Attitude Check?

I can't remember if it was from my Kanakuk days or sometime before that, but I do remember when someone would yell "attitude check?", if you were in ear shot you'd yell "praise the Lord!".

Just as I sat down to write this, Helen, one of our house staff walked in and said, "Tom I hear water in you bedroom." I love the sound of water. When it laps against the side of a boat in the middle of the lake, when it crashes onto the shore at the beach, when it flows through the rapids of a river, but no so much when its coming from my bedroom. I ran in to find the hot water heater spraying water all over the closet. The room was full. "Attitude Check"? "What in the world, Lord"!

Today we received news that a missionary that run an orphanage just 30 minutes away was killed last night, his wife raped repeatedly and two children witnessed the whole thing. It reminds me where we are, what we do and how much I've really laid at His feat. "Attitude Check"? "Really, God"!

This past Thursday I got a text from Jonathan, our Egerton University staff director. His text read, "Riots on campus, pray for our safety and pray they don't send us home." Students had been without electricity for 3 days and hadn't been able to cook. They got frustrated and started a riot. Friday by 4pm the campus was closed, students were sent home and the amazing momentum among our students was stifled. "Attitude Check"? "Come on Lord"?

Friday I walked out to start my car. Elias another of our house staff said, "Bwana, you have a puncture (flat)". The day before I had dropped $415 on car repair, one of which was putting a slim in the tires to prevent flats. "Attitude Check?" "You've got to be kidding me!"

This weekend we had our staff retreat. We met at an amazing place 1 and 1/2 hours into the bush. Our cell phones didn't work, the electricity was off when we arrived, baboons yelled and screamed all night. It was amazing! Our staff was able to bond, to rest, to recoup and reenergize. Sydney and Raegan ran around the property like two Masai warriors all weekend (well Masai warriors equipped with lightsabers). I woke up this morning with gout in my right ankle screaming pain. "Attitude Check?" "Pass the pain pills!"

In one of our sessions, Solomon, our campus directors in Eldoret shared about 10 new guys on his campus that were starving for anything spiritual he could give. In November when we met as a staff, Solomon had shared how defeated he felt. He said it was like there was a large cloud over the campus and his weekly door to door evangelism was fruitless. He had two guys that he had to chase every week to connect on campus with. Fast forward to Saturday morning and Solomon was late to the retreat because these 10 guys were packed in his house all night for a sleepover, where no sleep was had because they just wanted to talk Jesus. "Attitude Check?" "PRAISE THE LORD!"

I don't want to sound spiritual, I don't want to be the missionary who's suffering for Jesus, I'm not interested in being the poster child for Faith. My Pastor is the spiritual one (& will run spiritual soundingness around your pastor any day :) ), the missionary who lost his life last night is the one suffering (well his family) for Jesus, and the poster child for Faith can be someone else thats much better looking and really does live by faith daily. But tonight, tomorrow, this week I'm walking in celebration of 10 men who can't take their eyes off Jesus and a sold out staff guy that stuck with it.

"Attitude Check"?
PRAISE THE LORD!

Generations

This past Tuesday night I was able to spend some time with a group of our students at Egerton University, just outside of Nakuru. The group gathered in the JFK commons, we drank tea, ate cake and I shared some thoughts with them. Our campus director, Jonathan and his group of key leaders are doing such a great job of brining in our 1st year students (freshmen) and investing in their lives. Its fun to not know faces and meet them for the first time. Its fun for them to have no idea why they've gathered to hear me speak because their connection to the ministry is not me, but our staff and student leaders. And its really fun to hear how they came to be apart of the ACO ministry. I met one young man who door was knocked on during orientation week, when he answered two of our 2nd year students asked if they could come in.
I loved how he put it; "I come from a very simple life. We have no electricity at my house, and we go and get the water from the river to cook, clean and drink. When it is night, we sleep and when it is day we work or go to school. I was alone in my room, I had light and water down the hall and was just sitting waiting for something. When the knock came, my life changed. They told me the story, invited me to Bible study and we've been at it ever since. This guy (pointing to one of our 2nd year students who leads a Bible study) he's my mentor, he's my father in Christ."
I got chills! This young man was apart of the GENERATIONS that we long for, talk about, plan for, train for and invest in. This weekend he'll be apart of the One Day gathering for students led by our campus staff at Egerton. I'm praying that he'll get to see three generations of disciples that are ahead of him (Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors) and be excited about carrying on the tradition of knocking on a door next fall, introducing a young Kenyan man from the bush to Jesus, and begin to teach him what he's learning now.
Earlier in the day I visited our new Community Partnership at Njoro Central High School. The school is about 5 minutes from the Egerton campus and is a new site for our students we are discipling to invest their time in. The high school is 5 years old, has 196 students in grades 9-12. Our ACO staff person in charge of community partnerships has done a great job in preparing the way for the Egerton students to get plugged into the lives of these high schoolers through Bible studies and mentoring. They principle who showed us around was so excited about their newly completed science lab. She laughed nervously when I told her that I blew up my lab station in high school because I didn't pay attention to the instructions and just started mixing chemicals.
She said, "bwana Tom, you must be a Peter. One who jumps in faith and realizes what you're doing in midair or a few steps in." I smiled and told her that was the best compliment I'd ever been given.
Have you jumped today?... In the Faith that you hold so dearly, that you sing about on Sunday mornings in worship, in the book that you carry in your hand or that sits on your bedside table filled with stories of jumping? Another GENERATION has the potential of promise because two sophomores knocked on a door not knowing what was on the other side. I wish I had the Faith of Peter most days. Do you?

