Awkward Turtle.

For Tori and Kevin:

Your video of the awkward turtle was nothing short of amazing. I literally have tears in my eyes from laughing so thank you for that!!!  I miss you guys so much.

In the words of Mandy...I luuuuuuuv youuuu!

New Friends!

On Saturday Taylor, Shauna and I went into town to do our usual market run and get things we need for the week.  Since Shauna and I have a ridiculous addiction to coffee we had to stop at the coffee stand before we went into the store, but wouldn't you know that God used our silly addiction to deliver blessings!  Taylor noticed a man sitting alone with a bible on his table and brought our attention to it.  Immediately, I told them we had to go talk to him.  They were hesitant at first but I felt strongly about approaching him so I walked over and asked if he was a Christian, to which he answered yes.  I asked if he was a missionary here and where he was from and it turns out he is here from North Carolina to start a ministry with his wife.  We ended up sitting down in the three empty chairs surrounding him and got to know one another for about 30 minutes.  After hearing his heart and all about his ministry and what he is doing in Kenya, it was obvious that our meeting was divine.  He told us that we had to meet his wife and invited us over for dinner.  We gratefully accepted the opportunity to have an American, home cooked meal!  

Part of the ministry that him and his wife run is a bed and breakfast for missionary teams that holds a little over 20 people.  It is absolutely beautiful!  After meeting his amiable wife and the current family staying in the home we sat down for the most delicious meal ever.  The family staying there is a husband and wife from Tanzania.  They are starting an orphanage down there but came to Kenya to have their sixth child.  All five of their children have blonde hair, blue eyes and are just precious! Each was surprisingly polite and my first impression proved valid because the rest of the night only confirmed how obedient and pleasant these kids were to be around.  Becky, the mother, was simply amazing.  She is a week passed her due date and ready to pop but had been playing kickball with the kids the day before.  Can you imagine being over 9 months pregnant and playing kickball?  Now that's a dedicated mother!  Our dinner conversation was filled with God glorifying context dripping with irony.  It seemed as though everything Chris (the missionary we met at the coffee shop) talked about, the three of us had just discussed or read in the bible that past few days.  They work with high school kids at their church at home and it was so comforting to see pictures of their kids and here stories that I could completely relate to.  It made me miss Merge though!  

After dinner the kids went to bed and the seven of us took the opportunity to get to know one another.  Since all of them were raised Christian they were extremely interested as to how Taylor, Shauna and I became Christians so we shared a little bit of our testimonies with them.  They shared with us everything they were doing with the people in Kibera (the largest slum in Kenya with 1 million people living in 1 square mile).  At the end of the night each of them prayed for Taylor, Shauna and I.  It was the most amazing experience and I left with tears in my eyes, just astonished at how faithful our God is for bringing these people into our lives.  God knows me so well and He knows that I like constant reassurance.  Meeting Chris and Lindy felt like God telling me, "Please remember I am still here and I will encourage you and provide for you as you stay here in Kenya".  I haven't doubted God's presence but reassurance that this is where He wants me is definitely nice to receive!  If you want to know more about Chris and Lindy and what they are doing here, they have a blog (Yes, they are part of the blog cult- yay!!) Onlyservants.blogspot.com.  You can also check out what Dave and Becky are doing at www.mavunovillage.org/Helsbys.shtml.  I encourage everyone to check out their pages! 

All my love to everyone back at home!  Bwana Asifiwe!!

I love Helen.

Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Helen.  These pictures by no means do her justice but I had to get them out there.  She is a precious angel from God but don't let her fool you, she is sassy!  She stopped teacher Jimmy the other day in the hall, put her hands on her hips and said in Kiswahili, "Teacher Jimmy, we are no longer on speaking terms." He answered, "Ok Helen, why are we no longer speaking?" Her reply was, "You passed me in the hall this morning and you did not greet me!"  Hahaha I love it!  I hope you enjoy her sweet face as much as I do!

The slums (Prepare youself...it's long, as usual)

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”

I said before that I was going to write about the slums.  I have kind of been putting it off because I don't know how to explain it. I have tried to email people to describe what I have seen but I know that my mere words will not do justice to what I have seen.  I feel God telling me to at least try to share with you what the slums were like so here goes.

 

A week ago I set off to Ngong in order to try and track down some of the living relatives of the children at the orphanage in hopes of reuniting them with their families or at least updating information about how the kids got to Huruma in the first place.  I had been to the slums on Sunday so I knew the circumstances were bad but bad does not come close to what I saw. 

