Every Day is Father’s Day Around Here

This is a more personal post than most of what we write here; I hope you don’t mind. You see, I’ve been sorting through our “May” photos of this year, and I came across one I’d really like to share. This is one of my favorite pictures of Ryan:

Every year at Tulip Time here in Pella, Ryan gamely puts on his Dutch costume, and takes our children street scrubbing. I like this picture, even though it’s a bit out of focus, and the lighting is weird, and Ryan’s not even looking up – I like it because it almost looks like he’s about to soak the girls’ feet. I like to think of it as washing their feet. I love this picture because it shows Ryan doing what he does best: serving. This is just a small example, but a good one: it might be really hot at Tulip Time, or really cold, and always kind of tiring, but he’ll take them anyway. Tulip Time and all the time, he’s been putting his kids first for well over 14 years, and he never complains. He actually finds quite a bit of joy in doing so.

I was thinking of sharing this picture yesterday, which was Father’s Day (here in North America at least). But I saved it for today, for a couple of reasons. One is that over the past several years, specified “days” like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day have become very poignant for our family. Oh, we celebrate on them, and we rejoice in every one of the children that have made us a father and a mother, yet we mourn on them, too, for the children that wait for us in heaven are no less loved than the ones here with us now. Sometimes, the sorrow makes days of joy all the sweeter. Sometimes it makes us have to look hard for the light. We feel very keenly, on these days especially, that as believers in Jesus, and in His promise to wipe away every tear, we live in the already-but-not-yet of this earth. Oh, hold our tiny precious babies close, Heavenly Father, and hold us close too. It makes us feel like heaven is not so far away for a minute, when we picture all 11 of us being held in His hands.

Another thing I wanted to share, sort of in honor of Father’s Day, is this beautiful piece, full of truth and pain and love, by Eric Schumacher: Dads Hurt Too. It rings very true for our family, and maybe a father you know would be encouraged or comforted by it too. The grief of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss is not reserved for mothers. As Ryan and I have grieved, together and separately, for our children, we have drawn comfort from the strength of love we see in each other for those children. Burying our tiny son together, and then leaving him in Kenya, is the hardest thing we have ever had to do, and yet we found grace in not having to weep alone. I sure didn’t see that picture in my head when I was 24 and reciting wedding vows that included “mourn when you mourn,” but when it happened to us, how grateful I was, and am more all the time, for a husband that lives those vows out, even in fatherhood.

Back at Bridgeworld

It has been wonderful to be back at Bridgeworld College this week. It has been a very full week, teaching Preaching Apocalyptic Passages: Studies in the Books of Daniel and Revelation every day from 9.00am to 3.30pm. The class has been very well attended.

Being introduced by Bridgeworld’s Provost, Rev. Canon Dr. James Mwaura

I was pleased to present 45 students and several members of Bridgeworld’s support staff with Africa Study Bibles this afternoon. The highlight, however, was presenting an Africa Study Bible to Bridgeworld’s own Professor Lois Semenye, a contributor to the Africa Study Bible. (Click on any picture below to open slideshow.)

Wario

Joseph

Geoffery

Anthony

Nelly

Seta

Zechariah

James

Florence

Hannah and Pauline, Bridgeworld staff

Rev. Philip, Vera, and Nixon, Bridgeworld staff

Prof. Lois Semenye

All that’s left now is grading all of the exams, submitting my grades to the registrar, and packing for my return trip on Saturday night. A very big Asante Sana! (thank you) to all those who partnered with me on this trip, and especially to those who purchased an Africa Study Bible for a brother or sister here in Kenya. Words cannot express how excited and appreciative students have been to receive a copy of the Africa Study Bible.

