The Gentle Whisper

Children run up to greet us when we arrive.

Anyone who has come out to visit us has gotten to meet our friends and partners, Grace and Amos. Jason and I first met them when we came on a short term mission trip to Kenya, after our fresh year of college. I remember being in awe of them and aspiring to be like them some day. We listened to their story of God first calling Grace to Gtown when she was a single lady. She had a specific desire for a people group that lives in a village in the outskirts of town. Amos came as a contractor to build a nursery school in this village and he was a single man at the time. They fell in love, got married and have remained faithful to God's calling for two decades and counting. 

The Lord has now entrusted them with two schools in two separate locations. They continously display the Hope of Jesus while also offering quality education to the community. There are many obstacles they face daily but their commitment has never wavered. They have always welcomed Bethany interns to come and learn how ministry here looks like. They have also always opened their doors for me to come with my daughters whenever our schedule allows.When my girls were very young I had uniforms made for them to wear when we would go to their school. 

We have gotten to tell many Old Testament Bible stories throughout the years to the children that attend this school.  I have a flannel graph that captures the attention of the little ones. Last week our family got to tell the story of the prophet Elijah. We picked the Passage in 1Kings 19:9-17. Its when Elijah is fearing for his life and believes he is the only one left who does not bow down to false gods. God has Elijah go stand on a mountain to await for Himself to pass by. Elijah encounters a powerful wind, an earthquake and fire. God was not in any of those mighty forces but instead chose to come in a gentle whisper. As we showed the different characters on the flannel graph the small students ohhed and ahhed and exclaimed- "look the people are Muslims!" For the characters had their heads covered and were wearing gowns as clothes. I never even thought that they could be able to relate this way. After we finished teaching we would ask where was God- and they answered in Swahili "Up above." Grace helped me to understand that this concept we were trying to get across was so foreign to the children. As they pray each day it is not a conversation with the Lord but a recitation that is mesmerized. I was wanting to ask "Where was God?" And hoping to get the reply "In the gentle whisper." But this was not a straight forward answer to my audience. Grace explained I should be asking "What are ways we can hear God speak to us." 

After all these years living here I am still learning more and more. I rejoice that the Lord has provided us with friends that we can glean from as well as share the load. Elijah had felt so alone until God revealed to him that "I reserve 7,000 in Israel- all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him. " Could some of these children one day hear God inviting them to come unto Him? Absolutely. It might be through a remarkable circumstance that they cannot deny the Lords hand at work. But He could also speak through that gentle whisper.

Such a joy to minister as a family. 

Attentive audience.

The interns helped out when we did a craft to go with the story. They are such a blessing.

My friend Grace displaying her beautiful smile.

Precious little ones.

Jason translating for me.

I am explaining the craft.

Lots of flaps to tape on.

Samara helping out.

Charis and Samara.