http://alliep.myadventures.org Allie Pohlmeier - - Adventures In Missions en-us Fri, 4 Jul 2008 11:17:44 GMT 30 http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=from-rivals-to-colaborers http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=from-rivals-to-colaborers Thursday was a monumental day on the journey to end the violence that has plagued Kenya since December's announcement of Kibaki as the president.  On Thursday an agreement was made between Kibaki and Odinga.    THE AGREEMENT   "Under the agreement, Odinga will become prime minister and have the power to "coordinate and supervise" the government -- more authority than Kibaki wanted to yield.   Odinga said: "We on our side are completely committed in ensuring t Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=jeff-has-been-found http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=jeff-has-been-found This update serves two purposes: 1.  News on Kenya 2.  News from Eburru         1.  Kenya: CNN reported today, "Kenya's opposition party says it will embark on a "mass civil disobedience campaign next week" if its demands aren't met in the intensive negotiations aimed at defusing the political crisis in the tense East African nation.  The lawmakers are calling for the prime minister's job and proportional sharing of powers in any new govern Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=jeff http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=jeff My first time in a town called Eburru was in 2005.  Eburru is a town in the mountains, filled with Kikuyus, with no running water and electricity.  We helped put up a church which really just consisted of tarps tied together.  But they served their purpose well.   On our first night we held a church service and shared the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  A man named Jeff was inside the church.  He heard the Message of Hope, but Thu, 7 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=dominic http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=dominic An MP (Member of Parliament), Were, belonging to the ODM party and Luo which is Raila Odinga's tribe was killed earlier this week as he was entering his home near Kibera. This caused riots in the city and many other towns in Western Kenya. Kibera was a no go zone for an entire day. Several people were killed and some homes were torched. According to the press they counted up to 9 bodies in Kibera alone, though there could be more.   One of our hostel boys (this is a ministry that pr Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=and-the-violence-continues http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=and-the-violence-continues Violence continues to reign in Kenya.  I wish with all my heart that I could give you an update of a peaceful weekend.  But life in Kenya seems to have gone from worse to horrible.   Just today around 2,000 people from rival tribes faced off on a main road amidst a once quiet tourist town, divided only by a handful of police who fired into the air to force their retreat. One newspaper reported people from opposing tribes shouting"This is Kikuyu land!" was the cry in Naivasha fr Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=helping-the-displaced http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=helping-the-displaced 2 Corinthians 1:10 says, "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers."    As you pray for Kenya and maybe even people you have come to love in Kenya remember that your prayers are helpingdon't lose hope.   Amy Carmichael often said, "Hope of God, hope through me."  May the hope of God hope through us as we pray for peace and rest and resolu Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=kenya-relief-fund http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=kenya-relief-fund Many of you have given to our Kenya Relief Fund in response to the unrest and violence that has plagued Kenya these last few weeks.  I have heard violence described there as "reason, no longer rules" and some described the slums "as a terrifying place at the best of timesthis is the worst of times."   In Kibera we work with 3 local pastors.  It is to these Pastors that we have sent the Relief Money we have received.  These local pastors will receive food vouchers to a loc Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=garbage-dump http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=garbage-dump yesterday i had one of those moments, where i know the truth that God is everywhere, but i thought, man oh man, jesus would have been sitting in the filth with the gypsy people.i went with a young missionary woman to this garbage dump behind a shopping center, and all of the sudden there were a ton of house like structures and garbage.  and among all that people.  lots of kids.  kate and i taught a simple math lesson...i mostly just hugged and smiled at them.  they gave kate Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=mostar http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=mostar today i arrived by bus to a town about 3 hours away from sarajevo.  i felt like i could have taken 1000 pictures and that still would not have been enough to capture the beauty of the land.  my bus ride went from towns of snow to fall green and orange.  it was breathtaking.  on the way here i had this strange feeling of helplessness.  just not knowing the language and what i am getting myself into...felt this cool reliance on the Lord and it has been sweet.i am staying w Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=500 http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=500 Wow.  Our week is almost up.  Last night we finished our last of three total conversational English camps.  It was intense.  At the very end a man asked if he could ask a question.  He was Muslim.  He asked something along the lines Can I ask you a question.  