I have been having such a wonderful time in South Africa! Everything has been such a blast and so encouraging and full of joy. From getting to just hang out with the local kids to working the sound system during VBS and to the best, which was worshiping with the local churches, all of it has been an absolutely wonderful experience. I never thought that just after two days here I would feel like such a part of the family. I remember the first night I got here and my grandfather picked me up from the airport. The plane landed a little bit after 10 (SA time) and I had no problems walking out and finding my grandfather. I was so worried the following morning of how I was going to be accepted into the group. I felt like I was barging in on their mission trip experience and that I was forcing my way into their family. Yet after just one day, even less than a day, I already felt like I was part of the team. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging that I felt like I had been a part of the trip from the beginning. I still have such a hard time believing that I've only been in SA for such a short amount of time! This trip has been full of so many blessings and realizations of how the Lord has changed me and my heart for Him.
On the first plane I got to sit next to a girl from London who was traveling the world. She was on a gap year between secondary school and college and was going all over the place and meeting friends she had. Just 19 years old and she had already been in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, just about all of Europe, and she was still on her way to Australia and then to the States. I was totally blown away after talking with her and hearing about her adventure. It was so funny though when I first met her though. I have a bit of a love for talking in accents and British (or more appropriately Aussie for those of you that want to get technical) is one of my favorites. I have a bad habit though of accidentally going into my British accent whenever I hear someone talking with one. So of course, when she says hey and asks me how I'm doing I just couldn't stop myself when I said I was fine with an accent. Gah that was funny! I felt bad though so as soon as she asked me where I was from a made sure to say the States in my normal southern American accent. After that she had no problem letting me practice my accent, though it didn't seem to help much because I still sound Aussie. Oh well. The second plane ride was also really good. I got to sit next to a girl from China who was studying in SA. She was so fun to talk with and share about our different cultures and how they felt about each other. She was really nice and so helpful when we finally landed in SA. She waited for me when we got in to make sure that I found my grandfather and had a ride. From that point on the trip, having already started off as such an incredible blessing, only got better.
Like I said earlier, the next morning I was really nervous about meeting the team because I felt like I was in a way barging in on their mission family. However, those butterflies flew away before we even made it to lunch time. Looking back it was so funny how that first day went. We got on the vans to go to Deflt Baptist, the church that we were helping with the VBS, to have something that was like a logistics meeting for all of the volunteers from Delft and all of us to come together and have a short run through of how things were going to go. I soon as we got there though I found myself just gravitating towards the locals and within 15 min a was in the middle of a group of them cutting up and having a great time. I guess that was from my time in Kenya. I had been around black people for so long that I just felt more comfortable with them. I should point out that they have three different people groups here; there are blacks, colored, or white. Even though most of the people I've been with have been colored, I still felt more comfortable around them at first then I did around white people. It was a very strange feeling to have.
The rest of the day went great as I got the chance to meet the team and really begin to feel like one of them. It really is incredible how God can bring together anyone and everyone that he needs and from anywhere in the world. I found out that just as the team was leaving, a guy had to drop out and so I ended up getting his room. It turned out that the guy that couldn't come was the one who really knew how to run the sound equipment for the worship rallies and now that he was gone they weren't sure what they were going to do. Then God sends me to South Africa with them and it just so turns out that I had learned how to run the sound equipment during the past semester at school. That was one of the biggest affirmations that God gave me saying that, yes, I was supposed to be here. I can't wait to see what else he has for me here. So far has been absolutely amazing and I know that the rest will be even better! Love all of you guys!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Journal Entries (2 of ?)
