This month was amazing! I have no idea what’s going on in every other part of the world but I know that this month was a breath of fresh air for me. We lived 4 hours from the closest WiFi so we got to really focus on ministry and ourselves this month. I wish everyone could get a taste of what it’s like to live at an orphanage in the mountains of Ethiopia for a month. It was absolutely beautiful!
As most of you know I will be squad leading gap year after a quick turn around when I get home from these 11 months. My second country for that route will be Ethiopia. As I came into this month I kept crossing my fingers hoping I would this month because I knew I’d be back for another 3 months in December. And I can tell you that as soon as we pulled onto the compound my heart immediately fell in love!
We hadn’t parked the van for more than 10 seconds before kids of all ages started pouring in through the windows. One girl, named Bikiltu plopped right in my lap and hugged my neck. I felt like I had just melted into my seat because I was so overwhelmed with love and excitement. And not only did I love all the kids but I loved WHERE we were…we were surrounded by mountains and had fields and little huts of the local village. We lived in the countryside and were surrounded by a loving community at the compound. Also, I loved getting one more month with the entire squad-I just love my people.
Ministry this month looked like teaching the kids, sometimes walking 40 minutes to teach the kindergarteners, playing volleyball with the kids and staff at HOPEthiopia, making bricks or getting dirty in the garden. Also, we all rotated through working in the kitchen to help prepare the food for lunch and dinner. These were honestly some of my favorite days because I absolutely adored these ladies. They loved to laugh and joke and dance and sing-there was never a dull moment with them!
Most days I started my mornings early to sit out and watch the sunrise as I had my quiet time. During this time the Lord usually laid people on my heart, mostly from home, and I’d just start to pray. There were times when I could have got homesick but I tried to give it to the Lord and hope that everyone else’s month was good. (I can’t wait to catch up with y’all!) then some nights, some of us would lay outside to watch the stars. But since it was Ethiopia’s rainy season most nights were overcast and it wasn’t until my last night we were there that the sky was crystal clear and covered in stars. It was the best way to end my time there this month.
I made friends with the staff and kids and CANNOT wait to bring my next squad here with me! I’m so grateful for Ralph and Glenda for creating such an incredible organization and loving this community so well. Because of this ministry a lot of dreams and future possibilities for me were sparked here. Who knows which ones will actually happen but the excitement I have for the future is unreal!
But for now I’m excited to have 2 more months in Africa! However, things are about to be pretty busy for me. We have a mini debrief in Rwanda then all head to our ministry sites for the month. In one week I leave for America to be with Squad W for training camp!! My birthday! I come back to Rwanda and finish out the last week in Rwanda with the team I’m with before we head to Uganda! I spend a couple weeks with our host there doing ministry then we debrief as leadership and as a squad and then I leave and land in America on August 25 (which is now less than 2 months away!?) I will then spend 10 days at home until I make my way back to Atlanta then leave for 9 more months on the field with my new squad.
I could use a lot of prayer as this transition season begins. I’m so excited for what’s to come. But also, I’ve spent almost an entire year with P Squad and I don’t know how I will handle all the goodbyes that are to come. These are my people and they mean so much to me. So prayers for my heart during this emotional time would be great. Also, safe travels as I fly to and from America. And lastly, I could please use prayers for my fundraising! Miss you all!
XOXO,
Kyn
