No, the title wasn't just a hook to get you to read this blog . . it is a true statement! I know I said I wasn't going to be using my World Race blog anymore, and I don't intend to. However, I wanted to keep you updated on where God is leading me in this next season. After all, you have been with me this far.
From now on, I will only be using my new blog. I plan to keep you up-to-date with the whole Kenya deal . . including what I will be doing there, my preparations, pictures, various other updates etc. I also plan to use it when I go back as well. It's a completely new season in my life, and I hope you'll join me in it. I would love to include you on my email update list just as it has been with this blog. If you are interested, you have two options:
Contact mewith your email address and I will do the work, as I don't want to include anyone without their permission!
You can go to my blog, and type your email into the "Follow Me" box on the right-hand side.
Easy enough, huh? It's your last chance [not really], so go ahead and decide now!
It is indeed a sad day because I decided to trade in my World Race blog for a new one. I still want to document where the Lord is leading me so all of you can continue in the journey, but for now it isn't The World Race.
Again, thank you for all of your support over the past year! I wouldn't have made it without you. I would love if each of you would hop on over to Simply Loveand subscribe to it as well. Go ahead, it won't take long.
Well, I have to start out by apologizing for the long delay
in blogging. I have been home from the World Race almost three months now, and
I haven't written a thing. I haven't let you know we made it home safely, I
haven't let you know how life back in America has been, and most importantly, I
haven't thanked you.
So let's start with the most important one. I cannot thank
those of you who supported me throughout the past year enough. Whether it was prayerfully, financially, or through reading this
little blog, thank you! Knowing I had support coming from literally all parts of
the World kept me going at times, and constantly humbled me. On many occasions
God used your encouraging comments to truly give me a push when I needed it
most. By believing in me as well as the calling God placed on my life for this
season, you not only impacted me greatly, but countless lives around the World.
You were there with me in when I was ministering to teenage boys who
fight addictions daily. You were there with me in the homes of widows just
listening to them and loving them. You were also with me as God used me to love
on numerous orphans in almost every continent, and to even deliver a baby! You,
my supporters, along with the grace of God, made my World Race experience
possible, and for that I am forever changed . . in a good way I think.
Since being home it feels as if I have been going non-stop. After
resting up, getting semi- used to being an American again (over the course of
many meltdowns) and catching up with my family, I have traveled most of the
South to catch up with friends, which has been both refreshing and exhausting. At
first, the pace of things around here almost stood up to my World Race way of
life! Near the beginning of the race we would joke that, "In my real life . . .
" meaning that our real lives were in America. Slowly but surely though, the
race began to not only feel like real life, but we began to accept the fact it
had been all along. The same thing is happening to me now. In a weird way, I
feel like this past year never happened, and it is as if I suddenly woke up
from a dream which I remember snippets of here and there. I tell
stories from the past year and I catch myself living vicariously through them, longing for
this "dream world". I am caught between two worlds. The past, and the present.
Both of them reality, neither of them actually a dream. You see, I don't want to forget the things I saw God do this year, how He so graciously used me to do His work, the faces of those whom He put in my path, or the good times I had. We aren't called to forget the past seasons in life though. However, I'm learning that, as Christians, we must cling to God more than we cling to them. I want to live in the present, being completely led by the Spirit, while having been transformed through my past which makes me see life in a new way. I am slowly learning to incorporate these two as one, and it's a strange feeling, which makes for some very bittersweet emotions.
As you can see, it is difficult being home some days, and at
the beginning, most days. My entire life and way of living have been completely
flipped upside down. While I see some of these differences as being easily adaptable (toilets, my bed etc.), some of them are not so easy to get used to. I am
no longer in constant community, which is something I so deeply desire now. It
is also difficult when God places those people I met this past year, whether on
my team or through ministry, whom I love so dearly, on my heart. Those days I
would give almost anything to be with them, but realize I must fight for them
from a little further distance now. Even though I was so exhausted some days on the
race and felt as if I had nothing left to pour out, I miss it. I miss the
ministry. Other days, I am reminded that I have been given this season with my
family and it is so good. I am getting to be in the daily lives of my niece and
nephews, whom for most of their lives I have witnessed through pictures, over
the phone, or Skype. I am building new relationships with both my family and
the Lord, and this time is proving itself to be so sweet. I am finding my place while resting assured I am exactly where God wants me.
So, what's next? Where will I be going now? What will I be doing? These are the questions most people have been asking since I have been home, and I'd be willing to bet
you are too. What I can tell you is that the things I have seen God do and the ways He has
radically changed my heart this year will most definitely have something to do with it.
Be praying for me in this area, and I will be sure to update
you on that soon!
