I would love to say that I can tell you all about what Rachel is doing in Africa, and I can tell you what was planned, but alas the phone service where she is has been very unreliable and we have not talked but once for about 2 minutes! She was doing well Wednesday evening, really loving being with the children at Tumaini and not seeming to mind the cold showers and less than dependable flushing toilets. I did speak with Steve Taylor, Donna's husband, at church this morning and he said they delivered the milk cows to the widow/mothers yesterday and were on their way to church and the soccer game this afternoon. By now they should be back at the hotel with one day left at the orphanage, a day and a half for some safari, and then back on the plane for the long journey home, I do know that Rachel is not ready to leave. This time has gone by way too quickly for her and she is already planning to go back next year.
I was thinking last evening that one of the things that made this trip difficult for me was the fact that Rachel is experiencing something very significant with people we do not know, and more importantly without her family. I know that this is part of the 'wings' in the goal of 'giving your children roots and wings', but it is not easy. I am so happy for her and thankful for this opportunity, but it is such a reminder that my baby girl is becoming her own young woman and moving away from our nest. For her sake I am sorry the trip is winding down, but for me I can't wait to see her and have her home. If she follows in my footsteps and decides to go far away from home for college in a couple of years I will be a basket case!
I am knee deep in children this week as Ryan and I have moved to Sugar Hill for a few days to take care of Savannah Grace and Rylee while Phillip and Anita take a mini vacation. It will be fun, but alas another reminder that this ole gal is no spring chicken! Grandmommie will take over for me on Thursday so I can go to the airport and meet my girl when she gets home. Then Edgar, R & R, and I get on a plane Saturday to fly to CA for a week with the Paffords.
Thanks again for all your prayers for Rachel, keep me before the throne as this week I do my best to mommy a one year old, a 3 and half year old, and an almost 8 year old. You might remember Edgar as he is at home taking care of all our critters :).
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Eagle has Landed
We got a phone call from a very excited Rachel this afternoon about 5:45 our time. They were in Nairobi, she got her Visa (thank you God), her luggage all arrived, she bought her Kenyan Shillings, and they were already at the Presbyterian Guest House where they will stay the first night. She got plenty of sleep on the plane and sounded very excited. As we go to bed about midnight Tuesday she will be up and ready to head out for the Tumaini orphanage; they are 7 hours ahead of us.
I will try to post updates over the next week or so as we receive news. Thanks again for all your prayers!!
I will try to post updates over the next week or so as we receive news. Thanks again for all your prayers!!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Complete Perfection
In the Bible the number 7 represents perfection, or more accurately completion. In Hebrews we are told to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith". We usually think of the word perfect as an adjective, but here it is a noun. It is Jesus who will bring to completion or perfect our faith. Many Christians and non Christians consider the number seven to be 'lucky'. I am not superstitious nor do I depend on luck, but this week God showed our family how He is the completer and perfecter of our faith.
Many of you have joined is in praying for Rachel's trip to Africa with Heart for Africa. You have generously given money to make this trip possible and have prayed faithfully for all the aspects of the trip--most recently for the arrival of her passport. We applied for the passport 14 weeks ago, in late March when there was no discussion of a need to expedite said passport. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Then ten days ago we began calling the 800 number only to be put on hold for over an hour each call and then be told, "we have your application and will begin processing it soon". We even called our congressman who said we could start the process over and overnight the paperwork and funds to his office in Washington DC and we could get it in 5-7 business days, but we did not have an additional birth certificate! All of this to say it was truly in God's hands; we did all we could do and it was totally left to Him (as if that weren't the case anyway!!)
So, on Saturday-two days before she was scheduled to depart--on the 7th day, of the 7th month, in the 7th year God showed His perfection again and sent Rachel's passport via FedEx Saturday delivery!! Needless to say there was great rejoicing at the Munn home. We had already dug out the suitcases, filled one with clothes and shoes to leave in Africa, and packed the other one with most of what she would need. We wanted to be as ready as possible should the passport actually arrive.
I had already asked a few questions to Donna at Heart for Africa regarding, 'what if it doesn't come'? Even as I was asking, I kept thinking, "God I really believed it was Your will for Rachel to go on this trip--could it be I am not in tune with you on this?" It is amazing how the Enemy will try to make us doubt our faith or our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He cannot thwart God's will, but he can make us doubt ourselves.
