We were educators who planned to retire and take it easy. But our plans changed when we sensed God urging us to Africa to teach at Kenya Highlands Bible College. We were in our early fifties. Our son had one more year of college and was about to marry and begin his career in building construction. This would mean leaving excellent careers, our family, friends, and church. We began this journey with a year of fund raising necessary to sustain us in Kenya for at least three years. For the first time in my life I began keeping a journal. This daily routine would help me to record and bring to my awareness the emotions and thoughts that I was experiencing. I had met missionaries in my youth and had friends who were missionary children. But it never occurred to me that I would one day have this experience myself.
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This river was to be another hour delay for us. You simply wait until all the cows which number in the hundreds have had their fill of water and are moved further on. I noticed a beautiful spot just this side of the river and suggested to Ben that he might want to marry his bride right there. He hesitated a moment and then said he would but there were guests waiting further along. This trip was becoming the model for "not far." It tested my resolve to understand "not far" and accept it for what it really means. After traversing the river, we continued with the tractor. Peter knew exactly where he was going, but we lost our way briefly. We sat and waited until three Maasai men arrived on bicycles. I couldn't imagine how they could ride those bikes in the sub-Sahara.
About Keith Byrd, Ph.D.
Dr. Byrd was designated Professor Emeritus, Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Auburn University March 31, 2000. He taught at Auburn for twenty-four years. He was in the United States Marine Corp and was a Rehabilitation Counselor. He is married to Dr. Dianne Byrd and has a married son, Douglas, who is a Project Manager with Salatto Building Group.
We were educators who planned to retire and take it easy. But our plans changed when we sensed God urging us to Africa to teach at Kenya Highlands Bible College. We were in our early fifties. Our son had one more year of college and was about to marry and begin his career in building construction. This would mean leaving excellent careers, our family, friends, and church. We began this journey with a year of fund raising necessary to sustain us in Kenya for at least three years. For the first time in my life I began keeping a journal. This daily routine would help me to record and bring to my awareness the emotions and thoughts that I was experiencing. I had met missionaries in my youth and had friends who were missionary children. But it never occurred to me that I would one day have this experience myself.
Dr. Byrd was designated Professor Emeritus, Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Auburn University March 31, 2000. He taught at Auburn for twenty-four years. He was in the United States Marine Corp and was a Rehabilitation Counselor. He is married to Dr. Dianne Byrd and has a married son, Douglas, who is a Project Manager with Salatto Building Group.