Allison In Africa

WE've joined together and moved our blog

2008-01-16T22:23:00.001-08:00

Ok, for all you faithful bloggers and blog keeper up'ers....we've finally after 6 months of marriage joined together and made ONE blog....It is called SAFARI ZA OMONDIS, which is Swahili for "the Omondi Journeys". Our lives, our beginnings, and our marriage have been great big journeys and on that great journey we will continue TOGETHER, with Christ as our leader and guide! So why don't you join us on the Omondi adventures by going to the new and improved Omondi Blog and following us along on our journey. Its sure to be a great adventure!

www.theomondisinafrica.blogspot.com

So from here on out to read our stories you must click on this new blog. And please help us spread the word. Of course this blog will remain and continue to be read but all new posts will
be posted on the new blog.

2008-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Well here's the latest on what's going on in Kenya according to CNN..

http://www.cnn.co m/2008/WORLD/africa/01/15/kenya.session/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7190777.stm

And here's a couple summary statements from today:

"Unrest since the announcement of the election results has claimed more than 600 lives, driven about a quarter of a million of people from their homes and shaken relations between the country's dominant tribes." (BBC)

"Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki have failed..." (BBC) Mr Kofi Annan, former United Nations chief, had been due to arrive on Tuesday but was said to have come down with a "severe flu" on his way to the airport in Geneva.

It's about resources, it's about land, it's about tribe, it's about so many issues that successive governments have not addressed
Gladwell Otieno
Africa Centre for Open Governance

Dennis and I watched it all on Kenya's KTN network on the internet as the Parliament was sworn in today and Presidential opponent Raila Odinga's ODM party celebrated today as they won speaker's chair in the parliament. Praise God the opening of Parliament today was mostly peaceful. We are praying that the rallies being held for the next three days will also be peaceful.

And I found this story quite interesting....just the reality of how witchcraft controls lives there in Mombasa:

"The threat of witchcraft has scared looters into returning goods they stole during unrest which followed last month's disputed Kenyan elections."

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR KENYA WITH US!!!

Weeping for Kenya-the Realities

2008-01-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

I found this video and wanted to share it. WARNING!!! It is very graphic and disturbing so please beware. Don't watch it unless you are prepared to hurt. (you may have to pause it to read the words..it goes fast) But its the reality of what's going on though. I weep when i watch it especially at the end. If you watch you will see why. My heart burns and hurts and grieves for the Kenyan people as more and more are killed each day in the violence and hundreds of thousands are displaced from their homes. These are my friends and....these are my family!!

May these sites encourage you all the more to pray for the souls of Kenya!! My family here in the States asked me this past week..doesn't this make you want to stay here and not return to such a nation. But my response is NO absolutely not. IT ALL THE MORE MAKES ME WANT TO GO!!! Go to a country and a people that need Jesus! Many mission organizations will say Kenya is a "reached nation"...watch this video and judge for yourself! We must pray and we must go! Where is their HOPE?!?!?!

Kenya's Weeping Souls

2008-01-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

We received the following from a friend and missionary living in Nairobi. Tomorrow (Sunday 6th) has been declared a national day of prayer for Kenya. Please read the following and join us in praying!! Our hearts continue to hurt and break for Kenya! Though we are physically here in Texas our hearts are in there with our family and friends praying.

Hundreds of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes all over the country.
Here are some recent articles and websites you can go to if you want to stay updated with details.

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/8250.article
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/05/kenya.diplomat/index.html
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgindex.asp
http://www.eastandard.net/

The National Council of Churches of Kenya has declared tomorrow, Sunday, December 6th, a national day of prayer. We will be going to our church, Parklands Baptist, at 9 in the morning (while most of your are sleeping as we are eight hours ahead of those of you on the Atlantic Coast). But Kenya as a whole will be joining in a special prayer time between 6 and 7 tomorrow evening – 10:00-11:00 in the morning EST. One of our local newspapers, The Daily Nation, carried the following full page advertisement today from the Media Council of Kenya:

PRAYERS FOR PEACE

– Kenyans Unite –

This Sunday, from 6-7pm, all of Kenya's major media channels will unite for a one-hour national Broadcast to pray for the salvation of Kenya. Many religious leaders from all faiths will lead the nation in prayer to help end the suffering and to heal the wounds of hatred that is ripping our country apart. Special appeals for aid for our unfortunate brothers and sisters who lost their homes and livelihoods will be included in the programme, as will on-going prayers for our political leaders…Add your prayers to those of the millions of Kenyans who will be tuning in to the broadcast and, together, our prayers will help bring Kenya back to the beautiful, united nation we all love. Would you, your families and churches please join Kenya in a special time of prayer tomorrow? To me the very fact that the above appeal is happening is a praise as it shows much wisdom and strength on the part of many. Although, Kenya will need relief efforts from the States and other places, we also are praising God for the emphasis in this prayer call for Kenyans to help one another. In an earlier call to prayer, I wrote: "Pray that somehow, no not somehow, but miraculously – Pray that miraculously all the tensions will be defused and healing will begin." I truly believe that change will come only with God's intervention and men and women truly turning to him and relying upon him at this time. Continue praying for peace for those in the problem areas, for those who have lost loved ones and homes, for those separated from family, and for those that are having difficulty finding food and safe shelter. Pray for wisdom and strength for Christians in Kenyans, nationals and expatriates, who have opportunities to minister to our friends who are hurting. And do pray for the leaders of Kenya. Pray that they will make decisions and actions that bring about a permanent end to the ethnic, economic and social problems Kenya is experiencing.

I cannot end without thanking you for your prayer support. Assurance of your prayers have already strengthened and encouraged those of us in Kenya more than I can put into words- Bert Yates in Nairobi

We love you and appreciate your concern and prayers!!
Dennis and Allison Omondi

P.S. For those who were praying, our interview with immigration in Dallas went very well today. Dennis should have his Resident Card in the next few weeks. PRAISE GOD!!

PRAY FOR PEACE IN KENYA!!

2007-12-29T05:21:00.000-08:00

Election for President in Kenya was done this past Thursday the 27th and results are still not out. Its taking forever for voting to be reported and things are beginning to get a little out of hand in Kenya. Chaos is beginning and violence has broken out in areas!!! Will it be Raila or Kibaki? Please pray for peace and FAIR results!!!

http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143979648
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=113557

The Dangerous "Gospel"

2007-12-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!! This is awesome! Rocked my world for sure.
The Prosperity Gospel is indeed rampant all over this country and spreading like crazy all over Africa. Its in your face in Kenya. We must really pray hard against this dangerous "gospel"!

JOHN PIPER on the PROSPERITY GOSPEL

Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year

2007-12-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

First I will say a belated Merry Christmas to all! We pray that you had a wonderful Christ-centered Christmas. We've been in North Carolina for a week now visiting my family for the Holidays. It's been great to see each of my family members that we haven't seen since right after we got married. We've visited my Dad and stepmom, my sister and her family, my brother and his family and my mom. We've enjoyed some special times with each of them, as this will be our last Christmas season with them for several years. Though we've enjoyed seeing everyone Its been quite a stressful trip with all the traveling around to see everyone. Pray for us!!! We are tired and quite weary if I may be honest. We will be traveling to Raleigh this weekend for a New Year's party with friends and then returning to Texas on the 3rd, just in time for our immigration interview (praise God) and the Denton Bible Missions Conference. We pray everyone will have a great start to 2008.

Also, PLEASE PLEASE pray for our financial support. We are still at about 55% of our monthly committment and trusting God. Please pray the Lord would touch people's hearts to commit to give to the ministry in Kenya! And pray for our patience in waiting! We are eager to be back in Kenya!

Congrats Chase and Erin

2007-12-16T13:18:00.000-08:00

Last night Dennis had the privilege and honor of officiating the wedding of his little American brother, Chase Martin, to Erin Davis. The wedding took place at Denton Bible Church's chapel. It was a beautiful Christmas wedding of course. This was the first wedding that Dennis has officiated and he was so excited. What a wonderful job he did in leading the entire ceremony, but especially in sharing God's Word, God's purpose for marriage, and pointing everyone to Christ. I was delighted to sit and witness it all. And i know Kerry, Dennis' American mom, was so proud to see not only her son Chase getting married but delighted that her other little African baby was the one officiating. That was so special! Congratulations Erin and Chase!!! And happy honeymoon in Hawaii! (we're a little jealous:)) Here's a few snaps from the wonderful evening but to see them all go to these links:
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003427&l=077f5&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003432&l=69962&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003433&l=f8439&id=176300154

Pictures from our trip to Kenya

2007-12-13T05:50:00.001-08:00

I'm going to start posting a couple pics of our time in Kenya this past month now that we have normal internet again...If you want to see more pictures click on these links...

http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003389&l=6c837&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003390&l=e2d9a&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003391&l=016ec&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003397&l=4720c&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003418&l=a4eaf&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003419&l=5bff5&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003388&l=375e8&id=176300154

Here we are about to board the train in Mombasa to head cross country to Busia

Here's a picture of the Serve Kenya team boarding the train; Dennis, me, Jill, Cynthia

Our home town...check out that altitude

Back HOME in Argyle

2007-12-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

We made it back to Dallas safely today but very tired. The loooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggg journey home was pretty much uneventful and just as we prayed God provided exit row seating and bulk head seating for most of the flights which was a tremendous blessing for my long legged husband. And we are so thankful that this time Dennis had no trouble getting through the gates of immigration!!! We praise God for answering even the smallest details of our prayers. We both kept saying today that the trip back and forth to Kenya seems to only get longer the more we do it. Pray for us as we again transition to life back in the States and as we jump back to the busyness of life here. Our bodies sure received a shock as we were welcomed into the Detroit airport by they chilly cold air and snow covered ground. Texas isn't quite so cold but still a very big change from the 90 degree heat and humidity and sweat of Mombasa!!!! We are glad to be back in our cozy little barn home here in Argyle. Again as we left our home in Mombasa and welcomed back to our home hear in Texas and as we look forward to traveling home to North Carolina for Christmas we were both reminded that THIS WORLD is not our home. Dennis and I are blessed to have many places here on earth that we can call home and many people that we can call family, and that can get confusing sometimes, but we are most thankful that we have a real HOME in heaven awaiting us thats perfect...not too hot, not too cold, not too dirty or too clean, but just perfect.

Please pray for our dear friend Jane Loewer and her family. Jane and her husband Wes and 3 kids are long term missionary friends of ours who live in Nairobi. We stayed in their home in on our way back from Busia last week. While we were in the airport in Nairobi yesterday we ran into Jane who sadly told us that her father had suddenly passed away that morning and she was traveling back home alone to CT to be with her mother. She will be away from her husband and kids for the next three weeks until after Christmas to be with her mom and family as they mourn the loss of Jane's Dad. As we embraced and shared tears in the airport Jane's sweet spirit and hope and faith in Christ was a huge encouragement to me. Her father loved Jesus and she knows he's rejoicing in his new home in heaven now. Please pray for Jane as she is in the States with her mother during this time of loss and pray for her and her husband and children back in Nairobi as they are away from each other this Christmas season.

We arrived in Dallas this afternoon and have tried to stay awake but were clearly defeated when we put on a movie about 5pm and both fell asleep. Dennis is still asleep and I'm quickly fading again......so I will say a quick goodnight and thank you for everyone's prayers for us as we were gone and as we have traveled.

Our plans for the next few months as we pray for our support to return to Kenya are written in pencil...but this is somewhat of how we see things might go....We are here in Denton for the next week as Dennis will be officiating the wedding of his little American brother, Chase and his fiancee Erin next Saturday the 15th. Soon after that (no date yet) we will fly to North Carolina to spend Christmas with my family there. We have to be back in Dallas by January 5th for our long awaited interview with immigration (which should be the final step to getting Dennis' permanent resident card) we've been praying for. (pray as i gather together all the documents we have to send to the lawyer for that) . Then we will be in Denton for the Denton Bible Serve International Missions Conference. Most of the Serve Missionary families will be coming home from the field for that. Its going to be exciting. Then after that our plans are up in the air depending on where our support raising is at. We will be making a visit to California at some point to visit supporters there and then back to N.C., praying as we hope to return to Kenya long term in the next 4 or 5 months. Exciting ministry opportunities are just waiting there for us to get back to so we are praying for the Lord's wisdom and direction, and patience for HIS perfect timing.

In the AIR again

2007-12-04T14:11:00.001-08:00

I cannot believe our one month visit in Kenya is over! We start our journey back to the USA tomorrow night (Wednesday 05 2007) at 9PM local time (Kenya).

The journey to America will be both exciting and and something I (Dennis) dread! Don't get me wrong I love America; it is the flight that I dread...my height is not very flying friendly. So please pray that I get good seats on the plane and will be good company to my lovely wife if I dont:)

We look forward to updating you more with stories and Pictures if and when we meet in person, otherwise email updates will still keep coming. Thank you for your prayers and support for Allison and I.

This month in Kenya has put excitement in us about getting back ASAP...the only obstacle we face right now that will delay our coming back will be financial support. We are at 60% of our target monthly financial support. Please pray that the Lord will provide for us now as He has done before both for His glory and in His time!

We are OK!!

2007-11-26T03:07:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to take a few minutes and post to my blog. I know many have emailed to ask how we are doing in Kenya. We are great! Unfortunately when we were in Mombasa the internet didn't cooperate all too well and the last day before we left for Busia when i wanted to post, Kenya Power and Darkness struck again. (the electric company is called Kenya Power and Lighting but we refer to it as above:)

We are now in Busia and have been here since last Thursday. We took a train across the country which took us two days and we arrived in Busia on Thanksgiving Day. Our actual thanksgiving meal was local sukuma wiki (collard greens) ugali (boiled cornmeal) and nyama ya ngombe (beef) but us American girls (me, Cynthia and Jill) couldn't go without cooking a real Thanksgiving feast. So on Saturday we cooked what we could find and could make up using the local food here. We had two chickens, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, banana bread and a yummy pecan pie substitute. Carb overload for sure!!! Oh but we were sure full and our tummies felt just like thanksgiving, even though the weather didn’t feel anything like it.

