i wrote this a while back....just now posting it

As of about five minutes ago I have officially driven all four of our vehicles! Each of our cars has a special personality. They all get moody at times and have a tendency to put the driver and passengers in certain moods as well. I’ve been learning to drive on the right side of the car, the left side of the road, to fight matatus (public transportation vans), avoid livestock in the road, keep air in the tires, water in the radiator, and how to perfectly place the trash bag over the hole in the door since the window won’t roll up. This is all riveting I know….



On to more important matters – Mom and Dad are officially on their way here! I just got a text from Mom saying, “We just left home! 4 am .” Words cannot express how excited I am about them coming. Kenya is such a huge part of my heart and my life and I can’t wait to share it with them. I know they will love it and not want to leave! I haven’t done a great job of setting plans for us, but we do plan on going on safari, visiting some missionary friends, and just hanging out together. Pray for safety for their trip and that our time spent together would be rich. Having a taste of home is going to help ease any homesickness that might try to sneak up. I believe the Lord gives everyone special graces. I know one of my graces is being able to feel at home wherever I am. I can take a nap on a couch, cook in a kitchen, or sit on a porch just about anywhere and have it feel like home. The Lord knows what He is doing when He calls each of us to the bed He wants us to sleep in.




So until November I will be sleeping in a twin bed without my special pillows and my precious dog. But this is the place He has called me and I count it an honor to follow the path He has laid out for me. Along with calling me I know He will equip me, and not just of my own means but through you guys, my team at “home.” Please continue to pray about financial support. If you have tried to give online you may not have been successful as our program has been down. Feel free to try again (brakenhurstministries.org and then "donate") or send a check to:

Brackenhurst Ministries
Donation Processing Center
900 Westpark Drive, Suite 300
Peachtree City, GA 30269

I love you all...see you soon!

transitions

Last week we had an amazing vacation. Tuesday we headed to Hell’s Gate, a popular park for game driving, rock climbing, camping, and hiking. The staff had a great time relaxing, climbing, and hanging out with zebra. Smores under the stars are a whole new experience half way around the world.

Wednesday we drove to Masai Mara for safari. We had an evening game drive filled with lions, buffalo, giraffes, jackals, and much more. Safari is always an amazing experience. We stayed in modest tents, lived on minimal electricity (only on for a few hours a day and driven by a generator), ate meals on the lawn, and spent hours in the pop top vans. Thursday we did a full days drive and saw elephants, cheetas, crocodiles, hippos, and on and on.


Yesterday we said goodbye to the summer staff. It is a surreal feeling looking back at the day the staff arrived a couple of months ago. I pray that as they return to their homes all over the states that they will live the transformations that took places in many of their hearts. Kenya has a way of changing you. I was constantly caught off guard by the spiritual maturity of these college students. They blessed me beyond belief and I know blessed the heart of Kenya.

This is a week of transition. Today I spent most of the day moving into my new room. I live in a huge house with four other people. Life felt “normal” as I got up, made some eggs, ate a mango, listened to music as I put my room together, and went out for lunch. Tomorrow we leave for our three-day staff retreat. This is where the full time staff take some time to debrief the summer and plan for the fall. My primary job will be helping with BlueSky Adventures. I was originally only going to stay until October, but it will make a lot of sense for me to just finish out an even six months and stay until November. I know the Lord has put special skills and life experiences in my path to prepare me for this season of my life. I am a perfect fit for the job the Lord has laid out before me. I believe the Lord makes places for you to and places only you can fill.






Please pray for:
-Our team as we transition from "summer" to "fall" and a change of pace in the ministry.
-Financial support. Since I am staying longer than anticipated I still need about $2000 to cover my time here.
-My family as my mom and dad are coming to visit in one week! May they be kept safe and our time be sweet together.
-The family and friends of David Yallo - a Kenyan young man who was a staff for BlueSky, he was killed in an automobile accident last week.


This is my team: Me, Eric, Kim, Clayton, and Amanda



If you feel led to help support me financially please go to www.brackenhurstministries.org and go to the "donate" page.