Advent and the Gift of Friendship

The Third Sunday of Advent 2016

"Out of His fullness, we have received grace upon grace." John 1:16

As Christmas approaches, we are thankful for the joy and light of friendship in our lives. 

This coming week wraps up the fall semester at Rosslyn Academy. We have been looking forward to Christmas break with our family and time with good friends. 

Tristan and Emma both had a busy semester with classes and extracurricular activities. Most days after school have been filled with the preparation and production of Twelve Angry Men and then rehearsals for the April performance of Annie. Ava has also had a full fall with gymnastics and intramural sports. Fourth grade has been an exciting time as she has made new friends and is getting more involved in music -- Fourth grade is the year of the recorder at Rosslyn. 

But in all the busyness, we are most thankful for the gift of friendship. 

In John's Gospel, we are told of the coming of Jesus as the light of the world. Through His relationship, we are brought into new relationship with God and one another. The way we love one another is an expression of our love for God. 

Making room for others in our lives is at the heart of the story. Advent and Christmas call us to be generous with our lives. To see others as a gift from God.

All three of our children are blessed with such a rich group of friends. Nairobi is not the most secure place to travel at night, so often our kids are sleeping over with friends (at our home or their friends). December is the end of our short rainy season and so returns our tradition of evening campfires and yard games. We are so thankful for the intimacy that living here creates.

Celebrating Advent under the stars

Last evening, we shared in an advent potluck with the families of some of our children's closest friends. Soon a guitar appeared and the teenagers started leading songs around the fire. Carols, Christmas songs, Disney themes, and even a little John Mellencamp. 

As the years go by, we are so thankful for the friendships that have blessed our family. Along with our wonderful Canadian Baptist Ministries colleagues and relationships with our national partners, our family has been enriched through the international community living here. Nairobi is a very transient place as people come and go with Christian missions, non-governmental organizations, and the diplomatic service, but God has continually brought such amazing people into our lives.

We pray that you too will experience the joy of community this advent. That God will bless you with dear companions on the journey of life. 

Sally, Emmy, Ezra, Tristan and Reid

leading songs around the campfire

"Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of friends by a good fire." C.S. Lewis

Fun and Games with Raelyn, Liesl, Josh, Carson, 

Emma, Isaiah, and Karissa

Ava and her friends watching The Polar Express

The parents enjoying some of the 

Polar Express Hot Chocolate as well!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season

filled with music and laughter!

"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you;
spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."
Amy Poehler

Graduation Days!

Certificate of Integral Mission East African Cohort

2016 Graduation, Thika, Kenya

Unlike Canada, the Kenyan school year runs from January to November. That means that December is graduation season for schools, colleges, and universities. You know a graduation is happening when you see street vendors selling tinsel garlands and wreaths made of artificial flower that proud friends and families will buy to adorn their graduates.

This December also marks the end of the certificate of integral mission program that our Canadian Baptist Ministries colleagues and partners have been working on over the past two years. With graduations in Kigali and Thika, we have had much to celebrate.

CIM Graduates singing "Bind Us Together" 

during this week's graduation service in Thika

Darrell Bustin teaching on Spiritual Formation 

in the context of Integral Mission

As in past CIM modules, we were privileged to have many of our colleagues participate as lecturers and facilitators. In Module four, Darrell Bustin, Jonathan Mills, Pauline Kariuki, Lenny Mbogo, Esperance Niyigena, Aaron Kenny, and Saphano Riak formed the faculty.

Below are a few pictures from these past two weeks. 

Thank you for your prayers and support that made this program possible. We have witnessed a great impact on the students as their confidence and competency in designing and leading church-based initiatives has blossomed. Together we desire to participate in God's great mission in the world bringing hope and healing into every dimension of life!

Students participating in an exercise with Darrell

Break time at the Eton Hotel, Thika

Studying together

Laura Lee Bustin sharing during an early morning devotion

Rev. Saphano and Geraldine Nduku

The East Africa Cohort

The Central Africa Cohort, graduation day in Kigali

Rosslyn High School Christmas Banquet 2016

Rosslyn Christmas Banquet

Nairobi, Kenya

Last night, Tristan and Emma celebrated with their friends during the annual festive banquet and dance for Rosslyn's High School. They partied at Mediterraneo Ristorante, a local Italian restaurant. 

Here are few pictures of the kids getting ready to go.

Emma and Erin braving the rain

Emma and her date, Carson Slaughter

Tristan and his date, Sally Lee

Tristan, Enoch, Ezra, and Michael

Karisa, Erin, Raelyn, and Emma

Emma and Isaiah

Rae, Erin, Emma, Karisa, and Caroline

On their way to the ball!

Reid, Tristan, Sally, Enoch, Katie, Ezra, Caeli, Michael, and Sarah

For the seniors, this marks the midway point in their final

year at Rosslyn. Looking back on these years, we are so

thankful for the great friends and memories have blessed our family. 

Transforming Mission: Fostering the Discipline of Reflection

Lenny Mbogo, Kavira Nganza, Polisi Kivava

Certificate of Integral Mission, Central African Cohort

It has been a joy to facilitate Canadian Baptist Ministries' certificate program with our friends and colleagues across Central and East Africa. This past week has been the final module of the program for our partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. We have been reflecting together on how good leadership and project management can lead to both social and spiritual transformation as we help churches participate in integral mission. 

Growing  together

The question of how local churches might participate in the spiritual formation of their congregations and communities has been a central part of our discussions as we study and apply the training to the ministries where we serve. In this module, we have been considering approaches to leadership, evangelism, and discipleship might best be used in our particular contexts. We recognize that there are no "one size fits all" approaches, but that God works and moves in specific ways in the places and times where we have been led.

The rhythm of drawing together every six months to share and learn together has been such a rich experience for all of us. Sharing our stories, successes, and struggles has made this a deeply meaningful time of growth in each of our lives. These have been times for each of us to consider how we might improve our the approach of our projects and our own personal practice of ministry.

Janice and Jonathan Mills leading a song of worship 

with our Thursday morning speaker, Espérance Niyigena

Module Four Facilitator Darrell Bustin

Listening to students tell of the change that they have experienced has helped confirm the importance of CIM. We have witnessed new confidence among the leaders who are stepping into complex situations of poverty, conflict, and trauma with faith and wisdom.  

Pauline Kariuki teaching best practices in project monitoring and evaluation

Thank you for keeping Canadian Baptist Ministries and our African partners in your prayers. These young leaders are such a courageous and faithful group serving churches and vulnerable communities. As this final module wraps up today, our prayer is that the bonds of friendship and camaraderie will continue to grow and that together we will build on the successes that are happening as God's mission brings hope and healing into the brokenness of this world

CIM Central African Cohort 2016

Kigali, Rwanda

A big thank you to the Mills for sharing these great photographs!