Marafiki (Friends)

Last Friday morning I traveled across Nairobi to Bridgeworld College in Karen. As most of my time last week was spent indoors or inside compounds at Deliverance Church and the Wang’ombes’ home, I was eager to get out and explore Karen on Friday afternoon. So, after greeting the staff at Bridgeworld, taking tea with Dr. and Mrs. Lee (principal of Bridgeworld), and getting settled in my guest room on campus, I borrowed the office car and visited our old neighborhood and the places we often shopped. There was one friend, John, our gardener, that I was delighted to meet on the street. There were some others, herds of Maasai cattle that can create traffic jams, that I was not as delighted to meet again.

I was grateful to spend time on Saturday morning at the prayer garden where Findley is buried. I was glad to see that the rose bushes we planted, though not in bloom, survived the drought, and I was again deeply grateful for the counseling center’s kindness to our family and for their care of Findley’s grave.

Saturday afternoon I reconnected with Phil & EJ Blohm, dear friends of ours in Nairobi. We enjoyed a late lunch together before attending a Hillsong concert that evening.

Sunday morning I worshiped and preached at St. Matthew’s ACK, our home-away-from-home church in Karen. It was wonderful to see so many friends. (Click on any picture to open slideshow)

Rev. Grace, attached clergy, and Rev. Komu, vicar of St. Matthew’s

Rev. Damarus, retired clergy, and Martha, a Sunday school teacher and lay preacher at St. Matthew’s

Rachel a Sunday school friend of Bronwyn’s and her family

Joshua was always special to us; our first Sunday at St. Matthew’s he invited the children to Sunday school

Because the service included both a baptism and the Lord’s Supper, it was a bit longer (2 1/2 hours) than usual (2 hours).

I was delighted to see the school that the church is building. (Click here for an earlier post about and pictures from the construction.) The first two classrooms are now complete. Because they will begin using them tomorrow, the congregation had a special time of prayer in them after this morning’s worship service. While we thank God for these classrooms, we know that there is still much work to be done. The church hopes to complete two more ground floor classrooms yet this calendar year and four first-floor (aka second-floor in North America) classrooms next year.  They are also praying that by the end of next year, when all eight classrooms are complete, they will be able to purchase a bus for the school.

Finally, on Sunday evening I enjoyed tea and dinner with Guy & Susan Rainsford, our across-the-street neighbors in Karen. Our girls especially enjoyed their time with the Rainsford’s daughters Josie and Rehemma during our time in Kenya last year.

Selfie with Josie

Josie and Rehemma

Dinner with Guy

Tomorrow my one-week intensive course, Preaching Apocalyptic Passages: Studies in Daniel and Revelation, begins at Bridgeworld College. Classes will be held Monday through Friday from 9.00am-3.30pm. Please pray for stamina and endurance.

School of Preaching 2017

Today is the final day of at the School of Preaching 2017. It has been a full but truly delightful week. Sessions have been held each morning, Monday to Thursday, from 8.30am-12.30pm. Along with daily lectures on the book of Daniel, I taught sessions on expository preaching, preaching Christ from the Old Testament, and sermon design and delivery.

35-40 people attended the sessions each morning, and all who attended morning sessions received an Africa Study Bible from a brother or sister in North America. Asante sana!

Fiona

Wambua

Peter

Joan was especially delighted to receive her Bible from a Joan!

The School of Preaching also includes evening sessions from 6.30-8.30pm. During these sessions, I preached a sermon (45-60 minutes!) on a passage in Daniel, demonstrating what was taught in the morning sessions. Over 130 people have attended these sessions each evening, including a former student from Bridgeworld College and his bishop.

Former Bridgeworld College student Philip Masiolo and Bishop Florence

Peterson and Ann Wang’ombe and their family have been wonderful hosts during my time in Kahawa Sukari. Peterson is the pastor of Deliverance Church, where the School of Preaching is held. I look forward to returning the hospitality, and possibly the birthday party – I was with the Wang’ombes for Ann’s birthday; Peterson will be in Pella over Graeme’s birthday – in a few short weeks when Peterson comes to Pella.

Moses enjoying a taste of Pella.

