From Kenya...
To America... Together!!
The first four months of 2013 in Kenya flew by so quickly and now I am back in America preparing for a wedding in a few weeks! Daneen and I will be getting married in Colorado on May 26th.After a honeymoon and a few weeks of preparation, we will travel back to Kenya at the end of June for our African wedding and to begin our new lives together.
Many of you have been reading my e-mail newsletters for over 9 years now, so I thought this time you would like to see Mbita through the eyes of my future wife...
Mbita: Through Daneen's Eyes
Four weeks in Kenya visiting Joe passed quickly. These weeks were largely focused on learning the community, understanding the ministry, building relationships, and, of course, time for Joe and I to grow closer as an engaged couple and simply experience daily life together in Kenya. Joe also joined me in Uganda for a week where we spent time visiting many of my friends and ministry partners from the time I lived in Gulu.
Our time together in both Kenya and Uganda was invaluable for the foundation of our relationship. We both grew to understand one another more intimately as we gained insight to each other's 'Africa life'. Our love for each other grew deeper; in ways we were unaware we had the capacity for love.
I really enjoyed Mbita and I'm excited about beginning our marriage and life together there. However, I didn't fall instantly love with the place. Since I previously lived in East Africa, my heart was already captured (years ago) by the many things that grab ones love for Africa: the beauty of the children's smiles, the warmness of African greetings, the kindness of their hospitality and love of visitors and the gorgeous scenery of the African bush. Yet, as the weeks passed, as I gained better insight and understanding, as I navigated the market to find the best vegetables and watched many sunsets over the lake with Joe, I began to embrace Mbita and I can't wait to return in July.
The most enjoyable part of being in Mbita was seeing Joe in his element. His world, his home, his ministry, his town and with his friends and students. He thrives in Mbita. The students at Christ's Gift Academy respect him, enjoy his stories and love when he teaches. He's well respected in the community and around town. He has many solid, true friendships, as well as numerous great working relationships with various businesses in town and many teachers from around the district.
The Suba Lakers girls love this man!! Many of the girls come from backgrounds in which they would never have had the opportunity to continue their education beyond primary school. They would have been married-off (for the dowry needed by their family), forced to work in the garden or around the house, or become pregnant and taking care of a small baby. Suba Lakers is a football (soccer) club, but it's about a lot more than scoring goals .These girls have gained a sense of worth and belonging. These two simple things have given them increased self-confidence and hope for their future. The girls interact with Joe in a very open way, yet with respect and love for him. He is incredible with them! It's not easy for an American single guy to create culturally appropriate relationships with Kenyan teenage girls; especially in a culture where the idea of mentorship is nearly non-existent. He's managed to navigate this well and, with the help of a few Kenyan assistant coaches and club officials (leaders), they've created a fantastic model for how to do girls sports with a solid foundation on mentoring and caring for the girls' individual needs. I'm excited to partner with Joe and the Suba Lakers, on the sidelines, hanging out with and getting to know these girls.
Christ's Gift Academy surely is a special and unique elementary school.80% of the students are orphans; all largely due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Most students wouldn't be in school without the provision of CGA. The teachers and staff desire to provide the students with a quality Christian education, striving to instill good character along with academic success to help break the cycle of poverty. The school also serves to care for the children's physical and social needs with various services through the CGA Student Care Office. Since classroom instruction is done predominately in English, most students speak English well and are eager to smile and greet visitors. The school grounds are beautifully landscaped with well-built classrooms and administration buildings and even a library and tutoring rooms ! The school is well respected as a top performing school in the district. God's blessing is indeed upon CGA.
Arriving to Mbita, I was met with a pleasant surprise; lots of rolling hills and mountains!!! Joe had shown me many pictures of Mbita and CGA, but I never gained a sense that there were large hills all around. He knows how much I love my mountains, so he left this as a surprise when I arrived. With it being rainy season, the hills were covered in a beautiful lush green that warms my heart!
In late June, Joe and I will joyously return to Mbita, Kenya to begin our life and ministry together, as husband and wife. We even have a new house waiting for us to move into where we can create HOME!
Kenya- we're coming home!
~Daneen Leidig, soon-to-be Peterson
Prayer Requests:
1) Pray for our upcoming wedding, and more importantly, our marriage.
2) Pray for us as we prepare to return to Kenya. Pray that God will direct us to the roles and responsibilities we should focus on in this new season
3) Pray for the CGA students and staff as the new school term begins next week (May 7).Pray that they will be disciplined and hard-working and keep God at the center of their learning.
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