BECAUSE HE LIVES…

Posted on April 23, 2014 by TheChangeOfSeasons

First – I must thank everyone for your prayers!!! What a weekend of celebration!

After our Narok class on Saturday we drove to Kisumu. About a four hour drive. We took Kennedy from Narok to his home in Kisumu. Do you remember him? He was the young man I had the privilege of praying with last month as he asked for and received salvation!

It worked out great that he was heading to Kisumu and needed a ride, we were heading to Kisumu and needed a guide! So the blessings began!

We were pushing to get to the guesthouse before dark. We didn’t quite make it. But, we had a lovely room with AIR CONDITIONING and a hot shower! I felt a bit indulgent. We got up Easter morning and went to pick up our friends Dave & Amy. We lived with them when we were in Language School last year and they are serving in Turkana in the north central of Kenya. Together we all were blessed and refreshed as we worshipped and fellowshipped with the wonderful people from Calvary Chapel Lakeside.

I am not sure, unless you have been in a strange land, if anyone can comprehend how MUCH this blessed us. Please, don’t misunderstand, I love listening to the beautiful praising voices of Africa, but when the familiar songs, with familiar language and voices began to sing out praise and worship to the KING who died for me… I was moved to unstoppable tears as I considered the work of the cross.

I miss my church family more than words can say and my Lord, Who died for me, He loves me so much that He knew how blessed we would be to worship Him there, in that place, with those people on that very special day!

After service, the blessing continued as we joined “family” for fellowship and lunch. The two missionary families from Kisumu, the Pottinger and the Harris families… , were armed with 6 excited children. As the kids ran around with Easter activities, squealed and laughed and shared the Easter story, my heart was conflicted with emotion. I was thrilled with these little sweet children, their parents teaching them wonderful Truth… and yet, I dreadfully missed my babies. What a sweet time of fellowship that was needed more than I knew.

We took Dave and Amy back to Kisii with us and they stayed until just this morning. They were a huge help with our village celebration!

Monday we woke early and began all the preparations. As the morning went on, more and more were coming in to help set up. We had the kitchen set up and the mamas all started cooking. Randy was working on the Nyama Chomo ya Mbusi na Ngombe – the goat and the beef to be grilled. The men set up the tent and the screen for the movie. They brought chairs and even a couch. People would come in the gate with arm and head loads.

The children were busy playing with the football and the soccer ball, having a great time.

Dinner was fantastic and we probably fed well over 100 people. As dark was approaching, Randy and Dave worked on the system to show the movie. It was a challenge, with discs we had burned not able to be played on the DVD player, plugs missing or not working, sound interrupted… the challenges just continued. Finally, Dave & Amy brought out the new disc they had burned and we sat down as the story of Jesus began to play out. The movie was in their mother tongue – Ekegusii.

Amy and Dave had popped pop corn for hours and we had bags made up that we distributed and little lollipops. When the movie began they were captivated. Oh I wish you could have seen it. They watched as Jesus was born, as He grew, as He was baptized and then just as He was setting out on the fishing boat — the film froze. YIKES – after realizing the download we had burned only went that far we were scrambling. I was so disappointed and feeling so defeated. Even though all day long the Lord had shown Himself. The people, the food and even the rain He had held off. Now – the movie won’t show. I honestly felt attacked. We had a Joseph movie we ended up showing, in English, and Amy could tell my disappointment. She said, “they’ve had a taste and will tell all their friends and then next time perhaps there will be more that will need to see it.”

Yes, Lord, You knew this situation before it occurred and I must continue to trust You!

While many could not understand, only a couple people left while the others watched intently for the next THREE HOURS!!! (Joseph was a very long movie)

At the end of the day – I believe they were blessed and had seen more of the love of Christ. I believe that God’s Word does not return void and I know that even in the short portion of the STORY – they heard ‘WHY’ Jesus died.

So – again – I thank you for your prayers, for your support, for your contributions and for being a part of this team. I pray, indeed, that God will credit your account with the fruit that WILL come forth! He is risen, He is risen indeed… and… because HE LIVES…

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check out our Village Celebration album on facebook for more pictures!!

