Here is my information, if you would like to reach me.

Just a little information for you.

There have been a few people asking if they could send me a package or mail.  Well, of course.

Address to:  George and Katina Otieno

                     PO BOX 203

                     Isibania, Kenya Africa 40414

You can also call me if you would like to hear my voice.. lol

                    plus sign 254-08211177

And of course you can send emails.. katinascreations@gmail.com

I also can FaceTime with anyone that has an apple device.  Thats only if you would like to see me. lol 

I pray this post finds you well.  I also pray that if there is anyone who is wanting to ask questions or just talk to call or email, I would truly love to hear from you.  As much as I love Kenya and the Kenyans I also love my family and friends back in the states.  Yes, my life has changed drastically and God has blessed me with tremendous peace in being here, but I do at times miss being in the states.  

Thank You all so much for your support, whether it is prayerfully and/or financially.  You are all a big part of this amazing journey.  

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8-9‬ NKJV)

Have a blessed day and enjoy this amazing Christmas Holiday!

In service for the King,

Katina

Read about what God is doing in Kenya with Katina

Hello Family and Friends!
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update the blog.  I pray you find this post well, and that you are blessed today.

I would like to thank all of you for your prayerful and financial support these past nine months.  God has been doing amazing things here in Kenya and in my life.

There has been many life changing experiences in the last five months.  I am very excited for what God has in store for my life here in Kenya.

As most of you know; God has blessed me with an amazing, loving, and God honoring family. The Otieno's, which is:  Mr. Patrick Otieno, Mrs. Mary Otieno, 6 daughters, and two sons.  I met two sisters in 2010;  Rose and Queen Otieno, and to date have now met the whole family.  Of course I do not know His ways or His thoughts, and I did not know what was in store for me with this sweet family.  Within the Otieno Family, God has blessed me with a loving God fearing man named "George".  Whom is now my husband.  I have been building relationships with this amazing family and learning as much as I can about Kenya and the culture among this tribal nation.  Life here in Kenya is so very different than the States.

George is my best friend, a guiding light, as well as my security, protector, and someone who stands in agreement with the will of God for our lives.  I have seen and experienced new life with the birth of Rose's second child and many deaths or burials as they call them here.  Within these experiences God has shown me tremendous joy and truth to his word and in the ways He has provided by trusting completely in Him.

Some of you may be wondering what has come about towards the vision of "A Place of Refuge."  Well, in Kenya you have to be a citizen to purchase land, and I have been in prayer to know where this land should be located and what exactly this place should be like.  Kenya is a big place and yes there is lots of land.  Also, a Place of Refuge would be an inviting place where people can learn a trade, receive  love, and God's word.  As well there will also be counseling for those who have been abused and widowed.  There is more research to be done towards how Kenya would benefit from "A Place of Refuge."  With that said, there are many different ways that you can get involved and be part of this wonderful vision.

Please feel free to email me at:  katinascreations@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you.  I am thankful for those of you who have sent messages and emails, I look forward to each encouraging word.  I can even facetime with anyone that has an Apple product.  I do hope to hear from you soon.

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭5-7‬ NKJV)

In Service for the King,
Katina

The Beauty of Gods Plans!

Today on May 30th, 2014;
God has a plan for you!
He is planning for you at every moment, you may not see it and then at His perfect time He gives you a glimps.
    For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV)

He asks us to trust Him, more than trusting in ourselves.  We cannot do it alone!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV)

He asks us to Love, in everything Love.  Within that Love, we will make disciples and only through His Love can that be done.  We are His beloved and He is ours.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. (1 Corinthians 13:2-7 MSG)

Sorry for the lapse in time of not posting sooner.  I pray that all is well where you are.
This last month has consisted of so many things.  From the celebration of goodbyes at GSH to greeting a new found family in Nairobi to embracing even more family to seeking Gods face to the fullest each and everyday.  Even among the Matatu's, the taxi's, the tuktuk's, the buses, the outhouses, the sponge baths, the amazing foods, the most poor and sick that I have seen, and such loving and full of hope people; God has shown me what it truly means to be obedient and to Love without reservation.  Within this amazing song are words that describe my heart to date. The song is Rooftops and many artists have recorded it.

Here I am before You, falling in love and seeking Your truth
Knowing that Your perfect grace has brought me to this place
Because of You I freely live, my life to You, oh God, I give
So I stand before You, God
I lift my voice cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours
All the good You've done for me, I lift up my hands for all to see
You're the only one who brings me to my knees
To share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worth
So I kneel before You, God
I lift my hands cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours
All that I am, I place into Your loving hands
And I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide open
To the One, the Son, the Everlasting God, the Everlasting God

Read more: Jesus Culture - Rooftops Lyrics | MetroLyrics

I pray that you were able to take time and read every word written here and even imagine just how amazing the Creator of the Universe is to have such amazing plans set before each of us.  It is a daily choice that only you can choose for yourself, no one can make the choice for you and God is waiting with the biggest open arms you will find to embrace you and protect you and provide for you like only He can do.  I pray you choose LIFE and not Death.  He loves you no matter what, and forgives and then forgets!  Thank You for your support and encouragement!  To God be all the Glory!

The love of Christ and planting seeds!