 

 I'm going to flash back really quick; Sunday the Cornerstone team and all of the kids from Huruma went down to the slums to sing, perform a dance and feed the children at the slums.  It was so humbling to see the kids of Huruma, who barely have anything themselves, serving those who have even less than they do.  God truly convicted me about serving back in the states.  He showed me these children who have servants hearts and reminded me that He wants my heart to mirror theirs.  I didn't take time out of my days when I was home to spend serving the least of these in my own backyard and I will not make the same mistake when I get back in October.  It was so fulfilling handing out bread and milk to these little faces that might not see another "meal", if you can call 3 pieces of bread a meal, for God knows how long.  I praise God for that opportunity and all He accomplished through our team that day.

 

Now, back to my story about Thursday.  Being in the streets of the slums was one thing, but walking through their neighborhoods and sitting in their houses was a completely different experience.  I went with Grace who is the social worker at Huruma.  She took me to another lady who was our tour guide of sorts.  She led us through narrow dirt paths enclosed by jagged, splintered, shanty pieces of wood that compile make shift shelters for these people.  I can't tell you how many streams of human waste, corn cobs, egg shells, oil and anything else disgusting that you can think of that I stepped over as I weaved in and out attempting to keep up with Grace.  When we got to our first home I ducked down about 2 feet to fit through the door.  The walls were decrepit wood covered with paper off of canned vegetables.  The floor was a mixture of dirt and insects and there were dirty clothes/dishes stacked in piles that consumed the one room structure. Inside there were two, half naked, toddlers covered in food, one of which was crying and the other who had the biggest smile I have ever seen.  A young girl who looked no older than 15 was their mother and she was the one we had come to see.  This was the sister of one of the children at Huruma and we hoped that she could tell us the whereabouts of the biological mother or father.  Unfortunately, she did not know where the mother was because she had left years ago never to return.  She told us details about the girl we were asking about and her life in the slums.  She said their father would send her out on the streets of the slums to prostitute her in order to make money for the family to eat.  She was 8 years old at the time (and only 10 years old now).  It took everything in me not to break down right then and there but I knew I had to be strong and God blessed me with His strength.  That was our first home.  The next 2 stops we made were not any better and the stories remain unmentionable.  I left the slums feeling helpless.  There was so much corruption, so much poverty, so much pain and suffering that I just felt disgusted.  Disgusted at the situations I had just witnessed, disgusted at how selfish I am because I thought that suffering was sitting in the home for more than 10 minutes.  The smell alone of the house made me cringe and it took a lot for me to hold down the vomit.  It killed me to think that I could barely handle hearing these stories but this was life for so many.  10 minutes is nothing in comparison to actually living in this place.  These people have nowhere to turn.  They can't just walk away from this wretched life they live, they are trapped there day in and day out.  I don’t want to think about nighttime in the slums because just being there during the day gave me the creeps.  I am a grown adult feeling this way…I can’t even begin to fathom what it felt like for an 8 year old girl to be forced by her own father to roam those streets for sex.  I am so overwhelmed with Africa, but every time I sit down and get tears in my eyes thinking about it I feel peace.  It’s a peace that can only come from God.  I know He is telling me that He loves everyone single person that is stuck in the slums and that He has His hand on all of them.  It is not my place to worry about what is happening in the slums because worrying is a sign that I don’t trust God and that could not be farther from the truth.  I trust that God is the only thing that can come in and change Africa.  We can’t throw money at the problem because money will not change hearts.  These people have been corrupted by their impoverished lifestyles.  Half the time if they get their hands on money it goes to alcohol or drugs to numb the pain of reality.  No, money is not the only answer to Africa’s plight.  Mama Zipporah once said of her volunteers, “How dare you come and feed my children and not share the gospel with them.  What good is a full stomach going to do them when they are spending eternity in hell?”  Jesus Christ is the only thing that is going to change our world.  A full stomach will soon become empty again.  Clothes will become outgrown and warn.  Buildings will rust with time, but the love of Christ is never changing, never fading, never failing and eternal.  I know that my God is bigger than anything going on here in Africa and no matter how overwhelmed I become with the circumstances that I am faced with, it is impossible not to come back to the fact that God is all-powerful.  If you get Christ into the hearts of these people and then work with them to build loving communities, then money and resources are absolutely essential but without Christ the resources will be useless for long term change.