Things under the sun…

Posted on April 16, 2013 by TheChangeOfSeasons

So Randy and I have walked with The Lord for nearly 30 years. We’ve sought Him, we’ve served Him, we’ve studied His Word, we’ve prayed and we’ve seen His faithfulness first hand! We’ve prayed many countless times through the years together, interceding for our children, our marriage, one another. I’ve watched Randy grow in Christ sometimes pole pole (slowly) and sometimes right before my eyes.

Last week, after some challenges, disappointments, set backs, several very long months of language study, after feeling defeated and inept in our studies… We made a decision to go away… to set apart… With purpose. We realized our need and had a great desire to seek our God, to hear from Him, to wait on Him, to rest in Him and to expect that in His faithfulness He would reveal, speak, meet, refresh and totally pour Himself out!

We had an amazing weekend! Randy felt we should go though the book of Ecclesiastes together????? Ahhhh okay? We first read straight through it and still, I thought, ahhhh hmmmm okay?? Then we began to dig in a bit deeper.

Written by Solomon… The wisest man, the richest man… It is thought provoking as he writes of so much… “Under the sun”. That phrase is used 29 times! Constantly he wrote of the things “under the sun” with no real eternal perception throughout most his writing. While we are not finished going through this book, Gods purpose for us to take a look, at a book I must confess I’ve never spent much time at all in, His purpose is certainly to remind me I can NOT be looking at my life, this mission, Kenya, Kisii, Randy, my children, my grandchildren, my “pain”, my upsets…. I cannot be looking at these things… “under the sun”… but rather… through and in the SON!!!

It is clear that apart from Christ and an eternal perspective… There is very little… actually… there is nothing left!

As God is refining me, refining us… I am more and more in awe that He would invite me to be apart of HIS plan.

We had such a sweet time together, enjoying His creation, taking advantage of our Kenya resident status, and prices, setting ourselves apart and with purpose, seeking Him, as I must also confess…. We’ve really never done

together

WILL

As a result of our time we have made some plans subject only to His Hand. We will remain here in language school through May. We then will spend a couple weeks gathering supplies, packing and finalizing some things here. Then we will take another week to do as we just did… Set apart and sit before Him. After that we will head to Kisii, move in and spend that last week of June settling in. Also during this time, Randy will be preparing for his first session.

He will teach 2 ten week sessions this year. Each session will have seats for 8 men and will meet three days a week for 6 hours a day.

I will be going back to the states mid October so as not to miss a very special wedding! Randy will fly out Dec 5 or so after his second session and we will break for the holidays, returning early January to begin again.

We have a number of specific prayer requests…

1. Pray for a continued drawing to Him. Pray for our walk, our commitment, our prayer time, our time in the Word, pray for our abiding in Him…. Apart from which… Is only under the sun.

2. Pray for our language learning. We are actually making sentences and can carry on a simple, albeit, broken conversation!

3. Pray for Kisii. Pray for those men God is already preparing to take through His Word.

4. Pray for the orphanage and school. Pray that God will direct the next steps there and that He would be glorified through the outreach to young people who have no one. This arm of the ministry is on the alter for Gods direction. Pray for wisdom, discernment and for specific leading as a we move forward.

5. Pray for those God has called to teach His Word.. That they will guard the treasure, study to show themselves approved, rightly dividing the Truth. Pray for them as they minister to their flocks.

6. These people know the stories of the Bible probably better than you or I. But I am finding that few are actually walking with Christ, abiding in Him and actually understand the Gospel. Pray for hearts like our teacher Peter… Who pastors a church down the road. Pray for those God wants to put that heart in!

7. Pray for Gods provision. We have a few expenses not budgeted for or not budgeted enough for. God has been amazing to provide and we know He will continue.

8. Pray for the next phase of adjustments and cultural shock as we move up to the village.

9. Join us in thanking and praising God for some very encouraging brothers and sisters… Both in the states and in Kenya! We are blessed beyond measure. I was pretty humbled by the outreach of encouragement after my blog about my Jericho wall. Our family back home shot through the miles to embrace me. And we have been blessed by amazing missionary friends here — most with years of experience — and each one opening wide their arms and their hearts. Oh God is so so good!

