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The Ultimate Life

Celebrating All Saint’s Day at home, I thought this was an appropriate blog to post. 

One evening during my short break home, my mom, brother, and I were sitting downstairs watching a movie together, The Ultimate Life.  It’s a sequel to The Ultimate Gift.  The first time I saw the Ultimate Gift was with my youth group and it had a profound impact on me.  It takes you through several “gifts” (learning, money, work, a day, etc.)

As The Ultimate Life ended, I pondered about the life I’m living and the work I’m doing.  When you tell people you are a missionary, you usually get remarks like, “I could never do that.  It takes a special person to do that.  God will reward you greatly.  The work you are doing is so powerful.”  But honestly, I’m just another person like you–yes you–the person reading this.  We are called to love others and we can do that in our daily lives.  It can be  wherever you are in the world… whatever “class” you are in… whatever your circumstance may be.  You just have to use the gifts God has given you, praise God for His presence in your life and he will multiply whatever gifts and talents you have to use for the Lord and Kingdom!

On this particular day, God blessed me with a new idea.  After the movie, I was up in my room.  On my one shelf was a stuffed animal my grandma had made. 

It reminded me of an article from the newspaper I ran across a few days before when I was sorting things in my room.  I pulled out the article and read it again.  “She sews for patients.” 

I looked at the stuffed animal.  I thought about how much I would love to share all the things I’ve been doing in Africa with my grandma.  She would be so tickled to learn about the food I was learning to make, washing my laundry by hand, fetching water—things she probably had to do at some points in her life.  During the reminiscing, God put the idea in my head…why not Africa?  I kept the idea to myself for a little.

  

Within the next week, great things happened.  Someone from church gave me a bag of thread to take back to Africa. 

Another lady is working on downsizing her things and had heard I might want some material.  I was then loaded up with a few boxes of material and some more thread.  Okay God!  I hear you loud and clear. 

The mom of one of the families that I stay with in Nairobi just happens to be a tailor.  This would allow me to do ministry while in Nairobi.  I’m often there in transition between coming, going, and shifting to different places. 

The idea came that I would pay her for her work of tracing, cutting, sewing, and stuffing the animals.  While I’m in town, I can also help trace, stuff, and sew the finishing touch on the animals. I want to be part of it too—more than just handing them out! I can’t let her and the family have all the fun! 

I had my friend Kim, her son, draw new patterns.  I had contacted my Aunt and she didn’t have any patterns from my Grandma–so we revamped the animals.  Now there is a cat, dog, turtle, elephant, and giraffe–Maybe more patterns to come later.

After we get enough to deliver, then we can take the animals to children’s homes or hospitals in Nairobi—or maybe even expand to other places. (I have a few places in mind)  By doing this…my grandma’s legacy will live on and people in Africa will be blessed too. 

And it’s been a family affair—the whole family helps at times with different parts. 

 

One of my Squad Leaders from the World Race has family doing ministry in Nairobi.  I reached out to them and the ministry they work for will be the first organization to receive the first batch!  There are 115 children who are orphans rescued from all around Kenya.  Most come from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriage situations.  But others also come from the slums of Kibera and other impoverished areas.  This particular organization gives them an education, feeds them 3 good meals a day, and provides a loving environment that shares about Jesus.  The person I’ve been in contact with said that the children will be happy to have an item that they can call their “own” because almost everything they have is shared.  

If you’re interested in donating directly to this project, when you Venmo, PayPal, or send a check write a memo “stuffed animals”.  

Venmo:@kelly-fahnestock

Paypal: paypal.me/kfahnestock

“Life isn’t measured by how long you live.  Life is measured by HOW you LIVE.” 

PSALM 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

29 Comments

  1. Love, love, love it! Plan to share with the Good News Club kiddos at Mt Rock!! Can’t wait to hear more about how God keeps using you, a common cracked pot like me, to build His kingdom!!
    Love you!

  2. Oh Kelly, you never cease to amaze me. Uncle Bob told me to come read your blog as soon as he saw it this morning. Mother would be so happy to read this and so proud of you, not just because you are carrying on her legacy of sharing her talent of sewing and a giving heart, but that you have the love of God in her heart and are sharing that also. Love you.
    Aunt Bonnie

  3. Wow! What a wonderful story.
    You know it’s been raining here for the last few days and I think our roof is leaking because now my eyes are all wet or they may have sprung a leak. I don’t know which lol

  4. Ooooh. I love it!!! Talents are so precious. Sadly some don’t realize what they have and could be sharing God’s word by using them.

  5. Wow, Kelly what an amazing journey. I love it and I pray that your grandmothers legacy goes wherever you go and the children are touched by Gods love through you.

  6. Kelly you are such an amazing person. I am so proud of you. Your grandma is smiling down at you. Stay safe and keep up the good work.

  7. I just love how the legacy of your grandmother is woven into your ministry! Multiplication principle! Kingdom Principle! May God continue to bless and keep you, as love on others so tangibly! Hobe cyane, G

  8. Wow. This really demonstrated how our hearts can be sewn together. What a legacy! To take your grandmother’s heart to Africa shows how we really must extend our family. These little things can become huge things when they are produced in love. Kelly, this is what it means to take our candle and place it on a hill. Love and blessings to you!

  9. I love these!! You never know what God wants us to do until he shows and we are always amazed. Your grandmother will be remembered with your gift.

  10. Brilliant idea Kelly and what a continuation of your grandma’s legacy. I obviously don’t know her but I think she would love this. You creating this project sounds just like you: I love how you bloom wherever you are planted!

  11. Thanks for sharing about this with me the other day! And thanks for using your resources and gifts to help bless others!!

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