We are here in Busia to visit Dennis’ mom and family since his Dad passed away a few months ago. We haven’t seen his mom so happy to see us in a long time. Dennis sister Faith and her new husband have also been her with us. And we’ve been able to meet our new niece, Angela Grace Akinyi born to Dennis’ brother and sister in law two months ago. Auntie Allison has sure had fun taking care of her. We have really enjoyed our time with family thus far…and I’m adjusting slowly but well to being a part of the family for REAL now. t. People really laugh (with joy) when Dennis introduces me as Mrs. Omondi. (not many white Omondis around here ha!) We are also going to go and visit Naftali and Dorcas Onyango (Dennis’ Kenya parents at our wedding) and see the white cow they have given us as our wedding gift.

Have to make this short…but also wanted to tell you that the pastor’s conference that Dennis was a part of in Mombasa when we first arrived went very very well!!! Even better than we prayed for. Details to come later….Thank you for our prayers for us!! Time is really flying for sure. Please keep praying for us as we travel and begin to say bye again before we return to the States. Its been so good to see friends here again and going to be so hard to leave them again.
Ok more to come later……

Tumefika salama (We arrived safely)

2007-11-07T15:48:00.000-08:00

Not going to write much cause we are so tired but wanted to let those who have been praying for us know that we arrived safely into Mombasa tonight. Our trip was long but uneventful and we even got to sleep on that last flight b/c it was so empty. We each got a whole row to ourselves. Felt good to sleep. We are headed to bed now...hoping we can sleep. Its about 1:30am. Our bodies think its 6pm now though. Thank God for Tylenol PM. And I Forgot how hot it is here! OH BUT ITS SO GOOD TO BE BACK IN MOMBASA!!!!

GOD is good and we praise HIM for answering our prayers and keeping us safe....

SAFARI NJEMA!!

2007-11-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

Safari njema means "have a nice journey" in Swahili. Yep, we are traveling again...and the reason I haven't mentioned it to most before now is that we've wanted to keep it a secret from our Mombasa friends so we can surprise them when we arrive. So if you guys there in Kenya read this before we get there....SURPRISE!!! We are coming!

Dennis and I are headed to Kenya for a month. Now that Dennis has his immigration and travel documents he can travel out of the country and be able to return to the USA without problems. So we are taking a little one month journey back home to Kenya. We are going in order to spend some time with his family since his father passed away almost 3 months ago. We are leaving tomorrow (Nov. 6th) and will return to Texas on Dec. 7th. The first two weeks we will be in Mombasa and we'll hit the ground running. While we are there we will be catching up with old friends and looking into some new ministry opportunities that first week. Dennis will also be teaching at a pastor's conference in Northcoast the second week we are there while I follow up with some of the relationships i had with women there. We are taking several people with us. Cynthia, who is a new STINTER joining the SERVE Kenya team will be flying out with us tomorrow. She is going for the next few months and will be joining Jill who is already there. Then Drew Trenz, (served as a STINTER last year with us), and also Gayman Helman, (the father of Abby Helman who came short term with us last year,) will be coming from America to help Dennis teach in that conference for one week. Then the last half of our time, including Thanksgiving we will travel to Busia (western Kenya) to where Dennis' parents house is and where his father is buried. We will spend 2 weeks there in Busia just to spend time with his family! Jill and Cynthia will join us on that journey as well. Don't think we'll be finding any turkeys in Busia for our Thanksgiving meal but there's plenty of chickens thats for sure!!!

We are really praising God for this opportunity to go and praising Him for how He has answered our prayers in allowing us to return to Kenya to be with his family since his dad's death.

Please pray for our safety as we travel many miles by plane, bus, car, and even train.

Please pray for us as we unite with Dennis' family again. May that be a sweet time of fellowship and reunion.

Please pray that the Lord will use Dennis and the other guys to bring His word to these pastors in a simple and clear way.

Please Pray also for Dennis and I to set aside time for each other even during these busy times! Please pray for us to know and love Jesus more deeply and that we will worship God in knowledge, preach and teach Christ with passion and pray through the Spirit with fervor! That the Jesus we preach will be so evident in our lives that we dont have to work hard to prove that He ALONE is the way, the truth and the life!

This is an exciting time in life for us; we are learning to love and live with one another:) We love it! Pray that even our marriage will be a tool that our Lord can use to bless His people!

We love you and appreciate your prayer and support always!

Joyce and Wes' Wedding

2007-10-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Dennis and I traveled to Memphis, TN this past weekend to attend the wedding of some dear friends, Joyce and Wes. They came all the way to our wedding 3months ago. Dennis knows Joyce from Mombasa. She was one of his campers at Word of Life Camp where he was a counselor for many years. Now she's living in the States and just got married. It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy we were able to attend.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Wright!!

I'm going to post some more pictures here but until then here's a couple links to all of them on facebook. Joyce and Wes wanted to see their pictures while they were on their honeymoon so here you go guys!!! Have fun!

http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003166&l=78911&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003167&l=8033f&id=176300154
http://sebts.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003168&l=289bd&id=176300154

I was BLIND and now i SEE!

2007-10-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks for those who have been praying for me since last Thursday and have emailed or called and asked how it went. My LASIK surgery went great and I can see!! It is so amazing. No contacts, no glasses and one day later i could see 20/20. I'm still in amazement. I went in Thursday morning, took a little Valium, went in and laid on a table underneath a light, watched a couple red and green lights, felt a little pressure in my eyes, and then 10 minutes later I was out of there. And for the next 24 hours i slept, kept my eyes shut to promote healing, and put drops in my eyes every hour. The next morning I returned to the office, they removed the small "bandaid" contacts and I couldn't believe it. I could see perfectly! Well it was a fuzzy 20/20 but my vision has been improving by the day. Its just the most amazing thing! I highly recommend it to anyone! I am so blessed that i was able to have this done before we return to Kenya. What a blessing it is. Dennis and my friend Abby even got to watch the whole procedure on TV as it was being done. If you want to be brave and watch the surgery you can go to http://youtube.com/watch?v=3-ry8mLaY8M. Its not my eyes or my exact surgery but its exactly what i had done.
Here's the progression....

This is me the night before the procedure. I had to remove my contacts and wear only glasses for 3 days before the surgery.

After the procedure big ski like goggles were placed on my eyes and i was instructed not to remove them til I returned to the office the next morning. This was to prevent ANYTHING from touching or rubbing my eyes which could remove the healing corneal flap.

This was one day after the surgery.

And here's a couple taken two days after

Ok yes I know I look a little like a vampire or something. Its very normal that during the procedure the laser machine puts enough pressure and suction that some of the small blood vessels on the surface of the eye will break and bleed a little. Its kind of like a little bruise. It should heal up in the next few weeks.

I'm going to have new EYES!!

2007-10-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

Many people may not know that I have really bad eyes and have been wearing contacts for the last 16 years. My vision started to decline just as i entered Junior High School and since then it has just gotten worse and worse. My family and many of my closest friends know that I'm practically blind without my glasses or contacts. I'm confided to one room and pretty much useless if I don't have either. The only way to describe it to someone with good vision is that its like looking through a milk carton. I am grateful for the fact that I have been able to wear corrective lenses for so many years and that I was able to carry enough contacts to Kenya each time I've gone to last me. Its a real pain and quite expensive to have to carry enough contact lenses and cleaning solutions to last me each time i go overseas. I've wanted to have Lasik Eye Surgery for quite some time now but haven't been a candidate. But finally my vision has stabilized enough that i am now a candidate for Lasik. I've really wanted to have it done before I left for Kenya again. I've been doing my research and have found a good doctor at the Key-Whitman Eye Center in Dallas who can do it. I went for my consultation on Friday and to my surprise Dr. Whitman said he would fit me into his schedule so that I could have it done this month before we go to visit Kenya. But i sure wasn't expecting he could do it as early as NEXT THURSDAY! And that means that if all goes well TODAY is the last day I ever have to wear these contacts again. In order to have the pre-op examination on Wednesday and then surgery on Thursday I have to be out of my contacts and only wearing my glasses starting tomorrow morning. Yikes!! I haven't worn my glasses during the daylight hours in so long. That's going to be strange. But I am so excited about the thought of opening my eyes on Thursday after the surgery and being able to see!!! I've talked to many people who have had this done and have been thrilled with the results. I praise God I'm going to get to have this done and praise Him too that my insurance is helping cover some of the cost. Please pray that all goes well with my surgery next Thursday. I'm just a little nervous about it especially after reading and signing so many of the consent forms telling me the bad things that could possibly happen. But as a nurse I know all about those consent and liability forms. And I'm trusting God! I don't expect any complications and recovery should be short and sweet:) I'll just be given a little medicine and sleep the remainder of the day until my appt the next day. If any of you have had this done and have any words of encouragement or pointers let me know.

YEAH!! We have Documents!

2007-10-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Praise God!! Dennis' Travel Permit and Work Permit arrived in the mail today!! After lots and lots of praying and waiting we can finally make plans to travel to see Dennis' family in Kenya. We are so excited. Little did we know these documents have been sitting in our mail box at the church office. And Dennis got a call from the lawyer today asking if he had gotten them. Of course Dennis went right away and got them from the mail. He was so excited that when the lawyer was trying to explain what to do with the travel permit he didn't hear a thing. I had to call back and get all the details. I also received my new Allison Omondi passport in the mail last week. So now we can begin looking for tickets and planning our trip to Kenya soon. No we are not leaving for good to go to Kenya yet but to go just for a visit to see his family since we weren't able to travel to be there for his Dad's funeral last month. No detailed plans as of yet though. We are just excited and praising God for answering our prayers. What a good God we serve! Now please continue to pray for the interview and remaining immigration process we will go through in the next few months. Thanks for all who have been praying. We are doing great down here in Texas!

Fun and Fellowship with the Kenyan Stinters

2007-09-22T21:46:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday night we had the privilege of hosting last year's Serve International Kenyan Stinters in our home. We invited all those stinters who were with Dennis and I last year in Mombasa. All of us happen to be right here living around Denton for now so we decided to get together for a little reunion. I cooked enchiladas and made the famous Velveeta Queso Dip we all used to eat together on Monday nights in Mombasa. And i even made some special REAL Kenyan chai for us all to drink. Then we just sat around for some fun fellowship and reminiscing of our times together in Kenya. So here's some pictures from that fun night. It was so good to see Bret, Drew, Patrick, Abby and Kristin again!!! We hope to make this a regular event:)

Kenyan Show N Tell

2007-09-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

This morning Dennis got a fun chance to be a 7th graders "show and tell". Yep, Sam, the son of the Sizeloves', who's barn we live in, took Dennis to be his show and tell at school. Sam did a geography project and one of the countries he studied was Kenya. All of the kids had to bring souvenirs from their particular countries of interest, so Sam brought a real live souvenir. I also cooked some Pilau, a Kenyan Coastal dish, to take for the class to try. We had a lot of fun. Dennis did a great job in front of the class sharing with them about Kenya. He talked about just how different school is there, marriages, food, etc. I was able to show them just how a Kenyan woman wraps herself in kangas and pass around musical instruments. And Dennis even left the school having learned a lot about what an American 7th grade classroom and school looks like. His comment,,,"even the Kenyan Universities don't look like this". Needless to say, the kids were really amused by Dennis' height as well. Thanks Sam for this fun opportunity. We hope you get an A+ on your project!!!

Visit to Graham, TX

2007-09-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Dennis and I spent the weekend in Graham, Tx which is just about 2 hours from where we live. We went to visit some of Dennis' friends and supporters there. Deciree and Graig welcomed us into their home and threw a post-wedding party for us on Saturday night. We ate lots of food and fellowshipped with lots of people. And of course i got my hands on the little baby. Dennis got an opportunity to sit and share with them his testimony, our story and his vision and heart for ministry in Kenya. I was able to meet and put names with so many of the friends Dennis has. God is so good and I am truely blessed with a husband who has touched the lives of many people and who's life has been touched by many people!!

This is a picture of us with our friends and hosts for the weekend, Deciree and Graig
and below is the spread of yummy food

Our Little House on the Prairie

2007-09-11T20:29:00.001-07:00

So we said we'd post some more pics of our new home on the ranch so here you go.

So here's our home in the barn. We live on this right side of the barn. There's Dennis waving out the door.

Here's the view looking out our door. Very cute little garden outside.
Dennis calls our home the "little house on the prairie"

Here's a couple pics of our living room area. The animals walking across the window ledge is my favorite!

Our kitchen

The view from our bedroom to the rest of the apartment

The kitchen table had to be stuck in the corner. Plenty of space for guest so come on over for dinner everyone!!

And yes thats a winding metal staircase that you see. Up those stairs is a small windowless room we've made into an office/spare bedroom.

And this is the bedroom of course. I love all the open windows.

Just a little wall decoration. If you were at our wedding and you look real closely you might just see your own autograph on our wall:)

This is the door that leads into the big T.V. room thats right next door to our apartment

Here's the TV/hang out room that is beside us. This room is used by the people who live here for church and youth Bible Studies and women's retreats. Lots of people visit this room every week.

And if you open our back door you will see this room. Yep, a full court basketball court for the MANY MANY kids and youth who hang out at the ranch.

The Love Bus!

2007-09-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

So here's a picture of the bus we slept in our second and third nights living in Argyle. Yep, we got here and the air condition in our place had burnt out. We braved the first night of heat, saying, "we should be used to this, we live in Mombasa heat". But after that first night and realizing we had a CHOICE of being hot or not we chose to move over to the bus. The Sizeloves have an RV type bus right behind the barn and we stayed two nights in the cozy "love bus" as its called now. But a couple days later the air condition was working again so we went back to the barn. Praise God for cool air! Just hope we don't get too used to it or its going to be miserable going back to Mombasa next year.

