One Page at a Time in the Author's Hands

Do you remember reading a mystery in school? There was always one student who would turn to the last page and try to spoil the ending for the rest of the class. If the book was entertaining and thrilling, the other classmates’ desires to read the complex plot greatly faded because they knew how the story ended.

10 month old Maddie reading a riveting book :)

Often in life, we find ourselves longing for the ending, but God is an incredible author. He unravels his stories paragraph by paragraph, page by page, chapter by chapter allowing us to learn to ride the wave of life while being strapped to him as our surfboard.

When Kendall and I were 18 years old and almost 2 years into dating, she told me that she felt God calling her to serve on the mission field overseas with her future family. We began praying for God to help us find an opportunity. Over 4 years after that first conversation, we found ourselves connecting with Bob and Julie Mendonsa, the founders of Naomi’s Village.

They were looking for an accountant from the States who could assist in maintaining and improving financial controls in Maai Mahiu, Kenya. Kendall and I began laughing as details of the past 4 years began flooding our minds.

When Kendall and I began college shortly after our first conversation about missions, we were both music majors. It was during that freshman year both of our desires changed. Kendall became a child development and family studies major, and I became an accounting major. Chapter 1.

Elisha and Kendall freshman year at the University of Memphis.

We were quickly engaged, and I began looking for a job opportunity in the accounting industry. I was hired as an accounts receivable intern at a local logistics company, Easley Transportation, LLC. Over the next 2 years, I would call Easley my home. During my time, the CEO eventually came into my office to pitch an idea: provide remote jobs to Christian men and women in Uganda (a country with highly educated people and high unemployment). And guess who would be responsible for training and leading them? You guessed it. For over a year, I would be on video calls every morning with a team of Ugandans answering questions and guiding their operations. Chapter 2.

Our wedding day!

Shortly after we were married, life seemed to speed up a little more. We decided to get pregnant, and we were nearing graduation. Kendall and I agreed it would be wise to seek out an auditor position at a local CPA firm in Memphis. That decision was short lived once Maddie was born. We were thankful for our time at the firm but wanted to move back to Nashville to be near family. So, we moved, and I was able to find a position at another CPA firm in Murfreesboro as an auditor and tax accountant, dealing largely with non-profit organizations. Chapter 3.

Elisha & Kendall (& Maddie) on graduation day!

So there we were learning that Bob and Julie are wanting someone who understands non-profit financial reporting and regulations but also can work well with East Africans…..

I think the Author had fun writing this one.

So why Kenya? Because God is ready to begin the next chapter of our lives. We don’t have all the answers. But, we do know that our story is in good hands. And if you’ve taken the time to read this far, we want you to know that this is your story, too. None of this would be possible without your prayers, emotional support, and financial support. For that, we are truly grateful!

Thank you for not flipping to the last page. Thank you for riding the waves. And thank you for allowing God’s plan to slowly unfold before all of our eyes!

We love you and God does, too!

The McFarlins