It
seems like it’s time for another blog. If I wrote a blog every time I said I
should, you would surely get tired of me. Luckily for you, I almost always find
something else I “need” to be doing. Since it is that time again,
here are some of the thoughts that have been running through my brain
lately.
seems like it’s time for another blog. If I wrote a blog every time I said I
should, you would surely get tired of me. Luckily for you, I almost always find
something else I “need” to be doing. Since it is that time again,
here are some of the thoughts that have been running through my brain
lately.
Our team plus our friends, Aldo and Esdor
We are still in
Kisumu, Kenya and will be here for 1 more week. It’s been an interesting month.
This month has consisted of waking up, waiting for our hosts (who are amazing!)
to show up anytime from 9-11, maybe going somewhere in the morning, coming home
to eat lunch, waiting until they say what we are doing for the afternoon,
heading to a school to speak for an hour or two, and finally back home for
dinner. Basically, we have had no idea what we were going to be doing until it
happened.
Kisumu, Kenya and will be here for 1 more week. It’s been an interesting month.
This month has consisted of waking up, waiting for our hosts (who are amazing!)
to show up anytime from 9-11, maybe going somewhere in the morning, coming home
to eat lunch, waiting until they say what we are doing for the afternoon,
heading to a school to speak for an hour or two, and finally back home for
dinner. Basically, we have had no idea what we were going to be doing until it
happened.
The ministry this
month is well outside my comfort zone (oh why did I ever have to talk about
needing to get out of my comfort zone?), but that is where I said I wanted to
be. We have gone to an orphanage a couple mornings. The orphanage we went to is
amazing. They love those kids and take great care of them. I’m still not sure
what to do with kids, but I’m trying to learn.
month is well outside my comfort zone (oh why did I ever have to talk about
needing to get out of my comfort zone?), but that is where I said I wanted to
be. We have gone to an orphanage a couple mornings. The orphanage we went to is
amazing. They love those kids and take great care of them. I’m still not sure
what to do with kids, but I’m trying to learn.
As you can see, I
still don’t know how to hold a baby. I am trying though…
As
I mentioned, almost every afternoon, we have gone to schools to speak. The
programs basically consist of us sitting in front of the assembled secondary
(high) school and talking. When we first introduce ourselves, they always burst
into laughter. For some reason, our American accents are absolutely hilarious
to them. Once they get over the initial hilarity of our accents, we proceed to
sharing testimonies and what God is teaching us. It’s always great to have the
opportunity to share what God has done and is doing, but for some reason that
just doesn’t change the fact that public speaking is not fun.
I mentioned, almost every afternoon, we have gone to schools to speak. The
programs basically consist of us sitting in front of the assembled secondary
(high) school and talking. When we first introduce ourselves, they always burst
into laughter. For some reason, our American accents are absolutely hilarious
to them. Once they get over the initial hilarity of our accents, we proceed to
sharing testimonies and what God is teaching us. It’s always great to have the
opportunity to share what God has done and is doing, but for some reason that
just doesn’t change the fact that public speaking is not fun.
Despite my poor
attitude at times, it has been great to see how God has showed up for us. Our
team doesn’t really have anyone who likes to speak (even though we actually
have some very talented public speakers), but God has provided the words when
we have been willing to step out in faith. For some reason, I just don’t want
to put myself out there. I know that God will give me the words to say if I’m
just willing to be used. He simply wants us to be willing. But for some reason,
I still doubt. I still say that I don’t have anything to tell these kids. I
guess you can basically chalk it up to a lack of faith. And I hate that. I hate
that I doubt God. Why is it that I can believe every word of the Bible, but for
some reason my situations are too
difficult for God. Actually, I don’t really think that I believe that they are
too difficult, but at times I feel like it’s just not a big enough deal to
bother God. Yes, I realize that is absurd, but I think that may be what is
going on subconsciously (and now consciously since I’m thinking and writing
about it).