Tomorrow morning I travel across Nairobi to Bridgeworld College in Karen, where I’ll be teaching a one-week intensive course, Preaching Apocalyptic Passages: Studies in Daniel and Revelation, from September 11-15. Being in Karen over the weekend will give me the opportunity to spend time at Findley’s grave, with the Blohms, dear friends of our family who live in Nairobi, and to preach and worship at St. Matthew’s ACK (our home-away-from-home church; see the second half of this post).

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Eph. 6:19)

 

Karibu Kenya!

I received a wonderfully warm Karibu (Welcome to) Kenya last Friday evening. After 20+ hours of travel, I was grateful to meet Lee, a staff person from Deliverance Church – Kahawa Sukari, at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. I was also warmly welcomed by Pastor Peterson & Anne Wang’ombe when we arrived at their house, where I will be staying this week. Though it was late – nearly midnight when I arrived at their home – they had a delicious dinner prepared.

The biggest news story in Kenya on Friday was the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the country’s recent presidential election. I first saw the news while waiting in line to clear immigration and customs at Kenyatta Airport. Citing irregularities in the reporting process, the Supreme Court declared the recent presidential election null and void and ordered that a new election be held in two months. That a court would declare an election null and void is a first, not only for Kenya, but also for Africa. Given the violence that followed the 2007 presidential election, people are anxiously watching and waiting to see what happens. So far things have been calm. Things appeared quite normal when Peterson and I drove through downtown Nairobi on Saturday afternoon to pick up Africa Study Bibles for the participants at this week’s School of Preaching.

Inventory at bookstore – praying that many more of this invaluable resource will get into the hands of African pastors and church leaders soon.

First six of thirteen boxes.

Unpacked, ready to label and pack for the School of Preaching (4-7 September)

This morning I preached at the English and Kiswahili (with a translator!) services at Deliverance Church – Kahawa Sukari. The church is currently decorated with the red, white, green and black colors of the Kenyan flag. Pastor Peterson explained that especially during election seasons people are easily divided along tribal lines. Politicians are known to exploit these divisions. The church includes strong supporters of both presidential candidates and members of many tribes. The national colors are meant to encourage people to identify themselves as Kenyan before they identify themselves with their particular tribe. Especially after the violence of 2007, people are anxious to promote national unity and peace.

Pastor Peterson leading prayer.

What a privilege to celebrate communion with African brothers and sisters.

The English service also featured two Egyptian missionaries who are visiting Kenya. They both currently live in Muslim-majority country in the Persian Gulf region. I was very convicted by their deep appreciation for the freedom of religion in Kenya. Both noted how openly Kenyan Christians talk about their faith, something I rarely experience in the United States. They also spoke about how privileged they were to be involved in street evangelism and crusades in Kenya, something that could not happen in their country of origin or their current countries of residence. Such things could surely happen in the United States. Why don’t they? There is so much we can learn from our Kenyan brothers and sisters!

I will be at Deliverance Church this week Monday through Thursday for the School of Preaching. Sessions will be held each morning (8.30am-12.30pm) and each evening (6.30pm-8.30pm) from Monday through Thursday. The topic is: “Dictators and Dreams: Studies in the Book of Daniel.”

Asante Sana!

Just a quick note to say a big Asante Sana! (Thank you very much!) to everyone who contributed to my upcoming trip to Kenya or who contributed to provide an Africa Study Bible for a student at Bridgeworld College. I am thrilled to report that I’ve met my fundraising goal with Resonate Global Mission (formerly CRWM), and that I’ve received commitments to purchase approximately 100 Bibles (more than twice my goal!) for students at Bridgeworld College.

It’s hard to believe that in less than a week I’ll be boarding a plane for Nairobi (or, actually, for Chicago, then London, then Nairobi – it’s a long travel day!). I greatly appreciate your prayers as I finish preparing the two courses that I’ll be teaching, as I travel to Kenya, and as our family is apart for slightly more than two weeks. I’ve never been away from Jody and our children for such a long period of time before, and I’m sure I’ll experience some home-sickness and loneliness, even as I enjoy reconnecting with friends in Nairobi.

