Prayer Requests

November 20, 2016
Recent prayer requests:
Not, in order of importance, just in order of stream of thought...

1.  On Monday, November 21, 2016, the Law Association of Kenya will be back before the high court in their case against the Kenyan government for unlawfully stopping foreign and residential adoptions.  We praise God that local adoptions (adoptions by Kenyan citizens) have finally been opened up again, but we are asking God to open up adoptions all the way.  We cannot adopt Chloë until this is done.  Rumor has it that one of two things is going on.  A.  The Cabinet Secretary has sent an internal memo requesting the Cabinet to lift the moratorium.  B.  The moratorium could stay in place for the next 16 years, depending upon results of presidential elections.  This is a huge deal for us.  If we can't adopt her, it means there will be no trips home for any extended periods of time...for who knows how long.

2.  Pray for Emily and Igor.  Igor doesn't know the Lord; pray for his salvation.  We are very thankful they have found a church they like that is close to their home; they are there pretty much every week. Pray for decisions on school for Emily, job decisions, etc.  Pray for them as they set up their home and figure out this marriage thing :-)  Pray for friends for them.

3.  Pray for Amy and Josiah at school.  Being 6-7 hours away from home for weeks at a time is tough.  School is very hectic and academically strenuous.  RVA is a great school, but it's not home.  Pray for them as they navigate social relationships in a dorm-like setting.  Pray for them as they learn, that they will grasp the material they need to grasp and work hard (they're good students...).  Pray for them that they will continually grow closer to Jesus.

4.  Pray for Roger and I as we parent such a wide range of children...married all the way down to toddler.  Parenting from afar has gone to new lengths - with one married in the US, and two away at boarding school.  Pray for us also as we parent a toddler again!  It is such a joy!  It is such a challenge!  It is so energizing!  It is so emotionally draining!  Pray for us especially as we work on Chloë with her temper.

5.  Pray for me as I am nearing completion of all three levels of my Biblical counseling certificates from the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation - which is through Westminster Seminary in Glenside, PA.  My current class is nearly at an end - it has really been a challenge for me (partly because there is a toddler involved!).  My last class will start in May of 2017 and will be Counseling Children and Adolescents.  For that class, I will actually need to be in a weekly counseling relationship.  Pray that I finish well, learn well, and apply well.  My heart is in counseling children in children's homes.

6.  Pray for Roger as he teaches in a local Bible school.  He really enjoys this ministry and deeply cares for his students.  Pray for him also as he continues to pray about his ministry among the Pokot people.  Also, for he and Nathan Radford as they continue church planting efforts in Kitale.  It's a very difficult ministry if you're not willing to entice people with monetary or materialistic gain.

7.  As always, finances are tight...you know exactly what that's like!  Sometimes, we really need a break, and just can't get away because of financial constraints.  Last time we were in the States, we had discussed with our mission board our very deep need for being a part of a body of believers - at least once in a while.  The only place we can really do that is in Nairobi, We were going to try to do that at least once a quarter, but it costs us about $1,000 to go down for a weekend, so that's not happened.  Please pray for us in this.

September 14, 2015
Here are some recent updates:

1.  CHLOE: Our last court date was postponed for the purpose of having a home study done by Children's Services.  Understandable...but that was over a month ago now.  The home study went very well and the report given to the magistrate was favorable...but...we've heard two stories.  One is that the judge is sick.  The other is that she is on vacation.  I tend to believe the vacation story.  So, we're still waiting!

2.  Josiah made it to number 1 on the wait list for RVA...but that's still on the wait list.  He's doing very well with it; he truly believes that God just had a different plan for him this year.  I am still not technically home schooling him (or maybe I am technically but not practically).  Josiah will be doing 8th grade online with an accredited on-line Christian school.

3.  Amy is back at RVA as a freshman in high school.  Oh, my.  That just doesn't seem right.  She's enjoying her room mate (and the fact that there is just one room mate rather than 3), has a great view out her dorm window, and made the drama team for the first term - with a REAL speaking part!  I'm going to spend the weekend with her this weekend, so I'll be able to really tell how she's doing.  She's been sick this week, but is feeling better.

4.  Emily is engaged.  This is bitter-sweet for us on a number of levels.  Her fiance is a really nice man and we like him, but he is not a believer in Jesus Christ.  This is obviously our biggest concern. His name is Igor Solomon Levit, and their wedding date is set for August 6, 2016 in the Detroit, MI area. We are excited that they will be coming to spend 2 weeks with us in December...I haven't seen my girl in - well, almost 2 years by the time December comes. Please pray for both Emily and Igor, that God would shine his love down on them - and especially in Igor's heart.

July 27, 2015
Since I'm trying to keep my blog up-to-date, I should probably keep this page up-to-date as well!!!!

