Pictures from Haller Park

This was the last week our team was able to spend together before each of us goes different directions...some traveling across Kenya, one going home for Christmas, and one who's term is ending. We took a day and went to Haller Park, a nature preserve here in Mombasa. Some of you may have heard of it because of the famous "Owen and Mzee". (bottom left picture) This is where the Tortoise and baby Hippo who became friends after the Tsunamii, now stay. Since then they haven't left each other's side. You can find this story online if you google it. Its pretty neat. Our team had a wonderful day of fun and relaxation. We even had a little taste of crocodile and ostrich meat..yummy! And then as you can see, Dennis and I took lessons on caring for each other like the monkeys do...so funny!!

EMAIL UPDATE!!

Hi Everyone...yes gonna update sometime but here's the latest email summary update from this past term

“Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you”
I Samuel 12:24

Greetings from the hot, humid Kenya coast! Hope you have all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Mombasa Polytechnic term has ended and we wrapped up college ministry last week praising God for all He has done in the lives of the students this term. It’s been a very busy semester and God has been so good and so faithful in answering prayers!

This term my weeks were filled with spending time with college girls, discipling, teaching, evangelizing and just living out daily life with the girls. One of the biggest desires and beliefs of the Serve Kenya team is that “the best minister/evangelist for any culture is a Godly, well trained person from that culture”. With this in focus, I spent a lot of time with one girl in particular, Betty. She is a new believer who comes from a Catholic background. Her brother led her to the Lord about 4 months ago. When I met Betty I knew there was something exciting about her. She always wore this huge smile on her face. My heart has been so encouraged to hear her testimony and how God has dramatically changed her life. Her heart is so full of joy.

Betty and I have been meeting every Friday to go through the fundamentals of our Christian faith as well as studying the book of Job together with some other girls. Betty is a girl who hungers to know God and His Word and even more exciting, to share Jesus with others!! She radiates the love of Christ and wants to see others find hope in the Savior. She left this past week to head home to spend the holidays with her family, and in one of our last conversations together she said, “ I just can’t wait to get home to teach my brother everything that I’ve learned!!” Please join me in praying for Betty as well as all the other college students who will be returning home for the holidays. Many of them will be returning to families who don’t know Jesus. Pray they may stand boldly as lights and witnesses to the saving grace of our Lord and Savior!

The last 4 ½ months here in Kenya have been amazing! It’s been so good to be back ministering in a culture and to a people my heart deeply desires to see walking in the TRUTH of Christ. Originally I was supposed to be on a plane and coming back to the States next week. However, as many of you have realized by now, I am going to be extending my time here in Kenya for another month. I will be spending the next month reuniting with and encouraging Kenyan friends I knew when I lived here a few years ago, including my Digo village friends and baby Allison. I also will be traveling to Busia to spend Christmas and New Years with Dennis and his family. Then January 16th I’ll be headed back to America.

Then after that…plans are still in the works! Thanks so much for the many emails of congrats and support in Dennis and I’s engagement. We are very happy and our hearts have been so encouraged by all the love and support from all of our friends and family, both in the States and in Kenya. We are so excited about this upcoming year and all that God has planned for our future marriage and ministry in Kenya. Please pray the Lord would give us wisdom and direction as we take this next big step.

I can’t send an email out without saying a huge thank you to all of you who have given me the opportunity to minister here in Kenya through your prayers and giving! God is so good and I continue to see Him do exceeding abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine!!

To HIM Be Glory!

Engagement Party

On Saturday November 18th, my roomate Kristin and some of the college girls at the Polytechnic gave Dennis and I an engagment party at the church. It was gonna be a surprise but with Dennis' and I's busy schedules we had to know about it in order to be there. It was also the weekend that Dennis had a missions team from Denton, Texas here holding a kids camp in the village he teaches pastors, so many of our new Texas friends were able to be here too. Kristin and the girls made brownies, popcorn, and juice and we had lots of fun music. The best part of the afternoon was when we sat and got to listen to many of the college students give testimony and encourage us and tell us what a godly example our relationship has been to them and what a difference Dennis's leadership in the college ministry has meant to their lives. We ended the afternoon with prayer and a big group picture. It was a very special time and I praise God for all the many friends we have here!