We've Arrived

2007-09-04T20:33:00.001-07:00

The Omondis have arrived and are in Texas safely. Our traveling here was pretty uneventful and we are happy to be in our new home at the barn in Argyle. We've spent the last few days settling in and decorating and arranging our new little apartment. Kerry, Dennis' American mom, has been over helping us. When we arrived the air condition was broken so we've spent the last two nights sleeping in a BUS. Our lives are never boring let me tell you. We have pictures to post and stories to tell so stay tuned....just wanted to let you know we are now in Texas and doing well! We start our MTI classes tomorrow morning bright and early!! We'll post more in the days to come!!!! This is a picture of the BARN!! We live in the right side of that barn, from that door in the middle over to the right. We love it so far. Right behind us lives donkeys, a pony, chickens, ducks, a Texas longhorn and more. We feel right at home out here in the sticks...

Texas Here We Come

2007-08-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

Several have asked me, so how many times have you moved in the last 4 or 5 years Allison? And as my Dad likes to say, "when will you ever settle down?" The answer to those questions are, "way too many" and "settle down??...what does that mean?" Well i do have to admit there are days that I think, "if only we were settled", but I have come to conclusion and peace with the fact that my life is not my own and this world is not my home. I have many homes here on this earth it seems but my true home is in heaven. And I'll never truly feel settled until I reach our eternal home with the Lord. And God has called us to follow him wherever he leads..so this time, to good ole Texas we will go!!! But the moving is so much sweeter now that its my husband that I am going with.

We've been married about a month and a half now and have been living in a small garage apt in North Raleigh. Married life has been wonderful. Many days I ask myself, why didn't i say yes to Dennis a lot sooner:) We've really enjoyed the blessings and beginnings of marriage, and even the challenges. We've really been through a lot together these last few years and my father in law's passing is just another situation that has drawn us closer together. And now we are on to Texas.

This Friday we will load up a minivan with our stuff, drive to Hickory to stay with my Dad for the night, and then wake up early Saturday morning and head to Memphis, TN. We are going to stay the night with our friend Joyce and then Sunday drive the remaining 8 or so hours to Denton, TX. So we should be in "the promised land" (as Dennis calls it) HA! by Sunday evening. This Southern Bell has her hands full with her Kenyan American Texan I have to say.

We are going to be living on a ranch in a little town called Argyle, TX, and even going to be living in a BARN! Yep, a converted barn. (pictures to come when we get there) Our plan is to remain in Texas til the end of the year and return to N.C. in time for the holidays. Denton, TX is the location of Denton Bible Church where our missions organization, Serve International, is located. While we are down there we are going to be attending some classes at MTI, which is the church's Missionary Training Institute. We will also continue with our support raising process and travel around Texas and to California to visit and update some of our current supporters. (if you want more info about our support raising and how you can be involved in our ministry in Kenya please email me allirn4him@pobox.com) After our time in Texas we will return to N.C. to continue support raising here and to visit family and friends before we head back to Kenya some time next year. That time is still up in the air and depends on our support but we are hoping its sometime in the Spring. Of course all of these plans are in God's hands and can change at any moment...so we live day by day holding losely to them, seeking the Lord's wisdom and direction. I am very sad to be moving far from my family in Charlotte, my dear friends here in Raleigh, and my TCC church family. But as the Lord leads I have a great peace and know that He has great plans for us there.

Joy in the midst of Pain

2007-08-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

Not sure how many of you read my husband's blog www.leadersservingleaders.blogspot.com but i wanted to post his m ost recent email and thoughts he sent to his friends. What a gracious and comf orting Savior we serve.... A Father to the fatherless!!

To see a tribute picture slideshow Dennis put together for his Dad, click here

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55

I don’t know what to say but to thank you very much for your prayers. It is a wonderful thing to be saved and to have a savior that gives us comfort and hope in this time of sadness. God has really used you to comfort me. I cannot reply to every email that I have received...many of you have called and sent text messages from all over the world to let us know you are praying for and with us. I want to assure you that you have not prayed in vain, we definitely have felt and continue to feel your prayers as God has showered us with comfort and peace during this time of sorrow.

Most of you asked whether or not we will return to Kenya during this time. Unfortunately we are unable to travel at this time because I am still waiting for my immigration papers and travel permit. As soon as we get these documents we will be on our way to Kenya to join the rest of the family.

2 months or so ago my friend Peter Odanga went to Busia to see my dad and while there shared the Gospel with him. He asked him if he would like to receive Christ and he nodded his head yes and Peter prayed for and with him to receive Jesus in his heart. We praise the Lord for this (I realized I had not shared this story with most of you). This, to be honest makes the grieving process much easier.

This ordeal has also opened my eyes and brought my heart closer to my Lord. As I reflected on what has just happened...this week my father died but I remain not fatherless because God is my Father and in him I have a Father who knows no death and is Eternal and in Him my father rests in a land up yonder where God himself will be with Him. He will wipe every tear from his eyes. In this land there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...

I would like to finish with the lyrics of a song that has been of very much comfort to me. Thanks again for your prayers and support please keep them coming.

He Knows My Name (I Have A Maker)
Tommy Walker

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

Sad News...please pray

2007-08-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, Please pray for Dennis and his family as he got the news today that his Dad passed away last night....we don't have many details as of right now but here is what Dennis has written on his own blog...

The Passing of My Beloved Dad

This afternoon I got a message from my sisters in Kenya that my dad passed away last night at a local hospital in Busia.

Please pray for my family as we mourn the loss of our Beloved Dad. Thank you for you prayers and support

Though his Dad has been sick for awhile now and his death isn't a complete surprise it still is hitting Dennis very hard, especially since right now he has yet to receive his travel permit/green card to allow him to leave the U.S. Please pray that this will come miraculously quickly so he can travel home to Kenya as soon as possible to be with his family.

(this is a picture of Dennis and his Dad this past December when we were in Busia.)

Omondi Blog CONTEST!!

2007-08-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Ok everyone, now that Dennis and I are married we are talking about starting a new Omondi Blog. We are trying to think of a good and catchy name for it. We are holding a contest to see which of our friends can come up with the best name for our new blog. So what do you think??? Let us know in the comment section here or email me at allirn4him@pobox.com. Let us know what you think!!

More Wedding Photos

2007-08-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hey here's ALL the photos Casey took at our wedding...There's tons of them!! She did an awesome job!
http://poiemaphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/3255995

Wedding Slideshow

2007-08-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

Well for all of you who weren't able to attend our wedding and for all of those who were there but want to relive that day with us again, here's just a glimpse. Thank you Casey for all of your hard work!
http://www.poiemaphotography.com/dennisandallisonwedding/

2007-08-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Well here it is again for those of you who are just seeing my blog for the first time or just want to be encouraged by God's faithfulness and goodness. We printed this and put it in our ceremony bulletins.

Our Story:

A Reflection of God’s Gracious Love and Faithfulness

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. 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. Since she had to pass through Nairobi 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.

Kimbo arrived to my house with this pillow not knowing what we were suppose to do with it or who it belonged to. One day I got a phone call from this guy named Dennis saying we had his pillow. 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. This happened to be the same place we were going to church that Sunday as well. We told them to look for us. All we knew what that we were looking for white guy and a Kenyan guy. We sat in church that day hoping they would find us. 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 (rare to find 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.

After church, Rusty came up to us looking for his pillow. Then, 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). Through the month of December, Kimbo and I were so happy to have some other single missionaries close by to hang out with. She left in January to go back to Nakuru, and Rusty 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 for teaching it to others really impressed me!

On 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. In December 2005, Dennis came to the States to attend my 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 went to Texas with Dennis to meet his American family and supervisors there. 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 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. 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! 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. Since majority of our relationship had been long distance, we needed to be in the same place at the same time for a while to really get to know one another.

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 to go. But Dennis, a man of BIG FAITH, and I began to fervently pray over each of these things. God very quickly and graciously showed HIS HAND to us and took down each of those obstacles. In than 2 months of writing my support letter, I was on a plane to Kenya. During those six months with Dennis in Kenya, we were able to see the REAL Dennis and Allison alive and in person and in the context of everyday life and ministry. Then on Nov. 3, 2006, at Diani Beach, we were engaged at the very spot we had our first “define the relationship talk.” In January of 2007, I returned to the States to work and begin making wedding preparations. Throughout our entire relationship, we have marveled at the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord. Only He could have brought us together and its only He who will continue to sustain us and grow us in our relationship. We can’t imagine going through the ups and downs of life and ministry and the mission field with anyone else! PRAISE BE TO GOD for His marvelous gifts!

I'm a married woman now!!

2007-07-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hey yall, i know i haven't posted anything in quite sometime but needless to say for those of you who don't know, for the last 2 month i've been busy with wedding plans, then our wedding on July 7th, then a glorious 2 week honeymoon, and now we are finally back and starting real life again. I hope to update this blog with pictures and words very soon.. Until then please visit my wonderful new husbands blog to see a few pictures he's already posted of our wedding.

URGENT PRAYER

2007-06-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone please pray for Dennis's Dad and family and for Dennis and I. We just got a phone call saying his Dad has had a bad stroke in Kenya and is paralized and can't speak. Not sure what is going to happen and what this is going to mean for near and future plans now...

PIG PICKIN!!! YALL COME!!

2007-06-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's a Pig Pickin' BBQ!
To honor
Dennis and Allison

Saturday, June 30th
5-8 p.m.
at the home of
Josh and Grace Thompson
Fuquay-Varina, NC
email livingmercy@bellsouth.net for directions

What to Bring:
~a side dish that goes well with BBQ
~outdoor chairs for your family
~any outdoor games
~Words of encouragement for the couple

Dennis and Allison are registered at
- Target
-Bed, Bath, & Beyond
- Pampered Chef
However, if you desire to get them a gift, its always fine
to share a gift card or the like since they will be setting up
home in Kenya and won't be able to carry much with them

Counting Down the Days

2007-06-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

As of right now as I type this blog I have 15 days, 11 hours, and 27 min. remaining until Dennis and I will finally be united in marriage and I can officially call myself Allison Omondi. Its so hard to believe just how fast time has flown! It seems just yesterday that I was waiting and waiting for Dennis to get here and now its already been a month since he's been in the States. God is good. Its been so amazing to have him here finally and to never have to think about being apart again! We've had so much fun together already and i look forward to July 7th.

Dennis and i had a WONDERFUL time visiting with my family this past weekend. Dennis spent a lot of time with my Dad in Hickory while i drove to Charlotte for a couple wedding showers. I really enjoyed seeing Dennis interact with my family. He really brings out the best in everyone. I am so blessed to have him in my life. What a gift from above he is!

I think both of us are ready for a real vacation!! Since Dennis got here we've been racing and running around trying to do last minute wedding details. I've been working a lot of hours and in my 'free" time making sure everything is done for the wedding. I certainly will be glad and i know Dennis will be glad when all the planning is over and we can just relax in warm sunny South Florida!!

2007-06-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

Well i know many have been waiting to hear an update about Dennis getting here so here it is. Its been a fast and busy last few weeks so I haven't been on email or internet that often.
So the last thing was that Dennis had arrived in Dallas but with only 2 months stamped on his passport meaning he'd have to leave the country in the middle of our honeymoon right after our wedding...Well those were some frustrating moments for sure but God has really worked in the last few weeks and things are looking much better. He is so faithful!

I traveled down to visit Dennis in Denton, TX Memorial Day weekend and stayed for a week there. It was sooooo great to be reunited with Dennis once again after almost 5 months!! We really had a great week together meeting and eating with so many of his friends. Dennis is blessed with SO MANY wonderful friends who love and care for him. And it was so neat to see the way they loved and embraced me as well. We spent lots of time sharing our story and future ministry with people. As we were there God truely gave me a peace about what its going to be like to live in Denton for awhile after we are married. I'll be so sad to be away from my family and friends in NC but God sure showed me that i will be welcomed and loved by new friends and family there in Texas. We even found a place to stay when we go to Texas later in the year. We are going to be living in Argyle, Texas in the "barn" of a family there. Yep...a barn! Well, its a barn that has been made into a gymnasium on one side and a small apartment on the other side. There's even cows and chickens that live on the ranch. We are going to feel right at home like we are in Kenya:) We are so thankful to the Sizelove family who have welcomed us into the barn!

On Tuesday of that week we met with an immigration lawyer and from what she says, she can handle his case and as long as the Permanent Resident Card is in process, Dennis shouldn't have to leave the country anytime soon. It was very encouraging. So since that day we have been busy scurrying around trying to collect and send in all the MANY documents and letters and pictures and information we need to prove a bona fide relationship and marriage. Its very expensive and requires a lot of paperwork but so worth it!!! We praise God for beginning to already provide for those costs. So this is all great news. So unless the Lord decides to change things, Dennis is here and we can stay in America until our planned return to Kenya next year!

On the Friday night before I left Denton, Dennis' friends put together a last minute pre-wedding celebration for us for those who aren't going to be able to travel to N.C. for our wedding. What an encouraging and special time that was! There were over 50 people who came to meet me, see Dennis, and wish us well! Looking forward to spending invidual time with all of those people when we return to Texas later in the year.

So I came back to Raleigh on June 2nd and went back to work. Dennis remained in Denton to continue preparing and send off the missions team who will be going to work with the college students in Mombasa for the next 2 weeks. Then this past Tuesday, after a little detour to Charlotte b/c of bad weather, Dennis finally arrived in Raleigh. To welcome him to Raliegh, I enjoyed making one of his favorite meals for him (Spaghetti bake, garlic bread, and chocolate cake) and a group of my friends that evening.

Soooo, ALL OF THAT TO SAY, I am very happy Dennis is finally here and NO LONGER do we have to be seperated again. GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!!! Its just a month now til our wedding on July 7th. We can't wait. Its going to be a busy 4 weeks as we do last minute wedding preparations and continue with the immigration process. Honestly I'm pretty exhausted so please pray for us these next few weeks! May our lives and wedding preparations and future marriage honor and glorify the Lord!!