5-16 Lodwar
[11 PM] Did I mention flying up to Turkana? Because we most definitely didn’t do that! Instead we took a bus all the way from Kitale to Lodwar, a 9 hour drive! After we left the Klique Hotel, we went, got some groceries, and got a cab to John’s house/BOL offices. They had just recently bought a computer so it looks like I’ll be heading back to Eldoret at some point to help with that. Anyways, went to sleep that night and got up to being rushed into another mtatu, which we took to Kitale. That is one crazy town! We went to the bus stop, though it looked more like a mud pit, and got a bus to take us to Lodwar. We had some time until the b us left so we went and got some food (chapatti and chai of course). It was pretty good. Eventually went back to the station and then went to find me more malaria meds. It seemed like we walked through just about the entire town before we found a place that sold the medicine (no pharmacy here, it’s called a Chemist). Went back to the busses and that is where we ran into Duncan! It’s so good to have him with us! God has truly blessed me with his presence. He is so encouraging and full of wisdom. And such a man of God! I got to sit with him for the almost 9 hour bus ride to Lodwar. It was really neat to watch the conditions change as we left the highlands around Kitale. The roads degraded, vegetation disappeared, and it got a lot hotter! Took several pictures as we went. We finally made it to Lodwar as it got dark and got rooms for the night. We went out and got food at the Salama Hotel (some of you might remember the place we ate at as we came out of the bush). Had my first taste of Ugali-Fry. Corn flower mixed with water and cooked till there is almost no water and fried meat to eat with it. Reminded me of tacos at first; very good! Anyways, it is late so it’s time for bed. Tomorrow we go into Turkana.
5-17 Turkana
[11 PM] I really can’t believe it! I never thought I would see this place again, Turkana! How wild is it to be back in the same village, the same boma that I was in just 4 months ago! I left thinking that I would never come back. Sure, I might come back to Africa, but to come back to the same people, to the same school that I had labored to help build. . . No way. If you had asked me 2 months ago if I thought I was going to be going back, I would have shrugged my shoulders, said it would be nice, but ultimately I would have said no. Isn’t God’s plan incredible?! I still don’t know what His plan for having me here is. But I do know that there is a reason I’m back. Whether it is to perform something here, to help someone, or to prepare me for something else altogether, I know one thing is certain; It will be awesome, a learning experience, and god will get all the glory! I suppose if I want to remember anything that has happened today I better go and put it to paper.
Woke up fairly late for Africa standards, 7:30. I got to sleep with Duncan as my roommate which was very encouraging. We got breakfast at the Salama Hotel (Chai and samosas) which was great. I’m really enjoying all of this African food! God has blessed me with how fast I have gotten used to all of this. No stomach problems and I became used to the adjusted time very quickly! What a blessing!! Just more confirmation that I am supposed to be here. I don’t really know how to explain it but it just feels good to be back in Africa. Anyways, back to trying to remember today. We did a lot of sitting around and waiting. We went for most of the first half of the day to a furniture builder. BLM was getting benches and tables built for the church in Turkana. They missed up one of the tables so we had to wait for them to fix that. Saw some other Mzungus today. They were doctors from Spain working at the hospital in Lodwar. Once we got a Lori and the tables were finished, we loaded up and headed out for Namariat. I didn’t realize how blessed we were last time to not get stuck! This time though, 4 times! 4 times we got stuck in a laga (dry river bed). Had to get out and push but we made it. We had left Lodwar at 4:30 or so and got here to Namariat at almost 9! It was a very exciting journey though! I can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow. I’ve had some hot chai and have a full belly of rice, beef and cabbage. Also got to take a shower which was new (though nothing like in the States; think bucket). Today has been a good day. I can only pray that the Father continues to open my heart and mind to what He is doing and that the Spirit leads me into righteousness.
5-18 Turkana
[4:15 PM] The life of a foreign missionary is by worldly standards, a lonely life. Five days no I have been in Africa with limited ability to communicate. Out of all the people here, Duncan can understand me the best. Even so, god is the only one I can talk with and not have to worry if He missed my meaning or just didn’t understand what I said at all. Now that I think about it though, maybe that is the problem . . . or more appropriately it is what He is trying to teach me; to rely solely on Him and to get everything, everything, from Him. Be it strength, wisdom, resolve, nourishment, and even social interaction, it must come from Him who provides everything. I will try to remember this through this journey and I know His Spirit will continue to remind me.
