I am back to familiar surroundings in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. In a few hours I will be on my flight back to Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has truly been a season to remember and the Presence of the LORD has been undeniable. We are so very grateful for all the prayers offered for provision, for guidance and for our safety. Thank you.

At our last school visit, Cardinal Otunga Girls’ Secondary School in Kibabii, Patricia K. overcome with emotion stood up to give a vote of thanks. One of the things she said has stuck with me. She stated, “I wish there was a “happy meter” so you could measure how happy we are. Thank you for loving us and thank you for supporting us. I promise you, we will all make it. We are working hard, and we will not let you down.” These words are meant for you! Your donations and your sacrifices are yielding eternal results.

As I think about her words, I am reminded about an obsession I had as a young girl. I loved the purity and simplicity of smocked dresses. My greatest longing back then was to grow up, get married, have daughters (as if this were up to me), and then dress them up to the nines in the prettiest smocked dresses I could find. I thought they were the cutest things I’d ever seen. God in his wisdom, blessed me with a strapping young son who is content to wear plain jeans and a T-shirt.

However, as I read the emails arriving in my inbox from all the precious young girls that God has put in my life through Esther’s Hope, I see a deeper blessing. Each email begins, “Dear mummy… (this is the Kenyan reference for mom).” I have become the mother of many spiritual daughters and as I watch them develop and mature in Christ, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Instead of perishable smocked dresses, God is clothing them with faith, with strength, with perseverance, with dignity, with honesty, with deep gratitude and with humility.

Your dream may not turn out exactly as you envisioned it either, but he, our King of Glory, does all things well.

See you in the vineyard, on the other side of the ocean as we eagerly await the imminent return of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ!