Greetings from Nakuru:

The kids and I are spending our first night in the house by ourselves. Tom is in Nairobi for the night. They don’t seem bothered at all. Can’t say that I feel quite the same. I think I’ll end up sleeping in their new bunk beds with them. So glad we got the full size mattress on bottom.

We are still in the process of fighting day to day struggles of getting the house in order; can the electrician come again today, the water still not pumping up to the tanks, building this and that, the fundis (workers) hauling gravel and materials up my driveway with a wheel barrel 20 times a day, trying to figure out what in the world to use for cat litter, I wish I had on video what the “pet” store owner and his customer said to me and the way they looked at me when I asked if they carried cat litter. Long Pause….”You mean where they use the toilet?” “Most people here use soil.” Duh, how stupid am I, of course I should think to just go dig up the yard and put it in a box and that is exactly the same thing as cat littler. Oh well, at least they had a good laugh. The British Lady gave me a scowl and some explanation about you could use grat. Oh, thanks so much. I’ll run to the Grat store and get some right away. And yes, of course I couldn’t help myself but to ask her what grat was? I wont bother explaining because I didn’t understand what she said, I don’t know if it was the british accent or the you’re the stupidest American in the world trying to buy cat litter in Africa tone that kept me from understanding. We were hoping the month of August would have been us adjusting and enjoying our new “set up” home and helping the kids to have fun every day so they don’t miss home too much. But instead it has been a month filled with workers at the house every day trying to fix one thing or another and us running back and forth to town for materials. The crate arrived the day before we left for Mombassa. I’ve had a total of about 3 days to unpack and have managed to unpack maybe 10 boxes. The great idea of how neatly the ikea furniture would pack in the crate is being second guessed as it seems to take poor Tom about 3 hours to put together each piece. The new coffee table and tv stand however are beautiful in my yellow living room and it brought such a surprising joy today to unpack some knick knacks that made the room feel so cozy. Like the coasters we’ve had since we got married, my faith love and joy letters. So even though I’m surrounded by a maze of boxes in every direction I’m thankful for these small gifts of comfort.

I was hoping to be much more plugged into ministry at this point, but I have only had one night of knocking on doors to share the gospel and I think I will be unable to be involved in the girls bible studies for another 2-4 weeks. Even though it’s not what I had hoped, I know I need more time to get our home in order and get my little ones comfortable in school and myself able to somewhat exist here, like maybe go to the grocery store by myself. I keep reminding myself of a missionary story that I randomly read recently (I’m not the avid reader). She had spent all this training and time in nursing school and missionary training and when she got on the field it seemed that all God wanted her to do was hand out water to the children that knocked on her door daily. She felt so wasted until God finally told her, “Are you willing to “just” hand out water for me all day?” She was a nurse and of course had different ideas for what her being a missionary would look like.

The kids are starting school next Monday and I would be so grateful for your prayers: specifically about:

*Their teachers being kind and gentle

*Adjusting to non filtered water

*Adjusting to food that looks different that especially Sydney probably will

not eat. I’m hoping their not forced to eat their lunches or miss privileges if

they don’t. I am fearful of the British system and it’s strictness.

*making new friends quickly. They are desperate for friends and playmates.

Thank you for sharing these prayer requests for the kids with your Sunday school classes or small groups this week.

Some of you have asked about sending care packages. There is a girl coming from Plano September 23^rd. She can bring several extra suitcases. I have made a list of the items we wish we would have brought more of and if you would like to pick any of these items up and take them by the church. I have asked Jennifer Jones if she would have a box in her office where they could be dropped off. I have not heard back form Jennifer for sure, but if she doesn’t have room, I’m sure we can start a box somewhere at the church, so that maybe we could just get one person to drop them by Plano, Tom’s mom’s house. If anyone is out of town and would like to mail a wal-mart gift card to someone who might be willing to pick these things up in Dallas so you don’t have to pay for shipping, let me know and I can give you a name and address. Please comment if you think you might pick up a certain item under this note so someone else will know not to get that one and also so I can maybe find someone to make a last minute wal-mart trip if need be. It would be great if these items could be collected by September 13.

The list:

-Stawberry or cherry caugh drops

-Honey-lemon caugh drops

-Quacker strawberries & cream instant oatmeal. 3 or more boxes.

(pack packages out of box in Tupperware)

-Apple sauce, ( large plastic jar or disposable cups)

-(6-10boxes) Pop tarts -brown sugar/cinnamon & strawberry w/ frosting (also

pack in Tupperware if possible)

-Tupperware ( set of 20 or whatever set comes in). Please unpack and pack other soft food items in Tupperware to save room; hand me down tupperware would be great too, doesn’t need to be new. If you just want to donate one container.