Earlier, as I was walking up to the school house to write, I started remembering walking with the team to the school almost every day to work on it. Being back here now, without all of them is so hard. I began to cry as I longed to talk with someone form the team. Just to know someone in this desolate region. I despaired at how long it would be before I saw any of my friends again. I just wanted to be with someone who spoke my language, knew my idioms, and who really just knew me. As I cried I called out to the Father, “Why did you send me here alone?!” I didn’t have to wait for an answer. The Spirit spoke it in my heart, “I am always here [with you].” At the same time the wind suddenly picked up and as a strong gust hit me I couldn’t help but feel joyful.
As a side note the wind played a significant role in my walk the last time I was here. During one of the team times I pointed out how God had really been using the wind to confirm what He was teaching me. From that point on, whenever we were worshiping, or doing anything to give Him glory, it seemed that the wind would pick up as if to show His presence and that He was pleased. There are a few passages in the Bible that can use wind and the Spirit interchangeably which made the entire experience even better.
I still want to see friends, other Mzungus, and I know that it will be hard. I also know though that God is with me and He will provide for everything I need.
It’s funny now that I can look back and see it. The last time I came, we all made sure to commit ourselves to giving time to the Lord in the morning. We also took time in the evening to gather and reflect on what He had done and then worship Him for it. I don’t know why but not having the rest of the group here made me think I wouldn’t be able to do those things. I was worried that I wouldn’t learn nearly as much even though I knew that I was going to be here 5 times longer. Oh how God provides! This morning as I was praying over my food, I asked for God to teach me something today. I asked Him to let His Spirit move in my heart. Oh how He keeps His promises!
For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. – Mathew 7:8
God truly desires us to know Him and to know His character. All we have to do is ask, and believe!
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given. – James 1:5
Again He has confirmed Himself in my life; that He can be trusted to keep His word. Let no one doubt that God reigns above!
[11 PM] Did I mention flying up to Turkana? Because we most definitely didn’t do that! Instead we took a bus all the way from Kitale to Lodwar, a 9 hour drive! After we left the Klique Hotel, we went, got some groceries, and got a cab to John’s house/BOL offices. They had just recently bought a computer so it looks like I’ll be heading back to Eldoret at some point to help with that. Anyways, went to sleep that night and got up to being rushed into another mtatu, which we took to Kitale. That is one crazy town! We went to the bus stop, though it looked more like a mud pit, and got a bus to take us to Lodwar. We had some time until the b us left so we went and got some food (chapatti and chai of course). It was pretty good. Eventually went back to the station and then went to find me more malaria meds. It seemed like we walked through just about the entire town before we found a place that sold the medicine (no pharmacy here, it’s called a Chemist). Went back to the busses and that is where we ran into Duncan! It’s so good to have him with us! God has truly blessed me with his presence. He is so encouraging and full of wisdom. And such a man of God! I got to sit with him for the almost 9 hour bus ride to Lodwar. It was really neat to watch the conditions change as we left the highlands around Kitale. The roads degraded, vegetation disappeared, and it got a lot hotter! Took several pictures as we went. We finally made it to Lodwar as it got dark and got rooms for the night. We went out and got food at the Salama Hotel (some of you might remember the place we ate at as we came out of the bush). Had my first taste of Ugali-Fry. Corn flower mixed with water and cooked till there is almost no water and fried meat to eat with it. Reminded me of tacos at first; very good! Anyways, it is late so it’s time for bed. Tomorrow we go into Turkana.
5-17 Turkana
[11 PM] I really can’t believe it! I never thought I would see this place again, Turkana! How wild is it to be back in the same village, the same boma that I was in just 4 months ago! I left thinking that I would never come back. Sure, I might come back to Africa, but to come back to the same people, to the same school that I had labored to help build. . . No way. If you had asked me 2 months ago if I thought I was going to be going back, I would have shrugged my shoulders, said it would be nice, but ultimately I would have said no. Isn’t God’s plan incredible?! I still don’t know what His plan for having me here is. But I do know that there is a reason I’m back. Whether it is to perform something here, to help someone, or to prepare me for something else altogether, I know one thing is certain; It will be awesome, a learning experience, and god will get all the glory! I suppose if I want to remember anything that has happened today I better go and put it to paper.