10. Finally, please pray for protection from the enemy. Please seriously intercede for us. Know we have a prayer journal we are faithful to go through… We welcome opportunities to pray specifically for you.

Tu basi… That is all!

We love you and thank you and praise our God for you as well!
In Him!
Randy & Kari

I’ve smacked my face into the wall of Jericho…

Posted on April 4, 2013 by TheChangeOfSeasons

So… There is this idea that as missionaries, as missionaries supported by others, I need to portray all the victories of God with joy and enthusiasm that assures you that your participation in these efforts are yielding fruit and prospering well.

In one of our missions classes or maybe a book we had to read before coming, it spoke of the different “levels” at which you share of what is going on, taking place, weighing upon and stirring in. Not that it was directing this, but that it was a common screening groove many missionaries get into, often finding themselves isolated.

I’ve been told I’m a very private person, although I don’t feel that way. I really do feel I bring people in… Maybe not as much as I enjoy entering into the hearts of others, but I have certainly become one thing out here… And THAT is… a much more open book.

That all being said… We need prayer. I need prayer. Without going into details, our trip to Kisii last week was extremely difficult, discouraging and despairing. I have struggled with how God can possible use my bitter and ugly heart. I have struggled with the deep lack of power and a homesickness that is physically painful. I’m struggling with the questions of who, what, when, where, how… And….. Why?

My back is hurting. My eyes are hurting. My brain is hurting. My tooth is hurting. And, my heart is hurting.

I’ve run smack face into my “Jericho Wall“.

As I am reading the book of Joshua I found myself like the spies… Oh not these two…. Rather… One of the ten from 30-40 years earlier that we see in Numbers. The ones that came back and reported to Moses… It’s too dangerous, the giants are too big, we will be overtaken! I even went on just as the Israelites in chapter 14 and I’ve wept all night, crying out with my voice to The Lord… Why have you brought me here? Why did I leave everything for this? I can’t do this! I CAN”T BREATHE!!!!!

I am left tonight with a decision. Will I now turn back? Will I now be content to wander? Will I book the ticket I found online? Will I pull out the bags from under the bed? Will I succumb to the defeat of the unknown… Or…. Am I going to be strong and of good courage? Am I going to trust my God? Am I going to obey despite the craziness of the plan? I mean, come on…. Silently march around the city wall once a day for 6 days? Ahhh what? This all AFTER…. Right after…. the entire army had been circumcised???

First, I need to go back. I need to re-read… I need to slip away and be just like that young man… Knowing he had heard a voice… Going back again and again… “You called, Eli?” Finally after being awakened the third time… Eli realized young Samuel is hearing GOD!!!!

I need to go back… And say like Samuel… “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening”. I need to go back and see that The Lord told Joshua not once… Not twice… But in this chapter alone… FOUR times… “Only be strong and of good courage”.

I need to go and remember…

Come here and hear the words of Your God (Joshua 3:9)

By this you WILL know that the Living God is among you (Joshua 3:10)

He will…without fail…. Drive out your enemies (Joshua 3:10 )

And… As HE so clearly spoke to me a few weeks back…

Sanctify yourself… For tomorrow… The Lord will do wonders among you! (Joshua 3:5)

This battle is not mine! This battle will be fought by the Commander of the army just as He assured Joshua before the crazy plan was put into action and they marched around silently SIX times on that 7th day and then… The 7th time around… After the trumpet sounded… “SHOUT, for The Lord has given the city!”

I don’t know the plan. What little I know is a bit crazy. I know there may be giants in the land. But I WILL ABIDE IN YOU!!!! Because… this one thing I know… With YOU… I can do anything! (Sung in my heart with the voice of Gen Falleur)

So… I share all this not to complain, not to whine, not for sympathy or even permission to bail…. I share this because with all my heart… Honestly with all that is inside me… I want to obey… I want to be a part of HIS plan… I want to be strong and courageous… I want to be sanctified… And…. I want see the Living God give the city!!!!

So… I again ask your prayers.

I will give a couple praises…

Our work permit/dependent pass is IN HAND… Record 2 months!