The Good News and the Bad News: For ALL we will be Thankful and Trust God

2007-05-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Dennis arrived in to the States on Saturday and is now in Dallas, TX, Praise God!! But with this excitement of him being here also comes a little disapointment we weren't expecting. Here's what Dennis wrote on his blog on Saturday:

"I got to America safe and sound and even though I have not been able to see Allison we have talked on the phone a lot. She comes to Texas next Sunday – a week from today!

When I got to America I was praying and hoping that the immigration guys would stamp my I – 94 card for a year or so but to my great disappointment and thanksgiving at the same time they stamped it only for 2 months. So that gives me enough time here in the States to get married but not much time to settle into marriage here.

We are going to try to extend my stay here after we get married and if it does not work out we will have to come to Kenya earlier than planned. This is going to affect our support raising plan tremendously so just pray:

*That we will be very flexible and trust the Lord that He is in control of all that is going on - The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps – proverbs 16:9.

*Pray that this situation will work as magnet to draw us closer to each other, to God and to all our friends who have and are still standing with us right now...God is good all the time!!!!"

I have to admit when I got Dennis' phone call on Saturday I was so thrilled that he made it to Texas, but at the same time my worry and disappointment about this immigration and Visa stuff wanted to take over. My flesh wanted to say, "this just isn't fair", "I"m so tired of this roller coaster ride immigration has been the last 7 months.". It is true, it hasn't worked out exactly the way Dennis and I have wanted it to or how we would have planned it, but as Dennis and I talked on the phone we have chosen to say, God has been in our relationship since the beginning, He's not going to give up on us now. He brought us together and He's been the one in charge of our relationship. He has been faithful thus far and He will continue to be faithful. I'm so thankful for a fiance who can say, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, and can trust and help lead me in trusting that God is in control and He has a purpose and a plan. It may not be the way we would have planned it, but while we may have a plan we have to trust God to direct our steps!! And we need to be THANKFUL!!

At church this morning, Kent preached on Romans 8:16-25 and talked about how we are to respond to God in the midst of trials and suffering. Are we looking at our sufferings, frustrations, and circumstances so much that we aren't focused on the "glory that is to be revealed to us", as Scripture tell us? "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." And I had to ask myself, Allison, are you responding with JOY in the midst of your disappointment and trials?

In the midst of whats going on, this morning was very emotional for me as I had to confess to the Lord my anxiety and my tendency to focus on the negative, and not to be rejoicing in all circumstances. My goodness Allison, LOOK, can't you see, God has answered our prayers. Dennis made it safely to the States and at least they gave him 2 months!!

I have to admit, in both body and soul, I have been very weary and exhausted as of late, and haven't even had the strength to know what to pray at times but I am thankful for God's promises and His spirit who "helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Rom. 26-28.

GOD IS WORKING!! And He's working for our GOOD! Though our human eyes may not see or understand we must have hope, and faith and trust that God knows BEST!

This morning at TCC we sang a song that really blessed and encouraged my heart. Here are the words.

Day by Day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He who’s heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best-
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Ev’ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in ev’ry tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, Oh Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

(Carolina Sandell Berg/Andrew Skoog/Oscar Ahnfelt)

I/We need God's grace to help us to choose to have faith!! So please pray this for us!! That with the "Good" News and the "Bad" News, For ALL we will be Thankful and Trust God! We will be talking with an immigration lawyer this week. Pray we will be guided in the right direction on what to do next.

DENNIS is on his way!!

2007-05-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have GREAT news and an URGENT prayer request for you!

First the great news: DENNIS IS COMING TO AMERICA SOONER THAN WE EXPECTED! Yep, he will be leaving Kenya on Friday and flying to America and is suppose to arrive in Dallas, Texas, THIS Saturday the 19th. YEAH!! So excited. He’ll then stay in Texas for a couple of weeks and join me in N.C. June 5th.

And now the prayer request: Please pray for safe travel all the way to Dallas. And PLEASE pray that when he arrives in America that he will get through immigration and go through the VISA process without any problems!!!

I will be so thankful to hear his voice on the other end of the phone when he arrives in Dallas! So near and yet still so far :)

I will be flying down May 27-June 2 to see him. Then on June 5th Dennis will come and join me in North Carolina!! YEAH!!

Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and prayers!!
Look forward to seeing all of you at our wedding on July 7th!!

Latest on Dennis' Dad

2007-05-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here's what Dennis wrote to his friends and family this past week after going to visit his Dad in Busia:

"I am excited to inform you that I was with my Dad a few days ago and it was a big relief to see him and seeing his health has improved a lot. He can now move about (though at very slow pace) and talk (but with a little difficulty). Please keep praying that the Lord will not only heal his physical life but his spiritual as well. My efforts to try and share the hope that I have in Christ with him landed on deaf ears for he did not want to listen – He is very angry and bitter at God right now. Pray that the Lord will work in his heart in ways that only He can."

FUN TIMES with Shelby and Carter

2007-05-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Last month I went to Charlotte to watch my sisters kids while her and her husband went on a mini anniversary vacation. I always have lots of fun with my niece and nephew and here's just a little evidence of that. Shelby decided she wanted to play with her makeup and wanted to put it on my face too. Well as you can tell that pretty makeup turned us into clowns!!

And here's Shelby and Carter just lounging in the sand box

Invitation Party

2007-05-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

A couple Friday nights ago 8 girls graciously gave up there Friday night to come and help me make my wedding invitations. It was an assembly line of seperating, hole punching, brad-ing, stuffing, sealing, and writing!! We had fun and we got them all done. And my invitations are in the mail.

I am so thankful for these girls and for their help and for the many friends the Lord has blessed me with!! Thank you Nicole, Kristin,Kimberly, Jenna, Mandy, Christa, Rachel, and Alicia!!

Road Trip

2007-05-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

Last month, us African queens, Kimberly, April and I decided to take a little weekend road trip to Panama City Beach...and boy was it a long road trip!! We had great fun. On the way down there we stopped at South of the Border (ha!) to take some pictures, then beautiful Savanna, Georgia for lunch on the water, then along the way we got a little side tracked at the Outlet shops near Jacksonville! By the time we reached our condo it was almost midnight. We spent the weekend hoping we'd be able to lay out on the beautiful beach in the white sand but the great WINDS blew us away!! Oh but we tried! And every inch of our bodies and belongings were covered in sand. So much fun! We did a lot of shopping and eating thats for sure! And we celebrated April's birthday with food and ice cream. Here's some fun pictures:

Update on Baba Dennis

2007-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, Thanks for your prayers for Dennis Dad...Here's the latest Dennis wrote in an email to his friends last week:

"Thanks for your prayers for my dad and know that God is answering them. I have had complete peace about the situation – God is good all the Time!

As far as my dad’s situation, I talked to my mom tonight and there is not very much improvement. The swelling on his face is gone down but the speech and the memory loss is still the same no improvement.

It seems like he had high blood pressure and then he tried to take medicine on his own and overdosed (He is blind) himself. But thank God he is getting better slowly.

Thanks again for you prayers and your encouragement through this time. "

Please continue to keep him and the family in your prayers! Baba Dennis is his name, meaning in Swahili, "Father of Dennis"

Please pray!

2007-04-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

Dennis received a call this morning telling him that his father isn't doing very well. His health has been up and down for the past year or so and lately has gotten significantly worse. He is blind and has several other health problems. This is what Dennis wrote in his update this morning to people:

"Another prayer item is that this morning I received a phone call from Busia that my dad is very sick and has been admitted in the Busia District Hospital there. Please pray that the doctors will find out what it is quickly and treat it. Pray also for his salvation because he is not a believer."

Please pray for Dennis' Dad and his family right now. Most of all pray that the Lord would show His Dad grace and mercy and draw Him to Himself!

Reception Site Found!

2007-03-30T01:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!!

This is just a note to ssay than you to all of you who have prayed for me and sent me lots of suggestions in finding a reception site for Dennis and I's wedding. God is faithful and with all of your help we have finally found a place. (a big thanks to Julie W.for arranging it for me!) Praise God! Our reception is going to be held at the Ledford Center at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. Not only will this place be big enough for all expected to come but it has special meaning to me b/c one of my Southeastern 2+2 Commissioning Services was held there just before i departed to go to Kenya in 2003. Little did I know sitting there that day that while I was in Kenya God would introduce me to my future husband and that I'd be having my wedding reception in that very place 4 years later. (ok, yes I'm a mushy sentimental person but this is just one of the many neat things God has done in my life and in Dennis and I's relationship in the last few years and I want to make sure He gets all the glory for even the smallest of things!!)

Thanks for your help!

I praise God for showing me His AMAZING LOVE and GRACE through so many wonderful and caring friends!

I look forward to seeing many of you on our special day July 7th!!

Celebrating 100 More Days and counting!!!

2007-03-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

TODAY DENNIS AND I OFFICIALLY HAVE 100 MORE DAYS TIL OUR WEDDING DAY!!!

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Here's some more pictures he sent me today of our time together in Mombasa. These are pictures of the day we went back to the village I used to live in Matuga. He got to meet my best friend Margaret and her family as well as some of the precious ladies in my story groups.

This is Me, Dennis, Saumu and her children. I love this picture!!

This is me, Dennis and Margaret who was my best friend in the village. She was my little shadow and God is doing amazing things with her life! I miss her!

This is Us with Margaret's family who is just one of the many Kenyan families I'm considered part of. Everytime I see them they come running greeting me with "Karibu Nyumbani Mwanangu!!", which means Welcome Home My child! They are very dear and precious to me!

And here's the Kenyan village expert showing us how to eat the madafu (unripe coconut) after drinking it :) What a cutie pie:)

There's my TALL DARK AND HANDSOME himself!! With a yummy Fanta orange. Nothing tastes better than a cold Fanta in a glass bottle!

Here's my sweet fiance doing what he loves best, teaching God's Word, and sporting his lovely Kenyan Attire. LOL! You are too cute Babe!

And just to celebrate our engagement and 100 more days til we become One, here's a picture of Dennis holding the Engagement Banner the college students made and signed for us. What an encouraging day that was!!

HELP NEEDED!!!!

2007-03-28T03:35:00.000-07:00

CALLING ALL FRIENDS!!!!

I need your help!

TCC, the original place I was going to have our wedding reception is no longer available because a new downtown restaurant is being put in, so now I’m busy scurrying around trying to find a place to have the reception. I’ve called several hotels but most of them do not allow outside catering. And then the majority of the places I’ve called are already booked for my July 7th wedding dateL

SOOOO, here’s where I need your help. IF you have any ideas or know of any place I could have my wedding reception at in Raleigh PLEASE let me know. Please keep your eyes and ears open for me. I’m desperate to find a place! As many of you know, Open Door’s reception facility is just too small to host the 200 people or so that I’m expecting.

So if you wouldn’t mind helping me do a little research I would greatly appreciate it. I need a place that isn’t too too far from Open Door Baptist Church on Durant Rd. in Raleigh, and I need to be able to use outside catering (meaning friends are doing my reception), and it needs to be able to hold 200 people. Its not a formal sit down, just snacks and dessert so there just needs to room for chairs and standing room and maybe a few tables. It would also be nice if there were already table and chairs available (not a must though)

If ya find something or have some ideas please let me know asap!! Join me in praying and searching. I’m praying God will provide quickly!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!

Some Funny Pictures!!

2007-03-23T01:48:00.000-07:00

Was just looking at some very funny pictures Dennis sent to me a week or two ago. They are pics of the day when I left Mombasa in January As you can tell, though I did shed a few tears Dennis was right there to make me laugh and smile as he always does!! Too funny. Hope they make you laugh too!

Counting the Days

2007-03-23T01:23:00.000-07:00

Well as you can only imagine...I've been thinking about Dennis a lot lately and missing him terribly. I've been back in the States now for 2 months away from him. Now only about 3 more months til he gets here in June. YEAH! Yes we are counting the days. Today we have only 106 more days til our wedding day!!

As I have reflected more and more on Dennis and I's time apart I also wanted to share a recent email i received from a dear sister in Christ, Susan Easley.

Allison,

"I pray that you will be patient in waiting and joyful when the reunion happens.
Your words about missing Dennis remind me of something that I have read in a book by John Piper, A Hunger for God. In that book he compares us waiting for the Lord's return with the longing that people in love have for each other when they are apart especially those that are engaged. Oh how I pray that Jesus would constantly give me that "lovesick" feeling of missing Him and longing to be in His presence. For now, we patiently wait, pray and serve--looking forward to the day when we are united with Him."

This was so encouraging and yet convicting to me as I wait for Dennis to finally be here and for us to unite together in a covenant relationship. Oh what a sweet picture it is!

How many of us would say we are truely lovesick and eagerly waiting for Christ's return, longing to be in His presence just as we long for our love relationships here on earth?

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Who is He?

2007-03-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

I found this in my inbox today from a friend. I dont usually read or send forwards but this one was pretty good so I hav decided to share it. IT SPEAKS OF THE GREATNESS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!! Please feel free to comment on what you think.

In chemistry, He turned water to wine.

In biology, He was born without the normal conception;

In physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven;

In economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes & 5 loaves of bread;

In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs,

In history, He is the beginning and the end;

In government, He said that he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace;

In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through him;

So... Who is He? He is Jesus!Join me and let's celebrate him; He is worthy!!!!

In God I've found everything!

The Greatest Man in HistoryJesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!

Another Sister in Christ is Born

2007-02-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-12T01:42:00.000-08:00

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/

2007-02-12T01:34:00.000-08:00

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!!

2007-02-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

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.

KARIBU NYUMBANI! (Welcome Home)

2007-01-20T09:27:00.000-08:00

Well I'm home and the picture on the left is what I woke up to on Thursday morning in Raleigh!! SNOW!!! A huge contrast to the picture on the right which is the sunshine and hot humidity I left in Mombasa! Needless to say this Mombasa blooded girl is FREEZING to death. I just can't get warm! Snow was a beautiful scene to wake up to though the day after I arrived home in the States. I haven't seen snow in over 4 years. Its nice to see but too cold for me! It was a light snow fall that came and went but now the weather channel is calling for more on Sunday night.