Woke up fairly late for Africa standards, 7:30. I got to sleep with Duncan as my roommate which was very encouraging. We got breakfast at the Salama Hotel (Chai and samosas) which was great. I’m really enjoying all of this African food! God has blessed me with how fast I have gotten used to all of this. No stomach problems and I became used to the adjusted time very quickly! What a blessing!! Just more confirmation that I am supposed to be here. I don’t really know how to explain it but it just feels good to be back in Africa. Anyways, back to trying to remember today. We did a lot of sitting around and waiting. We went for most of the first half of the day to a furniture builder. BLM was getting benches and tables built for the church in Turkana. They missed up one of the tables so we had to wait for them to fix that. Saw some other Mzungus today. They were doctors from Spain working at the hospital in Lodwar. Once we got a Lori and the tables were finished, we loaded up and headed out for Namariat. I didn’t realize how blessed we were last time to not get stuck! This time though, 4 times! 4 times we got stuck in a laga (dry river bed). Had to get out and push but we made it. We had left Lodwar at 4:30 or so and got here to Namariat at almost 9! It was a very exciting journey though! I can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow. I’ve had some hot chai and have a full belly of rice, beef and cabbage. Also got to take a shower which was new (though nothing like in the States; think bucket). Today has been a good day. I can only pray that the Father continues to open my heart and mind to what He is doing and that the Spirit leads me into righteousness.
5-18 Turkana
[4:15 PM] The life of a foreign missionary is by worldly standards, a lonely life. Five days no I have been in Africa with limited ability to communicate. Out of all the people here, Duncan can understand me the best. Even so, god is the only one I can talk with and not have to worry if He missed my meaning or just didn’t understand what I said at all. Now that I think about it though, maybe that is the problem . . . or more appropriately it is what He is trying to teach me; to rely solely on Him and to get everything, everything, from Him. Be it strength, wisdom, resolve, nourishment, and even social interaction, it must come from Him who provides everything. I will try to remember this through this journey and I know His Spirit will continue to remind me.
Earlier, as I was walking up to the school house to write, I started remembering walking with the team to the school almost every day to work on it. Being back here now, without all of them is so hard. I began to cry as I longed to talk with someone form the team. Just to know someone in this desolate region. I despaired at how long it would be before I saw any of my friends again. I just wanted to be with someone who spoke my language, knew my idioms, and who really just knew me. As I cried I called out to the Father, “Why did you send me here alone?!” I didn’t have to wait for an answer. The Spirit spoke it in my heart, “I am always here [with you].” At the same time the wind suddenly picked up and as a strong gust hit me I couldn’t help but feel joyful.
As a side note the wind played a significant role in my walk the last time I was here. During one of the team times I pointed out how God had really been using the wind to confirm what He was teaching me. From that point on, whenever we were worshiping, or doing anything to give Him glory, it seemed that the wind would pick up as if to show His presence and that He was pleased. There are a few passages in the Bible that can use wind and the Spirit interchangeably which made the entire experience even better.
I still want to see friends, other Mzungus, and I know that it will be hard. I also know though that God is with me and He will provide for everything I need.
It’s funny now that I can look back and see it. The last time I came, we all made sure to commit ourselves to giving time to the Lord in the morning. We also took time in the evening to gather and reflect on what He had done and then worship Him for it. I don’t know why but not having the rest of the group here made me think I wouldn’t be able to do those things. I was worried that I wouldn’t learn nearly as much even though I knew that I was going to be here 5 times longer. Oh how God provides! This morning as I was praying over my food, I asked for God to teach me something today. I asked Him to let His Spirit move in my heart. Oh how He keeps His promises!
For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. – Mathew 7:8
God truly desires us to know Him and to know His character. All we have to do is ask, and believe!
