Glenwood Springs

We love that our wedding anniversary and both our birthdays are within days of each other. It's a great reason to get away and celebrate. This year we celebrated our 2 year anniversary in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Glenwood Springs is known for it's natural mineral hot springs nestled between steep mountain sides which form a spectacular canyon. The canyon was especially green after a very wet spring. It was a perfect little get-away complete with rest, relaxation, hiking, yummy meals and soaking up the beauty of God's creation in Colorado...and riding on North America's Highest Altitude Roller Coaster at 7,100 feet! Below are some shots in attempt to capture the immense beauty! 

Sabbatical Recap

Our three months of Sabbatical were truly a gift from God.  After the emotional and physical stress of leaving Kenya, transitioning back to America and then 4 months of traveling, it was important to take a step back for a short time.  We were able to take life at a slower pace and adjust to living in our home culture again. We spent this time in Longmont, Colorado which is like 'home' for Daneen. Joe has grown to also love this place which has been special to Daneen for so many years. It has been an enormous blessing to stay with friends (who are like family).

Longmont, Colorado

During our sabbatical we have been able to reconnect with many friends, catch up on some long-term projects, be a blessing to others in different ways, and do some things we enjoy: skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, exploring beautiful sites of Colorado and Joe played a lot of basketball.  

Daneen has spent a lot of time going to appointments with doctors, physical therapists and acupuncturists.  Her neck has shown signs of improvement along with her energy levels, though her back is still troubling her.  One of the highlights of the past few months has been attending Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.  We have enjoyed learning more about finances, budgeting, insurance, investing and we are on the same page and ready to begin our next chapter in life.    

We were also blessed with a Sabbatical Retreat.  We stayed in a lovely cabin on the river in Estes Park for a week. There we enjoyed special time with the Lord and felt Him remind us of his promises. We also enjoyed simply relaxing and snowshoeing in beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park.

One of the best parts of being back “home” is Church.  We have loved attending church regularly, worshiping God in a way that is familiar to us, being encouraged and challenged from His Word and the fellowship with other believers.  Through Daneen’s weekly Bible study at church, our personal quiet times and the books we are reading, our relationship with God has been strengthened over the past few months and we are striving to put our hope completely in Him for the future. 

After finishing our Sabbatical in early April, we are now focusing on what is next for us.  It has been fun to begin exploring the different opportunities available.  We both left promising careers when we moved to Africa (Joe as a college basketball coach and Daneen as an aerospace engineer), and we now return after many years living overseas with pretty unique skill sets and varied experiences.  Since we are hoping to start a family soon, we have mainly been concentrating on opportunities for Joe.  At this point, we are truly open to anything that God might be leading us to, anywhere in the world, although we are mostly focused on staying stateside for now.  Everything and anything is on the table and we hope to start narrowing down the options in the weeks to come.    

We are exploring jobs in 4 main areas: Education, Ministry, Non-profit and the Sports World.  We are trying to see what is out there, what we would be good at and enjoy, and where God is leading us! 
 


We would greatly appreciate your prayers during this time and if you hear of any opportunities which might be a good fit, please let us know!

Sabbatical

During our travels around America over the past 4 months, and especially during our Debriefing and Renewal at Mission Training International in Colorado Springs, we have had several mentors strongly advise us to take a Sabbatical in 2015.  We heard several stories of long-term missionaries who returned to their home country and jumped immediately back into life, only to "crash and burn" a short while later.  Daneen experienced some of this when she returned from Uganda a few years ago.

As we transition to life in America and what God has next for us, we believe it is important to step back from ministry for at least 3 months to Rest, Recover, Reflect and Refocus.  Teachers have a summer break, coaches have an off-season and missionaries have furloughs. Even though Joe has been teaching and coaching as a missionary in Kenya for the past 11 years, he has never had any extended time off.  School breaks were filled with hosting CGA secondary students returning from their boarding schools and Suba Laker soccer activities.  Furloughs, often only 3 months long, were always filled with travelling, speaking and working.

