Friday and Saturday: Challenges and Joys of Partnership

When I arrived at the airport, no problem with visa or luggage. When I walked through the sliding doors leaving customs to meet Bernard, there was no Bernard. I tried to text him a couple of times but no response. Even tried one call with no response. I thought about how years earlier this would have been a very challenging time. I went over to a cafe in the airport, ordered a cup of chai no sugar, and sat down to wait. Finally got Bernard, he was stuck in early morning traffic. Gave me a couple of hours to work on partnership and teaching material.

The challenge of partnership was reflected in trying to get Bernard a Romanian visa to travel with me on Sunday night. The Hungarians with Adrian Giorgiov and Istvan Borzasi had provided what the Romanian embassy requested. Then, on the day of the interview they changed their mind on the documents. So, again, Adrian and Istvan did the best they could. The Romanian embassy did not respond to Bernard's calls or e-mails on Friday. So we had to cancel his travel with me on Sunday to Romania. The challenges of partnership soon give way to the joys of partnership. Bernard and I were able to just sit down and talk about present partnerships and future plans.

Also, he shared how the Teleios model of partnership had really been a blessing for Koinonia Church and other related partnerships. We went shopping at the market seeing old friends there as we bargained for gifts and picked up some coffee.

I could not believe the changes coming to Ruaka (just outside Nairobi). An expressway that makes a bypass from the airport to beyond Ruaka around Nairobi is well underway. It comes within just a few hundred meters of Koinonia. The first pictures show the continuing development and as well as the contrast of buildings. The church is looking good and everything is now in the one building. Hard to believe all the changes in five years - the migration of the church to four different locations with temporary structures and now to have a more permanent structure.

On Saturday we spent the morning developing new partnership opportunities for the future and looking long range at the partnership by establishing priorities. Of course, we hold these lightly so that they do not blind us to what God has prepared for us. In the afternoon, we went by Happy Day Academy and saw the "new dining rooms." Mary Kabaru has now added the fourth grade and has 189 students. We began discussions on how another floor could be added to Happy Day. This will complete the building. Mary continues to expand the playground for the children. Happy Day is one of the joys of partnership - a God-given vision that has become a reality and is changing lives in Jesus in a challenging area.

Saturday evening we drove to the Rift Valley and to Naivasha. We enjoyed a time by the lake and having an early dinner. The tree picture has a Columbus monkey in it - hard to see. We enjoyed the opportunity to laugh and talk about many things. What a blessing to share this time with Bernard and Mary!

Saturday was a great day!