A Spiritual Retreat

I have spent the last 4 days in a village called Tigoni at the Brackenhurst Baptist Retreat Center. SIM was having its annual Spiritual Life Conference for all missionaries. The area is absolutely beautiful and the weather is, somewhat, chilly. It was such a great time for me. I was able to build some relationships with other short-term missionaries and meet some of those individuals who have served for 30 years here in Africa. The speaker we had was an African man who is known here in Kenya due to his work with a Bible college. His weekend lesson dealt with grace and all the times in our lives that grace is poured out upon us. The food was very “Western” and there were hot SHOWERS!! It was a good time. I also had the opportunity to learn more about other ministries and find out what other short termers are doing at their orphanages. I returned to Bethesda with tons of ideas and a new desire to get started in the work. I can tell there will be challenges with what I am to do. I am here to love on the children and offer them some opportunities they may not normally have. However, another part of my work is working with Mama Phillip on the accounting books and records. There is much to be done on the computer which will require some computer lessons so that the work can be continued when I leave. Also, small changes in the day to day routine will really help improve the situation at Bethesda, so I am to help with that as well. The problem is, no one likes change! So, slowly and patiently I’ll set about accomplishing the task before me. On a personal ministry level, I really hope to be able to do some discipling with the older girls. Maybe, take them each aside and get them to open up about their lives and their hearts. I can only pray that the Lord will provide this opportunity.
On a fun note, I got kissed by a giraffe!! On Thursday morning the Flemings took me and one of their friends to a giraffe park before we headed to the SLC. We were able to pet the giraffe and feed it and then you can place one of the food pellets between your teeth and the giraffe will lick it off. So…down side is your face gets covered in giraffe slobber but it makes for a really neat experience! Oh, I almost forgot, I saw wild zebras, warthogs, and monkeys on the side of the road on Wednesday while we were traveling!!! Africa is so AMAZING!!!