God’s new season for our lives….
Of course I want to write about my kids, my grandkids, weddings and a new daughter, and how Kasi is now “an only child” but I will get to the motivation of this blog…. many of you may know that God has been priming our hearts the last few years with a love for His people in Africa. At first He directed Randy’s heart to a village in Kisii, Kenya (a long story – written by the hand of GOD) and shortly after He directed my heart to Swaziland in southern Africa.
I was the first to visit the continent as I traveled with my daughter Kasi and Lynda Hetrick in September of 2009 to see what God was calling for that country. WOW were we blessed by the trip, by the people and by the opportunity to serve the LORD. A few months later, Jan of 2010, Randy went solo to Kenya to spend time with a couple of young pastors who were hungry for discipleship. His relationship with them began to grow as they continued weekly contact as Randy would encourage them in their faith and ministry.
In September of 2010, along with Lynda, we led a team of 22 people to Swaziland and once again saw God move as we came alongside some of the missionaries there and went further into the country, serving where God led. For me, one of the biggest blessings of the trip was watching the team, mostly of young people I had watched grow up, serving God and seeing HIS Hand. The excitement and amazement of the power of God was filling to me as I watch God build their faith before my eyes.
Four months after our return, I followed my husband with a team of 12 very special friends to Kenya. I knew that God was calling me to turn my focus to follow and support Randy and I was excited to travel with this particular team of people who had touched my life so very much through many years.
In Kenya – God spoke directly to me. I watched my husband raised to a level I had never witnessed in the 30 years of our marriage. Randy has been an amazing and wonderful husband and a godly and loving father. He has gently led our family and the fruit of that is visible and abundant… but in Kenya, I saw my husband with a boldness, with a wisdom, with a direction, with a deep love and grace that could only have been through the Spirit of the Living God. I knew then that God was stirring and I found myself taking very very deep breaths. I would be dishonest if I didn’t confess some anxiousness about just what God is planning, but I have walked with Him long enough to KNOW that HIS PLAN is the ONLY place I want to be. His faithfulness has been proven over and over in my life. He has blessed us beyond measure and we can do nothing but TRUST Him! Our desire is to be obedient.
I don’t want to get ahead of God – ESPECIALLY in this – but we are open – I am open – to whatever He desires. We have been praying regularly and feeling a call to further encourage the people of Kisii and to urge them in their faith. They are very susceptible to the false teaching that is abundant there. They desire TRUTH but have been pulled into some deception in the past. Randy has set them up with some discipleship that they travel several hours to each week for the past 2 years. We’ve sent them lots of material to get them into the WORD. We have also been a part of an orphanage that we built structures and provided Bibles, Fabric and animals to in our last visit through the efforts of our Church.
Randy feels a strong calling to minister, disciple and encourage in a deeper and more direct way. What that means I am not sure exactly, but taking one step at a time – we are trusting God. We began praying for God to provide for a return trip for a little more extended time if that was what HE was leading. We have felt strongly that it was but the means was not there. This weekend, God provided specifically for the airline ticket for Randy to go. While there is still a need for the supplies of the trip, we feel absolutely confident that God will provide and we are booking the flight. The discussion had been that I would join him for a couple weeks during the 2 months he will be there, again if God provided. But we are taking just one step at a time.
I wanted to share this with you, asking that you would be in prayer for us. Pray for God to fill us with HIMSELF and make clear HIS desire. Pray that we (and in “we” — I mostly mean “me”) would be quick to trust and obey. Pray that God would provide what is needed. Pray for Randy, pray for wisdom, pray for discernment, pray for a filling of HIS SPIRIT to do the work He has called.
Well – – THERE you have it – – the change of seasons….
The Change of Seasons 
always changing… and always making adjustments… we need to be flexible, I guess, the hardest thing to do sometimes.. love you both..
p.s. love the BLOG! keep them coming!!
Kari, I totally understand your desire to be used to minister to the people of Kenya, as that is where my heart is, too! I have seen God do amazing things in answer to prayer for both us and the precious people we labor with. I know God will make it clear to you as time goes along, and that the path will be opened before you, if it is His will for you to go and serve there.
It is still amazing how things do change in the different seasons of our lives, and the doors that open up can challenge our long held beliefs of what we think we should be doing—-retiring, slowing down, etc. I would much rather burn out serving Him than sitting comfortably in my own home.
You are blessed to have a husband whose heart burns to go and be with people who need to know about Jesus, and who is willing to give up the comforts of home to live amongst them, and VERY simply.
I will pray that things will be made clear to you, if only one step at a time, and that funds will become available for you to go, too.
I am working to get my funding together to go May 6th for a month, to the little village we have been working with the last 4 years. I adopted a family there, of 6 boys/1girl, and mom and dad. I just love this family, and I am now their ‘go-go’! (grandmother) The village knows me as “Oils Mama” since that is what I do when I am there. Our clinic has no electricity, and just a little runnng water. So we do very basic health care, with pre and post-natal care and a big immunization program for the babies/kids. We are also going out in the bush 2 hrs. to set up a clinic in the school—going out once a week. Plans are that a national nurse will staff it full-time eventually.
I know God can—and will—-use you mightily as He is putting this desire on your hearts, so as He opens the door—-step right on thru!!
Love you, sweet friend. I am thrilled to see the growth that has taken place over all these years of our friendship—which has to be in the 30+ year range, since we’ve been here 34 years now. You bless my heart!!
Love, Sue
Thanks Sue — I do so love and appreciate all God did through you in my life! You made a huge encouraging impression, sowing in my life, and stirring my love for HIS Word and TRUTH! I miss you my friend. Thanks for your prayers!
Kari Uncle Bill and I are so very excited for you and Randy It is such a blessing to have GOD give you His directions for your life. We pray for you every day .