Kenya - Home Visits

One of my most favourite parts of the trip was getting to spend time with some of the women in their homes. They were so warm and welcoming and it was truly special to be able to pray for them and families in their homes and for their individual needs.

Though the fig tree does not bud

    and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

    and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

    and no cattle in the stalls,

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yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Over and over again, these words from Habakkuk 3 tumbled around in my head. Along with them was the request for "daily bread" for these women who have seemingly endless struggle. In one particular household a malnourished kitten walked around the room crying for food and trying to find a comfortable place to rest. As soon as she settled, she would get up again crying out for relief. My heart broke at the sight of that kitten and all she represents. There are children in these homes with the same cry, the same desire for comfort, and the same deep yearning for relief. 

Lord, God, you know the needs of each of these households. You hear the cries and you see the tears. Father, please meet their need for daily bread. Lord, there is also joy in these homes and I thank you for that. Fill their hearts and homes with more joy than they can continue. Continue to draw them to you by your love and grace. Thank you for all that you are doing in their lives and thank you for the future you have in mind for everyone in these families. Amen. 

These women are hard working! Whether living in a brick house or a makeshift tent, they all have their own small maize crop surrounding their homes to provide for their families. Many have acquired chickens and are regularly benefiting from their eggs. They work hard making and selling crafts. The families living in the Internally Displaced People camps have been together since the violent conflict in 2008 which drove them from the homes and claimed the lives of many of their husbands and sons. Their struggle has been long, but they persevere together and in the Lord. 

On one of our last nights we spent the evening with Esther. Isaac and Esther are the pastors of Rift Valley Fellowship and I absolutely love them! Esther shared with us her relationships with the women and the affect their stories were having on her heart earlier this year. In His kindness, God gave Esther and Isaac a short break from their work in March to travel back to Texas to raise support for the mission. While sharing with a group of about 40 women in Texas, Esther broke down and couldn't continue her story. I've been in that same spot on several occasions and can feel heartache and gratitude just thinking about it. While she sat in front of the group crying and unable to speak, God spoke to her and said these words, "These women (women of Rift Valley) are not yours. They are mine and so are you." He repeated it several times until Esther received the words and allowed them to free her heart. Then God said, "Let go." And she did. In front of those 40 women in Texas and as they all prayed and cried with her she let go and gave the women of Rift Valley and herself to the Lord for His purposes in the ministry of RVF. Since then, Esther continues to spend her time with the women of Rift Valley and on a daily basis she prays with them, cries with them, and holds them when they need it. But she does so with the constant reminder that these women belong to the Lord and so does she. She can walk away each day full of hope that God will work things out and heal their hearts. I can identify so much with what she shared but I was also really convicted to be sure that God is always at the centre of my counsel and that I continually submit my own heart and hurts to Him. I am so grateful for the fullness of my trip to Kenya and so in awe of God's hand on all of us.