We just want to express our thanks to all you who have been following our updates and praying fervently for our family through this difficult time of many unknowns.

Tim's mom has been settled in and will be living with his sister during her time of treatments, physical therapy and radiation sessions.  She is still very weak and tires easily...but is working at regaining her strength back again.  Continued prayers for her ongoing as well as for family members who will be helping care for her.

Thank you to all who contributed to Tim flying home to be with his siblings and mom during this time, for those who helped him pack up her things, and taking care of him while in the states!  It was so greatly appreciated!

Tim will be heading back to Kenya Sunday and we are all very ready to have him back home!!   Thank you again!

May God Bless You!!!

The Kelly Family

On the Road

We are happy to say that Tim, his two sisters and his mom are on the road and traveling west to MT.   After may delays due to complications from the biopsies, the doctors agreed to discharge her for travel in order that they can begin to make their way to the hospital/doctors that will be working with her and future treatments.

Its been a long two weeks, with many emotional ups and downs. What we do know is that she has brain and lung cancer.  What we don't know, the family is hoping to get some answers once they arrive and have a chance to meet with the surgeons and doctors to determine the next step in her care and treatments.

Please continue to pray for:

*wisdom for Tim and his siblings as they help mom, making decisions, and go through this incredibly hard storm.

*for traveling mercies ~ they left 7 hrs ago from the hospital and are making their way to MT.  Have about 13-14 hours of travel left.  pray for excellent road conditions and ease of travel for all of them.

* wisdom for the doctors/nurses/hospital staff

* for each of the family members as we all are processing in this very emotional time, and especially the grandkids:  Sue/Brad ~ CO, Sara/David, Preston & Sydney ~ NM, Shannon/Jason, Hunter & Logan ~ MT, Tim/Chrissy, McKenna, Tommy, Kaden & Micah ~ Kenya, Africa

Thank you for all of you who have prayed, sent encouraging emails, notes, cards, offers to help in anyway and given towards expenses. We are so grateful to you for that! 

"God is who He says He is

God will do what He says He will do

We are who God says we are

God's word is alive and active in me

Im BELIEVING GOD!! " 

Update

Tim is on his way to the airport, getting ready to fly out tonight to MT.  Well, at least that was the plan.

However, upon receiving the latest update on mom just about an hour ago, Tim will now try to rearrange his flight to land in MN instead of MT.

The family decided, that with the seizures, biopsies procedures, possible surgery and treatment, Sally will need 24/7 care for the next few months.  The family decided for the time being that Sally should return to MT, to be cared for by Shannon and her sisters which is her best option at this time. 

On Monday, Mom had her first biopsy attempt on the spot on her lung to determine what kind of cancer she has.  The risks of this procedure is that She may experience:

** a 5% chance that the biopsy withdrawal would not be enough to test

** a chance that air pockets could develop in the lungs as a result of the biopsy procedure

** a risk of her lung deflating due to the air pockets from biopsy procedure.

After the first attempt on Monday, the Dr. reported that they did not get enough sample to gain conclusive results.  So, a secondary biopsy was scheduled for Wed with results coming back today.

After the second attempt, mom began to experience difficulty breathing and pain after the procedure (first attempt she had no pain).  They X-rayed her lungs to discover that there was an air pocket in her lungs.  

Prior to the biopsy procedures, the Dr had told Tim's sister, that Mom would be released for travel and could travel by airplane, as long as she stayed on her seizure medication.

However, after the second attempt and the complications of it, she is now unable to fly.

It is now a waiting game to see, if her lungs will "calm" down.   After another Xray today, the air pocket is larger and will not be discharged until the pocket decreases in size.  

So, Tim is going to attempt to change his flight to arrive in Mpls, MN meet up with his mom and sisters and then they will rent a vehicle and drive back to MT.

At times, this all seems so very complicated and overwhelming, especially when every decision is hinged upon what test results come back,or how mom is responding to procedures.   

Tim's sisters are exhausted, overwhelmed, worn down and rightly so.  THey have been by mom's side since Thursday.  