-Bandaids, (assorted sizes & some large bandage coverings)

-2 bottles of Childrens pepto bismol chewable tablets

-chewable dramamine

-Alka-seltzer

-Sudafed-behind counter kind

-eye drops

-4 Large ziplock bags (freezer)

-4 Sandwich size ziplock bags (freezer)

-Pudding powder boxes ( chocolate, vanilla)

-2-3 Lysol spray

Mosquito repellant

Mosquito repellant

Mosquito repellant

Mosquito repellant

Mosquito repellant

LUXURY ITEMS

2 Franks hot sauce

4 Rasberry Hazelnut salad dressing

2 Thousand island salad dressing

Sonny bryans barbeque sauce

Any good salsa

Velveeta

Citranella candles

Vanilla candles

Large purple or pink dog collar & leash

Baby shampoo ( purple kind, lavendar)

Loreal 28 day hair color, level 2, dark blonde or light brown. NO Ash, Warm or Golden in the name of the color

If anyone is good friends with a vet, I know these are expensive items so anything to help with fleas/ticks would be appreciated.

Flea collar-dogs over 50 lbs

Frontline (dog tick flea killer) for dogs over 50 lbs

Revolution (flea tick/heartworm medicine from vet). for dogs over 50 lbs

Cat flea/tick medicine

Large Horn from a Mac truck!

Entry #3

I had my first breakdown this week when left to myself in the house for a few hours because Tom was not feeling well.You would have been extremely amused at the fight I had with some shelves and a sewing machine Sunday.. The shelves won.They did not budge no matter how hard I hit them with the 100 year old solid metal sewing machine. Tom was sitting there watching me and calmly said in “Tom manner”, you might need that sewing machine in a few weeks to fix your curtains. :) The next day there were painters and a carpenter at my house. I have a good husband.

The kids are enjoying their new house and yard even though they are anxiously awaiting their bikes and bunk beds to arrive on the crate. Star Wars and Narnia are their huge enchantments right now as they watch as much as we will allow them to on their little portable dvd player in their new BLUE room. They love it. It’s cracking me up that they are perfectly content with their little portable dvd player laying on a twin bed next to each other on their bellies watching. And we thought they needed a TV room in Dallas. So silly, we are. No worries, we’ll have them spoiled and rotten again in no time if the crate ever arrives and their toy room/tv room gets set up. They also are spending a lot of time enacting their star wars and Narnia adventures throughout our yard. It’s very interesting to watch these two worlds of Narnia and Star Wars merge into one.

The tree that fell over the top of the house during the 10 minute hail storm has been removed. The tree cutter guy brought his machete and overlooked the tall ladder and shimmied up the tree with his legs wrapped around it and began cutting. Ropes were tied around the sections that he cut off and tried to be pulled away from the house as they fell to the ground. Only one window was busted during the whole event. Sequinta (our new contractor friend from up the street) has been at the house almost daily solving new problems that occur. He had someone there to replace the window by the afternoon, however because the rains were coming in again, the window pane slipped and broke but was placed gently in to keep water and mosquitos out until he could get another piece the next day. He is trying to find tiles for the roof to replace the broken ones and hopes to have those done next week.

Raegan asks daily when we are returning to Texas. Tonight, we had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, friend okra, macaroni and cheese and black eyed peas for supper. Sydney says, “Mom, this taste like “Texas Corn”. And Raegan says, I wish they had cheese dip and salsa in Africa. Bless his heart, not a day goes by that he doesn’t say he misses Texas or wishes he was in Texas

Ellias was so excited about his new push lawnmower that Tom spent one afternoon this week buying. There are no words to express the amount of time it takes to accomplish the task of buying something, rather it be going to the grocery store, not to mention the hardware store. Tom tried to drop me off and run get gas for the stove to pick up another liter of paint, that we had put in the order for 3 hours earlier. The manager says, “Well, you can take my guy to the paint supply place across town or we might have it ready tomorrow.” Well, sure why not. Can you imagine running the paint guy from Wal-Mart in one town over to the next Wal Mart to get the appropriate base paint and bringing him back and then waiting for him to mixi it! Welcome to Kenya. It was at this point in the day that we decided a bank account could wait another day, Since the first day Tom tried to open an account, they told him even if he had a million dollars he could not open it without 5 letters from different organizations recommending him and confirming who he was. However, the opposite of that is to register a child at school, you just fill out the form. No need for certificates of any kind. We are learning to understand the Kenyan phrase, “Tomorrow is a day.”

