Don't Count the Days, Make the Day's Count

Hopefully you are enjoying the spring weather and anticipating a beautiful summer.  For some of you, the school year is coming to an end.  Congrats to those graduating and to those who have made it through another year of learning.   It seems like we are just getting starting on our third term however, we've already finished 4 weeks of school.    The time is flying by and as they do I'm reflecting a phrase I heard just before leaving the States.  It says  " The way you spend your days is the way you spend your life."   Well, as I think of my days that have blurred by, I wonder how am I spending my life.  It is a constant reminder to me to make the days count,.... not just to count the days.   I spend a lot of time teaching, organizing, searching for the things I lost because I still need to organize, preparing for the next class or rehearsal, learning about new technology...and the list goes on.  However, my awareness is heightened to what is most important.  I must spend my days building up individuals in their relationship with Christ and focusing on Kingdom work.  I hope you find at the end of today that you can see some ways that you've laughed, loved and learned, all because of Christ and his call to seek His kingdom first.  Please check out the prayer request section of the web site for updated requests.

When we went to visit my sister in NY this winter, we learned about snow conditions called the "lake effect".    Well, now that we are back in Kenya we learned about the African version of the lake affect.  We've been getting about .5 to 1 inch of rain every other day for the last 18 days.  It has been very wet here.  Then we had 2 days of sun and then last night we got 5. 3 inches of rain in about 5 hours.   This has lead to major mud slides in the community.    We are grateful that although severe damage occurred to the campus fence, nothing happened to any of the campus houses or the national's houses nearby.    We are very concerned that the road to the school has been weakened.  There has been such erosion beside the road that it may not withstand the weight of traffic.  Check out the photos.   The mud slide covers about 1,000 meters of devastation.   The photos work down the hill that is the side of the campus.  The last photo with Janelle looks back up the hill.  Thanks for your prayers.

People say that time fly's when you're having fun.  Well, I had no idea that we were having sooooo much fun that more than a week has flown by since we left.   We had a good trip on the airplane ride to London (about 8 hours) and then a brief 4 hour layover and then 9 more hours on the plane to Nairobi. We were the last ones off the plane, as our seats were pretty far in the back of the cattle car section.  We  have never found it helpful nor soothing to be in a rush to get off the plane only to hurry up and wait at immigration and then hurry up and wait for luggage.    This trip only proved that our theory of go slow was worth it.  After finally getting to the baggage claim, not one of our 20 pieces was appearing on the conveyer belt.   However, shortly after arriving, all 20 pieces made it and nothing seemed damaged or missing.   So we loaded up the carts, explained to the customs official that we were moving here for another 2.5 years and she waved us through as we were some of the last to leave.   The gents to our right were getting a bit upset about being charged duty for something so perhaps the lady clearing us didn't want to miss any of that excitement.  In any case, we were quite relieved to see our friends waiting for us and the bus ready to carry us and the luggage back to our home.  Our trip from the airport to Kijabe at night was uneventful.  Thankfully!!  There was  a bit of heavy rain but by 10:30 p.m. the traffic was rather clear.    By 12:00 a.m. we arrived at the gate of RVA only to be surprised by 3 of our children's friends who had gotten a call that we were on our way and timed it so they could come out and see us.  WOW what an encouraging welcome.    We got the luggage off the bus and into our car and a van so that we could take the narrow road up to our driveway and turn around once the luggage was off loaded.    By 2:00 a.m. we were really tuckered and headed to bed.

It' now been 9 days since we arrived and we are mostly unpacked and have gotten things out of storage and settled in.   We were blessed by folks that had us over for dinner the first few nights as well as a friend that drove Amanda to Nairobi for a big grocery shopping trip.   Then the meetings for school kicked in, and now as of Tuesday, school has been in full swing.      It is good to be back for the most part.  Amanda's allergies were horrid by 2 hours after arrival and remain a test to her daily stamina.   We found that a few tools like a vise and bench grinder that were in the car port were stolen while we were gone.  This has been teaching us to remember to hold onto material things loosely.    The students and friends are great to come back to .... the work load is still work.   It is also difficult to be far away from family that is going through some tough times.    This only magnifies our need to spend daily time in prayer.     So with that thought, I'll close this post and spend a bit of time in prayer before I close my eyes.  Keep us in your prayers.  Asante  ( thanks in Swahili)

Time is Flying... and We will too

It is amazing to think that we are supposed to be boarding a plane in just 12 days.    I think we may start writing our own song.... "the 12 days of packing".   We are doing the final purchases for things to take back.  We must make our  calculations to make sure that our stock of chocolate chips is going to be enough to last for all the cookies we want to make for students at RVA.  Meanwhile, we look for the heavy stuff to pack with the light, the bulky to pack with the small and so forth.  All the while submitting our packing efforts to the scrutiny of the almighty scale.     

