"What then, shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
I found myself reading Romans eight repeatedly as Larry, Faith, and I made our way back to Kitengela from Nakuru last weekend... the series of events leading up to that shuttle ride had hit a point where I'd said to Ella, "With this many things going wrong you really have to start to realize its warfare... and if that's the case, God must be up to something incredible or the enemy wouldn't mess with us."
Last weekend I wound up accompanying the family to the funeral of Rosemary's mother, that in and of itself was an interesting cultural experience- quite a bit different from how we do things stateside! As Ella started introducing me as her sister I quickly realized that in a very short time I had somehow found "family" in Kenya.
We headed home the next morning after several encounters with politicians (at the funeral, at the hotel... oh election season...) however weren't on the road long before Nicholas (Ella's husband) started to get really sick- Ella took over on driving but eventually it hit a point where we couldn't continue to travel, we stopped in Nakuru so he could get checked out at the hospital where they loaded him up with iv fluids and diagnosed food poisoning. Larry and Faith kept laughing about my fellow Muzungus coming in and out of the hospital, (evidently I dont fit in with them) every other person entering was a sunburned sickly looking foreigner... I probably should've been a tad more compassionate, but they did get a kick out of me saying Mzungu Mjinga.
We ventured back out, but Nicholas was only getting worse- I suddenly had this painful realization that I should pray. Realistically, praying out loud and boldly for people is not one of my strong suits, I can be really bold and passionate about the word, but when I feel like I have to sound eloquent... I hesitate. I tried to ignore it, figuring I could keep praying in my head and then finally knew this is one of those stretching instances. I wish this was one of those incredible miraculous God stories where something instantly changed and he felt better. Its not. Obedience... trusting God with the follow through, and realizing you aren't responsible for what happens after you do your part and step out.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine from the states was due to arrive that afternoon, and hadn't- we were frantically trying to check facebook, email, and flight schedules with no answers so back "home" staff was waiting... and I was struggling not to get stressed.
Nicholas desperately wanted us to drop him off at his mom's house so he could rest... Ella decided to go back to the hospital to see about having him admitted and watched, turns out he had Typhoid and had she delayed half an hour they would've been planning another funeral. Arrangements were made for cousins to transport us back while Ella stayed in Nakuru but while they were on their way to meet us their breaks went out (see what I mean about spiritual warfare?!) So Faith, Larry, and a concerned about her fellow muzungu (btw, if you haven't googled that already, it means white person) somewhat stressed Joy boarded a shuttle to venture back. We made it to Nairobi with still no word on the Muzungu (Kyle) then Larry and I hopped on a noisy Matatu to finish the trip to Kitengel, from there we took Piki Pikis back to the house (motorcycle rides!) and arrived to find Kyle at the house... when his flight got rerouted it hadn't clicked to get ahold of me somehow but at last the insane weekend was over!
.... This is one of those ridiculous updates that's taken far too long because there was too much to share and I couldn't sort my thoughts- long overdue... so finally, this last week...
Things have been going really well at the centre, I love the kids and have been celebrating small milestones I've seen. Sembeo was able to count to 100 and only got 2 wrong on her math test (teacher Joyce was shocked!) the babies LOVE one of the songs I wrote, and keep singing it during class... I've also somehow become designated devotional leader, both at the house as well as the centre... all of a sudden I have 80 some disciples? I'm actually in the process of revamping the way devotionals are approached with the kids- trying to make it more applicable and understandable to them and the teachers love it. Perhaps the most touching thing? Seeing how many of these kids, when asked to write about ways they could be light to the world talked about sharing with the poor and needy. Humbling.
In other news, my heart hurts to stay longer... I just desperately want to be wherever God wants me, doing what he wants me to do... regardless of the costs. Time will tell.
I found myself reading Romans eight repeatedly as Larry, Faith, and I made our way back to Kitengela from Nakuru last weekend... the series of events leading up to that shuttle ride had hit a point where I'd said to Ella, "With this many things going wrong you really have to start to realize its warfare... and if that's the case, God must be up to something incredible or the enemy wouldn't mess with us."
Last weekend I wound up accompanying the family to the funeral of Rosemary's mother, that in and of itself was an interesting cultural experience- quite a bit different from how we do things stateside! As Ella started introducing me as her sister I quickly realized that in a very short time I had somehow found "family" in Kenya.
We headed home the next morning after several encounters with politicians (at the funeral, at the hotel... oh election season...) however weren't on the road long before Nicholas (Ella's husband) started to get really sick- Ella took over on driving but eventually it hit a point where we couldn't continue to travel, we stopped in Nakuru so he could get checked out at the hospital where they loaded him up with iv fluids and diagnosed food poisoning. Larry and Faith kept laughing about my fellow Muzungus coming in and out of the hospital, (evidently I dont fit in with them) every other person entering was a sunburned sickly looking foreigner... I probably should've been a tad more compassionate, but they did get a kick out of me saying Mzungu Mjinga.
We ventured back out, but Nicholas was only getting worse- I suddenly had this painful realization that I should pray. Realistically, praying out loud and boldly for people is not one of my strong suits, I can be really bold and passionate about the word, but when I feel like I have to sound eloquent... I hesitate. I tried to ignore it, figuring I could keep praying in my head and then finally knew this is one of those stretching instances. I wish this was one of those incredible miraculous God stories where something instantly changed and he felt better. Its not. Obedience... trusting God with the follow through, and realizing you aren't responsible for what happens after you do your part and step out.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine from the states was due to arrive that afternoon, and hadn't- we were frantically trying to check facebook, email, and flight schedules with no answers so back "home" staff was waiting... and I was struggling not to get stressed.
Nicholas desperately wanted us to drop him off at his mom's house so he could rest... Ella decided to go back to the hospital to see about having him admitted and watched, turns out he had Typhoid and had she delayed half an hour they would've been planning another funeral. Arrangements were made for cousins to transport us back while Ella stayed in Nakuru but while they were on their way to meet us their breaks went out (see what I mean about spiritual warfare?!) So Faith, Larry, and a concerned about her fellow muzungu (btw, if you haven't googled that already, it means white person) somewhat stressed Joy boarded a shuttle to venture back. We made it to Nairobi with still no word on the Muzungu (Kyle) then Larry and I hopped on a noisy Matatu to finish the trip to Kitengel, from there we took Piki Pikis back to the house (motorcycle rides!) and arrived to find Kyle at the house... when his flight got rerouted it hadn't clicked to get ahold of me somehow but at last the insane weekend was over!
.... This is one of those ridiculous updates that's taken far too long because there was too much to share and I couldn't sort my thoughts- long overdue... so finally, this last week...
Things have been going really well at the centre, I love the kids and have been celebrating small milestones I've seen. Sembeo was able to count to 100 and only got 2 wrong on her math test (teacher Joyce was shocked!) the babies LOVE one of the songs I wrote, and keep singing it during class... I've also somehow become designated devotional leader, both at the house as well as the centre... all of a sudden I have 80 some disciples? I'm actually in the process of revamping the way devotionals are approached with the kids- trying to make it more applicable and understandable to them and the teachers love it. Perhaps the most touching thing? Seeing how many of these kids, when asked to write about ways they could be light to the world talked about sharing with the poor and needy. Humbling.
In other news, my heart hurts to stay longer... I just desperately want to be wherever God wants me, doing what he wants me to do... regardless of the costs. Time will tell.
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