She Said YES!

We have had one of the very best Christmases and 2013 is certainly going to be a very fantastic new year!!

It's official... Daneen & I are engaged!

It happened on the evening of Dec 27th.

We had originally talked of not getting officially engaged until Daneen came to visit me in Kenya in March, but then we started planning a wedding, setting dates and making arrangements.  Our Story is already an incredible one so there was no need to make a big producation out of the engagement, and the actual act of asking someone to be my wife was enough to make it a special moment.  With cold weather, no vehicle and not knowing the much about York, PA, it wasn’t the easiest task to figure out a way to propose, but like God has done so many times in our relationship, he provided a way... On the plane ride to Baltimore a guy from York (Daneen’s hometown) sat next to me and gave me some ideas.  
 

We managed to borrow her dad's truck and go out to dinner by ourselves. Before going to dinner, I drove us up to a lovely spot in York; on top of a large hill with a view of the city down below. There I  told her I had another Christmas gift. It was a poem. A 4-page poem which talked about our story and courtship, the fun we've had together, and the beauty of God bringing us together.  Daneen cried and laughed. And then... I popped the question. Like every other part of our time together; we both knew it felt right and was more real than anything we had ever dreamed! With no hesitation, she said YES!

We later went to one of the nicest restaurants in York County and enjoyed a romantic and delicious meal together. Constantly just smiling and gazing at each other! There were a number of other small and thoughtful surprises throughout the evening; like returning home to find a copy of the poem on stationary for her...and her very own Cinderella doll dressed in her wedding dress waiting on her bed.

Fairytales do really come true!

We are beyond grateful for God's love and for how He's brought us together. We are also both very thankful for so many friends and family in our lives who have prayed for us and been such a great support full of love and encouragement over the years. We have already been immensely blessed through sharing our relationship with others. We can't imagine how God is going to use us TOGETHER to be a great Light and example; but we are certain it's going to be incredible!

Happy New Year!

Joe Peterson and Daneen Leidig.... for a few more months :-)

For the story of us meeting and how God has been bringing us to this point check out: http://joekenya.blogspot.com/p/love-story.html

One of My Best Decisions!

Postponing my return home to Kenya for one month was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I was supposed to go back November 24th, but after seeing the way that God was moving in my relationship with Daneen, I knew that I should stay through December so that I could spend a couple of weeks with her in Portland and then spend Christmas with her family in Pennsylvania.  At the time I made the decision, it was really difficult.  I had been in America on furlough for 3 1/2 months and really longed to return home to Kenya.  I desperately missed my students, players, friends and family there.  I was eager to get back to a more normal routine, sleep in my own bed and continue the work that God called me to in Africa.

Though I still do long to return to Kenya, I wouldn't trade this month here for anything.  I just arrived in California after two weeks with Daneen in Portland.  Each minute we have together is so valuable as we try to learn better how to love and serve one another.  I have never quite experienced the joy of learning the ins and outs of another person, what makes them tick, what needs they have, and how to best meet those needs.  Each little thing I learn continues to wet my appetite to learn more and more.  I have a desire to know everything about her.  I understand that won't happen in 2 weeks or even 2 years, but will take a lifetime to unravel, which is exciting to me! 

In Portland we spent time ring shopping, doing pre-marital counseling, wedding planning, eating together, going to a Blazers game, seeing Christmas Lights, taking pictures together, praying, visiting friends and many other things, but most of our time was spent talking to one another.  We can, and do, talk about anything and everything; nothing is off limits.  We had a few disagreements throughout the two weeks, but were able to openly share about it and come to a good resolution and a better understanding of one another.  In such a short time, she already feels like my best friend!

I will spend a week at home in California finishing up last minute things, packing for Kenya and celebrating with my family.  On Christmas Eve I will fly to Pennsylvania to spend a week with Daneen and her parents before I fly out to Kenya on December 30th. 

Each day with Daneen just seems to get better and better.  The excitement, passion and emotions are still incredibly strong, but we are also breaking into the normal day to day experiencing life together realm.  After 36 years of living life alone, my world is forever changed!  In His perfect timing, God has brought me someone to share my life with!  No one could have picked out a woman more suited for me than Daneen (though many may have tried). 

I couldn't be more thankful this Christmas season!

International Human Rights Tournament

The 2012 School Year has come to a close and all of the students throughout Kenya are back in their homes to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year. Most of the Suba Lakers are in Mbita training together and preparing for a few holiday tournament. This week they are getting ready for the International Human Rights Tournament in Kisumu December 20-22. After a tough league season, it is good to get all of our best players on the field together again to play against some good competition. Our young girls have learned so much in the past year and have grown tremendously as players, students and even moreso as people.

