7-10-2010

Thoughts from Kerry:

(my posts will be written like what I would have said had I been talking to you about my day, if you know me you will follow easy, if not you will get to know me and the way my mind processes these new experiences; I hope you will read these as I was telling you the story in person, and my excitement and jumping thoughts never leave room for correct grammar when story telling, so for those writers out there, I apologize and hopefully you can get through it and come to know my heart)

Day 1- Nairobi, Kenya

We’re stuck in traffic on our way home from the orphanage.

It’s hot.

The bus is not moving.

Helem is on my mind. The Lord has connected my heart to him for some reason. He is 14. I thought about him so often after we left last year. He stood out to me. I don’t know why. I wanted to take him with me desperately. I found out today his parents are both dead. He has an uncle who he sometimes spends holidays with.

Candy and Stacy are on my mind.

They sought me out today: I talked to them: sports, where we live, but ran out of things to say. When does Kerry run out of things to say?

The poverty is intense on the way back from the orphanage.

I see a mom give a coin to a man for an ear of corn for her child to eat; they are on a busy corner. The mother is doing something with a bucket; they probably are there all day. What does that child do all day to entertain herself? The child is smiling at me, a huge beautiful sweet smile. Mom looks and laughs, I wonder what the child said to her.

Sydney and Raegan are with Alice.

I want them with me.

Are they ok? Did they eat lunch? They’re across town but it seems like a great distance when I’m stuck in this traffic in a strange crowded city. There’s no getting anywhere fast. Ugggh! Frustrating! I’m not comfortable at this point unless they’re with me. I hope that feeling relaxes.

I’m glad their not on the hot bus!

Why did I not ask Candy and Tracey about their relationship with the Lord? I must be bolder.

Tony (orphanage director) shared how some of the adult workers aren’t so impressed with our teams coming, but he is thankful for each new person who comes to love and bless the children. To show them there are people who care about their future. He says he has learned to take time listen to each person God brings you in contact with. You may learn more from one hour with a person than a week with another. I’m thinking about that now. We only have hours with these children when we visit. No time to waste not having words. I pray I use my minutes more wisely next time.

The Last Few Days

I changed the oil in the car last week and its due to be changed again today. I think that happens every 3,000 miles. Needless to say Kerry, Sydney, Nathan-Raegan and I have been spending some great family time in the car getting to see old faces, meet new faces and give a preview of the next chapter of our lives. We are so grateful for everyone that has listened, prayed for us, shared our expectations and fears, opened their homes, churches, classrooms. We leave knowing that we are not alone, but surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ lifting us up.

The last full week has begun! We're busy trying to get our last visits, Wal-Mart trips and chips and salsa in. Sydney and RaeRae get to attend VBS this week, so they're excited about that (thank you FBC White Hall!). Kerry and I travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas on Wednesday to spend some time with a great college ministry that is going on there. Thursday we pack-up, say goodbye to mamaw and head to Dallas. A night in Dallas to make sure everything has a suitcase to make it to Kenya and then two days with the coolest God Parents in the world in Denison, Texas. We will be back in Dallas on the night of the 4th and 5th.

Kerry has decided there's no place she'd rather spend her birthday (5th) than at Great Wolf Lodge, what a cool mom! The kids will be able to swim their legs off before having to sit on the plane for 20+ hours.

Then its here. Wow, seems like it was yesterday that I sat in an emergency room at Baylor hospital and told my father I thought I might be led to invest some of my energy and time in Kenyan college students. Almost 3 years later its here.

Thank you prayer warriors. We need it.

