Sparklers and VBS

Had a family cookout the other night and my kids (on the ends) got to have a bonfire and sparklers with their cousins (in the middle). Being in the Arizona dry heat we don't like anything with flames around the house!

It was a fun night with family and we are so thankful for the good times.

Then last night we had a dinner get-together with a supporter of Saved By God's Grace. Carol and her daughter have been wonderful in telling others about the kids in Kenya. Her church is having VBS and focusing on missions around the world. They will be collecting change for The Change Campaign. During the week of VBS she will be calling Chuck on speakerphone and letting the kids ask questions about being a missionary, Kenya and what ever question they come up with! They'll use a photo like this one just like they use on the news - "On the phone is Chuck McDonald..."

They'll also discuss the spiritual poverty of those living in the US. We were able to give them some insight into this with our recent trip to Skid Row.

We leave tomorrow night/Saturday morning at midnight for New York. We are scheduled to be there between noon and 4 pm on Saturday.

Thank you for all your prayers and support - I love watching God working in different people, different situations and different ways. His grace is sufficient for what ever it is He calls you to!

Personal note

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21

"For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:18

These verses gave me much comfort this past couple of weeks. My father died on June 14th. I didn't know him well and he was not a part of my life growing up. He was an alcoholic and had lived much of his life with shame and guilt over the choices he made that affected me and my sister. I had seen him only a few times and had written him several times over the years but never received any communication in return. But the Lord is so good - I was able to attend my aunt's funeral (my fathers sister) back in January of this year and had a long talk with my dad. I told him that I loved him and forgave him. I found out today that was a turning point in his life. He was able to accept my forgiveness and I believe the Holy Spirit was opening his heart up for accepting Jesus' forgiveness and sacrifice. He was filled with shame at the funeral and couldn't stop saying "I'm sorry". I understood at that time how difficult it was for him to try to attempt to have a relationship (with me and my sister) with all the guilt he was living with.

Two weeks before his death he went to live with his sister and she lead him to the Lord! I can not imagine the burden that was lifted from his shoulders but am so thankful that he experienced Christ's love and forgiveness before his death. And what a blessing to know that the Lord of all waited for that perfect time to call my dad home. Now my earthly father is singing praises to his and my Heavenly Father for eternity!

We spread his ashes today at his parents grave site and I told my family how difficult it was to be sad because "If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father for the Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) and I am so happy he is with the Father!

Happy Father's Day!

To all you dad's out there - Happy Father's Day!

We are presenting The Change Campaign to our local church today and helping people understand how easy it is to change the life of a child in Kenya. Just $12/month can bring change into their lives!


Your support will enable us to take the gospel of our Heavenly Father to these kids who have no earthly father. And by His grace they are learning that God is real and He will provide for them through your partnership with us.

On this Father's Day please remember those who do not have a dad and if you haven't spoken to your dad in awhile - call him!

The simple still works

I was talking with someone today about all the new inventions that have come out for babies. My youngest will be 18 in August so it's been 18 years since I've purchased baby things. But we were talking about the carriers for babies and how many different products there are just for carrying a baby around.

In Kenya there seems to be one way and it is simple and inexpensive. Plus I hear it's a very comfortable way to carry a baby. What impressed me about this form of "baby handling" is how they get the baby onto their backs! It's quite acrobatic and I thought for sure I'd see a baby falling to the ground. But even young girls carry their baby sister/brother around on their back and they do the same acrobatic dance.

Many times the women are carrying the babies around because they aren't walking yet, or they want to get around the market with their hands free to check out the vegetables. However, this woman was forced to carry her son while she was begging for money so that her son could have surgery on his legs.

The products we have so readily available here in the US are unheard of in this area. And honestly I wonder if many of them would scoff if they saw them. With this simple method they are wrapping their baby and keeping them close. What child wouldn't love that?

Beautiful mwaitu!

Gideon (Director at Nice View Academy) has his mother (mwaitu) living with him and his family. I love her like my own grandmother.

Whenever we would come into the house for dinner she would usually ask us one of several questions like:

1) "What tribe are you from?"

2) "How was the party?" this one puzzled me - I guess we always looked like we had just come from a party!

3) "Are we related?"

Gideon and Pauline would usually answer for us and tell her we were from her tribe and yes we were related! I wondered if she ever saw us as white? Her peace for life came from her trust in the Almighty and I think that blinded her to the black/white issue.

I miss hearing her singing everyday. She would even sing her answers to questions! Her health is slowly failing (they believe she is around 103 years old!) and I pray the remainder of her life is spent in peace and happiness.

What a blessing it was to see her and spend time with her. When she would pray for us, even though we didn't understand the language, you just knew she was speaking directly to God.

Please pray for mwaitu and for Pauline and Gideon to have the strength to continue honoring their mother.