A is for Amazing!

I think I must have the most amazing husband in the world. For my birthday, he created an incredible day for me...well, week, actually. First, a plane was coming up. So what did he do? He flew up 40 roses on that plane...(and some chocolate bars, another wonderful surprise that we can't get up here in the desert)!

Then, because we had a prayer retreat the week before my birthday, he had our neighbor Rachel Andersen make me a yummy chocolate cake, and a fellow missionary, Susannah Kelty, decorated it. It looks like it was made professionally, doesn't it?

Then, for the actual birthday, he found me some desert flowers, made me breakfast in bed and then arranged for the boys to be watched for the night while he whisked me off to a local lodge. I am very blessed to have this wonderful husband!

I should also note that he took the boys camping on Kieran's birthday, the day before mine, and stayed up late with a campfire and telling a Super K Brother story...in which, of course, our boys are the stars accomplishing all sorts of feats of daring and intrigue. So he doesn't just get "Husband of the Year Award" but also "Daddy of the Year". God is good to us!

Made in Kalacha!

Who needs a battery operated, remote-controlled, imported car or truck, when you can own a home-made, made in Kalacha, kid powered push car?

To read or not to read?

Last month we, as a TIMO team, drove south to the town of Korr to visit friends but also to observe their ministry of teaching illiterate Rendille how to read and write in their own language. We saw some amazing things. Through this ministry many have learned how to read and write, but even more exciting, many have come to faith in Jesus Christ as well.

Here Susie sits with our dear friend Robe who is currently helping to review literacy materials in preparation for a literacy program among the illiterate Gabbra. We covet your prayer for this strategic ministry.

The seasons of life

Our lives are full of seasons, and seasons by their very nature mean CHANGE. We as a family are in for a very big change; to a different place, people and ministry. This new place has trees (big ones), and grass (lots) and flowers (everywhere), and water (running is streams down the hill). Our new place has a driveway meandering down through those trees.


And this change will bring a new home and environment for the Hampton family. Here are some glimpses through the trees of our future homesite. Where you ask?

...far away to the south, across the border, back into Tanzania on the slopes of Mt. Meru, outside of the town of Arusha at TIMO base (Engedi).

We are really looking forward to this new season of life for many reasons: change of climate, change of ministry, more educational opportunities for the boys, to name a few.

However, change is never easy, and already it's hard to think about saying goodbye to all our friends (both missionaries & nationals) we have made here in the North of Kenya over the last 5 years.

Great time in Amboseli Park

Back in June our family had to travel down to Tanzania for a leadership forum. Afterwards we took a two day detour into Amboseli national park where we were blessed in so many ways. The boys were happy just to spend time by the local watering hole at our campsite.However, once we managed to pull them away from the pool they weren't too sad because of all we saw that day; a sampling of which is below:




all in all it was a perfect ending to a perfect trip - thank you God for allowing us to enjoy the beauty of the works of Your hands.

A Spider Bug Birthday for the Bug Lover, Kyle!

The Joy of Six!

Our Kyle Bear turned six today...well, a few days ago now!...even though I asked him to reconsider. I wanted him to stay five or even turn back to four. I know Kyle at those two ages - and he barely just survived! Dives and flips, flying leaps, crawling into dangerous spaces, and his insatiable curiosity of all living things - poisonous or otherwise! So the unknown of six terrifies me a bit! But time is unrelenting and another year has passed.

And Kyle Bear faces six with all the enthusiasm and bounciness of a Tigger unaware of lurking dangers...And with his energy and daredevil antics, so too our prayers and a smiling God on High accompany our Kyle Bear into these new, uncharted waters.

Six will be a white-knuckle ride of wonderment with Kyle!

District-wide youth camp (Marsabit town)

The Gabbra youth of Kalacha went to Marsabit for a time of fellowship and learning...







as well as a time to be "cold" for a change...







and a time to make new friends while reacquainting oneself with old ones...







a time to drink chai and...








break bread together...









as well as the more mundane times such as laundry...











but what we enjoyed most were the times of worship...










preaching and teaching by elders and pastors from some of the churches represented.










