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So I have some big exciting news....I’M ENGAGED!
Many of you know that I’ve been close friends with a Kenyan guy called Tom since I first came out to Kenya in 2006. We’ve always just been friends and never thought there was anything more until around April this year when God started revealing to us separately that we were meant for each other. Tom actually asked me to marry him in July, but I said I needed more time to be sure. So I spent the next couple of weeks praying literally all the time and God spoke to me so clearly through a number of scriptures, pictures and visions. I then came back to him and said I was 90% sure so we agreed to separately write out what we believe our natural talents, spiritual gifts and divine assignment/calling are and then compare. So again I spent a couple of weeks really seeking God and he revealed a lot more to me about my calling. When Tom emailed me his I was so shocked at how perfectly mine fitted with his that I almost thought he had copied mine! – (although of course there was no way he could have done that). That made me 100% certain it is God’s will for me to marry Tom. What is strange though (but actually confirms this is of God and not me) is that I only felt I was in love with Tom after God had confirmed to me that he was the one and I was 100% sure. I'm now madly in love and it's different from anything I’ve ever felt before. I can't describe it.
We were then told to arrange to go for ‘proving’ before the pastors so they can confirm we have accurately heard from God. Being Kenya this took several weeks (during which time I was under strict instructions not to tell anyone – which has been soooo difficult!) and finally last Thursday we went for proving. It took 3.5hrs, in which we individually shared our stories and ‘proof’ before 3 of the pastors, who then consulted together for some time before calling us both back in to give their feedback. They confirmed they believe it is God’s will for us to marry and announced we are now officially engaged.
The wedding will be in Kenya, but we're not sure when it will be. At the moment we're thinking maybe early 2012, but it could be 2011 if God directs otherwise. I've been told by the pastors to have an open-mind and not plan when I think it would be right, but follow God's timing. I’ll let everyone know as soon as I know so that you can start making plans to come!
So a bit more about my fiancé – He’s called Tom Vohya (or TV to me) is 27 next month and grew up in Mombasa (the coast) and then Nairobi. He's in the same church as me and serves in the technical department (definitely a strength that compensates for my lack of technical expertise). He works designing websites - he's incredibly talented at it and that's not just me being subjective! We have both heard clearly from God that we are called into full-time ministry and will start in Kenya before God expands our sphere of influence to an international scope. So I will be living in Kenya for the next however many years. (A good thing is the new constitution that just got passed now allows dual citizenship).
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I last updated you on my news – sorry about that.
On the work front I’ve been analysing the data for the ‘girls against the odds project’, which is really interesting and an answer to prayer because I was only being paid to do the fieldwork but now CCE want me to help with analysis too. I’ve got so much rich data from all the different research projects I’ve been doing that I’ve got several ideas of papers I want to write. Hopefully when I get some more time I will be able to write at least one of them and also praying that somehow I get funding to do so.
Maisha Trust is coming on well. The eviction notice for the land has been given out and the residents have until the end of November to move out so that we can start building the new school. We’ve started designing the new centre and are trying to be really imaginative because God keeps on telling us that it has to be unique and different from anything else in Kibera. Sarah junior opened for last term this week but I haven’t yet had a chance to go.
Some small exciting news is that I was chatting with one of my pastors about music randomly one day and I told her ‘I used to be a musician in my past life’! She then came up to me the next day I asked me to start teaching her daughter the piano. What’s more is they have a piano – a baby-grand piano! - in their house – the 2nd piano I’ve ever seen in Kenya! I’m really enjoying teaching and have also been given permission to go and practise myself whenever I want. It feels so good to be playing the piano again. I didn’t realise how much I have missed it. I’m thinking of applying to some of the international schools to teach music and piano for next term.
I’ve also finally played tennis with a lady from church. She’s very good and is on the Kenyan team. She actually told me I should try out for the Kenyan team! Not sure if that’s possible though seeing as I’m not Kenyan!
We had a KA practical last week on Spiritual gifts which was great fun but quite challenging. We were put in small groups and had to give accurate words of knowledge (a piece of info about someone’s past or present life that you’ve never been told), words of wisdom (direction from God on what to do concerning a specific issue) and words of prophecy (sharing God’s specific plans for the future) about each person’s life. At first we were told to pray for a bit and then just share whatever the Spirit revealed to us, then each subsequent ‘round’ it was made harder and harder. Like from 2nd ‘round’ we weren’t allowed time to pray and just had to share instantly. Then we had to give words on a specific issue the person wanted a word on, but they weren’t allowed to tell us what the issue was. So we first had to hear from God what the issue was and then give the word. In a way it was so easy. I just found myself flowing in the Holy Spirit and speaking such specific and accurate words. IT’s amazing how ready God is to speak to His people if we can learn to hear Him. Having said that the last ‘round’ was so hard. We were brought all back together (40+ people) and the lecturer would make one person stand up in front of everyone and point to another certain person and tell you to instantly give a word to them on the specific issue that God had revealed to him. The pressure was so intense, especially having to do it in front of everyone. On my turn I shared what I thought God was saying and the lady confirmed it was accurate but it wasn’t the issue the lecturer had hear God speak about so I was told to do it again, but couldn’t get it. The practical started at 8am and finished at 3:30pm without a break, so I think I was also getting tired. By the end I felt like I didn’t want to hear anything else from God!
