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Swimming in an ocean of emotion.....
Posted on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 01:22 - Post Comment
This week has had it's range of emotions!! I just " told off" Emily becuase the other day she was asking me for money ( surprise , surprise) and i told her I would talk to her on Thursday about it so today she says, "you said you would give me money on Thursday" well I flipped because one of the things you learn around here is don't say I'll think about it, you need to let "your yes be yes and your no, no" but to me saying I'll talk to you on thursay is NOT a yes or no!!! She got the piont but it is very tiresome to have to deal with this every day!!!!! Plus our friend Bonaface 's mother is in the hospital again and around here if you don't pay they don't let you leave. Well they have no money so there she sits!! And we have given sooo much to them we just can't give any more!! But it feels bad to say no but Bruce says we just can't keep giving money away because we won't have any left!! it is a frustration when you knows the needs are real!!! The GOOD emotions I've had this week were... a happy day with John , Beth and Mwangi on Monday. They came all day and we went up to RVA to walk Lydie back from lunch, then we played then went to Kimende to the market and for a late lunch/dinner. the market in Kimende is wild and peole say stuff to us about being white and having black children with us and that makes John uncomfortable. So i gave him money to do the buying and we went off w/o him. I think it made him feel grown up. And since john does the cooking for the family we got "take out" for his father and he was sooo happy we thought of him. In fact the next day he told me he slept till 10 am because he was so full. I like to keep him happy so I was very happy that he was happy!!!! Yesterday i had a young lady named Mary Wanjiku over to visit with Sadie and I for a while. We baked together and we read together then I showed her the ADDY doll from Terry and she did her hair and changed her clothes. It is fun to know that Terry's giving stretches to Kenya!!! It was a good day for all of us!!
The kids are consumed with Pine wood Derby this weekend then it is 2 more weeks of school then AIM conference then vacation. I think it will be a quiet one. We will spend Thanksgiving with the Kinzers.
So thats my week full of frustrations, fun and family. Pray that we find the balance in our giving. We give of our time and service alot but the money thing is a hard one... The needs are great but you don't want to create dependence plus it can be very discouraging. I finally told Bonaface if we keep giving you money we will have to leave so decide if friendship or money is more important. Sounds harsh but this is the truth.
I feel like I complain alot on this sit but I try to tell the truth, good bad and VERY ugly!!!
Byt the way by processed I mean store bought bread, and noodles and juice and milk that is pasterized!! i am not found of pop tarts but you all know how I love cereal!!!! Got to Go, Ellen
It's not complaining
Posted by Pattisea on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 06:23 - Link
Hi Ellen,
I just wanted to thank you for always putting in the good the bad and the ugly. I have never been on a mission (short or long term) and it's very easy to get an idea that all the local folks will love you (you're doing God's work after all), and that everyone will be won over!
Usually when we hear testimony of long term mission trips, that's the sort of picture that's painted. I think the speakers don't want to discourage people from going.
Personally, I would rather go in with my eyes open and see the real situation (probably easier to minister to people if you see them clearly). From what you say, you are handling the requests for money honestly and sensibly.
I will pray that the hospital situation is worked out for that family,
Take care and thanks for being honest!
Patti
(((HUG)))
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 02:21 - Link
It's kind of funny (in a NOT ha ha sort of way), but you have been on my mind quite a bit this week. Now I know why. I'll be praying more for you, my friend!
Jennifer
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