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!