and for peace and strength for her family.  You can read the Kelley's blog at http://www.aaroninkenya.com/.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

Back to Normal

After a week of nervous anticipation, life is returning to normal in Kenya.  The schools opened today and people are returning to work.  We have been given the all-clear and are permitted to leave the Kijabe area as needed.  A peaceful election is a triumph for Kenya and we are so thankful that the many Kenyans' prayers were answered!  We are also thankful for the role you played in praying for us and for this nation.

We are now looking ahead with anticipation to our return to the US on March 25th.  We will be in the US for five months and hope that we can connect with many of you while we are there.

Some Twitter Humor

The official election results were supposed to be presented at 11:00 am today, but they were delayed until 2:45pm.  We all know that things don't run on time when you are in Africa, but after 5 days of waiting, everyone was eager to hear the official results.  While I waited, I got online and looked at the Twitter feeds and enjoyed many of the clever posts about the delays.  I thought you might enjoy some of them as well.

Kaari Murungi ‏@bettymurungi

Please, Kenya journalists: Stop saying 'any minute now' . You're confusing foreigners . #KenyaDecides

Oscar Ronald ‏@O_the1

RT @WillisRaburu: If you've been wondering why this has taken so long... #Kenya isn't known for short races. We do marathons.#Kenyadecides

digitaldjeli ‏@digitaldjeli

Kenya tried to decide but..... RT@ndinda_ Headline: "Election results delayed. Nation put to sleep by dirgely choirs" #Kenyadecides

Brian K. ‏@Yenyewe

Starting to think if dinosaurs existed they might have gone extinct waiting for the IEBC to declare the winner. #KenyaDecides

Fatima Manji ‏@fatimamanji

This is the longest introduction to announcing election results ever. Do you really have to thank the soft drink providers?!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ‏@mchoq

At this rate, we shall have a new Pope before we have a new President in Kenya,

All joking aside, Uhuru Kenyatta received the requisite 50% of the votes by very slim margins.  His main opponent, Raila Odinga, is contesting the results and will be appealing to the courts.  There have been a few outbreaks of violence, but they appear to be isolated incidents that were handled quickly by local police officers.  We are so thankful for your prayers and ask that you pray for continued peace here in Kenya.

Election Results

So the unofficial vote count indicates that Uhuru Kenyatta got 50% by a very slim margin. An official announcement is expected later this morning, but based on the sound of the drums and vuvuzelas at 4:45am, I think that many have started celebrating. The vote count could likely be contested. Please keep Kenya in your prayers over these next few days as tensions are high.