“…no one can ever pay enough to live forever…” —Psalm 49:8 NLT
Yesterday was Christopher’s 6th birthday. The dining room was decorated, the fudge brownie cake baked perfectly, festive with sprinkles and candles. Music played, balloons and streamers swayed in the breeze. Nothing was lacking (except presents, which were in the suitcase that didn’t make it to Burundi on my flight from Nairobi the other night). Too bad Christopher was sick in bed with malaria, sleeping off a fever. But all was not lost. Christopher eventually awoke, we cheered, sang, he blew out his candles, and ate two pieces of cake. Much later the airline called, the suitcase found. Ken slung it on his motorcycle and brought it home. The presents, long anticipated, were gleefully opened, and all was well. Another birthday witnessed, celebrated and saved.
No matter that big and little things go wrong, I still WANT to expect MY plans to work How- ever, real life has so many variables—any plan is at risk. That’s why someone once said, “Pray to God but row for the shore.” And thank God we’re not digits in an Algebra equation like what my kids are trying to learn right now! If you don’t get the steps right then everything is wrong.
Plans are good… I still need to plan and pray. But some wise person once said, “I have lived to thank God that all my prayers have NOT been answered.” Thank God that I am not in complete control of my children’s futures! God knows the plans He has for my kids…plans to prosper them and not harm them, to give them a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, my paraphrase). Billy Graham said, “More can be done by prayer than anything else…” so please pray with us:
As we home school our Carly (9th grade) who was struggling with boarding school.
As Samuel (almost 9) progresses to speak…he’s saying “Mama” very clearly.
That the process for attaining U.S. Immigrant Visas for the youngest six children will move forward in the next few months. (Complicated and expensive, with mind-boggling forms and documentation to be sent to USCIS in the USA, awaiting months for approval to proceed to Nairobi to the US Consulate for physicals and interviews, then finally a trip to the USA to meet the last requirements for U.S. Citizenship for the last six children.
(These are requests close to a mother’s heart—thank you!)
Blessings and Love,
Melli, Ken, Sarah, Lizzie, Carly, Cindy, James, Daniel, Samuel, Christopher, Angel and Andy
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