Kenya Journey

People often asked me how Gil & I ended up being missionaries in Kenya. God weaves a story of grace, love, and faithfulness into the fabric of our lives. Ours has some very colorful ones!

Gil got really sick in 2006 and was diagnosed with Lung cancer. We thought he had maybe six more months to live. As we talked about it he asked me: “What will you do after I pass away?” I responded without hesitation that I would sell everything and move to Kenya to be a missionary.The diagnosis changed from lung cancer to a very rare lung infection that mimics lung cancer. After a 9 month treatment with Penicillin, he was “healthy” again. We were incredibly grateful for this good news.

Gil's response to this good news was: “Why don't we do together what you would have done alone, go to Kenya and become missionaries?” That was the beginning of an exciting journey with countless blessings, adventures, and highlights. We sold everything and moved to Kenya joining a church planting team where I taught Sunday School classes and woman's Bible studies. We loved getting to know the Kenyan people and enjoyed great fellowship with the believers. We made friends all across Diani Beach, our new home.
 

 It was exciting to learn the new culture but it had also many challenges. Going shopping was now a time consuming event. I had to learn to bargain for every item I bought. People came all day long to our door to ask for something; medicine or money were frequent requests. Sometimes they wanted to

sell us their overpriced goods (more bargaining).

We felt at home in Kenya and had peace in our hearts. The beauty of the country is breathtaking and  whenever we got a chance we went on a safari.Threads of darkness started to appear at the same time. Gil exhibited some early signs of Parkinson's. The doctors we had consulted encouraged us to continue with our lives in Kenya. There is no “cure” for Parkinson's and the medication to slow down the disease was available in both countries. We concluded that living in Kenya would not speed up the process of the illness or have any negative effect on him, so we stayed.

Gil's form of Parkinson's was rare and very aggressive. In three short years he lost almost all his abilities. He was now confined to a wheelchair. He couldn't talk anymore but he still could sing. Daily we sung in harmony “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and recited the Lord's prayer and Psalm 103 together. He understood what was going on around him. As he grew weaker bodily his faith grew stronger, one of God's most beautiful threads of life. One day I asked him if he wanted to go back to the States to spend his last days there and he nodded his head. This was the go ahead for me to sell our home in Kenya and move us back to Pittsburgh.

Friends opened their home to us and we could spend the last six months of Gil's life there preparing for heaven. Living in community was incredibly precious. The fabric of life changed into a deep heavy texture that carries through suffering and trials. Walking together through the valley of death leaves lasting impressions on our hearts and souls. The months were filled with laughter, tears, fellowship with friends, singing, reading books (Pilgrim's progress was the last book I read to Gil), visits from friends and family, but above all else with the presence of a faithful and kind “Abba” Father, who took great care to show His love to us.

We prepared for heaven! Often I talked about being with Jesus, imagining the beauty and wholeness we will experience when we enter His presence. Peace and hope sustained us and we felt eternity in our hearts. Gil was as much as possible involved in planning his funeral and he even picked out his grave site. Looking back now I can see how amazingly God waved all these threads together that reflected His care and love for us.

Gil passed away very peacefully six months after our return from Kenya. We celebrated his life and God's faithfulness to him with music, scripture, and prayer. We set a table beautifully decorated with wine and bread at his funeral service to remind us that we will sit once again together at the great wedding banquet in heaven when time is fulfilled and people from all nations, tribes and tongues worship the lamb of God.

My life changed with Gil's passing on tremendously. I grieved deeply, losing my husband, best friend, companion, and love is huge! Grieving is a long process and becomes part of daily life. But God has me here for a reason and He desires to rebuild my life and have Him as a center.

I only see a small part of His plan for me at any given time in my life, but I know He is good and faithful. Right now I believe that He is sending me back to Kenya for at least part of the year to be involved with an orphanage, teaching, and coaching women. Again, God waves incredible colorful threads into my life, more beautiful than I could ever imagine, but then after all HE is God.