Beauty For Ashes...

"...beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:3

Sunday, February 27, 2011

So ready to come home...


I've been hesitant to post this because I don't want my family to be afraid for us here. But the reality of it is, Satan is alive and real and God does ordain suffering for his glory.

As I've said before, I have an amazing prayer group that meets on Friday mornings at Sandra's house. CT has started a mens gathering here at our house earlier on Friday mornings. At my group, were all sitting around catching up while waiting on Su to arrive. We planned to get started as soon as she came. Su walked in and sat in her normal seat, then burst into tears. She had just received a call from our paster that a friend and member of our worship band had been shot and killed during the night. Chris received the news within minutes of me. ALL of us were in utter disbelief. Even more so when we learned the whole story. You can read it here on YWAM's website.

Eble was the first guy to come introduce himself and make Chris feel welcomed at his first mens meeting. He played the piano in our worship band and in fact, that was the last time we saw him; last Sunday. His wife Lora and their 2 children- two and four, sit near us every Sunday. I would just sit and star at them half the time because they were just the most beautiful blonde-headed family!

Yesterday after church was the memorial service for Eble. They had many family members who had come in from Holland. His Father and his wife spoke. What a family. Lora, his wife, shared that their four year old had encouraged her heart because when she was crying he said "Mommy, why are you crying? Aren't you happy that Daddy is with Jesus now?"

Eble died defending his family and died in the country he loved serving his beloved Savior.
We are proud to have known this family and have enjoyed watching them serve their God here in Kenya.


After the memorial service we went to see some Kenyan friends who just had a baby 2 weeks ago and now their little fella is in the hospital with some type of infection. He's going to be okay though. He just needs to stay in the hospital several days on IV antibiotics. On the way home we ran into terrible traffic. We didn't understand why traffic would be so bad on a Sunday. The day before, we had run into traffic near the same area coming back from taking Rusty to the airport. We just assumed it was just because of people merging. We only sat for about 10 minutes when we saw cars were going around something on the side of the road. As we approached, I glanced to see what it was we were avoiding. To my utter disbelief and horror, it was a 3 year old child that had been hit... just laying there on the side of the road like an animal. WHAT THE HECK???? PICK THAT BABY UP AND DO SOMETHING!!! Where were the medics? Where was 911? Oh... right... 3rd world. There was a man just standing over the child staring at it. I was so nauseous. I was so glad that Chris was driving. I couldn't believe people would just leave it there. It was just like seeing a dog hit - laying next to the curb. I just didn't get it.

We're beyond ready to get back to our homeland. Where we don't have to wonder why someone leaves a dead child on the side of road. We've certainly learned so much about this culture, but it's times like this, when we realize how much we still have to learn. Not to mention I AM SPOILED ROTTEN because of how I KNOW medicine is in the US; how I EXPECT more because of what I am "used to".

Count your blessings, my friends. This here is the REAL WORLD.


2 comments:

  1. I read about his murder on another blog. So, so sad. Praying for their family and praying for y'all as you travel.

    Love you.

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  2. Wow, you guys have had quite a few "reminders" that you're in the 3rd world, no matter how nice those malls are. I'm so glad that you can come home, it's really perfect timing... definitely not a coincidence.

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