One of our USA jobs is taking the grandkids to school in the morning. That's after making a raspberry smoothie, toasting an English muffin and scrambling an egg, then sitting down to talk to them for a few minutes. And there are three schools to drop them at, with careful timing. So…yesterday one of the kids said, "Are you picking us up today instead of us riding the bus?" And I said, "Do you have a reason for picking you up?" And the kid answered, "That way we get to see you quicker…"
Now that, I said, is a politic answer. How can I say no? It is great when our kids learn how to say just the right thing, in just the right way. Of course, my heart is pretty soft where they are concerned. Of course they got a pick-up in the afternoon. They don't even have to pose the question that nicely.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
2013
A few days ago our family had a sharing time before a meal, as we often do. Our question was, "Did you accomplish what you wanted to in 2013?" "No," was one answer, but I thought back over all that had happened in our family and at Made in the Streets last year. And I could not think of anything we worked at that was not done, so my answer was, "yes."
A great unity and purpose was fulfilled in family life with a focus on the Spirit of Christ. Good bonding has taken place, which was my goal. We had a great experience with four grandkids, taking them on a Trans-Western Tour for two weeks. We drove through Amarillo, visiting the Indian Museum. We drove part of old Route 66 in Tucumcari and went in a curio shop shaped like a tepee. We saw the painted desert and the petrified forest and the Grand Canyon. We went to Sequoia National Forest and had a great experience with a little butterfly as well as seeing the biggest living thing. We played on the beach at Malibu, visited friends and walked around Santa Barbara. How great it is to be the Grandad.
And at Made in the Streets we made great strides -- we graduated several who had come from the streets and they found jobs. We built the last of the buildings we need to do the ministry at Kamulu. We gained ownership of blocks of land for future expansion and/or capitalization for the ministry. We took in at Kamulu more than 20 from the streets. We added stellar people to our ministry Team. We had visitors from the USA who blessed us richly. We learned a lot about solving problems and doing mediations and teaching stimulating lessons. We worked our way through the Bible using "The Story" as our source.
I'm satisfied.
I have some new plans for 2014. Tell you later.
Charles
A great unity and purpose was fulfilled in family life with a focus on the Spirit of Christ. Good bonding has taken place, which was my goal. We had a great experience with four grandkids, taking them on a Trans-Western Tour for two weeks. We drove through Amarillo, visiting the Indian Museum. We drove part of old Route 66 in Tucumcari and went in a curio shop shaped like a tepee. We saw the painted desert and the petrified forest and the Grand Canyon. We went to Sequoia National Forest and had a great experience with a little butterfly as well as seeing the biggest living thing. We played on the beach at Malibu, visited friends and walked around Santa Barbara. How great it is to be the Grandad.
And at Made in the Streets we made great strides -- we graduated several who had come from the streets and they found jobs. We built the last of the buildings we need to do the ministry at Kamulu. We gained ownership of blocks of land for future expansion and/or capitalization for the ministry. We took in at Kamulu more than 20 from the streets. We added stellar people to our ministry Team. We had visitors from the USA who blessed us richly. We learned a lot about solving problems and doing mediations and teaching stimulating lessons. We worked our way through the Bible using "The Story" as our source.
I'm satisfied.
I have some new plans for 2014. Tell you later.
Charles
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sort-of Anniversary
C. S. Lewis died on November 22 that year. I mourned when I heard about it. I had just been introduced to his writings in October, and I had read almost everything already. But that isn't my story today…this one comes almost a month later...
As of tonight, Darlene and I have known one another for 50 years - that's sort-of an anniversary. After this much time, I have no memory of much that has happened. All that I remember is golden and bright. Am I naive still, or has our time together been as wonderful as I remember? I do remember clearly how we met.
I had a blind date on the campus of Abilene Christian College (yes, it was that long ago!). It was snowing lightly; it seemed to be a romantic December evening. We threw a few snowballs, the four of us, and my friend and I went back to Zellner Dorm with the girls. I didn't feel really good about how it went (no, it wasn't Darlene). I admit it was cold, but she certainly didn't warm to me. I found out later that she went back to the dorm and told her roommate what a boring date she had. Well, not just boring, this guy had a weird sense of humor and he wasn't good-looking and…. Her roommate sat and listened to all she had to say. Ah…failure…my old friend.