28 Little Ones (and 1 big one) Graduating

Dear Friends, On November 16th, 28 little ones at Christ's Gift Academy were graduating, along with one big one! The 28 little ones were our Pre-primary (Kindergarten) students who had finished their early childhood education and are being promoted to 1st Grade in the Primary School. Most of these little ones came to CGA two years ago not knowing how to read, write, or speak in English or Kiswhahili. They entered school with no idea about the world around them except for what they had seen or heard at home, and some of them came even before they were potty-trained. After two years of blood, sweat and tears from our incredible Nursery/Pre-primary teachers, these young ones now understand three different languages (Luo, Kiswahili and English) and know the basics in Math, Bible and other subjects. They are ready for the rigors of the Kenya Educational System in primary school. On that same day, our Orphan Overseer/Student Care Provider Lillian Ombori also graduated. Lillian completed her Master's Degree in Project Planning and Management from Maseno University. She has worked very hard to finish her degree in a short amount of time. Her dedication and commitment paid off. She was unable to attend the Pre-primary graduation at CGA because she was attending her own graduation, but she came to their rehearsal dressed up in her gown and marched with the little ones, making them so happy! These pivotal moments in our life give us an opportunity to look back and thank God for all he has done for us! All praise goes to Him! A Message from the Board President Dear CGA Supporters: Merry Christmas from the Board of Directors for Christ's Gift Academy! In this season of remembering the greatest gift of God we would like to thank you for your gifts to CGA. As you can see from this story your support is flourishing in Mbita - a small, seemingly insignificant town not unlike Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Yet God has chosen to intervene in the most humble of places and do great things. Thanks to your generosity nearly 300 children (many orphaned) are receiving food, medical care, and a Christ-centered education otherwise unavailable to them. We have over 100 CGA graduates in various high schools and two classes of college students scattered around Kenya. A third group of CGA alumni have recently taken their exams and hope to enter college next year. If you are interested in making CGA a recipient of your year-end giving, it would help to make a difference in the lives of these future leaders of Kenya. Thank you for your consideration! Board of Directors for Christ's Gift Academy Dave Douglass Board President

Suba Laker Fundraiser in CHS

In Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday morning (December 13), Low Country Live on WCIV TV News Channel 4 will be dedicating a segment of the show to fundraising for some of the Suba Laker girls who are hoping to get the chance to join high school next year.

And later that day, Butterfly Boutique Consignment will be hosting a Christmas Party to hopefully raise money for them. Party runs from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Kenyan artificats, silent auction, door prizes, Charleston Christmas Ornaments (complete with a Palmetto Bug hand-made by Anne Belser for a minimum donation of $15).

Tickets for sale at the door, minimum donation of $15 to receive 20% off your purchase on that day, minimum of $25 donation to receive 30% off on that day, minimum donation of $35 to receive 40% off your purchases on that day.

There will be food and libations; and Kenyan Christmas music playing.

It is a great cause that will directly help young girls in rural Kenya with the opportunity to continue their education, instead of dropping out of school and getting married at an early age.

National Exams

800,000 Eighth Graders across Kenya will be sitting for their National Exams December 4-6. It is a very pivotal moment in their lives as their entire primary school education comes down to this one exam taken over three days. It is the only thing from Primary School that High Schools, Colleges, and even future employers will look at to assess their performance.

On Tuesday, December 4th the students will begin with a 2 hour Math exam, 1 hour 50 minute English Grammar exam and write a 45 minute Composition.

On Wednesday, December 5th the students will take a 1 hour 50 minute Science exam, 1 hour 50 minute Kiswahili Grammar exam and a 45 minute Kiswahili Composition.

On Thursday, December 6th the students will finish with a 2 hour 15 minute Social Studies and Religious Education exam. Except for the two compositions, the rest of the exams are all multiple choice in 8th grade.

Twenty-seven students at CGA and Thirteen Suba Lakers from various primary schools throughout Mbita District will be taking the exam this week. In a district where less than half of the girls finish primary school, it is a big achievement for a young girl to complete her primary school education, pass her exams and move on to secondary school. There are many obstacles along the way that threaten to derail their opportunity for an education. We are proud of each of our students for persevering and enduring to reach this level. Most of them come from disadvantaged homes that presented many challenges along the way. 

In the CGA 8th grade class, 22 of the 27 students are orphans.  Four of the 14 8th Graders from the Suba Lakers are total orphans without any parents, seven are partial orphans who have lost one parent and two of them still have both parents. These young girls have overcome the odds and are striving to build a better future for themselves and their families.

CGA has always had great success on the National Exams and in the last two years all of the 17 girls from the Suba Lakers who have sat their National Exams have managed to move on to high school and are continuing their education. That is a big accomplishment and we hope that it will continue with this year’s group.

Once finishing their National Exams, they will have to wait until the end of January to receive their results and then we hope each of them will begin high school in February or March.

Please pray for them during this critical time. Here is a sample of how you can be praying for them...

Our God and Father, we come before you in the name of your Son which is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Even though we are halfway across the world, we are thankful that we can still pray for these children in Kenya. We commit these students into your able hands. We ask for your protection and covering over them in the next few days as they prepare for their National Exams. Keep them healthy and strong physically and mentally. Give them good sleep at nighttime. May your peace that surpasses all understanding cover their hearts and their minds. May your Holy Spirit convict them of any sin in their life so that they may confess it before man and before you so that their minds may be free from the bondage that comes from sin. May their trust and hope be placed in you. Remind them of all the things they have learnt since they began their education. Remind them of what their teachers have taught them, what they have read in their textbooks and what they have studied from their notes. Remind them of questions they have come across in other exams they have taken previously. Help them not to be stressed or worried, but instead that they would be confident and sure. Help them to enjoy taking their exams. Make it fun and exciting for them. Give them an easy and comfortable time with their supervisor, invigilators, security guards and the other school staff that is around during exams.

And Lord we commit their futures in your hands. Their results, where they will go to secondary school and their future careers are all part of your plan for their lives. And from Jeremiah 29:11 we know that your plans for them are good; plans to prosper them and give them hope and a future. As King, you reign sovereignly and supremely over everything including National Exams and each of these students and their lives. Thank you for your great love for each of us. You are an amazing God! In Jesus name we pray Amen!