The Rogers' Family Neighborhood

Great to hear from so many of you who signed up for our "Rogers Neighborhood News" via the link on this Blog! We would appreciate your prayers as we take a shuttle Tuesday morning at 8am Kenya time (10pm Monday PST) a six hour drive from Nairobi up to Eldoret, Kenya. Our friends in Ilula called to inform us that we need to make good time because it rains almost every afternoon and the last 2 miles to reach the ELI Training Center and Children’s Home in Ilula are very muddy & vehicles are getting stuck often. Wednesday is an important day for Kenya as the nation votes yes or no on adopting a new constitution. Whatever the outcome – please pray for a peaceful reaction from the people.

Yesterday. Very productive meetings with Free Methodist leaders: Bishop Nixon and FM Missionary Mike Reynen – discussing how ELI can assist their needy pastors in income generating training & leadership & also discussing ventures into Southern Sudan. We had a wonderful evening and dinner with our friends Peter & Wendy Twycross. Great fellowship and so good to hear updates on the Dynamic Business Start Up programs Wendy coordinates through ELI. The boys have slept well each of the two nights thus far and we are eager to reach our Kenya home in Ilula tomorrow. Thanks again for your prayers and support on this journey! Tomorrow is a big day for us as a family – to reach our Ilula home. rogersneighborhood.wordpress.com

Dear friends and family,

We have arrived safely with every piece of luggage! God is good.

The boys did well on the flight except that there was little sleep on the London to Nairobi leg. We arrived this morning at 6am Kenya time (We are 10 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time) – flew through immigration and customs and then squeezed between our luggage in a taxi (shuttle van) to the Mennonite Guest House. The boys immediately headed for the small playground and the beautiful Acacia trees and the sounds of the welcoming birds caused Amy and I to take a deep breath and celebrate together with a tired but grateful sigh – “We made it!”

This guesthouse is now our new home (for a couple of days) and after dropping off our luggage we immediately headed out to a nearby shopping center to: get my cell phone connected to Safaricom network, exchange some dollars into Kenya shillings (77 Ksh = $1) : check on prices for a printer and pick up a few items.

We appreciate so much your prayers for Joshua and Nathaniel as they make this adjustment to life here. We couldn’t help but smile when Josh said “ I thought it was going to be different – but it is just home.” Nathaniel is asking many questions now that we are here like – “So dad, whatever brought you to Africa in the first place?” I’ve begun unpacking the story with him today (If you want to hear that story – let me know : – )

Our day ended with an amazing blessing. Amy’s neck and back have been really hurting lately and the two day flight didn’t help matters. At tonight’s dinner table I asked the other eight people staying at the guesthouse if they knew of a muscle therapist or chiropractor nearby. The host said “ Why yes. A Chiropractor from the USA just checked in a couple of hours ago. I’ll connect you with her!” And we did connect and we are both feeling much better (I squeezed in an adjustment as well)! The doctor is leaving the guesthouse tomorrow morning – so – this small window in time that combined our need with Gods timely provision is yet another one of the things we celebrate as we journey together to empower lives.

Tomorrow will hold more adventures but for now we need a good night of rest : – )

Thanks for your care as we journey together in Africa. Looking forward, The Rogers

We are now on our way to Africa. We are in London now.  Crying baby and kicking toddler and indifferent parents in the row directly behind our family BUT  – that is now behind us and we eagerly anticipate a better flight ahead (London to Nairobi).  We arrive in Nairobi Saturday (31st) and will stay for two nights at a Guest House in Nairobi.  We have a few meetings with ELI staff and some missionary connections/partnerships we are building to expand God’s work in Kenya and Sudan.

We want to back up a bit and say that the last week – before leaving – has been an incredible time to see God’s love embrace us through others.  Several friends came and lended a helping hand with the boys and also with cleaning as we prepared our house for the family that will be renting our home.  THANK YOU to each of you who have prayed and helped and supported this journey and transition.  The Mills drove us with our many pieces of luggage to LAX along with my parents (Joe and Marilyn) who have all been champions of support and love.  Friends and neighbors gathered at our home as we drove out of the driveway and others called our cell phones to let us know that we are together on this mission.  It give us an amazing sense of community and strength to share this journey.  We would like to keep you up to date as much as you would like and if you can take a minute and sign in to the link to the right of this page “Rogers Nieghborhood News” this will be a great way to give you the latest.  We are anticipating Gods favor and thoguh we know that life is difficult we have an eager expectation that our lives will be used for Kingdom purposes that with the infusion of His love in and through us will accomplish just what He has had in mind for us all along (See Ephesians 2:10 – Our family theme verse).  Looking forward – Don, Amy, Joshua, Nathaniel – in London Heathrow Airport lobby

Hello friends,

Thank you for your prayers!

The weekend went well with a highlight being the service at Lambs Lake Elsinore. The preaching went well and Gary and Marty prayed for Amy and I during the service and presented us with a beautiful quilt to take to Africa as a reminder of their love and support. Saturday evening we invited our neighborhood to our house for a goodbye and Root beer floats. In-between we’ve been at a pretty heavy pace of packing our house and putting together our actions packers (travel luggage). Yesterday afternoon we had lunch with my parents and brother’ family and said our “see you laters”. Lots of varied feelings each day and much activity as we prepare on many fronts for this transition. I appreciate your prayers as my lower back is not being friendly but we are moving forward and seeing the light at the end of the airport tunnel. Stephen Reech and construction workers from Sudan have now reached Kenya safely – the repairs for the Sudan school made amazing progress in spite of the ongoing rains and many challenges. The kids are all in class and that was and is our vision. The empowerment of this generation of young African leaders.

Continue to pray for us this week as we leave on Thursday.

Looking forward,

Don and Amy