 

I hope that God breaks your heart, as He does mine, when you hear about what is going on here.  Africa can’t be saved by Christ if there aren’t people willing to leave the comfort of their homes for the sake of spreading God’s word.  I pray that God uses me to show these people love like He has shown me, to encourage and inspire these people.  To let them know that they can be the generation to make a difference.  A good friend of mine told me today about his plans to start raising money at his school in order to build wells for clean water in Africa and with the extra proceeds he was going to have New Testaments printed in different languages for people across the world.  He had counted out how many people went to his school and how much his endeavors would cost, all he needs is the helping hands of friends and teachers.  Then, he ended by telling me to let the children here know that they can make a difference and that people on the other side of the world care about them.  He wanted the people in Africa to know that people in the US were working to make a change so that this country can become everything that Jesus intended it to be.  I felt so inspired by my friend’s motivation.  He isn’t letting the fact that he is on the other side of the world stop his efforts to change Africa.  He isn’t allowing himself to be consumed by the things of his culture like who is wearing what, who bought what new material thing, who is dating who, what celebrity is pregnant or divorced or on drugs.  He isn’t letting himself be comfortable in a culture that is so devoured by themselves that they turn their eyes to the injustices across the world.  He understands Jesus call to action and the fact that this life is NOT about things that are fleeting, which the world covets and clings to.  Jesus tells his disciples to leave everything and follow him.  So we praise His name with our lips but deny dropping our stuff to take up His cross and then we claim we are worthy to call ourselves “Christians”.  This is not a blanket statement because so many of friends and high school kids understand this so well and are probably getting fired up reading this (I hope).  I just think it begs repeating because I sure as heck don’t want to be someone that grows numb to the calling of Christ and the implications of that calling on my life and I don’t think any one else can afford to belittle them either. 

Update!

I have been working hard to put together an excel spreadsheet for Huruma to use in order to organize their sponsorship information.  It has been a tedious task but I think it will be extremely useful when I'm all done.  A lot of things are really disorganized in the office, they still use filing folders from around 1965 , but somehow it works nicely for them.  I have been trying to reorganize and put a lot of their information onto the computers so it is easier to keep track of but they are so fond of their folder system that I don't even know if they will use the information I have updated in the computer.  However, everything I do here I do for the glory of God, which means I am doing everything to the best of my ability no matter how futile it might be.  Just a short update to let you know that I actually am doing work here and I’m not spending all my time playing with the kids haha.  Most of the day they are in school but I get to spend time with them at night and help them study, (they all have big exams on Friday).  Hope all is well at home!

All my love and joy in Christ Jesus,

Keira

Last night I got to Sightspeed/Skype with all of my favorite people.  I can't tell you how amazing it was to hear their voices and see their blurry little faces.  I couldn't help but cry after I got off the phone with them.  I feel like every time I start to really feel comfortable in Africa is when I feel like I am so distant from home and visa versa.  Talking to everyone from home made me miss it so much that I just wanted to jump on a plane.  I thank God that He is keeping me in Africa though and I trust that He has work to be done through me if I let Him.  My focus has been on trying to accomplish everything that God has planned for me one day at a time.

Once, someone very smart quoted someone extremely smart and I feel compelled to share these words with the blogging world.

I thought of a perfect quote from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love so I wanted to share it with you really quick before I have to leave to go nanny.  Francis is talking about people questioning how God could "let" certain things go on in the world if he really loved us.  He says, "The answer to why certain things are the way they are is simply this: because He is God.  He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving."  I think that we cannot get into the habit of questioning why God is allowing this to happen or simply questioning why.  We have to create action out of what we see.  That is the only way that things are ever going to change.  

I have seen things in the past two weeks that make me sick.  I couldn't describe them in words if I wanted to because it would not do justice to the feeling of actually being here and experiencing them.  However, God has blessed me so much during my time at Huruma and I continue to lean on Him for my strength.

We went to the market in Ngong yesterday and I swear every time I walk the streets of Ngong I feel like I've stepped into a National Geographic magazine.  Riding the matatus was interesting...the first one we rode was completely uneventful but the second one we rode had blaring loud Kenyan rap music (which I have actually grown to really like) and a very interesting music video playing.  I was sitting between Taylor and Jimmy (a teacher at Huruma)...talk about awkward.  Then on the third one we took on the way home there was a drunk, toothless man sitting in the back by Taylor and I.  At first I just thought he was being friendly but it turns out he was being way TOO friendly which turned into harassment.  I won't repeat what he was saying because it was extremely inappropriate but they stopped the matatu so that we could move seats.  I moved up by Shauna, Taylor moved up a seat and Jimmy moved back to protect her.  Let's just say it was an interesting journal entry!  

The teachers at Huruma don't have much.  Mama helps pay for their schooling along with sponsors and for the most part they have very little money.  They each live in their own house, which is really one dorm-like bedroom where they don't have running water or electricity.  I haven't been to them personally but I have heard from some people who have been.  Teacher James, or Jimmy, was the one who accompanied us to the market and he was so joyful the whole time.  We ended up buying him a few things and you would not believe how happy he was just for something as simple as deodorant.  I felt so much safer with him with us and I think Taylor and Shauna felt the same so we were grateful to have him there.

Today has been kind of a lazy day.  We had chapel for 2 and a half hours this morning and since then we have just been hanging out and playing with the kids.  I think this post has been long enough, they usually are, so I'm going to go back out with everyone!  Love and hugs to everyone back home!

Bwana Asifiwe

So much has happened in the past four days and I don't have time to give a full update on all of it but I thought I would blog to let everyone know that there is more to come soon!  I am really starting to learn Swahili and I actually have class in 15 minutes.  It's a relatively easy language but some of it really confuses me.  I'm getting to know some of the older teachers and the ladies in the office, which is helpful.  The teachers are so funny and I appreciate their sarcastic senses of humor because I can completely relate to it.  The rest of the group from Cornerstone is leaving tonight and it's bitter sweet.  I'm so sad to see everyone go but at the same time it will be nice to move into a bigger place.  Shauna, Taylor and I are taking tomorrow to move into the guest house and go into the market and just get re-settled in.  I can't wait for that!

I'm not going into details about what has been going on here in the past few days but I do want to praise God or Bwana asifiwe.  These kids have been through unfathomable stories that just make my stomach cringe.  Even though they have been through hell and back they still get up every morning with the most amazing, genuine smiles I have ever seen and sing praise to God who loves them.  I know I have mentioned this in one of my other posts but it should be so hard for these kids to love and to rejoice like they do but it is solely because they have Jesus in their hearts that they can stand in joy and praise God.  I am so grateful for everything the Lord is teaching me through them.  I will write again when I get the chance but for now I just send my love to all of you back home! I can't tell you how much I miss my Thursday night Camber and my Wednesday night Merge groups.  I love and miss you all so much!

GOD IS SO FAITHFUL.  I told Shauna in the airport, maybe God is just telling me "wait" instead of "no" about my suitcase and today He confirmed that wait because He changed it to a "YES!"  Literally, tears of joy streamed down my face as I fell to my knees kissing my suitcase.  Apparently this was amusing to everyone because Jayna took pictures (they will be coming soon).  Honestly, it is an amazing feeling to have my stuff finally but that is not what provoked my overwhelming joy.  It was the fact that my bag held the most precious cargo ever.  The bible verses that "the gang" made me.  For those who do not know, some of my Merge kids decorated little envelopes with a bible verse for every day that I am gone.  I have a little bag filled with them!  Todays verse said, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever", how appropriate?!  Today I had a mini mental break down and let some tears out with Shauna.  After reading an email from my mom I couldn't help it.  I miss her so much.  It's strange to think about staying because everyone here is leaving in less than a week and they are all so excited about what they get to eat when they get home and who they get to see.  For Shauna, Taylor and I however, it's different.  We can't miss any of that stuff just yet or we will go crazy.  Of course, it's impossible not to miss it but we can't let it get to us.  Shauna and I landed on the fact that God wants us here and it would be harder to leave and know we were being disobedient to God than to stay and miss home.  Then, after all of my emotions, someone called me out into the hall dragging my bag behind them.  It was as if God said, "I wasn't kidding when I told you I wanted you to stay and I wasn't kidding when I told you I was here".  I feel so dumb for needing the reminder but let me tell you, I was on my knees in a heartbeat praising Him!  

