Winding Things Up

Hello to all of Jullie's "Weekly Blog Fans".  You have the second string in today since Jullie is off with Trevor doing the the band outreach to several schools in the regions around Nairobi.  Timothy and Sallie will be doing outreach today with RVA.  They do this once a term where the different classes get together and do something for the surrounding community to serve and help where they can.  This morning I will be relaxing with a hot cup of coffee and writing to you.

Over the last couple weeks, we have had several Engineering Ministries International people here from Uganda and the U.S. helping us finish up on some items.  Jullie's "Water Guy Extraordinaire" (Paul Berg) has been here assisting to get the RVA water spaghetti figured out and balancing the water treatment so that it actually functions as necessary.  They made great progress in developing plans and procedures for improved safety and emergency operation of the RVA water system that steps up the overall health safety of the RVA Community.  It is not that RVA had frequent problems, but as RVA grows (like everywhere else around here) it good to know that the prevention steps taken will better minimize a problem down the road when you least expect it.

John Sauder, (EMI East Africa Director), our boss, was here last week to conduct exit interviews with us, look over the general progress or the works we are involved in,  and evaluate future partnership with EMI and Kijabe.

And finally, Tony Sykes has been here for about 1.5 weeks getting used to the "lay of the land" as he prepares to return next month and relieve Jullie and I of our oversight of the RVA Arts Building and the Bethany Kids Children's Centre and finish those works over the next several months. He was working in South Su)@n  where they were forced to leave for security reasons and now has some time on his hands before he can go back there to work.  It is amazing how GOD works things out in his planning and timing.

As we have spent time reviewing the different projects, in the big picture, I am amazed at what has happened here in Kijabe and how so many things have ultimately worked out for the good.  When in the trenches on a daily basis, struggling to get a pipe laid for the sewer, an electrical cable run to provide uninterrupted power to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) or to get roofing on the new children's center (which was supposed to be done 3 months ago), one can get frustrated (as you know I have frequently).  However, when looking back at the myriad of tasks, systems, and facilities that have been repaired, upgraded and built, I can't help but be amazed and wonder how GOD does work all things out in his timing.  Things have not worked out at the speed Jullie and I envisioned when we came here 3 1/2 years ago but they HAVE worked out and the hospital and community are better for it.  And we learned a very valuable lesson that we would not have known otherwise.  It is not about the task and what we are building.

WHAT???

Sometimes we can get misguided as to what GOD wants from us.  GOD didn't need us to come and build a building.  Others can do that and they do all the time.  He wanted us to do something more than that. It is about community, partnering with others to help them with skills they don't have, and developing long term relationships.   As I read in another missionary blog recently, the mission trip doesn't end when you return home. Hopefully those long term relationships develop to continue helping others in need, mentoring those here (even via long distance), and teaching them something that that they can "pay it forward".

In our time here, we have been involved with many groups of different people doing many different tasks and it wasn't about what we did.  What I am thankful to have seen here is that the people we have been working with changed from individuals who knew only their specific trades, worked essentially alone and, planned little for tomorrow morph into teams that now understand what they others are doing, how their work affects the work of others, how to look ahead and ask questions as to minimize mistakes, and to plan such that the works don't need Jullie and I to be here.

All this couldn't have been done without our prayer and support groups all over the world encouraging us, praying for us and supporting us.  Your work also is that long term relationship that makes a difference in the world.  You may not have been here with a shovel in hand but it was just as important.  May GOD bless you and keep you.

I will leave you with my favorite bible passage.
Rom 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Jim