Thursday at Missions of Hope boarding High School

I was privileged to be able to visit the boarding high school of CMF partner Missions of Hope. Janice Lemke and I traveled 2 hours on horrible roads to the rural area. We had to wait to go there all morning because it had rained and the roads were impassible. I was very impressed with the school. They were building more permanent buildings, but were already teaching the students (most from Methare) in temporary tin buildings. Janice went there to teach a class in creative writing. Janice is an amazing writer. These are the photos I took:

rural landscape (east of Nairobi)

totally dirt roads for an hour after leaving the highway

new buildings under construction

teachers' residence

preparing dinner

Janice teaching over 100 students

football (soccer) field

class rooms

Auditorium where Janice was teaching

new dormitory being used now

faces of next generation

teachers of students in Janice's class

We thought we were going to be able to see the vegetable garden they were using to help feed the students, but rain was coming and John, or driver, said if it rained we would have to stay because the roads would not be passable. Please pray for Missions of Hope, the teachers, and the students. These students are so important for the future of Methare. Pray that God will use them to share Christ with their families and neighbors.

I left Kenya on Friday. The Lemkes and I shared the flight to Paris. I left the Mennonite Guest House at 1:45 p.m. and met the Lemkes at Missions of Hope. We left Missions of Hope at 2:30 and went to a Mall fairly close to the airport to kill time because the traffic on the road close to the airport is so bad on Friday evening. We ate at the Mall and then headed for the airport. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get there because of some traffic problem. John said it was very unusual for it to be that bad on that road. We arrived at the airport at 7:30. When we checked in we were told that our flight was delayed until 3 a.m. because Paris was too foggy. John had already left, so we had to stay in the airport until then. One thing I learned–Nairobi Airport is very uncomfortable! We did leave at 3 and arrived in time for my flight to Mexico City (which was delayed an hour), but Cory and Janice missed their flight to Seattle. At first they thought they would have to stay until Monday (it is now Saturday), but PTL they were able to get a flight to New York and then on to Seattle. I was so thankful that God arranged companions for that difficult part of my trip. It was great to get to know Janice and Cory better. They are very special people. Please pray for their ministry in Coaching Ministries International (CMI) where they coach missionaries and national church planters around the world. They also represent CMF in US churches on the West Coast. They were missionaries in the Ukraine for a number of years.

I arrived home in Pachuca about 11 p.m. Nov 19, safe and sound but, boy was I tired! I am enjoying being in my own bed and have finally recovered from jet lag. I was still jetlagging on Thanksgiving, which I was blessed to spend with the deLeons and the Carpenters, who had just arrived from their week in the UK. Good food and good fellowship (even though 3 of us were jetlagging). I went back home that evening. I hope you all had a wonderful Dia de Gracias (Day of Thanking). I was thanking God for you and for your partnership in our ministry in Mexico. You are such a blessing!