By the numbers:
0 – # of snakes I saw. PRAISE THE LORD!
6 – # of people in our sweet host family.
7 – # of times I threw up. Sorry, TMI. Dang Kenyan flu.
11 – # of times I walked to Nakumatt (Kenyan walmart). It had real asiles, L’oreal hair color AND food I actually recognized. I couldn’t stay away.
25ish – # of sermons preached by Wellspring. Bringin the WORD all day long!!!
We’re not in Kansas anymore…
As if we didn’t stick out enough in Asia, we are even more obvious in Africa. Everywhere we go children and even adults shout ‘Muzungu!’ (white person) or ‘Wazungu!’ (multiple white people). I am usually tempted to yell back ‘Kenyan!’ but I typically refrain myself. It is not uncommon to be doing something in our fenced in yard and turn to see sweet little African heads sticking up all across the top, just watching us. When I get back home it’s going to be so strange to not have people shouting out my race or staring at me as I do something mundane like wash clothes. Returning to America will be an instant decrease in popularity. I hope my ego can handle it 😉
Just something about African children
The moment I saw Betty I was already sad for the day I would have to say goodbye to her. She wore a tattered yellow dress (my favorite color) and the sweetest little smile. Such a precious daughter of the Lord. When I held her she would just take my hands and run them up and down her arms and touch her face with them, then she would turn around and put her little hands on my face. She would run her fingers over each of my pink painted fingernails. It was so tender and it absolutely melted my heart. It’s amazing how much you can grow to love someone in such a short amount of time. If she had been just a little smaller I’m positive she would have fit in my backpack. My prayer is that as she grows up she will change that community with how much she loves Jesus.
Chchchchanges
This month Wellspring took turns sharing our World Race testimonies – things we have walked through, learned, or ways we have changed thus far on the Race. One of my biggest fears going into this year was that at the end of it I wouldn’t be any different. That I would have traveled the world and it would have been fun but that I wouldn’t have grown any closer to the Lord or done anything to really make a difference. Looking back through my journal & then sharing with the girls it was so cool to see all the lessons that God has taught me and the ways that he has used us to bring Kingdom. It gave me a lot of inspiration for the next 3 months and the ways the God will continue to challenge and grow me.
The names say it all
We spent the month living in the city of Nakuru with a wonderful host family – Sam and Ann and their kids Lionus (11), Delight (7), Glee (3) and Gracious (3). I mean, talk about giving your kids prophetic names! They were such an incredible family to live with. They went above and beyond for us all the time – making sure we had yummy meals, rooms to sleep in and encouragement that we were welcomed into their family. I had so much fun playing with the kids and teaching them really important English phrases like ‘teach me how to dougie’ and ‘Becca is the best.’ We even did a science experiment and tested out the urban legend of eating pop rocks and soda together. Turns out it doesn’t really make your insides explode out of your body. Good to know! Our last night we brought them a little American tradition by eating hotdogs, singing around the campfire and making s’mores! Delight had heard about campfires and s’mores on TV but none of them had ever had one. So fun!!!
blessingsblessingsBLESSINGS
This month was full of so many little surprises from God. When we first got to Nairobi I was able to have a reunion with some my wonderful Camp BlueSky friends, and then I got to spend the night with my sweet friend Lexi. We had girl talk, she let me sleep in her comfy bed and then even gave me a parting gift of People magazines & Reese’s straight from the States. She knew exactly what I needed 😉 When we came back to Nairobi at the end of the month Wellspring got to spend the night at Dave and Tammi’s house – some amazing missionaries I met in 2007 and some of Shanna’s good friends from GA. They let us hang out in their house and cooked us a delicious American meal. I slept in a bedroom that had boy band posters and a TOMS flag on the wall – of course I felt right at home! We left there feeling so refreshed. Isn’t it great how the Lord always provides us with such sweet blessings?!
ok, a few non catagorical pics from 2 of my fav moments this month – weave braiding and visiting the Menengai Crater. Both amazing!
Kenya ended with our whole squad coming together for our 8 month debrief. EIGHT MONTHS!!! Hard to believe. We experienced incredible worship and prayer times together, had some fun and then headed off to our next country – Uganda!!! We took a 16 hour really nice and smooth bus ride (sense the sarcasm, people) and have now officially made it to our month 9 ministry sites. I’m so excited for what God has for us here!
Thank you for all of the continued love and prayers!!!