I have never felt more loved than I did during my time in India. Walking
through the gates at Sarah's Covenant Home each morning, welcomed by hugs,
kisses and sometimes face pinches (normal to the Indian culture) by the
"Ayaas", who are equivalent to house mothers. Next are squeals from non-verbal
children, attacks of hugs and children attaching themselves to whichever part
of you they can grab holt of, out of sheer excitement . . to see you, to see me, to see anyone. No
words can describe the feeling of sitting with a child who is bed-ridden each
day of their life due to Cerebral Palsy or paralysis, as they are looking up at
you with a glimmer in their eye and a mouth wide-open smile on their face, not
able to say a word. Or when a child who is blind jumps, laughs and smiles at the mere sound of your voice calling their name. Even without words, you can know. You know that while they
may not be able to physically do
much, they can love. They love without reservations, and no matter how horrible
the things they have been through in their short pasts, or the battles they
fight each day are, they remain joyful.
Each of these 82 children has a unique story, just like you
and I. Their stories have something in common though. They have been rejected by
their families and society, due to the unfortunate beliefs of the Hindu
religion. If someone is born with special needs, physical or mental, they are
believed to have done something in their past life to deserve it. Therefore, they
are seen by their families as a curse. What do you do about a curse? You try to
get rid of it, and that's exactly what most of these children's families did
with them. They got rid of them. They put them on temple steps, in cemeteries, in train stations, at hospitals, wherever they could in order to "get rid of the curse".From there, the children are usually
taken to government orphanages, if they survive. Don't be fooled though, because the conditions of the orphanages are not much better. Here too, they also face rejection.
Sarah, who began Sarah's Covenant Home only three short
years ago, stays in contact with the government orphanages, and accepts any
child with disabilities who comes through. Her children have been known to do 180 degree turns, in terms of health, after entering her home, due to appropriate care and attention. Children who had no hair, do now, after being nourished properly. Children receive simple surgeries, completely reversing their inability to function. Children can now hear after receiving hearing aids. Children are attending school for the first time, and excelling. It's not as easy at it sounds
though, because it takes a lot of money and a whole lot of faith. Caring for a
child with disabilities is a life-long expense. Unlike an able-bodied child,
some never grow out of diapers or needing Pediasure. They need medication for
life. It is expensive for one child, not to mention, 80+. This ministry is run
by faith through and through, and no matter how tough times get, God always
provides for their needs. I was inspired by the faith present in this place
throughout the month, and my eyes were opened to just how vital the "little
things" are, but also how quickly they can add up.
It was a blessing to have the opportunity to spend a month
loving on these 82 children, and I left India with a heart to help them in
whatever way I could. As I said in my previous blog, God told me to be a voice
for them, to raise awareness to those who go unnoticed. As you are reading
this, would you do me a favor? Even more-so, do these children a favor. Don't just scroll
over these photos. Take time to look at each of their
faces, and try to receive the joy they are emitting, because I guarantee they
would give it to you if you were there with them. I promise you will be blessed
from it. If you want to hear more of their individual stories, see more
pictures and/or video, or even sponsor a child, visit http://share11.org/.
16 days of the race are left, and month 11 has brought us to
India. I love it here and couldn't
imagine a better way to end this amazing, challenging, life-changing year. After
our three-month stint in Africa, India was something new, something exciting. With
all of it's spices, chai tea, cheap food, color, and beautiful people, how could one not
love it?
Our month began with a day or so of getting into the swing
of things, being briefed about the new culture, discussing ministry options
with our contact etc. We were presented by the team leaders with the task of
individually praying into what we felt the Lord wanted us to do in this final
month. For the past month or so God has been speaking to me to raise awareness tothose who go unnoticed, the populations of people He has placed on my
heart both before and while on the race . . persons with special needs, the
homeless, and widows. While praying, that was all I could think about. Then
I came across this:
"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends,
your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite
you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,
the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be
repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." -(Luke 14:12-14)
That's all I got, whatever that meant. We were then proposed
with the two ministry options for the month . . church planting, and working at
a home for children with special needs. Now, while I may have both a Bachelor's
and Master's degree in Special Education, you must know I don't love teaching.
I mean I came on the World Race because after five years of education classes,
I didn't feel called to teaching. My passion for persons with disabilities hasn't diminished though. If
anything, God has not let me forget it this year, and has only strengthened it.
At the end of various months, squad-mates have come to me saying, "Christy, we
thought about you this month because we worked with children with special
needs!" It has happened numerous times this year, and each time I find myself
asking God, "Why is my team not receiving ministries like this?" Maybe we
haven't, but God has placed people in my life throughout the year to remind me
of the passion He has so purposefully placed inside of me.
Cindy Palmella, a girl with Down Syndrome whom I fell in love with in Honduras.
