Rattins living Coram Deo

"I'm just a student."   Oh the beauty of that statement! You'll never know until that season is over... but the carte blanche that comes with the title "student" is truly once in a lifetime.  You can go, experience, taste, see.  As a student you are clearly there to learn.  No other expectations are placed on you.  Everyone knows that students are poor, have little influence, and are nomadic in nature. When you cease to be a "student" (by title), expectations and hopes are raised by your presence.  Cultural blunders change from being funny learning opportunities to dangerous offenses. This has become increasingly clear to us as our opportunities for learning are curtailed by our roles and responsibilities within our organization.  When we go somewhere, regardless of OUR motivation, we are viewed as ambassadors of Action International Ministries. We are so grateful that we had the opportunity as students to sleep in Masaai huts 'on the g...

We're tired. Plain and simple. The amount of work that needs to be done far exceeds the capacity of one pastor and one full-time mom. But we struggle onward.  We see God's hand in bringing us here, in placing us here at this time with these needs.  We never doubt that this is exactly where God wants us.  Even on those days when we long for a few hours of being anonymous and having people watch our children who are comfortable with our special needs daughter. But we're tired. "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies - in order that ...

Sunday... not a day of rest when you're in ministry, but today was as close as we get... Josh got up at his usual 5:30am to spend time with the Lord and work on his sermon.  I couldn't get the kids ready in time for 8:00am service at Peter's church, so Josh went to the service for a little bit while I finished getting the family ready.  By 10:00am, we all piled into the car to go to Home of Love where we participate in worship service each Sunday. It was still breakfast time, so we got some maize porridge with odi (peanut-sesame-paste) - yum! Eventually, the worship time started, with fantastic singing and dancing led by the Home of Love children! I will never tire of it! Josh preached.  Noah wiggled and rolled around on the floor.  ('sigh!') Micah tried to sleep and couldn't commit.  Ana read her Bible.  Moses looked at the pictures in his Bible. After worship time, we had a wonderful time just hanging out with our two interns and Bosco.  ...