Help, Thanks, Wow

June 21, 2016

Anne Lamott has written that prayer really boils down to three words: “Help, Thanks and Wow.”  These words best capture many of our days here. 

I’ve cried out for help many times as there is so much need surrounding us.  As we traveled over 8 hours in a car to Kakuma Refugee Camp and back to Lodwar on Monday, I asked for God’s help for Anna as the car ride was a long and bumpy ride for her as she was battling a fever and an upset stomach. Knowing that Jason has returned home and that I am single parenting for a stretch causes me to ask for lots of help with grace and wisdom. 

Seeing the children at their schools gives me countless reasons to offer prayers of thanks here. Playing duck duck goose (with the words for goat and camel in Turkana) on Sunday with children in the village before church made me smile from ear to ear and I could not help giving thanks watching the kids chase Taylor around our circle.  

Seeing the beauty of the people and the places we have seen open up so many ways to exclaim “Wow!” And, the rain showers we have experienced the last few days have certainly been reason for a hallelujah! 

Below is a photo journal of our “Help, Thanks, Wow” moments from the last few days…. 

receiving the gift of a chicken from one of the teachers at the adult literacy class last week 

Days for Girls kits for our staff to give to their daughters 

duck duck goose- Turkana style 

Kenyan speed 

Taylor sharing at church about the parable he read on Prayer Mountain Friday morning 

Anna playing the flute (even though she felt sick that morning) 

preacher on Sunday morning 

a camel sighting on the way home from church on Sunday 

Sunday lunch 

with Dickson Maisa and family on Sunday 

(Jason was with us in spirit) 

with Marianna and her niece Midna (at Dickson's house) 

selfie with Mary Amana 

happy girl 

finding some space during the football match we watched on Sunday 

Taylor's new buddy David Loreng whom we went to cheer for on Sunday afternoon at his soccer game 

with the football star! 

4 + hour drive to Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kakuma town on Monday 

with Shadrack (sponsored by the Cravys) 

Shadrack's mother 

Kenyan flag 

walk in love 

with Jessica at her high school 

with Debora at her high school 

in the principal's office at St. Leo's Secondary School 

game night on Monday night with some of our friends (Anna, Delilah, David, Daniel and Sabina) 

Seattle day in Lodwar 

heavy rains!