What's on the Horizon??

     Greetings from Kenya!  In August we passed our two year mark here in country at the Baby Centre.  It has been a very eventful two years.  We wanted to update you on what God has done and is continuing to do in our lives and all those connected to the Baby Centre.  We can never stop praising God for His miraculous touch in Dana's life.  We have had front row seats as it were to a modern day miracle.  We believe that this is an affirmation that we are not yet done with our mission here.

Hope

     The original timeline was that we were to come in August, 2012, and return to the states in August, 2014.  Also, most everyone knows Hope's story in that through a set of what we believe to be God-directed circumstances we were blessed to become Hope's guardians on our way to becoming her parents.  As with many things here in Kenya, that path has not been a clear or straight one.  Because of changes in Kenya law and in the interpretation of requirements, we are not exactly sure of the date that we can actually finalize Hope's paperwork.  Some would say we can begin by the 1st of March, while others would say wait until August to begin.  We will continue to monitor this with our contacts in the government and with the Adoption Society.

Emmanuel & Millicent will be married
in December of this year.

     The current plan is sometime early next year we will seek the Baby Centre Board's permission to install Emmanuel as Director of the Baby Centre.  When that happens, Dan will assume Emmanuel's current position as Business Manager in order to train a replacement for this position, and that way will still be here in order to consult Emmanuel in the Director position until he gets acclimated.  Dana will continue with her role as Hospitality Coordinator and begin to look at who would be best suited for this position in order to train and hand it over to the correct person.  Our hope is that these things, as well as Hope's adoption, will be completed before the end of 2015.
     With all of this said, there are things that need to take place in order for us to continue our work here.  As of January 1, 2015, we will be moved up to Career Missionary status with WGM and no longer be Missionary Disciples.  This requires us to raise more support.  Plus, we have also had to raise additional support for Dana's medical trips (every 6 months) for her PET scans.  When we originally left the states in 2012 our support was pledged at 100%.  We have had many very faithful team members that have supported us very well.  Unfortunately, as is common with many ministries, about 20% of those that had pledged have had to decline to give towards that pledge.
  We need to raise a considerable amount of new support to keep us on the field for 12 more months, pay for two return trips to the USA for Dana's PET scans and clear the current deficit in our account that has resulted from the shortfall in giving.  This amount is in addition to those who are currently giving monthly.  We trust in God for everything, He has been so very gracious to us and has provided everything we have needed through many generous people who are a part of this ministry.  We are very privileged and honored to be a part of a ministry that has not only greatly impacted the lives of almost 300 babies now, but it has impacted a community and even a country in showing Christ's love through caring for the children that had been looked over in the past.
     Thank you for your prayers, your time and your financial support for this ministry and our family.  We can never adequately convey the impact that the Baby Centre has had and the part that each one of you have played.  I don't believe any of us will get to see all of the fruits of this ministry until we are with Jesus.

Blessings and many, many thanks!

D&D & family