So let me tell you about my first day or two at home....
First, thank you for your prayers for my traveling. All of my flights went very well and all my luggage made it to Raleigh. A miracle! I arrived last Wednesday and was very warmly welcomed at the airport by my Dad and his wife Mary Jo, my pastor's wife Julie and little Anna, and my friends Nicole, Kimberly, and April. It was so sweet for them to all come to the airport and to be greeted by smiles and warm hugs! My Dad drove all the way from Hickory just to see me and take me to dinner. My first meal back in the States was Chicken Crispers and fries with honey mustard. YUMMY!!! After that my Dad dropped me home at the Asta's and I went with Nicole and Kristin to my church small group to say hello. It was so great to see everyone and to share briefly about my time in Kenya, but i have to admit i don't remember much cause i was so tired!!

At the Asta's my girlfriends had decorated my room with sweet notes, Bible verses, toiletries, and fun American snacks. And beside my bed, Cindy put a framed picture of Dennis and I when we were together at Christmas here in 2005. It was so wonderful. Besides all the encouraging verses left for me, my favorite card said, "Engagement is meant to make you long for its ending". Of course that made me miss Dennis even more! Coming home has been bittersweet for sure. I miss Dennis terribly and hated to say goodbye to all of my Kenya friends. Two of my friends, Betty and Judy, came to the airport with me and we shared many tears. Thankfully it wasn't a forever goodbye knowing I will be back there hopefully next year!

AND YET ANOTHER FUN WELCOME HOME......

Thursday morning after the beautiful snow surprise I spent the morning in the house unpacking a little and resting, then about 2:30 i decided to venture out in the weather to go to Sprint to have my cell phone turned on. The picture to the left is much of what the roads looked like. They weren't too bad but I have to admit I was a little nervous driving for the first time after six months of driving on the other side of the road in Kenya. But I got out in the cold and rainy mess,started my car and drove off. I drove a little ways, got on interstate and all of a sudden my car decelerated and as i pushed the gas it just kept dropping...so i pulled over quickly on the side of the interstate and the car died...It wouldn't restart at all. So i just sat there in the cold freezing rain and snow trying to think of what to do (my phone service wasn't turned on yet) I thought maybe a police would drive up but to my surpise they never did. (come on this is America!!)I thought I was going to have to walk in the freezing cold to the nearest exit but then it dawned on me that despite the fact I had disconnected my Sprint phone service maybe it still worked. So I tried and praise God it did (for a pretty penny). So I called around to the people I knew might be close and finally got a hold of Alicia who was not at work cause of the snow. So she came to rescue me while I called my insurance company to figure out what to do. (THANKS GIRL!!) In the meantime I thought I was going to turn into ice and they were going to have to call Dennis and tell him that his fiancee froze to death. I eventually called a tow truck and they took my car to a nearby repair shop. I think the main thing i remember much about that day was just how COLD I was!!

During the whole event I was a little frustrated and the whole time I prayed for God's help and peace. What a way to spend my first day at home huh. Its very comical now!! But God was good and I am thankful that He kept me safe and that my phone worked so i didn't have to walk in the cold! My car is now fixed and I praise God! God is teaching me so much about trusting HIM!

SO WHAT's NEXT?....(tentatively)

That's the question many of you have. Well for now, I'm home and living with the Asta's. (THANK YALL!!) I'll spend the next few weeks trying to adjust (jet-lag is really bad this time) and going to visit my family and friends I've missed dearly. Then I'll begin looking for a job to sustain me til Dennis and I get married this summer. Dennis is busy in Mombasa trying to finish teaching his BTCP (Bible Classes) classes and will hopefully come to the States by May or June and us get married soon after that. That date is still dependant on a few things. After we are married we will begin to raise support for us to return to Kenya together. We may go to live in Texas for a few months where his missions office is, and then return to spend the Holidays and remaining months in NC. We are hoping to return to Kenya by mid-2008.

WHAT CAN YOU PRAY FOR?

I know that this is going to be an exciting year of many uncertainties, changes, waiting, and twists and turns. As I look ahead my flesh tends to want to be overwhelmed and get anxious so I'm asking that you all pray Philippians 4:4-7 for me.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

And here are some other requests you can be praying for:

Please pray for my heart as i miss Kenya, my friends there, an especially Dennis

Pray for a quick adjustment and transition back to N.C. Pray for sweet reunion with family and friends.

Pray for wisdom and direction as i seek a temporary job for the next 6 months. I want a job that i will enjoy doing!

Pray for wedding plans and direction for this next step in life. Pray for patience for Dennis and I as we are away from each other til he can come to States later this year!

Pray I would trust the Lord for my finances. He is faithful and I know He will continue to provide and meet all my needs.

Pray for my Kenyan friends and those that I discipled in Mombasa. That they would seek the Lord with their whole hearts, being IN the world but not OF the world, and growing deeper in their walk with the Lord, seeking to please HIM in all they do, and sharing the gospel with others!!

Pray for my walk and relationship with the Lord; that it may deepen, that I would put HIM first and seek HIM first in all that I do and seek HIM in prayer and in His Word daily.

My cell phone is now turned on: 919-744-8382

Happy New Year

2007-01-03T03:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!!! Happy 2007! Hope everyone's New Year is starting out wonderfully! Mine was great as I brought in the New Year singing and praising God with my IPOD music and reflecting on this past year and ALL that the Lord has done and then thinking about this coming year and ALL that the Lord is going to do in 2007!! WOW, His faithfulness overwhelms me!!! What a BIG God we serve!!

After spending almost the whole month in Busia, in shags, as the city people call it, Dennis and I are now in Nairobi for the next few days. We took a 15 hour train ride last night from Kisumu. The train was literally packed and overflowing with people! Because of all the rains the road from Kisumu to Nairobi has been washed out so the number of buses traveling is low and people are trying rush home from being away for the Holidays, so their option was the train. They even took out the dining cart from the train so they could carry more people (meaning we didn't eat any meals). It was an unbelievable site to see so many people cramming into one train! Praise the Lord the train made it to Nairobi safe! We are now here for a few days and will be traveling again by train to Mombasa on Friday night. Please continue to pray for us as we travel. Its been a very relaxing and fun month out in the country!!

Its hard to believe that in just about 2 weeks I'll be headed back to America! I should arrive in Raleigh on January 17th in the afternoon! I'm looking forward to reuniting with family and friends after almost 6 months. Its going to be a good but overwhelming transition back home as i try to think and plan what the next few months of life holds. Please pray for me as I seek the Lord's direction on exactly what i'm suppose to do (job, wedding planning, etc.) And pray as i say good bye to friends and "family" here in Kenya for the time being. May all this go smoothly!
Love to you all and see you soon.
As a reminder, my personal computer is completely down til i get to America and buy new AC adaptor so if you send emails please be patient with my response!!
Love, Allison

BIG BAD COMPUTER NEWS!!

2007-01-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

HEY EVERYONE!!!

I have big bad sad computer news. My computer's AC Adaptor is completely DEAD!!! The crazy Kenya power fluctuations finally killed it. And unfortunately I can't find a Sony one here in Mombasa. My computer has no power now. So this means that I won't have my own regular computer access as I have had for the remaining time I'm in Kenya. The bad news is that ALL of my emails were saved on my OUTLOOK and now i can't access them. Praise the Lord for my roomate who has let me use her computer to access internet for the time being.

AND PLEASE, ANYONE WHO HAS SENT ME EMAILS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND HASN'T GOTTEN A REPLY FROM ME, SEND ME THE EMAIL AGAIN!!!
Then it will be accessible from an internet cafe or something like that.
THANKS....and please keep praying for me,
even if you dont' hear from me for awhile!!

Holiday Travels

2006-12-21T01:49:00.000-08:00

Hello from rainy Busia. Yep doesn't feel much like Christmas around here with all the nasty mud and rain and heat! But we are making the best of it and having a great time.

I arrived in Busia on Sunday night after a long bus ride and was greeted at the border of Uganda by Dennis! We've had a great few days together away fromt he city just reading and relaxing and praying and watching movies on his laptop. The highlight has been the building of his house of course, however, the big rains and mud each afternoon has slowed things down a bit. But the house is looking good and the landscaping will look good after the rains stop and the mud is cleared away. I'll post pictures when i can. The internet at this internet cafe is very unreliable and i cant count the number of times i've lost my emails and typing cause the electricity goes off! But thats life here! And you make the best of it!! I've gotten to the public transport here which is a boda boda...a bicycle you ride on the back of. Its been a memorable holiday thus far!

I really enjoyed my time in Nairobi last week with Betty and her family. I cooked a good American meal of hamburgers and homemade fries on Saturday night which they loved! I also was able to travel to see Baby Allison ad her family in Ruiru (if you remember her story from a few years ago) She is growing so big so fast. She loved the baby doll i brought to her from America. Sweet little Ava Asta sent it with me to give to her. It was the highlight of the day! I also got to visit and stay the night with my friend Milkah who was my tentmate during my 40/40 bush orientation in 2003. My week in the big city of Nairobi was fun but I was also excited to travel upcountry to be with Dennis again.

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me and for my safety as I have traveled the last few weeks. God has been faithful! Please continue praying. Also be praying for all my ELECTRONIC problems. Almost all the electronics i own have decided to stop working!!! First my computer power adaptor died, then my digital camera, and now my external computer harddrive i backed up everything on my computer with. I can't hardly believe all of this has happened but i'm trying to keep a good spirit and attitude and praying the Lord will provide for me to get all these things fixed when i return to North Carolina in January!! Its been a good reminder that life isn't about STUFF!! Its about keeping our eyes fixed on the Savior! Pray that i can do that!

Thats my short update for now...pictures to come from Dennis' camera when i can get them.
Love to you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

See ya later!!

2006-12-10T05:54:00.000-08:00

Well in just about an hour I'll be headed out to the train station to go to Nairobi. I should arrive in Nairobi at 9am in the morning if there are no delays or Kenya "stuff" that happens. So as I go please be praying for traveling mercies and safety. I'll be by myself a lot in my travels til I reach Busia, which can be kind of scary sometimes. But the Lord is traveling with me so I know I'm not alone. Love you all and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all very soon!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

2006-12-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well its hard to believe that its Christmas time again....and even harder to believe it when you are living in hot, humid, steamy temperatures here in Mombasa. And the temp and humidity just seems to keep climbing as the days go by. One shower a day has turned into at least 2 or 3 and the laundry piles up as I change my sweaty clothes over and over. Oh but that’s life here at the coast!

Many of you know by now that I will be staying in Kenya til January 16th so I can spend the holidays with Dennis’ family in Busia (Western Kenya) before coming back to the States. Dennis finished teaching last week and left yesterday to go on to Busia to continue work on his house being built in his Father’s compound. I am remaining here with the rest of the team until this Sunday. This is a picture of our whole Serve Kenya team (from left to right is Jill, Kristin, me, and Patrick and Dennis behind)

On Sunday I will be taking a little wild adventure on my own and will be traveling to Nairobi BY TRAIN and will stay there a week so I can visit old friends. I’ve never traveled by train so its going to be a first for me. It takes twice the time to get to Nairobi by train but it travels at night and I’ll have some sort of a bed to sleep in instead of sitting straight up on a bus. And the neat thing I’m looking forward to is to wake up early the next morning as we roll through Tsavo Safari Game Park just before Nairobi. If I’m lucky I hear I just might see some animals!

After a week in Nairobi I will then take a bus to Busia and meet up with Dennis and his family there. I don’t know exactly what Christmas or New Years will be like there but I’m always up for a new adventure and experience. And if its with Dennis its bound to be fun!

I will probably not have any regular email access for the entire month of December so don’t be alarmed if you don’t’ hear from me. I will have my cell phone though and would WELCOME any phone call from home!! (hint hint) Would be good to hear voices from home. My number is (254) 0725 121063 (if that doesn’t work leave out the zero before the 7)

As you and your family celebrate Christmas together this year please remember the REAL REASON we call this time of year CHRISTmas!! And then go share with others why Jesus Christ our Savior was humbly born into this world....

“….Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
Philippians 2:6-11

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Pictures from Haller Park

2006-11-30T09:54:00.000-08:00

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!!

2006-11-28T02:41:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

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!!

2006-11-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

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?

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

2006-11-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

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

Bed on Wheels

2006-10-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ok guys...no your eyes are deceiving you..this really is a man riding a bicycle and carrying an entire bedframe on his bike. No i didn't believe it at first either but this is just one of the MANY MANY things you see here in Kenya that make you shake your head in disbelief..nothing surprises me anymore! Just thought I'd share this with you.

College Ministry Update

2006-10-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

Wanted to write an update on how ministry is going here in Mombasa. The students are about half-way into their semester at Mombasa Polytechnic and college ministry at the church is going great. We have quit a busy schedule almost everyday of the week. I wanted to give you a schedule of the events of the college ministry so that you know what we do each week and how to pray.

Sundays: 9am. College Bible Study-Drew just finished teaching through Ecclesiastes and now Patrick is beginning to teach through Matthew. We have about 25 to 30 in attendance for this
· Tuesdays:7:30-9:30pm. Bible Study- Drew has been going through a study on Colossians but his term is up so he'll be leaving next week to go back to States. Now Gideon (a Kenyan guy who just recently graduated from a seminary in Nairobi) will be continuing to teach on through Colossians.
· Wednesdays: 7:30-9:30pm-Bible Study/Discussion groups in dorm rooms. During this time we gather in several college hostiles to discuss more in depth what was taught during Tuesday night Bible Study
· Thursdays: 6-7AM-We get up bright and early and meet together at the church for early morning prayer time. We gather for a short time of worship through singing and then pray together for college ministry, and other personal requests.
· Thursday nights: The leadership team and college volunteers meet for a time of discussion, planning and prayer together.
· Friday: 7:30-9:30pm: GIRLS NIGHT! This is a time where we meet together just us girls for fun and discussion.
· Saturday: 7:30-9:30pm: COLLEGE NIGHT LIVE!!! This is a time where just college students come together for a time of worship. We sing, dance, and Gideon teaches us from God's Word. This is usually our big attendance night.

