Thoughts about CTM...

The past few days I have been glued to the computer every chance I get.  I usually like to wait until the kids are in bed or taking a nap, but this morning was an exception!  I have to get the Certain Truth Ministry newsletter in the mail!!!  Each newsletter takes hours upon hours to complete (And more hours than you can imagine once you add children to the mix!!!).  It takes focus... and attention to details (thankfully my Dad and Mom were my editors).  I love to write, but let's face it -- I suck at punctuation, concise sentences, and proper grammar... I done teached school good, but not that good! 

Thankfully most of you don't read my blog for a shining example of sentence structure! 

Eden fending for herself!

This morning the house got messier than I even imagined while I was typing away!!!  The kids managed to sneak all the nativity pieces out of the living room and into Eden's crib! All their toys mysteriously came out of their organized status and have found new "homes" ALLLLLLLL over the house!  It amazes me how resourceful kids are when they want to be, and how stubborn they are when it comes to clean up time. I am thankful that I don't have too many times when I leave them unsupervised...   

In the past few days my heart has been engaging with Certain Truth Ministries... and I am excited to share my thoughts about this ministry we have embraced.  Certain Truth Ministries is the product of a discipleship relationship between my husband and Eli. Almost 5 years ago my husband was discouraged with his understanding of discipleship (or how he was discipling students) and so out of the passion in his heart to grow and learn what it means to disciple others -- he formed Imago Dei (made in the image of God).  Imago Dei didn't fit in any boxes... it was sort of a ministry team. Not just for the sake of ministry, but to learn the heart of God.  He met with a group of students every Tuesday night and poured out his heart, thoughts, while studying the Word of God.  Eli was in his first Imago Dei group.  As a result of the discussion Eli went on a mission trip over Christmas break... and later he learned about Pastor David in Africa and during his summer break traveled to Africa.  He came home with a desire to rebuild Pastor David's orphanage that was destroyed in riots.  

The new orphanage:  the children's home

 In the past few years Eli has become a part of our family.  Micah joined with Eli in raising money for the orphanage... one thing led to another and thus came about CTM.  When we left MWSB our adoption paperwork became invalid.  All the money we spent up the that point was gone... it was sad... still is sad.  But I remember that Micah made a comment, 

"If we can't adopt from Africa, why don't we let Africa adopt us?" 

Certain Truth Ministries' main focus is the orphanage in Kenya.  We support them each month and that money is used to feed and clothe the children and pay for staff to run a school that gives the orphan kids an education as well as other local kids that can't afford the government education. The money that CTM has raised has rebuilt the orphanage, brought in fresh water from the mountains, and bought cows and sheep. 

I have no idea where Certain Truth Ministries is going, but that is also the main reason why my Love is in Africa right now.  One of his main desires is to engage his heart with the people of Africa and gain a vision for the direction of CTM.  He has lots of questions to ask and people to meet! I am excited to hear all about what he is seeing and learning!

 I can't help wonder if we will end up in Kenya or Uganda? Where ever we are, one thing I know for sure is that Africa has our heart!

Sandra Waldner:  CTM's first missionary!  She is serving in Uganda

I guess I say all these things because I am overwhelmed at what is happening in our life... that we get to be a part of all THIS!  It is a blessing and a gift... and it all came out of a heart of discipleship.  I am so thankful for my husband's faithfulness, his faith, and his determination to know God's heart. 

Those are my thoughts about Certain Truth Ministries... when the kids wake up I'm taking the newsletter in to be printed... if you are not on our mailing list and would like to know more... just let me know!

***I borrowed all these pictures off of Eli's Facebook page... thanks Elias!