Okay so I went to put the pictures of Africa together to share with you all and they ended up being close to a hundred pictures… so that was a no. So I will break them up into countries, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
I’m going to have to be okay with sharing just a slice of the amazing Africa that I experienced. Now that I’m out of Africa I am tempted to see everything through the rosy colored glasses that are so easily put on after you leave a place you love.
I want to remember Africa and all that it holds, just like the desert it’s hot and dry during the day but its sunsets can’t be beat. That’s how I feel about Africa. Its hot and lacking in common everyday resources like water and electricity. You will sit in the dust for hours waiting for a bus and water might not be present for a day. The people are hurting from so many years of war and they are still scared of its threat. Alcoholism and witchcraft are still controlling homes and hurting little children.
I don’t’ know if I helped in all that but I know I passed out a lot of hugs to little ones and spoke the gospel to those who would listen. Oh, those who would listen, they are so beautiful to me! The ones who have a strong faith and hope and give out of love from what little they have, that is why I think Africa is so beautiful. They are beautiful in their hospitality and beautiful in their joy that goes beyond their circumstances. Their spirit of love and gratefulness flow out in their songs and prayers. They have a work ethic that is made of endurance and perseverance. Their bodies are strong to do their strenuous daily jobs.
I love the people of Africa and I pray blessings and God’s protection over them. I hope you can get a glimpse of what the last three months have meant to me by the pictures, since they are worth a thousand words.
Kenya
Africa loves to take a 6 passenger van and fill it with 25 people like it’s no problem
This Zebra is just hanging out on the side of the road on our drive through Kenya
We worked with Pastor William and His wife Pam in Kenya. Their church ministers to the outcast of Eldoret. Our first Sunday was a difficult one as all the church members filed in, with glues bottles hanging out of their mouths, high on glues.
This is Danson, my heart would break when I would see him pull the glue out of his pocket. I would look to Pastor William to see how he found joy everyday in this difficult ministry, I don’t know how he does it. He says that it is a calling and he is only wanting to walk in obedience to God.
We covered these little ones in a lot of prayer, hugs and love
In Africa there are three things that are very common to Africa
#1 seven hour church services
#2 Preaching door to door… and you do not call ahead
#3 Outdoor Crusades that have a sound system that can be heard for miles (No joke)
This was my favorite day of door to door. We met Simprosa and helped harvest her corn.
She came everyday to our crusades and started coming to church and she brought her whole neighborhood.
It is traditional for Africans not to smile in pictures so that explains the absence of smiles
But I got this one to smile
The church was simply dirt floors and a tin roof and walls
We painted and Katie from team Karis picked out the color scheme
They loved it!
We spent Christmas in Kenya and had an evening service.
We also put our yucky socks out for Santa
Alive Christmas Dinner Cooked Christmas Dinner
Thank you for all the Christmas cards, you all are incredibly supportive!
