And us Americans think that we are good at recycling?

Yesterday, I visited St. Edwin’s Orphanage in Kijabe with some other RVA ladies to deliver secondhand clothing and shoes. After Chai with Ruth, who runs the orphanage of 25 children, she showed us what the children are making: paper bead necklaces made out of the outside wrapping package covers of office paper.

They work day by day on these necklaces, in hopes to sell them locally or to “Mizungu’s” (White people) and use the income for food, clothing, books, and water.

After many little hands work diligently throughout the day, this is what is produced:

Beautiful, unique office paper bead necklaces!

Now, THAT’s going green!

This was on December 4, so my visit to St. Edwin’s was my CCC #4. CCC #2 was encouraging a friend spontaneously, and CCC #3 was hosting the Stocksdale family for a Moroccan Feast dinner!

Off to my 3 day safari…pictures to come!

And, so, it is December. The girls went home. Thanksgiving was the same day, so it came and went pretty quickly. I spent it up at the Stocksdales’ home with about 20 other people, which was very fun.

Then, the AIM Conference, where all Eastern region AIM missionaries come together for 3 days of worship, prayer, sermons, fellowship, and fun, took place here on the RVA campus. I didn’t attend all the sessions, but it was a neat time to meet new people – I met a couple who happens to live within 5 miles of my house, and knows my brother’s lacrosse friends from college! Small world, huh? And now, the campus is empty, quiet, and well, rather similar to a Ghost town. But, the quiet is just lovely.

And, it’s Christmastime! Carols. Crafts. Candles. Cookies. Cocoa. Christ’s birth. Community. Charity. Huh? Charity. What’s that, right? We live in an age where Christmas has become like a free ticket to jump into a personal funnel of delight, where each person is dragged away from the wide-rimmed top of community with others, to a narrow hole of self-indulgence and pampering.

Fruit Cake, I say! It doesn’t have to be this way, my friends.

According to the Puritans, “Charity and its Fruits” (a book I remember my Dad reading a few years back) is the Love described in the classic passage in 1 Corinthians 13. And, one of those fruits is that Love is not self-seeking.

When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, it’s December. This is going to be weird, being away from all my family on the most wonderful holiday of the whole year. What will Christmas in Kenya be like?”

And, then, after a split second of self-pity, I thought, “Well, what COULD my Christmas in Kenya be like?”

My dear friend, Susan Stocksdale, said something today that challenged me to make this my best Christmas ever. We were on our hands and knees sanding and varnishing the tiles and wood paneling of the bedroom floor inside the partially-finished cottage home they are building out by Lake Naivaisha, and conversing about Christmas in Africa vs. in the U.S. She commented on how much more enjoyable Christmas in Kenya is than in the States, because it is so much more focused on the poor, the needy, the sick, the suffering, and the lonely- and, therefore, more meaningful and fulfilling. For example, RVA staff and families will be delivering packages door-to-door to local Kenyans the week of Christmas, as well as doing Caroling by Candlelight on Christmas Eve to the local orphanage and elementary schools. Many staff members also keep presents minimal, and just focus on spending time together as friends and families. There will also be a ladies’ Cookie Exchange, a Potluck Dinner, and a Christmas Eve Open House. Personally, I am planning to have Emily and her two daughters, Mary and Rose, over for a meal and cookies and Christmas stockings as well. Our Kedong compound will also be giving a nice basket of goods to our outside garden worker, John, for him and his family.

Then, I thought, what if I created a special Christmas Charity Challenge (“CCC”) for myself?

CCC. It would be as simple as this: plan and do one intentional act of charity/service/kindness to somebody each day of the month of December. Even if I am doing things that are personally fun (Safari this weekend, a Kenyan wedding in two weeks, climbing Mount Kenya after Christmas) I can still keep my eyes and ears open, and see how I can serve or show love to another, right? Just because I’m on “break” from dorm parenting, there really isn’t any reason that I need to suddenly hold up my “rights box” and claim self-indulgence and pleasure and relaxation. Yes, refreshment and catching up on sleep and rest. But, also charity.

So, as today was December 1, my CCC #1 was serving the Stocksdales by going out to their cottage and helping them do interior prep work – sanding, scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, varnishing, and painting. I must admit, it was just so wonderful to get dirty doing something physical and tactile! We had a great time in the process – and the cottage is going to be a beautiful retreat of sorts. And, guess what? I was entirely blessed at the end of the day, because I made a memory with some great friends, ate a secret-recipe Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies that Susan made called a “Grazelle Cookie” which was delicious, and found out that they are giving 1 free night’s stay to each person who works 1 day on the house. So, there you have it – it is more blessed to give than to receive!

CCC #2. Not sure yet. We’ll see what tomorrow holds.