The passport arrived about 11:00 am and we went straight to Walmart to finish getting the last minute Africa-specific supplies we needed--insect repellent with Deet, electrical outlet converter, etc. (We even found $1:00 folding umbrellas to send to the ladies in Africa!) It was a very exciting day and we went to bed exhausted.
Sunday morning I woke up with a terrible headache and could not stop crying. I think after all the anxiety of waiting for the passport I was more emotionally drained than I realized and the water works just poured. At any rate, by the evening I was all cried out and was ready as I could be to send her off. It is one thing to take your child to another continent; it is a whole new ball game to send her!
We all got up very early Monday morning and took Rachel to Donna's where she rode with several others to the airport. As I write this she is in the air on the final leg of the journey and should arrive in Nairobi at 3:10 pm Monday afternoon our time, which is 10:10 pm in Africa. She has called from each airport stop--Chicago and Brussels--and was so excited each time we spoke. I can really feel the faithful prayers of so many who have prayed for this trip and who are continuing to pray--thank you. I especially appreciate those of you who called or came by to specifically pray with Rachel. I am so grateful to hear all of what God is going to do in the next 9 days not only in the lives of the people in Kenya, but in the lives of the Munn's.
Thank you Jesus, for being our perfect Savior who always completes what You begin!
Many of you have joined is in praying for Rachel's trip to Africa with Heart for Africa. You have generously given money to make this trip possible and have prayed faithfully for all the aspects of the trip--most recently for the arrival of her passport. We applied for the passport 14 weeks ago, in late March when there was no discussion of a need to expedite said passport. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Then ten days ago we began calling the 800 number only to be put on hold for over an hour each call and then be told, "we have your application and will begin processing it soon". We even called our congressman who said we could start the process over and overnight the paperwork and funds to his office in Washington DC and we could get it in 5-7 business days, but we did not have an additional birth certificate! All of this to say it was truly in God's hands; we did all we could do and it was totally left to Him (as if that weren't the case anyway!!)
So, on Saturday-two days before she was scheduled to depart--on the 7th day, of the 7th month, in the 7th year God showed His perfection again and sent Rachel's passport via FedEx Saturday delivery!! Needless to say there was great rejoicing at the Munn home. We had already dug out the suitcases, filled one with clothes and shoes to leave in Africa, and packed the other one with most of what she would need. We wanted to be as ready as possible should the passport actually arrive.
I had already asked a few questions to Donna at Heart for Africa regarding, 'what if it doesn't come'? Even as I was asking, I kept thinking, "God I really believed it was Your will for Rachel to go on this trip--could it be I am not in tune with you on this?" It is amazing how the Enemy will try to make us doubt our faith or our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He cannot thwart God's will, but he can make us doubt ourselves.
The passport arrived about 11:00 am and we went straight to Walmart to finish getting the last minute Africa-specific supplies we needed--insect repellent with Deet, electrical outlet converter, etc. (We even found $1:00 folding umbrellas to send to the ladies in Africa!) It was a very exciting day and we went to bed exhausted.
Sunday morning I woke up with a terrible headache and could not stop crying. I think after all the anxiety of waiting for the passport I was more emotionally drained than I realized and the water works just poured. At any rate, by the evening I was all cried out and was ready as I could be to send her off. It is one thing to take your child to another continent; it is a whole new ball game to send her!
We all got up very early Monday morning and took Rachel to Donna's where she rode with several others to the airport. As I write this she is in the air on the final leg of the journey and should arrive in Nairobi at 3:10 pm Monday afternoon our time, which is 10:10 pm in Africa. She has called from each airport stop--Chicago and Brussels--and was so excited each time we spoke. I can really feel the faithful prayers of so many who have prayed for this trip and who are continuing to pray--thank you. I especially appreciate those of you who called or came by to specifically pray with Rachel. I am so grateful to hear all of what God is going to do in the next 9 days not only in the lives of the people in Kenya, but in the lives of the Munn's.
