Trudging Thru Transition
When we were back in Kenya imagining a whole year in the United States, spending lots of time with family, making our new house a home, in fellowship with a new church body at Cornerstone Community Church, and making preparations to return and plant a church in Nairobi, I don’t think we considered how hard it might be. I mean, these are all things we love and look forward to! The problem is, we are experiencing them in the midst of transition.
Even though we landed into an area we were familiar with, the amount of things we were dealing with that had “new” as their defining adjective was a lot. And even now we look ahead to arriving in Nairobi in about five months, a place we are fairly familiar with, but that once again will have so much that will be new.
As we’ve trudged through all this newness we may have experienced a little stress, and taken it out on each other from time to time. We may have felt it in our bodies in the form of pains and pounds (or is this just getting older?). But by God’s grace we are slowly working through this transition and having our faith strengthened as a result. We are surely more aware of the fact that we are pilgrims on the narrow path to the Celestial City!
Updates
On March 12, I (Jonathan) passed the Bible knowledge exam, the first test in my ordination. Thanks for praying. Just 3 more to go!
Later this week we travel to my hometown, Atlantic, IA, and have the honor of preaching at Gracepoint Church on Sunday, (March 24). If you happen to be in the area, we would love to see you there!
At the beginning of May I plan to travel to Kenya, where I’ll meet up with Brian Kiama for a two week church planting intensive put on by City to City Africa. Then Pastor Rick from Cornerstone and Pastor Michael from Trinity Fellowship will join us for a one week vision trip to Nairobi. We’ll conclude our travels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where we’ll worship at Trinity Fellowship and Rick will preach.
We just received this from Brian & Julia Kiama this morning. It would be encouraging for you to read and pray through as well.
If you would join us in praying for these things we would really appreciate it! And if you have anything to share with us, like prayer requests, praises, news… we would love to hear and pray/praise along with you! We are so thankful for your partnership in the gospel, and your prayer and financial support… these gifts that you continually send us that are a “fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” May our God supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus! Phil. 4: 18,19.