Like most people, we have a difficult time being still before God in the race of life. God’s Word instructs us to, “Run in such a way that you may win the race.” (1 Cor 9:24) Yet, too often we forget we need to slow down to refuel and replenish. As Jesus often withdrew to spend time with His Father and be refilled, we also are in a season where we feel it is vital to withdraw and be renewed in our vision, calling and purpose. 

WHAT IS A SABBATICAL?

When we use the word “Sabbatical” we are not talking about a vacation, but rather the disengaging from normal ministry and leadership involvement for a period of time. This will be a structured, supervised time to intentionally replenish and regroup for our future. 

The first phase is Rest and Recover.  After returning from our service in Kenya, we have just finished 4 months of speaking and traveling (in a new city every week). We’re honestly a bit tired and worn! We will be engaging in activities that will restore us emotionally and feed us spiritually; doing what puts energy back in our tired minds and bodies. Things like: reading (leisure and Scripture), being part of a church community, regular exercise (playing basketball for Joe), eating healthy (relearning how to cook in America), fun activities (enjoying Colorado’s beauty, snowshoeing, skiing/snowboarding), connecting with friends and resting!

The second phase is Reflect and Refocus.  We will be asking God the question, “Is there anything you want to say to me?”  We will spend extended alone time with God reflecting and learning more about God and ourselves. We will listen for God’s voice regarding direction for the future.

The final phase is Realignment and Reassignment.  We will review and discern our calling, vision and purpose.  This will help us in seeking God's best fit for us in life, ministry and vocation.

During our Sabbatical we will meet regularly with a Sabbatical Support Group to help encourage us, hold us accountable and advise us. We are excited about what God is going to do during this season of our life.

We are grateful that during this time God has provided for us a place to stay, a vehicle to drive and health insurance, so we won’t have many expenses except food, gas and an occasional fun activity.  We have savings set aside which we will be able to use to live on for the first part of this year.  God is surely our great Provider!    

Longmont, Colorado will be our home base during our Sabbatical and until God further directs us.  

PRAY WITH US

During this time we need your help to stand with us in prayer. Pray for God to meet with us, refresh us, and rekindle our passion for Him and for the Great Commission. 

- Ask God to give us a renewed sense of His calling on our lives as we wait on him.

- Pray for times of refreshment; spiritually, mentally and physically.

- Pray for Daneen's ongoing neck and back pain and recent foot issue; for the strength and energy for each new day.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Several people have asked about our financial support.

Our full-time commitment to CGA and Suba Lakers finished at the end of December. Hence, we do not anticipate supporters continuing to give to us in 2015. We are so grateful for how God provided for us all of these years.  There is a chance we might continue in full-time ministry in the future, but at this point we don't know where God is leading us.

We would be grateful if people will continue to support the ministries of Christ's Gift Academy and Suba Lakers directly. These ministries are near and dear to our heart and we believe they are making a great impact in Kenya for God's Kingdom.  With both organizations, there are many financial needs which can be supported by general monthly giving or one-time gifts.  There are also students at CGA and with the Suba Lakers who need sponsors.  If you are interested in any of those opportunities or would like more information, please contact us or click on the links below:

Sponsor a CGA Student

Donate to Christ’s GiftAcademy

Sponsor a Suba Laker

Donate to Suba Lakers Football Club 

  

Thank you to all our faithful and supportive friends and partners!  

We're grateful for your love, support and prayers!

10,000 Reasons

Driving from Montana to Colorado with Daneen, I had one of those “gratitude moments” in my life.  Those moments when your heart and soul are overwhelmed with gratitude to God, when emotions get the best of you and tears start rolling down your cheeks, when you feel so blessed and know that you will never be able to repay others for all they have done for you (but you still want to try).  

Do you know what I am talking about? 

