Missionary Training Update- 2 weeks in

For the past 2 weeks, our family has been in Palmer Lake, Colorado at Missions Training International (MTI), a month-long program that focuses on language acquisition and helps us learn to interact with our new culture in a healthy way that promotes longevity on the mission-field. If you were involved financially and/or prayerfully in helping us get here, THANK YOU!!! We can already see how the tools we are receiving here are going to impact our family for the better as we move! Below is a bit about what we've been learning!

We worship the Promise Keeper! We saw a beautiful double rainbow out our window this week!

The first two weeks have been very language-heavy! Our brains are exhausted but we are thrilled to have some direction now when it comes to learning the language. Before coming here, we assumed that we'd just "get" our target language, Swahili, over time. Now, we have a more intentional plan of how we will acquire it once we are in Kenya. We worked on phonetics and getting our mouths to make noises outside of the American '44-sound box" (a lot harder than it sounds!) and experienced sessions with 'language helpers' so that we could practice the learner led tools that we'll use in Kenya to 'pull the language in' in a way that involves our whole persons!

Kendall and Elisha presenting for their group during a language acquisition session.

As we've been learning how to learn our language, we have begun to understand the true importance of being able to communicate in the heart-language of the people group that we'll be serving. As we commit to the discomfort of communicating in a language that is not our own, we enter their culture in a servant-hearted and needy position. As missionaries, the misconception from nationals in the culture that we serve is often that we 'have all the answers', but we will NEED the help of Kenyans in order to know their language and culture in a deeper way. We are excited to enter in as learners and as those who don't know, that our servant nature may help those in Maai Mahiu to know Jesus in a more intimate way.

A giant blessing of being here is getting to learn and live alongside other families who are also about to launch onto the mission-field! It's been a balm to our souls to be surrounded by people who understand the unique joys and challenges of following God's calling to another country. We've experienced sweet friendships here and are excited to stay in touch as we all spread across the nations! :)

Our family on a weekend hike!

Our main concern coming into MTI was Maddie, as this is her first classroom experience after being at home with Kendall for the past 2.5 years. We'd like to shout a giant 'PRAISE GOD!!!' because her first two weeks have been amazing! Her incredible teacher, Ms.Emily, is such a blessing to our family as Elisha and I get to spend focused time learning! Also, the spiritual and cultural concepts we discuss in our adult classroom are introduced to her on a 2 year old level, so our whole family is growing together! We've been able to have some really good conversations in the evenings and have greatly enjoyed hearing what she's learning!

Maddie enjoying time on MTI property!

We've taken a brief respite form support-raising, but we're kicking it back in gear now! Don't be surprised if you receive a call, email, or letter from us! Also, if you think your friends, family, co-workers, small group, or church may want to hear more, please connect us!

We are so pleased to announce that we have enough funds now for flights! Now, we are waiting on the Lord for funds for a vehicle and furniture, as well as monthly recurring gifts so that we can focus our time fully on the ministry! We invite you to be a part of the work that God is doing in Maai Mahiu, Kenya as a one-time giver and/or monthly partner! Our goal is to move at the end of July, which seems impossible right now... but we've seen the impossible before!

God loves you and we do too!

The McFarlins