The Story of US!!

OK, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ MY PREVIOUS POSTS YOU SHOULD SCROLL DOWN AND READ THOSE BEFORE READING THIS STORY!

The Big Question…How Did We Meet?

Dennis and I met in November 2004 during the end of my 2 year IMB term in Kenya. We call it the “pillow story” because we met as a result of mere pillow! That’s right, a pillow. Dennis had just come back from living and studying in Texas along with his teammate Rusty. They were living and doing ministry in Mombasa. We had a mutual friend, Crystal Bell. Crystal and Dennis knew each other from church when he lived in Texas. I knew Crystal because at the time she was also working for the IMB in Nairobi. Dennis and Rusty had gone to visit Crystal in Nairobi and accidentally left Rusty’s pillow at her house. At the time my other friend Kimberly Samuel (also a SEBTS student and IMB missionary) was traveling from Nakuru to come visit me at the coast for a month. She had to pass through Nairobi to get to the coast so on her way she stopped at Crystal’s house. Knowing that Kimbo was headed to the coast she sent the pillow with her hoping we could somehow get it to Dennis and Rusty. (The picture to the right is of Crystal, Kimberly, Rusty, Dennis and I in Raleigh, NC at Starbucks when Dennis was in States in Dec.2005)

So Kimbo arrived to my house with this unknown pillow not really knowing what we were suppose to do with it or who it belonged to. We waited to hear from Crystal but one day out of the blue I got a phone call from this guy saying we had his pillow. This guy was Dennis calling. The guys told us that they would be heading our way that following Sunday because they would be going to Word of Life for church. Word of Life just so happened to be the same place Kimbo and I were going to be going to church that Sunday as well. So we told them to look for us so we could give them the pillow. On that Sunday we just knew we were looking for a white guy and a Kenyan guy. Kimbo and I sat in church that day hoping they would find us because we sure didn’t see them. As we sat through service we were very impressed at the guest preacher that day because he was teaching such Biblical truth and in a very expository manner (not found much here in Kenya). Little did we know that that preacher was Dennis himself. It was such good teaching that I can even remember that he was preaching from James 1.

So after church we looked around and Rusty came up to us asking if we were the ones with his pillow. Soon after that Dennis came down and introduced himself as well. That day we joined them for lunch. So that’s the day Dennis and I first met one another (November 28th 2004). Then through the month of December Kimbo and I were so happy to have some other single missionaries close by to hang out with. Then Kimbo left in January to go back to Nakuru and Rusty then left Kenya in February. We didn’t’ see each other much but Dennis and I continued to keep in touch by email, text messages, and phone to encourage one another in each of our separate ministries. It was during this time that I began to really respect him and admire him for the ministry that he was doing in Kenya. He was unlike any other Kenyan I’d ever met. Most Kenyans who have the opportunity to go to the States never return to Kenya, but Dennis had a missions heart for his own people and had returned to Kenya to teach and minister to pastors and college students. His passion for God’s Word and passion for teaching it to others really impressed me!

In February 14th 2005 that we had a long talk and discussed our admiration for one another. Because of the IMB’s no dating policy, we knew and agreed we couldn’t “date” while I was on the field but in the coming weeks when I told my supervisors about my friendship with Dennis and my desire for accountability, the regional leadership decided our friendship was more than it should be and asked me to finish my term in South Africa. This was a very difficult time for both of us but it was through this that I really saw Dennis’ godly character shine.

After I left Kenya we continued to stay in touch over email and when I got to the States we were able to communicate almost everyday by phone. It was through this communication that our hearts really began to grow for one another and then in December 2005 Dennis came to the States to attend my Southeastern Seminary graduation and to visit my friends and family for the holidays. Everyone, including my family loved him…all an answer to many prayers! I also had the opportunity to go to Texas with Dennis to meet his American family and supervisors there. But then at the beginning of January Dennis returned to Kenya, not knowing when we’d be seeing one another again or exactly where our relationship would take us. We were just trusting the Lord and praying for His wisdom and direction! Dennis was committed to his job as a missionary in Kenya and I wasn’t ready to return to Kenya yet.