So as you can see our weeks, especially every night is very busy with lots of fun and teaching from God's Word. My days are filled with time spent with college girls, one on one or in groups., hanging out, discipling, teaching and evangelizing. There are many college girls that I spend time with but i've been praying that the Lord would give me 3 or 4 who I can really invest in during my short time here and He so graciously has done that. ( Betty, Lynn, Soni).

The picture is of Betty and I. (sorry for the yucky angle) Betty is a new believer who comes from a Catholic background. Her brother led her to the Lord about 3 months ago. When i met Betty i knew there was something exciting about her. She always wore this big huge smile on her face. When i met with her the first time my heart was so encouraged to hear her testimony and how God has dramatically changed her life. Her heart is so full of joy. Betty and i are meeting every Friday to go through the fundamentals of our Christian faith but meet many other times throughout the week as well. She is girl who hungers to know more about God's Word and how to walk in her new faith. She just recently with with a few other of the college students on a mission trip to Ramisi, where they went to share their faith with Muslim peoples. Its so neat because most of the people living in that place are Digo, the same tribe i lived and shared with during my first two years in Kenya. Soni went also and before they left we were able to sit down together to talk about their fears of going, fears of evangelism, and i was able to share with them my experience with working with the Digo and how to share your faith with Muslims. It was so encouraging to see them so encouraged as they went and then upon their return to hear all the exciting things God did through them and in them. Betty was referred to on the trip as the joyful singing one even when her glasses fell, and broke and she was unable to see for the remainder of the trip.

God has done an amazing work in the lives of these girls and i pray they will continue to grow in their faith!! I'm loving these girls and love just living life with them on a daily basis!

As mentioned before we will soon be saying goodbye to one of our teammates Drew. Drew has been here for 4 months and has done an incredible job with the college students at the Poly. He did much of the college ministry teaching and was the mastermind and planner behind our huge 3 on 3 basketball tournament outreach event on the Poly campus. We are going to miss Drew tremendously.

We now also have a new team member, Patrick, a recent graduate from Auburn, who just joined our team about 2 ½ weeks ago. Pray for him as he’s battled sickness since he got here.

Pray for the whole team as we have battled illness in the last few weeks as well. I was sick last week with a bacterial infection that put me out for several days. After a good round of antibiotics I felt better but developed a sinus infection in the last few days. Dennis and Patrick have also had their trips to the hospital with bacterial infections but we praise God for Kristin who has stayed healthy and cared for us all. This week we are going to take a little rest at the beach for two days Tuesday til Thursday so pray for us as we try to rest and rejuvenate!

Pictures from Busia Wedding Anniversary

2006-09-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, finally some pictures are posting now...these are pictures from my previous entry from the Busia 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Had some trouble posting them so sorry for the messy arrangement. This first one is of the happy couple who have been married for 50years. There's one of me and some gals. They are Joyce (takes care of Dennis' dad), me, Mercy, (Dennis' sister) and Dennis' mom. Of course there is one of me and Dennis..then there's one of me and his mom in our kitenge dresses...looks like i'm wearing my grandmother's curtains but she loved it. i looked like a real African woman...hips and all:):):) The others are of the wedding ceremony and reception. The last is of me working in the garden just outside the house that Dennis is building. We removed big rocks and stones and made the landscaping look very nice. My Dad would be very proud. I was so sore for the next two days. There are many more pictures of this trip and many others on my Photo Album website whose link is to the right. Please check it out!

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration in Busia

2006-09-26T20:24:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Dennis and I took a short trip back to Busia again, this time for a big family event. Saturday was the 5oth wedding anniversary celebration of the parent in-laws of Dennis' sister Mercy. Dennis and I were expected to be there so we made the long 17 hour journey by bus across the country last Thursday night. To be married for 50 years in this country is a HUGE thing!! So they really made it a huge celebration that lasted the entire Saturday!!! It wasn't just a celebration it was another wedding. They had vehicles blowing the horns decorated with flowers to carry them and the wedding party to the church. The "bride" even had a white dress and a veil. At the church there was about a 3 or 4 hour church service with singing, dancing, praying, and renewal of wedding vows by the couple. Their 9 children were there at the altar to witness the ceremony and 100's of people in the audience participating as well. After this long service (which i didn't sit the entire way through) we waited for about an hour for a vehicle to come pick us and the other many people up to head to the reception at their village home. I thought there were lots of people at the church until we got to their home and saw the hundreds who came for the reception and FOOD! (i think they fed the entire village). This couple is pretty well off financially so they went all out with white wedding tents set up in the yard with chairs, a catered feast, a sound system with singers, and a huge cake in the middle of the yard. I sat with Dennis' mom and hung out with his sister Mercy most of the time. The afternoon was filled with entertainment and the couple even cut their cake and fed it to each other. Also during this time the couple were presented with many gifts. Each family that brought a gift had to get in front of the crowd, introduce themselves and officially and formally present the couple with their gift. This is a picture of Dennis and I and his family when we had to stand up and present our gift of a big cooking pot (sufuria) and wheelbarrow.

For this occassion Dennis' mom asked me to wear an African Kitenge (dress) so about a week before we went to this event his mom showed up at my door with some fabric she found at her house that she said she wanted to make me a dress from. Wearing this dress was an interesting story in itself. I have to say the style was nice but the fabric pattern...well...you can judge for yourself! (all my young Kenyan girlfriends had a good laugh) I chose not to the wear the head scarf however! But i went and wore the kitenge proudly which made his mother very happy. It was a lot of fun!

On Sunday Dennis and I had a blast working in the yard of his family's compound. Dennis is in the process of building a small house in his father's compound. In his particular tribal tradition if his dad passes away his mom could be inherited by another man unless the older male child (him)builds a house thereby showing there's another leader of the family. His father is getting older so Dennis is slowly building a little house so his mom is never inherited. So on Sunday we worked in the yard clearing away rocks and trash to make it look nice. The children of the village enjoyed coming to watch the mzungu (white girl) work! Was too fun!! We returned to Mombasa on Monday morning after another long bus ride very tired!!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR ME!!!
(ok pictures are not wanting to attach again to this post so i'll try putting them in another post)

!!!!!PICTURES!!!!!

2006-09-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

So many of you have asked for pictures...well since this blogspot doesn't always want to cooperate I've gone to my online photoalbum and added lots...the link is to the right hand side of this blog for you to always go to..but here's the link: http://allisonstokes.myphotoalbum.com/

More Encouragement!!

2006-09-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you are a missionary on the field, especially when you are struggling to learn language and culture,days of discouragement hit you hard. Many times you ask yourself and often ask God why you are in that place and what kind of difference are you really making when you can't even understand or communicate fully!! oh how i can relate to that!! This week i received a very encouraging email from my sweet friend Wendy Driver and i wanted to share it with you! What an encouragement! Thank you Mrs Wendy!

I have a friend from the phillipines who is also a nurse. I work with her at wakemed. She told me that when she was a little girl only the rich people were taught English language in school. Her family was not rich and so she was not taught Engish. However there were 2 missionaries who visited her area regularly when she was growing up and apparently she saw them often. She said she could not understand what they said, but she felt loved and loved them in return. Her goal was to learn English when she grew up so that she could talk to them. The missionaries she loved never new the impact they had on her, because she did not see them after she learned English and grew up. She now understands this love she felt from them was Jesus sweet spirit which crosses over any language or cultual barriers. When you feel discouraged remember that the sweet spirit of Jesus in you is shining through to light the path for the lost to find their way. Even if you are not there to see them reach the end of the path to Jesus's outstreched arms, your love for Jesus helped them in their darkness.

A Poem for you....

2006-09-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Friends, I received this poem by email and wanted to share it with you. Hope it encourages you as it has encouraged me as we think about suffering in our lives. "We often need to be reminded that God has a much larger perspective and purpose in mind than what is apparent to the heart that is weighted with trouble.."

When God wants to drill a man,
and thrill a man,
and skill a man;
When God wants to mold a man,
to play the noblest part,
When He yearns with all His heart
to create so great and bold a man,
that all the world will be amazed;
WATCH His methods! - WATCH His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects
whom He Royally Elects!
How He hammers him,
and hurts him,
...and with mighty blows,
converts him
...into trial shapes of clay
which only God understands.

While his tortured heart is crying,
and he lifts beseeching hands,
How he bends but never breaks,
when His good He undertakes.
How He uses whom He chooses,
and with every purpose fuses him,
...by every act induces him,
to try His splendor out;
God knows what he's about.

~Dale Martin Stone

VISIT WITH OLD FRIENDS

2006-09-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

While i was at Word of Life for camp I got a surprise visit by some of my old teammates and they brought my old language teacher and her daughter from when i was here before. This is a picture of me, Annah, and her daughter Sharon. Sharon was just a small baby when i saw her last. I had a great time reuniting with them and sharing our lives with each other the past year. Annah is going through a very difficult time right now with her family and has had to relocate to another area for a job. Please remember her and Sharon in your prayers! If you remember, i worked with the Digo people when i was here before...and Annah is one of the few strong Digo believers that are here. Her husband is no longer around so she and her daughter are on their own. This is a picture of Sharon playing in the sand on the beach. She was pretending it was soap and using it to bathe herself. We had such a great time!

Word of Life Camp

2006-09-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, i know its about time i update this blogspot....so sorry! Between the electricity being out and just life i haven't sat down to write much. But here it goes...so my last big entry was about going to the college camp at Word of Life. Thanks everyone for praying! It was a great week! Kristin and I went to be counselors for the girls. We lived with the girls in small door rooms with bunks..I was in a room with 6 other girls and was on the very top bunk NEAR THE one FAN in the room. The bunks were stacked 3 high...so needless to say those middle of the night trips down the ladder to the bathroom outside were a little scary, but i survived!! The theme for the camp week was Crisis of Integrity. We had one main speaker, Chris, the Kenyan director of Word of Life, who led our Bible hour in the morning. He spoke on the problems with integrity in the church of Kenya. As i listened agreeing with all he was saying i began to see the similarities between the church here in Kenya and in America. We have too many people in the church who are just church-goers and will say they are Christians but they dont' truely have a personal relationship with Jesus. Its very much the same here in Kenya. Many go to church just because everyone else does. The church is filled with few born-again believers. And the word "saved" is thrown around losely and very much associated with good works. Many come to church, sing, dance, raise their hands and say Bwana Asifiwe (Praise the Lord), but as soon as they leave the church they forget Jesus and live like the rest of the world. Much of this is because there is little discipleship and a lack of knowledge about the TRUTH of God's Word. The importance of reading and meditating upon God's Word is not taught. And so many people here watch TBN and "worship" pastors like Benny Hin, TD Jakes, Joel Olsten, and others and listen and follow their teachings and not what God's Word says. And then pastors listen to these preachers and copy their messages. The prosperity gospel is widely preached and people think that when you get saved that life then becomes a life of wealth, success, prosperity, and no problems. These are all issues that Chris very boldly talked about each day. Every late morning we divided in discussion groups and talked about what we had learned during Bible hour and then each night in our dorms we had devotion times together further discussing topics like Salvation, assurance of Salvation, growth in the Lord, and rededication of our lives to Christ. These devotional times with the girls were some of my favorites. During these times we dug into Scripture, shared our testimonies with each other and learned from one another. I was particularly encouraged one night when I found out that one of my girls, Salume came from a Muslim background and she shared with us how she was the only believer in her family and how she is now very much shunned from her family and persecuted because of this. Because God has given me a heart for Muslim ladies my heart leaped with joy to see her perseverance and devotion to Christ despite the many trials she faces. I was able to spend more one on one time during the week talking and praying with her about the difficult life she faces each day. Please pray the Lord would provide for Salume's needs and encourage her spiritually!! I also met and built relationships with so many other girls this week as well. If the internet permits i'll post pictures of them as well.

Word of Life camp is located on one of the most beautiful Kenyan beaches, which just so happens to be very close to where i use to live in Diani beach previously. During the week we also had fun playing outdoor games, going to the beach and Sing N Fun, where the campers and counselors got on stage and entertained us with their singing, dancing and variety of talents! I joined some of the singing groups in worship songs and Kristin showed off her dancing moves on stage. Was lots of fun.On Friday night at the end of the camp week we all had a nice dinner together followed by a concert by some famous Kenyan Gospel singers. Guess who my date for the dinner was, my sweet Dennis himself!

Thanks everyone so much for praying for our week at Word of Life. God was faithful to answer all of the prayers i asked you to pray including our health. I was camp nurse for the week and despite some minor sprains, bruises, headaches, muscle cramps, stomach upsets, and minor surgery to remove sea urchins stuck in the foot we all stayed pretty healthy!!

(OK, ONCE AGAIN THE INTERNET IS NOT LETTING ME POST PICTURES ON MY BLOG...DON'T KNOW WHY...BUT WILL TRY AGAIN LATER)

Pictures from Busia

2006-09-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ok Everyone...so this blogspot thing wouldn't let me post these pictures in my previous post so i'm posting them all here...and i'll try to post other pictures in my photoalbum (link to right) for all to see. So if you want to know what these pictures are of go below and read my previous entry about Busia and in it you'll see words saying "insert pic" then come back here and you'll see the picture..hope this makes sense!