And God is truly teaching me the gift I have in Randy who has been so incredibly loving, patient, gentle, encouraging and showering me with prayer. I am opening my heart more now… To this man of mine for 32 years… Than ever before. It really has never been just us… So… It is good… It’s SAULGOOD!

It’s a ride….

Posted on March 12, 2013 by TheChangeOfSeasons

Well the last couple weeks…. A roller coaster….

A week in Nairobi at the Compean Safe House was restful and refreshing. A washing machine to do laundry among other amenities made our stay even better! Top that with a great host, a new friend from Cali and an opportunity to meet several other seasoned missionaries. It was really a blessing of a week on so many levels. It was Ed, Tom, Randy and myself. Please keep Kelli, Ed’s wife in prayer as she cares for her mama back in California who was diagnosed with progressive cancer. I was sorry she was not there to just have some time with her but the guys were fun and we monitored things from more of a GI Joe/Boy Scout/super hero angle. We had much time in prayer, some devotions and just time of hearing of God’s story in one another’s lives.

The wait was long and much like hurricanes in Florida that show Tampa in the cone of the projected path of a cat 4 or 5. We had supplies of water, batteries, food and gas-filled cars. We had the crackle of a transistor radio going much of the time. At one point I could hear the crackle but knew the one in the living room was off… I looked out the window and Manasa, who works on the compound, was sweeping and watering plants with a small one sounding from his pant pocket.

All of Kenya was leaning in and the sense of uncertainty was strong. So many praying for peace after the tragedy of the last election when tribal tensions rose to violence that took over 1000 lives and over 600,000 people displaced.

This violence is not who or what Kenya is. I’ve sat with them. I’ve sung praises with them. I’ve gathered spinach in their shambas and chatted with them in their dukas as I select fruit for dinner. I have ridden with them on matatus and I have refereed badminton games… And, I have sat together as we open the Word of God and cried out for His Spirit to fall and cover this nation, her people and the president-elect. And yet – the same enemy that plagues us in America, plagues us here and the stir of evil is no different.

So far, so good, as the saying goes. Aside of some isolated incidences that were quickly diffused by authorities… All has been calm. Oh sure, armed solders on the bench outside the grocery store or walking down your street, or checking your car in every parking lot you enter is a bit unnerving, it has actually become routine in a very short time. THAT in itself reveals just how quickly our senses can be numbed… huh?

Please keep praying. The election is being strongly challenged and the reports Randy reads each night stirs just a bit of anxiousness, which we are very very quick to make our requests know to God and indeed, HIS perfect peace guards our heart!

Now, on Some other notes…

We are filled with thanksgiving for our new car!

Wow wow wow what a blessing and a constant reminder of God’s provision! But if I may ask you to keep this in prayer as you praise…. After all of maybe 2 hours on the roads Randy has announced he drives just like a Kenyan. Just so you know… This is not good on two levels…. He now thinks he can drive like they drive…. AND…. Driving like Kenyans is not so good. To help you understand, one evening as we walked into Pastor Ed’s home, I did request that we just go head and schedule marriage counseling.

First Randy says I am to navigate and be his second pair of eyes keeping watch for the unmarked speed bumps on the highway, people, often children, darting across the roads, round abouts, piki pikis, roaming herds,

pot holes that would alert sink hole monitors back home, all while watching the map and giving directions.
Now, understand, there are ZERO traffic lights which means ZERO composure opportunities…. You know, I’ve said enough, you get the picture, right?

When we came back Sunday I saw my new friend Elizabeth down the lane. She waved with both hands and came running. “God is good” she told me! She explained how she had read the verses I had written down on a card I had left for her. I had left it with another woman the day we left, disappointed I had missed her. She told me she had read all the verses and honestly, talked so fast and excited that I missed lots of it. We are meeting Saturday to study the “Word of God”. She is the most excited I’ve ever seen anyone and I walked away after a big hug from her filled with such joy and yet convicted for taking the idea of sitting with His Word for granted. Oh God, deepen my love for You and Your Word!

OH OH OH…. We’ve been approved for our Work Permits! This is huge and nothing short of God! We have school mates that are still waiting after four, six and eight months! Keep praying as we wait “to receive instruction on the collection” but do join us as we thank Jesus!