Our Family Church lesson this morning was on Joshua and the kids memory verse this week is “Do not fear!” Isaiah 35:4. We re-enacted the Israelites following Joshua (tom) into the promised land and looked for scary giants in the yard. (like the massive bird we saw cross behind some flowers) We took notice of all the beautiful blessings of the promised land like the flowers and the strong trees. We talked to the children about anything they might be scared of and prayed together about their bicycles arriving safely, the crate getting here soon, mommy sleeping better at night and safety in travel to Nairobi tomorrow. I highly recommend the pre-K Sunday school lesson for family church any Sunday, but only if your willing to dress up and act out the story together. Thank you VRBC youth for the idea. They did such a good job at the orphanages getting the students involved acting out the stories instead of just listening to them.

Everywhere I turn God is leading me to study Joshua and this move to Canaan. This journey to the promised land. This following of God. This when he says do something, you go first thing in the morning to do it-whenever your morning is, mine is normally not the same time as the rest of the world.

I am so moved today by what Priscilla (one in a million bible study, says). It’s not enough any more to hear the stories of the saints who have heard the voice of God, seen the miracles of God, experienced the power of God. I want to experience the power of God, hear the voice of God and expect the miracles of God in MY life. My I trust that my his power is mighty enough for my seas to be parted. May I be open and ready to hear when he speaks, and to act when he moves.

Blessings,

Kerry

Prayer Request:

Raegan missing home and everyone who meant so much to him

Sydney-keeps making strides in her communication and learning

Kerry-patience with new pace of life, for new relationships & friendships to form quickly

Tom-wisdom, new student orientation at Moi and Egerton University

Safety for our team going to Botswania for 2 weeks to help missionaries there start college ministry

Negotiations to buy house and vehicles

Day 2

Nairobi, Kenya

Team leaves for orphanage tour. Babysitter is not here yet, so I stay. I think (“ Maybe I will read or rest”)

Or…..

Alice needs to go to the Doctor. He says he can see her NOW. Babysitter arrives. I will go with Alice. (“maybe I will read or work on pictures while I wait at doctor’s office.”)

Alice: “Kerry could you drive, I’m not feeling well.”

Kerry: “I guess; should I get my license?”

Alice: “No, it’ll be ok.

Call to Tom. “WHAT? Your driving where? Take your license.”

(“OMG, we are in Nairobi, so much for my plan to learn to drive in 3 months or so in the much slower paced town of Nakuru. It’s Friday of course. Busier day of traffic, even though all days of traffic in Nairobi is CRAZY. Well, here we go, no lessons, no country roads, just masses of people and cars and matatus to swerve between.”)

We arrive at hospital. Parking lot is similar to elementary car pool line on steroids. Cars are parked on each side of me in 1 lane of spots and cars are parked parallel behind the parked cars. One line of traffic is driving between this garbled mess.

Alice: “I’ll jump out here. Go up and around and left and you’ll see a parking lot. Give the man your ticket and he’ll give you another. You’ll see it around the corner.”

I see nothing now but a jumbled mess of cars. I pull forward, I find "up and around and left and parking lot", Parking Lot Closed! Awesome. What now? I will just circle. I don’t know where I am so I can’t get out of parking lot. 5 very slow circles. I’m calling Tom now, what am I supposed to do. He says Edwin is close. He will come to help. A man knocks on my window. I’m nervous about opening it, I’m holding up the circle of traffic. He asks me if I need help; if I would like his parking spot? I say yes, so he gets a van parked parallel to move up, he moves his car and lets me back into his spot. (Did I mention back in? It couldn’t be as easy as pulling into a spot in this jam of traffic. J)

The van pulls back in front of me and I wait hoping I didn’t just trap my self in perfectly to this spot to be robbed. But the man was just a gift from God, who gave me his spot. We joke about praying for parking spots close at Wal Mart. I always think that’s lame, but today I have no doubt God had that man give me his spot. I think, what now. I look down, Alice has left her phone in the car, she has no idea where I am parked and I have no idea where her doctor’s office is. Edwin arrives! He gets out and talks to the guy blocking me in. Their conversation is in Swahili-this day is great motivation for me to speed up my learning of Swahili. Edwin finds out that the man will be there to move when we come out of the doctor, so we set off to find Alice in the hospital. Edwin finds out from the reception where his office is and we head to the elevators. We get on first; we are going to 5^th floor. Other people get on. Edwin nudges me to tell me we must get off. I’m confused but I do. I then ask why. He says. “Too much Weight! This was definitely the highlight of the day getting told to get off the elevator because I weighed too much! I’m loving it. Seriously, it’s getting hysterical. How funny is that. Can you imagine if that happened to us in America, we would be completely humiliated and freaking out about it, but trust me it was just too funny for words. Day 2 in Kenya, get off the elevator your too fat! J Love it!

I managed to drive us several other spots to pick up prescriptions. So driving lessons complete. Nakuru will be like the difference of New York City and West Texas farm roads now. One obstacle accomplished!

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.