october 2020.

What a month! October has been my third month here and it has been the month with the most challenges yet. From internet and electrical issues to schools continuing to be closed to flat tires. This month has been harder than others, BUT I have been encouraged to see how God continues to work despite the obstacles.

This month we heard an announcement from the president of the country saying that schools will be allowed to reopen upon passing safety inspections by health inspectors. We were all very excited to hear that our school passed the inspections and would be allowed to reopen. However, only a few days before reopening, an announcement was made that our school wouldn’t be allowed to reopen after all, possibly in January.
That news felt discouraging for us teachers. Teaching behind a screen definitely has its challenges and I know that just as I am getting tired, the students are too. As I write this, we are entering our 12th week of online school and we are all feeling weary. Please be in prayer for me, my fellow teachers, and the students as we continue to press on in online school. That the Lord would grant us renewed joy and energy to finish these next 6 weeks well.

However, despite the month’s challenges, there are still many reasons to celebrate God’s goodness. This month I was able to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with the few Canadians coworkers I have on campus.

I was also able to enjoy a weekend camping getaway with some of my coworkers.

The beauty of our campus!

Fresh produce from local farmers.

Enjoying time and nature in this beautiful country!

Another HUGE blessing this month has been a new friendship that has blossomed here! Long story short, one of my coworkers from my teaching in BC is here in Kenya with her husband and they have been having me over weekly to teach me how to make Kenyan dishes and teaching me more about the culture. I have been so blessed by our times together and will miss them when they return to Canada next month.

Those are a few updates! Thank you for your understanding as these monthly updates keep getting later and later. I’m really struggling with the internet here, but I will continue to do my best to keep you all updated! November has some exciting things in store!

Ways to pray:

-Pray for my friend Jennifer and her husband, David, as they are awaiting a visa for them to return to Canada as a family. This process has taken over a year already, so prayer in that would be much appreciated!

-Continue to pray for this country as many families are trying to recover from layoffs during COVID.

-Prayer for these next six weeks of school. For energy, creativity and a newfound joy!

-Praise that God has allowed me to begin working in a church in one of the slums nearby (more to come on that in November 😉

-Praise that the weather is getting warmer!

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support. The emails, messages and words of encouragement that I get from you really mean more than you know.

-J.