02.23.07
Posted in At this moment... at 5:29 am by Hannah
Yes, for those of you who have been inquiring, I did cut my hair. About three weeks before we left for Nairobi I donated approximately 18 inches to Locks of Love; an organization that makes wigs for kids with cancer. I do miss my long hair at times but am loving the ease, the lack of weight and heat, and the small amount of water (: ) needed for washing that my short hair has been.
I’ve never had short hair in my life and was somewhat surprised to find that minus all the weight I have curly hair! I guess now we know where Keziah got it. I’ve shocked quite a few people and (I think) offended a few but Seth loves my new look and I am definitly enjoying the advantages of it. I can actually let Keziah play with it now and not have to spend an hour untangling it afterwards. : )
So, wonder no longer. I am a changed woman. In the hair department anyway…and in my appreciation of water but that’s a different topic.
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Posted in At this moment... at 5:02 am by Hannah
How many uses can you get out of a pail of water? Here’s what I found:
1. Use bucket of water to wet and rinse your hair.
2. Take that same bucket of water to soap your clothes saving out a small portion to wash your child or let her wash the walls/clothes/toys/entertain herself.
3. When finished washing clothes, use the water to mop the floor.
4. Last, but definitly not least, use that same bucket of water to flush the toilet.
And that, my dear friends, is a good look at “normal” water usage for many people on this earth. Having been born and raised in Washington State, water shortages are a new (not so wonderful) experience for me and I am learning fast how to make the most of little water.
So, tonight as you brush your teeth, thank the Lord for all the safe, clean, running water you have used today. Its not something to take for granted. : )
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02.12.07
Posted in At this moment... at 2:07 am by Hannah
The second day was one of high adventure and sleep depravation. Dan and I had spoken about the possibility of me going with him to a teaching engagement at PAC (Pan African Christian College) together we went. It is funny how God does not allow we to walk away from my mechanic abilities, just the time when I expect to let other do these things God reminds me via breakdown of my seemingly invaluable gift of understanding cars and what makes them tick, squeak, pop, and other such adjectives. Sure enough the borrowed car of Surrender a seek mechanic friend of Dan’s died on the side of the road near a beautiful roadside nursery which I should add are everywhere and a welcomed sight by myself. We found ourselves close to our destination without much hope of help as I could see it. Finally the all to known phrase sounded across my ears “So, uhhh should you look under the hood?�. I after looking under the hood became more appreciative of western vehicles and the maintenance even the poorest of shops. I become aware that I was sure the problem was electrical and after some thought I had figured out the issue and we were suddenly a team since the only way to operate the vehicle was to hold the ignition key at the perfect spot not with the starter engaged but not letting it rest in the on position.
Upon arrival late for chapel Dan had just made it in time to speak to the student body about missions and the church. I really enjoyed the lecture and found myself engrossed in the scripture used in acts about the callousness of the Jew’s and their refusal of God’s desire for the nations. After the lecture I enjoyed my first Kenyan meal which was wonderful and simple.
After a tour that included a trip to the mechanic for repair, FTT to pick up the mail and receive a tour and a slow drive home though not so bad traffic. I was overjoyed to see Hannah in one piece as the children have not been sleeping all so well and a safe and known environment.
A significant portion of the day was the early morning with Keziah. I found myself lost in the Word of God and in tears over the desire God had placed in my heart to be prepared for everyday spiritually. I had much needed this revival of heart and am very glad the LORD spoke to me about this today.
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Posted in At this moment... at 2:06 am by Hannah
House hunting day was to be quite the day and it was. As the day began I thought that today would have it’s challenges and it surely did.
I woke up at 5 this morning my mind racing. So I got up and did my devotions. I ready 4 chapters of Mark this morning and it drove me into tears the beautiful things God revealed to me changed my heart. I had read through mark many times but this experience was a sweet reminder of the newness of life we experience in Christ daily. Around 9 others began to stir and I became very aware of my love for nature as I spend the majority of the morning talking with God and gazing out on the beauty of His creation. The Germo’s are very blessed to have the home they have it is incredible and has the mot wonderful view from the upstairs living room window that is 15 ft wide.
I don’t think I have mentioned about the baby banana’s here in Kenya. They are tiny like perfect size for a toddler to eat and they are so much sweeter than the big boy’s we have in the US. Kez often eats them and always finishes. I think the US were missing out on these parents would kill to have such a perfect snack pre-wrapped by God in just to right size for their children. Hey! God could make a killing huh. Just joking of course but I think there great.
Do you remember the car? Yes, that car the one that broke down on Dan and I the first day I was in Kenya. Well the revenge was not sweet more smoky and annoying. After we had viewed two apartments and got stuck behind a massive parade Hannah, Nancy and the girls parted ways with us to get lunch while Dan, Graham, and I traveled to a birthday party that Graham was attending and then on to a fund raising event for FTT. Sure enough we overheated and then sat beside the road for an hour waiting for it to cool down and for Graham’s friends father to come fetch him from the side of the road. Smoky, ah yes I forgot we were stranded on a busy highway on an incline and here that means ever diesel vehicle is belching extra exhaust as it struggles up the hill. So yes my eye’s burned and I think I have successfully trained myself to hold my breath up to 2 minutes.
At day’s end we were all exhausted “no pun intended�, and sleep came early which is why this letter is ending.
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10.30.06
Posted in At this moment... at 1:54 pm by Hannah
We just wanted to say THANKYOU (cheering, whistling, stomping, and all manner of general applause) to all of you who have joined in with us through your prayers and your support!
