Redemption.

Five months ago, while we sat in church Bible study, a group of girls passed by on their way back home from getting water and looked in the door.  There was nothing unusual about this, it happens multiple times every week.  But this week was different.  This week, one of the girls set down her jerry can and told her friends something, obviously trying to convince them of something.  Soon, she walked in the door and sat down on the bench.  Her friends watched for a while and then picked up their jerry cans and moved on.  This girl stayed.  She introduced herself and sat and listened.  She had been coming to church in the past, but in recent days, our church had a shift and she and many of her friends and stopped coming so often.  Over the past five months we have seen her almost every Sunday and even many Thursdays when she doesn't have school.
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Two months ago, a man stood up in church and introduced himself as a prophet.  It soon became clear that he was a false prophet.  Many of the first things he said sounded so true, but it soon became obvious that he had done his research about the church because he started saying things that were not true at all.  At the end of the service, two of our church leaders sat down and talked with him.  They found out that he was not even a Christian.  However, after talking with him for a while he decided that he wanted to become a Christian.  Since then he has been an active member in our church and has been learning more and more about God's love for him.
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Two weeks ago, another man walked into our church and introduced himself as wanting to get saved.  He walked out with our pastor and got saved right then.  He came back in and gave testimony that he had been spending any money he got on alcohol {most of us had guessed that}, but he felt that he didn't want to live that life anymore.  He had now given his life to God and wanted God to take over his life and help him leave the old life behind.  He has come to church the last two Sundays, sober and eager to worship.
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A week ago, fourteen GSF kids asked for their name to be put on a list because they wanted to be baptized.  Each kids was matched with an adult to have a conversation with before the baptisms.  One of those kids is already a Christian, but after more conversation, it was decided that he is not ready to take this step yet.  Five of them were younger and did not yet understand everything about salvation and/or baptism.  However, they have now gotten to start this conversation with an adult and we pray that God will continue moving in their hearts as they think about the things they have been told in the past week.  We also had two other kids who are Christians, but did not sign up at first because they wanted some time to ponder it.
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Saturday, October 11th, the sun was beating down on the little blow-up pool on GSF's field.  It was baptism day for Light of the World Church.  We met at GSF because we had clean running water for baptisms.  Many people got baptized that day.  A girl who had to break away from the crowd to follow Jesus.  A former false prophet.  An ex-drunk man.  Mothers.  Grandmothers.  Young people and adults.  People who had been saved for a while or just a few days.  A few people who had rededicated their lives that week.  In total, there were 11 people from GSF and 11 others - in total 22 people.  It was such a blessing to see not only children, but also many adults taking this step to get baptized.  Rejoice with us for these lives and join us in praying for them as they continue to grow in faith.  Also, please be praying for the other kids at GSF who have begun conversations about salvation, that God would continue to move in their hearts.

Future. Thoughts. Plans.

Some of the older GSF disabled kids sorting beans

The question I've been asked most recently is 'what are your plans after high school?' {or some form of that}.  In the beginning it made me pretty nervous because NOTHING felt firm.  Now, I've gotten more comfortable answering it, partially because I'm feeling more sure of my plans and partly because I've answered that question so many times now.  I kind of just know now how to answer that question without making anything sound too firm.  This morning when my mom suggested that I write this post, it made me nervous again, but here I am writing it because I am sure many of you are asking some of these questions.  Let us go through question by question.

Two of our girls at GSF who are always holding hands

When do you graduate high school?  I technically am in my senior year right now and will finish in April.  But, I was doing online school and when you have bad internet and you aren't too good at math, well, you get the picture.  I need an extra math.  I will be doing it all in one semester since that will be my only class and we have an experienced high school math teacher here right now.

Dream seemed like a good word for this post.

What next?  Really good question.  The only thing I know for sure is that I am basically set on going to Word of Life in Florida for a year.  Word of Life is a Bible Institute {and they also have camps and other things} that has 4 campuses.  You can do 1 year, 2 year and 3 year courses.  You can find out more on their website here.  It seems like the most convenient time for me would be Spring 2016.  But that is only for closure reasons.  The Florida campus is small and everyone takes the same classes, so it looks like Fall 2016 might be better on that end.  I don't know exact numbers yet, but I am guessing not a whole lot of students go in the spring semester and it probably wouldn't be the best for a student to start in the middle of the year.

Sorry for all the hand pictures.  I apparently have a lot of them.

Are you looking at colleges?  Which ones?  Yes.  My current choices are Union University {In Jackson, Tennessee} and Liberty University {in Lynchburg, Virginia}.

Taking a picture of something on the side of the road in Kenya

What are you looking at majoring in?  At this point, my options are Photojournalism and Special Education.  I say 'at this point' because I have recently been investigating a 3rd option, but it is all new, so I'm just not going to mention it here now.

With Praise, one of our special girls

Why Photojournalism and Special Education?  Basically because I love writing, photography, helping people with special needs and teaching.  And I believe I am gifted in all of them.  I've had a good amount of experience in all of these areas and feel pretty comfortable in them.  At this point I am leaning towards Special Ed because it is easier to do photography and writing without having special degrees.

One of the boys I've been tutoring.

That is the basic rundown so far.  Overall, I am so glad that God is in control and already knows where I will be in 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, etc.  Please join me in praying for these things.

Couldn't end this post without this adorable picture of Kenny.  Love it and him so much!

The Power of an Obedient Life.