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given. – James 1:5
Again He has confirmed Himself in my life; that He can be trusted to keep His word. Let no one doubt that God reigns above!
Back in Kenya, Thoughts on South Africa
[02-Jul-11] I can't seem to grasp that I'm already back in Kenya. I have a hard time believing that I was in South Africa for a week but at the same time I feel like I was there for so long. I made so many new friends and came to love the culture and the people. I don't know if I've ever fallen in love with a place like I did there. Maybe it was just because I had been in the bush for so long and so anything was better, but I absolutely loved my time there. The people were so welcoming and the kids were so much fun to play with. I also came to love the language. South Africa has over 11 recognized national languages, but where we were Afrikaans was predominately spoken. It is such a cool language. It has a lot of similarities to German and Dutch because it is a mixture of the native African and the Dutch that the whites speak. I used to think German was a guttural language, but Afrikaans blows it out of the water. I had so much fun learning bits of the language and then using it while we were working with the kids! It always caught them off guard and whatever it was that I told them in Afrikaans, they did right away. I could tell them over and over in English to be quite and they would stop for a few seconds but then they would always start again. However, as soon as I told them in Afrikaans, they gave me this wide-eyed look and stopped talking until we were done. It was wild how much more respect they gave you when you spoke their language. I feel like that is the same for anyone though. If you're coming into someone else's home and you’re speaking a language that is secondary to them, then they aren't going to give you as much respect. However, if you can come in and speak their primary language, not only do you impress them, but you also gain their respect. I don't know if I will get to go back, but if I do I will definitely make sure to try and learn some more Afrikaans before I go there. I picked up a good bit just during that one week so I figure if I could sit down and really study it out then I could get it pretty fast. And considering that I already have a good base from German, I should be able to pick up the structure fairly quickly (at least that is my hope).
I realize that these feelings of wanting to go back could just be because I just came from there and now I'm going back into the bush. But as it stands right now, I feel as if I could live there, in South Africa. I know it's crazy to be thinking like that right now but that's how I feel at this present moment. Granted I've only been out of SA for 2 days now so it will take the test of time to see if these feelings are God given and its part of His plan or if it's just me. I have so many ideas though for going back there. I found myself thinking today that I could finish out my degree, and possibly find an engineering job in Cape Town. I don't want to live with the whites though. I want to live in the developments where the colored people are. I was wondering what I would do as far as serving God's kingdom there and I felt as if maybe these thoughts of going back to SA are not from Him. I had an idea though pop into my head and it made my heart jump at the possibilities. I know its way too early to say one way or the other but I can assure you that I will be praying about these things. The idea that I got was focused around discipleship. To me, that is the most important thing and so if I am going to consider the possibility of living in SA then I had to ask myself how discipleship would be involved. I started thinking about that and that is when the idea came to me. During the past week we had been ministering to the young children, kids that were no more than 14 or so. I had an absolutely wonderful time playing with them and playing with them but when I started thinking about it, it was the older kids that I really connected with. I was always hanging out with the kids that were 15 to 18 and I loved being with them. It occurred to me that is a huge ministry opportunity. I have no idea what the churches there are already doing in terms of the teenagers but the idea of going back and discipeling the teens makes me very excited. I found that a lot of them are just like teens here; they are going to church and learning but when it comes to application in their lives they are missing the point. There is that compromise between giving your life fully to God and still living in the world like most everyone their age does. What if I could go and get a house and open it up during the week to the teens to be able to come, hang out, be in a safe environment, learn about God, and spend time ministering and worshiping together. Not only would it be a safe place for them to come, but it could also be a place for them to bring their friends that aren't Christians where they could just play and have fun with the end purpose of getting them into a discipleship class of some sort. I feel like I might have jumped the gun here and gone completely off my rocker but these are just my thoughts right now. I know that there is probably a lot of time between now and when I get to go back so during that time these ideas will be put to the test. That's one thing I've learned about divine ideas, if they are really divine and anointed ideas, then they will continue to find their way into your head. I will continue to pray to see if these are my ideas or God's ideas. Whether I go back and stay there or not, I most definitely want to go back for another VBS!
