best of 2013

A photo summary of our year

January in Texas

Nate loved his firetruck birthday cake

February - first day of school

March was hot. It's usually the hottest month of the year on the coast of Kenya.
They were either looking at the moon or watching an airplane.

Easter
They love millipedes. The one they are watching here is actually rather small.

April, at our new house, before it was ready for us to move in

May, we moved to Kilifi. This dining set was Rodgers' birthday gift. He fell in love with the wood.

Mother's Day - they both miraculously ate everything that was served. It was the start of a new trend! 

a trip to Haller Park in June

July - our first outing without diapers

At the beach in Kilifi

August - watching the waves in Malindi

Ben cuddling Grandma after getting in trouble

September - Ben considers his birthday cake

Kilifi beach again. Nate and Ben would wait until the waves came in, then make a run for it. They are a little afraid of the water.

At Grandma's house in October

Nate dips chicken in soup. He was such a picky eater in 2012, he has really amazed me this year by eating so many different things.

Also at Grandma's house

November - putting up the Christmas tree

Trying out the top bunk in our room at a guest house during our trip to the Great Rift Valley. I told them they have to be 6 years old to sleep up there, though.

In December, we had a big party for our MKKs. Of the 30 MKKs we now sponsor, 22 were able to come to the party.

Rodgers' mom had a big party to publicly thank God for healing her of a major illness a few years ago. Here she is surrounded by her kids and grandkids.

We moved again, just a few houses up the street, to a place with a house for us and a duplex we can use as Maisha Kamili Transition Homes (a few details about that here).

Our housekeeper left us to get married. We decided to get a washing machine for my birthday/Christmas gift instead of hiring a new housekeeper.

As always, we end the year celebrating Emmanuel, God with us.
Here's our play Nativity before the boys tore it up by playing with it so much.

Merry Christmas!

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 24

www.maishakamili.org

MKKs to come

Bahati is one of many who are under assessment. We have received some information from the school for about 10 kids, including Bahati, but not yet enough information to determine if these are kids we can sponsor, and if yes, how much sponsorship they will need. After writing this Advent guide, we added Martin and Michael Marifa and Benta These 3 have all been sponsored. Additionally, we have 2 MKKs in high school who still need sponsors (Mercyline and Chrispus).

Pray 

For paperwork to be completed for our high schoolers in a timely manner, for wise decisions to be made regarding Chrispus, that the Marifas would be encouraged by their sponsorship, and for Mrs. Marifa's health.

Read 

Titus 3:4-7 
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 23

www.maishakamili.org

Anthony is a total orphan. He lives with one of his cousins. He will be starting Standard 8 in January, the last year of primary school.

Pray 

For Anthony to be diligent and to persevere.

Read 

Titus 2:11-14 
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 22

www.maishakamili.org

Gift is a total orphan. He lives with his aunt, a subsistence farmer. They get some financial support from the family, but not enough to keep him in school. He is getting ready to start Standard 7 in January.

Pray 

For Gift and his family to have all they need.

Read 

Colossians 1:15-16 
15 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 21

www.maishakamili.org

Karisa is a total orphan. He is starting Standard 6 in January. He lives with his aunt, and they are supported by his cousin. Bearing so much financial responsibility for the family, the cousin could not keep up with Karisa’s school fees.

Pray 

For Karisa to continue strong in his studies and to be well cared for by his family.

Read 

Hebrews 1:1-3 
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 20

www.maishakamili.org

Tumaini is a total orphan, taken care of by her older brother. She is starting Standard 2 in January. He is working hard to support them, but needed help with her school fees.

Pray 

For Tumaini and her brother as they build their lives, for steady work and emotional healing.

Read 

2 Corinthians 8:9 
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 19

www.maishakamili.org

Baraka is a total orphan. His care provider is a cousin. He has just finished Standard 8 and will be entering high school in January if he has done well enough on his KCPE exam.

Pray 

That Baraka can get into Mombasa Baptist High School and that he will thrive in the Christian boarding school environment.

Read 

Romans 5:6-11 
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 18

www.maishakamili.org

Amani will start Standard 6 at Basi Primary School in January. He is a total orphan who lives with his grandmother. Like other women in her generation, Amani’s grandmother is a subsistence farmer.

Pray 

For Amani as he works hard at school and for his grandmother as she works hard at home.

Read 

1 Corinthians 15:1-7 
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 17

www.maishakamili.org

Ronica is another whose widowed mother is a subsistence farmer. When we met Ronica, her mother had been making a little money any way she could in order to keep Ronica in school. She had paid about half of the school fees for this year, but had not been able to get Ronica a uniform or school supplies. If Ronica has done well enough in school this year, we will be transferring her to Mombasa Baptist High School in January. She will be in Form 2.

Pray 

For Ronica as she makes the transition to boarding school and for her mother who is still working hard to provide for the family.

Read 

John 15:5-8 
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 16

www.maishakamili.org

We met Evans through Basi Primary School, but he’s already in high school. He will start his final year of high school in January. His widowed, subsistence farming mother is his caregiver, but it was his older sister who sought help with paying his school fees.

Pray 

For Evans as he prepares to take his all-important KCSE exam next year. Pray that he studies hard and tests well in order to open up opportunities for himself in the future.

Read 

John 14:6 
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 15

www.maishakamili.org

Pauline goes to Revival Baptist Church with her aunt and has just finished high school at a school only a few blocks from our old house. We don’t know what her plans are for the future. We are hoping that she will follow Jesus with her life decisions.

Pray 

That Pauline has a firm foundation in Christ and will seek God for direction in her life, post-high school.

Read

John 11:25 
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 14

www.maishakamili.org

Kenneth started high school when Maisha Kamili started sponsoring him. His uncle had done a lot for him already, but high school was just too expensive. He will be starting Form 2 in January, and if his grades are good enough, we will transfer him to Mombasa Baptist High School.

Pray 

For Kenneth as he makes the transition to boarding school, and pray that Mombasa Baptist will be a good environment in which he can learn and grow.

Read 

John 10:11-15 
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 13

www.maishakamili.org

These are four of the Safari kids who live with their mother. (The fifth is Gloria, who is not yet in school.) Karembo is going into Standard 4, Lucky Standard 2, Ngao Standard 1, and Delia KG3. They live within walking distance of the school and their grandmother (whom we call Grandma Chome) and cousins (Japhet and his brothers).

Pray 

For these kids to know the love of Christ. Pray also for their mother, Alice, as she works hard to provide for them.

Read 

John 10:7-10 
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.