day 24 saturday 🐈 👶

it is monday morning, july 6, 2026.

32 years ago today, july 6th, 1994, i gave my life to Jesus. i was made righteous that very moment. the sanctification process will last until i meet Him face to Face. what a journey it has been 💗

-----------------

i read somewhere recently that introverts are more apt to turn to writing as a means of exploring their thoughts. i can testify to that. 

how can someone process all the mind and heart contain without putting it onto paper? mine couldn't hold it all. so, i write. 

it is monday morning. july 6th. it is our last full day in kisii. i know once we are back, this won't feel as impossible as it does in this moment. right now, my heart is heavy as we wind down another month. will i ever understand how two completely opposite worlds can both feel completely right? how is it possible? 

saturday, special awesome wonderful saturday! alex's church in botoro has become a mainstay in my routine here. i had asked alex a few days back if he knew where i could get two kitties to take to homabay as a surprise for stephen2, the new caretaker (he will live onsite, and in my infinite wisdom 😜, i decided he will need company).

esther and i are ready for church and here comes alex with a box 🩵🩷. be still my heart! i am soooo in love with these two, a brother and sister. could a day start off any better? exactly!!!

the church is outdoors and absolutely beautiful. elder dennis is a good man. he leads the church and very much cares about the community. he came to help the day we worked on morah's home. he said from the pulpit that morah had told him she was the only person in the village whose home had been built by white people. that is a very high compliment as their love and respect for white people is, well, i really can't understand or explain it. no matter that i tell them that we are exactly like them, they remain in awe that we were willing to come from america. 

elder dennis preached that he could give an hour message, and it wouldn't come close to having the impact that fixing morah's home did. sometimes actions really do speak louder than words.

after church, we spend the entire afternoon in naivas. naivas is as close to a store in america that you will get here. it is big, well lit, and clean. selection, on the other hand, ummm, no. one of the main things we came for was cat supplies. so. litter box and litter. no. none. small wash tub and sand at the rescue center will work just fine. kitty kibble? pick from one. okay, that will work just fine. cat toys? oh, please jan, really? okay, twine from macrame project can be rolled into a ball. perfect. 

now, electronics. i needed a few basics for homabay. coffee pot. keurig, ummm, no. black and decker brew pot is awesome! fan? yes!! choice of four, people! homabay is hhoootttt. and a bluetooth speaker. two good choices! our sales girl connects her playlist to both for alex, esther and me to decide. and the song that plays? i am undone. a very favorite. "what a beautiful name it is, what a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus Christ, my King." and my arms are lifted high and the full song plays. it is moments like those that i can never ever express how much i love Him. thank you, Father, for those perfect moments. 

i also get a kettle and blender. she opens up every box -- coffee pot, fan, blue tooth, kettle, blender -- and assembles to show it works. what else do i have to do really? africa time. 

we have two full carts at checkout. esther had picked out a nice leather soccer ball for a special friend. the young man who was bagging items, i was watching him. when he picked up the soccer ball, he was lit up. he was spinning it in his hands with a huge kenyan smile. i asked him if he played. he replied, "oh yes, mom." i said, "then that ball is yours." i gave him the moon right then. esther runs and gets another one. another moment that time stopped. 

then before you can leave the store, there's a separate counter where they open every stinking electronic box again. they check receipt, warranty, ensure every part is there. another 30 minutes. i needed caffeine by this point. i drink a monster and life is good. 

and then i get to hold perfect kitties all night 🐈🩷🩵.