Our family visited Deliverance Church in October 2016.

And enjoyed lunch with Peterson, his wife Anne, and church staff afterwards

Speaking of friends in Nairobi, I’m delighted to announce that Rev. Dr. Waihura (Peterson) Wang’ombe, the pastor of Deliverance Church-Kahawa Sukari, where I’ll be preaching on September 3 and teaching from September 4-7, will be in Pella in early October. Peterson is enrolled in the distance M.Div. program at Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids. He’ll be coming to the States for a class in October and visiting Pella between October 1 and 8. Come hear him preach at Faith Church on October 8 at 9.30am!

Along with his work at Deliverance Church, Peterson is working with Resonate Global Mission (formerly CRWM) in Eastern and Southern Africa to establish the Nairobi Transformational Network. If you’re in Southcentral Iowa and would like to meet Peterson to learn more about his work and how you can support him, please “drop me a note” through this blog. (Click on the images below to see Waihura’s brochure.)

 

 

Not Chained…

“But God’s Word is not chained.” (II Timothy 2:9)

Since learning about it last fall via an article published on Christianity Today, Jody and I have eagerly followed the development of and eventual launches of the Africa Study Bible. We were delighted to attend the North American launch celebration at Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, Illinois) in early April, where we spent two days learning from and worshiping with some of the African scholars who contributed to the study Bible.

 

Selfie with John Jusu, Supervisory Editor of the Africa Study Bible, professor at African International University in Karen, Nairobi, Kenya, and friend of Bridgeworld College

Rafiki (my friend) Emmanuel Mukeshimana, a Rwandan currently doing PhD studies in Uganda, showing me his contribution to the study Bible. Jody and I enjoyed using our kidogo (little bit) of Swahili in conversation with Emmanuel.

Two story lines converged in the development of the Africa Study Bible. First, convinced that the New Living Translation (NLT) is the most accessible English translation of Scripture for those for whom English is a second, if not third or fourth, language, as it is for many Africans, Dr. Danny McCain, a professor at the University of Jos (Nigeria) contacted Tyndale House about producing a revision of the NLT specifically for Africa. Second, Oasis International, an important publisher and distributor of Christian books in Africa, wanted to produce a uniquely African study Bible. Tyndale House kindly permitted Oasis to use the NLT for their project and connected Oasis with those who produced the Life Application Study Bible, currently the best-selling study Bible in the world.

It was a perfect match: Oasis International could provide the network of over 300 African pastors and scholars who contributed to the study Bible, while Tyndale House could provide the technical expertise needed to produce a study Bible. Those who helped produced the Life Application Study Bible were thrilled. While the Life Application Study Bible has been translated into 30+ languages and is distributed around the world, that was never its authors’ and editors’ intention. Rather than translate their western-oriented notes, the authors and editors hoped that Christians in other cultural settings would produce their own culturally-relevant and appropriate articles and notes for the NLT, resulting in much more immediately applicable and pertinent to their settings, yet still faithfully orthodox, study Bibles. This is exactly the case for the Africa Study Bible – the world’s first study Bible with notes and articles written by Africans to apply God’s Word to African issues such as polygamy, witchcraft, and ancestor worship.

I was delighted to learn that the Africa Study Bible is being distributed in Nairobi. It would be an extremely practical, helpful, and meaningful thing if I could make a copy available to each student attending the block course I am teaching at Bridgeworld College in September.