We know so many of you have committed to prayer on behalf of our family and we are so extremely grateful.

We are asking for you to continue to pray:

1.  For strength, understanding, discernment, peace, renewed energy, encouragement for Sara and Shannon and Tim

2.  For Tim as he travels back to the US.  Pray especially that British Airways will be leinent and understanding of Tim's change in destination and accommodate him to switch without penalties.

3.  For Tim as he will arrive exhausted into Mpls (after 24 hrs of travel), and then will have to turn around and drive another 20+ hours with his mom and sisters to MT. 

4.  Pray for alertness for Tim, renewed energy, supernatural strength for his family as they all look to him for strength, Godly wisdom and discernment.

5.  For myself and the children as we remain here in Kenya.   For God's favor and hand of protection in his absence.

6.  For decisions to come and wisdom for them.

7.  For test results that have yet to come in, for upcoming tests on Monday scheduled in MT and for plans for treatments.

Praise:

Thank you to all of you who have given towards the emergency fund to travel back.  We are so blessed by your kindness and generosity.  

Thank you at this time just doesn't seem like its enough to say...but we are so THANKFUL for your care and commitment to stand with us at this time.  Thank you for the emails, notes of encouragement!  It boosters our faith, and has sustained us and encouraged us greatly!!

We love you all!

Blessings

Tim and Chrissy and family

Thank you so much for the sentiments, heartfelt words of encouragement and passionate prayers for us as a family and on behalf for Sally and extended family members.  We are so blessed to be a part of the Body of Christ. You have demonstrated God's love towards us in the midst of this storm and we THANK YOU for that!!

You don't know how much it means to us - and even as hard as it is for us to be so far away...we have felt God's sustaining power and strength in the midst of the storm.

"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the Presence of God in the midst of it all"

Update on Mom:

**She has been sleeping a lot mostly due to some of the medications she is currently on.  Tim had a chance to talk with her briefly last night when she was awake.

**Two tumors have been found in her brain - a  1" by 1" mass and the other a smaller spot.

**a complete body CT scan has revealed a spot on her lung.

So, here is what is to follow.  On Monday, a biopsy will be done on the spot on her lungs.  If the results come back that its the same type of cancer she had previously back in 2001, then the options for treatment are good.

However, if the biopsy report comes back as different than the type of cancer she has had, they then must call in a specialist to do a biopsy on her brain to determine what kind of cancer she has and what her treatment options are.

Depending on the test results, will determine how long she will stay in the MN hospital.   

It has been advised from the doctor that Mom will need help and assistance from her family.  Her family is working on what will be in her best interest and for the follow up care through surgery, recovery and treatment.

Tim and I have been discussing what he should do and we both agree that it is important for him to go and be with his mom and to assist his sisters in anyway possible.

Tim will most likely be flying out on Thurs Jan 9th. for an undetermined amount of time.    

Many people have been asking how they can help us in this situation, and for those who are wanting to do so, we could really use help in the expense of this unexpected circumstances. His expenses will be quite significant which covers the cost of his airfare, food/lodging and on the ground travel expenses incurred along the way.   

If you wish to contribute, and for tax deductible receipts, checks can be made out to and mailed to:

Living Hope Church 

Attn:  Tim Kelly/family emergency

1840 W Mason St

Green Bay Wi 54303

or 

Tim Kelly (not tax deductible)

attn:  Bob WIgman

1300 Longtail Beach Rd

Suamico WI  54173

Thank you for your continued prayer support during this time.  It means the world to us!!

Blessings

We covet your prayers!!

We are writing with heavy hearts and asking for your immediate prayers for our family and extended family members.

Last night we received word that Tim's mom (Sally Kelly) was traveling back from Montana (where she had spent Christmas with Tim's sister) and collapsed in the Mpls airport.  She suffered a seizure and was quickly taken to a hospital.   After they evaluated her and did some tests and a CT scan, they discovered a massive brain tumor that appears to be cancerous.

We are extremely thankful and grateful for friends who live in the mlps area who dropped what they were doing and went to the hospital to be with mom and minister to her and be with her as she received the news.  It is hard to even comprehend the feeling of being so far away and helpless to do anything or not be with someone you love during a crisis.

