Paying The Cost

The feeling of being adopted into God’s family is a POWERFUL and WONDERFUL feeling!  When you become a believer, you are adopted into God’s family.  

HE

CHOSE

YOU!!!!

He PAID THE COST for YOU!

On my travels throughout Kenya, I met a lot of people.  I worked with Wildfire Ministries Kenya and got to meet a lot of the sponsored girls.  To be sponsored, means the world to those people too.  I imagine it’s almost like the feeling of being adopted into God’s family.  

To be sponsored out of the Pokot lifestyle means many things.  Your mindset changes from slave mentality to a daughter of God mentality.  Yes, these girls are treated like slaves.  Sponsoring one of them means she feels loved, accepted, and chosen.  She has a chance to change her life– to not be a slave to female gentile mutilation; to not be a slave to early pregnancy and motherhood; to have a life that SHE CHOOSES (Freedom); to change a generation which will in turn change thousands of generations.   

When I went to Pokot, Irene was my guide.  She was living with Joram and Elinor, my hosts in Kitale and is from Pokot.  Two of her sisters have already been sponsored: Cheru and Jackie.  I got to spend time with Cheru when she came back with us at the end of my Pokot trip (and we became close friends) and I got to spend time with Jackie when we visited her, her house, and her family in Pokot! This family is beautiful!

(Cheru)

(Jackie)

(Irene–blue shirt on right, plus Jackie (red), mom (pink), another sister (white) and the sister’s 3 kids.)

Irene was still waiting for someone to sponsor her for school and school was going to be starting up again soon.  

As I spent time with her at Joram’s and Elinor’s and as she cared for me, loved me, and translated for me in Pokot, I felt this special connection to Irene.  I could plainly see her beauty; her strength; her love like the Father.  Let me just tell you about her love for me… when we showered out in nature, she found a secluded spot for me and brought me my jerry can of water–sometimes even warmed.  She made sure all of my needs were taken care of first–food, a place to rest my head, laundry, and made sure my white muzungu body was handling the heat ok.  She fought for some of my needs (boiling milk, making sure the men were safe who were carrying me across the river, giving me less tea than a full cup) even when sometimes these tasks meant rubbing up against cultural norms.  She helped cook…she helped clean…her hands were never idle. 

Irene is strong in the Lord.  She is prayerful.  She is dedicated.  She is an AMAZING and gifted translator who easily translated from English to her native Pokot language the first time she was put up to the challenge during a church service when I preached!  The girl is going to become a Proverbs 31 woman….setting about her work vigorously, clothed in strength and dignity, and her husband will have full confidence in her. 

As Irene and I spent more time together…I felt the Lord calling me to do something crazy.  SPONSOR HER. After much prayer, I’m happy to announce that in December I made the commitment to sponsor Irene.  It might not make any sense…continuing to be on the mission field and sponsoring someone…paying the cost…but I know only fruit will come from this…  

(To be fully transparent to my supporters: This money for Irene is NOT coming from money for Africa, but from some back up savings I have.  God is so good!)

Enjoy these photos of Irene!