1.  CHLOE:  Our last (hopefully) court date for guardianship of Chloe is this Friday at 11:00 am GMT + 3.  That's 4:00 am EDST.  Please pray for a favorable decision by the judge so that Chloe can offically be a member of our family.  Our three requests of the judge are a) guardianship; b) name change to Chloe Thamani Nasimiyu Tate; c) permission to travel out of the country with her.

2.  JOSIAH:  Josiah so badly wants to attend Rift Valley Academy this fall.  He's been accepted, but they almost always have a waiting list.  Josiah started at #17 on that list, and has made his way up to #2 - but there are only 4 weeks left until school starts and he's still at #2.  We think that RVA will be a very good place for Josiah, but we want what God says is the best place for him for this year.  If he doesn't get in this year, he will for sure next year; but we were hoping he'd have a year to adjust in 8th grade so that when he hits 9th grade and GPA begins to matter, he would have a year under his belt and not be going through all the adjustments.

3.  AMY:  It's great to have Amy home for 6 weeks!  She is struggling being away from her older sister right now, so please pray for her.  She hates the feeling of disconnect, but she loves Kenya.  Amy starts high school this fall.  She has finally adjusted to living much of the year at RVA and is doing very well in school, but please pray for her.  It's difficult being away from home.

4.  EMILY:  Pray for Emily as she makes very big decisions in her life.  She is not currently attending college - she decided she wanted to study languages at Michigan State University, but they refused to give her in-state tuition.  She has to be in the State for a year without being enrolled in any college classes before she can qualify.  Emily will soon be engaged.  Please pray for her and for her "soon-to-be" fiance.  Pray for them for direction from God, and pray that they would both have a heart that yearns for Christ.


Well, I'm having a "duh" moment.  Here's a very important prayer request I should have added yesterday (It was 3:00, and I wasn't on the top of my game). :-)

EMILY:  Lord willing, Emily will be starting college in January.  This is going to be a very large transition for her, and while she is super excited about it, she is also going through a grieving process related to being quite homeless.  If you know anything about TCK's (and I would love our directors, our pastor, and our mission committee to read up on it) you know they often feel rootless and unsettled and homeless.  Her home - her parents - will be 8,ooo miles away, and she can't come "home" for breaks and holidays.  Please pray for her as she goes through this very difficult adjustment.

May 22, 2013
Hi everyone.  It's been a while since I've posted new prayer requests...here's where we're at right now with prayer needs.
FINANCIAL:
1.  Emily was recently accepted to Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, VA.  This is her dream school because part of the program is government internships, but it's not cheap.  Please pray for the ability to pay for her college education.
2.  Amy has applied for RVA (Rift Valley Academy) for the 2014 - 2015 school year.  If Josiah chooses to go as well, he would start the following year. This is a very large financial commitment.  Many people may not understand our choice of sending our kids to boarding school, especially since I have 13 years of experience home schooling.  But, here in Kenya, we don't have the support system or the resources we had back in the States.
3.  In light of numbers 1 and 2, I'm sorry to say that our monthly income has been cut by $750.00.  On top of that cut, minimum wage in Kenya increased this year by 14% (last year, it increased by 16%). Please pray for our money to stretch, and for God to continue to supply our needs.
4.  We are getting close to returning to the States; please pray that we would find someone to stay in our house here in Kitale while we are in the States so that we are not paying rent in two places.

MINISTRY:
1.  First, in light of number 3 above, one of the ways we can minister individually to help our Kenyan friends is to give them employment.  The Kenyan unemployment rate is about 40%.  But it's even worse than that.  Kenya has established a minimum wage and extensive workers' rights.  Unfortunately, very few employers follow these laws.  Therefore, for us to fire an employee, or to reduce their hours (full-time is 30 - 50 hours a week) makes it very difficult for them to maintain decent living quarters, decent food, and school fees for their kids.  Most employers hardly pay 1/2 of the current minimum wage.  On top of that, for women, it is even worse.  Many women find themselves in the position of being forced to give sexual favors in exchange for their paychecks.  Because of these things, we would like to maintain our employees at their current rate of employment.
2.  Roger and Nathan are beginning a weaning process for the church in Shangalamwe.  The local pastor is already doing the weekly teaching, and so now Roger and Nathan will begin to reduce the number of weeks they are with them on Sundays.  Please pray that the work continues (we know from past experience that sometimes when the missionary leaves, the members leave as well because there is now no hope of getting things from the missionary), pray that God does a great work through the faithfulness of the members out there and that many people come to Christ.
3.  Also pray for Titus, the other local church planter that Roger and Nathan have (and continue to) train.  Titus baptized 5 people just this past week, and 11 a few weeks ago.  Pray for the groups that recently have been organized into local churches, and pray for the groups that are on the path to being organized.  Pray for Titus, that he would be faithful, and above reproach.  There are so many temptations out there.  Pray that he would rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, and not on himself.  Pray that he would be faithful to the truths he has been taught.  Pray that he would be a student of scripture, and a man of prayer.  Pray that he would not be puffed up with pride.  Pray that he would be a humble servant of Christ.
4.  For the groups, pray that they would continue to spread - faithfully taking the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with them, and that they would grow in grace and truth and wisdom and knowledge.