Then the roommate went down the hall, found the other girl who had been out on this double-date and said, "Get me a date with that guy my roommate went out with." Later she was to say, "I knew what my roommate was looking for in a guy, and my roommate and I were very different, so…."
So…my next blind date was with Darlene - Tuesday, December 17, 1963 - 50 years ago today. When my friend came by my room in the old wooden dorm where i lived (The Barracks), I said, "What do you mean, a date? Don't you remember what happened last week? I need to study. Why would I want another blind date with someone you recommend?" But he was persuasive. We went walking - I wasn't expecting much by this time - went over to Templeton's Pharmacy and had a coke, spent time talking with one another and the same couple as before. We knew the same joke, and we found out our parents lived only about 20 miles apart in Oklahoma. At 10:00 pm we went over to the steps of the Administration building for the Tuesday night devo.
I went back to my room thinking, "I'd marry that girl." The next day was Christmas break. I was in the cafeteria, sitting at a table for eight with six of my friends, an empty seat beside me. How did that happen? I looked up and saw Darlene coming through the line with her tray of food. I got her attention and invited her to come and sit with us. We enjoyed lunch…then Darlene said she needed to go. I offered to bus her tray and she started to walk out. I came back by the table to said goodbye, and her friend from the dorm reached across to shake my hand (what?), and when I pulled my hand back, there was a piece of paper in it. I hurried out and caught up with Darlene and walked with her to Zellner. Just before I said goodbye I said, "Can I come see you during holiday?" And she said, "yes," and inside I said "Yes! I am going to marry her."
I walked away a happy boy. I reached in my pocket and took out the paper. It was a map showing how to get to Darlene's parents' home in Duncan, Oklahoma. That really made my day. It was months later, after we were married, that I found out that Darlene drew the map.
I'm still a happy boy.
As of tonight, Darlene and I have known one another for 50 years - that's sort-of an anniversary. After this much time, I have no memory of much that has happened. All that I remember is golden and bright. Am I naive still, or has our time together been as wonderful as I remember? I do remember clearly how we met.
I had a blind date on the campus of Abilene Christian College (yes, it was that long ago!). It was snowing lightly; it seemed to be a romantic December evening. We threw a few snowballs, the four of us, and my friend and I went back to Zellner Dorm with the girls. I didn't feel really good about how it went (no, it wasn't Darlene). I admit it was cold, but she certainly didn't warm to me. I found out later that she went back to the dorm and told her roommate what a boring date she had. Well, not just boring, this guy had a weird sense of humor and he wasn't good-looking and…. Her roommate sat and listened to all she had to say. Ah…failure…my old friend.
Then the roommate went down the hall, found the other girl who had been out on this double-date and said, "Get me a date with that guy my roommate went out with." Later she was to say, "I knew what my roommate was looking for in a guy, and my roommate and I were very different, so…."
So…my next blind date was with Darlene - Tuesday, December 17, 1963 - 50 years ago today. When my friend came by my room in the old wooden dorm where i lived (The Barracks), I said, "What do you mean, a date? Don't you remember what happened last week? I need to study. Why would I want another blind date with someone you recommend?" But he was persuasive. We went walking - I wasn't expecting much by this time - went over to Templeton's Pharmacy and had a coke, spent time talking with one another and the same couple as before. We knew the same joke, and we found out our parents lived only about 20 miles apart in Oklahoma. At 10:00 pm we went over to the steps of the Administration building for the Tuesday night devo.
I went back to my room thinking, "I'd marry that girl." The next day was Christmas break. I was in the cafeteria, sitting at a table for eight with six of my friends, an empty seat beside me. How did that happen? I looked up and saw Darlene coming through the line with her tray of food. I got her attention and invited her to come and sit with us. We enjoyed lunch…then Darlene said she needed to go. I offered to bus her tray and she started to walk out. I came back by the table to said goodbye, and her friend from the dorm reached across to shake my hand (what?), and when I pulled my hand back, there was a piece of paper in it. I hurried out and caught up with Darlene and walked with her to Zellner. Just before I said goodbye I said, "Can I come see you during holiday?" And she said, "yes," and inside I said "Yes! I am going to marry her."
I walked away a happy boy. I reached in my pocket and took out the paper. It was a map showing how to get to Darlene's parents' home in Duncan, Oklahoma. That really made my day. It was months later, after we were married, that I found out that Darlene drew the map.
