Update on Sandra *caution for children reading this*

Thank you for praying for Sandra in her weak condition. We were able to obtain enough of the right kind of blood for her, and she is stable now and ready to be discharged. God is great! I need to share with you more of the complicated situation, so that you can continue to be in prayer for her as she heals physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

As I said earlier, Sandra is 21 now, and grew up in Wema Children's Home after being rescued from the streets at age 7 or 8. Her sister, Catherine, is also in Wema Centre. Sandra is beautiful, and brilliant, and secured a sponsor to attend a Christian university in the capital city of Nairobi. She is studying business, and has a bright future ahead of her.

Recently, Sandra, was a victim of sexual assault, and as a result became pregnant. "Christian" sponsored childrens' homes in Kenya do not approve of this status at all....meaning the pregnancy. Even though times are slowly changing, this is still a male-dominated society, and any fault is attributed to the female. No questions asked. Sandra lost her sponsors from Wema, thus her only family she has known since being rescued from the streets. Shortly before Christmas, she was depressed after feeling abandoned, and contemplated taking her own life along with the unborn child. Knowing that she would be accepted back in school and the Wema institution if she was without child, she made the horrible decision to obtain an illegal termination of the pregnancy, in a back alley somewhere here in Mombasa. I can't imagine the horrible conditions and her state of mind to attempt such a desperate act.

This act is what led her to being rescued and hospitalized in the very nice, yet very expensive Hindu hospital here in Mombasa. We thank God that she is well now and has healed physically and received enough blood. Her spirits are continuing to rise each day, and she knows she is loved and is important to many, most of all her Creator.

There are many challenges ahead for her, but there is one that I feel led to bring to all of you. Upon discharge, the hospital chose to keep her locked in the room until there is payment of the bill. She had insurance when she was in university, but now was dropped when they became aware of her condition. I have helped with a deposit so they can hopefully release her in the next few days, but things like this can be very tricky in these situations.

Many of you have blessed me soo much already through your prayers, notes of encouragement, and gifts, and I've been able to bless others and give where He leads. He has led me to help in many ways with school fees, maize flour, meals, transport fees, etc. I'm grateful to have all of your support even when I know things are hard for everyone at home in the U.S. I've never presented my supporters with a specific need like this, but the opportunity is here now and I felt led to share it with all of you.

She needs your prayers most of all! If you feel led to help financially with Sandra with her medical expenses in this situation, you can send a check to the address below and please write, "Sandra" in the bottom left.

Emily Griggs
213 Idlewood Dr.
Kannapolis, NC 28083

I'm grateful to have your love and support, and am truly humbled. I've been reading in Isaiah lately. Chapter 49 spoke to me today. I love you all!

A BIG "maji" mess!

Maji means water in Swahili. For over 3 weeks now, theres's been no clean, running water in Mombasa. Of course, it had to coincide with my trip here. It's been frustrating to say the least and annoying at times having to go fetch water in the next "village" over, Shanzu, but let me stop complaining right now. I'm the lucky one who can afford to buy coveted bottled water. Even cold water. Maji baridi. I keep reminding myself that this is these people's DAILY lives. It makes me feel spoiled, and even miss my "home" in Rwanda. In Rwanda, my roommates and I were complaining cause we didn't have hot water for like 3 months. This time in Mombasa has been a nice reminder of God's grace and His gifts that should never be taken for granted. The gift of water is the purest gift ever, except that of salvation. There's no life without water. I wake up somedays on the Oyondis' floor, and soaked in sweat, I really just desire a good cold shower, but then realize the taps are dry. Why? No one REALLY knows why. The government keeps "spouting" off excuses and excuses, and promises that maji will come this evening, or tomorrow morning. But there's nothing. Most people here will tell you there's no water because of corruption, and the government broke the pipes in a certain area where a political rival lives. And then the government will act like they are repairing the broken pipes so they can restore water (and order,) but then they secretly pay the gangster youth to break the pipes again in the night, and the next day, it's the same thing, hakuna maji. It gets too old. Now, water has come in "certain" areas, but its dry in others. Who knows the truth? These people just want something clean to drink. There's many who don't have appropriate transport or can't afford to go far to fetch the water in buckets and bring back for drinking and bathing. I realize how blessed I am to have such a crucial thing. You ache for those who need it and can't get it, sometimes feel overwhelmed, frustrated, mad as hell, and just sad. I realize, too, how spoiled I am, when I look at the guard dog and want to give him my water and wash the fleas off him. And everyone laughs that I have affection for a dog. Maybe it's not that I'm so spoiled, just living in a different culture. Plus, they are thinking about people, not dogs. How can dogs get water when people can't? Thanks for listening to my ramblings today. When you take a shower today or brush your teeth, or wash your dog, appreciate! Appreciate the gift of maji and thank the giver!
Isaiah 58:11