Why are you alluring students to come by saying you are having an English workshop but then try to convert them?It was interesting because the girls I was sitting with told us not to take his comment perso Fri, 9 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=arrival http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=arrival Hello Friends and Family,We have arrived in Bosnia.  It is quite rainy and cold.  But so excited to be here.  Today we went to church and than out to lunch with the campus crusade staff.  In the afternoon Courtney and I walked in the turkish area.  We met a little boy whose eyes just captivate you.  We giggled with him for a little bit as he taught us the word for dog in bosnian.  Then we walked a little further and met  a little named Diane.  She wan Sun, 4 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=out-of-love http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=out-of-love Keep yourself in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 21 I feel like in the context of my life right now I am going through some major character building times.  (I don't really know how to put it.)  All around me seems to be out of place and me being this weird people pleaser and peace makerI feel this uneasiness.   And I confess that some of that is healthy and some of that is out of proportion.  And it is g Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=final-days http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=final-days Greetings from the other side of the ocean.   Today is our last full day here in Kenya.   It always seems that whatever amount of time I pass on these soils, it always flashes by full of   goodness and questions and answers and laughter and frustrations and joy and love.   All these things that seem to be mutually exclusive are wrapped up in to one chapter in the story the Lord is writing of my life. We just got home from a Muslim wedding. Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=so-this-is-life http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=so-this-is-life Wow.   What great, wonderful, and full times in Kibera.   We have been super busy cleaning and moving things around.   I have been praying this prayer during these busy days, "What wouldest thou that I should do for thee?   My Lord, my Savior, pour Thy Love through me.   As mountain river when its streams run dry.   So, but for Thee, Fountain of Love am I.   If there be hindrance, sweep it all away.   O Love Eternal, pour thro Thu, 9 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=eburru http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=eburru This past weekend we went to a mountain town called Eburru.   My first time there was in 2005.   I enjoyed just observing and soaking in the evolution of ministry there. One night at two in the morning in 2005, a man, Jeff, found his way to Pastor Steve and said that he had heard what the team shared about Jesus and he couldn't wait any longer to receive Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. This weekend I observed Jeff, now an elder, active in Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=thanks-for-praying http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=thanks-for-praying Last night something so extremely exciting happened.   My heart is still bursting.   I decided to call my friend I asked you all to pray for yesterday.   I wasn't able up to that point to get a hold of her.   Much to my surprise she answered.   Today I spent the entire morning with her.   Our time was beautiful.   I learned so many new things about babies and tradition in her faith.   She is pregnant Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=update http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=update The team of thirty that I have had the privilege of walking with these last 10 days departed last night.   I still feel like this team was different from any other team I have led. The participants were from the ages of 16-49.   One of my favorite things to do was just watch the beautiful, eldest woman interact with Kenyans.   Almost all the Kenyans called her mama and even asked if she could be their spiritual mom. We spent the beginning o Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=reflections http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=reflections So today was the day I was to leave Beautiful Kenya.   But my plane ticket has been changed to leave next Tuesday.   I felt like there were a few more things that I wanted to do and people to see.   God has done so much work in my heart.     We went to this town in the mountains over the weekend.   It's called Eburru.   Steve and Mary Njenga are "missionaries" there.   They have started a church and Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=gods-love-abounds http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=gods-love-abounds Last night was wonderful.   We gathered all the orphans and I shared about how important it was that they start reading the word at an early age.   And I spoke to them just a little bit about journaling.     Then I shared how my church in Georgia had sent gifts because though they were across the ocean, it is how the wanted to express their love.   The kids loved all the Bibles.   It was beautiful.   I was s Sun, 8 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=reunion http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=reunion Hello Friends and Family, God has been so good and faithful.   This morning I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do with my morning and I felt like He wanted me to encourage someone with Scripture.   So I ventured out!I found a dear friend Consolada.   She told me that she has nothing in her hands to give me, but she has heart.   And so we just shared verses.   It was a beautiful time. She said that in so many ways she can see God. &nbs Sat, 7 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=it-is-great-to-be-back-in-kenya http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=it-is-great-to-be-back-in-kenya The plane ride here was wonderful and I felt so cared for.   