A wonderful celebration

Last Sunday I was privileged to be a guest of the Tongoi family. It was a day or celebration.

 Celebrating many things, family events from the last few years for this 'Kenyan Diaspora' family.

 We met to celebrate:

Irene's 60th birthday,

 Dennis's retirement, 

The birth of Julie and her husband Fred's 4 children in Australia, where that family lives,

Sammy and Kelly's wedding in the US, where they live, 2 years ago

 and Tabitha's graduation from Williams University in the US.

Many dear friends spoke words of appreciation

and told stories about the way they had been blessed 

 by their association with members of this special family over many years. 

For me, my meeting Dennis, Irene and Julie 11 years ago was one of God's divine arrangements. And I have been blessed by their friendship since that day.

After all the speeches were over it was time to dance. 

Of course it was! This is Africa and African people love to dance.

And African people also love to pray. Grace and Fred gave thanks to God for this family and the way he had provided for them and blessed them all these years

 and used them to bless many others along the way.

And then. . .  time to cut the cake. 

Each person with a reason to celebrate cut the cake. 

First it was Irene

and then Dennis joined her

 followed by Julie and Fred,

Sammy and Kelly

and Tabitha.

Then the cake was served. I must say that it was delicious.

It was a truly wonderful day. I went home with a greater understanding of the quality of this family and the Christlike lives each of them has lived and been used by God to bring life and blessing to many along the journey of life.

Thank you Dennis and Irene, Julie and Fred, Sammy and Kelly and Tabitha.

I pray that God will continue to bless you so that you will be a blessing to others.