My Ivorian Birthday
We made it to the Ivory Coast!! It’s been a crazy week and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We left for the airport at 7:30 am in Atlanta the same day Delta’s computers were down. It was only God’s grace that our flight out of New York wasn’t until 11 at night. We flew on the fanciest plane I’ve ever been on over night to Dubai. I got to take a 2 hour tour of a city I’ve always dreamed of seeing before getting put up in a hotel by the airline and sleeping in a real bed for a few hours. After that we took another 10 hour flight. After almost 60 hours of travel we made it to our amazing villa in Abijan.
TODAY, is my birthday. 🙂 As I was lying in my hammock last night I was curious how it would go. It didn’t feel like my birthday and our week has started off kind of rough. Nobody really knows what to expect actually, especially since we are the first racers to ever be in Côte d’Ivoire.
We are comfortably living in a beautiful home with great amenities, however, ministry is up to us. It is pretty daunting to be dropped off in a strange place with no real understanding of who are contacts are, no information & no clue how to do ministry. Due to a lot of communication issues language barriers and lack of information we have basically been under lockdown at our house. Not how we saw our first week on the race going.
I woke up today to a text message from my best friend saying she was in a major car accident. Again, not what I expected. I spent the morning with broken conversations with my family on FaceTime. The whole day we sat waiting to be told what we were allowed to do. Yet as the day went on God showed up like he always does. In the midst of chaos and confusion God’s kindness was so prevalent. It might have started off different than what I thought but when I got the focus off my expectations I was able to see a God whose kindness knows no bounds. Today I have experienced so much love by my squad mates and my new french friends. I have seen so many examples of God’s love but I had to open my eyes to see it.
-I experienced the Joy of the Lord every time my 12 amazing roommates at the villa sang happy birthday to me throughout the day.
-I felt God’s love when my friend Jon announced me every time I entered the room like I am the queen.
-I was flooded with encouragement with the adorable note my other squad mates made me in which they listed all the reasons they love me.
-I felt worth when my new friend lulu I had only known about 10 minutes offered to buy me ice cream.
We closed out the night singing worship in the beautiful sanctuary of a church and I got a beautiful vision of all the ways God has been present these past few days. I decided I could choose to sit inside complaining about not knowing whats going on OR i can choose to see God in every scenario.
The same God that I serve in Africa is the same God that allowed my friend to climb out of a flipped car with only minor injuries.
I see God through my friend JJ who can somehow evangelize to anybody and become their best friend whilst knowing absolutely no french.
I see God in the smiles 45 kids that come to the park at the corner of our street every day to play.
I see God in all the humility and servant attitudes of my roommates who are always thinking of others.
I see God the more I get to know the “Worthy Warriors” (my amazing team) and hear each of their testimonies. kRob (the other Kelsey) Erica, Des, Jenna, Catniss & Bethany are each amazing vessels of God’s love. They have brought so much life into my life in only a few short weeks of being friends.
I miss my friends and family so much but I know one day I will be back in the states missing these days. I wake up every morning and hammock on my balcony and read about God’s infinite love and kindness. I am grateful for all the smiling faces of my neighbors who enthusiastically wave “BONJOUR”. I am overjoyed when I hear little giggles and look over and see Brittni and Ester playing with our neighborhood friends at our front gate. That’s what ministry is. Ministry right now looks like washing dishes. It looks like offering feed the men who set up our housing. Ministry is a taking turns jumping off the swings with neighborhood kids. Hopefully we get more clarity as the days go on as to what the Lord wants us to do this month but whatever it looks like I know he is with us. The Lord is present in all things and his kindness has ravaged my soul. It’s a good day when you turn a quarter century in Africa! Thank you for all the messages and love. It’s defiantly been a birthday to remember!
FUNDRAISING UPDATE:
I still need $2000 before the end of September. I am 65% funded! If you feel led you can donate directly above by clicking SUPPORT ME. Thank you so much.
