Risen

Christmas is my favorite holiday season for many reasons; the birth of Christ, my anniversary, my husband's birthday, my sisters' birthday, the birth of my child, the music, parties....the list could go on. As I get older Christmas is taking a backseat to Easter. For the Christian, Christmas is reason to celebrate but Easter is where our salvation rest. It is because of the resurrection that we have hope and conquer death! During this Holy Week God has given me many quiet moments to think about the significance of everything from Palm Sunday to Good Friday to Easter Sunday. It's kind of like the finale of God's redemptive plan that was set in place from the first day of creation! Words can never describe what Christ is to me, there is simply no mere word that can utter my hearts deep gratitude. Knowing Him intimately is my treasure because He has been my closest friend, a father, a mother , my Savior, a comforter, ,leader, and forgiver. He has freed me from all the things in this life that could tie me down and drown my happiness. No circumstance in this life has ever changed his faithfulness to me. How can you write words to show thanks. Well, one song comes close to it and it's my favorite. If you passed me on the road when listening to this you'd see my hands raised high and think I'm waving at you but really just giving thanks.....

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand‘til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Kenya, Here we come.......

So, we have finally gotten a clear answer on our African trip. If you received our Christmas Newsletter you know that we were planning a family mission trip to Kenya this summer, but a few days after Christmas a civil war broke out and the trip was put in a "holding" phase. Plans started to uproot after the missionary family that we knew left the country due to her pregnancy and the uncertainty of one of Africa's most stable countries. After much consideration and a recent resolution, The Patrick family is headed to the highlands of Kenya to Bomet. We are disappointed that we won't be in-country with the McGees but are certain the Lord is more than enough to sustain us on this trip. We will be there for 7 weeks and Joey will be working at the hospital. It is primarily staffed by Kenyans but through several world mission organizations it welcomes and depends on short-term Western and European physicians and residents. There are a few full-time Western staffers but mostly volunteers like our family.
We will be living on the missionary compound with all the other missionaries which is a blessing but also a little disappointing to me. I would love to be engulfed by the culture of this country but also grateful to have others to relate to and rely on. I will have "helpers" that stay daily and help with Bethany, housework, and cooking. Everything has to be made from scratch so these women will help me learn to really cook!! I can use my helpers as little or as much as possible. If I want to really help in the orphanage or hospital these wonderful ladies will act as a "nanny" for Bethany. I'm not sure which direction I'll take with this but it's nice to have the option. I'm missing so many details but will save some for later. I really just wanted to put this out there and get some prayer for our family. Check out the link. It will provide some information if your curious.