Another Sister in Christ is Born

I'm so excited!!I got a call from Dennis today with more exciting news about the college girls that I worked with and taught and discipled.

One of the girls, Judy, (the one in middle of picture) that was involved in College Ministry on occasion but held tightly to her Catholic work based beliefs, RECEIVED CHRIST TODAY!!! After Dennis taught tonight (afternoon our time) Judy came up to him afterwards crying and saying that she’s been exalting the church above Christ for so many years and she was tired of doing that and wanted salvation!!! She wanted to be saved. So right there Dennis talked to her and she prayed to receive Christ!!

GOD IS SOO GOOD and is doing amazing things there in Mombasa with those college girls. Kristin and I met with Judy many times while I was there sharing the gospel with her and just loving on her. She was a girl of many questions and it was evident she was searching for TRUTH outside of Catholicism. Since I’ve been gone, my faithful sweet friend Betty, (who has become quite an evangelist to her friends. She’s the one who recently led her friend Kristin to Christ) has really poured into Judy’s life, sharing with her the TRUTH of Christ. And now look…Judy is now in the Kingdom! Praise God!! Judy was one of the girls who came with me to the airport when I left. And now I can officially call her my sister in Christ. I can’t tell you how excited I am. To God be the Glory!!!

I called Betty today and Judy was right there with her. She went straight to Betty after Dennis prayed with her. I got to talk to Judy through the static of the bad connection and she said she was sooooo happy and felt so good. She’s going to email in the next few days with more details since I couldn’t really understand her through the static. All I know is that she sounded so happy.

Please continue to pray for Judy as I know she will begin to face many challenges and be questioned harshly by her devote Catholic family and friends!
God is doing amazing things in Mombasa and its so good to see that it’s the Kenyans reaching Kenyans, as its suppose to be!!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to get back there next year!!
My heart is so excited. To GOD be the glory for His grace and faithfulness!

FUN PHOTOS with FRIENDS

On Sunday afternoon after many of us from TCC went out to eat to celebrate February birthdays, (of me, Kristin, and Alicia) Casey decided to whip out her camera and take some fun photos of me, Nicole, Alicia, and Kristin in downtown Raleigh. Can you tell I look rather sleepy? I think i was actually sleepwalking since I worked the entire night shift before and hadn't slept in over 30 hours. But it was a lot of fun! Maybe the next time I'll be bright eyed and a little more photogenic! Casey is an incredible photographer and I will have the privilege of having her do the photography for Dennis and I's wedding. She has been blessed with an incredible gift. Checkout her photo websites to see her magnificent work:

www.photo.net/photos/CaseyChappell
www.poiemaphotography.smugmug

http://www.poiemapages.blogspot.com/

Dennis and I have decided on the date and place where we want to get married. We will be getting married on the 7th of July 2007 in Raleigh North Carolina at Open Door Baptist Church. Invitations will be coming to you in the mail a few months before that date

Please email (allirn4him@pobox.com) me your mailing address so that we can send you an invitation. We would love to have as many of our friends there with us as possible. Please pray for us the following:

• That we will NOT be consumed by the wedding preparation to a point where it becomes a burden and not a blessing and that we would be more focused on our marriage which comes after the ceremony and not just the wedding itself


• Pray too that our individual walks with the Lord will remain strong and we will seek HIM first in and before ALL things


• Pray also we will be patient as we are apart from each other and that God would use this time to prepare us to for one another and our upcoming marriage.


• Finally praise the Lord with me for the gift of Dennis – such a godly and loving man that I do not deserve – the Lord gave me immeasurably more than I ever could have asked for or imagined.

God is so GOOD!!

I just got a phone call with some very exciting news. Dennis called me and told me that Betty, one of the girls I discipled in Mombasa and have talked about in my blogs a lot, led a girl to Christ today!! I don't know the details yet but I'm going to try to call and encourage her. I just know that one of her friends just showed up in her dorm room early in the morning and said she wanted to be saved. And Betty led her to the Lord. And then tonight at the Friday night girls night that the college students have there were 10 girls there. That's amazing! I wasn't sure when I left whether it would continue. GOD IS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!
Also this week while Dennis has been teaching at Word of Life Bible School in Nairobi he led one of the students to Christ on Thursday. ITS BEEN A GLORIOUS WEEK IN KENYA! GOD is so good and so faithful! Please keep these new believers in your prayers!! This is a picture of one of them.

Trying to Stay Warm

I've now been home for just about 3 weeks and guess what 3 words I have said most often (besides "I miss Dennis")....I"M COLD!! Yep, I'm cold and I just can't seem to get warm! No matter where I go or what I do it seems like I'm always freezing. This Mombasa blood just doesn't do too well in the cold weather. Good thing Dennis isn't here right now or he would turn into a popsicle!!

So far I've enjoyed my time at home, even though its been a little hectic. It took a whole week to get over jet lag and I stopped waking up at 3am every morning. I've spent most of my time trying to get somewhat settled and traveling around to visit my family. I went to Hickory to visit my Dad and to attend the funeral of my stepmom's mother. Then i spent another week or so in Charlotte visiting my sister, Mom, and other friends there. On the way back to Raleigh I stopped off in Greensboro to visit my brother and his family. I had so much fun catching up with and playing with my nieces and nephews who are growing up so fast.. I loved going to eat lunch with Shelby at her school, hearing her read books to me, and playing games with her in her room. Carter isn't the baby i remember. He's growing up fast and I loved being the receiver of all his hugs and sweet little kisses he's learned to give. And Allen really is a big boy and still has that little redneck accent. He thinks their new bathtub is a swimming pool. I just love it!

God has listened and is answering the prayers I asked you to lift up in my last blog entry! HE is sooo good!

I had a great reunion with my family and now hope to begin visiting and meeting with all my friends in Raleigh as time permits. If you want to hang out please give me a call! I'd love to see everyone!

I have returned to work for Newborn Homecare (www.newbornhomecare.com) as I was doing the few months before I went to Kenya. Lisa and Angela who own the business have so graciously asked me to help them again. Keep praying they will stay busy and will have enough work to keep me busy enough to pay for a wedding!

I've entered the world of wedding planning....exciting and fun but stressful at the same time. I praise God for all the many friends He's given to me to help. If you have any ideas or advice for me please don't hesitate to give it. I need all the help I can get!! And as wedding plans are under way for July 7th, Dennis and I ask that you pray that we wouldn't be focused just on that day itself but focus our eyes on Christ and our marriage from that day onward. The wedding day will only be the small beginning of the big future ahead of us.

This past weekend I got a chance to go on a ladies retreat with my small group at church. We went to Spruce Pines and stayed with a very sweet couple in their mountain home. I really enjoyed spending time with, praying with, reading God's Word with, and fellowshiping with 9 other ladies in my small group. Julie taught Proverbs 31, Nicole taught us how to quilt and we all put our hands in to make a baby quilt for Grace's baby due in March. Becca patiently taught us all how to croquet as well. II am slowly making a red scarf. Saturday we spent time with two widowed ladies and several other godly women at a church in Spruce Pines. The ladies had us over for a delicious lunch and we spent the afternoon hearing their testimonies, praying for them, and gaining godly wisdom from them. Except for the colds and coughs and congestion that seemed to spread throughout the group, we had a wonderful and refreshing weekend.