Page and I really enjoy and look forward to waking up and going to serve God through teaching and building relationships at I Can Fly School in Machakos, Kenya! Machakos by far is my favorite place (besides Nairobi) I have been to in Kenya, and I've been to a pretty good number of places here. You might ask why I love Machakos so much, and even if you would not...I'll tell you anyway...JOY. It is the pure joy you see on each and every persons face. The pure joy you see when the kids are embracing what you are teaching them at school despite their circumstances and the pure joy on the veggie ladies faces when you purchase one avacado from them for 30 shillings (3 7 cents in america). One of my favorite places to be in Machakos is where we work at I Can Fly. It is a bumpy, long 30 minute drive to the school but I look forward to that ride everyday because I know when I step out of that car I feel right at home. I enjoy working with the high school students as we discuss journalism and plan the yearbook we will be creating with the school for I Can Fly. Also, we love the fun events we have done and will continue to do, such as the talent show! We also love working with the preschool there. Here are two kids with the pictures they colored. We discussed how God made us all different (just like all the pictures they colored would be different) but He loves us all the same! I love walking into their class and seeing their sweet smiling faces like shown. Please keep us in your prayers regarding the following areas in the next few weeks:
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Preparing for the big journey that lies ahead I've struggled with the thought of saying "goodbye". I mentioned this in my "Currently July" post. I decided the best way to do something I didn't want to have to do is just write out my feelings.
This idea brought along "30 DAYS, 30 PEOPLE". For the 30 days leading up to the time I say goodbye (just for four months, so really only just an "I'll see ya later") I would write 30 letters, one a day to 30 people that have had a huge influence on my life. I could probably write more, but we'll start with 30. I started writing the letters and that's when it actually hit me, I AM moving to a foreign country, I AM leaving behind comfortable, I AM following a call God has placed in my life, and I AM so scared . I do not know what lies ahead, I do not know what is going to happen when I step off that plane in Nairobi and I do not know what is going to happen when I walk into my class full on students to teach to kids that may have never even seen a white person before. However, this is the beauty of it all, the unknown. Not knowing what is going to happen this week, next month or next year is scary, but living by faith and not by sight is the key, knowing that everything that happens in life, good or bad, is for a purpose. A perfect purpose. God's perfect plan, he's gotten me this far, so why stop now? While, I am scared for what the future holds (especially within these next couple months), my heart is so full. God has chosen me, the unworthy, unrighteous and undeserving to serve Him, how could I say no? So, as I face the unknown, I know I have a team, a team of people who believe in me, pray for me and love me more than I could ever imagine. These letters are for you, thank you for all you do. Much Love. -Sarah So, I got this idea from another blog I read pretty frequently (http://simplybeffie.blogspot.com/). I think it's a good way to reflect on the month and to collectively put it all together!
In that case, It's currently July, a month filled with sunshine, occasional summer storms and cookouts! This is my July wrapped up into one short(maybe not that short) blog post: ENJOYING time spent with old friends, new friends, family and Jubala (of course). Since graduating from high school in June I've met so many new people and have really built some strong friendships! I thank God for the people he allows me to cross paths with because they are super cool. Also, Jubala. I'm pretty sure...no I take that back I am ABSOLUTLY sure I have spent time in Jubala everyday for the past month. Whether it was just to go in and grab a cup of coffee to go or spend hours there reading, writing and listening to music. It really is my happy place where so much gets done. LOOKING FORWARD to my 18th birthday on Saturday, July 19th! I'll finally be able to leave for Africa without my parents permission (even though I already have it (: ) Also, speaking of Africa, I'm also looking forward to that...It's crazy I leave in ONLY 32 days, I repeat 32 days! CRAZY just the other day it was 9 months away... Also--getting to see the Hemphills! I miss my Africa family! Follow their journey @ (http://hemphillhub.blogspot.com/) PROCRASTONATING when it comes to packing. I do not have much time left and within those 32 days I'm going to VA and camp. But really...how does one pack up there life when it comes to moving across the world? It's not like I can run home or go to the closest Wal-Mart to grab something if I forget it. I am not sure where to begin...which is why I'm putting it off. Help would be greatly appreciated! (: SEARCHING for long skirts and a better more reliable computer to take with me on my trip! Anything works! WRITING so much. I started a new journal on June 22, 2014 and I finished it today. This journal was not short either. I guess I've just got a lot to say. READING every minute of every day. Im pretty sure I am in the middle of 5 books right now. How do I keep them straight?!? Also, just finished reading through the book of Ecclesiastes. I love it! Such a dark book but I love the truth it proclaims. Everything is nothing, the only thing that matters is the One who created everything. STARTING to write letters. Im writing 30 letters to influential people in my life. One for each day till the day I leave for Africa. All in all so far July has been a wonderful month. I've enjoyed a lot of time alone this month which I think is good. It's always good to just be alone and quiet for a while, I look forward to times like this. Julys only about halfway over though so there is still time left...however, the next time I write a currently I'll be writing in Africa, and that is a blessing. Have a GREAT July! -Sarah Tonight I gained a sweet sister In Christ.Baptism. Cookout. Fellowship. Homemade Ice Cream. Frisbee.
