From Lawyer To Missionary: Carrie, Kenya and You

As many of you have asked, I just wanted to share a little of what was accomplished in Kenya in May 2011.    I meet with some government officials in Nairobi in the first few days I was there, including the person in charge of adoptions and the full adoption process.  She is in the process of writing new regulations for adoption which will facility more international adoptions.      I got a chance to visit three of the four accredited adoption agencies in Nairobi and talk with their staff about international adoptions, their processes and where they see problems in the process.  I was also able to meet with and refer a very good children's law lawyer to the agencies.     Once we arrived in Mombasa, I was able to visit a school in Ribe (just outside of Mombasa on the east coast of africa).   They had a full library sitting in a room of their school, but they had never been in a library so they had no idea how to o...

Sorry it's been awhile.   Life has been pretty hectic.    Getting all the photos and bios done for Fox River's Gift for Jesus this December and then we had a death of someone so I have been helping a close family with that.   It was the death of a parent of a 12 year old so a lot of emotional and other issues to deal with.   This are going well there, but please send a pray. God has been leading me to do a run/walk to raise money for the well that is needed in South Coast where they are greatful for dirty water.   Kristen would do a similar run/walk on the same day in Kenya.   Kristen and I are also working with Rotary Clubs here in WI and also in Kenya to raise money.  If you know anything about either of these things, please let me know I really don't have any experience in either of these areas.    I have also compiled a listing of financial resources available for people interested in Interna...

Been very busy since I got back. We did a Kenya fund rasier for the teen bible study last week which was a lot of work for me and the teens, but we raised almost $500.  God is good.   Working hard on fund raising for the teens these days.    Also at the same time, uploading all the data we obtained from all the kids over the last several weeks onto the internet so when people want to sponser kids, they can go to the website and learn more about them - their favorites, where they live and what is going on with them in school.    Great resource - a lot of typing to get it together.    Also, for Fox River we are typing up labels to put on the back of the Kenya photos this year so we will know more about our church kids too.    It's been great to catch up with you all over the last week and look forward to a lot of more catching up this week.    Lots of adoption talking this week and hopeful...

Well, Friday was a great day.  Thanks to Pastor Allan we were able to get a few different meetings with various people in Nairobi that work in the courts and in the government.    We are so greatful to everyone for taking their time on their casual Fridays to meet with us even though they had a lot of work to do.  They gave us great advice and hope.   They fully support all our efforts with the schools as well as the adoption issues.   Thanks so much for all your prayers.   We sat in the hotel Serena - the same hotel they settled the violence issues over the last election in 2008 and they decided on the shared government and on passing the constitution which they did in August.    Amazing workings of God - from total chaos and violence 2 years ago - to a new constitituion and governmental protections.   Only God can bring such greatness from such darkness.   Got home after flying for a few days a...

Today was our last day in Mombasa.   Very sad.   Saying goodbye to everyone.   Lots of work today.   Make photo copies and getting things organized for work at home.   Please pray for our meetings in Nairobi tomorrow.   Leaving early tomorrow morning.   Will update you when I get home.  

Wow.   That's all I can say about today.   It was staff appreciation day.   First of all it started off with Kristen and I being late.  In Kenya?    I know, apparently we didn't get the memo and everyone on holidays is early for parties one hour early so we left the house rushing, rushing to get to the staff appreacation day at a beautiful butterfly park with nature trails and lots of different types of trees.   It was a very, very, very hot day.  Even the Kenyans thought it was hot.   Once we got there and got everyone one there we divided all the staff from Injili, Bomani, Vipingo, and one other school into 10 teams.  There were 90 people there.   They each had to come up with a logo for their team and a team name.    They had to use coins to make a logo.  It was f un to watch the originality they came up with.    Then they headed off to the nature trail for s...

October 17-19, 2010 Pole, pole (sorry, sorry) I missed a few days.   Sunday we went to church at Crossroads where the youth lead all the of the service.  They were the ushers, they were doing the worship songs, and the youth pastor did the sermon.  It was a really great way for the youth to feel an important part of the church and the lesson was on Daniel 1  about keeping our youth pure and spending time with them.   It was a really neat idea that US churches can probably learn from.   Then in the afternoon we went on a 10K bike ride around Hollar Park.  I didn't think it woud ever end, but at the end we were in a very, very quiet field filled with some type of animal with horns (bigger than deer) maybe elk but I'm not sure with Kenyan type evergreen /weeping willow trees and it was beautiful.   We have been preparing for our staff appreication day for Bomani, Vipingo, Ingeli and one other school here in Kenya.  It's tom...