A Mission Story

Another Year at Maxwell...

2010-10-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

Work...

I’m doing what I did last year, but a lot more of it. I wake up at 5:00 in the morning and my workday is over at 6:00 or 9:00 (on long days) in the evening. When I’m not working, I’m ‘off’. However, living on the job has a way of making one feel 'on duty' during “off” hours. Here’s my daily responsibility list:

Library
Math Tutor
IT Assistance
Health Teacher
Study Hall Supervisor
Computer Applications II Teacher
Computer Applications III Teacher
Assistance Computer Lab Supervisor

Classes...

Is the second or the third time a charm? I’m teaching the health students again this year. I love this class and it’s as easy and fun as ever. The freshmen class seems to be the most enjoyable class to teach!!!

Computer Applications II & III are new teaching assignments!!! As my grandfather would say, “I tell you the dying truth...” there is nothing more enjoyable for me than teaching an IT class!!! I absolutely love it!!!

Most of my day is spent preparing for this class. I don’t have current textbooks or enough outdated books for myself or the students. So, preparing for class is more time consuming than it otherwise would be. It’s like fishing without a fishing rod.

I have to research and learn most topics, create class lectures and assignments, make my own projects and tests, while completing other ongoing responsibilities. However, having to ‘reinvent the wheel’; definitely has its advantages!!! I am becoming a more capable IT professional.

Home…

Girls, can you believe it? I have housemates. The school has recruited four additional missionary…all ladies. So I was asked at the end of last year to live with two college age girls. The short of the story is…for the first time in my ENTIRE life I am living with someone besides my family members. I'm anxious to see what GOD will teach me, in this one!!! :)

I’m a Student too!!!

I’m enrolled in Efficient Driving School of Nairobi, Kenya!!! I have to take 13 driving lessons to get a Kenyan driving license. My driving test is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 27th. I love learning stuff and I am usually the most prepared and funniest student in my little driving school! After these classes are complete, I will begin my Swahili lessons, with a local teacher!!!

Christmas Break….

Christmas break is a time for travel and evangelistic work. Yea!!! I want to see my family, too!! But if I don't, I will see Kenya’s surrounding counties. I will, Lord is welling, take a bus trip to Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia. I will also participate in an evangelistic crusade with Evangelist Gekonge; just like last year. Christmas, except when I'm lonely for home and y'all, is my most enjoyable time in Kenya.

Overall my second year has been very busy. However, your prayers and love, working with students and the occasional letter or card (both from home and here) makes me very happy and gives me energy. If you are wondering, I still love being a missionary!!!

Sincerely,

Tomiko M. Franklin

PS. Scroll down to see my address. Please write when you can....getting mail is very special to me.

I'm coming home....

2010-05-13T00:51:00.000-07:00

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Me....

My year away from home is almost over!!! As the day of my departure arrives I become more and more anxious to see home; and you!!! I leave Kenya on June 10th. I may stay in Paris a couple of days, before coming home. BOY, I need a break!!!

I've been extremely busy this year. The missionary that was helping with the library and tutoring is no longer assisting me...so I've been flying solo since January. My workday is from 7am until a bit after 9pm..with the exception of a 40 minute lunch and an all too short dinner break, I'm grading, teaching, tutoring and supervising students. When I am not working I'm resting or cleaning the house. Forgive me for not writing before now...however, I pray/hope you understand the reason for this neglect.

Mt. Kenya...

From January until March we, students and staff, trained for our Mt. Kenya trip. For three months, every single Sunday morning was spent backpacking. These exhausting, mountainous, preparation hikes were from 8am until 1pm, approximately. The actual climb was the best. The most exhausting part of climbing Mt. Kenya was the all day hike; that lasted from 6am to about 3pm. Walking all day (9 hours in boots!!!) with a heavy backpack is the ultimate mental challenge. I love it and I will do it again!!! Throughout the entire preparation and actual hike...I was one of the top performers. :-) However, the all day hike may have gotten the best of me...I wasn't in the first group to make it to the cabin...I was a part of the second group...Awe man!!!

Outreach...

No matter what work I do...teaching, sports, databases, mathematics, and even organizing activities...nothing seems to excite me more than personal outreach. 1:1 evangelism seems to cheer my entire being like nothing else!!! With the LORD's help, I organized a team of about 11 folks, accompanied by the evangelist, to re-visit and encourage the Kang'utu believers. The trip was an amazing success!!! You should have experience our joy! The believers are a living example of Luke 8:5-15.