attitude at times, it has been great to see how God has showed up for us. Our
team doesn’t really have anyone who likes to speak (even though we actually
have some very talented public speakers), but God has provided the words when
we have been willing to step out in faith. For some reason, I just don’t want
to put myself out there. I know that God will give me the words to say if I’m
just willing to be used. He simply wants us to be willing. But for some reason,
I still doubt. I still say that I don’t have anything to tell these kids. I
guess you can basically chalk it up to a lack of faith. And I hate that. I hate
that I doubt God. Why is it that I can believe every word of the Bible, but for
some reason my situations are too
difficult for God. Actually, I don’t really think that I believe that they are
too difficult, but at times I feel like it’s just not a big enough deal to
bother God. Yes, I realize that is absurd, but I think that may be what is
going on subconsciously (and now consciously since I’m thinking and writing
about it).
So what is the
antidote to my lack of faith? Maybe praising God for what He has done. Thank you Lord for who you are, what you have done,
and your promises that never fail! One
particular day at a school, Lili, Anna and I were together. Anna said she had
something she felt like God wanted her to share. I thought, perfect, I at least
won’t have to go first. We still needed one other person to speak after Anna.
So Lili and I were praying to see if God placed anything on our hearts to say
to these kids. While they were singing, right before Anna started talking, I
saw Lili start looking a few passages up. As Anna began to tell her story and
share, I hear Lili whisper, “Shut up! Shut up!”. She then leaned over
to me and showed me the passages she had looked up a few minutes earlier. They
were the exact same passages Anna had picked out (completely unbeknownst to
Lili). God was obviously orchestrating the entire thing. He had a plan and a
specific message that those kids needed to hear. We just have to be willing to
listen and obey.
antidote to my lack of faith? Maybe praising God for what He has done. Thank you Lord for who you are, what you have done,
and your promises that never fail! One
particular day at a school, Lili, Anna and I were together. Anna said she had
something she felt like God wanted her to share. I thought, perfect, I at least
won’t have to go first. We still needed one other person to speak after Anna.
So Lili and I were praying to see if God placed anything on our hearts to say
to these kids. While they were singing, right before Anna started talking, I
saw Lili start looking a few passages up. As Anna began to tell her story and
share, I hear Lili whisper, “Shut up! Shut up!”. She then leaned over
to me and showed me the passages she had looked up a few minutes earlier. They
were the exact same passages Anna had picked out (completely unbeknownst to
Lili). God was obviously orchestrating the entire thing. He had a plan and a
specific message that those kids needed to hear. We just have to be willing to
listen and obey.
Another school trip
was just funny. We were split up again, and I was partnered with Anna. She
really wanted to go to the all girls school so that’s where we were
assigned. I was okay with whatever; so
off we went to the school. When we arrived, I realized that it was maybe the
biggest school that we had been to. We walked onto the stage (which was weird
because we mostly meet in classrooms or just outside somewhere), and all I can
do is start laughing. I’m looking out to a crowd of probably 400 Kenyan high
school girls. It was just one of those times where I thought, if you had said
one year ago I would be doing this, I would have said you were crazy. But
talking to 400 Kenyan girls is exactly what I did. I even went over my time
limit (those of you who know me might have a hard time believing that). Again,
it was just cool because I felt like God had something He wanted me to share
with these girls, and so that’s all I had to do. It wasn’t about me or what I
had to say at all.
was just funny. We were split up again, and I was partnered with Anna. She
really wanted to go to the all girls school so that’s where we were
assigned. I was okay with whatever; so
off we went to the school. When we arrived, I realized that it was maybe the
biggest school that we had been to. We walked onto the stage (which was weird
because we mostly meet in classrooms or just outside somewhere), and all I can
do is start laughing. I’m looking out to a crowd of probably 400 Kenyan high
school girls. It was just one of those times where I thought, if you had said
one year ago I would be doing this, I would have said you were crazy. But
talking to 400 Kenyan girls is exactly what I did. I even went over my time
limit (those of you who know me might have a hard time believing that). Again,
it was just cool because I felt like God had something He wanted me to share
with these girls, and so that’s all I had to do. It wasn’t about me or what I
had to say at all.
How is this situation anything but funny?