This past week I loaded up and headed to Nakuru & Eldoret. I camped out Coppell style (under a roof, with mattress, & hot water) in Nakuru and made a day trip to Eldoret. I stopped along the way to deliver cookies to my police friends that saved me from my middle of the night flat tire ordeal. They were happy to see me.
Our Eldoret team are ALL STARS! They're really excited about graduating their first class this spring and are challenging them to go out into the communities God puts them in and make a difference. I'm really looking forward to an amazing semester. I got to spend time with some of the key students in their ministry at the main Moi University Campus.
ACO staff across the country are excited about plugging in their new Compassion International students. The Nakuru team is in the process of adding 2 new high schools for our college students to begin working in each week. The Nairobi staff are once again leading Saturday morning discipleship training seminars and will try to add a few more OneDay events to create a buzz on campus. I'm looking forward to meeting new faces on the Kenyatta campus just outside Nairobi and traveling to see our staff in other cities.
Nathan-Raegan & Sydney Grace are plugged into school and loving it. They had field day this past Friday and then a sleepover here at the house. Kerry has found a Bible study to plug into and is helping out at the kids school a ton. We're all looking forward to Nani (Tom's Mom) arriving next week.
We thank God for all of you that partner & pray with us! Can't wait to see what God has up his sleeve in the months to come.

My "Camping" Spot

Insurance...Who Needs Insurance

Today I got up, dropped the kids at school, swam a mile in the school pool, met a friend for coffee and was taken to jail. I really enjoyed the swim, had a great time with my friend and would rather not do jail again.
I'd write about the coffee discussion or what Raegan talked about on the way to school, but I bet you're a little more interested in jail. Aren't you.
I was pulled over because the car I was driving didn't have insurance. It actually had insurance but the correct sticker wasn't on the window. The policeman, Simon Peter (pretty funny) asked me if I had the new sticker. I looked through the whole car and didn't see it. His partner, Mary (ironic) then told me my choices. First, I could give them a ride to the Police station where they would then arrest me, thats right give them a ride. Second, they could tow the car and we could go together to the police station and they could arrest me (that would mean walk there). Third, I could buy them lunch. Yep, I know what you're thinking and I did just that. I picked the first choice. I drove myself to jail, its funny even now. Simon Peter, told me he'd detain me until I could pay the bail and produce up to date insurance. BUT, I didn't have the up to date insurance because the persons car I was driving was in the US today and for a few weeks longer. Somehow, my "I Love Jesus" status (see boys and girls don't knock it) got me an exemption to the rule. I was able to leave the car, get my friend I met for coffee to take me to the insurance agency and then return with my proof of insurance and post bail. I'm due in High Court #7 in the morning to plead guilty and pay my fine. They're serious about insurance here. When you visit you'll see how comical that is with what goes on during a normal day of traffic in this country.
Simon Peter & Marry were as nice as they could be. I got Simon's number and we're suppose to have tea soon. All in All quite a day. Some of you didn't understand when I told you over the past few weeks that every day in Africa is an adventure. Tomorrow, well tomorrow I'll be in High Court, no telling what will come of that experience.
Next time a US Officer of the Law pulls you over and your car registration is out of date or your insurance is void...smile, take the ticket and go on about your day. At least you're not in Jail!!

