MY JOURNEY CONTINUES IN KENYA!

I recently returned to Kenya after a short holiday with my family in Canada, and then was on my own with the Kenyan staff for about a month! Rachel, the president of Open Arms, and my longtime best friend, just got back from USA last week! Yeh!

Caring for Baby Diana is such a joy in my life. I just love every minute I have with her. She is almost standing on her own, and will be walking very soon! I took her swimming today - SHE LOVES THE WATER, cold or warm, she is game!

The kids at Open Arms Village (Orphanage) are doing great! I have had to do some counseling with the older girls, and will be meeting with them regularly. All of the kids, in one way or another, have had severe trauma that they still deal with, but thankfully, God has rescued them and they are all doing so well surrounded by the LOVE and patience of our Kenyan House Parents and the Open Arms staff.

There are now 27 children, aged 1 1/2 through 14 years at the Village. Construction on 5 Children's homes that will house 16 children, 2 House Parents, and 2 assistant House Parents, is now under way and should be complete by early September.

We just received another little girl this last month, named Beatrice, age 2 years. She was living on the streets with her mother, who would sometimes leave her alone, and she would just wander around on her own looking for food. Her mother is an alcoholic, mentally ill, and not doing very well for herself, so she was not able to take care of Beatrice. When we first received Beattie, she just wanted to stuff food in her mouth as fast as possible, thinking it was the only meal she would get for a long time. Her new Mommy at Tumaini House (Tumaini means "Hope") has been patiently teaching her, and loving her so that she is no longer afraid and feels so secure. Beatrice comes running to me every time I visit and wants to be held the whole time I am there! :) She is a really good little girl and is smiling all the time now.

In the next 3 months, starting Monday!, (June/July/August) we have 5 American & United Kingdom (UK) teams coming to help us build the new children's homes, and to assist us with 2 Medical Camps that we will be providing for the communities here. Part of my job is to manage these teams, so I will be very busy for the next 3 months!!! :) And, my very good friend Reggie is coming to visit me!! YIPPEE! He and another mutual good friend, Brad, are doing a trip through a few African countries and will be stopping in Kenya for a few days in July!! I am SOOOOO excited!! :)

We continue to feed more than 110 children in a local slum community call Kambi Teso. For many of them the meal we bring is the only one they get. Some of the mothers are working to save their money, and keep it safe with us, as many of their husbands are drunks, and steal whatever little they can earn. We are trying to teach them about saving, building a small business, and providing for their children, so they do not have to depend on the feeding program forever.

Two of my biggest sponsors have also enthusiastically decided to support a very special project for the kids of our feeding program. It's rainy season here, and with the rain comes high winds, especially in the Kambi Teso Area where we feed the kids. When it rains and the winds come, the kids have no shelter to go to as we are currently feeding them in a field owned by the local school. So, when they are eating, sometimes the winds takes the plates right out of their little hands, and they cry because they have lost the only food they may get that day. So, we wanted to build a structure in their community that could serve as a shelter for the program but could also assist the local school with more space. Thanks to generous support of my kind sponsors in the USA, we are now preparing to build a structure, that will resist the wind and rain, and give them shade from the sun while they eat. The team coming this week from America will be building it this Tuesday! The kids, and the community are so excited and thankful!

Also, I wanted to let you all know, if you are interested, to check out my profile for the Canadian Organization, Possibilities International - go to www.possibilitiesinternational.com(click on "Kenya" link on home page) that I am representing while in Kenya as well....always have to keep a few plates spinning! :) I am a volunteer agent for them, identifying key humanitarian needs and projects that average people can give toward and see a big difference, and a life changed. So, we are looking at special projects with the kids, and with the single mothers that are raising the kids in Kambi Teso.


I am so honored to be a part of what God is doing here in Kenya through Open Arms & Possibilities International, and I am so grateful for the support from my friends and family who are joining me in this journey. I know that I could not do it without your prayers, love, and generous support!

OUT OF AFRICA

From the moment that I arrived on African soil, something unique and wonderful has been happening in my heart and soul. And, so I want to give you, my friends and family, a glimpse of my experience and send a little of it out of Africa to you in hopes that you will join me on this journey of faith and hope, however long it may be that I remain.

When I came to Africa, I came to help a friend with her ministry and planned only to stay a couple of months. Once I got here, I knew that I would remain as long as God and Open Arms needed and wanted me to stay. I have been here now for nearly 6 months. In April, I will return home for a short visit and then return to Kenya. I do not know how long I will stay, but I know that I am committed, and am thankful for the strength of unconditional support that I have from my family and friends who know that I am here.