I'm still a happy boy.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
We Appreciate our Guards
Last evening Darlene and I took John Wambu and the property guards at Kamulu out to dinner. We went to Tuskys, which is a grocery store nearby. They also have a cafeteria type bar with food to go or to eat on site. They have several tables out front with plastic chairs of various makes. We think some of our guards had never been "out to eat" before. Some are from maasai land and all are country folk.
We told them to order whatever they wanted. John ordered first, getting two pieces of fried chicken. I asked him if he were getting any vegetables, so he ordered two sausages as well. When the guards saw that goat meat was cooking on the rotisserie, they were delighted. Emmanuel told me that "Men eat goat. Mamas eat chicken." Of course I had ordered a piece of chicken. They ordered goat and used up all the goat that was cooking. They also got rice and french fries and sausages. We prayed together and sat down to eat. I told them, "Darlene and I are leaving soon, so this is your Christmas dinner with us." They all ate heartily, and Emmanuel was the best eater.
I went back in and ordered pieces of chocolate cake and a bucket of ice cream. Darlene had made chai (hot tea cooked with milk) for us all. They even had food to take away to eat later that night or today.
Francis Mbuvi told us when he saw that he was reminded of the old days when Darlene and I would take the young people at Eastleigh out and tell them they could order whatever they wanted. The guards were so delighted, he said, and they couldn't stop talking about it.
It feels really good to be able to offer something to the men who keep us well protected at Kamulu. So...honor to Emmanuel, Robert, Chalo, Leonard and the other one whose name I can't remember.
We told them to order whatever they wanted. John ordered first, getting two pieces of fried chicken. I asked him if he were getting any vegetables, so he ordered two sausages as well. When the guards saw that goat meat was cooking on the rotisserie, they were delighted. Emmanuel told me that "Men eat goat. Mamas eat chicken." Of course I had ordered a piece of chicken. They ordered goat and used up all the goat that was cooking. They also got rice and french fries and sausages. We prayed together and sat down to eat. I told them, "Darlene and I are leaving soon, so this is your Christmas dinner with us." They all ate heartily, and Emmanuel was the best eater.
I went back in and ordered pieces of chocolate cake and a bucket of ice cream. Darlene had made chai (hot tea cooked with milk) for us all. They even had food to take away to eat later that night or today.
Francis Mbuvi told us when he saw that he was reminded of the old days when Darlene and I would take the young people at Eastleigh out and tell them they could order whatever they wanted. The guards were so delighted, he said, and they couldn't stop talking about it.
It feels really good to be able to offer something to the men who keep us well protected at Kamulu. So...honor to Emmanuel, Robert, Chalo, Leonard and the other one whose name I can't remember.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Pass on the Blessing
I am sitting in the back yard at a picnic table under the water tower out of the sun. I can hear some of our Made in the Streets Team members and students outside the walls. They are working in the soil, planting their own gardens. Our house sits on the corner of an acre that we bought back in 1994 when the prices were cheap, comparatively speaking. This year we decided to let Victor (our agriculture teacher and farm manager) divide up the acre into plots for each Team member and student who wants to grow vegetables, make a little money and supply MITS with food. We told them they could grow it on the halves -- keep half for themselves and give MITS half what they grow. 17 of them signed up, and they have been working when they have free time. We feel really good about being able to help each one of them have a place to work and grow food. So many people have helped us in our lives -- how great to "pass on the blessing."
Wow! Life is good!
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| Thinking about what brings me happiness, most of you know it turned out to be the "desire of my heart" to help street kids to find a new life. In two weeks these young boys who have been sleeping on the streets will come out to Kamulu to live with us. Talk about passing on the blessings! That's Moses in the middle, one of our Eastleigh Team members. |
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| And speaking of my heart's desires, soon after we moved out to Kamulu, I wanted to start an orchard. Some friends in Kentucky and Tennessee helped us get funds for it. It has taken more than four years, but this year we have mango trees with lots of fruit, and the orange, macadamia, avocado, marring and mulberry trees are also doing very well. It gives us lots of blessings that we can pass on to our students and to kids still sleeping on the streets. |
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Happy Days in London and Oxford
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| Darlene's joy was getting to eat scones with clotted cream - and drink cappuccino. |
| This caption was on a bench dedicated to Madeline Collins in Oxford University Park. Charles likes it! |
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| Charles got to see some more old Roman ruins, in the heart of London! |
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| Standing under a willow tree in Oxford University Park was like being in a Monet painting. |
| Add caption |
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
70 FOR ME
I remember a good friend in California named Fred and the day he was 70 years old. He and I were working on something at the church building in Redwood City, and he told me how bad he felt that he couldn't do any more all that he used to do. He had aches and pains, not as much strength and he had heart trouble. It hurt him to do less.