Things that made me feel alive in 2009

I read a quote somewhere that says, "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that! Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." I want to live my life in a way that I feel alive every day! Not just happy or an all around "OK" feeling...but an alive feeling! That feeling you get when you dance in the rain and hold a new born baby and help others. God was so good to me in 2009, and with His Spirit in me, I thank Him that I am alive each and every day! Even though we're already a few days into the new year, I wanted to take time to thank Him and appreciate those special "alive" moments of 2009. When I think of 2009, I'm brought to Psalm 65:11. "You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." There's so many blessings, let me count the ways! I can't even begin to count! But I just want to remember just a few special moments/things that made me feel alive in "09....

my precious newborn nephew AIDEN! I adore him!
spending New Years with close friends in Hot Springs, NC
hiking and sledding in the snow
listening to my favorite professor, Dr. Jabbour at CIU
studying new ways to reach the unreached in the Ms world
tasting cold Sundrop and Fanta Passion :-)
hugs from precious children
exploring new places and ideas
getting packages from home :-)
swimming in oceans
teaching kids at Northwest like Julio and Tamia
teaching kids in Rwanda like Orla and Jabel
waterfalls
teaching Bible for the first time
falling out of the raft on the Nile River
seeing Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti from the sky
building new friendships
rekindling old ones
listening to sweet guitar music
roasting marshmallows over the fire
sleeping in a tent
hiking Old Bald and seeing friends from CMW

There are so many more but time is short. He has been so good to me! I can't even begin to count all the ways! I hope your New Years was a fun celebration wherever you were! I rang in 2010 in Kiembieni again, surrounded with friends at church. They call it a "kesha", which means overnight. On any special occasion like Christmas or New Years, people flock to church and "spend the night" singing praises. On Saturday, I was able to take a short trip with friends, upcoast to Lamu, which is the oldest town in East Africa. Really amazing. So peaceful. Life is slow and simple here. The best kind. I'm going back to Mombasa tomorrow, and headed back to Rwanda at the end of the week. I'll write more about my time here when I get back and post some pics.

My prayer for 2010 is for God to enlarge my vision. Broaden my vision of Him and what He can do. All things! Make it something I really believe, and not just speak. I want to abide in His presence always and believe His promises for me! OK..I know it's too terribly cheesy...but here's my motto for this year...are you ready?...."Abide in Him in 2010." :-) Thank you Father for health, for friends, family, love, and your Spirit. Every time I leave Mother Teresa's orphanage in Kigali, I see a memorial in her honor that reads, "Make of your life, something beautiful for God." With Him, we are made alive!

Thanks for all your emails, birthday messages, and sweet cards. I love you all and wish you a 2010 that is ALIVE! Love you!

Prayer Request

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I have a special prayer request. Sandra, one of the girls I used to live with at the Wema orphanage, is in the hospital in critical need of blood. Right now, we're unsure of what's wrong, but she's in a very weak condition. Sandra is 20 now and is only one of 3 Wema girls to have secured a sponsor to attend university in Nairobi. She is studying business. She came home to Mombasa for Christmas and became very ill. Please pray for her health and quick recovery, and pray right now that we find enough donors to donate blood for her. We need about 5 more right now. I'll update you more on how she's doing later on. Thanks for your prayers! I love you all!

Christmas is still Christmas...