It has been such a hard transition coming back to Kenya. My mind has been so confused and I've felt so emotionally drained. That's led to me feeling physically exhausted from trying to process everything. Last night I became so home sick that I could hardly stand it. I don't know if it was a complete breakdown, but it was bad. It isn't so much that I miss the States, but that I miss the people there. After spending just a week with the team from Briarlake I felt like I was a part of their family and I didn't want that time to end at all. It was so much fun to be in South Africa with them and see their hearts for those kids as well as just share life together. Now that I've had to leave all of them though, I can't stop thinking about my family and all my friends that I haven't seen in so long. I just want to be back with them. I'm so thankful that today we were doing something almost all day. God knew that if I had all day to just sit around and think then it would have been a very long day! And I have almost no doubt that I would have had another break down. I know that another 42 days, in reality, isn't that long. However, I don't want to be here right now so it is making it seem like forever! I know though that God has a purpose for me. I know that I wouldn't be here if there was not something for me to here. What it is that God still has to teach me and use me for I have no idea, but I do know that I am going to make sure I am completely open to what God has for me to do. I know that He is and will always be with me during the rest of my time in Africa (and the rest of my life) and so I can take comfort and find peace in that knowledge. I trust Him and if it were not for God, then I would not be in Africa right now. Many times I've thought that if it were not for God sending me here, then there is no way I would have come. Just the fact that I've made it so far without sickness or major injury along with the many blessings and lessons that He has lavished on me is proof enough that my time here is anointed. I would be foolish to look past it and not receive completely what God has for me. And so with that, I say God, I know that this might be hard, but you are with me to the end and so I will not fear what is to come.
[4-Jul-11]I want to insert a bit here just as time has gone on. Some of the high that I came off of from SA has died down now. I just don’t want to make any of you think that I’ve gone crazy with these ideas of living in SA. I still think it would be an awesome idea but as these passions are calming down, it is going to be up to God to bring them back to me when the time is right. Like I mentioned before, these all sound like great ideas but what truly matters is prayer coupled with the test of time.
I realize that these feelings of wanting to go back could just be because I just came from there and now I'm going back into the bush. But as it stands right now, I feel as if I could live there, in South Africa. I know it's crazy to be thinking like that right now but that's how I feel at this present moment. Granted I've only been out of SA for 2 days now so it will take the test of time to see if these feelings are God given and its part of His plan or if it's just me. I have so many ideas though for going back there. I found myself thinking today that I could finish out my degree, and possibly find an engineering job in Cape Town. I don't want to live with the whites though. I want to live in the developments where the colored people are. I was wondering what I would do as far as serving God's kingdom there and I felt as if maybe these thoughts of going back to SA are not from Him. I had an idea though pop into my head and it made my heart jump at the possibilities. I know its way too early to say one way or the other but I can assure you that I will be praying about these things. The idea that I got was focused around discipleship. To me, that is the most important thing and so if I am going to consider the possibility of living in SA then I had to ask myself how discipleship would be involved. I started thinking about that and that is when the idea came to me. During the past week we had been ministering to the young children, kids that were no more than 14 or so. I had an absolutely wonderful time playing with them and playing with them but when I started thinking about it, it was the older kids that I really connected with. I was always hanging out with the kids that were 15 to 18 and I loved being with them. It occurred to me that is a huge ministry opportunity. I have no idea what the churches there are already doing in terms of the teenagers but the idea of going back and discipeling the teens makes me very excited. I found that a lot of them are just like teens here; they are going to church and learning but when it comes to application in their lives they are missing the point. There is that compromise between giving your life fully to God and still living in the world like most everyone their age does. What if I could go and get a house and open it up during the week to the teens to be able to come, hang out, be in a safe environment, learn about God, and spend time ministering and worshiping together. Not only would it be a safe place for them to come, but it could also be a place for them to bring their friends that aren't Christians where they could just play and have fun with the end purpose of getting them into a discipleship class of some sort. I feel like I might have jumped the gun here and gone completely off my rocker but these are just my thoughts right now. I know that there is probably a lot of time between now and when I get to go back so during that time these ideas will be put to the test. That's one thing I've learned about divine ideas, if they are really divine and anointed ideas, then they will continue to find their way into your head. I will continue to pray to see if these are my ideas or God's ideas. Whether I go back and stay there or not, I most definitely want to go back for another VBS!