Fasten Your Seatbelt

In a few days we will board our flight back to Kenya. December has been a whirlwind of activity. We've loved connecting with so many of you and sorry for those of you who we missed. We're so thankful to our Pastor, Larry Parsley and the staff at Valley Ranch Baptist for allowing Sydney and Nathan-Raegan to be baptized on December 6th. What a joy as parents to see our kids take the "holy swim" with such an amazing church family. We are grateful to all of you who took the time to share a coffee, stop by a jewelry party or buy us a meal. Thank You!
We were blessed to spend New Years Eve with two families that we graduated from Ouachita Baptist with. After an amazing steak dinner and a few furious games of Wii Party we brought in 2011 and then settled around the dinning room table to catch up on stories. Its been a long time since I laughed so hard and so long. The second part of 2010 was not the easiest of walks, but the Lord always knows how to refill your cup at just the right time. I'm in debt two those two couples and thankful that they were what God needed them to be as their company energized my soul.
In my quiet time over the past few days I've started a book my father gave to me in 2005. The first day clarified what my focus for the year will be (hopefully it will start a habit that will last a lifetime). The author eluded to three ways that Believers use scripture. The first is from a devotional approach, being encouraged by scripture as it is read and processed. The second is from a 'looking for life answers' approach, seeing what Scripture says about living life and how to make it through the difficult times. The third (the authors suggests is the most important) is spending time in Scripture to learn the mind of Christ. The idea has really stumped me and it intrigues me to begin the journey of having Christ's mind over this next year. How He thinks, How He acts, How He reacts to everyday situations. I've prayed for awhile now that I would have His eyes & ears as I wander through the day. I'm now adding to my prayer..."Lord, give me your mind today". As I spend time in your Word, as I walk in your Call, as I sit down and stand, let me think like you.
I hope that as you fasten your seatbelt and begin this new year that your days will be filled with chips and salsa, evenings with never ending Dr. Pepper fountains and as you lay your head down on your pillows Hot Tamale candies will dance in your minds.
And as I hope for those things, I pray that you'll see Christ come alive in your life in ways you can't imagine in the months to come.
Come and see us in 2011!

Jet Lag, Friends, Cold Weather & the Next Thing

A few days ago we landed safely @ DFW International Airport. Sydney & Nathan-Raegan were troopers through the entire ride. Kerry & I realized that they finally realized what was happening and what we were doing. Reagan continually asked what time it was and wondered if the airplane was going to leave us. He asked about every two minutes in Nairobi if it was time to get on the plane. Sydney just wanted to stand at the windows in Nairobi and London and watch the airplanes taxi, load and unload. At one point about 4 hours into the Sunday night leg (our flight from Nairobi leaves at midnight and arrives in London at 5:45am) with the entire plane dark and everyone asleep I looked over to see Syd staring at the video screen and rocking back and forth in her seat. I think she's been blessed with the ability to not be able to sleep like her father on a plane.
We return home with excitement, but we leave Kenya with a little bit of "not now". We're excited for salsa, McDonalds, and the people that we will get to connect with. I'm excited about driving in traffic with rules that actually are followed, Kerry is ready for a white Christmas in Colorado and the kids can't wait to see Memphis, they're golden doodle that we had to leave behind in Arkansas. We're all feeling the "not now" because November has finally been a good month after 4 extremely hard ones. They aren't boxes all over the house, our homework actually make sense when it comes home from school, and we'll miss our staff, students and new friends in Nairobi. I've decided in my mind that this is a good thing. Its good to want to come home, after all this is the background of our portrait. We count on our family and friends to be praying for us and supporting us as we experience God's calling in Kenya, so its fun to see them and reconnect. Its also good that we're wanting to go back (two months ago we'd weren't and coming home would of been dangerous). It was good to hear Kerry last night sigh when we slid into the bed with enough blankets to keep the cold out. It was that sigh you know means, "ahh this feels good, this is nice". I felt the same way. It was what she said that reminded me I'm married to an amazing woman of God, "I glad we're not apart of this, that home is over there." I wouldn't rate the Stickney family as the model missionary family. The make your family like this and you'll be able to serve the Lord where ever he places you. Far from it. I wouldn't say we've done the last 6 months in the best way possible, actually life together for 11 years. But I know this... we've trusted God and done the next thing.
My prayer for you and your family during this holiday season is that as you look back on this year and prepare for 2011 that you'll say to yourselves, "we've trusted God and done the next thing".
From the Stickney family to yours... Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. May this season be a sweet time with family and friends and find you following His lead in your lives.

