I left a piece of my heart in Africa on the World Race. I fell in love with the people, and the kids just topped it off. I danced and sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to Jesus with women and children suffering with AIDS. I saw true and abundant joy in the midst of such pain and struggle. Quite the humbling experience, if I do say so myself.
Africa is raw, and it brought me life. After returning home, I’ve dreamed of going back. God happens to be in the business of dreaming, so I shouldn’t be surprised that I’m now getting ready to go to Kitale, Kenya in 3 weeks!
Freaking blows my mind.
The Lord is so good.
In praying about Kenya prior to knowing I was actually going, God shared a few words with me…
Heartbeat. New giftings. Awareness. Discipleship. New face to know Me.
Mother. Growth. Stepping out. Breaking through.
Yes, please, I’ll take it.
About 12 of us will be going for 2 weeks (March 16-31-some will be staying a few days less). I’ll be working and living at the Challenge Farm (http://challengefarm.org/about/) with over 100 abandoned and orphaned children that have been given a place to live away from the violence, drugs and brokenness surrounding them on the streets. We’ll also be spending a lot of time with the children still living in the slums. Together with the younger kids, we’ll be using old coke bottles to make solar powered lights that will be putting up with the older kids around the slums so they have light after the sun goes down. As I’m sure many situations go with kids living on the street, but in this area specifically, the kids form their own little communities and each night they literally lay on top of eachother to stay warm and safe. I can’t imagine. It breaks my heart to think about a little 5 and 10 year old out on street all night huddled up with other children not much older, or even younger than them. I think of my nephews…
I want to be used. I pray that the Lord shines so brightly that they are drawn to not me, but Him. I pray that they feel and receive a love so deep that the only possible word that could define it is Jesus. I pray they find a new hope. I pray that He’s preparing their hearts now, and that they can sense that He’s not only coming but that He’s already there. I pray that they don’t feel alone, ever. I pray that His comfort and affection lay over them as their blanket tonight.
…God, I pray for them.
Photo taken by my beautiful and talented teammate Jess Sims
I’ll also have the opportunity to build relationships with the high school girls that came from off the street which I am sooo excited about. I got extremely close with a group of high school girls in Uganda last year, and the opportunity for more friendships like that pumps me up. I can’t wait to tell them how loved and beautiful they are, and to just have fun together…ahh, so goood.
I’m so stinkin’ grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to be used by Him and to see what He has in store for those we’ll meet along the way. …also, I’m kind of excited for another 19-24 hr airplane ride haha it’s been too long.
If you would like to donate towards Kenya ($3,000 – plane ticket, food/lodging at the Challenge Farm), click ‘Support Me, Please‘ on the top left hand side of my blog. It is definitely needed and appreciated! Thank you so much!
*enjoy the video below from our time in East Africa last year 🙂