1. Even if it's 100 degrees outside.
2. Even if there's no evergreens, only palm trees and banana leaves.
3. Even if you're sleeping on the floor. (It's ok cause Jesus slept in a manger.)
4. Even if there's no running water.
5. Even though I'm about to walk on a white, sandy beach instead of white, crunchy snow.
6. Even if banana "brew" replaces eggnog and hot apple cider.
7. Even if I see camels instead of cars.
8. Even if my "presents" are the presence of those I love around me.
9. Even though roasted goat bones replace candy canes.
10. Even if you have to slaughter your dinner a couple of hours before you eat it. :-( (a sad experience, but a reminder of the precious blood of the Lamb that was slain for us.)

Christmas is still Christmas no matter where you are because the Christmas spirit lives inside our hearts. I know it's soo cheesy and cliche, but it's true! Merry Christmas to you!

Merry Christmas!

I sitting here in a small internet cafe in Moshi, nestled right beneath the breathtaking sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro rising to the sky, capped with patches of snow. It's completely stunning! It's hard to take a good photo though; because of too many clouds....you only see parts of the mountain at a time. But even then, you can tell how colossal it is. I'm grateful for a long Christmas break from school, time to rest and reflect, and spend time with family and friends in Kenya and Tanzania. I've spent the last 2 days around Marangu, "Chagga Land," visiting churches, childrens' homes, waterfalls, and natural swimming pools. :-) And eating nyama choma and "mbege", the local banana brew with Grandma Bibi, and a host of the Oyondi cousins. Tomorrow, I'll travel to Mombasa by bus, and spend Christmas there with the Oyondis and the children at Wema orphange. I can't wait to see their smiling faces! This internet cafe is about to close, but I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas, as this will probably be the last chance I get to post before then. As I was reading last night in Isaiah, this verse really jumped out at me. Isaiah 52:7 says, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Jesus brought all these things to us, when He came to earth as a humble baby, born in a lowly manger, for the purpose of dying on the cross for our salvation. And He calls us to serve as He did...bring good news, proclaim peace to all, bring good tidings. I'm remembering this Christmas that He is the giver of all these gifts and more. Let's rejoice that He came to save us, and that our God reigns! May you all have a Christmas full of His Spirit, reigning in your hearts. I have many pictures to post of my experiences and opportunities, but I'll have to wait until I return to Kigali. Thank you all for your love and support, and for your gifts. Through your gifts, I've been able to give so much more and continue the blessings! I love you all! Merry Christmas!

Advent

My kids were in charge of chapel this week, and we decided to have Advent be our theme. Did you know Advent means "coming" or "visit?" It's so nice to be in a room full of kids and not a one of them mention Santa visiting them with tons of presents. (I love Santa, by the way, but it's nice to be able to focus on the coming of Jesus instead!) We lit candles for each theme of hope, peace, joy, love and the Christ candle. (I hope there's no rule against lighting all the Advent candles in one day!) :-) The kids wrote their own prayers that they read outloud. I think they are beautiful, precious reminders of the joy and innocence that exists in children.

Hope

God, thank you for your hope that you give us every day. As we come for chapel this afternoon, fill us with your hope and your light and take all the darkness out of us. We hope that you are blessed by our chapel. We hope you are smiling at us. Help us to continue to hope for you. We hope that if anyone doesn't know you, Jesus, that they learn about you today! We ask this in your name. Amen.

Peace

Loving God, thank you for your peace. Thank you for the peaceful baby Jesus you brought to us on Christmas. Help us to live our lives in peace with everyone, even people we don't like. Fill us with your peace, Jesus, so we can give out peace to everyone everywhere we go. Even when we are in trouble. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Joy

God, we thank you for your joy you give us that is deep inside our hearts. Even when we are sad, we can still have joy because we know you Lord. You are our everlasting joy. Help us to be joyful to everyone this Christmas and remember and prepare our hearts for the baby Jesus to come and bring us joy. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Love

Loving God, we thank you for your gift of love that you gave to us with the baby Jesus. We know He came to earth so he could grow up and die on the cross because he loves us so much. Thank you God. Help us to remember to love each other like you love us. Help us to share all of your love with everyone, even our enemies. We love you so much Jesus. Amen.

I pray that during this Advent season, we can slow down from our busyness and shopping and remember who is coming soon! (And I'm not talking about Santa!) As we all light these candles at church, Lord, help us to shine the light of Jesus in our hearts this Christmas season. Help us to be the light of the world no matter where in this world we are!

I love you all!