We have been blessed over and over again as we have seen the Lord at work in our lives as a result of your prayer and generosity. We are at about 50% of our budget and excited as we see the faithfullness of the Lord in His church continuing.
I’d love to personally thank each of you by name but it would take much longer than Keziah and Jared will give me and I haven’t received permission…but to all of you who have been a part of ministering to us; please know that we have been so blessed by you. We know that supporting us is a sacrifice on your part (whether it be a sacrifice of time, money, effort or all of the above and then some) and we are honored that you would entrust us with the benefits of that sacrifice.
We pray that God will honor and bless you for the part you have played and look forward to any opportunity He would give us to thank you personally!
Know that you are in our prayers and hearts…we could not do this without you and we are so glad to have you along for this journey!
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02.02.06
Posted in At this moment... at 3:25 pm by Hannah
INTERNSHIP DECISIONS!!! This is a major (wonderful) change. Though we still have plans to make and paperwork to do, the decision has been made. We will be spending our internship in Pickle Lake, Ontario, Canada. This is a little town (Pop. 350) in CA about as far north as you can go. It is literally the end of the road…and here we thought Minnesota was the arctic north! 
The ministry there is with the first nations tribe…it sounds like it will be a lot of children’s and youth ministry. Some of our friends that have been up there said that its “one of the most beautiful, depressing places” that they’d ever been to – alcoholism is everywhere. You rarely see adults during the days (they’re home sleeping off the hangover from the night before) and the kids spend their days unattended, fighting and abusing one another. It’s definitely a mission field in need of workers.
The missionaries who are there (Ed & Lori Zabel) are Bethany Alumni and we actually met them our freshman year. We’ve enjoyed getting to know them in little bits over email as we make plans, and we’ve been blessed by their obvious love for the people they are ministering to and their eagerness to let us in on the work. We’re praying that the time we spend with there is a blessing to them and encouragement to them.
We keep hearing about the amazing work that the Lord is doing with the Zabel family in Pickle Lake from people who know them here at Bethany and we are excited to have the chance to maybe get in on some of the action.
I’ll try to post some pictures here in the next few days so you can get a look at where we’re headed. Maybe I can get a copy of the Zabel’s Newsletter as well…we’ll see.
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10.05.05
Posted in At this moment... at 1:42 pm by Hannah
It’s official! Seth has been hired on to our church staff as the Part-time Minister of Pre-school and Children’s Ministries. How’s that for a title? It’s an answer to prayer as we need to be working but wanted to be more involved with our church and were getting desperate for more time together.
Because both Seth and I have children’s ministry backgrounds we are hoping to be able to do a lot of the work together and we now have all the time in the world (well, alot more time anyway) to be involved with our church. It will also give Seth experience on church staff…something he’s been wanting to experience so as to get a little perspective on the direction God may be leading us.
I am excited to be able to be a part of what Seth is doing, (in contrast to just sending him off to work for a few hours every night) and am excited to jump into the fun of being a team in another aspect of life.
God is so good to us!
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09.01.05
Posted in At this moment... at 8:03 pm by Hannah
Seth is back from his fishing trip! Yeah! He had a good time, caught lots of fish, got rained on and miserably cold, ate junk food, and didn’t have to brush his teeth…..in other words he thoroughly enjoyed himself. They (he and his buddy Jonny) decided that it was strictly a catch-and-release trip so Kez and I didn’t get to see any of the fish but we heard all about them. After two days, however, Seth was very glad to be back home and we were over-joyed to have him.
Today was the traditional Bethany Picnic so Keziah and I followed Seth around and watched him compete in all the team activities - we were the team cheerleader and mascot!
We thought our man was especially good at the tug-of-war…..come to think of it though he was also amazing at the egg-toss, three-legged-race, and balloon-run. Guess we just got a champion for a husband and daddy.
After all the activities we chowed down on fresh corn-on-the-cob, hotwings, hamburgers, cookies, and soda….mmmmmm! We also got a bit’o’sun….as evidenced by my pink shoulders.
Can you tell that I just discovered the emoticons?
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08.11.05
Posted in At this moment... at 12:05 am by Hannah
What are we up to right at the moment? EVERYTHING!!!!
Today Seth gave a presentation with his team on Church Planting in Tibet. He’s been working hard on this project for the last two and a half weeks so he was glad to be able to present the finished project and be done…
Tonight we will be joining Tim & Ginger (Hannah’s brother, his wife and daughters) Gabrielle and Hanakah for a birthday party for Tim. I cannot believe my brother is turning 31! I still rememer when my parents were in their thirties.
Last night Seth fixed the gas tank on our car. We thought it was leaking but upon further examination, Seth found that whoever was under the car last simply didn’t reattach the gas tank securely…. so we didn’t have to replace anything but a couple of ….ummm….attacher thingies. Yes, I am picking up on mechanical terms but its not an overnight process. Seth’s mechanical skills continue to be a blessing to us and those around us.
Next week we will be looking forward to welcoming the new freshmen for the upcoming school year. Among them is a friend from church back in WA (Hannah’s parent’s church): Philip Nelson. We are excited to see the new faces we will be living and learning with.
Also coming up next week Seth will be going on his annual fishing trip up North with good friend Jon Lammi. Last year I went too (and caught the biggest fish of the trip I might add) but this year with Keziah we’ve decided that it would not be the best for her. I love camping but I don’t know yet how the Kez will respond to it and I’d hate to be stranded out on an island in the middle of one of Minnesota’s mosquito breeding grounds (I mean lakes…well same difference) with a disgruntled baby. So, we are sending our brave husband and daddy to catch us a whopper!
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