DON'T TELL ME IT'S NOT GOD.

Don’t tell me it’s not God.

"If it hadn’t been for God, we’d have been consumed; our enemy would have overtaken us and swallowed us alive." David wrote. Make’s me see that he was a real person going through real life experiences.

Today I, like David say, "If God had not been on our side let Israel say." Of a truth we’ve seen God’s mercy and provision during our time in the U.S.

I went ahead and purchased an air ticket by faith not knowing where my whole family would stay. I was living in a dormitory set-up at the YWAM Woodcrest. Of course all the other boys would not agree for me to bring my family in the ward like house with bed’s lined like a boot camp.

In Dallas my mind kept racing, "will we rent a motel for a couple of nights before we get a house or what?" One of the men I spoke to who had built a new home and left the former house told me. "Try looking for a house in Van (about 12 miles from the school), as for now my boy (who is a magician) is keeping his doves in there."

Like the Macedonian church, my family has always surprised me; they gave towards the extra monies and bills that came up concerning my family’s trip. Much appreciation goes to my In-laws who have always believed in me. I can’t forget Naph, Winnie, Lillian and all the folks that prayed for me, and supported me in various ways. My heart goes out to ya’ll and on this day let it be known that I love you big huge time.

The condition at the campus has not allowed me to write as I wish to. Life has been very fast paced and I know I have been a very poor communicator. I hope you forgive me.

This is the final week at the School of Writing and we are doing our final exam on Monday. Next week we clean up and people go to their different callings. When they asked me what I am going to do next after the School is over, I said, "I honestly don’t know. I am going to pray and ask God for the next direction." But, I am also going to write and write and sharpen my skill… some publisher may like my work who knows? I will also still be staffing at the YWAM Woodcrest, cleaning the yard and doing ground maintenance as we wait on God.

This is a good time to ask you to pray that I get a Laptop; I sincerely need one for the vocation and calling in my life. So far I have not gotten any regular support whatsoever in the U.S. zilch, nil, zero… I care not to burden my kinfolk seeing that they have such great need themselves. Pray with me that God will speak to people to support me regularly. Pray and listen as well if God will direct you to support me.

Back to the house issue. I left Dallas the next day with my family and headed like Abraham to a place I didn’t know. Thankfully YWAM Twin oaks housed us for a week while I looked for an alternative.

Finally we got this Trailer house very close to the school, with two tiny Bedrooms and one main bedroom, fully furnished with everything set just for a family like us. Of course each of my daughters got a bedroom, full of toys and their own wardrobes. We got a bed for Samuel too, and even some food left by the former tenant. My Landlord (a former mercy ship worker) said we were welcome to use the food or throw it away. How did they know we needed food too? Now tell me it wasn’t God.

All my neighbors are Christians. Their kids love coming to our house and even though my daughters are speaking very funny English they get along pretty good. The kids are out on summer break and are playing all day. There are a lot of blue berries and raspberries around the house and my wife has been picking some.

We go to a church down the road to a place called CCF (Christian Community Fellowship) where most YWAMers go and we are making a lot of friends, Intl. and locals. My family is blending in very sweetly amongst the red necks. Soon I’m going to take them to a Rodeo and some horse riding. We feel very at home surrounded by the longhorns and Texas flags.

Surely God has made us settle in a foreign land and His promise is true.

Love always,
Anthony.

HOWDY Y'ALL,

Howdy Y’all,

We are together again. My whole family is here, and we are having a ball. I know you wish you had been there, to witness our meeting after the long period of separation.

I paced up and down at the arrival’s gate C-15, where they were supposed to come through at 8:06 p.m. Jim my brother in law was there with me checking to see if we could spot them.

I knew they had left JKA (Nairobi’s main airport), but where were they. We hadn’t communicated in 18 hours. Their itinerary included London Heathrow, Chicago O-Hare, and Dallas DFW.

I stood, sat, paced up and down, wondered over the computer screens, and pestered the attendants. I didn’t like the feeling I had. Millions of butterflies were crawling in my belly.

Eventually I sat down waiting… Jim started asking around; he found out that their flight had come a little bit earlier. Where on earth could they be? We decided to check upstairs one more time at gate 12c.

Just as we got there I caught a glimpse of a young black girl playing around. First I thought it was she, then I thought no it can’t be. She’s so changed, it’s eight the effects of the night might be playing tricks on me. Just then she looked up and our eyes locked. It was Anita (my eldest daughter). Everything came to a standstill for a split second.

Our shouts and screams rent the air and we cared less. We ran towards each other. Mercy joined in the fray shouting excitedly and Samuel did some of his gurgling too and donned a huge smile. We hugged kissed, laughed and chatted all the way to Uncle Jim’s house.

Sorry for the let down, we forgot to take any pictures, or videos. We had our cameras fully loaded and ready but the excitement overwhelmed the occasion. We thought about it a little bit too late.

We did take a few photos in the house though. They were really tired and jet-lagged. I don’t think they’d like you to see them that way.
What counts is that we are all together again and our joy is complete. Praise the Lord with us.

Many thanks to your prayers.