On the first day of my arrival in Eldoret, Kenya, I was able to experience the compassionate mission of Open Arms International when I joined the team in feeding the one hundred children of the Kambi Teso slum area. It was that day that I met “Smiley”. He was captivating…a child of only two, half naked, dirty and alone, wandering in the large field on the school grounds where we served the food. He came to me immediately, with his gentle smile and warmly lifted his arms to be held. Hunger overwhelmed this child, as it did many others, but he waited patiently for his turn and enjoyed the feeling of being held and loved. Over the past few months, Smiley’s countenance has changed…he is no longer the smiling child that I first met; a heavy burden has begun to show on his tiny face. For Smiley and many others, the food and the love that Open Arms is able to supply four times a week is often the only food and love that they receive throughout their long and hard week.

When I was visiting Rachel and David, the founders of Open Arms, in Portland, Oregon, in January 2008, they asked me to work on the project of writing some options for their vision statement. Knowing them as I do, it did not surprise me when they selected the boldest of the draft statements that I submitted.
The Vision of Open Arms is to see every stomach filled, every wound healed, every body safe, every mind educated, every emotion soothed, and every spirit transformed.
If even one of these children’s lives is changed in such a way it would greatly impact the world we live in.

A few days after my meeting with Smiley and the children of Kambi Teso, we visited the home of a woman who takes in abandoned children. OAI has been sponsoring several of the children and we were there to bring some supplies and gifts. It was then that I was introduced to Diana. Diana was born to a young girl who had been abused, and according to her tribe’s traditional beliefs she was to be killed at birth. But, God saved her through the compassion of her grandmother who carried her to a nurse who in turn brought her to the home where we found her.

When this precious five month old baby was placed in my arms, my heart was deeply moved and I felt instantly that she was in danger, but I did not know why. I feared for her health and safety. She was no bigger than a newborn, listless and had sores on her skin. I wanted to immediately take her with me to a safe place, but she was not mine to take. I shared my feelings with Rachel and she immediately checked the Doctor’s report. I did not know it at the time I met Diana, but Rachel too had been concerned and had ordered a Doctor’s checkup a month before – the results had come back that very day. We learned that she was malnourished and anemic and the doctor agreed that she was in danger. OAI immediately acted by contacting the District Children’s office and getting permission to take Diana in.

Saved twice from death in her short little life, this darling little girl came to me, and, somehow, she has actually rescued me. Diana is now a healthy and happy 10 months and is the joy and love of every person who meets her.

And then, there is the Open Arms Village – a haven of safety and love for children who have lost everything. There are currently 25 children living on the 52 acres of land that is being developed to provide loving and caring homes for children who have lost their parents - some to AIDS, and some to brutal tribal killings. 20 orphans, and 5 biological children of the House Parents that serve them, have moved onto the property into the existing homesteads. Together they are thriving in this beautiful place.

Just in the short time that I have been here, I have watched and experienced the transformation of these children who have been through desperate and devastating circumstances, who have seen death and violence, and who have been subject to cruelty and neglect. The joy that shines in their faces as they run to into our embraces, dancing and singing and playing is a beautiful and wonderful thing to experience. They are children again. They are safe. They are loved. They are cared for. They are important again.

This past week we had a team from the USA and UK come to assist us in a Medical Outreach at the Kambi Teso slums area where Smiley lives. In three days we served over 500 people who were able to see Doctors and receive free medical supplies. Hundreds were prayed for to receive salvation, healing and restoration of their faith and hope. To be a part of this kind of service is a dream come true for me, and I am so blessed to be here.

Feeding programs, child sponsorship, orphanage homes, medical clinics, emergency relief outreaches, and so much more – in just six months I have been able to be a part of so much giving and loving and bringing hope where there was none. It is hard for me to express in words all that I feel, but mostly I feel that this is right. It is the right place for me to be, the right time, the right circumstances, the right ministry, the right people.

So, I hope that you will continue to join me on this journey. Your prayers and support mean the world to me – near or far, old friend or new, I am so thankful for you. Please pray for what God is doing here, pray for Smiley and his friends, pray for Diana and the children of Open Arms International. Pray for their hopes and dreams, and for their safety and wellbeing. We can only do so much, but through the grace of God, these lives can really be saved.

If you are interest in giving financially, please forward your support to Open Arms International. If you indicate that you would like your donation to be allocated to missionary support of Renee Scobel, OAI will ensure that your gifts will go directly to me during my time here. Also, if you are interested sponsoring a child through Open Arms, please visit their website for more information. www.openarmsinternational.com

Open Arms International, United States

Headquarters:
5765 SW Hewett Blvd.
Portland, OR 97221

Mailing Address:
PO Box 343
Portland, OR 97207

Phone: 503-296-9989
Fax: 503-297-0193
Email: oai@openarmsinternational.com

Casting Stones

I was thinking tonight, what differentiates one person's sin from another...nothing. While we try very hard to justify our sins with qualifiers such as minor, compared to others who have major ones, there really is no difference.

