I seriously cannot believe it’s November! It doesn’t seem possible that I’ve already been living in Africa for over two months. Life here has absolutely flown by. To say I’m not ready to leave this place would be a huge understatement. There is so much to reflect on this trip that I don’t even know where to start. I’ve learned so much about myself and the Lord and I’m so excited to take that with me back to America!
We’ve done all types of ministry during my time here. Some days we cut grass all day around the compound so we can walk from place to place without grass up to our waists. Some days we paint houses. Some days we varnish all the buildings to keep them from falling apart. Every day we do kids ministry!! From teaching them bible stories to games to songs to english to helping them with homework, to just doing life with them. Most days I go into the village on house visits and build relationships in the community. Most other days we do ministry with the house moms here. We read the bible with them and pray and encourage them. Lately that has been one of my favorite things to do. It’s taught me so much about life. Every person I’ve met here has taught me so much more than I could ever teach them. It’s been an incredible few months packed full of all different types of ministry and a whole lot of love.
It’s finally starting to hit me soon that I’ll be back in America this month. And if I’m being completely honest I’m not handling it well. I get emotional literally every.. single.. day. I really need to get it together! It just started to hit me that this is my life and it feels like I have to pack up and move out already. I mean I know it’s only been 3 months but it’s been my home for 3 months. And I feel so much at home here. I’ve built this life in this community and immersed myself in the culture and the people here. These people have become my family. I live with 32 of my best little friends in the orphanage. I call each of them by name and know all of their big personalities. The best and most unique personalities in the world. The thought of leaving them and waking up and not seeing their faces literally kills me. My heart breaks just thinking about not being able to love them so closely anymore.
With that being said, to say I’ve enjoyed my time here would also be a large understatement. This has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank the Lord for this life. That and all of you guys!! My supporters that got me here. If there is one thing I’m excited to do in America it’s to get back and personally thank each and every one of you. I can’t wait to share all that God did here through each of you guys. His love has been spread so big and so wide here and that is because each of you guys prayerfully and financially supported me to get that love here!!
I am so so so thankful and I can’t wait to share many more thanks and stories once I get back and process life here. As for the next two weeks, I’m going to spend every single second I have loving these people the best I can and soaking up all of the time I have left here!
America, I’ll see you in a little while!