Tim's sisters have since arrived to be with mom in the hospital until specific tests results can be read and decisions can be made as to further treatment options.

At this point, mom is being sedated to keep her from experiencing more seizures and to minimize her stress and anxiety.  The doctors would like to do a biopsy but with the tumor being in the brain, makes it a bit more complicated.  We are unsure at this time whether mom will be able to travel back to Green Bay considering her condition.

Please pray for us as we search to come to terms and grasp with this situation and for wisdom as to what to do.

1.  For Tim's sisters as they are "on the ground" there with mom and there to help mom make decisions as to what to do next.

2.  For Tim as he is broken and torn being so far from home and considering what he needs to do - whether to travel home and when to do so.  

One thing we are sure of in the midst of all this uncertainty, is that God is in complete control.  This is not out of his range of knowledge.   And certainly He knew when He called us to come to Kenya so far away, that we would be faced with this storm!!   We have to trust that He cares and loves us and will be faithful to see us through this no matter what the outcome.

Thank you for praying!   We covet your prayers more than ever!!   We'll keep you updated as time goes on!!

Its Christmas Time

Christmas is almost here.  

Some have asked how they can encourage or bless us doing the holidays. Here are some ways to do so:

**LETTERS/CARDS ONLY to this address: 

Tim and Chrissy Kelly

c/o FTT

Box 3022-00506 

Nairobi Kenya, East Africa

Letters and cards cost about a $1 to send and takes about a month to receive.

**PACKAGES ONLY to this address: 

Tim and Chrissy Kelly

c/o Jason Witt 

PO Box 424 

Garissa Kenya 70100 

East Africa

Packages can be spendy to send and there is equal cost to us to retrieve it (i.e. whatever it costs you to send a package, will cost us the same amount to retrieve it) . If you send a package, please send to the GARISSA ADDRESS as the cost is less for us to retrieve it. Also, no packages can be picked up in December but anytime after that is okay. (Do not write an itemized list of your package or estimate the value of it...just indicate that it is gifts. ) Packages may take up to a month to get.

Please also let us know if you send a package, so we can be looking for it.

An alternative to sending packages is to send it with someone traveling here. We are expecting several visitors in this next year, and they may be willing to carry stuff over with them. Contact us, if you wish to do so via this route.

As always, monetary gifts are by far the easiest way to bless our family. Checks can be made out to:

Tim Kelly

and can be mailed to:

Bob Wigman 

1300 Longtail Beach Road, 

Suamico WI 54173 . 

All monetary gifts are directly deposited into our personal checking account and we receive it almost immediately.

Thank you and God Bless!

A Ministry Need / A Ministry Opportunity

We have been reflecting on many things lately, especially in lieu of the

events of over a week ago that shook and greatly affected the people

of this city, this country, this nation

and even parts of the world.

Its moments like that, when you are most vulnerable, is when God begins to show more clearly of who He is, what He wants to say to us and Who our perspective is to be fixed firmly on.  

Its times like this that we must draw our eyes off the situation and focus firmly on Him, back to His purposes, His Kingdom plan, ultimately what God is wanting to do in and through each one of us.

How this must grieve God's heart. God's heart is that none should perish.  

Yet in the midst of the perishing…

His light, His hope, His peace will continue to go forth.

We are reminded again why we are called to be here

That there is a lost and dying world, full of evil around us,

who desperately need to know Jesus.  

He is the ONLY truth, the ONLY way and the ONLY life.  

Without Him, there is no hope, no peace and no salvation.

A large part of what we are doing here is to train and equip others to bring that message of Hope and Salvation.

The Kelly family and 

YOU back home 

are called to carry the message of:

"Christ in us, the Hope of Glory"

Many of you know of our year long effort to raise funds to not only get here to Kenya, but to more importantly start and set up our family/household here, and begin to minister and fulfill the responsibilities and leadership roles we have been called to take on.

Our objective goal was to raise $130,000.  

You helped us raise about $110,000.  

