We've been in Kenya for 12 days!

We are here! Living at the end of a little red dirt road near the rural village of Kithimani, Kenya. Our altitude is almost a mile high. We are living on a plateau, so the view from the road is mountains. The road leading up to the house is lined with wildflowers and acacia, sisal and succulents. There’s been a lot of rain in the past few days and the house sounds like a little tin ship beneath a waterfall. It’s been quite possibly the longest yet most fulfilling 12 days of our lives. From sunup to well after sundown, there is work to be done.

After nearly 40 hours of traveling, we arrived in Kithimani. Our girls all had travelers sickness and Soul ran a fever for a few days, but besides that, everyone has been adjusting well. From the moment we arrived, our kids have embraced learning Kiswahili. They’ve literally embraced everyone they’ve met! They just overflow with love and joy. I have an even greater understanding of Jesus’ words and commands to be like children. The Kingdom of Heaven truly belongs to little children! I’ve been so amazed by their attitudes. They’ve had to pump water for baths, for filtering drinking water, for cleaning dishes. They’ve battled mosquitoes and bugs we don’t know the name of yet. They’ve navigated the stressful driving conditions with more grace than I have! And my mom is here with us for the first month as well! God told her years ago that she would one day go to Africa for missions. She has been the epitome of grace, kindness, and strength!

We have met several amazing Kenyans that have been a blessing to our family already. This country is so warm and welcoming. They have made us feel at home. We are blessed to call them forever friends. Peter, Mary, Julius, Felix, Zaddock, and many more—they have all helped us get our family settled here and we are so grateful for them. We are so thankful to Felista and Angels Center of Hope that we have a house to live in here in a peaceful place.

God has led our every step! I’m in tears typing that. Every obstacle we’ve faced (and there have been many), God has provided a rescue! He’s been our Way-Maker, Miracle-Worker, Promise-Keeper (our girls have been singing that song throughout the house lately—at the top of their lungs). When we needed a van, He provided it. When we needed the right visas to stay here, He provided them. When we needed paperwork that often takes months to get, He got it for us. When that same paperwork was lost in a taxi in Nairobi, God miraculously connected the taxi driver back up with us and he brought us the papers! When we ran out of water in our rain tanks after only a week, God brought a water truck in the night right to our front gate! He is the God who MAKES A WAY. Nothing is too difficult for Him! He never runs out of provision, He never runs out of goodness, He never runs out of faithfulness! God is so good.

We visited our friend Mary’s house down the mountain and the little kids laughed and ran after us. We saw the river the kids bathe in and the road they walk to school sometimes in pouring rain. Our kids gave the school children who visited our house stickers and crayons and they put the stickers all over their faces. They had never seen crayons before, either! We only wish we had brought more to give them. We are wrecked for normal living. Our hearts are stretched, we pray God continues to grow our love and our faith.

We post detailed stories and testimonies, as well as live videos and updates, on our facebook page Commission Mankind. Please follow along there! It’s easier to post live videos, because we don’t have wifi. I use my phone hotspot to log into websites. We PRAISE GOD for YOU!! We wouldn’t be here without our family in Christ in the States making this possible. So, THANK YOU! Your love and support truly strengthens our hearts!