Today, we left our oldest son at the airport, as he waited to board a plane back to Nairobi, Kenya. We drove away as he stood there, knowing that the soonest possible time we will see him again is August, Lord willing. He will arrive at the Kenyan airport with no one there to meet him...somehow having to get out of the airport with all of his bags and make it the Athi River Campus of Daystar University on his own. The people of Kenya have been gracious and helpful in the past. I trust that he will figure out a way to handle this. As much as I may want to help him out, there is nothing that I can do from here.
I was nervous the first time he went to Kenya, but it seemed more like an extended vacation instead of a move. The first time we thought he would be there for 4 months and he stayed there nine. Each time we talked to him on the phone and he asked to stay longer, it was not surprising because we could hear in his voice that he loved what he was doing. He initiated all sorts of new ventures while he was there...he traveled to Tanzania, made lots of friends, and began a partnership with TIPS international and Exodus Children's home. When he left for Kenya the first time, it was my prayer that he would not waste his time in Africa...and he didn't.
And this time, he is planning to continue the partnerships that he has created. His bags were filled with items to bring back to the school where he taught over the summer. He is planning to go to Rwanda to visit a friend there before he starts studying again at Daystar University in January. He is on the plane right now...and I know that he is right where God wants him to be...now I just want to align my heart along with this plan.
So, here I am again trying to to decide whether to fight away the feelings of sadness and to keep my mind occupied by other things...yet knowing that the slightest thing may remind me of him and I could start to cry or just to allow myself to think about him leaving again and to just get out all emotions in one big episode of tears. I suspect it will be both and that I won't be deciding how I grieve this one...but I am confident that in the midst of my emotion, I am rejoicing at the evidence of God's leading in Tyler's life. Even if that leading directs him across the world to Africa...to poverty, to suffering, or to persecution. I have asked God for one thing....that my children would walk in the Light. God has been faithful in answering my prayer...and I will praise him for His faithfulness. I knew from very little on, that Tyler was not one to settle for a ordinary life...he would take a path that few others had traveled. And, I am so thankful that he is my son.
And so, I would love to see the fund Tyler has created to help the children of Mfangano Island get filled up with enough money to begin building the education building for the kids. He only needs $200 more for the building and the rest of the money will go to begin a lunch program. My dream is that before Tyler gets off the plane in Africa and settled in to the place he will live, that I can tell him that there are people out there who want to support him in his vision to reach these children for Jesus Christ...by feeding them, educating them and loving them. I know there are many incredible organizations out there who are asking for donations at this time as well, but if you can, would you consider giving something to care for these children? It would not only help these kids directly, but it would do wonders for Tyler as he begins his journey in Africa. (Email me if you have any questions, or you can use the donate now button on the side of this post.)
As he sits on that plane, is he aware of how deep our love is for him, how confident we are in his readiness to take over his life and live it for Christ, how incredibly amazed and humbled we are to be able to be a part of his journey? I hope that in some part, because of what he has learned in our home, that a bit of our legacy will be holding him up when he stumbles and giving him the courage to continue when he feels like he is just a "kid" out in this big world. May our legacy to him be our weakness...and may he see God's power perfected in his midst even now.
So, tonight, it is a little bit quieter at our house. No one is yelling at the dog or talking politics. Quiet isn't all that it's cracked up to be...
