In the beginning...

Last Christmas God brought Rich and I together. We started dating with caution since I was getting ready to leave for a substantial period of time. As we spent more time together we really felt that our relationship was of God. We didn't understand God's timing, but since we both are Christians we put our trust and faith in God. We knew that the ultimate plan was bigger and better than anything we could come up with. I was worried about leaving and what that would mean to our relationship. Rich was willing to stick by me and try a long distance relationship.
While I was in Kenya, we talked on skype and over emails. It was hard to have a relationship and communicate with the resources that we had. We both spent a lot of time in prayer about how we should walk this out. We stayed close even though we were on the other side of the world. I believe that God gave us the grace to be able to stay connected to one another.
Now we are here together and experience the fruit of us working and believing in our relationship. I now know that God's plan was for us to be in Kenya together. I know that God's plan will unfold and we will know what the next steps are going to be. I truly believe that God's timing was perfect and we are in His will.

In October of 2007 I felt the calling to go into the mission field. I was currently teaching first grade but I felt that God had something else for me. I seeked Godly counsel and each person I talked to directed me towards the mission field. I made my final decision after a lot of prayer and advice to leave my home and come to Kenya in January of 2008. I took 7 months and prepared for my upcoming adventure. Finally, on July 4th 2008 I left for Kenya. I was so excited to come and God gave me a peace that what I was doing was the exact thing that He had planned for me. I got to Huruma and started working with the kids. After a few months God brought Keira, Taylor and I in contact with Chris and Lindy Thompson . After spending time with them I felt that God was calling me to stay longer and join their ministry, Only Servants Ministries. I am now working with them and having a great time. I am so thankful that God brought me here and brought such amazing people in my life.

Rich Says...

After having a radical encounter with the Lord in 2001 which resulted in me being given life from death, I knew God had set me a part in a specific way to give my life to him in ministry. Soon after this, I enrolled at Forerunner School of Ministry in Kansas City, as well as joined the International House of Prayer, which has been going 24/7 in worship and intercession since 1999. I served on staff in various functions, but mainly as a prayer leader for some of the worship teams while going to school. Through several circumstances, I left Kansas City after a couple of years to take care of other matters. Since then, I have taught and served, among other things, in various churches.
I always knew there was more that God had in store. After meeting Shauna and learning of her heart for missions and Africa, I was extremely happy for her, but didn't think for a moment that Africa was for me. After she arrived in Africa, I found my heart slowly being stirred with each email she sent telling me what all she was doing. Once she told me how she had met Chris and Lindy with Only Servants Ministries, and how they ran a guest house and did evangelism and discipleship in the slums of Nairobi, I knew that this was for me. Somewhere around the beginning of October, I finally decided to embrace what I believe God had been speaking to me over the last few months and made preparations to go to Africa. In just the week I have been here, I have already done alot including evangelism three times in two slums. It is amazing how ripe the fields are for harvest here! All three times we have gone out, there were over ten people praying for salvation and accepting Jesus as Lord. Oh "that He would see the labor of His soul and be satisfied." Is. 53:11