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; (James 2:8 NKJV)



In 2010, I had the privilage of visiting Gentle Shepard Home for a second time.  I met a worker named Joyce and she had a baby that she would bring with her to work.  My Heavenly Father gives me so many opportunities to befriend anyone I meet, and so by the help of an interpretor I befriended my sister Joyce.  She had been asking me to take her little baby Theresa home with me to America and care for her, I didn't understand why; until I asked why.  She told me that Theresa was her 6th child and her husband would beat her to have sex, and she knew that she would have a hard time caring for now all six children.  My heart broke for her and her children, I prayed with her and told her I could not take her child.  Throughout the rest of my time at GSH, I was able to encourage her and love her and Theresa, and then I left to go back to America.  I have returned by God's grace after the almost four years; and Joyce doesn't work at GSH anymore but she does visit.  She has visited a few times since I have been here and she now is on birthcontrol after having her 7th child.  She is living a different kind of life now.  She sent her son-Samwel and daughter-Theresa to see me and give me a massive Papaya.  (as shown in the picture)  I am more than blessed to have held such a precious little girl that has a very humble spirit.  They came to see me in their sundays best clothes.  I know that God has been working in Joyce's life and changing her daily.  I do pray that she can plant seeds in others lives as well.  I just thought this would be a good update for everyone to enjoy!

God is able and the devil is a lier!

God's glory is so Amazing!  I am so thankful to live in the Hope of Glory.

Each day being here at GSH has been more than a blessing.  This past sunday was a turning point as a song was sung about "God is able." Just know when you listen to the devil's lies, you will only live with heartache and pain.  Be encouraged today that:
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)
Trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39 NKJV)
Please know that if you only believe and not trust or have faith, you are robbing yourself of the abundant life that God has for you. 

There were many that have been waiting to have this available to them and now it is here, a donate button on the blog.   Thanks to Beth Collis for helping!

I also would like to Thank each of you that have already given and all of your prayers that have been given too!  God is so faithful to any need or request that has been made.  

Please keep me and my family in your prayers, my grandma "Nanny" is in a Life Care facility on hospice and I am here in Africa.  I was able to tell her I love her and she was able to hear my voice, and I am thankful for all the prayers that have already been answered! God is so good!  I know that she is in peace and I also know that she will see Glory!  

Be blessed; with love,
Katina

Sundays message, "To wait upon The Lord"

I know Mungu, God is hearing my prayers! It is so amazing serving such an Awesome God!

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV)

There is a song that comes to mind right now, "Our God Reigns!" I am humbled today.

I'm sure many of you are wondering what I have been doing theses past two weeks and yet I don't say much. I am enjoying every day, holding and kissing so many little people that love so Big! The amazing sound of them singing to our Heavenly Father, and dancing too! Making new friends and lasting ones, and greeting the passers by in their own language; which makes them laugh that a Mzungu(white person) can speak their language. Which The Lord is helping me with everyday. Darnell took a picture of me with twin brother and sister, Isiaac and Boke. I cannot get it to come up here, I will have to put it up on FB. Have a blessed day and, wait upon The Lord. Until next post, be blessed!

One week and a few days!

One week and a few days!

Bwana Sifiway! (Praise The Lord!)

It has been a very special week, and as my sister Sondra put it; "She was made for this!"

I Choose to Wait Upon The Lord!

This scripture has been on my heart lately:

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

Today I woke up to rain, it rained till noon. I slept very well due to the rain, the sound of the rain. Since Sunday, I have been remembering many Kiswahili words and being able to speak to Mamma Elizabeth. She keeps telling me to learn and I am learning more everyday. I told her I will know before I leave the end of April to return to Nairobi.

I have started reading a very sweet and encouraging book called "Kisses from Katie."  

An excerpt from the book hits very close to home for me:

   Slowly but surely I began to realize the truth: I had loved and admired and worshiped Jesus without doing what He said. This recognition didn't happen overnight; in fact I believe it was happening in my heart long before I even knew it. It was happening as I explored the possibility of overseas volunteer work, it was happening as I took my first three-week trip to Uganda, it was happening as I fell in love with a beautiful country full of gracious, joyful people and immense poverty and squalor that begged me to do more. It was happening in so many ways, and I couldn't deny it. I wanted to actually do what Jesus said to do. 

  So I quit my life.

  Originally, my quitting was to be temporary, lasting just one year before I went to college and returned to normal, American teenager life. But after that year, which I spent in Uganda, returning to 
"normal" wasn't possible. I had seen what life was about and I could not pretend I didn't know. So I quit my life again, and for good this time. I quit college, I quit cute designer clothes, and my little yellow convertable; I quit my boyfriend. I no longer have all the things the world says are important. I do not have a retirement fund; I do not even have electricity some days. But I have everything I know is important. I have a joy and a peace that are unimaginable and can come only from a place better than this earth. I cannot fathom being happier. Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.

I am looking forward to teaching the children of GSH how to make some jewelry on Saturdays while I am here, this teaching will start tomorrow. Some will make bracelets and some will make necklaces.  I am also really looking forward to worship on Sunday at GSF. All of this is possible because I am trusting and waiting on my Heavenly Father. Thankful and great full are many words that are on my mind a lot lately, for all of you that have loved and cared for me as well as been praying. "Asante Sana!" I pray you are well, and please leave comments on the blog that I can see!
Mungu Akubariki! May God bless you all!