Our Prayer

“Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me
As if Thy blessings had spare days;
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.”

- George Herbert

.24.

If another wrinkle forms today,
May it sit in the crease of a smile;
For joy has been etched within its lines,
Friends, do not suspect a wile.

Twenty-four, and older, true,
Yet hopefully, still wiser.
One thing undoubted, I must claim –
Of grace, a greater miser.

Uprooted and away for this year,
Tested and vulnerable, but still fully blest;
New seed, He waters day by day,
Tis’ growing up, while aged days rest

Under Kenyan stars, into Kijabe wind,
God has received my triumphs and tears,
And surrendered, daily, I lose my life,
In the clothes of mercy, Christ calls me to wear.

Mother and friend to seventeen,
How sweet it is to enter their world,
Their broken hearts, stories, and lives,
Though slowly, have now begun to unfurl.

Crevassed in my very soul,
The wonder of this ministry,
Deeper still, is knowing Him,
Who uses weak vessels, such as me.

Tis His glory, bright and true,
That gleams off of my own countenance –
Not my will, but His being done,
That culminates my great recompense.

The world hunts and prowls for riches untold,
A satisfied sense of being and self;
But what can compare, to what I have found?
In Africa, eternal wealth.

Still more wrinkles will form ahead,
Many through trial, storm and fire –
Yet, His victory! those lines will prove:
The Christ, the Rock, who for me, stood higher.

- Emily Jansen

Yesterday, I was in the RVA library and found this book in the special holiday section called, “Poems for the Great Days.” Curiously, I turned to page 185, where the Thanksgiving poems began. Herein, I discovered some wonderful, wonderful poems that just fill your heart with gladness and bring a smile to your face.

As I read through them in my quiet time with God this morning, and felt my heart swell with gratefulness to God, I decided that I simply had to share them with you.

Here’s one for today. I’ll try to post more before Thanksgiving.

Song of Thanksgiving

For days gold-bright
That make earth’s heart
Beat quick and warm,
For stars of night,
And love that harbors
Me from harm -
I give Thee thanks.

For answered prayers
That stay the soul
And lift and bless,
For grace that bears
With me in hours
Of thanklessness -
I give Thee thanks.

O Calvary! -
I never think
Of that red Hill
Or Christ upon the tree,
But that I breathe:
“Love triumphs still!” -
And give Thee thanks.

- JOHN RICHARD MORELAND

Sage Whole Wheat Round Loaf Bread

John 6:35

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger…”

Hunger is commonplace in Kenya. Starvation is rampant. Yet, I always have plenty to eat. It’s humbling when I never lack or want or feel the pinch, and people in my local community are begging and starving just for some flour and water and oil to use to make a few Chapatis. And, I get to make Sage Wheat Bread or Cinnamon Rolls for my girls or delicious Tropical Granola to eat at breakfast or you-name-it.

But, as of late, God has been allowing me to experience hunger, too. I am glad – it helps me to relate in even a small way with the people around me. Mine is not physical – but spiritual and mental. The stomach of my faith and endurance is sinking in these past few days. And, I am weary and worn at the end of this weekend. Does that ever happen to you ? Do you find yourself discouraged and battered down and weary? Are you feeding off of the right thing ? But, what do we know? What is our assurance ? Job, a man who faced awful trial and genuine hunger, said that He knew that His Redeemer lived. I believe it – do you ?

HE is my bread. My sustenance. My energy. My Provider. And, I shall not hunger tonight.

Well, as of yesterday, we are 12 days away from the end of Term 1 here at the KUE dorm.

Because the girls leave Thanksgiving day and don’t come back until January 6, we won’t be able to celebrate Christmas together.

So, I decided to create a little Christmas spirit in our dorm for the girls…

This is the “KUE Christmas Calendar.” It is administrative, but also a fun “daily look” for the girls with little pop-up folded notes. They can check it each day, but also enjoy the “count-down” to a special Christmas surprise that I have for them after the 12 days are up – which means the end of exams!

I have also assigned each girl to a specific day of Christmas, based on the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Each night before bed, one girl performs their assigned day. So, yesterday, Ha Eun did “the partridge in the pear tree” as we all sang along. By the end of the 12 days, we’ll all perform it together just for kicks After googling the 12 days of Christmas, I was delighted to discover that the 12 days actually have significant spiritual meaning. So, I also plan to read the girls a mini-devotional of each one each night.

Yesterday morning, we kicked off our 12 days with overnight cinnamon buns and bagels and a movie in the dorm lounge on the projector. That was a lot of fun, and I think the girls enjoyed just vegging on a Saturday morning, which doesn’t happen much at all during each term.

Here we all are !