Blessings,

The Stickney's

From BNC to PCBC and Beyond

It really is fun not having to go to work. Work the past 11 years has meant that I attend the same church every Sunday. Over the past month Kerry, Sydney, Nathan-Raegan and I have experienced worship in several different places...
From the beautiful organ pipes that cover the stage walls at FBC San Angelo to the beach balls that shot across the auditorium as we sang "Oh, happy day, happy day. He washed my sins away" at Brand New Church in Bergman, Arkansas. To sit "in awe"as the orchestra from Park Cities Baptist Church played and then listen to the single acoustic guitar strum at FBC Harrison, all leading us to the throng of Christ. I'm reminded that God is a "me" God. He's a God that connects with the "mes" in this world because He cares and desires to have a full blown relationship with "me". If this me connects through this, then let him. If this me responds by that, then let her. What I've experienced is what I guess heaven will be like. All of us "mes", in one voice, worshiping our King, our Savior, our Redeemer, our God. It may sound a little off, like that sweet little lady did last night on Americas Got Talent, but it will truly be a worship that none of us have ever experienced before.
Thank you to Brand New Church! Thank you for allowing us to show up and hear how God wants us to have a healthy root system, fed by Him through spending time in His Word.
Thank you FBC San Angelo and the amazing Sunday School of Adult 4. What great fellowship & the food! People if you're looking for some good food.... hang a left off of I30 at Cisco, Texas and don't stop until you're in downtown San Angelo. Ask for Charlie's cook and you'll never go hungry again!!
Thank you to Park Cities Baptist Church! Kerry and I are holding onto the promise from Luke 7, our "faith has saved" us.
Great to see friends at FBC Harrison, meet new ones at Grand Avenue in Ft. Smith and we're looking forward to seeing familiar faces at Valley Ranch Baptist Church soon.
We are praying for Refuge Student Ministry and the 86:12 Mission team as they head to Atlanta next week. Praying for BNC Student Minitries as those young men and women head to Student Life Camp. Holding up students from FBC White Hall and their XFuge experience in North Carolina.
Praying for BNC and your 60 Days. Asking God to bless Park Cities Baptist as you celebrate freedom together as a church family on the 4th and praying for the orchestra as they minister in Russia these next few days. Praying for FBC Harrison and the Guatemala trip coming up. Praying for Grand Avenue's Tanzania group heading out soon.
We thank God for each and every one of you. We count you as friends and family and will carry your prayers and support with us on July 6th.

Moments of Sheer Terror & Reminders He's in Control

Today, when I walk out of my office, I won't have an office to walk into on Monday.

I don't want to make more of it than it is. I know many families from my church that have been out of work for a long time, some that aren't sure about their future and a ton who are thankful that they'll walk into work tomorrow with some certainty the future.

Tonight, just before I fall asleep, I'll have these panic thoughts come screaming through my head; "what in the world are you doing Stickney?" These feelings have been apart of my nightly drift into dreaming about todo lists, suitcases, shipping companies or whatever I need to accomplish or didn't the day before since about April. However, the past three nights the "oh, no what are we doing" panics have become just plain scary.

Typing this confirms my feelings, I'm a wienie and don't sound very Christian at all. I can hear my mother now, "Thomas, God is not a God of fear." I think that argument would of been rather interesting to work through as the Israelites walked across dry ground with walls of water on either side and then turned to watch an entire army swallowed up as the sea collasped on them. But Mom is right, scripture does tell us that we need to "fear the Lord", but thats that healthy fear, good fear, be scared of snakes fear. Isn't it? Maybe I don't know what real fear is?

I've got panic down, actually hoping they make it an olympic sport someday so I can represent my country. "and now we go live to the Panic Room (good movie by the way) where Stickney faces off with (go ahead insert your name here) for the singles panic silver medal (yep, silver. Our dog Memphis would have the Gold sewn up).

So Fear or Panic, either way it will visit tonight just before I drift off.

Here's the cool part though. At some point today and tomorrow and yesterday, God touched me on the shoulder and reminded me..."I'm in control here Tom. Kerry, Sydney, Nathan-Raegan are not yours, Kenya is not yours, ACO is not yours. They are mine and I've got this under control". Last week that reminder came in the form of a Dad that met me as I walked out of my daughters elementary school. He stopped me, prayed with me and reminded me that God is seldom early, rarely on time, but never late (He's definitely got some Kenyan blood in him. God, not the Dad). Monday, it was my best friend reminding me that I will board the plane on July 6th to begin, the same day my father began his time with Jesus two years ago. Yesterday it was a quick conversation with a teacher who told me my daughter was doing fine with all the chaos. And today it was Nathan-Raegan's teacher from pre-school a year ago that stopped me in the hallway, hugged me and held on without saying a word. God knows I need to see Him right now and He's more than willing to through random reminders. "Son, I'm in Control".

Tomorrow, when you wake up or after you finishing reading this, do this for me. Allow yourself to react to those, "I should say something" or "I should do something" to encourage or help that person. Allow yourself to be that reminder for people like me that need to know..."psst, I'm in Control". Offices are overrated anyways.