When we were doing December's door-to-door visitations, one person asked, "If I do believe, where will I worship. There is no church?" His question was answered by GOD. One of the newly baptized members donated a house and land, of which, they're using for their new church!!! (The folks seem to have so little, but, they give sooo much.) I've never, in my entire life seen a more humble place of worship; however the church has as many members as it does seats!!! If one was to look at their little church, and then at their love, joy and enthusiasm, your conclusion would be beyond explanation!!!

Because of your financial support, we donated hymnal, bibles, Sabbath school lessons, bible study guides and even Steps to Christ to the church!!! During our day visit to the small, crowed, church, we sang hymns, testified, studied, and encouraged each other in the LORD. Believers that are old enough to be my grandparents look to me with the eyes of a a child. Now, I understand Paul's letters. When we bring others to Christ we really become one with God's desire of salvation. I pray that GOD can always use me for this type of work...

Oh for grace to love, know and trust GOD more...

Next Year...

More than one of you has asked me about my plans for next year. I am returning to Africa for another year. Honestly, I didn't want to. However, after much agony and prayers I've decided to do so. I've learned a lot of stuff during this year. Nevertheless, I've learned in part; GOD deals with me so gently. Praise GOD for his penitence and gentleness toward us.

I will be home about the 15th of June and return to Africa in the first or second week of August. While I am home, I pray that I will be able to find employment before my return to Africa. Please pray for me.

May our GOD bless and keep you!!!

See you soon. Love and hugs,

Tomiko M. Franklin

PS. I Love maps and seeing new stuff!!!

Evangelistic Meetings ~ December 2009

2010-01-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

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I’ve found a part of me, somewhere northwest of Nairobi within South Kinangop, in a small village called Kang’utu. Within the houses made of stone or dirt and wood, I’ve discovered a “Southern” like charm, that's inexpressible to even a gal of Bama roots. The generosity and love of this small village is that ’something’ I always long for, childhood simplicity. After five months of living in Africa, I'm finally home and I will have an opportunity to do what I love, evangelism.

The evangelistic work was from 6.30 in the morning until about 10 in the evening. The daily schedule included, morning group worship & prayer, exercise, breakfast, choir practice, visitations, lunch , evangelistic meetings, evening worship, dinner and lastly prayers and daily reports. The daily messages were from 3 to 6 and included the gospel, the health message, family life, and prophecy. At the close of the two weeks meetings, eleven people were baptized and received Christ as their personal Savior.

If a person was ever created for a particular work…than I was created for this work, for people. My entire inside has a way of smiling when I meet someone. My heart has an unreasonable way of loving even the newest of friends. Taking care of others,cooking, talking about GOD and helping others seems to refresh my heart like nothing else. I sincerely love seeing and helping others smile…

Apparently, I’ve never lost that tempestuous way of handing goodbyes. The way that should only be known to a child, is known of me. I miss people in an extremely difficult manner. So to say the least, I already miss my new missionary friends and the families of Kang’utu.

I hope to see them soon,

Tomiko

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!!!!

2009-09-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

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Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!!!!

The school is closed for six weeks and will reopen on the 24th of January. I can finally rest!!! My work hours are long, ten hour days, but rhythmic. I love my students and it’s such a blessing to teach them!!! I present each lesson creatively, ways that are both exciting and informative. The kids love it!!! We’ve played Jeopardy, boys against girls and utilized numerous other approaches for each lesson! The kids are usually energized and exited about the class. I present the information in a storytelling format. By doing so, the students usually remember the material. As a matter of fact, one of my students gave me a set of roses on banquet night. Although the work is exhausting, it’s rewarding.

The past few days were a bit difficult because I wanted to be at home and I missed my old job. By the way, Roll Tide!!!

A lot has happened… I went on my fist safari. I visited Mombasa. I visited my first African Slave Cave. I finally found a local orphanage (to support regularly) and purchased some food for the kids. We’ve made several visits to the slums and delivered food, clothing, and water. I started running about 6 miles every other morning to prepare for the Mt. Kenya five day hike, which is next month!!!

Something big has happened too!!! Wherever I go, I usually see kids asking for money. In the past…I would give when I could but we were advised not to give to beggars, for safely reasons. However for a couple of months now…I’ve decided to give whenever someone ask of me. This was a very difficult decision because I don’t have much... However, even though I give when asked, my basic needs are taken care of. Praise GOD!!!

Remember, before I came to Kenya, I kind of had a somewhat, novelized expectation of living here. I wanted to live poorly. I wanted and love the idea of me being a sort of Mother Teresa. However, I greatly dislike the ‘living poorly’ part. But, I love working with kids, visiting and helping the poor, and meeting new people and learning a different culture. In short things are well and I think I‘m better because it!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Everyone!!

Tomiko

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. ~ Mother Teresa

Address: Maxwell Adventist Academy, Private Bag Mbagathi, Nairobi, Kenya 00503