 

Wayne and Bonnie Sue Walker moved to Uganda in 1994 to help the orphans of Uganda.  They moved into a small house with their 6 children under age 4 {all adopted} and began taking children in.  They soon moved to a two-story house.  For over 200 children, the 'Main House' became home and the Walkers became "Mommy" and "Daddy".  The main house was growing too small for so many people.  A missionary who was there at the time {and is still here 16 years later!} explains, "I remember thinking that kids came out of the walls.  Every corner I turned, there would be more kids and I would think, 'Hey, I never seen that one before!'"
And so in 2001, GSF, with the help of Samaritan's Purse, was able to move to 100-acres of land with clean, running water and individual group homes. Homes were added on as time went on.  After a few years of living on the new land and years of touching many lives in Uganda, the Walkers felt called to move on {They now have adopted 13 children from 7 countries and helped orphans in Thailand as well}.  However, they were often fondly remembered at GSF and by all who had worked or lived here while they were around.
Thus, it was with a sad heart that around 200 people gathered at GSF on December 7, 2013 to remember the lady who so many knew and loved as 'Mommy".  After a four-year battle with cancer she passed away on Thanksgiving day in 2013.  As people gathered and shared testimonies, stories and memories of 'mommy' I was absolutely amazed at her legacy.  This is the power of one obedient life.

May 9, 2014 was GSFs 20th anniversary celebration.  Months and months of preparation had gone into this one day.  The beginning is a bit disrupted by the rain, but we carry on.  Finally, when the rain stopped and everyone had eaten lunch my dad {the current director of GSF} got up to speak. His speech was introducing Mr. Walker and a bit of how he had lost his legs in Vietnam.  As he got to the end, he had to speak over the crowd who was clapping and cheering so loudly.  "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our guest of honor, Mr. Wayne Walker."  The crowd immediately rose in a standing ovation.  As a stood there, I was once again overcome by the power of one obedient life.  And a God who takes our humble efforts and uses them for His glory.

A standing ovation

The Walkers Legacy - the many former and current GSF kids

"Our gifts are not from God to us, but from God through us to the world."  ~Janice Elsheimer, The Creative Call

Blessings and Joy

He came from a place no one likes.  No one wants to go.  People use it as a joke and an offence.  He’s nearby playing now, carefree and seemingly innocent.  Someone mentions that he is from that place.  “They are real a lot there, and yet this one was chosen.”  “Yes, he is the blessed one.”  Blessed.  God chose to bless this little boy.  To bless him with love, home and family.  To bring him from a place no child should have to be.  God chose to use this little boy's life to bless the kids at GSF.  To give them the blessing of seeing that, out of things the world sees as curses, God can give us blessings.

The little two-year-old snuggles up close.  Several illnesses and more medicines than you can imagine often make her sick.  She vomits every day and is pretty malnourished.  However, she doesn’t stay down very long.  She is often found wobbling around with her little tongue sticking out, full of joy.  Joy.  The very thing she wouldn’t be expected to have, but she is full of it.  Just as God chose to bless us with the 6-year-old boy, he chose to give us a new joy through this 2-year-old girl.  To give her the joy of family, love and hope.  To give us joy through her.

Rejoice with us for the way God is blessing these kids and us.  Please also keep them in your prayers as they adjust to life at GSF. Especially pray for this sweet girl to gain health again soon.

Updates from GSF

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from GSF!  As a new year begins, I want to share 5 things you can do to keep in touch with GSF.
1) Like GSF's Facebook page to see more cute pictures of the kids, updates about all that is going on and how to pray for GSF.

2) Visit GSF's website which has just recently been updated and looks really awesome!  Good Shepherd's Fold website

3) Watch this video that gives a picture of a day at GSF.  Click here to watch the video!
4) Read GSF's newsletter.  I'm sharing it here, but if you can't read it, find it on the GSF Facebook page, comment on the post and they'll send it to you in Facebook messenger.

5) Share any of these things on your social media page(s)!
Thank you!

Special

Gracie came to GSF with many delays.  The doctor didn't think she would ever be able to do anything.  At 9 months old, she couldn't sit up, crawl or put pressure on her legs.  All the things most babies would be beginning to do around her age.  A few doctors thought she would progress, but they said she would NEVER catch up, she would always be delayed.

Little Ivan came to GSF at 2 years old.  He had spinal TB and was never taken for any treatment before he was brought to GSF.  The hump on his back was so big no one knew if he would ever be able to walk.  There was a possibility that he had other special needs and delays as well.

When they came to GSF {at different times} we began praying that God would help them overcome their 'disabilities'.  Today is a very special day as it is Gracie and Ivan's birthday!  Today, we not only celebrate their lives, but the progress they have made!  Gracie is sitting up, crawling and even standing with help!  Ivan is walking ALL OVER THE PLACE and is copying everything he hears his friends say!  They both have such big, fun personalities!

Praise God with us for the milestones these little ones are making and please join us in praying for them to continue making progress.  Happy birthday, Gracie and Ivan, I love you!

Prayers please

I am sitting writing this from Entebbe.  Early Friday morning, I get on a plane and head to America.  I will be in Florida for two weeks and then head back.  I will meet up with my dad who is in America for 6 weeks.   The main reason for this trip is for medical purposes.  Would you please be praying as I am traveling by myself?

Would you please also be in prayer for two of our kids, Kathy and Sebastian.  Kathy is one of our sweet special needs girls and she just had  a surgery yesterday morning to have a part of her colon removed.   It went well, but she will have to be in the hospital for another 5 - 7 days.  I was able to go see her in the hospital today and she is doing well, but just wants all the IVs and things off.  Please be praying for her as she has a long recovery journey.  Sebastian will be getting tubes in his ears Monday morning.

Thank you for joining us in prayer!

Sebastian 

Kathy