God is teaching much! We become more aware each day of our increasing need for Him. We are so aware of the need to be in His Word and on our knees. And over the last couple of weeks we have heard more and more of the darkness in the Kisii region with witchcraft and tribal traditions that I definitely am sensing God both preparing us as well as emphasizing our need for prayer. PLEASE KEEP us, Kenya and the people of Kisii in prayer!

Ah, yea, keep the language in prayer… Nuff said there!

That’s about it for now. Please know we love, appreciate and pray for you all constantly. Be blessed and press in, our Lord is Great!

Kari

Answered Prayer…

Posted on February 28, 2013 by TheChangeOfSeasons

Well, can you believe Monday will be TWO months since we arrived in Kenya? At moments I feel I just left, at so many more, it seems like NINE months.

So much has happened… Both here and there. So much emotion has stirred my heart… if emotion was gauged by time… I have aged 5 years.

I will confess, I’ve struggled with much, not least of which has been writing. Short quips on Facebook is one thing.. but blogging… quite another. I’ve had much on my mind and much swirling in my heart…

TOP OF THE LIST…. Meet Naomi Grace Saul.

Yes, if you even need to ask, it has been harder than hard, more painful than imagined to be so far from the welcoming event of Naomi. My girls have been amazing with constant pictures and videos. And, just as she did with Levi when he was born in Canada, my sweet grandma partner, Barbara (Rachel’s mama) blessed me with a beautifully written detailed description of our precious little girl with the eyes, ears and heart that only her grandmother could do.

I know I’ve share with many and have blogged the details… But the certainty I have known of God’s call on our lives to come to Kenya has sustained me more than I can express. Many tear filled nights, a few breath gasping moments, concentrating hard… Making myself fix my eyes…. And taking captive my thoughts… I have clung to my Hope, I have been reminded of His Faithfulness and I have and continue to TRUST HIM! I have and continue to KNOW — He is worth it! My God is worth it!!

This week God blessed me so deeply. I wandered down the lane and saw a young woman I met a few weeks ago. Elizabeth. I have only ever seen her with her 7 month old little girl bundled on her back and this day was no different.

“Oh Elizabeth, Habari za mchana?” She smiled at me such a sweet sincere smile. I tried some more Swahili with her, she giggled and strained to see my “mwakenya”, Shang or slang for “cheat sheet”. Yep, I have one, I admit it, AND I am laminating it this weekend!!

We talked for a few minutes, me trying my Swahili Elizabeth correcting me with sweet grace. She suddenly began to look around a bit nervously and said she had to finish her work. She bent over at the waste, with her precious load hugging her back, and picked up some twine and a large white clothe bag, similar to the ones I see daily strapped to backs, to donkeys and even motorcycles, stuffed full of one crop or another.

She started into the field beside the road. I asked her if I could go with her, and she looked back at me a bit bewildered, “sawa sawa” she said and I promptly stepped unto the muddy trail and followed her through the corn, cabbage, beans… Each patch she would pause for me to give her the Swahili name. She paused at one I didn’t know, she bent over and pulled out a carrot…. “karoti”. She giggled because it was a borrowed word as she wiped it off on her apron and took a bite.

Towards the other edge of the shamba we stopped, she dropped the bag and the handful of twine. Without missing a beat in our conversation she bent over and in a few short moments having swung around to several plants, grabbing a string, she stood up with a bundle of spinach and tied it up. The next one she came up with I took from her and somehow managed to have it tied before she straightened up with the third bundle. I followed her around, she, gathering the bundle of goods, and me, wrapping the piece of twine, tying the last little bit in a knot.

After a dozen or so, we could continue our conversation while working. We talked of several things and at some point I must have said something about having been praying for something. I don’t even remember what. But without straightening up, she turned to me and said, “I use to pray to God, but” and with her arm just above her head “they only go to here”.

Wow… Out of no where…. In a field of mud and well harvested vegetables, God had swung open a door… A door I had cried for in my prayers. Honestly, I prayed more than I responded. I did tell her, when she said she wanted to know God more, that He wanted that more than she did.