We were somewhere in the middle of Wyoming between Buffalo and Cheyenne and Daneen had taken over the driving duties so I was relaxing in the passenger seat.  As the new car DJ, I played Matt Redman.  
My mind went back to almost exactly two years ago…

When I came back to America on furlough in 2012 my first stop after leaving home in CA was to visit my old Missions Pastor from Seacoast, Jodi, who was then living on Long Island in NY with her husband Dan.  It is ironic that my first stop was to see Jodi, because that is where my journey to Kenya began 12 years ago.  Jodi was an integral part of the process of deciphering God’s call upon my life and preparing me to follow that calling and move to Kenya.  During my brief visit to Long Island in 2012, Jodi gave me the 10,000 Reasons CD by Matt Redman.  It was probably a pretty insignificant gift in her eyes, especially to Jodi who has always been so incredibly generous to me.  This little gift was a real treasure to me! Living overseas, it is hard to stay current on the latest music and I always feel a step behind when I return to America.  Over the course of the next 3 ½ months of traveling, I did a lot of driving.  Many of the vehicles didn’t have connections for my iPod so most of the time I stuck that CD in, cranked it up and worshiped God.  In my singleness, I always loved driving in America on the open road because you feel so free. 

We are the free, the freedom generation

Singing of mercy

You are the one who set us all in motion

Yours is the glory

There’s a fire in our hearts and it burns for you

It’s never gonna fade away

We are the free, and Yours is the glory

-“We Are The Free”

But at times, driving long distances by yourself, you can also feel a bit lonely.  I recalled one time in Montana in 2012 while driving my friend’s old 2001 Honda CRV between Great Falls and Billings, I was feeling really lonely.  I was asking God “When are You going to bring me someone to share my life with?” After popping in that CD, I gave it all back to God (probably for the 10,000^th time in my life).  I told him that my life belonged to him and I completely surrender to His will for my future.    

What heart could hold the weight of your love

And know the heights of your great worth

What eyes could look on your glorious face

Shining like the sun

Your name alone has power to raise us

Your light will shine when all else fades

Our eyes will look on your glorious face

Shining like the sun

Who is like you, God?

You are holy, holy, holy

God most high and God most worthy

- "Holy"

Less than a week later (in 2012), in Portland, Oregon I met this beautiful, amazing woman with a heart for Africa!  After a short courtship and engagement, about 7 months later, Daneen’s good friend Tim was playing two of the songs from that Matt Redman CD in our wedding in Longmont, CO… "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" and "Holy". 

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I’ll worship your holy name

- "10,000 Reasons"

After an amazing 1 ½ years of marriage, mostly living in Kenya and a few months of travelling around America, here I was listening to that same powerful CD with my wife, driving in our “new” car (which happens to be that same 2001 Honda CRV I drove 2 years ago) with 211,000 miles on it.   

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger

Your Name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.

I felt grateful for all of the blessings that God has brought my way, but I was also excited about what lies ahead.  We had just finished our cross-country tour.  We spent the past 3 ½ months reconnecting with personal supporters and CGA sponsors and partners, giving different presentations and speaking in a number of churches.  Now we are heading towards a very unknown future.  We have no future job lined up, don’t know where we are going to live long-term and are simply trusting God to show us in His perfect timing.  I have no idea where we will be or what we will be doing 4-6 months from now, but I know God is faithful and I want to continue to praise the name of the Lord! 

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Driving down the road at 80 mph (the speed limit in Wyoming), Daneen and I were “singing like never before.”  My emotions got the best of me.  Tears were pouring out, but I didn’t care a bit.  I am a blessed man.  God has been so good to me in so many ways, and he has used so many people on this Earth to show His love for me.  From Jodi who has been there from the beginning, to Paul who gave us a car, to an amazing group of supporters all over Montana, and others scattered across America who have faithfully prayed for us through the years and invested their hard-earned money in God’s work in a small  town in rural Kenya... God has demonstrated his generosity and love through them.   