Anthony

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE NAKED

Truth went for a swim in the lake. Lies came and stole his clothes. Your guess is as right as mine, truth came out naked and now we have naked truth.

Not many will embrace her (because she’s still naked), but the few that will enjoy her benefits. Let truth be embraced, sweeter or bitter, naked or otherwise...

You may have had to be away from your family for a reason, a week or two, a month may be. I know the feeling and I bet you didn’t like it either.

“When have you last seen them?” they asked me. It brought me an uneasy feeling every time they asked. Of course I didn’t have an appropriate answer. All I know is that I was away from home and there were many hoops. I have prayed, cried, hoped and waited for a whole one and a half years.

I came to America confident and positive that they would join me soon after. My visa came first and the school I was to attend was due same week. Their paperwork took time to process but I was still hopeful.

When I got here my worldview got revolutionized, the culture shock and all. Some people back home think that when you get to the US everything is served on a silver platter. Hitherto there was no further support from home. I haven’t built enough relationships to garner support in the US.

So far I have dug ruts, worked on sewer tanks, collected trash and recently washed bathrooms. I did these just to make ends meet and ensure that my family got some bread on the table. Being a father with school going kids the road has been rough and tough, but God’s faithfulness has been real to me.

I thank God for the staff and family at the Dayspring Centre who embraced and prayed with me. They were patient with me and encouraged me in all hope. The staff helped me plan my second year, gave me a breakdown on how to raise 10,000 USD enough to cater for my fees balance and my family expenses.

I went to Atlanta with hope of connecting and communicating with the churches I had earlier gone to for outreaches. Without a car and running very low on finances, my plans fell short. I tried to communicate with the churches, sent a bunch of letters and never got any response not even one of them. I stayed there for about a month with no success and headed back to Tyler, Frustrated and disappointed.

“Go home boy, show some responsibility”, said one of the leaders back at the school. "I owe you 4600 $(equivalent to half a million KShs) where can I possibly get that figure from back home?, besides I don’t have a plane ticket. I have not heard God say go."

“Try Harder, we are praying for you” Naomi(my wife) said every time I called. I have wept many days travailed in prayer and the peace of God has ruled my heart in all these things. Everything will be alright.

“What will you send for my birthday Dad”, my eldest daughter had asked. By the grace of God I got air tickets reserved exactly on her birthday. I advised my wife to tell the air hostess to give her the moment of her lifetime.

As I write this now, my family is airborne coming to America. Tomorrow is the big day when I pick them up at the DFW.

I am very excited for sure and can’t wait to meet them. I know it will be more challenging when they get here and I believe God will see me through it all. So far God has been faithful - Ebenezer.

THE STORY OF A FORMER DRUG ABUSER

The emptiness in my soul makes me wonder when all would come to an end. There is a battle within, and I come out the loser always. Loser! Yes, loser. The woman at the Mini bus had said. I had looked sexily at her and tried one of my moves. "Don’t mess with me loser" She yelled sneering. "It’s written all over your face.
I felt so ashamed and yet tried to be macho. What a loser, I thought. Why did she have to attract all the attention? Oh my God! Why do I always have to make a fool of myself?

Have you ever been in a maze, and all you hit were dead ends? Not bad if you had hope of finding your way out. Have you ever been in pitch darkness and hoped your eyes would get accustomed and may be you would find a way. How would it feel if you groped around in eternity and there was no way out?

Vision blurred, harsh and hostile darkness wrapped around you like a garment almost tangible. You are so scared like you were in a horror movie, only this is for real. Your life is a nightmare and you know it. You wish you were dead, but you are alive. Your life is full of drama but the consequences are real. This is how it feels like to be a junky. The only escape is when stoned or high. Nerves are calm, life is bliss, hey -- not for long, darkness awaits.

I longed for freedom but found none. When I needed help, my brother told me to see a shrink. "What good would it do to me?" I thought, I'm already gone. Breaking out is now too hard, among my peers I am a hero. I crave for it. I depend on it. This is my identity.

Every morning I have an agenda, where can I get my next fix. By now I have graduated from the common pot, to khat, mandrax, valium, roche, and all that represents. Of course, I need hard liquor to gulp it down, that gives you direct injection. It’s like shooting I’ve heard but that stuff is too expensive. Only the rich enjoy the crack and coke. With a little money, I can walk into any drug store, make them think I need a prescription. They need the money so they will sell.

I am in my worst dilemma and my brother thinks I will be ok. My sister is concerned too but can’t help. "Do you know what you did yesterday?" She asks. "I can’t remember", I say. "What happened"? You almost killed this guy, look at the bruise on your knuckle". A tooth mark runs through my right finger, evidence of a fight I can’t recall. Scars on my face give tell tale stories. Oh my, who will save me from this darkness?

They finally took me away, a menace to society they said. It was the worst time, yet the best. I looked through the bars and caught sight of the hawk flying lazily in the distance. So free it seemed. The whole world is open to its adventures. Can I feel the same, I thought?
After a couple of months my system was clean. I could live without it now I knew.