So, what do the 12 days of Christmas mean, anyways ? It’s quite interesting…

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

A Partridge in a Pear Tree
- The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . .”
(Luke 13:34)

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Two Turtle Doves
- The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God’s self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Three French Hens
- The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Four Calling Birds- The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God’s reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Five Gold Rings
- The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity’s sinful failure and God’s response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Six Geese A-laying
- The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Seven Swans A-swimming
- The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Nine Ladies Dancing
- The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Ten Lords A-leaping
- The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God’s name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Eleven Pipers Piping -
The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Twelve Drummers Drumming
- The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

.day.

wake, 6:15am
tea and snack, 6:20am
e –mails, 6:20 – 7am
devotional, 7am
answer dorm girl’s question, 7:50am
task list for Emily, 8:05am
real breakfast, 8:10am
shower, 8:15am
get ready for the day, 8:30am
go over task list with Emily, 8:50am
tidy room, 9am
answer dorm girl’s question, 9:15am
start up computer at guidance office, 9:20am
meeting with Superintendent to discuss some potential travel plans, 9:30am
assemble 12 gift bags for College Representatives coming tomorrow for the Christian College Fair, 9:50am
Begin answering Guidance Office e-mails, 10:05am
Chai break downstairs in Chai Staff Room, 10:12am
Take Chai Announcement/Prayer Request notes, 10:17am
Pray in Chai, 10:25am
Network and fellowship, 10:30am
Usher tech guru friend, Greg, over to my apartment to set up the projector screen for Saturday morning’s Christmas movie and Chocolate-chip Scones I’ll be making for the girls, 10:45am
Back up to Guidance Office, 11am
Joke with Steve Peifer – College Director – and his matchmaking skills, 11:10am
Tell Steve about my book ideas, 11:20am
Process Transcripts and assemble College media materials, 11:25am
Make copies of transcripts and seal envelopes, 11:45am
Cafeteria Duty, 12:10pm
Say hi to kids in line, hug my girls along the way, 12:15pm
Eat lunch with two of my girls and Annie, another dorm mom, 12:40pm
Go home and coordinate with Emily on task list, 1:10pm
More e-mails, 1:30pm
Weigh Christmas Box downstairs at Candace’s – 7 lbs., 1:50pm
Give John, our Kedong outside worker, carrot seeds to plant, 2pm
Assemble list of cleaning supplies needed for end-of-term cleaning for the girls, 2:10pm
E-mailed group of ladies an encouragement note, 2:30pm
Help one of my dorm girls make brownies and icing in the kitchen and chat about her day, 3pm
Listen to Emily express a concern about something, 3:40pm
Say goodbye to Emily and thank her for another day of her amazing help and assistance, 3:55pm
Coordinate with other single girls on Turkey order, 4pm
Watch Varsity girls semi-finals basketball game in gym, 4:20 -5:45pm
Get package from Mail Room – thank you, Tracy! ☺ 5:50pm
Eat quick dinner, 5:55pm
Sign off on Computer Lab passes for girls, 6:15pm
Drama Rehearsal – tomorrow is the first performance!, 6:20-8pm
Go over dance notes with Kim Saum, 8:05pm
Pray for crying girl alone outside, 8:10pm
Tea with Kim in her kitchen, 8:20pm
Danced with Jonah and Savvy in living room, 8:24pm
Sunday Service Worship Rehearsal with Mike Saum, acoustics and voice, 8:30 – 9:30pm
Walk home, 9:31pm
Get home, 9:35pm
Chat with dorm cover, Gale Holt, for a few, say thank you, 9:35pm
Watch stream of girls come in from rehearsal, with two carrying one injured girl, 9:37pm
Help dorm girl get ice, advil, and a pillow to prop up her injured ankle, 9:40pm
Call Student Health Nurse, 9:42pm
Help dorm girl get into bed, 9:45pm
Pray for injured girl, 9:47pm
Sit with injured girl while nurse feels for breaks, 9:55pm
Wait with injured girl while nurse runs back up to Student Health to get Codeine, 10pm
Tuck other girls into bed, 10:05pm
Give injured girl Codeine, 10:20pm
Tuck injured girl into bed, 10:30pm
Help other dorm girl with Spanish project, 10:35pm
Get a snack from Tracy’s care package, 10:40pm
Coordinate with other girls taking “late lights”, 10:45pm
Check e-mails, 10:50pm
Get ready for bed, 10:55pm
Tuck other “late light” girls in, 11:05pm
Lock doors, 11:08pm
Read Nora’s blog post, 11:13pm
Send Mike lyrics to a worship song, 11:15pm
Write this, 11:17pm
Post this, 11:31pm
Set alarm for 3am to give injured girl more Codeine, 11:33pm
Sip of water, 11:35pm
Lights out, 11:36pm

.night.