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forevermore!

BLESS THE LORD!!

The Final Frontier

MONTANA.  

We refer to it as: The Final Frontier. 
Mostly for it’s vast undeveloped land, with long distances between towns, where the people have an altruistic hospitality and appreciation for the outdoorsy lifestyle.  Montana is the 4th largest state, but ranked 48th in population density, and very interestingly has the same GDP as Kenya which has about 40 times more people!

We also refer to it as the final frontier because it’s the final location for our travels around America on the Team Pete Roadshow.  We’ve greatly enjoyed and appreciated all of our travels (all 15 states), yet we’re equally looking forward to finishing the journey and finally unpacking our suitcases...for the last time!

Montana is known as “Big Sky Country” for it’s wide-open countryside with a view that stretches for miles.

Like most large states, Montana is very diverse in it’s geographical features.  From the plains and winds of eastern Montana to the Rockies in the west, each region offers unique beauty.

Big Sky is a ski resort town located in the heart of the Rockies and made Daneen feel at home!!  We were blessed with an incredible gift by our friends at Peace Lutheran Church in Belgrade.... 3 nights in a cabin in Big Sky!!!  The back of the cabin opened up to the Gallatin River which gained it’s Hollywood fame from the movie “A River Runs Through It”.  All the fly-fishing scenes in the movie were filmed on the Gallatin River.

We appreciated the 3 days of rest, rejuvenation, reading, relaxing, quiet time, breakfast in bed, and simply time together in our own place.  We have been traveling for over 3 months and ever since we left our home in Mbita on August 13th, we haven’t been in our own home…alone!



We loved the opportunity to explore God’s beautiful creation around the area; including hiking to Oseul Falls which is now 80% frozen!

Our time in Montana was filled with visiting and sharing at 6 awesome partner churches: Community Bible Church (Glendive), Faith E (Billings), First Christian (Billings), Columbus Evangelical (Columbus), Peace Lutheran Church (Belgrade) and Harvest Springs Church (Great Falls).

We met with many personal supporters along the way and enjoyed sharing with them the great work God is doing in Kenya.  Work that we wouldn’t have been able to be a part of without their sacrificial, ongoing financial support and prayer! We also met with many CGA sponsors who loved receiving a personal update on their sponsored student as well as the ministry as a whole.

One of the best blessings of our time in Montana was getting to be with Martha, a CGA Alumni.  Martha is currently studying at Oklahoma Christian University.  She spent her Thanksgiving break with us in Montana; sharing at churches about the impact CGA has had in her life.  We had a fun time also experiencing a few “firsts” with her; building a snowman, ice skating, a ferris wheel ride and seeing a bear at the zoo!

In Summary....

Montana was the final stop of all our travelling this Fall.... and one of our favorites!!

Thanksgiving Update

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him in Thanksgiving"  Psalm 69:30

THANKSGIVING

We have been celebrating Thanksgiving for the past 3 ½ months!  Yes, that's right, 3 ½ months!  During our transition of leaving Kenya and returning to America, we have felt incredibly blessed to have lived and served in Kenya.  We are also thankful to the teachers and staff at CGA for teaching us so much, and allowing us to minister there.  We are thankful for the precious young children we have been able to teach, coach and mentor.  We are thankful for the friends and family back in America who have journeyed with us by praying for us and supporting us financially to live out this calling on our lives.  

During our "American road show", we have tried to appreciate all the special people along the way who have invested in our lives in one way or another through the years. God has been so good to us and so have all of you!  Thank You!

OUR TRAVELS CONTINUE 

Our Team Pete Road Show is still in full swing.  It's been a great privilege to see different parts of this beautiful country, reconnect with old friends and share in many different settings about what God is doing in Kenya.  We are currently in Montana and today enjoyed a lovely snowy weather!  We have been blessed with many opportunities to share with churches, college groups, schools and supporters.  Our blood is more used to the climate in Kenya so it feels extra cold here, but we are slowly adapting! 