During this next season apart I got on with “American life”, got an apartment and got a really good job. Little did I know that during this time Dennis was praying that I’d be miserable at my job and would have a desire to return to Kenya quickly. I had lots of little specific prayers of my own about how God needed to show me if this was the man I was suppose to be with for life. I had many fears but it was during this next 7 months the Lord really showed Himself faithful and answered all of my prayers, one after another! My job was very stressful for me and by April the Lord had done so much in my heart that I had an overwhelming desire to return to Kenya to work with Dennis in ministry in Mombasa. We knew the majority of our relationship had been long distance and we needed to be in the same place at the same time for awhile to really get to know one another in person.

The opportunity to go through Serve International was there but circumstances like my job, an apartment lease, school loans, support raising and other obstacles made it seem like it would be impossible for me to go. But Dennis (a man of BIG FAITH) and I began to fervently pray over each of these things and God very quickly and graciously showed HIS HAND to us and took down each of those obstacles. And within under 2 months of writing my support letter I was on a plane to Kenya to do ministry with Dennis and the team there! These last three months with Dennis have been the best ever! We’ve been able to see the REAL Dennis and Allison alive and in person and in the context of everyday life and ministry. And through it all we’ve only seen our love for one another grow unconditionally. I can’t imagine going through the ups and downs of life and ministry and the mission field with anyone else!

So Here's the Proposal Story

SO HOW DID HE PROPOSE?

Here’s the exciting story… Thursday night without me knowing of course, Dennis called my Dad in North Carolina to tell him he had a ring and was ready to ask me to marry him. My Dad told Dennis that he had been waiting for that phone call and that he had all his blessings to go for it. The funny thing is that Wednesday and Thursday of last week was a little rough for us. We had a discouraging two days but it was during this time that we truly saw our God-given love for one another and Dennis knew it was time to officially ask me to marry him. So on Friday he had the whole day planned out. He called me at 6:30am on Friday morning and asked me to come to his place to have coffee with him before he went to teach at 7am. We had coffee and then Dennis took my hands in his and looked at me and said something like, “Babe, I know its been a difficult two days but today is a new day and God’s mercies are indeed new everyday. So lets begin today new and fresh, forgiving one another, and putting the past two days behind us, and looking ahead.” We both sweetly agreed to that and Dennis prayed for us and for the day. Then he told me that I should cancel any plans I had for that evening because we were going out on a real date. When he told me to dress up my cute black dress I hadn’t worn yet in Kenya I think I knew something was up. When he came home early that afternoon he came to my house with surprises behind his back. In one hand he had a small cup of ice cream (as many know I absolutely love ice cream) and said, “this is to say I’m sorry for being a jerk yesterday” and in the other hand he had an ice cream bar and said, “this is to tell you how much I love you”. Oh how sweet it was!

Then later in the afternoon after I returned from an afternoon of Bible Studies with the college girls I came home to a huge bouquet of flowers and a sweet note on my bed saying, “Just another small way to show that I love you like crazy”. Again, so sweet! Then that evening when he came home we dressed up and left for our date. He told me I should choose somewhere to eat but then I saw him driving away from town and toward the Ferry boat that takes us off the island to South coast. Very odd since we never usually cross the ferry at night. But then once we were on the ferry I knew where we were going. He was taking me to South coast where I used to live and back to the very same place where we had our very first talk about our admirations for one another, almost two years ago.