Thank you Jesus, for being our perfect Savior who always completes what You begin!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Thoughts on Freedom
It is difficult to believe that we are already into July; the summer is passing quickly. We will celebrate Independence Day tomorrow and we will do so with the traditional gathering of family(those who are local at least), eat too much food, and possible enjoy watching the skies light up with beautiful fireworks--depending on what city officials have deciding in light of the current drought. I am sure we will have a great time; we all enjoy being independent.
I wonder if we will give much thought to the price that has been and is currently being paid so that we can enjoy this independence? I know that I try to ask God each day to give wisdom to our local and national leaders, and to protect those in harms way, but I am sure that I really do not appreciate all the freedoms I enjoy. My grandfather fought in the civil war, my father and Edgar's fought in WWII. I will never know the real price they paid, nor I believe, will I ever really appreciate what they bought for us. I hope we will all do our best to honor what has been done and work to ensure our independence is not lost in the future because we fail to remember.
I love living in a free country, in fact I am sure I don't even realize all the freedoms I have because I have never not been free. It is certainly in our nature to desire independence. In my years of working with young children, independence is the driving force behind most of what they do--God made them that way. It is that same drive for independence that usually gets them into trouble. You see we all want unrestrained freedom, and that doesn't exist. My precious little niece who is a year old today wants the freedom to climb to the top of my stairs with no restraint, but she does not understand that before we can grant her that freedom, she must be responsible enough to come down safely. My son, as I am writing, has packed his suitcase and had decided he will move into the empty house next door--he wants the freedom to play with his toys and only clean them up when and if he wants to. He doesn't understand the responsibility involved in home ownership--or toy ownership. Fortunately he will soon change his mind and be able to exercise his complete independence and come home.
As a Christian, I want to enjoy all the freedom that I have because of the debt my Savior paid, yet as I read my Bible I understand that I have been bought with a price and that I am not my own. Now don't think that I am speaking of a legalistic code that I am forced to follow, but rather a behavior modification lifestyle based on gratitude. I am free to love my enemies, to pray for those who persecute me, and to turn the other cheek when someone assaults me. All of this is because I am no longer a slave to sin but a servant to righteousness. It is a responsibility to live free in Christ, just as it is a responsibility to live as a free citizen. I pray that we all take a few moments this Independence Day and ask God what He would have us do to fulfil our responsibilities to live free.
Celebrate and be grateful!
I wonder if we will give much thought to the price that has been and is currently being paid so that we can enjoy this independence? I know that I try to ask God each day to give wisdom to our local and national leaders, and to protect those in harms way, but I am sure that I really do not appreciate all the freedoms I enjoy. My grandfather fought in the civil war, my father and Edgar's fought in WWII. I will never know the real price they paid, nor I believe, will I ever really appreciate what they bought for us. I hope we will all do our best to honor what has been done and work to ensure our independence is not lost in the future because we fail to remember.
I love living in a free country, in fact I am sure I don't even realize all the freedoms I have because I have never not been free. It is certainly in our nature to desire independence. In my years of working with young children, independence is the driving force behind most of what they do--God made them that way. It is that same drive for independence that usually gets them into trouble. You see we all want unrestrained freedom, and that doesn't exist. My precious little niece who is a year old today wants the freedom to climb to the top of my stairs with no restraint, but she does not understand that before we can grant her that freedom, she must be responsible enough to come down safely. My son, as I am writing, has packed his suitcase and had decided he will move into the empty house next door--he wants the freedom to play with his toys and only clean them up when and if he wants to. He doesn't understand the responsibility involved in home ownership--or toy ownership. Fortunately he will soon change his mind and be able to exercise his complete independence and come home.
As a Christian, I want to enjoy all the freedom that I have because of the debt my Savior paid, yet as I read my Bible I understand that I have been bought with a price and that I am not my own. Now don't think that I am speaking of a legalistic code that I am forced to follow, but rather a behavior modification lifestyle based on gratitude. I am free to love my enemies, to pray for those who persecute me, and to turn the other cheek when someone assaults me. All of this is because I am no longer a slave to sin but a servant to righteousness. It is a responsibility to live free in Christ, just as it is a responsibility to live as a free citizen. I pray that we all take a few moments this Independence Day and ask God what He would have us do to fulfil our responsibilities to live free.
Celebrate and be grateful!
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