Praise God for His faithfulness, through the hundreds of selfless gifts and sacrifices many of you have made in order to see us reach that goal.   

We initially, felt that what had been raised was significant to get us here, knowing full well that the additional $20,000 left to meet our goal was the amount we needed to purchase a ministry vehicle. We believed that at a later time, we would focus on raising funds for that.   

Our intention was to take the first few months to settle in,

before we began to focus on that need.

However, in lieu of circumstantial events, the knowledge that in less than 8 months Tim will be completely shifted into his new role, his ministry schedule, training and responsibilities have been commencing forward.

Tim has started focusing on becoming actively involved in ministry related responsibilities: such as meetings, building relationships with key contacts, regular travels to up country through rugged terrain, busy schedules, language school starting this next month, meeting with people, etc.

All to say, his schedule does not often coordinate well with the kids school schedule of drop off and pick up times along with ever changing traffic patterns and delays in daily travel commutes.

With just the use of one vehicle, it puts a strain on the things that need to be done every day - daily life.  If our van were to have problems (which it did sunday), we would be stranded with no means to accomplish those things we have to get done each and every day.

We have been very frugal and careful with our delegated funds, thus far.

HOWEVER:  life has thrown us a few setbacks that we had not anticipated nor prepared for:

1)  Visa entry's that we so desperately needed to ensure our stay in Kenya was delayed and shut down for well over into a month past our arrival.

2) Our shipping container which had arrived unexpectedly 3 weeks early ahead of our arrival, and then because of the visa delay - forcing us to pay an additional $10,500 of taxes and duty fees in order to regain possession of it.

3) Our house, (which we are still waiting to get in to - 8 weeks later) prevented us from moving our container items in - forcing us to purchase a stationary container to lock our possessions in until we can move in - an additional $3,000

3) New Kenyan laws that require children attending school to pay an additional visa fees in order to go to school:  additional: $300

Tim has been scouting around Nairobi, with the assistance of someone who knows vehicles, has found a vehicle that will work well for our needs and well suited for what it is intended for:

2000 Land Cruiser GX  (14 yrs old)

          4WD, diesel engine

          Strong and durable for rugged terrain

          Capacity to hold our family plus a few extra passengers

          Very good shape and condition

The asking cost is:  $33,000

(remember that vehicles are twice as expensive as in the states - no matter how old they are)

Here is where we are asking you for your help.  We need to raise this amount in a very short time to purchase our ministry vehicle. (Vehicles tend to sell very quickly, especially if they are in good - to very good condition.)

Please will you consider doing one or some or all of the following:

1.  We need you to PRAY with us.  Will you intercede on our behalf - asking for God's provision for this need?

2.  SHARE our need with others.  Its amazing how often it is easier to ask for others rather than for ourselves - especially if you believe in what is being asked for.   

3.   PARTICIPATE - perhaps you have a fundraising idea or can take part in promoting one that is already ongoing.  If 1,000 people donated $33 each...we could meet that goal.  Perhaps you don't know a thousand people - but if you share with three people who then share with three more...and on and on it goes from there.

4.  GIVE - if God puts in on your heart, and you are able to give, every amount matters - whether big or small.

When we were praying about this need, we clearly felt God telling us to share our need and to "ASK" our readers, our supporters, our Facebook friends, the blog world.

We don't know how God will work this all out.  We do know that God is asking us to take yet another "leap" of faith and to trust Him.

Thank you for allowing us to share this with you!  

Thank you for your partnership in all of this - big or small!  

**IF you feel led to give towards our ministry vehicle fund:

Please message us through either:

FaceBook:  Kelly’s in Kenya Page

Blog:  www.kellysinkenya.blogspot.com

email: kellyfamily2kenya@gmail.com

for more information as to where to send your donation

and how it is to be made out.  

***

We love and appreciate you!  Your prayers and support is beyond priceless to us!!   We value greatly the hedge/wall of protection that your prayers provide for us daily!!

May God bless you abundantly above and beyond what you can imagine!

Tim and Chrissy

McKenna, Tom, Kaden and Micah