Thank God for a renewed faith and a new worldview. I am a free man. I met the man who told me all about me. He showed me the way out. He is the true physician.
I read that tattered Bible and it became alive to me. Some papers were missing. They had rolled weed and cigarettes with it, some used it for toilet paper; what a sham. The only material I could glean, was my ticket to liberty and freedom. He promised to renew my mind like that of a young boy.

I am fresh and alive healthy and whole. "... You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Scripture echoed down deep within. It became honey to my mouth and fire to my belly.

What a joy to be free.

JUST A REMINDER

"I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth(hope you are). I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live...
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

The apostle Peter now an old man brings this up to those who through the righteousness of God and saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours. He knows his time in the ministry is almost up and confesses it "I will soon put aside the tent of this body..."This is the confession of a man that has embraced reality, he utters such words with finalty. He has run his race well.

It takes a lot for many of us to come to a complete rest and reliance on God. We all tend to have a plan a and b or c if deemed fit. We forget the easy instruction of Our Lord, be anxious over nothing... and we are burdened with a lot of care.

Embracing truth is living a childlike life of faith, without a care for tomorrow, having enough fun today and looking forward to another day of play.

Peter by this time has been by the fire, in the fire and presently on fire. These are the three seasons that every believer has to go through.

When he sat by that fire, he wasn't sure if he'd made the right choice. He looked at the people who questioned him restlessly and denied to have known the messiah. His friend, saviour, master and Lord.

We all get there sometime, when we are faced by challenges and feel/think that He is not on our side. Maybe it's because we made a wrong choice we think, when things dont work out the way we presumed. Often it's true, the choices we make have consequences. He doesn't leave us, He remains faithful, but we leave and like Peter we've got to come back a weeping.

Hang on bro, all you felt was the warmth of the fire, coz you will be in the fire some time. This is a time when the Lord is using you and you have repented of your sins and set your heart to follow Him, but never-the-less you face challenges. It's part of your interesting adventure, everyone has to find his way. The only place to turn to is to God.

In that jail house, he slept soundly like a baby, even though James had been beheaded, and the atmosphere was hostile, they'd all fled from Jerusalem. He'd just preached a sermon that made thousands turn to the Truth. The pharisees were aggrevated, they wielded the power of life and death. Yet he had no anxiety.
Fire consume us.

The furnace of affliction takes away all the dross that you may come out shining than pure gold. God didn't begin a shoddy work in you. He's gonna bring to completion the good work. It's time to catch - a - fire. The fire of God, indwells you when you are pursuaded, you dont just know, that you know that you know. It is beyond doubt, Your heart is set, Mind fixed and Destiny sure. You are on Fire Bro.

You accept all for the sake of Christ, come out happy to be considered worthy of the Lord. You go through what you are going through with your head lifted high. Christ will ensure that you win. He will pat your back and say, "well done good and faithful servant..."

Fire Burn.

IGNORANCE IS BLISS

I key this in the late hours of the nite.
Everybody else in this base might be asleep on a Saturday nite after a long week of rigorous labor. I know I should too.
I am determined to get down with this jargon and know the works.
It's my first posting and so don't mind the errors, if any.
I am amazed by the potential in this tool here, we are going places in YWAM, praise God.

I am in the school of writing at YWAM Woodcrest and I guess this is a good platform to present some of our class projects.
Sometimes we do random stories in the class and it's amazing the things we all come up with, some are boring but some are really neat.
Above all when we surrender ourselves to God our writing is inspired and that's a plus.
I have an inclinaton for fictional stories, based on real life experiences. We are discovering our various strengths, and I strongly lean that way.
Some of us are naturally good narrators, some are poets, but above all we are writers.
I ran a word search in the bible concerning writing and discovered that God is a writer. All he needs is scribes and we can be his hands. He commands write in so many places from Genesis to Revelation. Can you imagine what it would have been like if nobody wrote - the Scriptures.
I kind of like Habakkuk 2:2, Make the writing plain so that the reader may run with it.

TRUTH
We are living in times that Truth is so misrepresented and we need a people who will re-state mistated Truth. The bible itself has been misintepreted by so many philosophies and doctrines and we need a people who will clarify the Truth.
The media has controlled the masses just because they have a platform to present their ideologies, and set up premises by which they sway to their own whims.
Sound the trumpet in zion because the pendulum is swinging again. God is handing back to the church what the devil stole, and it depends on us... what we do with it - TRUTH.
TRUTH -- Pilate asked? What is the truth?
Everybody wants to know the truth. Isn't it a great dilemma that a whole lot of people don't know the truth and choose to live in ignorance. When I couldn't learn how to use this system here, I stayed all nite to find out how it works. How so more important it is to search the Truth in the wee hours of the nite. Apply ourselves to the Truth until we know it. Truth Liberates, Truth is freedom.
Dont be scared of the truth, it may not be as bad, and as horrifying as we expect on discovery. If we discover we will recover.
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

Watch out for more postings,
Anthony

Journey to Texas

Ya’ll welcome to view the tit bits in my world. I hope it will give you a little insight of who I am, what I believe and why. Lets explore truth together for as iron sharpens iron so does a friend to another. Let’s build relationships for this is God’s mind for us.
Karibuni Sana!
Lots of Love, Anthony.