The restaurant was right on the beach and the atmosphere was perfect. There was a full moon, the sky was clear, the tide was out, and the ocean breeze blowing. We sat at a table in the beautiful white sand under the palm trees. After dinner we took a walk on the beach. We walked and talked for what seemed like forever. Then we sat down on the sand and talked some more just enjoying one another’s company. Then we walked on a little more. It was getting late so in my mind I was thinking about how we should be getting back on the road to Mombasa because its not usually really safe to drive that road really late. But then Dennis asked if we could sit down and just pray and thank God for our relationship and for all that he’s done in the past year and a half. He asked me to pray first and then he would end. Well I prayed and when I finished I expected him to continue but instead he stood up and helped me up, paused a minute and said, “oops I forgot to pray” and then we sat back down. (Thought that was a little weird but little did I know he was trying to dig the ring out of his pocket. My sweet Dennis had safety pinned the ring in his pocket so it wouldn’t’ fall out and while I was praying he tried to dig it out but couldn’t so he had to stand up to get it. It was so fast and smooth I didn’t know what was going on) so when we sat back down for him to pray he said, “Before I pray I want to talk to you about something...” Then he proceeded on to talk about all the events of our relationship and where God has brought us and about all the ups and downs of the past year and how he wouldn’t have wanted to go through any of that with anyone else in the world but me. Then he said, “Babe, I know I’ve asked you many times if you wanted to marry me but right now I want to officially ask you to spend the rest of your life with me” I was speechless for a second and said a big yes of course! I was holding his hands so tight that he then said, “And Babe if you would let go of my hand for a second I will give you a ring.” I laughed, let go of his hand and he put an absolutely gorgeous ring on my finger, and then he prayed for us and our future together. I was speechless and just kept saying, this feels so natural, oh my goodness we are finally engaged, I can’t believe it.

But the night he had planned didn’t end there. Instead of making the long dangerous drive back to Mombasa at 11pm at night he had another plan up his sleeve. He had called ahead to the Rains, my former teammates who lived in South coast, told them what he was planning and asked if we could stay with them that night. So that’s what we did, we stayed up late talking to Michael and Melissa and then woke up the next morning and went and shared the news with the Grossmann’s who lived next door.

The night couldn’t have been more perfect and more natural!! Dennis is an amazing, creative, sweet, sentimental and unique man of God and I couldn’t ask for a more precious gift from above!!

THE RING!

And let me tell you about the ring....it’s very unique for an engagement ring. Dennis had an idea of what I wanted and took much time to design it just the way he thought it should be. It’s a white gold band and has a beautiful Tanzanite gemstone in the middle and three diamonds on both sides. It’s extra special because to me it combines both the American tradition of diamonds and the Tanzanite that is only mined here in East Africa. It’s the most beautiful and special ring I’ve ever seen, not just cause of its mere physical beauty but because of the special man and “God-story” behind it!!

SO WHAT'S NEXT?

As of right now plans are still in the works. I will be retuning to the States January 17th and Dennis will follow a few months later. The timing of the wedding depends on when Dennis is able to put his work here in Mombasa on hold temporarily to come to the States. He’s in the process of discussing this with his supervisors. Then sometime hopefully between April and July of next year we will get married. As of now, after that we will then live in the States at least 6 to 8 months to raise support for the two of us, spend time with family, then return to Kenya together as Serve International missionaries sometime early 2008. All of these plans are in the Lord’s hands and we are asking Him for the wisdom and knowledge for the next year of our lives. Please pray with us about all these important details!

The Big News You've Been Waiting For

Hey Everyone!

GUESS WHAT???

Many of you have been waiting for this for a long time....and FINALLY here it is!!
Ok if you haven't guessed by now.............
Friday night November 3, 2006 after a romantic dinner on the beach and a long walk along the shore under a full moon, Dennis proposed and popped the big QUESTION.....
And Guess what i said??
A BIG YES
WE ARE officially ENGAGED!!!!!!

The story and more details to come but i just wanted to tell you all! So exciting. God is good and has done exceeding abundantly more than i could ever ask or imagine thats for sure. Please pray for Dennis and I as we seek to glorify the Lord together and edify one another!
I'll be posting a picture and more details on the blog in the next day or so.
Yes girls the ring is gorgeous! He did good! Tanzanite and Diamonds