Sin, perhaps more clearly defined than what most of us learned in Sunday School, is simply when we disregard God's blessing in favour of our own desires for something that we believe will suit us better in the moment. It's believing that the promotion of our selves above God with respect to knowing what is best for us will somehow get us farther, faster, and in a more enjoyable fashion. Greed, Pride, Lust, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth....which one of us has not been guilty of at least one of what are listed as the 7 Deadly sins, possibly even today, this moment.

Notice, they are not defined as a specific type of greed, lust, envy...just what they are. The deadly part seems so definite, so strong, so overwhelming until you consider that these things bring a slow death in every moment that we engage in them. There is no lightening bolt attached to the actions of these. Slow separation from the fullness of who God is, being activated by us, not Him. It's a choice we make to move away. He stays. He is always still there. Waiting. Ready.

It's a thought I have often, especially when I hear a friend judge another harshly while not considering that they themselves are equally flawed.

And, of course, the good news, for ALL of us, is that He knows, He cares, and He is there to provide a way back to Himself. Our only action, that we must choose, that we must take, is to turn back to His embrace.

All that I am.....I give to You.

My heart rages for that which I cannot hold, touch, or see...but, I can feel, I can feel deeply, the strength of His embrace. All that is within me is urning, urning for the fulfullment of what I cannot express, cannot describe, cannot see clearly, but know with all that I am is real and is my destiny. To dream is only to want more and to know that my life is not complete without it. In my humanity I wonder if I am not strong enough, not brave enough, not good enough to fulfull it, but then I remember that it is not me that has to do the doing, I only have to say "yes" and then be content to "be". To be His hands, to be His feet, to be His voice, to be His touch, to be His smile, to be His embrace, to be His love. The task is beyond me, and so I know that it can only be by letting go of my own desires, fears, and wants, that I will be set free to be who I am, that fulfill all that I was created for. My life is not my own. I have always known this. The things that others strive for, have and cherish, are not mine to have. But, so much more than I can express comes when I go, when I give, when I obey.

Light

Light...when we are faced with the absense of it we are often afraid. So, when it appears and touches us, and we feel the warmth of its presence, we are filled with a sense of comfort, safety and awe. Something about it strikes us with hope. When we catch it beaming down through clouds and trees in striking rays that seem to cut through the darkness, our eyes open to all that is beautiful. Waters reflecting its brilliance, and colours suddenly appearing all around us. We become aware of its power to expose all that we are, all that exists. Light brings to us what know is there, but sometimes refuse to believe. Light engages our senses, opens our eyes, provides us warmth and reveals the path before us. We are no longer hidden, we are free.

But the Greatest of These is Love...

Georgia Anne Green, “Nanny”
November 7, 1927 - September 10, 2007

From the beginning, her life was a miracle. On November 7th, 1927 Georgia Anne Parsons came into this world. She was born between 2 siblings who did not endure through their infancy, and became the 4th of 6 surviving children of Reverends George and Mary Parsons.

At the age of two and four she battled against two serious illnesses that nearly took her life, and lived to grow up as a gentle, loving daughter and sister who looked up to her older brother Jack, and sisters “Bene” and “Rhodie”, while lovingly nurturing her little brother “Gil” and baby sister “Gwennie”. She continued through her life to overcome and amaze those around her. She could always say, throughout her whole life, that she had never spent a day sick in a hospital.

Having been born in Victoria Carbonear, Newfoundland, she spent her childhood moving from parsonage to parsonage as my Great Grandparents pastored in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld.

While she was still a teenager, she met her soul mate, Hubert "John" Green, whom everyone then called “Jack”. They were married on October 19th, 1949 and, from that day, were deeply devoted to each other. I remember he always called her “Dear” and after the birth of their three beautiful girls, Dianne, Kay and Sherri, she always called him “Dad”.

Nanny and Grampy, as we called them, sought every opportunity to be together, and so Nanny would often travel with him across Newfoundland as he went to work inspecting the weather equipment in various towns. My sister and I, when we were very young, would sometimes travel with them, and we loved to sit cuddled up beside her as she sang us hymns and loved on us.

She and Grampy, also shared a great love for, and devotion to, the Word of God. And, they felt a deep sense of purpose in sharing the message and love of Christ with whomever they were blessed to meet. Together they were active members of The Gideons International and always carried a supply of New Testaments with them on their journeys. Beyond their love for God, their greatest joy was their love of family and there are no words to fully describe the kind of love that we felt from them.

I am sure that Nanny experienced sadness, loneliness, and even disappointment in her life, after all she was human, and living in this world, but mostly, she told us she felt joy, peace, love and chose to live her life by being thankful and content.

She told me many times that she felt like she was the richest woman in the world. She spoke so often of knowing how blessed she was to have found the love of her life. And, although he was taken from her too soon, she held that love for him alone – and, I know, even into eternity, she is still his.

