Bridge Families - James127 Father

We met some amazing people in our time in Kenya. One of those men was a taxi driver named Soloman.  Not having access to a vehicle for our trips into and around Nakuru took some flexibility for our crew.  So we used a taxi service to get around to the store or the occasional trip into town.  We met a couple of regular drivers that would pick up our requests.  Soloman and another gentleman John keep their "home" base very near our home.  So at first it was just by happenstance that we would get one of these amazing friends.  It wasn't long until we had direct numbers and began to call one of them every time we ran an errand. In those short trips we learned that both of these men met daily to study the word and invest regularly in those around their "stage" were they waited for fares. Soloman shared with us of his upbringing around Nakuru where things were not always easy.  It was clear he had come a long way to having a taxi job and such a heart for oth...

  In the last few years we have enjoyed getting to know some amazing people doing the work we felt so strongly called to be a part of in Kenya.  We, more Rachel than I, made contact with this group out of Tanzania, Pamoja Leo, leading the way getting children back into families, keeping them in families and supporting families to stay together.  Long story short, we have supported them along the way a couple times as we have been able.  Most recently they needed to fund the re-printing of some resources for spreading the need.  Due to the gifts we have received previously we felt called to assist with the printing costs. We received an amazing update from them just this week, here is an excerpt: "64 new foster families trained last month! Bringing us to 99 foster families total in Tanga region from 0 just 3 years ago!  6 adoptions pending all by local families.  2 rape convictions of 30 years for two girls that have been in our foster care program....

Friends and Family, We have received an unexpected gift. We knew that three of our children's birth mother was expecting. We have stayed connected as much as possible.  She called early this week to inform us she had given birth to a little girl and wanted to place her directly with siblings in our home.  Rachel rushed to the hospital to support this amazing woman.  Rachel & I discussed as she drove the emotions of giving birth and how important the time with the mother would be for everyone. The birth mother was absolutely set that we keep the siblings together.  Through several ups and downs, the legal things needed finally were completed by the end of the week.  Last night, our children met their new sister. Please pray for everyone involved. We are beyond excited and honored, but at the same time honor and grieve with the birth family simultaneously.  Keeping the siblings together and connected to their mother is a blessing.  We will continue t...

      Remember the days of the hold on a phone call. You know, you call an office or business and you get put on hold.  Nicer businesses would have music for you while you waited. The gist of the of the hold was you waited, willingly. The answer, whether positive or negative, was worth the wait.  We all have those moments we have to wait, for something.  The question for this morning, what are you waiting for?     During this  pandemic there have been a few times that we have all waited.  Whether in a line to buy toilet tissue, take a test, or get into a store.  All of us have spent more time than we are used to waiting.  The things we have waited for recently really have changed our perspective on what is important.  The heroes among us do not wear capes.  They teach, deliver mail/goods, stock shelves, work registers and keep working when everything else "shuts down".  Heroes impact our lives more now than ...

Paul was ship-wrecked. Paul was on house arrest. Paul went to prison. All of those "calamities" furthered the Gospel in ways Paul would not have dreamed. The Lord so often uses our "misery" to drive our ministry. Well, the truth is the Rosenbaums have experienced none, not one of the situations Paul found himself "stuck" in. We do find ourselves not at all where we were called to be. Doing things that are not what we were called to do. In many ways we have struggled with our current status. It is just flat out isn't what we expected to live out as we were called as a family to serve in Kenya. There are many factors that led up to making a choice to step back and reframe, refocus. It was immediately clear as we gained a bit of distance that the Lord was protecting us the entire time. He really does love all of us, you included, more than we can see or fathom. For now we focus on our quarantine skills, homeschool and pray with open hands that we stay in ...

Hi friends! Our crew has landed at a relative’s home that was vacant, but furnished, in the Kansas City area. Our children have been flexible and enjoyed the journey but need a steady home base. Yes, our time in Kenya was much shorter than we anticipated. Hearts were crushed at the reality that obtaining best practices in the Kenyan orphanage were not obtainable with the current structure. So many of you graciously gave monetarily to support the heart of God, convicted that children belong in families. Supporting a traditional orphanage, offering less than care, is not permissible. Our hearts continue to grieve separation from the friends and community we had already grown to love in Kenya. The vision of loving well is still fresh on our hearts and we are angry the enemy holds such a tight grasp. The babies are the ones to pay the price. We ask that during this time giving financial support be paused as you continue to pray for our next ministry steps.  Specifically, the givin...

Friends and Family, We have travelled back to the US for a time.  We were at the end of our Tourist visas in Kenya and our work permits were not progressing fast enough to allow us to remain in country.  We have been blessed by our family to have a place to land in the Kansas City area.  Our plan during this time is to get immigration paperwork moving ahead in Kenya. Additionally, we plan to really focus on a few of our children who were not adjusting to all the transitions within the last nine months.  We looked into many schools in the Nakuru area, but just never found the educational support they need.  A few of the older kids found connections during the school break in Kenya when all the neighbors were home, but those friends sadly went away to boarding school. Please continue to pray for His Cherished Ones, all the staff that are the hands and feet of Jesus.  Washing about 150 nappies (diapers) and outfits daily is no small task by itself.  T...