MARTHA

The most exciting part of our time in Montana is the opportunity to have one of our CGA Alumni along with us. Martha Akinyi is in the U.S. as a student; studying Mechanical Engineering at Oklahoma Christian University. Joe taught Martha Bible and Math at CGA, and also coached her in soccer and basketball.  He has seen her develop from the time she was in 5th Grade until now when she is a 22 year old young lady. Even though she doesn't have much public speaking experience, she is a natural at sharing her story and expressing how God has guided and directed her life.  

CGA has never before had a Kenyan share about CGA in the U.S.!  It is wonderful for people to see the fruit of CGA and hear how the ministry impacted her life.  We think it is extra special to have her here during Thanksgiving.  She has gone through many difficult challenges in her life; being born into a poor polygamous family, losing both of her parents before she was 8 and being separated from her siblings. Yet, through it all, she has maintained a spirit of Thankfulness.  She appreciates everything given to her and every opportunity which comes her way; and she has made the most of each of those opportunities.  I know as missionaries we should be the ones impacting others, but I think Martha has had as much of an impact on our lives, as we have had on hers!  Read more of Martha's story on our blog.

DEBRIEFING AND RENEWAL

Our week of Mission Debriefing and Renewal in Colorado Springs in mid-November was very impactful.  It was immensely beneficial to be around other missionaries who were returning from the field and adjusting to life in America; facing many of the same challenges we are.  There were great group discussions, thoughtful insights, good reflective exercises, eye opening individual counseling sessions, and also many laughs.  We processed and learned to grieve what we have left behind, and focused on how we can integrate what we learned to value about life in Kenya into our lives in America!

One theme which resurfaced throughout the week was to GO SLOW!  Life in America is much different than overseas and everything goes at a much faster pace. Jumping right back on to the fast-moving-American-train can give you whiplash!  It is much better to start slow.  Multiple facilitators advised us as a group and as a couple to consider the idea of dedicating some time to rest, rejuvenate, reflect and seek God.  We are still trying to figure out exactly what that might look like for us.

OUR PLANS

After finishing our travels in Montana on December 10th, we will return to Colorado for a week before we head back to the airport to visit Joe's family in California and then Daneen's family in Pennsylvania for the Christmas Holiday.  On December 31st we will return to Longmont, Colorado which will be our home base for the short term. 

We are not sure what we will be doing or where we will be living next, but we absolutely trust that God will show us in His perfect timing.  The first few months of 2015 might be a time of rest, transition, re-tooling and preparation for what is next.  We are considering jobs and careers in many different fields including ministry/non-profit organizations, churches, coaching, education and athletic administration.  We are truly not leaning in any specific direction, but are open to all opportunities available and ultimately desiring God's will for our future.  We greatly value your prayers during this time!    

FOOD FOR THE HOLIDAYS

If you are looking to give a special Christmas Gift this season, consider giving a gift of $15 to provide a child with food for a month or $50 to provide an entire family with food for a month.  Our goal is to help nourish all 300 families associated with CGA during the Nov/Dec school holiday. Learn more about Food for the Holidays on the CGA website.

  

PRAY FOR:

- Our travels. That we would be a blessing to others, that God would speak through us when we have opportunities to share and that God would provide the funds necessary for both CGA and the Suba Lakers to continue impacting the younger generation of Kenya.

- Our future. That we would remain patient and listen closely for God to lead us and guide us to what he has next for us. For insight to what a time of "rest/retooling/listening" might look like for us.

- Our reintegration process which seems to be up and down at times.  Pray for us to get hope and strength (physical, mental and spiritual) from God and to capture all that he has for us each and every day! 

- Healing for Daneen's neck and back. We believe healing is coming!  Pray for strength to make it through each

Thank You for being a part of our journey!