Stop

Yesterday I was driving back to Nairobi from Nakuru after speaking to our freshman from Egerton University. Riding with me was one of our campus staff, Jonathan and one of our house staff, Tridings. Tridings and I are the same age, have kids the same age and both share the same sense of humor. During 2003 the students at First Baptist Harrison, Arkansas helped him buy an acre of land and build a small house on it. His wife lives there, farms the land and takes care of the kids. Triding pretty much runs the house, cooks for all of our conferences, keeps up with everything that needs to be fixed and is our "ear to the ground" guy with safety and the whatnot of the country.
As you travel from Nakuru to Nairobi you drive through the Great Rift Valley, passing three lakes, rolling hills, plains, forests, zebra, gazelle, baboons, and an extinct volcano. The scenery is breath taking and the traffic is terrifying, its the perfect collision of two opposites. Just after you pass the third lake, Naivasha, you begin to climb the east wall of the Rift Valley and as you crest the top of the climb you can see across the entire Rift Valley. The plains that stretch all the way to the Masi Mara seem to lead on forever, Mount Longonot towers in the middle of the valley and small farms dot the landscape. Like all good entrepreneur some locals have set up lookout points where tourists can stop, take in the view, buy a hot coke and buy carvings or whatever other piece of must have Kenya they can talk you into. I've stop plenty of times with teams from the US and in my travels back and forth now I almost run off the road trying to catch a glimpse as I keep moving to make good time.
Yesterday as we drove past the lookout points I asked Jonathan and Trini if they had ever stopped and looked. Jonathan said he thought his family stopped once or maybe it was a school trip, he couldn't remember. Triding, sitting in the back seat didn't hear me and so I asked again. He said "no, I never have. I've never had the time or the control to ask the bus I was on to stop. Its really beautiful, but I wonder what it looks like standing on the edge?" Tridings is 36, he's driven that road 300 times in his estimation and he's never stopped to look at one of the most majestic God creations in his own country.
During Worship today at church one of the slide backgrounds was of a mountain. When the slide came up, I stopped singing, sat down in my seat and dumbfounded thought to myself, why didn't you stop yesterday? I just kept driving, I had the ability to show something to Triding that he's never seen before and I kept moving. What was I thinking? Am I that driven? Am I that checked out of listening that the words "never" and "control" didn't compute?
YES
Yes, I'm that insensitive, that clued out, that preoccupied.
I always pray for our students to be able to hear God's whispers, the have His ears, His eyes, His words as they walk through their days. I pray the same for me. Yesterday I missed a whisper. Seeing the valley probably wouldn't of changed Tridings life in any great way, but it might have. I might of missed a divine appointment with someone at the spot we stopped. I might of just needed to take in the beauty for myself and see His handwork to remind me of who He is. I will never know.
When the ton of bricks dropped in church on me today it made me realize how quickly I move. I move from this to that with just this amount of time in between for whats planned. I've ordered my day in such a way that my prayer can't be answered. God's whisper is going to fall on deaf ears because I'm on the way to something else.
It reminds me of a story my father used to tell me, funny enough about the same stretch of road. In the early 80's the Kenya Open was a golf tournament that used to attract some of the biggest names in golf. One year Sam Snead came to play and Mom and Dad followed him around the course the first day. After Sam's round, Dad approached him and asked if he liked to fish, and Sam gave a resounding "yes". Dad told him about a great bass lake about an hour from Nairobi, told him he had a boat and that he'd love to sneak him away after his morning round the next day. Sam agreed and the plan was finalized. The next day after Sam's morning round they grabbed a quick bite to eat in the club house and headed off to Naivasha. Dad, intent on getting Sam as much fishing time as possible, had the pedal to the medal. As they drove Sam kept pointing and asking Dad "what's that, who's that, what do they do?" Dad shot back quick answers concentrating on getting to the boat and out on the water. Finally, after flying by wildlife, scenery and interesting sights Sam had enough, turned and looked at Dad and said, "Allen, have you ever stopped and smelled the flowers?" There's a picture I have somewhere in an album of Dad and Sam Snead standing on the bow of the boat both holding huge bass at Lake Naivasha. Every time I see that picture I remember the story and remember the crack in his voice as he got to Sam's line.
As one of my pastors used to say, "Not that your like me, but if you are", I'd encourage you to STOP. Stop and smell the roses, stop long enough to look, stop long enough to listen.
Tridings and I have a date set to head back for the view soon.