Blessings,

Tom

I Wore a Tie and Wished I Hadn't

This morning it became officially official. I stood beside my Sr. Pastor and told the church we were headed to Kenya. Surprisingly most of the comments weren't about my departure, but more about my tie. Actually I think it was every one's (including me) way of dealing with the hard truth that God was calling us away. The second comment I got from everyone was how excited they were to see us responding to God's leading.

But it got me thinking... which can be dangerous at times.

I've worn a tie on stage a total of three times at VRBC. The first was on the day I was hired. The third was on the day I was resigned. BUT the second.... well the second was what my Pastor called this morning an "open your eyes" experience. The second happened half way through our ministry at Valley Ranch. I'll never forget the call I got and the two weeks that it started. The second time I wore a tie on stage was as I stood over the casket of the only student I've lost in 15 years of student ministry. I still have his picture taped to the inside leaf of my Bible. I put it there to remind me to ask; remind me to ask the only question that counts in this world. I never did. I thank God that the young man's family knew that He was a Christ follower, but it doesn't quench my thirst because I never asked. I'll never make that mistake again.

I want to encourage you to walk this week in the sobering thought that the people around you aren't guaranteed tomorrow, you aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Ask the question.

I wore a tie to get hired four and half years ago. I wore a tie today so that honestly my mom wouldn't get on a plane, fly over here and spank me on this important day. But I'd give almost anything to of never worn that second tie. Lord... give me strength to ask.

Praying this week for the Stickneys:

*The final details would be worked out and the container to ship our things would be set for mid May.

*As packing begins that it would all make sense where to go and how to go there.

*ACO's Society status to move forward this week, getting us closer to having access to long term visas in Kenya.

*Stress of the unknown and mess wouldn't effect Tom & Kerry's parenting or their relationship with each other.

*Finances to make the move and yearly budget numbers would begin to come in.

*Prayer for Sydney & Nathan-Raegan's Teachers at Greensteads. That God would already be creating a special place in their hearts for them.

*God would put a special person in our lives that would already be in place to assist Sydney with any learning obstacles.

The Future Begins

Here We Go Ready or Not!

The two year prayer journey has come to an end. No, we haven't stop praying, in fact praying even more, but we have decided that God is calling us to Kenya full time. Kerry and I are now the Executive Directors of African Christian Outreach. ACO is a ministry that was started by Tom's parents in the early 70's in Kenya. The ministry focuses on Evangelism and Discipleship on College campuses across Kenya. We will be directing staff on 5 campuses spread around the country. Our new home (new to us, built in 1940's) will be in Nakuru, a city about 2 hours north of Nairobi. Sydney (7) & Nathan-Raegan (5) can't wait to see Zebras on the drive from Nairobi to Nakuru and meet their new big brothers and sisters involved in the college ministry.

The next few months (May & June) will be filled with trying to get everything ready to go. Can you help? Of course you can!

First - We could use your prayers!

Pray that our transition to Kenya is as smooth as possible.

Pray that our work visa issues are resolved quickly

Pray that our fundraising goals are met

Pray for health, sweet goodbye's to family, friends and students at Valley Ranch Baptist

Second - We could use your muscle & mind!

Tom will be packing the house, a container with all our things and who knows what else the first part of May

Kerry will be trying to figure out what to take, how much to take and how to get it all together.

If you want to help, want to visit or just want to watch, we'd love to have you!

Third - We could use your money!

No way around it, so I'll just say it. It takes finances to run the day to day ministry, it takes finances to get the Stickney family there, and it takes finances to fill and ship the container.

Tom's last day as Valley Ranch Baptist Student Pastor will be May 31st. We will be traveling to Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio and points in between during June seeing friends and raising support. We'd love to stop bye and see you if we're in your neck of the woods!

We are in the process of building our site. So an online donating tab will appear soon. ACO is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. So all donations are tax deductible.

The Need List

So many have asked us to tell them what we need, so here it is:

Full Mattress

Twin Mattress

2 Dressers

Coffee Table

End Tables

IKEA Gift Card (we've picked out some things here and feel like the shipping in flat boxes can save us room)

Washer/Dryer

Video Camera

Printer

MacBook

Trampoline

Tools (saws, hammers, nail gun, screw guns, router, screwdrivers)

Raegan wants a telescope for his birthday and won't let me not put it in this list

Curtains (Red, Brown, Yellow, Green, Purple) lined would be great

Sheets

Blankets

Throws (Blankets)

Wal-Mart Gift Cards (for the little things that you can't think of till two days before)

Thank You. Remember you can pray for this list!!