What an amazing night to be a part of at Bay Leaf Baptist Church. Tonight began with hot dogs and hamburgers and fellowship with the members and some nonmembers of the church. Tonight I got to sit and eat with Walt and Betty Haskins, I love their company and the influence they are on my life. This evening Walt told me when I got home from Kenya he would go skydiving with me, I REPEAT SKYDIVING. [I will not lie: I actually started to cry when he told me he would go with me, just ask Emily or Jen Madsen] This is something to look forward to and I can not wait for the day when I can sit and blog about the day me and Walt went skydiving! I look up to this man and his wife more than they will ever know. I love their hearts and the way they pursue Christ blows me away. If you ask me I'd probably say I have 3 sets of grandparents because I would include them. I love them so much. Also, tonight my sweet friend Kelsey entered the waters of baptism and I gained a sister in Christ! This is truly a day she will cherish forever and I am beyond blessed I got to witness it! Kelsey just finished her 6th grade year (which is crazy because I definitely thought she was older!) so me and Katie had the privilege of having her in our middle school bible study we taught, Lies Young Women Believe. Throughout the semester we taught this, we got to really know Kelsey which was something I am blessed by and am encouraged every single time I hear her testimony! Kelsey~ You are such an encouragement to me and I enjoyed so very much getting to be a part of your baptism tonight! This will truly be a day you remember forever and I cannot wait to see you grow in your knowledge, understanding and relationship with Christ, I also cannot wait to see how The Lord will use you to bring glory and honor to His kingdom. I love you and I am blessed to say I have a new sister in Christ! Tonight was an amazing night with friends, family and loved ones. Every time I witness a baptism I think about my testimony and when my granddad baptized me in the pulpit at Bay Leaf Baptist Church. I am amazed how God will use his believers (even the most unlikely, like me.) to further His kingdom. Tonight was just another adventure reminding me of the journey my gracious and loving Father has called me to. -Sarah As I began the process of looking and filling out applications for the perfect college to begin my perfect American dream life I knew that was not what God had planned for me. I took my first trip to Kenya after my freshman year of high school (summer of 2011). Throughout the two weeks I spent in Kenya I saw hurt, poverty (to a level that's uncomprehendable) sickness, thirst and hunger. However, I saw something greater, something that didn't fit with all the bad stuff I had seen all around...I saw joy. I saw joy in children's faces as they put their hands on a barbed wire fence to climb and jump around with excitement that we were coming to see them. I saw joy in a mother when we came to her house to pray over her son that had been ill for months. I saw joy in children's faces when we played soccer, volleyball and even ran a little bit of track (Ha!) with them! You would think that the hunger, sickness and poverty would stop them from being such joyful people. However, I believe that's where we have messed up, we have not experienced the joy they have. We have not experienced the joy in having practically nothing but the one who created us, sustains us and will love us into eternity. Have we experienced true joy? In the summer of 2013 I went on my second trip to Kenya. It was so warming to my heart to see and talk to some of the same people I had sat with, visited with, and prayed with just two short years earlier. When I left Kenya after those two weeks I had no idea if I'd ever be back. But boy let me tell you, God had one heck of a plan. I knew God was calling me to serve in Kenya. Throughout these past eight months I have learned so much. I have created some amazing friendships that I am beyond thankful for. I have been in positions that I have wanted to be a part of my whole life. This...these are the things that make it hard. These are the things that make following God's call for my life so hard. So, in the next short 37 days I will be packing up my simple life and boarding a plane with Page to follow an amazing, unique and wonderful mission that God designed exactly for Page & I to bring glory and honor to him in Kenya. This is our mission & this is just the beginning of the journey... |