Another update :)

Hello again from Kenya :)
Things are really wonderful here, and today has been the most beautiful day! I can’t even convey how wonderful it is to sit in the sun with the kids, feel the breeze, hear the animals and no other distracting sounds, see the mountainside in the distance under the mountains and just praise God for His beautiful creation!

I have been learning many new things, which makes me excited.
1. I learned how to milk a cow (without a machine). This is not to say I am good, strong, or quick, but I know how.
2. I have learned to plow a field by hand. Again, this doesn’t mean I am very good, but I know how to put that hand tool in the ground until my fingers are blistered!
3. I learned to deal with the driving. I am actually doing alright and not closing my eyes and thinking “oh no!” in my head at all times. I have learned to watch the wonderful scenery and appreciate not having a radio in the van.
4. I have learned that God’s mercy and peace are new everyday. There have been times I have woken up very homesick, but God has given me days full of so much fun and His strength and I am always reminded of His divine appointment of me here at this time.

I have learned much more from just sitting and talking with the women, and helping the kids with homework at night. I have visited the open market in Naivasha as well as the store. At the market, we were definitely stand-outs and I was asked by an older man if I was married. I said yes…. Whoops.

I have really been learning about prayer and trusting in God. Everyday I have been praying for my family and friends, and for the wonderful community I have become apart of here. I have really enjoyed helping with the daily duties and seeing how people work together for a common good without so much of the things we have back home. At one time I thought these people just needed the conveniences we have in America. Now I think in America we need to step back and see the simplicity of life and joy as these villages know it. I have been reading a prayer book from Desmond Tutu and he talks about all the different nations and how no one is better or superior to the other, but we all have so much to give and can learn from one another. I pray my time here allows me to learn much that I can bring home and bless others with.

Thank you to everyone praying for me and supporting me, that is what gets me through the days. Keep praying!

Hello from Kenangop, Kenya!

I am here! I arrived on Wednesday afternoon to a beautiful village. Tuesday night I flew in to Nairobi and stayed at a woman's house and then went the next morning to exchange some money and come out to the orphanage!

I have seen so many things in such a short amount of time! I have seen the city, the villages, and the mountain range. This is a beautiful land!

It has not taken long to fall in love with these children...there are 5 younger children who are home for the most part of the day, and the older kids who go to school until evening. We have spent a lot of time playing with the younger kids...they love to climb, rub our white skin, and play with our hair! The have the cutest laughs you could ever imagine, and their smiles melt my heart in an instant! This morning I got out some finger puppets that Deb (nate's mom) got for them...they loved trying to make the animal noises (which mostly just turned into growls!)

The older kids love to make up stories and grab our feet under the table when we are supposed to be eating dinner! They have lots of questions and we help them with their homework as much as we can...and then they try to have us read Swahili, and they get quite a kick out of that!

The staff here have been very helpful and hospitable. We are well taken care of and safe!
It has certainly been interesting being the definite minority. When we walk the younger kids to school, or drive to pick up the older ones, we get many looks and most people wave and are friendly. Many kids will just stop and look at u s, though, because we are such an unusual site for them! It is neat to think about how God made us all...and we all have our individual beauty! Yesterday when we picked the younger kids up from school, the rest of the village kids walked home with us and even tried to come into the gates...we had to tell them to go to their homes. They were so fascinated with our freckles and hair, though!

It has been a tough adjustment, being so far from home and everything comfortable...but God has really been at work in me and I trust He will continue to use each day to form my heart and I hope I can give all I have to these kids and this community each day.

Please continue to pray for me, and for this beautiful village I am apart of for 45 more days. May God's love be so real here...and with you at home!

One week until Kenya

I am sitting at home amazed that in one week I will be boarding a plane for Kenya. It is so amazing to look back at how this started as a tug on my heart, and now here I am packing my bags and taking care of last-minute details. There was a time when I did not think I could raise the money, get things together, and see this happen. I couldn't, but God has really shown up and amazed me yet again. The worst of it is over-I got my shots. Oh how I hate needles. I have also been gathering some clothing, mostly warm, because it is actually winter in Kenya right now. That is probably the thing i expected least! I have my itinerary, passport, insurance all together. I have had the wonderful opportunity to sit and talk with my family and share my heart with them. I have been able to visit friends and spend late summer nights with the boy I love. It has been a great couple of weeks as I have been preparing and try to seize every moment of life!
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet up with Jane, the founder of the orphange and also Kristine, a Kenyan women who serves as the administrator. My mom and I along with Sara and her mom were able to meet up with these ladies for lunch and hear all about Into Abbas Arms and some things that will probably shape our summer. I had to try so hard to hold back the tears as I heard stories of the children and their personalities. I heard about the other ministries IAA has such as giving out clean water to the community once a week and looking towards providing some better schooling for young kids of the orphange and community. As far as expectations, I have tried to keep them at a minimum. I truly want to embrace each day and experience what God has for me. I believe He placed this on my heart to continue shaping me and the way I live the rest of my life. I expect to fall in love with those children and their precious hearts such as these: Ruth and Jacob
I expect to miss summer a little. I expect to have days when I just can't stand being away from Nate and others. I expect to see gorgeous sights and know that God's hand is the reason for creation everywhere. I expect to love as much as possible even when it is difficult. I expect to be blown away by God's never-ending grace and commitment to me. I guess those are quite a few expectations, but I'm trying!
I wish there was a practical way to really show my appreciation for all the support I have received. Yeah I have sent thank-you letters and shared hugs. Yeah I have tried to keep others updated on what is going on, but I can't emphasize the beauty of other people as much as I would like to. I have had support and prayers from all over, and I know it will never cease. I have a wonderful family and friends who help me to stand tall and pursue dreams and callings. There is such beauty in the body of believers, and I have been reminded that very strongly lately. This week, I continue to pack, take care of things that need done for the summer, and pray for God's guiding hand in every step that I take. One week...wow.