Returning to- "Life Abroad".

One more trip to the Mall of America before returning to G town

Dan and Nancy Germo hosted a meal at their home and there, we got to reconnect with Abdi and Laura and family when they came for a visit to Minnesota. We ended the night praying for each other. 

It is hard for me to believe that less than a month ago we were in Minnesota. Our last weeks in the States were full. We were able to tour two different colleges with Nevaeh (Crown and Bethel). We got to spend time with former interns, gave an update at Jordan Family Church and went to Walmart 3 times to buy things to pack up 12 totes and 3 bags. We boarded the plane and had a layover in Paris then boarded another flight and landed in Kenya on September 6th finding all the totes and luggages at baggage claim waiting for us.

We spent two nights in Nairobi then made the 6 hour drive to Gtown. I felt very comforted knowing there was a team already on the ground waiting for us to return. At the same time there have been many tears shed as we returned without Righteous. The Witt girls have shared a room for their entire lives and they can feel Righteous' absence looking at her empty bed and nightstand. Nevaeh has stepped up and taken over Righteous chores of putting away dinner each night and feeding the dogs. We feel the loss but also know God is strengthening us and building our faith. 

The first day that Jason returned to the farm he discovered the major problem. The river was too low to be able to pump water. The crops had not gotten water for a week and he knew if this problem wasn't solved everything could die. Water is such a necessary part of everyday life for everyone and the same can be said for a farm. This makes me think of Jesus' discussion with the Samaritan woman in John 4. The Samaritan woman was gathering water from the well in the heat of the day. Jesus asked her to give him a drink and she was offended because He was a Jew and their two nationalities didn't associate with each other. 

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." John 4:10. Ultimately that is the very reason we are here, to tell people about the gift of life Jesus has to offer and how relevant that He chose to explain this to the Samaritan woman using water as an analogy. Water truly is such a precious commodity.  Amos and Jason were able to have an old pump brought out to a far off part of the river to pump water closer to the the current farm water pump. This has temporarily saved the day and hopefully will continue to work until rainy season comes next month.

I praise God for getting to start another school year. Nevaeh is in 12th grade, Charis in 10th grade, and Samara in 8th grade. We not only have gotten back into the rythym of our normal routines we have also gotten to attend a cooking class organized by our friends in town. We were able to go shopping in the open air market and eat custard with an Arab friend(she invited us over to her home). As we return to those we have come to love deeply we pray that they will have an encounter with Jesus just as the woman at the well had. May they hear His voice say, "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

We landed in Kenya and all the totes and luggage made it.

 

I am tired but ecstatic to be on solid ground. I really hate flying. 

Jason sent me a video he took of the river and I took screenshots of it, here you can see how the river is extremely low.

An old pump was brought to pump water from the river.

Was able to get water to pump from the current farm water pump

Current farm water pump.

Have already been able to attend Cooking class.

Fried up minced chicken and cooked it in a tortilla with an egg added inside. 

So grateful there is a team on ground we returned too.

It's been a blessing to stay connected with Righteous through FaceTime calls and messages. We have been able to start a new devotional book together called The Next Step by Sadie Robertson Huff. So thankful for modern technology.