August Email Update

(Here is the email update sent out yesterday. Let me know if you would like to receive this by email if you are not on the list already.)

Hello… from Kenya this time!

Big things have happened since the last update.

The biggest is the arrival of our son Eli Evenings Orwa. Eli arrived two weeks early on August 19th at 1:20am. He was eighteen inches long and six and a half pounds. He arrived quickly without warning. Saturday August 18th at 10:00pm Stacie’s water broke with no previous labor symptoms. Three and a half hours later (just 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital!), Eli was born. The delivery was safe and without complications. We praise the Lord for Eli and Stacie’s good health. The whole story can be found here (http://www.thisisstaciesblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-birth-story.html)

You may remember from the last update we had many prayer requests and a giant to do list in Kenya. Since arriving in Kenya August 1st, the Lord has been so good and answered many of our prayer requests including:

1.Safe arrival in Kenya from Tanzania for us and safe return home of the Africa Harvest of Hope team

2.The Lord decided for us where to deliver Eli. We planned on a hospital in Kericho, but Eli’s unexpected appearance led us to a hospital in Kisumu. And we couldn’t have asked for a better delivery.

3.We found the perfect room to rent while staying in Kenya. This was a huge answer to prayer. Again, we couldn’t ask for a better place.

4.Stacie’s Kenyan residency was approved! An eight month journey finally completed.

Next up for us is getting Eli’s documents in order and heading back to Tanzania in October. There is another team from Africa Harvest of Hope coming in the beginning of October that we are praying we’ll be able to meet. Alan and Shannon will be coming with two eye doctors who are doing research for a trip in February when they will do cataract surgery for people who desperately need it. In order to get back there in time we have a few things to do. In addition to a couple prayer requests carried forward from last month, we would really appreciate you lifting these up in prayer:

1.Getting Eli’s birth certificate

2.Getting Eli’s Kenyan and US passports

3.Getting our Tanzanian work permits

4.Renewed vision and direction from the Lord regarding our ministry work in Tanzania. There are some challenging issues there to deal with that we need the Lord’s hand upon and guidance for the future.

5.Provision of a car for our family and ministry use.

Lastly, in the previous update, we mentioned we would include a financial support update for those of you who are asking. Previously, we estimated we needed to raise $2000 per month to cover our needs. With the addition of Eli, we expect those expenses to increase to $2500. Taking the average over the last ten months, we have raised around $1200 per month. Some months are higher and some are lower. However, we are thankful the Lord has met our basic needs each month (ex. Food, rent, phone, visas, etc). While those basic needs are met, there are other needs we have such as health insurance, saving for a furlough in a couple years, emergency evacuation, ministry events, etc. If the Lord is calling you to join our financial support team, one time or monthly donations can be sent to:

Rancho del Rey Church
3132 Tiger Run Ct.
Suite G-105
Carlsbad, CA 92010

Be sure to put Stacie’s name in the memo line of the check.

You can also go online at www.ranchodelreychurch.org . All donations are tax deductible and a statement will be mailed at the end of the year. We pray you are doing well and thank the Lord for your prayers and support. In our next update, we’ll revisit the vision of Africa Harvest of Hope and update you on the work we’ll be doing in Tanzania.

Don’t forget to visit the blog for updates, stories and photos. We try to update it frequently. www.thisisstaciesblog.blogspot.com

God Bless You!

George, Stacie and Eli

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow