Music Surrounds Me

I leave for Africa in 15 days!!!!  (The purple is for Miranda)  I see God is working constantly now and I just have to smile.  While I am busy being Martha, trying to get all my lists checked off:  garage sale, tutoring (exam time is around the corner), house cleaning, laundry, packing for Florida, packing for Africa, completing all my pre-Africa projects...... He is calming me at every turn and blessing me daily.

He is orchestrating the following musicals.

• Bead connection guy, Ebrima, from Africa.  He showed up at my door this morning dressed entirely in his African clothing.  My heart was melted the minute I saw him.  I thought I would buy $100.00 worth of beads.  Well let's just say I didn't.  He had so many beautiful beads and was so kind, as well as his son who was here with him training.  I have a bundle to take to Africa.  I am pretty sure the beads are thinking "Really back to Africa, can't you guys just make up your mind?"
• Musa, the humble gentle giant from Kenya that stayed with us a few summers ago while playing soccer here in Cleveland.  He is doing his best to meet with me while I am in Africa.  This kind man taught me so much about God, patience, perseverance, joy, and humility.  I am beyond excited in the hopes that we can walk together again as friends in Christ.
• "Congratulations you have finished the course." One of the wonderful girls I tutor finished her online math course.  The quoted line showed up on the computer yesterday and she and I were surprised, as you never know when you are finished.  I will miss my mornings with Shelby she is a gem, but it free's me up to get to my list.  Scratch the list, I actually read and soaked up 2 Peter 1 today.  Can I just say "goodness....."
• More tutoring. My other two students I tutor want me daily and although it is filling up my time slots, they are great to work with and it will help pay for the beads I purchased.
• FaceTime. I chatted with the cutest 22 month old in the world today.  That boy can just lift me up so high just by turning his head from side to side to get my attention.  Today he surprised me by counting to "Fiveteen" and then to diez in Spanish.  Okay I will share.  Here he is doing one of his favorite things, watching airplanes (construction sites, cars, trains, trucks....they are all good).

God is good all the time and all the time God is good and that's his nature WOW!  Africa here I come.

Peace, grace, and joy to you all,

kris

It is all in God's hands.

My how time has flown by since my last post.  I know I will not be posting daily but I should have updated by now.  It is all in God's hands, "I know, I know."

First I will begin with the sad news.  Nellie Muthui, the mother and founder of Haven of Hope in Nakuru, Kenya, home to 30+ orphans, passed away April 27 due to complications in childbirth.  She was a beautiful, young woman inside and out with a passion for Christ and children.  To watch Nellie with all this children is awe-inspiring; she glowed. Don and I sponsor one of the orphans at her home.   I continue to pray for her husband and biological son, as well as for her family, friends, and all the beautiful children at Haven.  In addition to Nellie's passing, one of my dear friends from high school lost her father last week.  Although I haven't seen him in 26 years, I will always remember him as a kind, tender man who loved the color GREEN.  Prayers for the Calvin-Lykins family as well.   It is all in God's hands.

On the brighter side of things here on earth, I have returned from two and a half weeks of traveling to Memphis and Indiana.  The trip included visiting  my oldest daughter and her family, lots of one on one time with my beautiful grandson.  Can I say "cars and trucks!"  That is his passion along with airplanes.  I also got to spend time with her husband and his family while attending his brothers wedding.  They are all wonderful people. While in Memphis I refinish a nice chest of drawers my daughter and I picked up from someones trash last year.  This was for Luke's Big Boy Room.  Allie and I also shopped for decor items for his room and the room is looking really cute.

I have been typing up instructions for sewing different types of purse/bags and for making wrap bracelets.  This week I am now testing out the instructions by sewing and beading.  I have finished one wrap bracelet and am almost done with my second purse.  While I was away I received some very generous donations to be used for sewing and beading supplies for my Mission trip to Kenya this summer.  Thank you Mama Libby, Neal and Colleen, and the other Chatham's, you know who you are, and Lois!  In addition to those donations Laura Griner-Harmon and her husband Pat provided a wonderful gift certificate to JoAnn Fabrics!!  Shopping for fabrics to make purses/bags in Africa is in my near future!  I have been receiving more supplies in the mail by way of the Amazon.com wish list I posted. I found out yesterday that Heather and Bill Lawrence purchased chalkboard markers for the teachers at Fiwagoh and a set of jewelry making tools for the girls at Fiwagoh to use.  It is all in God's hands and he is pouring into the hearts of my friends and family. I am so thankful. A prayer that I first learned from wonderful Kenyan soccer player and continue to pray is: God is good all the time and all the time God is good.   So true.

Africa is just 36 days away.  Still much to do in preparation.  It is all in God's hands.  If you are still wanting to make a donation it is not too late.  Donations can be done in any of the following ways.

• Purchase an item from the Amazon Wish List.
• Purchase a gift certificate to Joann Fabrics, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby.
• Cash or Check donations are also welcome.  I will do the shopping for you.
• Make an online donation to EQUIP1 

Blessings of Joy and Peace, 

kris