Moments of Joy

It was with great joy that we presented a "thank you" to John and Rosalyn Bailey at the MITS fundraiser at Legacy Church. The Baileys received a book chronicling their relationship with Made in the Streets titled "Tell Us Your Story." Life stories of three of the MITS girls are in the book as well as historical pictures. The woodworking boys at Kamulu made a wooden plaque with "Asante" (Swahili for "Thanks") engraved on it.

After the fundraiser, the Coulstons and family, along with Jackton and Irene and some Legacy Church members, went to DoubleDave's for pizza and fellowship. Jackton told us he had been praying for snow, since he has never in his life seen any. As we sat down to eat, a strong wind was blowing outside, and it began to snow. So Irene went outside to dance in the snow and was joined by the little girls in the group. Such fun to be with people experiencing parts of life for the first time, just as we rejoice when a street kid experiences having a bed of his own, or 3 meals a day, or a new pair of shoes, or an understanding of the God who loves him.

How Are You?

Our "base" is now the Dallas/Fort Worth area when we are in the USA. From here we go out to Tennessee, California, Iowa, Arizona and any other place where we can visit people and churches who will love street kids and us. And we arrived in time for the Texas Snow Season of 2010. We had a white Christmas and a white Valentine's Day. Then our two team members arrived from Nairobi; neither of them had ever seen snow, and Jackton was praying that God would let him see snow.

So after the fundraiser at Legacy Church, we went out for pizza at DoubleDave's with some people who helped us. And it started to snow, with the wind swirling it all around. Irene went out and danced in the snow, and Jackton went out and let it blow in his face. Delightful!

As we travel around, we see people whom we know and love. And they say "how are you?" And often my answer is, "I'm happy to be here with you." And it's true. And then I reflect on the question - it turns me inward to examine my heart and feelings and my true state.

And I have found inside myself that I am doing the very thing for which my life was created. That is a welcome joy for one who spent many years feeling inadequate and a bit restless, one whose teenage daughter painted a sweatshirt for him at Christmas one time with a lion and a lamb and the words, "May you find your peaceable kingdom."

And I have.

Showing Off

I like to show off.

I like for people to see Made in the Streets. Visitors come to see us now and then, and they go out on the streets and alleyways with us and meet street kids. And they hurt inside, because they have never seen anything that touches their hearts like this. Then they visit our Centers and see the former street kids who are with us and how they have "cleaned up" and how good and smart they are, and they are impressed. I love showing off the ministry.

I like for people to meet the people I work with. The Kenyan Team that runs Made in the Streets - these are special people. This month two of them, Jackton Omondi and Irene Otalo, are in the USA traveling with us, visiting churches and friends. And people love them and listen to them. I love showing off my friends.

I like for people to know I am a Grandad. I taught two granddaughters how to ride a bicycle last month, and I'm still glowing with excitement as much as they are. I love showing off my family.

I like for people to know about the church -- and about the churches that are a rich part of my life. Eastside and Redwood and Campbell and Palo Alto and Conejo and GCR and Mt. Ave and Simi and Otter and Central and South Mac and Singing Oaks and Prestoncrest and Legacy and Hamilton and A&M and.... I love to show off the church.

I like for people to know that I respect Jesus. I confidently sing "He is here, He is here, He is moving among us, and He is here." I love showing off my Jesus.

Snow Think

Watching the snow pile up and thinking of deeper things. What a creation water is! Made of relatively simple and common atomic structures, water is itself fairly simple molecular structure. Maybe that accounts for the incredible flexibility from ice to liquid to vapor in the cloud. There are so many forms of water, and all are beautiful in their own ways. Perhaps snow is the most amazing, though Crater Lake has its charm.

God knew we would enjoy all the forms of water. And that means He had our enjoyment in mind as well as the utility of water's functions. And that makes we appreciate Him all the more.

Winter Wonderland

Yes, we are at Fort Worth/Dallas! It continues to snow today. We stood outside and watched the biggest flakes I have ever seen, and it was wonderful. Of course, we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 20 years and only saw it snowing once. And the last 18 years in Nairobi we have NOT seen it snow! So for us this is just great, and this afternoon when granddaughters come from school, we'll play in it and make snow ice cream and have lots of fun. The pic is of the house we are having built for our happy use when we are in the USA. Our hearts are in Nairobi with street kids, but being here with family and friends is also our joy. Let it snow!

Loving Jesus MORE

Today I feel so grateful to friends who support us. To those who don't know us well, my mom used to come and spend 6 months each year with us, teaching and loving street kids. She was with us in the beginning and set up our English curriculum; she loved teaching them to read and was equally "at home" sitting in a street base or living in a nearby apartment to ours in the slum. Now, she's in a home, with two loving caregivers, and she sleeps most of the time. Seven years ago she forgot my name; this was when I returned from Kenya after not being with her for 6 months. When I got there, she had "moved"; she didn't know where she was. And I didn't know where she was either; she was lost in her mind. Now, she sleeps most of the time, and I think she recognizes my voice. This has been hard on me. I leave her and go to Africa. It's not easy.

What makes it possible is friends who love God and thus love her. Let me just tell you about one friend, Michelle. She's had two wonderful ideas I'd like to share; the ideas might help some of you with a parent like mine. Last time I was there, Michelle said, "Let's run by the mall. I need to do some shopping." Well, OK.... She took me to Build A Bear, and together we picked out the softest animal and do you know, they have a "voice" you can put inside. So I stepped into the restroom, and tearfully sang a song to Mom, and we put it in the bunny. Michelle bought it and I took it to Mom. If you press a bunny foot, she can hear my voice. Mom's two caregivers think it's great and fun too, so they press it a lot. And so do other visitors that come to be with Mom.

Michelle's other idea is that she's made Mom her "MITS prayer partner". Every time Michelle comes, she prays with Mom about MITS. How appropriate. I do know that if Mom could talk, she would tell me to be in Africa, for she loves those street kids too. My other friends come to read Scripture, sing, pray, and (I hope) press the bunny foot, ha. I really, really, appreciate them!

So today, as you live for Jesus in so many ways, just know that as you impact others, we really appreciate it and feel God's arms around us and around those we must leave in our choice of service to Jesus.

Have a busy day! Darlene

SUCH A GOOD TIME

I have been having such a good time that I haven't had time to write.

Reminds me of a story from the early church. The apostle John had survived longer than the other apostles, and he was elderly near the end of the first century. There was much turmoil in the Roman Empire, charges of sedition and disloyalty were being brought against various people, and the new emperor wanted to be called god as well as honored.

So some of the Christians tried to convince John to write his memories -- "you were with Jesus," "you were there at the beginning," "you saw the church at its origin," "you witnessed the resurrection of Jesus," and so on. But John resisted, saying that he wanted to keep on teaching, that he was having the best of times, that the Word received in a heart is the most joyful of events, that the "word of mouth" is the most believeable means of communication.

Perhaps it is the Lord himself who arranged John's exile from Ephesus, so that John would have opportunity to be led by the Spirit to write a story of Jesus and to "see" the apocalyptic or hidden truth underlying life in this age.

Anyway, I have been having a good time -- with the church, with family, with little girls who are learning basketball, with friends. But today begins a period of discipline, in which I will write regularly, and get more work done.

May you get done what you desire.