Here’s where you come in:

The cost of the ASB is about $25 USD, and I estimate needing 40 copies.  If you would like to personally help encourage and equip pastors and teachers in Kenya, please consider donating a Bible – or even several!  You can send the funds directly to me, (use the “Drop Us a Note link above to request paypal info, or mail a check to me at home – 215 E. 12th St., Pella IA 50219) along with a short note to the student who will receive the Bible. I will ensure that both end up in the hands of someone who can and will use the Bible to further the gospel in Kenya and beyond. This tangible expression of love and hope from Christians around the world will be incredibly meaningful to believers in Africa. Thank you for helping to place God’s Word in the hands of God’s people. It is a gift with eternal value, beyond our comprehension, and full of the power of the Holy Spirit.

“As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Watch This Space!

We have some exciting plans in the works to help get resources to Kenyan pastors and teachers.  Much more information to come, but for now we’ll leave these clues:

(See here for an e-book version of the ESV Global Study Bible.)

And one we are more personally familiar with is described here.

Your Word is a lamp for my feet; a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Things You Don’t Know … Until You Do.

There aren’t any pictures in this post, and it’s not about Kenya at all. It is about learning, and about being made softer by hard things.  It’s about understanding, and asking to be understood. It’s about longing for Jesus to come and make all things known and right.

A couple of days ago, I heard of an organization called Molly Bears. Started by a grieving mother to remember her daughter who died before birth, at 34 weeks of pregnancy, this group of mostly volunteers creates teddy bears personalized for and matching the weight of the babies that families who request the bears have lost. It’s pretty amazing, really. I mean look at these bears.

Now, if I had heard about this a year ago, I am not sure that I would have used the word “amazing” to describe my thoughts about the idea of a personalized, weighted teddy bear to remember a baby who died. I don’t know. I might have thought it a bit odd, creepy even, or somehow just not healthy. But oh … that was so last year. I am learning many things about myself, and about life, as I view it now through the eyes of someone that had to bury their baby boy, and one of the biggest of those is not to assume. Don’t assume I know how I would feel. Don’t assume I know how someone else feels. Don’t assume my way of grieving is the only way. Don’t assume I know the whole story, or even a chapter of it. In this case, with the teddy bears, it hit me when I saw a few family photos that showed parents and sometimes also a child or children – siblings – who are also grieving the loss of a preborn baby, or an infant. These families included their “Molly Bear” in the photo. And I got it. As the tears ran down my face, I got it. All too well.

I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be for us to take family photos until we took one after Findley was gone. I don’t think that it hit me in the same way after our first miscarriage, maybe in part because it had happened earlier in pregnancy, or maybe because we hadn’t told very many people about the pregnancy or the loss at that time, so the baby we were missing seemed like our own secret anyway… For whatever reasons, this time – maybe in part because we had held Findley; we had seen his tiny face, and stroked his tiny hands – we could not shake the horrible realization that our family photos will never be complete again, this side of heaven. Birthdays, holidays, other family events and reunions – all these feel like over and over again making it official that our family is not “all together.” It’s really hard to take family pictures now. It’s hard to say “now get one of all the kids,” while my throat clenches up over that word “all,” and my heart cracks apart again. My head knows that people don’t mean to point it out when they say things like “great to see you all,” but sometimes it truly feels like that’s what’s happening … “All except the two in heaven,” I say silently in my heart, and hope my face doesn’t betray me. And sometimes, that’s followed by the feeling that I betray my babies by staying silent.

I don’t have the answer, for how to avoid these awkward and sometimes very painful situations – there isn’t one; you can’t fix it. That’s just how life is now. Life includes sorely missing those people who should be here, which does not mean you aren’t grateful for the ones that *are* here. If anything, you’re more grateful than ever. So also, it doesn’t have to mean you don’t celebrate birthdays, or that you never take family pictures again. It might have to mean you skip some photo ops, or do them differently. Last month was our 15^th wedding anniversary, and it was just too much to even think about trying to take a group picture of “all” of us. So we didn’t. We have a couple of just Ryan and me, and some different groupings of the rest of our children.

