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| saying goodbye last year |
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| Good goodbyes help us make good hellos. |
One year ago yesterday we flew away from the homeland. Everything was awesome. Until Man-Cub realized this was good bye. A cousin and grandparents stood there in the new E concourse at the world's best airport watching as we approached the x ray and metal detector and his heart broke out like a cup of pocket change. Then we were all in tears. They waved until we were out of sight.
And a big metal bird carried us away to the land of our sojourn.
Man-Cub and Little Miss "Free years old" have been thriving though. There have been lots of changes and developments in their tender little hearts over the past year. And (just) one broken arm and two lost teeth.
As they flip and jump off of "Mt. Ever-blanket" on the couch, I conduct a little interview on this past year in Kenya.
Man-Cub, how long have you been in Kenya? a year.
How old are you now? 6. That's sita in Kiswahili.
What is your school like? I am in first grade. 4 kids in my class. "Aunt" Erin is our teacher. She's my best buddy Cooper's mom.
Where is your school? In somebody's basement, that is the Chupp's house.
How do you get to school? Walk. About 30 meters or so.
What do you like about Kenya?
Man-Cub:There is a lot of space to run. There are some of the same things here like tractors, trucks, and milkshakes and bananas. But the bananas are sweeter.
Little Miss what do you like in Kenya? Horses! Horseback riding! And I saw a camel once in Nairobi. There was nobody on it. We were in the car but I wanted to ride it.
What else? Books. Peter-Pan. Tinkerbell.
Okay. What fun things do you do here? Play with Ellie.
What does your dad do? Go to work. Eat lunch. And heal the people.
Who heals people, Little Miss? Jesus.
What does Jesus want us to do? Be kind.
Man-Cub, what is your favorite thing to do here? Play.
How often do you go outside? Everyday for five hours at least. We go in the car about once a week.
What do your mom and dad do? Computer work. And talk to people.
Oh, I see.
What did you do yesterday morning? We went to a robber boy's house. He's 7. His nickname was Osama. His real name though is Emmanuel. We talked to him and gave him forgiveness and a Bible. We told him to call himself Emmanuel.
Anything else? We told him God loves him. And God is with us.
Were you glad you did that? Yea. Cause that's our job to do that cause we are missionaries.
What is something difficult for you here? Something that is difficult is I have to make new friends and leave the others in America.
Is there anything you don't like about Kenya? That there's not many toys to buy cause they break too easily.
Oh, do you think you might run out of toys? nnnn...(laughing) no!
Tell me, where are you going in October? WE ARE GOING TO AMERICA for 2 weeks!
That sounds great. Is your dad taking his Infectious Diseases board exam? Yes.
So thanks everyone, for praying us through this first year. We do depend so much on the God Who Hears our prayers. Please continue to lift us up for protection, mercy, and that the Gospel will be known. Here is a prayer called "Eli's Song" that was written by Rich Mullins. You can pray it for these kids. Especially for Emmanuel across the river.
O Eli
There's a sanctity in your innocence
A certain beauty and no uncertain strength
That brings me to the faith
I don't know if I
If I am climbing to or falling in
But it comes like grace from your tiny hands
When I hold you in mine
And I pray that the eyes
Of your heart
Shine bright
With the hope to which you're called
And may you know with all the saints
The height, the depth, the width, and the length
Of the love of God
O Eli
There's a joy in your sweet abandon
Like the cowgirl ballerina
Leaves that ride
The wild and holy bucking wind that the sky
Sent through you to blow away these walls I've built
That leave me free to be a child
And I pray that the eyes
Of your heart
Shine bright
With the hope to which you're called
And may you know with all the saints
The height, the depth, the width, and the length
Of the love of God
O Eli
There's a joy in your sweet abandon
Like the cowgirl ballerina
Leaves that ride
The wild and holy bucking wind that the sky .
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| The missionary kids first day of school. Cinderella is in preschool. |
