For the first time on this trip I looked at my countdown for how many days until I go home and I’m wishing I had more time here. More time on this adventure, more time with this team, more time in Africa.
In Guatemala I had my little group of friends/squad – whom I played with a few times a week and absolutely loved with all my heart. In Malaysia I had the refugee children – whom I taught English and Math to and adored and loved so so dearly. Here in Africa the children have my heart in a whole different way. At first I was bugged by them and I honestly didn’t want to be in Africa, I wanted nothing more than to go home.
Coming into Africa, It was a new country, a new team and living conditions that I hadn’t had yet on the Race. All of my comforts were stripped away from me. I’m not living with the people that I’ve been comfortable with during this trip, I haven’t had much access to wifi which has kept me from talking to my best friend and family and long drop toilets and bucket showers aren’t really my forte. Everything about Africa has been uncomfortable for me, and I wanted nothing more then to be at home, surrounded by any and every comfort possible. The first week or two I felt so much heart ache for home.
This has grown me in such a huge way, forcing me to find my comfort and dependence on the Lord which is a whole other story.
Weeks later I have finally been reminded of something I’m comfortable with that I’ll always have and that’s loving Gods children, his people. I honestly think that I was so distracted by what I didn’t have that I couldn’t see the things God did place in front of me.
This last weekend was when I truly fell in love with the kids here. Not only are they kids that we play with and teach – they feel like my own children. They are at our house all day, they sleep over on the weekends. We cook them dinner and have taken care of them when they have been sick. We have movie nights with them. At night we walk them home and give them hugs and kisses goodnight and pray with them before they go to bed. These kids are my babies and I know that leaving them is going to tear me apart.
Yes, I wish I had more time. I wish I would have taken advantage of the past few weeks here in Africa instead of wishing the time away, but I didn’t. I have 1 month left and I intend on doing all I can to love these kids and help out the people of Warda, Botswana.
I had lost sight in the reason I was here. I lost sight of the passion God has gifted me with – loving His people. It was a nice reminder when my heart fell head over heals for these kids. I love them to pieces
On a side note:
Something about the kids here remind me of my little cousins back home – who I miss oh so much. I’m not sure if it’s the way they look, or the way they act. It might be that they play chess and sleep in my tent with me. But every time I look at the kids here I’m reminded of them back home.
– Toby, Ben and Evy
I miss you all so much and I can’t wait to come home to see you. I think about you all of the time! I hope you’re doing well and I will be seeing you very soon ?? I love you guys so much!!
thanks for the prayers!
With love – Kaycee ??