It doesn’t get much better than wearing an original 1970’s RVA cheerleader costume for “Carnival” last night…

…or kissing a Giraffe yesterday at the Nairobi Giraffe Park…don’t ask

…or hiking down into the valley to visit the ancient Fig Tree with friends last weekend…

…of course, these things are all good and fun. but, really, it doesn’t get much better than two of my girls coming into my room a few nights ago, and with furrowed brows and pursed lips, saying, “Miss Emily, wait! you aren’t gonna be here all by yourself and alone for Christmas, are you?!”

I love my 17 “daughters.” they leave in just two weeks for Christmas Break, and although I must be honest and admit that I am ready for a break, I WILL miss them during our 5 weeks apart. They have become so dear to my heart – God’s grace is abounding in their lives, and it has been such a privilege to have a front-row seat. I can’t even describe how much they are helping and challenging me to grow, too! Their insights and perspective and honest expressions have humbled me day after day, and I thank Christ for using them to shine a spotlight upon the Gospel from all different angles.

“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.” Psalm 40:5

The stories I have are more than can be told. And, I wish I could tell you all of them. But, as I ponder them in my heart, and proclaim God’s wondrous deeds to you, know that my heart is full of joy because of the Lord’s great grace. I see His hand at work, and stand amazed, but not surprised by His steadfast love.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, – 1 Corinthians 1:30

“Reader, are you wanting the “wisdom that is profitable to direct” you at this moment? Acquaint now yourself with Jesus, in whom all the treasures of this wisdom are hid. What is His language to you? The same which Moses, the great legislator, spoke to the people of Israel: “The cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” What a cheering invitation is this! A greater than Moses speaks it, and speaks it to you. You find your case baffling to human wisdom, too difficult for the acutest skill of man-take it, then, to Jesus. How sweetly He speaks-”bring it unto me.” One simple exercise of faith upon His word will remove all that is difficult, make simple all that is complex, and lucid all that is dark in your case. With Him nothing is impossible. To Him all is transparent. Knowing the end from the beginning, there can be nothing unforeseen in it to His mind; by His prescience all is known, and by His wisdom all is provided for. His precious promise is, “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not: I will lead them in a path that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” Thus is Jesus “made of God unto us wisdom,” that all our perplexities may be guided, and all our doubts may be solved, and all our steps may be directed, by one on whom the anointing of the “spirit of wisdom and understanding” rests “without measure;” and who, from experience, is able to lead, having trod every step before us. “And when he puts forth His own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow Him.” “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally:” let him repair to Christ, whom God has set up from everlasting, “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.”

Morning Thoughts, by Octavius Winslow

Have you ever taken stock of your pantry, created a list of meals that could be created from what you have, and then marveled at the amazing abundance of how much you really have available, right under your own nose?

Here in Kijabe, meal-planning is essential. Because we live in the mountains and are one hour away from “town,” I usually do my grocery shopping every 3 weeks and meal-planning by the month. I must admit, cooking for one is not very exciting…and oftentimes, I end up ditching the recipe for an omelet instead. But, especially with all the hosting that we do, it is quite helpful to know what can be pieced together based on what is in my cupboards.

The following list is my list for November, through the end of Term 1 (the day before Thanksgiving). We’ll see how it goes Some of this stuff is already in my freezer, which is handy. I have fallen in love with the “More with Less” cookbook. It is a perfect combination of lots of vegetarian dishes that are simple and easy to make, and don’t require too many exotic ingredients that just aren’t available in the middle of Africa!

- Morroccan Beef Stew with Mint, Sweet Potatoes and Carrots, served with Cardamom Braided Bread

- Chili and Cornbread

- Soup met Boulejetes (Dutch Meatball Soup with Vermicelli Noodles)

- Fish Taco’s with Black Beans and Rice

- Spelt Pasta with Marinara Sauce

- Spinach Lasagna

- Whole Paprika Honey Chicken with Rice and Veggies

- Frozen Pizza Crust for Pepper and Pineapple Pizza

- Beef Fillet Skewers with Onions, Zucchini and Carrots

- Garlic Sausage Lentil Stew or Casserole

- Salad Nicoise with Tuna, Green Beans, Potatoes, and Tomatoes, served with Tabouleh (bulgar, chickpeas, parsley, mint, scallions, and dressing)

- 2 big bags of frozen corn…hmmm…Bean and Corn Soup, or perhaps I’ll do Corn Fritters

- Hawaiian Beans and Ham

- Enchiladas with Green Chiles and Homemade Tortillas (already in freezer!)

- Spinach Salad with Spiced Pumpkin Seeds and Feta

- Squash Boats with Savory Rice

And, last but not least, tonight’s dinner…

- Homemade Amaranth-Oat Bread with French Onion Soup