Pray for College Camp

2006-08-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well looks like I'm going to be gone from home again for another week. Tomorrow we are going to Diani Beach (where i used to live) to Word of Life retreat center where I and my other teammates will be counselors at a college camp this week. We need your prayers as we lead our groups this week. At the moment i don't know exactly what the theme for the week, the topics we will be discussing nor what exactly my job will be but again FLEXIBILITY is the key here in Kenya. i just know that I'm going to be bunking up with, sharing life with, building relationships with and being one of the leaders for a group of college girls. Please be in prayer for Kristin and I as we lead some of the girls and for Drew and Dennis as they will be teaching and doing other various things this week. Some of the same college students who went to Busia with us will be coming along too. Pray that the Lord will use me in a powerful way in the lives of the girls He brings across my path. Pray that the Lord will use this week to bring about spiritual growth in the lives of the college students. Pray for me as I hope to also have the opportunity to reunite with some of my former teammates, the Grossmanns and Rains in some of my free time! Pray for continuing good health for me and my teammates..and pray against malaria. Mosquitos have been bad and i've been bitten many times!
Don;t think I'll have internet access this week so I look forward to updating you again when i return. If you've emailed me lately and haven't gotten a reply don't give up hope...I appreciate every word you send to me!!!
(this is a picture of a beautiful rainbow over the Indian Ocean...can you see it?? What a picture of God's beauty, faithfulness and promises!)

Back from Busia

2006-08-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone...yes i know its been a long long time since I've updated this blog...thanks Nicole for reminding me each day. Unfortunately the electricity here in Mombasa has been out almost everyday this week which means no internet, phone or email, putting a big delay in my coorespondence. Thank you everyone who have left such encouraging comments on my blog and sent me emails. Its hard to believe that I've already been in Kenya for a month now. Time really flies!!
Thank you to everyone who prayed for me and the team of college folks as we went to Busia. God was faithful and we saw the Lord working in mighty ways in the lives of the youth in that town! God not only worked in the lives of the youth but also in my life and the lives of my teammates as well. Thank you for praying for our safety as we traveled. The two day drive across the country and then back was tiresome, sometimes painful (potholes, bumps, swerves, etc.), and at times a little 'scary' but the Lord protected us and showed us much travel mercy. (we only hit and killed one chicken:) This is a picture of some of the muddy detour roads we traveled on close to Nakuru. (yes Kimbo the road has only gotten worse...but they are working on it!!...as usual:) I am thankful for the Loewer family for allowing us to stay overnight with them in Nairobi to help break the trip up a little.

Here's a picture of the Busia team
We were warmly welcomed at Dennis' Dad's house in Busia and were well taken care of. All 6 of us girls piled into one small room and the 4 guys into another, sharing beds and floor space. We had water problems the entire week but Dennis worked all day to be sure we had water. (thanks so much for being such a servant leader Babe!!) We all had good attitudes most of the time, and loved and served one another. Meal time singing and prayers was so much fun. Team unity is a blessing!

Ruth, and some other Kenyan ladies worked tirelessly to be sure we had plenty to eat at lunch and dinner but the breakfast times were up to us. We were paired up in teams and were assigned a morning to cook breakfast for the team using bread, jam, butter, eggs, milk, sugar and tea leaves. This is a picture of Dennis and I (insert pic) when we decided we were tired of the usual jam and butter on bread, scrambled eggs, and chai tea. We decided to be creative and cook French Toast. It was yummy and i think we took the prize for best breakfast that week. Was fun working together! (OK FOR SOME REASON THE INTERNET ISN'T LETTING ME POST ANYMORE PICTURES....I'LL JUST KEEP WRITING AND WILL HAVE TO ADD THE PICS LATER...SORRY BOUT THAT...won't be quite as much fun)

The entire week of ministry in the town went so well. But as we arrived in Busia we knew we would be learning a lot about flexiblity that week when we looked up and saw a banner over the street welcoming the town to the conference and saying we'd be teaching everyday from 9am til 6pm...but this is Kenya and so we had to change our plans a bit! Each morning we went about a mile and a half to the Busia Gospel Center church, most of us walking but some riding Busia's form of public transport, the boda boda, (insert pic). These are bicycle taxis you sit on the back of and trust the driver to balance and get you there safely. The guys can straddle it but the right way for girls is to sit sideways..takes practice! Me, well i stuck to my own two feet greeting many ladies and kids along the way. (insert pic) We made this walk to and from twice a day.

In the mornings Drew taught on "the Big Picture of the Bible" from Genesis to Revelation, giving an excellent overview of the whole Bible. (insert picture) Then in the afternoons Dennis taught on "Sex, Dating and Marriage the Christian Way". (insert picture)It was neat to see that as the week progressed more and more people came. In this area it is considered taboo to talk about dating and sex, and even within the church these topics are not discussed. Many of the young people, and church members came to us and said they'd never been taught about what God says on these topics and were hungry to learn more and to change their lives and live according to God's Biblical standards. One girl stood up and said she was dating a non-believer and was convicted she needed to end this relationship and wanted advice on how best to do this. Others stood up confessing and repenting of premarital sexual relationships and were asking God to help them change. One day after teaching Dennis was approaced by a random man outside the church who told him that he needed to stop teaching these things or the men wouldn't get any women. Word definetely spread around town about the teachings on abstinence and saving yourself for your marriage partner. There were some who were pleased we were there teaching what so many don't want to talk about and yet others who didn't want the truth of God's Word shared. The conference had such an impact on the lives of the youth in the church that the pastor wants to continue doing this type of conference on a yearly basis there.

After each meeting we hung out with the youth building friendships and answering their questions. I made one particular friend in particular named Jackie. (insert pic) She's an 18 year old Believer who was in need of lots of encouragement and prayers. We spent a lot of time talking about our families and some of the similarities we have in growing up, and some of the struggles we both had. I was able to encourage her and share a lot of Scripture with her. We spent a lot of time in prayer together as well. She said that I was the friend and encourager she'd been praying for for a long time. What a joy it was to share with Jackie!!!

After the Busia trip Dennis and I and his little sister Nelly stayed behind an extra night with his Dad and then drove to Nairobi where we spent a couple of days visiting friends and staying with his other sister Mercy and her family. (I'll add pictures here too!!) We had a great time just hanging out in the big city together, doing some shopping, and spending time with his sister and two nieces.

Well as you can see God answered all of the prayers that i asked everyone to be praying for while we were gone!! He is so good and so faithful!! (I'LL ADD THE PICTURES AS SOON AS THE INTERNET COOPERATES!!)
Love you and couldn't be here without your prayers...so keep on praying!!! May His name be glorified!!

Off to Busia!!

2006-08-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone...gonna have to make this quick cause its late and tomorrow morning (in about 4 hours) I'll be getting up and headed on a long journey to Busia..a town on the opposite side of Kenya on the border of Uganda. The beginning of the week retreat to Sun N Sands beach resort was very nice and provided much needed rest! It was so neat to sit by the Indian Ocean again. I just love the ocean!! Will post pictures soon. Abby, the other American gal joining us for the next 3 weeks arrived yesterday and has had to quickly adjust before we head on the missions trip to Busia. I've gotten a little time to meet 3 of the college gals going with us (Karimi, Soni, Lynn) and I'm looking forward to getting to know them and growing close to them in the coming week! They all seem to be very sweet girls! Please pray for us as we travel to Busia this coming week. We will be gone from August 5-13th...and then Dennis might be staying a few days longer there with his Mom and Dad. Here's a little run down of what we are going to be doing and how you can pray!
I've written more about this in my previous blog "plans for the week".

Team Leaders and Teachers:
Dennis and Drew

Team Members:
Moses,Chris, Allison,Kristin,Abby, Soni, Lynne, Karimi

Host Church:
Busia Gospel Center – Pastor Edwin Agogo

Dates of travel:
August 4th: Dennis, Allison, Kristin and Abby leaving Mombasa at 6am to drive to Nairobi and spend the night with a missionary family, the Loewers.
August 5th: Dennis, Allison, Kristin and Abby leaving Nairobi to drive to Busia.
August 5th: Drew and the rest of the team leave Mombasa at 5pm to travel to Busia by bus
August 13 or 14th: We all return to Mombasa

Prayer Request:
Pray for journey mercies as we travel to and from Busia. Its a long, bumpy, dangerous journey!!
Pray for Dennis and Drew as they teach – Drew in the Mornings and Dennis in the main meetings in the Church.
Pray for receptive hearts to the message that we will be bringing to the Busia people – God’s Mandate about Sexual purity.
Pray for Team Love and unity – that we look to the interest of each other and not our own.
Pray for good health for all of us traveling!!!

I have lots i could share but I look forward to writing and sharing with more upon my return around the 14th. Won't have email access until i return. Thank you for your prayers!! Love you all!!!

Monkeying around

2006-07-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Just thought i'd share some fun pictures with you of the native "squirrels" around here..Yep...just outside the monkeys jump all around in the trees. They love to come sit under the balcony when its raining, play in the rafters, and when you leave the door open they try their hardest to get inside. Its so fun to watch them!!

Plans for the Week

2006-07-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone...first i want to say thank you for all the fun and encouraging comments you have left on my blogspot and thank you Nicole for letting everyone know i made it safely here. Here's some pictures of the road outside my flat (apartment) and some pictures looking off the balcony...

Today i went with one of our teammates Drew to the hospital to have his blood checked out to see if the infection he's had this past week is gone...and Praise the Lord it has and he's feeling much better!

The Polytechnic students are on break right now so we are taking advantage of the time to run errands and get things done before the semester starts back in a few weeks. Tonight we had our first team meeting with the college students who will be joining us on the Busia trip this coming week. It was a great time meeting some of them, listening to Dennis encourage us with the WORD, and planning for the week ahead. This week Dennis, Drew, Kristin and I will be taking a little 3 day trip to the beach for a little relaxation before beginning up work. I will be so greatful for the rest and for the time to get over this yucky jetlag feeling. Then on Saturday we will begin our trip to Busia. We will be driving across the country to the border of Uganda where Dennis and Drew will be leading and teaching at a sexual purity conference in Busia. We are going along to encourage them and to minister to the ladies and young girls there. Five college students are going with us. This will be a great time for Kristin and I to build relationships with these college ladies. Please pray for our safety as we drive that long long bumpy ride. We will stop half way in Nairobi and stay overnight with some other missionary friends. We will all be staying at Dennis' father's house...gonna be a tight squeeze!

I'm HERE!! YEAH!!!

2006-07-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone...I'm here. I made it safely to Kenya today!! Praise God! My flight from Raleigh was delayed for about 30 min. due to computer problems which made me wonder if i'd miss my flight in Detroit..but thankfully that flight was delayed almost by 2 hours as well..Thats where i met up with Kristin, one of the girls from Texas i'll be working with and living with these next 4 months. She and I had a great time traveling together and getting to know one another a little. In Amsterdam we got a day room where we were able to relax and sleep for a couple hours before our next long flight to Nairobi. Before we left Amsterdam we ate our last McDonalds Quarter Pounder for a long time. That was the most expensive McDonalds meal i've ever had...burger, fries and drink for $10..yikes! I got into Nairobi then took another flight to Mombasa. Thankfully those flights were uneventful and I'm finally at the coast again. ITS WONDERFUL and feels so good to be here. And praise God the temperature isn't quite as hot as normal right now..it rained a lot today so it cooled things down a little. Kristin and I were met at the airport by Dennis:):) and Drew and taken back to our apartment to drop off our stuff. And guess what was sitting on the kitchen table waiting for me...a HUGE beautiful bouquet of flowers!! Made me smile lots and lots. I enjoyed watching Kristin getting excited about the monkeys in our trees!! Then we went into town for some quick lunch and then to Nakumatt (African's Walmart) to pick up some things for the apartment. Oh my, the driving here hasn't changed a bit...craziness!! Now its about 9pm and i can hardly hold my eyes open. Tomorrow morning I'm going with Dennis to his class as he teaches the pastors in his BTCP classs. Im very excited about meeting the pastors Dennis talks about so much. Praise God with me for a wonderful journey here and even for the simple fact that I got all my luggage!! God is so good!! Will send pictures soon! Thanks for your prayers!!

ON MY WAY AT LAST...

2006-07-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Its the night before the long trip and of course i'm up til 1:30am packing and doing last minute things before i travel tomorrow. Yes, the days have finally turned to hours and in just about 15 hours or so I'll be on the plane headed to Kenya. Not sure if it's actually hit me yet or not that I'm actually finally going...but i wanted to share with everyone some of my thoughts....

Read, from the Journals of Jim Elliot:
"Last day in Portland. The past week has been very busy-full of visits and interruptions while packing. But God has been good and exceedingly loving-kind toward me. The saints have given unhesitantly at every turn and every need has been met-even beyond the need. It is as in the wilderness, "For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much" (Exod. 36:7). Pete will arrive today, and we will drive to Williams tomorrow, Lord in your will. That will be the first step away. It is hard to say goodbey, but, as Pete wrote yesterday, "the hand is on the plow." I have had difficulty keeping spiritual pace these last days. Rushing through prayer and scanning the Word only this is no way to have confidence in the soul. Still God is gracious. We change, He changes not; Our Christ can never die. His love, not ours, the resting place, His truth, not mine, the tie."

Just a few weeks ago my dear friend Julie handed me a peace of paper with those words from Jim Elliot's journal and just this morning i read them over and over realizing that those words sum up what life has been like the last few weeks. So I wanted to share with you some of what i wrote in my own journal....