I feel so sick right now, I can't even swallow because my throat hurts so bad and I'm exhausted but we have to run a three day camp for the kids tomorrow so that is keeping me motivated!  They are so excited for it!  Taylor and I are teaching dance, we made up our dance tonight and it was a lot of fun.  However, I am off to read the book of James (Go read it. Do it.) and get some sleep for tomorrow!  I will blog again soon to tell about the slums...most amazing experience ever I can't wait to share.  I love and miss you all so much!

More Pics.

I know it's not the best picture but this is Yvonne!  For you Mom :)

Yes...these are lions mating.  I laugh every time I see this picture hahaha

This one is for Nick, Stephen, Trevor, Kyle, Shannon, Vanessa, and Lydia.  The Maasaii tribe says "Peace" to all of you haha :)

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Brace yourself. This is a long one.


This saying has never been more real to me. Especially in reference to my family and friends, comfortable bed with no hyenas howling and insects snuggling you, *Pazookies*, Walgreens, the smell of clean laundry (or the smell of anything clean for that matter). Despite all of the things I miss back home, today is the first day I have truly felt comfortable in Africa. I felt overjoyed to be coming home to Huruma from the safari. I couldn’t wait to see the kids and be in my “dorm”. I feel like so much fear bottled up inside of me just got released and I feel a sense of peace in Kenya now. It’s funny because I couldn’t tell you what I was afraid of when I got here. Afraid was the last thing I expected to be, especially because it was not something I felt at all before I left. I’m not afraid of the people because they are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. I’m not afraid of the animals or the insects, although maybe I should be because the insects are eating me alive and the animals are deadly. I think it might be simply the unknown. After listening to Charlie Hall sing today about Jesus coming to take us away things seem so much in perspective. It reminded me why I came to Africa in the first place and why I wasn’t afraid to leave home. It was because I have God’s promise of the Holy Spirit who is living inside of me. I have His promise that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. I also have his demand to help those in need. His blunt statement that the poor are rich in faith (Huruma is living proof of that). His calling to go out and be the hands and feet, to take care of the orphans and the widows. All of these things brought me comfort today and for the first time, I felt ready to stay here for three months. God reminded me that I need to live for the moment. I thought when I got to Africa the worries of home would fall away because they would seem so insignificant in comparison to the worries of Africa. Instead the worries of Africa overwhelmed me, they terrified me, they discouraged me. Africa made me feel so small, as if I let my guard down for one second it would swallow me whole. Now, I feel like God has arranged a peace treaty between Africa and me. Not that I feel numb to everything going on here, at first I thought I was because I was so emotionless, but I have just realized that I can only concern myself with today. It’s when I start thinking about long term that Africa gets the best of me. When I focus on today and loving these people and embracing these experiences, is when I share the best of me with Africa. And since I can do nothing on m own, it is actually Christ living through me, I am showing Africa the best of God. I’m convinced God is the only thing big enough to free this country. To lift it up, dust it off and give it new life. I feel it necessary to define “new life”. I mean new life in Christ. I have never been to a place where poverty is like a part of culture but that is how I felt with the Maasaii. It was our last day on the safari and we went to see the Maasaii tribe. Let’s just say it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. They live in cow dun huts and walk on cow dun floors and their huts (and their faces) are covered in bugs. They are known as the warrior tribe but they were the sweetest people. After we left their tribe I asked the group how they thought the Maasaii would respond to technology and if they had the chance to have nice houses built if they would take advantage of it. Everyone pretty much agreed that they wouldn’t because the huts and the bugs were simply their culture. It was how they knew life, plain and simple. I think sometimes people tend think that American culture is the best culture and we need to spread it to other countries but this trip is showing me that’s not the case at all. Yes, we are a lot more sanitary and there are definitely things that we could teach these people about cultivating their culture, but for the most part their way of life is simply that: their way of life. It doesn’t make it wrong or right, it’s just different. The only thing in this place that is definitely wrong and I will be praying constantly for, is the absence of Jesus Christ.

Well, this is like the longest post ever and I didn’t even talk about the safari but I figured I would just let the safari speak for itself. Here are some of my AMAZING pictures:




This one is for my Dad! :)




5 minutes into the safari we got to see a lion eating a Zebra...coolest thing ever!

My bags went to Mumbasa without me!

Jambo!
The kids have been trying to teach me Swahili since I got here and all I can say is Jambo...I know, I'm pathetic!

Well, the weather is absolutely beautiful here. I would say 80s with a cold breeze, it can't get better than that! Turns out the bite on my ankle is not a mosquito bite, it's a spider bite and now my entire ankel is swollen. I took two benadryl last night and that seemed to help the swelling a little bit and I can still move my toes so these are all good things!