What I think I do have is a bigger heart than before. I think when your heart breaks, it gets larger as it works to heal. I have more grace for people whose words or actions I don’t understand. I have more capacity to let things be hard, weird, or awkward sometimes, because I know there’s just no other way for them to be. I don’t ask people how many kids they have, or even wonder to myself whether this pregnancy is their first, or tenth. I am consciously learning not to evaluate or compare, and to listen, care, and accept instead of thinking to myself “why aren’t they over it yet?” or conversely, “why aren’t they more upset?” Accepting people where they are has become a high priority for me – and I can only do it because of what I’ve learned about God. He accepts me where I am. He sees my grief, and is even acquainted with my weird ways of handling it, (Psalm 139:3). He keeps count of my tossings, puts my tears in His bottle, (Psalm 56:8); even my anxieties and fears are not surprising to Him. And when others forget, or unintentionally say and do things that hurt, God says “I will not forget you! See? I have engraved you into the palm of my hand.” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

So, if you ever happen to see us with a little 5oz teddy bear or two in our hands, or in our family photos, and you wonder what we might be trying to say, now you’ll know. We’re saying that life is a precious gift at every age, and we’re grateful for the weeks or months we had with Quinn and Findley, our babies already in heaven. At the same time, we wish they were here. You’ll know we deeply savor the life and treasure the family we have been given, even while we remember and grieve the one we hoped for. Sorrow and joy are not mutually exclusive, but I’m learning that it takes a big heart to make room for them both.

Facing a Task Unfinished…

This past week, our Sunday evening service was an outdoor worship service, combined with First and Second CRCs of Pella, at West Market Park, which has been the long-time site of Mission Fest here in Pella. The service ended with the singing of the hymn “Facing a Task Unfinished.” Exciting memories of what life felt like for us just over a year ago came rushing back, as we recalled singing that same hymn together in June 2016 at Faith Church, when Jody and I and our family were commissioned to go to Nairobi, Kenya for a semester of teaching at Bridgeworld College.

We were encouraged as we sang these words again, as well as challenged: the task remains unfinished. There continue to be needs and opportunities to serve our Lord by serving people around the world; there is still work to do in spreading the gospel.

I (Ryan) am excited to be heading back to Kenya for two weeks in early September, and for this, request your prayers. If you would like to contribute towards the financial support I need, that would also be appreciated. (Click here to learn how.) I am grateful for and encouraged by the many ways God continues to provide for all our needs as we step forward in obedience to Him. Below is the official information from CRWM:

During my first week, I will be leading worship at Deliverance Church, home church of Mwaya & Munyiva wa Kitavi (Mwaya is the regional director for CRWM-Eastern and Southern Africa) as well as teaching a week-long course on the book of Daniel for the School of Preaching at Deliverance Church. Our family was able to visit Deliverance Church twice last year during our time in Kenya, and it will truly be a delight to again spend time with the church and the wa Kitavis. (Click here to read about one of our visits there last year.)

With the School of Preaching concluding on Thursday evening, I have a long weekend between my teaching commitments. A large part of ourselves that we left in Africa in 2016 concerns our son Findley, who was stillborn after 17 weeks of healthy and happy pregnancy, on October 14. I am grateful to have time over that weekend to visit his grave and reconnect with those who walked closely with us during the difficult time of his death. I also hope to worship at St. Matthew’s, our home-away-from-home church in Kenya, that Sunday, and am excited to see first-hand the progress being made on the elementary school they are building. (Click here to see pictures Rev. Komu, the vicar, recently sent to us.)

I will spend my second week in Kenya back at Bridgeworld College, teaching a week-long intensive course, From Text to Sermon: Preaching Apocalyptic Passages (Studies in Daniel and Revelation). With the help of modern technology (specifically What’s App) I have been able to stay connected with many colleagues and students at the college, and I am eager to see them again.

It promises to be a full and fulfilling two weeks. Thank you again for your partnership with me and our family in the gospel.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word.”

Colossians 4:2-3