Jim Elliot said it just perfect first in the fact that my friends and family, (the saints) have given of themselves in so many ways over and beyond what I have needed. God has been so good!! What a gracious provider HE IS!! And yes the last few weeks have been full of visits and saying "see you later" to friends and family. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute I've been able to spend with them all!! And yes even for a short four months its not easy to hug necks go seperate ways but Go i must! And yes in the busyness and sickness of the last few weeks its been hard keeping the spiritual pace. But God, HE has still been gracious!! Its very evident that this Christian life is not about a works based gospel or I woul have failed miserably. Its only by God's grace that He's brought me this far and only by HIS grace that I even live, breathe, and remain "sane" most of the time! He never changes and remains faithful even when we change and are "faith-less" God doesn't force us to spend intimate time with HIM, HE lovingly asks us to draw near to HIM! He asks us to be dependent and not independent! Its hard to believe that that tomorrow I will be on the plane headed to Kenya. I am so excited and praise God for the peace and calmness of heart that I've had in the last few days as i prepare to go. I know that that peace that i can't explain only comes from the Lord. (i know many have been praying that for me). The time has come that I've been waiting for since February--and wow my mind can't begin to think about all that has happened since then to make this journey tomorrow finally happen. God has been so good and so faithful! And now here I go off on another "adventure" with the Lord..Off to many unknowns of what its going to be like this time and what's going to happen in the next 4 months. This is yet another opportunity to step out in faith trusting the Lord completely!! May the Lord help me trust HIM! I am so excited to finally be going and excited about seeing Dennis again after 7 months of long distance communication since his visit in December. (ok i know many may not know Dennis and I's story but that is to be written on the blog soon so stay tuned). And excited about meeting the college girls after they return from semester break. And excited about hopefully seeing old friends. I'm just all around excited and can't wait to see what the Lord has planned!!

On the Uphill....

2006-07-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hey All, thanks for your prayers if you've prayed for me these last few days i've been sick. I went to the doctor yesterday and got some antibiotics. I've been living on Ibuprofen and popsicles the last few days and now today i'm feeling a little better, just still a little weak. Praise God! Yesterday i managed to have enough strength to go see my sweet friend and greatest hair dresser alive, Casey, and she cut and highlighted my hair so i'd feel "beautiful" for Africa! THANKS Casey! You know us girls, no matter how bad we feel, a hair cut is a MUST!! Today I have tried to make myself rest and do some last minute logistical stuff at home in preparation to leave on Tuesday. Tonight Nicole is having a girls night for me at her house...hope there's lots of Chocolate involved!! Looking forward to it. Then this weekend i'll be packing and saying Tutaonana (see you later in Swahili) to people before i leave on Tuesday. I'm so excited and just can't wait to be there and of course can't wait to see Dennis!

I NEED SOME QUICK HEALING PRAYER!!!

2006-07-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone who checks my blog on a regular basis!! I need some quick and fast prayer! I leave next Tuesday for Kenya and have a ton of things to do before then including packing. I am sick i think with strept throat and am feeling awful. I don't even feel like leaving my bed. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so hopefully i can get some antibiotics if i need them and begin feeling better by the weekend or faster!! This is just not a good week to be sick!!! At the same time i'm trying to have a good attitude knowing that the Lord works all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Please pray that i can find JOY even in the midst of feeling bad and being pressed for time!!! Please help me fight this with prayer!!!

SUPPORT GOAL MET!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-07-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name...Psalms 105:1-3
GOD IS GOOD! GOD IS SO GOOD!!! With JOY inexpressable I announce to everyone that my support goal is complete! Please join me in praising the Lord! Once again God has done exceeding abundantly more than i could ever ask or imagine!! He continues to show Himself so powerful! God has provided even more than the $8000 goal! Praise HIS name! And now in less than two weeks I'll be on my way to Kenya!! Thank you again to everyone who have joined me and are a part of the team and ministry in Kenya through their prayers and support! Please continue to pray for the other team members going and their support raising goals as well! Will update you more later!

RUNNING FINAL LAP!!!

2006-07-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”
Hebrews 10:23
“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
I Thessalonians 5:24

“It is with great joy and praise to the Father I send you this update and let you know that I have almost reached my support goal for going to Kenya. As of this past weekend, the Lord has so faithfully provided $7560 of the $8000 I need to spend 4 months in Kenya. PRAISE GOD!! This means I have only about $440 more to raise. GOD IS SO GOOD AND SO FAITHFUL!

Throughout this past month of support raising $8000 sure seemed like a lot and with my human eyes seemed impossible to raise in a month and a half. I have to confess that there were several days that the enemy tried to discourage me BUT once again God has shown that “…with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26) and that “If we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2 Tim. 2:13). Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me, prayed for my support and have given so generously and graciously!

I now have about two weeks before I leave for Kenya. Please pray for me over these next two weeks as I prepare to go. I will be spending some time with my family and saying my “see you laters” this coming weekend. May the Lord prepare me for all that HE has for me in the coming months! (can you tell by the picture that I'm excited:):)

23 Days...17 Hours...8 minutes and counting!!!!

2006-07-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

That's how many more days til i get on a plane headed for Mombasa!! YEAH! I'm praising the Lord that this week He has continued to provide for my financial support for going to Kenya! And now I have about 3/4 of the money needed for me to spend 4 months in Kenya.....enough that i have been able to go ahead and buy my plane ticket!!! God is so good! So as you can see from the top of my blog...the countdown has begun. I am scheduled to fly out of Raleigh Durham on July 25th. Thats less than a month away now. WOW!! I am so excited! Now that i have a date set and a ticket reserved it really feels like i'm going. I'm going to be working a lot with Newborn Homecare in the next few weeks and at the same time packing and saying "see you later" (i don't say GOODBYES!!) to family and friends for the next 4 months. Please be in prayer with me as i prepare to go. Pray that the Lord will provide the remaining financial support i need to go. Please pray for my walk and my time with the Lord, that HE would prepare me for ALL HE has for me there in Mombasa!! May HE lead, guide, and give me wisdom as i seek to be obedient and glorify HIM in all i do! Pray that i will trust HIM with all my heart, being a DOER and not just a hearer, never doubting HIM, and allowing Him to use me in whatever way HE chooses, rejoicing and praising HIM ALWAYS! Pray for the team as we prepare to come together...may we be unified as we seek to teach and serve those at Mombasa Polytechnic and everyone we come in contact with. Praise God and pray for the college girls in Mombasa who came to know the Lord this week. Looking forward to meeting them and walking with them as they seek to grow in their knowledge and walk with the Lord.

Prayer/Support Update

2006-06-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Philippians 4:19-20

Here's an update on how things are going as I prepare to go to Kenya. It’s been a little over a month since I sent out my prayer/support letters and I have received a little over half of the $8000 that I need to be able to serve a 4 month STINT in Kenya. I am very excited and I praise the Lord for how graciously and quickly He has provided thus far!! I would really like to be able to leave by the last week of July and I’m trusting Him to provide the remaining $3620 in the next few weeks. Please continue to join me in praying that the Lord would provide this remaining support and that He would continue to prepare me to serve Him in Mombasa. A huge THANK YOU goes to everyone who have already sent financial gifts towards my support goal and who have committed to pray for me and for the ministry in Kenya. God has been doing great things through Dennis and the Serve Ministry team so far this summer and I’m eagerly waiting to join them!! Check out the Serve Kenya link to see updates from Dennis and the team members already there. Dennis, Drew and Bret as well as Brenda and Diane are there now. (first two pictures). Jill, Patrick, Myself, Kristin and Abby will be joining them later in the coming months) Here's pictures of some of them!

A Weekend at the Beach

2006-06-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far! Its been a hot one here in Raleigh..but its good preparation for the weather to come in Mombasa...HOT HOT HOT!! This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend a few days at Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, NC. It was a beautiful weekend to be at the beach! I went with a sweet Kenyan family i know from church and from Southeastern. I had a blast with Liz and her children Brian, Michelle, and Paul as well as their friend Holly visiting from Seattle. Unfortunately the dad, Caxton wasn't able to join us. We had so much fun jumping waves, swimming in the ocean, building sand castles, and burying each other in the sand. I was hoping to get a little tan before braving the hot sun in Kenya, but unfortunately all this white girl got was a sunburn! Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Dreaming of Mombasa....

2006-06-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Well tonight i was just looking through some of my pictures from my two years in Kenya. Its so hard to believe its been almost a year since i've been home. Time sure does fly. And now its hard to believe that i'm going back so soon. I'm getting really excited and looking through all of my pictures is making me even more excited. i found a couple pictures of the city of Mombasa I thought I'd go ahead and share. One is a picture of the big famous TUSKS that bridge across the street. Another is a picture of the city taken from a boat in the water. And the other is a picture of the Ferry boat you have to ride to get from the South side of the island to land.

Support Raising Has Begun

2006-06-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!! The support raising process and journey to get to Kenya has begun! And I'm praising the Lord because its been only a week since I sent out my support letters and already i've graciously recieved $130 towards the $8,000 i need to be able to go to Kenya. Thank you to those who have already given and to those who have committed to pray for me. Thank you for your partnership in spreading the gospel and discipling believers in Kenya!! I'm excited to see how the Lord continues to provide over the weeks to come and how HE is going to work out all the remaining details. I've finally moved out of my apartment and have settled in with the Asta family. I've loved it here so far. They are so gracious to allow me to stay with them during this transitioning process. I am also praising the Lord for the work HE's provided in these last weeks with Newborn Homecare. These past weeks have been such a blessing and such a reminder that the Lord is our provider and takes care of all of our needs! I've been getting really excited about returning to Kenya and looking forward to all the Lord is going to do!! Here's a few pictures of my time before. One is a beautiful East African sunrise over the Indian Ocean, something i miss so much! The other is of me and little Mwanarusi from the village. I bet she's grown so much in this last year. I look forward to going back to visit. Also please check out the links to my other photos!

In Loving Memory of Mary Louise Stokes

2006-05-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the many people who have been praying for me and my family this past week. Last Sunday the 29th of May my family had to make the difficult decision to put my grandmother in Hospice care. She had a stroke several weeks ago, went home hoping to recover, but then took a turn for the worse and went into a coma over a week ago. She had a blood infection not responsive to antibiotics and went into complete kidney failure. This past week has been a difficult one as my family and i have sat by her bedside watching her slowly pass away. Memaw hung on for much longer than anyone expected. And then last night May 28th at 9:30pm my Memaw, Mary Louise Stokes passed away. My dad, stepmother and I were at her bedside as she took her last breathe. I was blessed to have the opportunity to sit at my Memaw's bedside many nights this past week holding her hand and reading to her from the Psalms. Though she was unresponsive I think my grandmother could hear me and knew i was there. It was a very special time. As my family has grieved i have been able to share with them that we as a family can grieve but we can grieve with HOPE! About 6 or 7 years ago i remember sitting in Memaw's living room talking to her about sin, about life, death, and the grace of God. I shared with her how she could be forgiven of sin and have eternal life through Jesus Christ. At that time Memaw prayed to receive Christ as her Savior. It is because of that that we as a family can greive with HOPE. Though Memaw is now absent from the body she is now present with the Lord, and because of that we can find Joy in the midst of grief and pain. The viewing is Tuesday night and the funeral will follow on Wednesday at 1pm at Forest Lawn Cemetary on Freedom Dr. in Charlotte, NC. She will be buried beside my Papaw Stokes who passed away 13 years ago.
Thank you to all of my friends and church family who have called, prayed for my family, and who have helped me in many ways this past week. God is so good! A special thanks to Rusty, Jonathan, and Caxton who moved my furniture from my old apartment this past weekend so i could be in Charlotte with my family.

I should be returning to Raleigh by the end of the week and for the next two or three months before i go to Kenya i will be living with Thom and Cindy Asta in downtown Raleigh. When i return i will begin sending out letters for support raising. Will keep you updated.
Thanks for your prayers!!!

Thanks for the Encouragement....

2006-05-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

WOW...My heart is so encouraged right now!!!! I began sending out emails to everyone yesterday announcing my plans to return to Kenya and have received over 32 responses from people with such encouraging words. I can't tell you how much this makes me smile. God is so good and i'm so thankful for all the people HE has so graciously put in my life over these 28 years! With each email come special memories and stories of the past and serve as reminders of God's faithfulness in my life.
I'm still waiting for the final approval from Serve International and then i will begin the support raising process. Two months doesn't seem like a long time to raise support for leaving by the end of July but i'm trusting in God's Word which says, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."1 Thess 5:24. His timing is perfect! I'm excited to see how He provides! (the picture is of some of the college girls in Mombasa)
I will be moving out of my apartment next weekend either the afternoon of 26th or morning of 27th (whichever day i can find the most help) and moving in with a very sweet family, the Asta's, from Open Door Baptist Church. They have so graciously and generously offered to allow me to stay with them until i go to Kenya. They are the family that Dennis stayed with when he was here in December. So as i am busy packing and taking care of lots of logistical things please keep me in your prayers. Also please keep my grandmother and family in your prayers as well. Memaw had a small stroke recently and has been in and out of the hospital. She just celebrated her 83rd Birthday April 1st.
Love you all!

Kenya...Here I Come Again...

2006-05-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

It is with great joy and much excitement that I announce my plans to go back to East Africa for a few months this year.The last ten months since I returned from Africa have been a whirlwind of transition. There have been both mountains and valleys, but through it all God has been molding me, growing me, refining me, and teaching me so many things about Himself.

In December, I completed my seminary education and graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree. Then I started a new job at UNC Hospital, moved into a new apartment, and joined an incredible inner city church in downtown Raleigh. Through all of this, God has really been doing a work in my heart and reviving my desire to serve Him in International Missions. My heart is still heavily burdened for the peoples of Kenya. And now I have the opportunity to return there once again.

God is already working out all the logistics for me to return, and if all goes as planned and financial support comes in, I hope to return by the end of July to spend four months on the coast of Kenya working with an organization called Serve International. Many of you also know about Dennis, a dear friend I met during my last few months in Kenya. I will be joining Dennis and some others on the SERVE Kenya team. I will have several responsibilities, but primarily I will be living and working in the city of Mombasa, building relationships and discipling college girls at Mombasa Polytechnic.

This will be a very different experience than my first two years overseas, and I am very excited to see what God has planned! As I prepare to go, once again I’m going to need the support and prayers of everyone! If you would like to be updated about these specific plans and how you can better support, pray for and partner with me as I go, please email me (allirn4him@pobox.com) your MAILING address as soon as possible.

Thank you for your prayers! Please pray for:

the flow of paperwork and all the logisitics needed to begin this journey
the financial support raising that will begin soon
the spiritual preparation - for myself, for Dennis, and the other team members