“For (these children we) prayed and the Lord has granted (our) petition. So we have also dedicated (them) to the Lord as long as (they) live (they are) dedicated to the Lord.”1 Samuel 1:27-28
It was the same rutted road that we traveled to church that we have travelled before – but instead of bouncing along the dusty red dirt track, today we slipped and slid in red mud! The rains continue and the Kangundo area has become a lush paradise of sprouting crops - and of course everyone is rejoicing at the goodness of God! Food is on the way!
The rain didn’t hamper the worshippers on this special Sunday... they piled into the church and sang their praises to God in their truly unique African way, and when the rain on the tin roof became deafening, they just turned up their little sound system and carried on and it was good to be there with them. The day’s focus was a child dedication – or more specific to us – the public dedication of our grace children’s home children.
I was marveling at God’s grace as the children were called forward individually and the pastors laid hands and prayed for them and their parents. These are lives completely transformed by the kindness and love of their heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a small part of it!
Afterwards we all retired to the pastor’s house where we had a celebratory feast. Next came the gifts from their sponsors.... I honestly have never seen kids more thankful and excited about something new. It was fun to watch them open their sponsor letters and see the faces of their new uncles and aunty's for the first time. This was the initial step in building a close long-term relationship between our children and individuals on the other side of the world.
If you are interested in sponsoring a grace home child please email me (gracechildrenshome@gmail.com for those of you who receive this forwarded) and I will be happy to send you more information. I say this because we are going to be adding new children soon and some will be available for sponsorship. We have already met 2 of them – yesterday I met mutie (sadly his name means “one who is left” – a common name for children whose mothers die in childbirth), a year old boy badly in need of a loving home and there are more to come in the days ahead.
Please continue to pray for us. The pace since I have arrived has been so busy that there is barely time to do the necessary things each day and satan has been working overtime here – a common occurrence when God is about to do something good. The testings and trials are almost too numerous to relate here - but here are a few of our prayer requests I can share:
- Lois’s health – she has been sick since I arrived a week and a half ago. God has given strength to do the necessary things each day but the load that she carries – especially as Hoyt is still recovering from his back surgery – is astonishing. I really admire her determination to press on and her sweet spirit as she does so in spite of how she feels.
- For Fitz (president of the Bible college) his mother just passed away – and she was not a Christian. To make it more difficult he is away on business and will miss the funeral.
- For Francis – the first Christian the Osborne's met in Kenya – who is dying of cancer. Apart from a miracle, the doctors do not give him much time.
- For the various ministry challenges they are facing – in a variety of areas.
- For Catherine Munyiva – one of our children who is seriously ill with typhoid, pneumonia and amoebas. She went to the doctor yesterday and today – and received drugs thru an IV - she is improving but needs our prayers. We will go back again tomorrow.
- For wisdom as we continue to visit children and interview new foster families throughout this week.
- For everything in God’s plans to be accomplished in my remaining time here.
In awe of His mercy,
Diane
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