Steeves' Summary #3 Mountaintops and Valleys

I've often heard people talk about "mountaintop experiences" to refer to a time when they have felt particularly close to God. I've been there! I can assure you that standing at 15,000 feet on a snow-covered mountain in Africa is definitely a time of feeling close to God.

Last weekend our whole family headed for the mountains. Mind you, mountains in New Brunswick aren't quite as big as those I've known in Kenya, but standing on a rock looking over a huge area of southern NB is still an amazing and humbling experience. We hiked 900 meters horizontally and 200 meters vertically to get to Bald Peak on Mt. Douglas in Wellsford, NB. We were puffing and panting as we made our way up the rough, tree-lined path. It was a beautiful day, one of the first nice spring days this year. We made the most of it.

I do have to ask myself what I learned from it. Perhaps the most telling is that I need to get into better shape if I plan to climb any mountains in Kenya! More telling is something that I recall from a song by Amy Grant way back when I was climbing mountains in Kenya.

I'd love to live on a mountaintop, fellowshipping with my God,
I'd love to live on a mountaintop, 'cause I love to feel my spirit soar,
but I've got to come down from the mountaintop to the people in the valley below,
or they'll never know that they can go to the mountain of the Lord.

Mountains and valleys have placed prominently in my life. It seems right now that I'm seeing plenty of both. Springtime is always a mountaintop experience for me. I love to see the trees budding, hear the birds singing, and feel the warmth of the sun returning. It is such a marvel of God's creation to see new life returning every year. Our plans for Kenya are a roller coaster of encouragement and worry. It is a thrill that God has allowed us to be part of his work. It is a challenge of faith to wait on him to work out all the details.

Blanket Project: I never thought we would ever be concerned about too many blankets! In reality, we are thrilled that we have received over 700 blankets and quilts, with quite a few more expected before our end of May cut-off date. We will send them in a crate by ship, which is the most economical method. There will be no problem finding 700 children in Kenya who could use a cozy blanket to keep them warm during the cool nights in the highlands.

CBM Co-appointment! We received word last week that Canadian Baptist Ministries has approved our co-appointment! While this doesn't give us any financial support, it does put their resources behind us. Praise God for this development.

Finances: So far, people have pledged 27% of what we need per month while we are in Kenya. If you plan on giving, please fill out a pledge card and mail it directly to Africa Inland Mission.

       How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
     who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,
     who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 NIV

Michael, Bernadine, Julianne and Evan

If you missed our previous newsletters, they are on the web at kijabe.org/mission2004.

Michael and Bernadine Steeves

Home address: 113 Pauline St. Saint John, NB, E2J 3K8

Email: Steeves@kijabe.org

Home phone: (506) 658-6081
Web: www.kijabe.org

Africa Inland Mission

Mission address: 1641 Victoria Park Ave. Scarborough, ON, M1R 1P8
Mission email: general.can@aimint.net
Mission phone: (877) 407-6077

Mission web: www.aimcanada.org

Canadian Baptist Ministries
Mission address: 7185 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, ON L5N 5R4
Mission Phone: (905) 821-3533
Mission email: cbmeast@nbnet.nb.ca
Mission web: www.cbmin.org