%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 17 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 15 0 R /GS2 16 0 R /GS3 19 0 R /GS4 20 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20250717010244+00'00') /ModDate (D:20250717010244+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1169 >> stream xVMs6W1a4M㤓-"W"j`PCHɒt:: fNz3~ I'|Βe?,[x}A∟!$q2%4/N:)O@+cA;q>xfd8198Qr %e39<&m+6VCW`==tjSw/26眴_~RUJVw4`n/DO&NV{U v#%Rm+C "ɟjIRE ۻ%Ndn^p΢Jt%>il'm ԙ T'85hP-ukl*ԪةըC@ER֢>R+r6CvnՐjG72ckhh@h,ZP>MukՓQLG1J9vjP*k]-QR٪"ؓAJh-9d|o689> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 18 0 R >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1248 >> stream xˎ6ELZ-d /,,h,1HFP~#ܢlw`-ؒn*J(_6xngyyH2~y*lcMTg_?kmWIU -S`|F?ޞu7hҡg#oՅk>[{:m|(Xy_Q\ٱJPf.b|p+:oiSaGDcO8m=a|C\Ւ$:5uFŚV_nVg;gm'Mҳ9d<ĕCu> endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj xref 0 21 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000401 00000 n 0000000430 00000 n 0000000579 00000 n 0000000682 00000 n 0000001924 00000 n 0000002031 00000 n 0000002139 00000 n 0000002249 00000 n 0000002362 00000 n 0000002478 00000 n 0000002507 00000 n 0000002617 00000 n 0000002676 00000 n 0000002735 00000 n 0000002840 00000 n 0000004162 00000 n 0000004219 00000 n trailer << /Size 21 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[<65a5010865e1ae2fd0c40f6194292cad><65a5010865e1ae2fd0c40f6194292cad>] >> startxref 4276 %%EOF Out of Africa | Caring Magazine

Vol. #28

Grace Uncovered

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

Out of Africa

June 26, 2009
2 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

Hodders bid varewell to Kenya.

by Jolene Hodder, Commissioner –

Jessica Hodder (center) dances with friends during a farewell meeting held in honor of her family, [Photo by Jolene Hodder]

I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing (Ezekiel 34:26).

After three years of amazing adventures in Africa, we moved out of our cottage on the compound to prepare it for the arrival of our successors.

Our few possessions were shipped to London; we surrendered our keys and are now in temporary quarters, waiting for Jess to finish her exams. The events of the last few weeks have come as the showers of blessing we needed.

The rain came down in buckets the morning of our territorial farewell. Despite the downpour, thousands of Salvationists insisted on marching past us one last time. As we stood on the platform outside the Kabete gathering place—shivering noticeably under our big umbrellas—it was difficult to hold back the tears. Our African family, with their soaked uniforms clinging to them, marched proudly down the street, wading through large mud puddles and grinning from ear to ear. What an overwhelming gift of love.

During the tributes, we were each asked to respond. I was determined to control my emotions since I became emotional in my first farewell meeting with the women of the territory. Jessica, however, broke down and cried. As I looked throughout the crowd, I was surprised to see so many young girls and women also wiping their wet eyes. A respected employee told me that African women only cry openly when there is a death. Apparently, the Hodder girls can make Africans cry other times, but I am told this is a good thing. One young woman said, “Tears will now come to us when they are needed.”

Ken and I were grieved about the weather during the farewell luncheon because we knew how hard everyone had worked. One senior officer would not listen to our regrets. He looked directly at Ken and said, “Now, Colonel, you know Africans see rain as a blessing. The rain is fitting today for you and your family have brought us many blessings.”

The cold, rainy season is here and it has rained heavily almost every day for more than a week. As we cuddle together in our blankets trying to keep warm, we remember all the blessings we have received during the past three years. We are grateful for prayer and financial support, encouraging emails and welcome care packages.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we start a new chapter in our lives, in a new culture and in a new ministry.

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like