She wasn’t out there today… I worried I might have gotten her in trouble or something. Her son, Chris said she was at the shamba on the other side, too far to walk, he said.

So I prayed for her and for her friend that had come at the end, Grace. Grace dropped her wall of reservation quickly as I “practiced” my Swahili and oohed at her name and told her that it was one of the names of my new “moja wiki wajaku!”. And, in case you are wondering, I had pictures with me, yep, even in the shamba!

We are leaving tomorrow to camp out at our friends for the Monday Presidential election. I hope to see Elizabeth before I leave. I want to remind her that when I get back, we will start that Bible Study I am working on and she can help me to get it down in Swahili. She seemed excited about that. I know I am.

Please… Be praying… Pray for the elections… Pray for Kenya… Pray for peace…. Pray for protection of the sweet and precious people of this beautiful country. And… Pray for Elizabeth. Pray for Grace. Pray for time together and that Elizabeth will come to know God well, His deep love for her, His faithfulness, His grace and His kindness.

I WILL TRUST in YOU!!!!

Posted on September 2, 2012 by TheChangeOfSeasons

Well, I have a really busy week and needed this weekend’s message so much, I listened three times! I WILL TRUST IN GOD!!!! Oh Lord, I believe…. help me in my unbelief. YOU will move my mountains and YOU, Oh Lord are sufficient for EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!

Just a few things I would like to ask your prayers on….

1) Randy is en-route to Haiti. He is going down there with Dan Finfrock, the founder and director of ICM and the Inductive Bible Study material Randy has used with our friends in Kisii. He’s pretty excited, to say the least. Please keep them in prayer, keep the seminar in prayer, keep those attending in prayer.

2) We have our Fall Women’s Conference this coming weekend! PLEASE be in prayer as we do the final preparations this week, that we will keep that ONE necessary thing – the necessary thing!!! We have Cheryl Brodersen coming to teach and share with us and we are pretty excited. Wendy Hodges and our own Holly Robinson will also be sharing. We have a worship team coming from both CC St. Pete AND CC South Orlando!!! Please pray that every detail, every step, every song, every word, every woman, every heart’s response would be EXACTLY as God would desire!!!!

3) Randy & I also start this week – a missions class – that we are pretty excited about. Pray for that, won’t you?

4) This week marks the page turn… the time that we shift gears and really press towards this change of seasons. We both have responsibilities that have or will finish up this week. I have taught my last Bible Study series at CCPH for this season. That’s been hard. I’ve been so blessed these 12 years, every Thursday night (for the last 6) and a few semesters with Friday mornings too… We’ve studied Ephesians, 1 Peter, Titus, Colossians, Galatians, the prayers of Paul, a Journey of Discipleship, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Living by the sufficiency of God, God’s Grace, Counseling God’s Way, Counsel God’s Way and God’s Way (those three were easy – I just changed the name), Jude, Revelation and probably some I’m sure I can’t remember. I have some ladies that have been there through it all too!! It’s hard NOT to feel sad somewhat. I’ve traveled the depth of God’s sweetest WELLS with these ladies… together we have tasted and seen just how good HE is – our Fountain of LIVING WATER. You don’t experience that without a knitting of your hearts together with HIS. I do love this precious group of women God has blessed me with over these years.

There’s is also – believe it or not – a little change in the weather. That has ALWAYS signaled ONE thing in my house…. FOOTBALL!!!! I think in the last 23 years – maybe 2 years passed where we didn’t either have boys playing or Randy coaching. And Ran’s been coaching pretty constant for the last 10-12 years. We’ve had no two a days, no playbooks, no game films – and if I hadn’t felt that slight change in the weather – I probably wouldn’t have even known it was time!

SO – this is the first fall in a long LONG time that I wasn’t starting a new Bible Study and Randy wasn’t coaching Football. Pray that as we turn this page, as we scoot to the edge of our seat in anticipation of God’s next Play Call, that NOTHING will move us from our purposed heart to obey and follow Jesus with our all.

Be blessed!!!!

Kari

The Change of Seasons

My life is changing – YET – HE NEVER DOES!

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