I decided then that I would do my best to prepare myself for 70, not realizing how quickly it would arrive, and how much I would still want to do. I hit that wall last month. And what a wonderful birthday I had. First I celebrated with two of the grandchildren, whose birthday is near mine. Then Darlene and I returned to Kenya by way of Croatia, seeing old friends Tom and Sandra Sibley and visiting the church in Zagreb, as well as touring the coast with the Sibleys. On my birthday I was privileged to preach twice, something I seldom do anymore. And I bought my own birthday cake and shared it with the church (I can't eat it since I'm a diabetic, but they enjoyed). And birthday lunch was a great sirloin steak at the Vinidor in Zagreb -- a nice place. So...it's not bad being 70.
We are getting ready for The Story Project Seminar at Kamulu -- 50 representatives from 50 congregations in Kenya -- in which we will give a copy of The Story and about 450 pages of materials we have used in classes, sermons and small groups this year as we have gone through The Story. Various MITS Team members and church leaders will present on how they have used The Story. So Darlene and I have been getting rooms ready -- beds, mattresses, bedding and so on -- for the seminar. We have been working to get new "MITS Visitor" quarters ready also for next year. We put 5 bunk beds together yesterday, painted cabinets, and moved furniture around.
And now Darlene's birthday has come! Of course she is much younger than I.
I am slowing down some. It's a little hard for me to bend down enough to put on my socks and shoes. I have to stretch a little, then put my foot up on a chair and push down!! And I leave some things to Jackton and Robin and Francis and Joel and Moses and other MITS Team members. And they are glad to help me out. How wonderful to work with a Team of servant-minded people who love me!
I told the kids in chapel today that it is a wonderful thing to learn the song "Jesus loves me" and to know all your life that it is really true, that the love of Jesus is really for me, and that all of life is a gift from Him, and that his gifts are great treasures.
It's not so bad being 70.
I decided then that I would do my best to prepare myself for 70, not realizing how quickly it would arrive, and how much I would still want to do. I hit that wall last month. And what a wonderful birthday I had. First I celebrated with two of the grandchildren, whose birthday is near mine. Then Darlene and I returned to Kenya by way of Croatia, seeing old friends Tom and Sandra Sibley and visiting the church in Zagreb, as well as touring the coast with the Sibleys. On my birthday I was privileged to preach twice, something I seldom do anymore. And I bought my own birthday cake and shared it with the church (I can't eat it since I'm a diabetic, but they enjoyed). And birthday lunch was a great sirloin steak at the Vinidor in Zagreb -- a nice place. So...it's not bad being 70.
We are getting ready for The Story Project Seminar at Kamulu -- 50 representatives from 50 congregations in Kenya -- in which we will give a copy of The Story and about 450 pages of materials we have used in classes, sermons and small groups this year as we have gone through The Story. Various MITS Team members and church leaders will present on how they have used The Story. So Darlene and I have been getting rooms ready -- beds, mattresses, bedding and so on -- for the seminar. We have been working to get new "MITS Visitor" quarters ready also for next year. We put 5 bunk beds together yesterday, painted cabinets, and moved furniture around.
And now Darlene's birthday has come! Of course she is much younger than I.
I am slowing down some. It's a little hard for me to bend down enough to put on my socks and shoes. I have to stretch a little, then put my foot up on a chair and push down!! And I leave some things to Jackton and Robin and Francis and Joel and Moses and other MITS Team members. And they are glad to help me out. How wonderful to work with a Team of servant-minded people who love me!
I told the kids in chapel today that it is a wonderful thing to learn the song "Jesus loves me" and to know all your life that it is really true, that the love of Jesus is really for me, and that all of life is a gift from Him, and that his gifts are great treasures.
It's not so bad being 70.
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