And on the way home, it was also a time to exercise our faith in God while we pondered how to fix one of the LandRovers, leaving us stranded for hours in the desert...












though somehow we managed to laugh and have fun while we waited.








Truly it was a great time of fellowship with God and our fellow man.

The hair has got to go!

Once again a crowd is drawn in Kalacha town, awaiting the fateful moment when the camel is slaughtered signifying the passing of a father and respected elder of the community.













Immediately after the sacrifice is complete, the hair comes off....from the youngest surviving male up to the oldest their hair has got to go!




















Scott & his friend Abudho, who is the eldest surviving son of the deceased, were born in the same year yet worlds apart and now brought together in Christ.

Chalbi team goes...

across the desert...
smiling as they go...
up Mt. Kulal 40 miles away...
thru the forest we climbed...
the Birgens...
Barbara, Charmyn and...
the Hampton family, all together for a mini retreat, and...
a few laughs as we enjoyed a few days of rest & renewal before heading...
back down the mountain again and...
thru the desert on our way back...home to Kalacha!

Reunited

Scott had to make an unplanned trip to Nairobi this past week. One of our church members, Jarso Halake, has been having some stress-related struggles. He was handling it ok for a time, but episodes of restlessness and outbursts have increased; to the point where he started throwing rocks at townspeople. After discussing the matter with the wazee (elders) it was decided Jarso needed more help than we could provide here; hence a quick trip to see a specialist in Nairobi. The projected 3 day trip turned into 5 and it was sure good to be reunited once again!

Shamelessly Adoring Him

"When we see Jesus as He is, we must turn away or else shamelessly adore Him." (from the Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard, pg. 19)

Here is Kieran's song prayer from the other night, delivered for the sole benefit of His Lord, but which I got to listen in to...

I turned from the devil to you
I turned from sin to you
I'm going to heaven
I don't know about others
The Bible says that everyone sins
Even I still sin
But with the help of the Lord
I can do what He tells me to!

Mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty Savior!

You are my Peace, my Friend, my Fortress!
You are always with me, no matter where I go or what I do
You will always be with me.
We will never be broken apart.
My King, You rule over me;
I want to be with You!

Mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty Savior!

We will always stick together.
You are the One which saves;
You are so great!
You are the One I've been searching for all of these days.
I finally, finally found You!

Mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty Savior!

Go to Bed You Sleepyheads!

Childhood Sweethearts!

While in Tanzania for a seminar, we got to spend time with Lillee Arensen, one of Kaedon's very best friends...and the rest of her family too. Lillee and Kaedon hit it off once again.

Kaedon takes the plunge

Sunday School camp, April '09

Two days after our teens learned that Jesus commands us, "freely you have received, freely give", they took up the challenge to give out what they've learned to the next generation under them. It was a great day for our teens as they organized lessons, taught the Word of God, planned meals and games all for the benefit of their younger brothers, sisters & neighbors.
Here Charmyn is sitting in on a Bible lesson.
Guyo is overseeing instruction of God's Word to the youth of our church.
The older girls serving the younger kids while cooking their lunch.

Gabbra youth camp, April '09

"Freely you have received, freely give." This was the theme of our youth camp, which focused on teaching our Gabbra youth to first recognize all that they have received from Christ, and second to willingly share with those around them some of that blessing (spiritually & physically). Our youth were challenged each day through interactive seminar's, testimonies & worship, all interspersed with breaks for chai, lunch and of course fun! Below are images of our youth...please pray for them!

At the end of a long but rewarding day together.

I'm embarrassed to say, but the girls were pulling as hard as the men.

Pastor John & Adan enjoying a cup of chai.

Scott & some youth drinking chai before returning to more sessions.

One game was to lead partners thru an obstacle course which required great listening and direction-giving skills. Here's Robe starting off.

Worship time inside the church.