We’ve been given the brief for our first KA Practical Ministry Project (PMP) which involves organising a day mission to a rural community. Every person has to win at least one person to Christ through one-on-one evangelism and get them infilled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. We also have to do a ‘Kingdom impacting event’ to address certain ‘deformations’ within the community, which has to be sustainable/have a long-lasting effect. We’ve been put in groups of 13 and I was selected by the lecturers as one of the group leaders. It’s quite challenging because I have so much responsibility and am leading people older than me. In fact several in my group have children! I know God’s grace is with me though and the two group meetings we’ve had so far have gone very well. We’re arranging to go on a ‘spy mission’ next Saturday to visit the community, talk to the local leaders and discover what ‘deformations’ there are that we need to address e.g. lack of water, early-marriage, witchcraft. The actual execution day is in mid-Nov so I’ll keep you updated on my group’s plans.
Please keep me posted on your news too because I love to hear what you are up to and what I can praying for you. Some of you I haven’t heard from in months!
On the work front I’ve been analysing the data for the ‘girls against the odds project’, which is really interesting and an answer to prayer because I was only being paid to do the fieldwork but now CCE want me to help with analysis too. I’ve got so much rich data from all the different research projects I’ve been doing that I’ve got several ideas of papers I want to write. Hopefully when I get some more time I will be able to write at least one of them and also praying that somehow I get funding to do so.
Maisha Trust is coming on well. The eviction notice for the land has been given out and the residents have until the end of November to move out so that we can start building the new school. We’ve started designing the new centre and are trying to be really imaginative because God keeps on telling us that it has to be unique and different from anything else in Kibera. Sarah junior opened for last term this week but I haven’t yet had a chance to go.
Some small exciting news is that I was chatting with one of my pastors about music randomly one day and I told her ‘I used to be a musician in my past life’! She then came up to me the next day I asked me to start teaching her daughter the piano. What’s more is they have a piano – a baby-grand piano! - in their house – the 2nd piano I’ve ever seen in Kenya! I’m really enjoying teaching and have also been given permission to go and practise myself whenever I want. It feels so good to be playing the piano again. I didn’t realise how much I have missed it. I’m thinking of applying to some of the international schools to teach music and piano for next term.
I’ve also finally played tennis with a lady from church. She’s very good and is on the Kenyan team. She actually told me I should try out for the Kenyan team! Not sure if that’s possible though seeing as I’m not Kenyan!
We had a KA practical last week on Spiritual gifts which was great fun but quite challenging. We were put in small groups and had to give accurate words of knowledge (a piece of info about someone’s past or present life that you’ve never been told), words of wisdom (direction from God on what to do concerning a specific issue) and words of prophecy (sharing God’s specific plans for the future) about each person’s life. At first we were told to pray for a bit and then just share whatever the Spirit revealed to us, then each subsequent ‘round’ it was made harder and harder. Like from 2nd ‘round’ we weren’t allowed time to pray and just had to share instantly. Then we had to give words on a specific issue the person wanted a word on, but they weren’t allowed to tell us what the issue was. So we first had to hear from God what the issue was and then give the word. In a way it was so easy. I just found myself flowing in the Holy Spirit and speaking such specific and accurate words. IT’s amazing how ready God is to speak to His people if we can learn to hear Him. Having said that the last ‘round’ was so hard. We were brought all back together (40+ people) and the lecturer would make one person stand up in front of everyone and point to another certain person and tell you to instantly give a word to them on the specific issue that God had revealed to him. The pressure was so intense, especially having to do it in front of everyone. On my turn I shared what I thought God was saying and the lady confirmed it was accurate but it wasn’t the issue the lecturer had hear God speak about so I was told to do it again, but couldn’t get it. The practical started at 8am and finished at 3:30pm without a break, so I think I was also getting tired. By the end I felt like I didn’t want to hear anything else from God!
We’ve been given the brief for our first KA Practical Ministry Project (PMP) which involves organising a day mission to a rural community. Every person has to win at least one person to Christ through one-on-one evangelism and get them infilled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. We also have to do a ‘Kingdom impacting event’ to address certain ‘deformations’ within the community, which has to be sustainable/have a long-lasting effect. We’ve been put in groups of 13 and I was selected by the lecturers as one of the group leaders. It’s quite challenging because I have so much responsibility and am leading people older than me. In fact several in my group have children! I know God’s grace is with me though and the two group meetings we’ve had so far have gone very well. We’re arranging to go on a ‘spy mission’ next Saturday to visit the community, talk to the local leaders and discover what ‘deformations’ there are that we need to address e.g. lack of water, early-marriage, witchcraft. The actual execution day is in mid-Nov so I’ll keep you updated on my group’s plans.
Please keep me posted on your news too because I love to hear what you are up to and what I can praying for you. Some of you I haven’t heard from in months!
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