Welcome to Kenya
We first arrived in Nairobi and stayed in a hostel for five days. During this time the whole squad of 55 came together to worship and rest. We were also challenged with some teachings- to stay focused, to be present with our minds (to not think too far ahead because it is easy to check out), and to take time to remember our passions. Over the last six months, it was easy to get side tracked, discouraged, and even forget the passions and reason we were led to this 11 month mission trip. Lately God has been reviving my passion and challenging me in my character and the ways I think and act. I was reminded of a quote stating “your attitude is the product of your thoughts”. So this past month was all about loving deeper and this month is about reviving my passions and working on the way I think.
I have been reading this book called “Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne (which everyone should read- this is my second time reading this book, which says a lot). At one point in this book, Shane is telling the readers about how he went to Calcutta to work with a leprosy colony and when he was leaving Calcutta to go back to the states this is what he said:
“I learned from the lepers that leprosy is a disease of numbness. The contagion numbs the skin, and the nerves can no longer feel as the body wastes away. In fact the way it was detected was by rubbing a feather across the skin, and if the person could not feel it, they were diagnosed with the illness. To treat it, we would dig out or dissect the scarred tissue until the person could feel again. As I left Calcutta, it occurred to me that I was returning to a land of people who had forgotten how to feel, to laugh, to cry, a land haunted by numbness. Could we learn how to feel again?”
These days I have wondered where my passion went and I want to fight to find it again- learning how to feel again. So needless to say those five days in Nairobi have been good and challenging, but I am always asking God to change me so in everything I can better glorify Him.
After this we then moved to Busia which is located close to the borders of Kenya and Uganda. It was a ten hour bus ride away, and let me tell you, Kenya roads are not smooth so it was a very bumpy road.
We are in a house, all with our own mattresses, which is better than anything I thought we would have in Kenya. We have all eleven girls (2 teams) in one room, all covered in mosquito nets (Kenya is malaria zone), which makes for a room with no personal space. We are taking bucket showers all month and cannot drink the water (which include no face washing or brushing your teeth- typhoid is serious here). I hand washed my clothes with water from the well- African style today (which includes buckets on my knees, scrubbing), and as I was doing that I watched a chicken get killed and de-feathered for our dinner. Oh Kenya, how I love you already. Oh and when the power goes out its normal, everyone just gets their headlamps out and we are ready to go- you never know when it will come back on.
It has only been two days, but I love what is happening already. We are working for Deliverance Church- getting opportunities to preach, do construction work, going to the prison, schools, and go house to house showing God’s love.
Please pray for complete health and wholeness in our bodies, and as we serve, that we all have a willingness to serve with everything we have.
We are in Africa for the next three months with a re-route. We now go from Kenya, to Tanzania, and then Uganda. These will be months of the unfamiliar, but an opportunity to explore new ways of living and really step into this culture.
Also please know your support is still welcome. I have seen God provide in awesome, humbling ways and I have no doubt He will finish what has been started. Thank you to everyone! In the last two weeks God has provided $700 in my account and I truly just stand back in awe, humbled at our Saviour.
PS- No internet this month- or very limited, only enough to post blogs.
