I made it back to the states. I am in the process of unpacking and settling in. My trip was pretty uneventful, except from London to Newark I was bumped up to business class. I definitely enjoyed that! Debriefing went well, it was nice putting faces to the names of the people I had just been e-mailing with. I definitely feel like I am reeling a bit from it all but it is good to be home. For those who live by me feel free to stop by or give me a call. I would love to catch up!
Thank you all of you for staying in touch with me through the blog, it was an encouragement to me knowing some many people were interested and praying. I think I may keep up with this now that I am home too, but it may not be nearly as exciting. See there are no baboons or public transportation here in Milford, at least not yet. So feel to stay in touch!
oh... and yes, one of the first things I did was straighten my hair... :)
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Thank you very much
Today is the day I leave Africa. I leave today, arrive in Charlotte tomorrow for debriefing, and then I am home on Thursday evening.
I want to take a moment and say thank you. Thank you all for your prayer and for your support. It was very evident to me that so many of you were praying for me back home. I have experienced the presence of God in very unique ways and will cherish this summer for the rest of my life. So again thank you all for your part in this.
Before I came my family and friends wrote me notes to open while I was here. They have been such an encouragement to me. However, one note was written by my dad and marked to be opened for my last night here. I opened the card and was greatly encouraged by it. I felt like it came straight from God. I have been praying about how He wants to use this summer and where he is directing my next steps. This card spoke right to that. One the outside it said "right now it's hard to see how this chapter of your life will turn out but rest assured our God is a God of happy endings... (inside) and new beginnings." The verse Jeremiah 29:11 was also written in the card which states "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good...to give you a future and hope." It is God's promise to me. So though I still feel like there is a lot to think through, I trust and know that God is in control. Furthermore, just like God used my dad to write this card even before I came here to Kenya to be a specific and needed encouragement last night, He has also used everyone of you as well. So again, thank you all for your partnership with me, I have been blessed through you.
I want to take a moment and say thank you. Thank you all for your prayer and for your support. It was very evident to me that so many of you were praying for me back home. I have experienced the presence of God in very unique ways and will cherish this summer for the rest of my life. So again thank you all for your part in this.
Before I came my family and friends wrote me notes to open while I was here. They have been such an encouragement to me. However, one note was written by my dad and marked to be opened for my last night here. I opened the card and was greatly encouraged by it. I felt like it came straight from God. I have been praying about how He wants to use this summer and where he is directing my next steps. This card spoke right to that. One the outside it said "right now it's hard to see how this chapter of your life will turn out but rest assured our God is a God of happy endings... (inside) and new beginnings." The verse Jeremiah 29:11 was also written in the card which states "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good...to give you a future and hope." It is God's promise to me. So though I still feel like there is a lot to think through, I trust and know that God is in control. Furthermore, just like God used my dad to write this card even before I came here to Kenya to be a specific and needed encouragement last night, He has also used everyone of you as well. So again, thank you all for your partnership with me, I have been blessed through you.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Kibera
Quinn and I went to have Sunday dinner with a guy named Daniel, his wife, and two children. Daniel is a Kenyan from the Kisumu who now lives in Nairobi. He works for SIM and helps the short-termers with all the things we may need while we are here. He has been such a blessing. He is great guy with a cool story of God's faithfulness. For many years, before his position with SIM, he had a hard time finding consistent work and in turn had very little, if any, money. Most days he didn't know where or when he was going to get his next meal, but he trusted that God would provide and he saw time and time again how He did.
For over 20 years Daniel has lived in Kibera slum, which is one of the largest slums in Africa. During our visit many people stopped by his house. One of the visitors was a guy named Dan who had a degree in Biochemistry. Dan is a Kenyan who lives in the slum as well. For the last year he has been unable to find a job. From their description, as well as others I have talked to, this seems like a common occurrence here in Kenya. Many times you will find well educated people doing odd jobs in order to get by because of the lack of opportunity. However, I also saw in Dan, as well as the others, a hope and joy that went beyond their circumstances. They saw past it all and focused on the hope found in Jesus Christ. They were able to experience great blessings in the midst of extreme poverty. I am extremely grateful to be welcomed into their home and into their lives.
For over 20 years Daniel has lived in Kibera slum, which is one of the largest slums in Africa. During our visit many people stopped by his house. One of the visitors was a guy named Dan who had a degree in Biochemistry. Dan is a Kenyan who lives in the slum as well. For the last year he has been unable to find a job. From their description, as well as others I have talked to, this seems like a common occurrence here in Kenya. Many times you will find well educated people doing odd jobs in order to get by because of the lack of opportunity. However, I also saw in Dan, as well as the others, a hope and joy that went beyond their circumstances. They saw past it all and focused on the hope found in Jesus Christ. They were able to experience great blessings in the midst of extreme poverty. I am extremely grateful to be welcomed into their home and into their lives.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Ahhh... it worked!!
finally they are uploading... here are some pictures for you:
this is our banda after we cleaned the gecko poop off the bed. you can't tell in this picture but the ceiling doesn't meet the walls and the frig was something else.... i felt like i was at a bad church camp. The fuzz around my head is my hair, lets just say it was a looonnnnggg bus ride.
this is our upgrade to a cottage... you may not be able to tell but we could.
Just some sunrise pictures...
these are our camel friends... the one in the back is George. He is the one who wanted to sunbath with us. Did you know that camels have a hoof like thing on thier chest? The one in front is the one I rode. He had a powerpuff girls saddle. Pretty sweet.
this is a veiw from on top of a camel, in case you were wondering.
this baboon may not look like it but he was definitely galloping towards ready to kill us and eat our lunch. The other monkey is similar to the one that tried to steal our breakfast. I mean really, can't they get their own food?!
this is our banda after we cleaned the gecko poop off the bed. you can't tell in this picture but the ceiling doesn't meet the walls and the frig was something else.... i felt like i was at a bad church camp. The fuzz around my head is my hair, lets just say it was a looonnnnggg bus ride.
this is our upgrade to a cottage... you may not be able to tell but we could.
Just some sunrise pictures...
these are our camel friends... the one in the back is George. He is the one who wanted to sunbath with us. Did you know that camels have a hoof like thing on thier chest? The one in front is the one I rode. He had a powerpuff girls saddle. Pretty sweet.
this is a veiw from on top of a camel, in case you were wondering.
this baboon may not look like it but he was definitely galloping towards ready to kill us and eat our lunch. The other monkey is similar to the one that tried to steal our breakfast. I mean really, can't they get their own food?!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Summer Theme
Well, I have been trying for days to upload pictures for you all of Mombasa but have not been successful. So instead I thought I would share with you the verse that kept popping up all over the place for me in ways I didn't expect... it was exactly what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it. This passage really has become the theme of my summer:
Proverbs 3:3-6 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
and he will make your paths straight.
amen.
Proverbs 3:3-6 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
and he will make your paths straight.
amen.
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