In past months I have prayed into whether God wanted me to
continue working with persons with disabilities after the race, maybe in a
non-educational setting. Maybe this could be in the form of missions, an
organization, or even adoption in the future. I believe He is going to answer
these prayers this month. For now, all I know is this month is such a blessing to my life, and God is so good to
have given me this opportunity before finishing the race. His timing is so
perfect. Myself, plus four others are working at the home each day, while our
teammates are in a nearby village. Be in prayer that we are Jesus to these
children and love them in a way they have never been loved before. Pray for a
revival in the village as our teammates are planting a church. Meanwhile, here is a video of what is going on in the village, and as far as the children's home . .
The
past week of my life has been completely awesome, yet exhausting. My
squad and I were blessed to have the opportunity to finish off our month
in Uganda with a visit to the Nile River for camping, bungee
jumping and white water rafting! I love spending time with these
sixty awesome people, and my heart is so full when I am
around them.
After
two refreshing days at the Nile, we began our travels from Uganda to
Tanzania with a 20-hour bus ride requiring us to cross back through
Kenya. We slept through the night and the next day went by
surprisingly quick as well. Maybe I am just finally getting used to
these crazy travel days! After a dinner break, we soon realized the
bus sounded suspicious, so we made our way back to the restaurant
where we had just eaten. Our driver realized the bus was missing a
part and it would take a few hours before we could get a replacement.
However, since it is not safe to drive in Tanzania past 10:00 p.m.,
we would need to sleep at the restaurant. So there we stayed . .
tents inside, tents outside, sleeping on the floor, sleeping in the
bus. Such is life on the World Race, and once again God protected and
provided for us. At 5:00 a.m. the next morning we were gone again for
another 6-hour bus ride, a two hour break, and then four more hours
to Morogoro where my team and I are for the month. That's 50 hours
if you didn't keep count.
Upon
arriving, we dove into ministry and have been quite busy this week.
Each morning we walk to a village about 30 minutes away, where we are
partnered with Pastor Jonathan. For the next three hours we do
evangelism door-to-door, which was no surprise to us. Our month in
Uganda definitely prepared us for this month. We walk around in twos
or threes, accompanied by a translator, approaching people as they
are doing daily chores. The routine is most times very predictable.
One of us takes the introduction . . our names, where we come from,
what we are doing, asking what their names are, do they have children etc.
etc. The next asks whether the person is a church member, or if they
go to a church. After that it could go a number of ways. Either
people have no more time to talk because they are miraculously too
busy, they seem disinterested/disengaged while still welcoming us, or
they respond to our prying questions to find out where their faith
lies. We have seen that in countries outside of America, few
conversations are mutually interactive. On
our walk back from our morning evangelism we typically share stories
from and ponder the conversations we had. By this time each day my
brain generally feels fried and I am both mentally and physically
exhausted. We are blessed with an amazing lunch and break until
around 4:00 p.m. when we walk back to the village for church
services.
Even though this week has been tiring, it has been awesome. We have heard God's
voice and seen Him begin to work through us already. We have met
amazing people and have had powerful conversations. I have felt His
empowerment and must rely on His strength daily. I thank Him for
bringing me to a point, 10 months into this crazy journey, where I
see I can't do it without Him. There has been a shift within my
heart and attitude, and I am feeling joy in this type of ministry,
which I know must come from the Lord.
On
Sunday, our team along with another will head into “the bush”,
where we will visit three villages for three days at a time. In each
village we will be camping and doing on-site ministry, which will most likely
be evangelism, preaching, and fellowshipping. However, we truly have
no idea what it will look like! By this point in the race thinking of
the upcoming nine days excites me, while it would have scared me in
the past. I can see how God has been preparing us each day for our
time in Tanzania. I can't wait to share stories of our time in the
bush with you. Bare with me though because we will be without
electricity for a while!
[I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted , and I am even more sorry I cannot include pictures! The internet is just not the same as it has been in past months, bare with me.]
Another thing God taught my team and I during our month in Uganda was about the power of prayer/intercession. We had ample time to intercede together about our ministry for the month as well as for one another. This brought us closer together and resulted in exponential growth during a short amount of time. We heard from the Lord that indeed there would be a revival in Namulanda, but it wouldn't come from us, but rather the church itself. We felt led to empower the members of the church through fellowship and discipleship, so they may be the change that lies ahead for this community. So, with the authority and freedom Pastor Alex granted us, we switched things up a little bit. We began visiting church members in their homes, building relationships with them, fellowshipping with and discipling them for the remainder of our time. We also challenged them to go into the community after we left, to share the gospel right where they are. We wanted them to see that the God who lives inside of us is the same God that lives inside of them. Change is going to come from every believer stepping out in faith, not just pastors or missionaries.