PERSONAL
1.  As our time winds down here for this term, we find ourselves physically and emotionally/spiritually drained and tired.  This is incredibly normal for missionaries in our area, but it's still difficult.
2.  Pray for us to find housing in the States that we can afford.
3.  Leaving Kenya for furlough is a mixed bag of emotions.  We're excited to see those we love and miss, and we're sad to leave those we will love and miss.
4.  Pray for our children as they go through another large transition.  I've been reading up on what they call "Third Culture Kids" to get a better idea of what missionary kids go through, and it's tough.  When they get back to the States, relationship dynamics will be different than when they left, and they have to figure out how they will fit in for the time they are there.  When they return to Kenya, relationship dynamics will have changed here as well.  They are pretty constantly in a state of fluxuation, and they need to be able to reconnect.  Please pray for them in this.  Pray that they would have grace for others, and that others would have grace for them.  Last time it was hard because kids would make them feel stupid for not knowing things that are obvious to kids who grow up in American culture - things our kids don't know about and are not exposed to.  But I also don't want our kids to make their American friends feel stupid for not knowing things about other cultures.  I'm asking for grace on both sides. (Roger and I go through this transition as well, though not to the same extent.  So you can pray for us in this area as well).

To all those who pray for us on a regular basis - thank you so much!


November 9, 2012: Vehicle...
Hey all.  I just want to say thank you for your prayers and let you know that, through the generosity of some precious friends who gave us a short term, zero-interest loan, we have been able to go ahead and purchase a new vehicle.  It's shocking how expensive 4-wheel drive vehicles are in Kenya.  We were able to purchase a 2000 Land Cruiser.  It's not without its problems, but it drives nicely, is up high off the ground to avoid dragging the bottom over really deep potholes and really high speed bumbs, and has enough room for travelling with kids and luggage.  We are all very thankful to have our own transportation once again.

The paper work has been done, and the log book (Title) and license plate are legal according to the Kenya Tax Revenue.  Thank you so much!!!!!





August 10, 2012 - Health stuff...
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for the health issues I've been experiencing.  I've come to the conclusion that the last couple of months, I've been suffering from a flare up of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.  I'm not sure what brought it on, but it may have been a virus I had the week after our trip to Rome that triggered it.  It was pretty bad.  I couldn't get enough sleep, couldn't think straight, and was in pain literally from head to toe.  The tired part is clearing up now - finally!  I'm feeling almost back to 100% in that area - not quite, but almost.  The pain is still getting to me, though, so please continue to pray for that (that's the fibromyalgia part of the problem)  We were hoping to get to Nairobi at the end of this month so that I could see a couple of doctors, but that's not going to be able to happen now for a couple of reasons; it will have to be postponed.  I am very stiff and in pain when I wake up in the morning - especially my feet and ankles, my right arm, and my upper back and right shoulder.

Roger is finishing malaria meds.  He's pretty tired and worn down.  Please pray for him as well.



July 26, 2012 - Urgent, but not life and death...
We were just informed today that our vehicle (which we've been driving for 3 years) seems to be illegal.  Fun.  It seems the license plate is registered to some Kenyan somewhere.  Roger has to go to Eldoret tomorrow to the KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority) to find out what's going on and if there is anything we can do about it besides loose our car with no chance of recouping the cost of the vehicle.  Cars here are really, really expensive, and we really can't go without one.  Please pray that this can be legally worked out without tons of headache; that would be a miracle.






May 21, 2012

Please pray for Roger and Nathan's ministry here working to plant house churches.  There are so many Westerners here who lure good people away with promises of material things and material rewards.  Pray for God's protection around these three groups.  Pray that they would grow in knowledge and wisdom and that they would see the false promises of reward for what they really are.  Pray that they would see and savor Jesus Christ for Himself and that they would share the Good News of the love of God in Jesus out of a heart that is full of love for their Savior and for their fellow man.



May 16, 2012
1.  Please pray for the home groups that Roger and Nathan have started.  Roger asks for prayers for wisdom and guidance as they lead these groups in the direction of becoming house churches, also for the leading of the Holy Spirit in these believers.

2.  Roger also specifically requests prayer for his Kiswahili speaking and listening abilities.  This is very frustrating for him and a source of easy discouragement.

3.  Right now we are starting the process of choosing a college for Emily.  Please pray that the Lord would direct us to the place He wants her to be.