Our Kenyan Anniversary

This past Thursday Jeff and I celebrated 4 years of marriage. We wanted to be intentional about taking some time to spend together and just enjoy each other’s company. We decided on lunch and some shopping, since we don’t go out after dark here. 

We hired a taxi to take us to the closest town. This is the way that we get around here because we do not have a car or our Kenyan driver’s licenses. We had the driver drop us off at the mall, which consists of a couple of restaurants, a grocery store, and some other shops. 

We had lunch at an asian restaurant and it was very delicious. The place is actually quite nice, but they were in the process of installing windows so it was rather loud. We still had a great time and are used to such inconveniences, this is Africa after all. Oh, and we are pretty sure that the place uses the Fruit of the Loom logo??

After lunch, I went to the choo (restroom) and was so excited to see toilet paper provided that I just had to take a picture. I didn’t even have to pay for the toilet paper! It is not common to have toilet paper provided in the restrooms here, so I usually carry some in my purse.

Our next stop was the grocery store. It is the closest thing to a Walmart here and we can actually find almost anything we could want there (if you are willing to pay much more than you would in the states to get the types of things we are used to eating/using). For example, I was really wanting to get a nice soft towel to use (ours are stiff and rough here from the way we do the laundry), but Jeff didn’t think we should spend $20 on a towel! And I don’t blame him! We had a nice stroll through the store, just taking our time and discovering new items. If you know me well, you know that I love going to Walmart and just taking my time, so it was very enjoyable. 

We then went to the other restaurant that is in the mall for dessert. We splurged on Cookie Sundaes and they were so yummy! We spent time talking and laughing and just relaxing together. Then it was time to call our driver to take us back home. We ended our night with cookies for dinner and a movie. 

So it was not exactly what our past anniversaries in the states have looked like. We didn’t go out to dinner and a movie (because the closest theater is hours away, and dinnertime here is after dark). We didn’t go stay at a fancy hotel, or go to a Braves game and Six Flags (which is what we did for our first three anniversaries), but we had a great day spent together and that is what matters.

We love our life here and wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. We are thankful that God has given us 4 wonderful years of marriage and we look forward to many more! Our life together has certainly been a crazy and amazing journey so far and we are excited to see what the next chapter of our life will hold. Please join us in praying about what God would have us do next, as our time here is drawing closer and closer to an end. Thanks and God Bless!  - Tasch

GO

Learning and Praying are wonderful ways to get started in missions. However, nothing beats actually going on a trip and allowing God to use you in a mighty way! Now, going doesn't have to be across the world, it can be in your home town. In Knoxville, Tascha and I have worked with The Lost Sheep Ministries and Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) serving the homeless. Homeless ministry was out of my comfort zone at first and I believe that because it was, God was able to teach me, shape me and bless me more through it because I was more reliant on Him than I was myself. When we do missions, we do not do them to be a hero to the world, Jesus is that hero. We do missions not only because it is our purpose to reach every tribe and tongue, but because we cant not share the love of Christ! Our love for others is the overflowing of God love for us! Below are a few ways to GO!

• Go on a short-term cross-cultural trip with your church or a mission group.
• Tascha and I did this when we went to Uganda
• Use your profession to share the good news and Christ's love among the nations.
• Students can go on a "back and forth" trip with their college group or seminary. 
• I did this when I went to East Asia and Kenya
• Contact a few mission agencies to see how they might utilize your skills short term or long term.
• World Gospel Mission - www.wgm.org
• International Mission Board - www.imb.org
• Wycliffe Bible Translators - www.wycliffe.org
• Serving In Mission (SIM) - www.sim.org
• Africa Inland Mission (AIM) - www.aimint.org
• The World Race - www.theworldrace.org

PRAY

Missionaries need prayer. All over the world, there are people laboring for the sake of the gospel. This is why Paul repeatedly asked those who sent him to pray for him (Rom 15:30; 2 Cor 1:11; 1 Thess 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1; Heb 13:18). Below are 6 ways to get involved in praying for missionaries (including us!)

• Sign up to receive prayer letters or missionary e-mails and pray regularly for them. You can sign up for ours by visiting our website (www.jeffandtaschafyke.com) or by emailing us (jeff.fyke@wgm.org)
• Ask God to show you for whom you should pray.
• Request country- or people-specific prayer guides for your computer or mobile phone . You can get the free Joshua Project app at http://www.joshuaproject.net/mobile.php
• Join or start a prayer group through your church or among your friends.
• Purchase the Operation World book and pray for people in a different country each day.
• Use an outline to pray for missionaries. You can find one at http://www.kingdompraying.com/assets/PDF/Scripture_Prayers_Missionaries.pdf

LEARN

Tascha and I just finished a 15 week class called "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement." In this class we have not only learned what missions is, but our part in every Christian's calling to missions. Every Christian has a mission: the be a part of the Great Commission.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
Matthew 28:18-20


We all have a mission as Christians: To reach a lost and dying world for Christ. This brings God absolute glory! One way we can be a part of our mission is by learning about missions and missionaries. Here are a few ways to you can do that:

• Read a missionary biography

• Pray for people you see in world news reports.

• Take a course like Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.

• Go to the library and check out books about countries or people groups that interest you. You can visit www.JoshuaProject.net for more info on people groups!

• Use the internet to explore different areas of the world

Here is a video about the importance of learning about missions and ways to do it!

6 WAYS - LEARN from K H on Vimeo.

Video and info from OMF International