Both flights I had the entire row to myself, which was completely the grace of God.   I walked around today and just saw beauty in the surroundings and in dear friends.   Last night I could not fall asleep, and I just listened to the noises that fill the Kibera nights.   I just smiled and prayed.   More to come!   Thanks for all your prayers all luggage i Thu, 5 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=strange-ashes http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=strange-ashes I just finished a book this morning by Elisabeth Elliot called These Strange Ashes.   It's all about her first year as a missionary in Ecuador.   She quoted Amy Carmichael, "But these strange ashes, Lord, this nothingness, This baffling sense of loss?   Son, was the anguish of my stripping less Upon the torturing of the cross?" Elisabeth says, "Each separate experience of individual striping we may learn to accept as a fragment of the suffering Christ Tue, 3 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=bootiful http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=bootiful "Yes, He has humbled me and shown me what I am, revealing Himself as a present, a very present help in time of trouble.  And though He does not deprive me me of feeling in my trial, He enables me to sing, "Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  Now I am happy in my Savior's love.  I can thank Him for all, even the most painful experiences of the past, and trust Him without fear for all that is to come."   Hudson Taylor. A Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=baffled http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=baffled I am sitting now on the deck overlooking (at a distance) a beautiful lake and the sun descending and the light reflecting off the lake is perfect.   It has been a rough day in my walk with the Lord.   If one could hit any kind of pit, I think I landed in one today.   At the doctor's office yesterday, he told me he was baffled about my foot and wanted to hand me back to my primary care physician.   I kept hearing in my head, "take heart" and "God Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=new-orleans http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=new-orleans This week has been phenomenal!  I am currently "leading/hosting" a team in New Orleans.  It has been great just being with a team again and watching them love Jesus.  For many of these college students it is their first missions trip.  It is just awesome to see them experience how we can love Jesus here in New Orleans and back home. We have spent either the afternoon or the morning just praying and asking what God wants us to do and then doing it.&n Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=new-orleans-on-the-porch-damian-needed-love http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=new-orleans-on-the-porch-damian-needed-love Last week in New Orleans we stayed at this house in the "inner city" near the projects.  I found myself outside one day just sitting and talking to people as they passed by.   I talked to these great older women one day.   Amanda, my friend came down and we all had a great conversation.   Then they left and this little boy, Damian came by.   He sat down.   Damian said he wasn't feeling good.   I deduce Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=crumble http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=crumble This morning I passed this like stone monument that was broken and crumbling.  And I felt like the Lord was whispering, "That is you."  But the thought that immediately came into my mind was that how it looked today was much more beautiful than before (it had recently crumbled a little).  Then I was thinking that maybe deep within I want to be this put together leader or Christian or missionary (just like the monument was) and Jesus just whispered, "some Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=3-simple-things http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=3-simple-things I have been struck lately with this simple concept that all we have to do is love God, love people, and love the nations.  I find myself at different moments of the day asking how I can do one of those three things and it is blowing my mind.  If at every moment, whether in Kenya or Mexico or Chicago or Gainesville, if I could just see the hurting all around in that moment and love.  Wow. For instance, at Publix the other day i paused and asked God how He wanted me to love H Wed, 6 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=only-the-lord http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=only-the-lord It all started this morning as I was out jogging, trying to finish before the rain poured.  Then as I was in the Word later on, the Lord helped me remember. His Word came alive.  While in Kenya, the last village I had the privilege of spending time in with a youth group was called Mussul.  It was way in the middle of nowhere, living with the Masai Tribe.  It hadn't rained there for 2 years.  Two years!  All the animals had gone in search for water, as well as husb Fri, 6 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=what-victor-wrote http://alliep.myadventures.org/?filename=what-victor-wrote This is what a going into college student wrote on the trip i just led, and i wantedt o share it with you all.  Thank you so much for your prayers. "My time here has helped me to see that, here in Kenya, where food and water is scarce, God's love for the people is plentiful. Before I leave, I want to share with you what God has been showing me and telling me through a poem that I wrote while I was listening to God. Mountains upon mountains Your beauty glistens Silently a gen Wed, 2 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT