Goodbye

Today has been sweet and sour. This morning I baked a cake, and had a sweet farewell party with my class. Words can not express how much love I have for these ladies and their sweet children. My heart already misses them, their smiles, laughs, and hugs. Elisabeth is a sweet woman, who has had a hard life. She had her first child at 17. At a young age, she was raised with an abusive father, who abused her mother before divorcing her. Today, Elisabeth gave me a necklace that her father had given her before he became an alcoholic. In Kenyan culture, it is rude to not accept a gift. No matter how painful it is to accept a gift, you are expected to. I did so with tears. I will always cherish the necklace, I will always cherish Elisabeth, and everyone that God has placed in my life here. Thank you all so much for your constant prayers and support throughout all of this. I love you all dearly. Mungu akubariki. God bless you.

Longonot and the Rift Valley!

Floridian lungs are not used to the 5,000ft above sea level here in Nairobi, especially while hiking. We traveled to The Rift Valley and hiked Mt. Longonot today! Down inside the volcanic crater of Longonot there are luscious trees, and steam vents that seep through the rock. God is incredible. It causes you to feel so microscopic when you just stop, and look what is around you. At one point, that volcano erupted with such a force, that the top blew off. Can you imagine seeing that? Everywhere I stepped today, was at one point covered in molten lava. As we reached the top, we were greeted by a miniature chameleon! Absolutely made the entire hike completely worth it. Because this little creature brought us so much joy, we decided to carry him down the mountain, take him on an hour long car ride all the way to home, just so we could enjoy him a little bit longer. Hearing the stories of The Rift Valley, and seeing multiple pictures from my atlas back in the US, created the hope and desire that I would one day see it. God is good. God is faithful, and today He allowed that hope and prayer to come true.

Let the hills sing for joy

Absolutely one of my favorite parts of this trip so far. Visiting the African countryside. We traveled to a part of the Nairobi National Park, and did a walk through safari! The paths, wildlife, and views were incredible. During our walk, we realized we were basically the only people there, so we took our sweet time. When we spotted the Rhino, I almost could not believe my eyes. Of course I have seen one before, but let me tell you, this guy was a monster. Literally the most colossal one I have ever seen. His horn was at least 3 feet tall! Oh yes.. Just around the corner from my new big friend were white and gray zebras! They had been rolling in the dirt, so they were covered in red dirt, but these zebras were far from what we see in American zoos. The boardwalk escalated into bridges the stretched for hundreds of yards, raising us at least 50 feet into the air. While we were walking we noticed the view, and the small river beneath us. God is phenomenal with the details he puts into creation. It is one of the most humbling feelings.
"Let the rivers clap their hands, let the hills sing for joy together."
Psalm 98:8

God is faithful

Praises and thanks were raised to God this morning for a peaceful election at Nairobi Chapel. Uhuru Kenyatta is the new President of Kenya, even though he stands on trial for instigating a mob during the last election, we are still thankful for peace. We thank God that there was no bloodshed, and no villages burned. During the worship at church, everyone danced, shouted, and jumped. The church is ALIVE, and the voices of the people echo throughout the tent, and across the fields. Today, Pastor Oscar spoke on truly listening for God's voice and instruction. He said, "He already knows the situation you are in, and all of the variables. He doesn't want to hear about the obvious things, but He wants you to ask Him for instruction with what to do with those variables." We prayed for peace, and that is what we received. Something that keeps repeating in my mind, and everyday is that God is faithful. God is faithful.

Tomorrow

"Getting ready for Kenya's presidential elections tomorrow- I realized the feeling of anticipation I have is familiar. It's like getting ready for a hurricane. They tell you it's coming, so prepare as best you can (supplies and plans). No one knows for sure how severe it might be so we wait and hope for the best. We are praying for peace, security and the future of a nation. - Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Said my African father.

We prepare by purchasing enough food such as rice, beans, sugar, ugali, to last for a couple of days. We will remain in the house, and I will not be going to the center in N'gando to teach for at least 2 days. Daily, we are praying for a peaceful election. Praying that those who have the courage to go vote remain safe, and vote for the person not from their tribe, but who has the best interest in Kenya's future.

As I sit on our porch with the sun streaming across my computer, the world seems to be at peace before tomorrow's election. I can hear children playing, birds singing, and music from the locals in the slum just down the path. The past few days, the candidates for the elections have been campaigning like crazy. Buses with people shouting who to vote for, flyers pasted everywhere, airplanes flying overhead with faces of the candidates, people walking the streets convincing locals to stay loyal to their tribal leaders, and not who is politically fit for the job. This act is called Tribalism. You can be proud of your tribe, but when it turns into tribalism (racism ultimately) it is wrong.

Fortunately, the slum that we live in had no violence last election. Only because the people who kept it safe, are actually the local terrorists. Whoever tried to start a protest, or trouble of any kind were either beaten, or killed. Ultimately, we try to make friends with them because you sure don't want to be on their bad side.

Pray for peace throughout Kenya. Pray for no violence. Pray for the people to be safe, and vote who is right to run this broken country. God already knows what is going to happen over the course of the next few days. He knows who will be leading this country, and what the future will be for these people. We just have to trust.

Soccer=Football

I can't believe it has been 3 weeks since I have left Florida. This journey is almost halfway over! Incredibly, it only feels like it has been a few days, but when I look back and see what all God has done, it seems longer than just 3 weeks. Teaching the english class in the mornings has brought me close to many of the girls, especially Ruth. Ruth is the mother of an almost 2 year-old boy named Ramses. Recently, Ruth invited me to come play football (soccer) with her and some other young women. It has been such an opportunity to do something outside of the classroom with these ladies. When we are in the middle of a game, we have to stop on occasion because the Masai men will herd their cows through our field. With many laughs and bruises, we are making memories. The children on most days just sit in the grass, and watch their moms play. Surprisingly, they don't crawl off!

New Board

Thanks to all those who bought Vision T-shirts, we were able to buy pencils, erasers, sharpeners, a white board, and notebooks for English lessons!!!! You all had a part in giving these women joy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Nate carried the board through N'gando, and hung it in our room.

Rachel

"To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth- Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtains guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

                                                                       Proverbs 1:5-7

Rachel is a young lady that is in our center, who is the sweet mother of a little angel named Ogli. At Girls With Vision this morning, mama Camie and I decided to start a new routine. We will read one chapter of Proverbs everyday with the women that show up, and after the devotion the women will pick their favorite verse from the chapter. With their favorite verse chosen, I then teach them how to write it, along with their name. Divine providence allowed it to be just Rachel and I this morning. Reading and writing English has been a dream of Rachel's, and this morning she told me that it came true. God allowed it to be just her and I in the room.. Together, She and I wrote her name, simple greetings such as "Hi, how are you?", and numbers 1-20. Squeezing my neck in a tight hug she began to cry, and said that she never thought that she would one day learn to write her own name, and ask how someone is doing. This past Christmas, she said that it was her "Christmas wish" to be able to text people back, wishing them a Merry Christmas as well. Because she did not know how to simply wish them the same, she kept quiet out of embarrassment. When she wiped away her tears of joy, she smiled and said that God had sent me to her, so that this Christmas she will be able to text them "Merry Christmas to you too!" 

God works in unimaginable ways when you least expect it. I KNOW this is where I am suppose to be. I know now, why God allowed me to be here. Why it was Rachel's necklace that I loved, and bought the first week I came. He has something special in store, and I can't wait. 

Wash Time

One of the things we take for granted in the US is how convenient everything is. How do you wash clothes? Here, our way is very different. We have a small machine that rinses, and somewhat spins out the dirty water.. In our bathtub! Taking breaks between washing sessions is a must, because it is in our bathroom, and when people have to go, they have to go!

Dagoreti

We went to the market today called, "Dagoreti". The air was filled with spices, the smell of hot meat in the sun, and sewer water. I was proposed to 3 times haha. While we were waiting outside of the butchery, there was an old man mixing powder and liquids together, shouting in Swahili. When we noticed the large crowd gathering around him, we asked a local what he was doing. Unfortunately, we were informed that the man that was shouting was a witch doctor. Surrounding him were children, men, and women. It broke my heart, because what he was doing had Satan written all over it. The people in Kenya strongly believe in witchcraft, and it is practiced daily. Our hope is that we can diminish the practices, and the beliefs in their powers, and bring the people here to know the pureness.. Love.. Grace.. and Hope.  

 

Tomoatoes

Lettuce, and spinach

A witch doctor practicing witchcraft

Nairobi!

We are here, and we are safe! The flight was very amusing. Little sleep, strange smells, and accents made it memorable.  Arriving in Nairobi, I had to be in a different line to buy a visa, because the Matlacks already had theirs. The teller at the desk was trying to bribe me, and make me go into a room with a person where I could purchase it. The Matlacks had gone downstairs to get the luggage, and Nathan was waiting on me. When I called to Nathan to come over to where I was, the teller immediately said that everything was fine, and I could go. Nathan was at that moment my guardian angel/bodyguard. From then on out, he will remain so. I will update as much as I can, but I am not sure when we will have internet again. Thank you for your prayers!!

Miami

The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the path of the sea. O Lord, how majestic, excellent, and glorious is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:8-9

Farewell Party

God has blessed me with such an amazing family, and incredible friends who have been supportive of me since day one. I will miss you all so much, but I cannot wait to see what God has in store.

It is almost time!

Less than three days away! I am having an Open House Farewell party today. I have been blessed with supportive friends and family, and could not be happier. I will miss them all dearly!

Countdown

It is less than a week away! I cannot wait. God has been so faithful through all of the preparations, and He is just putting it all in place. So blessed.

Africa Family

 I had a wonderful lunch and afternoon with my sweet Africa family, the Matlacks! We are so excited to see what God has in store for us. We would love your prayers for our safe travels to Kenya in 27 days, and for Girls with Vision.