In my last Q & A post about our ministry, my sweet, bloggy friend Holly asked some great questions. Apparently, it sparked some questions some others of you had.
Will you all be taking Malaria meds?
So here's round 2 of Questions and Answers....
1. How often will you come back to the states... during the 4 years I mean?
Yes, will you have internet access?
Will you get a vehicle once you get over there?
How big of a city/village is it?
What is the main religion there?
Is there a required amount of money to raise before you go? Do you have to have so much pledged in monthly support?
Amym asked....
Any ideas on what homeschool curriculum you will follow while in Africa?
Um. No. Right now we use Spell to Write and Read and I like it so-so. It's suppose to be able to be used through High School, but I think Lucas will struggle with it. So right now, I don't know. We also use Math-U-See and I like it alright. I don't know, it's hard for me I think because I used to be a public school teacher so I have in my head what "school" is suppose to look like and Homeschooling looks NOTHING like public school (which, isn't that the point?).
So, all of that to say, Homeschooling and the materials involved is still a work in progress for me. I really need to spend more time in prayer over our schooling in general. This year (starting yesterday actually) we are going to function on a year round school schedule. We'll do 6 weeks on, 1 week off. I'm pretty excited about it. I'm adapting some resources from a (very old) version of Sonlight's Grade 1 (before they even named them "Core"...yes, it's old) and yesterday went well. The twins are officially in Kindergarten and Elizabeth is hovering between 1st & 2nd grade. Lately I've been thinking a lot about how/when to get school books to Kenya. I know the Lord will work out the details, but it never hurts to use the brain He's given us to think!
Any of you have suggestions?
1. How often will you come back to the states... during the 4 years I mean?
The plan is to not return to the US until after the 4 years is up. But, people can come see us at anytime! (GREAT BIG HINT!)
2. How will I be able to keep in touch with you when you are living in the wilderness? Is postal service totally sketchy... will you have interwebs access?
2. How will I be able to keep in touch with you when you are living in the wilderness? Is postal service totally sketchy... will you have interwebs access?
We will have internet access (do you think I could live without it?) and we will also have cell phones. From what I understand, postal service is not great.
3. Will you instead consider moving west with us and create a baby making Jesus loving commune with us? We can get house help. (I kid, I kid, sort of).
3. Will you instead consider moving west with us and create a baby making Jesus loving commune with us? We can get house help. (I kid, I kid, sort of).
At this point, I will consider anything. I am not kidding. Okay, sorta.
4. Do you realize how much I'm going to miss you? And how much our kids will miss your kids?
4. Do you realize how much I'm going to miss you? And how much our kids will miss your kids?
Yes I do and if I dwell on it I turn into a bucket of tears. Thanks for the reminder.
Holly asked....
Yes, will you have internet access?
Yes! It will be the main way we stay in touch with family, friends and supporters!
Will you live on a compound with security?
Will you live on a compound with security?
From what I understand, most houses in Kenya are gated. We will likely have a day guard and a night guard. There will likely be bars on the windows. We will probably also get a (large) dog once we get there as well (our kids have already began talking about that). It's just common there to have guards, gates and bars on the windows, from what I gather.
How do the locals feel about white people there? (I know some places are superstitious)
How do the locals feel about white people there? (I know some places are superstitious)
We have not been told that there is any hostility or superstitions surrounding the people groups that we will be working with. I feel strongly that our sending organization (AIM) would have given us a heads up about that when we were selecting our assignment. AIM makes every effort to give their missionaries as much information as possible and to keep them as safe as is possible.
Will you be one of many families there with this organization or others?
Just depends on who is still there/going there/staying there when we get there! From what I understand, plans can change quickly. Though there are suppose to be other AIM missionaries in the area jobs, life, ministry changes and the Lord may change all of their plans. With us still being a year away from departure, it's hard to say how close we'll be to other AIMers. The good news is that our Pediatrician has traveled to this region of Kenya before on a mission trip and she knows Kenyans! She's promised to put us in touch with those folks. I'm holding her to that promise!
Will you get a vehicle once you get over there?
Yes, we will have to purchase one.
How big of a city/village is it?
We have a choice of 3 places to live. We will most likely choose the most urban setting. Honestly, I'm not sure what size of a city it is. Luke will probably drive out to the villages as he works with the Duruma and Digo people.
What is the main religion there?
Muslim is the main religion, though from what we understand they are not avid mosque attenders. Mostly the people are Muslim because their family is Muslim (sound familiar to our culture much?). There are also some Animistic religions as well as a predominance of folk Islam.
Emily Doss asked....
Is there a required amount of money to raise before you go? Do you have to have so much pledged in monthly support?
We are required to have 100% of our monthly support pledged by June 2012. Our monthly support goal is $7,338.
I know.
It's a LOT of money. Well above what our family lives on here. The reason it's so much more than our current standard of living is because we are not only funding our family but also the entire ministry we will be doing. Imagine having to furnish everything for your husband's career: paper, pens, gas, supplies, basically everything that makes your husband able (or yourself) to work.
Right now we are just under 10% of our monthly support goal. We have to have $38,071 in an outgoing account to get us there and set up. We are also at just under 10% of that goal as well.
One year from right now if we are not fully pledged monthly and fully funded in outgoing, our departure date will be bumped to the next Africa Based Orientation (ABO) departure date (which I think is September?). We are praying that July 2012 will remain our departure date but trusting that the Lord will bring in our funding in His perfect timing.
If you are interested in supporting us either in prayer or financial support, or if you'd like us to come and speak with your church or small group (and you live relatively close) please email me at beaverbunch (at) gmail (dot) com. Please put "Ministry Support" in the subject of your email.
Laurel asked....
While I took Malaria meds for my short term trip to Guinea-Bissau, for the duration of our time in Kenya our family will most likely NOT take prophylaxis year round. Right now we are praying about how often/when to take meds or if to take them at all. I've thought about us taking them during rainy season (when mosquitos are more prevalent) and also having us all on them the first several months we are in Kenya (if we're already adjusting to African life the last thing we need is Malaria). But both our pediatrician and other missionaries (one of them being a pediatrician himself) have suggested that taking that heavy of medication for 4 years continually would do us and our kids more harm than good.
Thanks for chiming in with your questions. If you have more, feel free to ask. My hope is to publish my thoughts and experiences on my time in Guinea-Bissau and how that relates directly to us going to Kenya long term.
Happy Tuesday!