Yesterday was such an intense day and I know it was a preview for many rough days to come. The morning was slow but we painted their library in the afternoon and then got the chance to play volleyball with some of the kids and their teachers. Let's just say that Kenyans are a little intense with their volleyball but regardless it was so much fun! After I played volleyball I went down by chapel and found Hannah teaching the kids how to do the Souja(sp) Boy dance, it was hilarious. Then one of the little girls who I had met grabbed my hand and took me up on a hill away from every one. Her name is Yvonne and she seemed relatively quiet but not now. She told me her story about how she got to Huruma and it took everything in me not to cry. I just kept telling myself that she has found God here at Huruma and nothing else could be greater than that. Plus, she has a family here who loves her. She told me that everyone has an enemy because "they had to, there are always some people who are going to hate you". But then she went on to say that she loved this girl who was mean to her and prayed for her. That astonished me. This 11 year old orphan is telling me how she loves her enemies. I know grown American Christians who do not understand this concept but here is this precious little child who lives it out daily. This girl who has every reason to turn from God and be bitter with the world for what she has been through understands how to love like Christ. I only pray that she would rub off on me a little bit. She also told me, "when my mother gave birth to me she was HIV+ so I am HIV+. I sleep in the same bed as my best friend and eat and drink with her and she cannot even get it". I confirmed that and told her that there were only a few ways that HIV could be transmitted. She told me that she had to take 4 or 5 medicines every morning and I asked if they tasted yucky. "Yes, but they are necessary" was how she respond. I was blown away by her maturity level. I told her that she was strong and beautiful and she blushed. I think Yvonne and I will become very close friends and I look forward to that.

Today we went to Nairobi to go to the airport to look for my bag. We found Shauna's within 5 minutes but after about an hour of looking, we gave up on finding mine. Momma Zipporah (the lady who runs the orphanage) was waiting outside the doors for me so when we walked back with the man who couldn't find my bag she started yelling at him to pay me for my trouble. He said alright and walked me back to the baggage counter where I signed a piece of paper and he gave me $80 out of his own wallet. Strangest thing I have ever seen but I was not complaining! The day was long after that because we had to drive to the hospital to visit Zapporah. This 11 year old girl has been sick the past few days. At first they thought it was meningitis, which would be horrible, but luckily that is not the case. The hospital was unlike anything I have seen but it didn't really surprise me. It is actually very beautiful, a brick building covered in vines and filled with gardens. There were more people there than I could have imagined. Some just sitting in the grass, some walking the halls, all with sullen faces. I can't think of anything to describe how the rooms in the hospital smelled besides sterile death. I'm not sure if you can imagine what that smells like but let's just say it was not a pleasant smell. When we found Zapproah she looked so thin and momma asked me to pray over her. After I did we left to head back into town. On the way home the car broke down in the middle of the road (which is an extremely narrow dirt path) and the people behind us were less than excited about that. We only sat there no more than a minute when someone pulled over to help us. Turns out he is a skilled runner and has been to the United States numerous times to compete. Him and his friend were so kind and called over three more of their friends and before you knew it we were on the road again. Papa Isaac (momma's husband) and Papa Sweet (Dave) came to our rescue also so we got home safe and sound. Also, on the way home we got a call from the airport and they said they found my bag but it is in Mumbasa which just so happens to be 8 hours away and right next to the beach. I'm a little irritated my bag got to see the beach without me! Momma's response was, "And now you have 80 dollar!" haha I love it! :) I was about to get extremely frustrated about my bag being lost but throughout the 3 hours we spent at the airport I just prayed that God would bring me peace about it. I know that my other suitcase would bring me comfort here but when I started thinking about what was in it I laughed. The funny thing is that we started moving things around in my bags right before I left so that they would fit the weight requirement. One of the things that got moved into my bag was the photo book that my mom made me and I knew right then that God did that for a reason so I unclinched a little bit and told God that it was in His hands. I am confident that He will provide and take care of me.

I feel like I have so much more to tell but it is time for evening prayers! I miss everyone back home so much and think about you daily. I love you all so much and couldn't be here without your prayers so thank you for that!

I made it!