She also received the ultimate joy of being able to be a full-time mother, bringing up her three girls in the love and trust of the Lord. The girls remember all the times she was there for them, from just being there everyday to greet them when they came home from school, to making special treats, like homemade French Fries with gravy and her divine apple, blueberry and strawberry~rhubard pies. They remember cuddling into her bed with her on lazy mornings, and the way she had of making them feel safe and adored. Her love and belief in them was unconditional, and it always remained steadfast throughout her life. Through the way that she lived her life, she testified to them of the depth of God’s love. And, I know they thank her for believing in them and never giving up so that now their own salvation is secure.

Beyond her salvation, Nanny felt that the dearest gift she had been given on this earth was the gift of her children and grandchildren. She treasured that gift above all things, and she made the most of every moment, every embrace, every opportunity to express her love, to nurture us, protect us, and more than anything to always pray her heartfelt prayers for us.

Nanny loved her grandkids so deeply that she couldn’t ever get enough of us. She called us “her treasures” and I know that she would have liked to have had us around her all the time if she could’ve. She was the type of person who knew no age. And, even as we grew older she called us “her baby, her doll, and her pet” – and even at my age, I loved it. Yes, she spoiled us all with her love, and we are all eternally grateful.

Nanny was an extraordinary woman who loved unconditionally and with a greater devotion than we can express. She enjoyed the simple things in life, like knitting slippers and sweaters for her loved ones, and taking time to make her home a haven of peace for all those who came in. She enjoyed singing hymns especially with our dear friend Kay Pritchett, taking a nice little nap, and her quiet times in devotion and prayer. She cherished the visits and calls from her brothers and sisters, laughing with her family, and of course, having us all together as often as we could.

It is easy to see if you look closely, even now, what kind of a woman my grandmother was. You can see it in her daughters. In my Mother, Dianne, her strength of character, sense of purpose, her determination, and her care- giving nature. In her soft-spoken child, Kay, her tenderness, her compassion, and the purity of her unconditional love. In her youngest, her baby, Sherri, her devotion of faith, her perseverance, and her strength of spirit. And, in each of them, her sense humour, her dedication to family, and her love of the Lord.

She was the gentlest, yet most profound, teacher I have ever known. She taught us all to dream, to have faith, to believe in ourselves and in each other. To forgive, and to never lose hope even when things seem unsure. Above all, she taught us to love without question, because she knew that love is never jealous, proud, selfish or demanding. That it protects, is kind, rejoices in the truth, covers over our sins, and lasts into eternity.

For many people death seems to be the end, and can feel unkind, unnecessary and sometimes even cruel. But, for Nanny it was an anticipated time of passing on into the beginning of a joyous celebration and a truly abundant life everlasting - one without sorrow, without pain, and one where she can embrace her Saviour and see her precious love ones again.

Psalm 116:15 speaks of this and reminds us that for those who place their trust in Him as Nanny did, “Precious in sight of the Lord is the Death of one of His saints”. And, I think we can all agree, she was more than your average saint ~ perhaps even for us an Angel lent to us from above.

Her love for us never ceases, and as we feel it strongly even now, we thank her for always believing, always giving, for always being who she was to all of us. We will miss her on this earth, but she will always and forever be in the center of each of our hearts.

My Grandmother passed away on September 10th, 2007. Her passing was significant in its timing as she passed in the same hour as the love of her life, my grandfather, who, 18 years ago, died during the same hour of his prayers and devotion between 6 and 7 am everyday of his Christian life. When he died I was reminded by God in that hour just how precious the death of one of his saints is (Psalm 116:15). God took them both into His presence in the hour of their devotion to Him. And, the One that they sought to know in this life, they finally have met with face to face for eternity. While I lay beside the body of my grandmother after her spirit left, her mouth forming her last breath slowly closed into a smile, and her face shone with a glorious peace. The sense of loss I have is filled with a knowing that God has us all in the palm of His hand and we will soon be together again with Him.

Forget Me Not....

So, if you can imagine, I have not taken a picture with a camera that is my own for nearly 10 years now. That's 10 years of missed memories. Thankfully, I do have a good memory still at this age, but still. It's pathetic.

With the purchase of my new, and first, digital camera, I have been on somewhat of a mission to capture faces and moments in time. I have also been testing my ability to capture beauty, light and feeling. I am not a photographer, and have actually up until now, not really liked many of the photos I have taken. But, for some reason, I am taken with this new interest. And, perhaps it's the camera, but I must say, I am getting some really nice shots, even if they are only nice to me! The most meaningful ones, of course are of the ones I love. And, most of all my niece and nephew...who are twins and will be turning 10 at the end of this month. So, ironically, my return to taking photos, coinsides with the 10th anniversary of their birth! Again, pathetic!!!

So here they are... just gorgeous.