Scott explaining how the obstacle course game was to be played.

Charmyn & Robe enjoy a laugh as they wait for the next session.

Barbara gives Ware some keen advice before she starts out through the obstacles.

Barako is an amazing musician who loves using his gifts to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.

All tied up in knots was another game which worked well for groups under 10....20+ people though are a little more difficult to unravel. :-)

Angels in coveralls

About a week and a half ago we realized that Kyle's passport had expired and we were due to leave the country soon. What to do? We made the decision to make a quick trip down to Nairobi in order to start the process in time at the Embassy so it would be ready at the end of May when we travel to Tanzania.

The Chalbi desert was still dry so going down we made good time; up until 80km from the tarmac at Isiolo that is. That's when our Landy suddenly died. Being the fearless & clueless mechanic that I am, I opened the hood to find the problem where air was being pulled into the fuel line - not what you want with a diesel. So after changing out the part, which we happened to have by God's grace, I then proceeded to bleed the line of air. After many attempts, and hours later, still no fuel coming forward to the engine; obviously not the only problem. :-)

That's when God sent along the first set of angels. A lorry stopped and graciously offered to pull us up the road to a road-crew campsite. It was there where we found our angels in coveralls. Two mechanics, who didn't know us from Adam, set to work on our vehicle until finally we were off and running again down toward tarmac.

15km later and our vehicle stopped dead (Jezebel was slowing turning into the antichrist). But yet again God provides three angels driving a water truck who stopped and offered to pull us the rest of the way as they couldn't bear to see 3 kids and a family spend the night in the bush.

After being pulled slowly in a cloud of dust for over an hour we finally arrive in Archer's Post where we could buy enough diesel to push us on to Isiolo. At 10pm we all fell into bed exhausted but thankful to God that we were sleeping in beds and not on the roadside.

The next day down to Nairobi went smoothly and by Monday before lunch we had Kyle's paperwork in and submitted for renewal.

Another reminder to our family that we travel "not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit, says the Lord".

A Grandparent Letter!

Dear Grandmopsy and Grandpopsy, Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop,

I love you. Jesus is alive! Jesus was dead on the cross. Uriah, a friend of ours, is here, and Jael, and Acacia, and Mariam. We have a dog and his name is Mikey. We have a TIMO Team, and their names are Aunt Barbara, Aunt Charmyn, Aunt Salome, Uncle Paul, and Enok and Ezra. We have more friends here - James and Abijah and Ezekiel and Benson. We play with our friends. We have lots of marbles here. Some lights in our church don't work. And we have a new ball, a big one. We have a bunk bed and a bed under the bunk bed and a bed on the other side. Me and Kieran and Kaedon have Bibles that have pictures in them. Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. We have good candy and twizzlers.

I love you.
Kyle

One starry night near the Chalbi...

One starry night this last week a group from our local church, including Pastor John, Paul, Charmyn, 5 local believers and Scott, headed out to a village called Olla Harangesa on the outskirts of Kalacha. We arrived late and unannounced, but nevertheless Abb Sharamo and his family hosted us anyway. As we were seated outside their traditional hut on mats woven of palm leaves, and under a myriad of stars, we could hear the fire crackling inside where a big pot of chai was boiling in preparation for us to partake. Nearby the goats & sheep were making an awful noise as they had just come in from grazing. Immediately the little boys & girls who had been seated next to us on the ground ran off to milk their animals before herding them into the mona (corral) where they'd sleep safely till morning.

This was the scene in which we told our host & his family the story of God's creation of the heavens & the earth and how all that was around them came into being. And that night God's Word, together with His creation, gave a powerful testimony of His love & care to that family whom He made in His own image.

Our hope & prayer is that this visit will be but the first of many to tell God's story of creation & redemption to Sharamo and his whole family. Will you pray with us for this outreach opportunity?

Back in the saddle again!

Our last trip down to Nanyuki for resupply, we found a very enjoyable way to relax and enjoy the beauty of God's creation at the same time.