Well, after 2 days of flying I finally made it to Huruma! Our plane to London looked like the plane from friends when Ross and Emily got married and they all flew to London. I tried to take a picture to capture it but it didn't work as well as I had hoped. Ngong is more beautiful than the pictures gave it credit for and the people are so friendly. After all the pills and patches, I have already been bitten by 2 mosquitos (fun) and I also lost one of my bags but if those are the worst things that could have happened to me, I'd say I'm in great shape. Our dorm rooms are nicer than I thought and brand new!

Yesterday we went into town and had lunch and then went to the market. It reminded me a lot of Mexico with everyone hounding you to buy something. Shauna and I met these two guys who taught us how to play the drums and we talked about Christ with them. They were the only ones in the whole place not begging us to buy something, instead they just had a jam session with us. One of them had Bob Marley on his phone so we sang along and played drums to it. They said they were there every Saturday so Shauna and I promised to come back so they could teach us drums and we could read the bible to them.

It's 4am Kenya time. I couldn't sleep and as I was praying I saw Shauna's light go on so we rushed into the computer rooms. Tomorrow is church and another big day but for some reason I just can't sleep. I miss home already. I miss my family, Shannon, my high school kids. JJ Heller is absolutely amazing after listening to a few of her songs last night, (little things and have mercy among others) during my devotion I felt so much more at peace. I just feel so out of my element here and I know God is making me feel uncomfortable to break me down so that He can build me back up. I'm excited for that but it's not easy. If it weren't for the absolutely amazing e-mails that I received from two brilliant young ladies, (which brought me to tears- and Sam, I read Matthew 9, thank you so much!) and the prayers that I know people are saying for me back at home, I know I would be in worse shape. But my strength does not come from myself, it comes from Christ who is the rock foundation that I stand on and I praise God for that.

Well, I'm off to get some more sleep (hopefully). I will blog again as soon as I can! I hope all is well back in the good ol US!

Overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed is the best word I can think of to describe how I feel.

Overwhelmed by the checklist of things I need to do in order to be "ready" to leave Thursday.

Summer school

Friends

Family

Knowing how many people are praying for me and truly care about me

Knowing that this amazing and beautiful God is with me all the way, nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:39)

The unknown- There is so much that is unknown for me right now, God is really teaching me how to trust Him and I love how much closer it is growing me to Him.

This feeling of being overwhelmed is absolutely a good thing, but I am turning it into stress!  I am continuing to pray for peace and God is continually telling me He wants me to stay uncomfortable.  I know He is teaching me something (isn't He always), maybe it's patience as usual...I could always use more of that :)

So, Francis Chan was AMAZING.  I was surprised at how moving a message could be when there is very little actual "message" involved.  The majority of the service consisted of prayer and a worship song, but it was extremely moving.  The talk was on honesty and Francis said he knew a really good 30 minute message wasn't going to make all of us walk out confessing and never lying ever again therefore, he decided to leave it up to God.  Francis knew that God could do a work bigger than any talk that he could give and he was right. We got to meet him after the message and he prayed for my trip, it was amazing!

It was good spending the day in Huntington and being able to see my grandma and cousin.  Tori and I felt like COMPLETE outcasts at Huntington beach.  We sat on the patio of BJ's surrounded by drunk people who were half naked in skimpy little swim suits.  The table behind us only talked about the party they were at the night before and I have never heard so much profanity in one mouthful.  We were excited when our food came so that we could pray.  I don't think we said more than two sentences the whole meal because we were either too in shock or too busy people watching.  Those two sentences went something like this,

Keira: "Let's read the bible when we get home tonight!"

Tori: responding with the joy of the Lord, "Yes!! I can't wait!!"

Tori's shirt read "Honesty, Purity, Integrity" and it inspired us to someday set up a table on the corner of Huntington with a large sign that reads "H.P.I." in which we would get people to question what it stands for and then share the gospel.

My grandma is hilarious and old and senile and the heat was on when we got there and I thought I was going to pass out but I love her.  We played cards, cooked dinner and explained to her that we weren't staying for a week (I don't know why she thought that in the first place but it didn't sink in until we left the next morning...I thought she was going to cry).

On the drive home, (it felt like I drove for two days straight, non stop) Tori and I danced and  screamed worship songs completely out of tune.  We posted a sign on my side window that said "Honk if you love Jesus, cause we do!" and I believe we got a total of 4 honks.

Long story short: California was amazing, I love my family and I am going to miss Tori more than words can express.

I think that is a long enough blog for one night ;)  I will try and post one more before I leave!