It has been such a hard transition coming back to Kenya. My mind has been so confused and I've felt so emotionally drained. That's led to me feeling physically exhausted from trying to process everything. Last night I became so home sick that I could hardly stand it. I don't know if it was a complete breakdown, but it was bad. It isn't so much that I miss the States, but that I miss the people there. After spending just a week with the team from Briarlake I felt like I was a part of their family and I didn't want that time to end at all. It was so much fun to be in South Africa with them and see their hearts for those kids as well as just share life together. Now that I've had to leave all of them though, I can't stop thinking about my family and all my friends that I haven't seen in so long. I just want to be back with them. I'm so thankful that today we were doing something almost all day. God knew that if I had all day to just sit around and think then it would have been a very long day! And I have almost no doubt that I would have had another break down. I know that another 42 days, in reality, isn't that long. However, I don't want to be here right now so it is making it seem like forever! I know though that God has a purpose for me. I know that I wouldn't be here if there was not something for me to here. What it is that God still has to teach me and use me for I have no idea, but I do know that I am going to make sure I am completely open to what God has for me to do. I know that He is and will always be with me during the rest of my time in Africa (and the rest of my life) and so I can take comfort and find peace in that knowledge. I trust Him and if it were not for God, then I would not be in Africa right now. Many times I've thought that if it were not for God sending me here, then there is no way I would have come. Just the fact that I've made it so far without sickness or major injury along with the many blessings and lessons that He has lavished on me is proof enough that my time here is anointed. I would be foolish to look past it and not receive completely what God has for me. And so with that, I say God, I know that this might be hard, but you are with me to the end and so I will not fear what is to come.
[4-Jul-11]I want to insert a bit here just as time has gone on. Some of the high that I came off of from SA has died down now. I just don’t want to make any of you think that I’ve gone crazy with these ideas of living in SA. I still think it would be an awesome idea but as these passions are calming down, it is going to be up to God to bring them back to me when the time is right. Like I mentioned before, these all sound like great ideas but what truly matters is prayer coupled with the test of time.
Monday, July 4, 2011
The New Church in Namariat
Hey everybody,
So I know that there are some of you that are probably a bit upset with me that I still haven't put up a picture of the new school in Turkana. So here are a few to let you know just how much God has blessed Bread of Life and it's mission.
It looks absoultely amazing! And Joel was telling me that it isn't even completely finished yet. They are looking to take the red on the floor up the walls about 2 or 3 feet and also to, and I think this is what he was saying, color the top third of the walls on the inside of the church white. It is so good to see how things are coming along with the school and also to see the children learning. Eliza is a great teacher and from what I was told, they now have another teacher there as well for the older kids. Before it was all of the kids in just one class so it was hard for all of them to really get something out of it. Linsey is there right now and I know that God is doing awesome things through her. I can't wait to here what all she has been doing and what God has been teaching her. I'll be posting again soon, I hope to let you guys know how things have been going in South Africa (which has been absolutely amazing) soon! I can't believe that I've already been here for 5 days. It has been filled with so much joy and so much fun that it flew by. I'll be honest, I'm really not ready to leave. I feel like it is going to be very hard for me to go back to Kenya and get back into the way things go there. I already know that I'm going to miss everyone that is here so much. That on top of already missing everyone from home is starting to wear on me. I know though that God still has things for me to do in Kenya so I'm going with an open mind and an open heart, but part of me is still going to be looking back to SA, wishing I was still with everyone there. I love all of you and please keep praying for me!
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