Several  folks have asked for an update on our financial support so we'll post it here.   We are still seeking to raise support in order to receive approval from our mission.   We need to raise around $400 a month to be fully supported.   We are grateful for the way that God has brought several new partners onto our team.   We are always amazed at how He and He alone provides.  

We got an email from a family that has been partnering with us for a long time.  I think their words clearly tell how they truly understand the concept of being a partner in ministry to Africa.   They wrote: We are definitely praying and have also been keeping our eyes on the situation in Kenya.    I just saw your blog update and I liked how you put it that you are sure that if it's God's will for you to be back in Kenya, He'll provide for it.  God's provision really is quite astounding - over and over again.  We feel so glad to be a part of the work that you guys are doing, and then to have a small part in what all the missionaries there in Africa are doing.  It's fun to be in God's picture, so to speak.  What a blessing to have the prayers and the partnership.  If you are interested in partnering with us, please click on the support link in the side bar or send us an email.  

While reflecting on Easter, the greatest day in history, it serves as a catapult for us to head back to our part of the mission field.  Though we may not feel completely ready, nor do we have full support yet,  we know the fields are "white for harvest".   We are partners in "gathering fruit for life eternal"  because eternity matters.   More posts coming soon.   On the 12th day of packing, my true love said to me..."gather all the cloths and shoes"  Check out a few new photos in family fun.

On the TEAM,

Well, it's been a few weeks and we've been doing a lot of speaking.   This has gone well overall, at least from my view point but perhaps not from all those who have to hear me speak:-)  I know that my children are definitely ready for me to stop speaking and start packing.  However, we are most grateful for the ways that we have been able to interact with people through luncheons after the church services.  We enjoy hearing other peoples stories of why they are interested in Kenya and the ministries in Africa.   It's great to hear of people who are keenly interested in what is happening to share Jesus with people in African countries.   Feel free to email us  with your point of interest in Kenya.

There is less than 3 weeks  until we leave for Kenya.   We still have some financial support to raise, some shopping for clothes for our children and shopping for Amanda.   We also will be trying to pick out and orders some supplies for the band and the student health center.   Home schooling is almost finished but it will give way only for the home school area to be turned into a packing room.   The packing will certainly be much more difficult or at least different with my Dad around to help.   He was always an amazing space saving, efficient packer.  I hope Nate and Evan are up the challenge.   We'll make it a team sport.  Super packing.  

Karibu (Welcome) 

Greetings from Steve and Amanda Taylor.  We've been ministering at Rift Valley Academy (RVA) for almost 20 years.  We thought it is about time for us get in sync with technology and share some of our story on a blog.  The words of 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 seem fitting at the beginning of this  journey in the world wide web.  "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond servants for Jesus sake.  For God, who said, "light shall shine out of darkness." is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves."   We want this blog to be about more than just our lives.  It's about what God is doing in Africa, in our hearts and in the lives and hearts of those that we come in contact with.

This being said, we are grateful that while we are in the U.S., we have been able to see so many long time friends and make some new ones in the last 3 months.  We are in the U.S. for the primary purpose of reconnecting with family and friends.  Our last time in the States was 2 years ago so it is important to get back and revive relationships personally.  We are also here to raise awareness for what God is doing in Africa and to give people here the opportunity to partner with ministries in Africa.  In this month of March, we will be speaking every Sunday at a different church.  Pray that we would point people to Jesus and His calling to His church.  Stay tuned for further updates and blogs.

A glance at our schedule:
February 10, 2013 Thanks for a great time at Central Presbyterian Church
March 3, 2013 we will be sharing with Cornerstone Church
March 10, 2013 we will be sharing with Hunt Valley Church
March 17, 2013 we will be sharing with Timonium Presbyterian Church
March 24, 2013 we will be visiting Jerusalem Chapel Church in Virginia