Our last day in Namulanda we had a meeting with the leaders of the church, including Pastor Alex and his wife, the church treasurer, and various leaders who are a huge part in the church. They wanted our suggestions of how to influence continual growth within their church after our leaving. During our month in Uganda, these men more than twice our age saw us as powerful, having an opinion that would influence growth in their church. None of us have ever been pastors or have had experience in church planning, but we have had access to something they haven't. The American church. Simply based on them looking to us for advice, I thought they were crazy. After thinking into it more, my attitude changed, and I became greatly humbled by this. We absolutely did not want to transform this church into an American cookie cutter design, but we have been blessed with resources that until now I had taken for granted in life. For the majority of my life I habitually attended church and grudgingly received encouraging Christian books from people along the way. I knew what was “right” and was a “good” person, but that's all my Christianity was based on. Throughout college I sporadically took part in Bible studies and discipleship, and even though they greatly impacted my life, I never realized they were a privilege God had blessed me with to grow in my relationship with Him. In the past nine months we have had the opportunity to witness ministries around the world that are thriving while others are struggling to survive. Regardless of my disengaged and unappreciative past with the gospel, to the eyes of these men, I have resources that will help their church flourish.
I recently read Radical Together, by David Platt. In one of the chapters he addressed the accessibility of the gospel in America, and I can relate to some of it firsthand. “ I have heard about Jesus' death on the cross practically since the day I was born. I am overwhelmed whenever I think about where I would be without the gospel. And I am humbled when I consider that I had nothing to do with where I was born. The only reason I have heard the gospel of God is because of the grace of God.” He continues with introducing statistics of people groups in the world who have not yet heard the gospel and that they too had nothing to do with where they were born. Meanwhile, we have people in America who have taken hearing the Gospel for granted their entire lives (like myself). There are people in Namulanda, Uganda hungering to have a copy of the Word of God in their hands as well as other parts of the world, while there are people in America with numerous copies collecting dust on their bookshelves, or are reading the Word, but keeping it to themselves.
The explanation for this problem is simple in my eyes . . I have received mercy from God to hear His Word so I can in turn share it with someone else. I can't say I know what this looks like for myself even, and it will look different for everyone I think. By all means I am not pointing fingers at America like we are the bad guys. I am merely relaying my experiences and how God has opened my eyes to a new way of living out what I believe. I would like to challenge you to pray into what this looks like for your life. Have you been taking your American resources for granted as I have done in the past? If so, what are they and how can you use them to benefit others around the world, or even right where you are?
Our time in Uganda ended on a great note and I am so proud of these men and women of God whom we had the month to work alongside. I am greatly encouraged by their love for the Lord and his children, and I believe God used our team to encourage them as well. Continue to pray for the awesome things God is doing in this place!
And He's living on
the inside, roaring like a lion
Let hope arise and
make the darkness hide
My faith is dead, I
need a resurrection somehow
Let heaven roar,
and fire fall,
Come shake the
ground,
With the sound, of revival
"Like a
Lion"- David Crowder Band
So here we are in
month 9 of the World Race, which has brought us to Uganda. For months now
we've known God had huge plans for us being here, having changed our initial
route from South Africa to East Africa. My team and I are in partnership with a
small church in Namulanda, which is just outside of Kampala, the capital city
of Uganda. We have been here for about two and a half weeks now, with just one
more to go. We couldn't be more blessed this month. Our living conditions are
fit for royalty compared to what I expected of the race, and our contact is
refreshingly amazing. With all that said, this month still hasn't necessarily been
easy.
View of Lake Victoria from our home
Pastor Alex, our
contact, has told us from day one that we have a message inside of us to bring
the church, and that he is expecting a revival while we are here. Although he
is totally allowing us to seek God and let the Spirit lead us in what this
looks like, there is some set ministry. We preach each Wednesday and Sunday,
and of course bring some "specials" to worship. I have also found
myself being the "evangelist missionary" I never wanted to be. In the
past, I have purposefully not answered my door if these people were on the other
side of it. We began the month going into the surrounding community daily, with
church members as translators, to spread the Gospel door-to-door. Even though
they are polite about it, people usually don't want to talk to us because they
have heard it all before. Quite frankly I can't really blame them because
it can be very awkward at times. I have found that while Ugandans are nice, they sure aren't following us around and asking us into their homes for tea as
we have found in past months. Catholicism, Protestant, Islam, witchcraft and
"born-again" are the common belief systems present in the area. Upon
greeting a person, we are told to either ask questions in leading them to
salvation, or if "born-again" to give a word of encouragement. Let me
be blunt and say, this is not how my team and I work, or used to work that is.
We love people. We love relationships with people . . . that is what we
do. There is no time for that in our three-hour daily slot though.
However, God is
teaching me about different kinds of love this month . . . He has called me to
a deeper love for Him, to a completely new love for my team, to love people I
don't want to love, and to love people so much that I plead for their souls. I
don't want to love my translators when they make me do/say things I don't want
to. I don't want to love how we do things everyday. In the past, I would have
never been able to grasp the ability to deeply love a stranger. What God has
shown me though is, "Why would we not show people the love we have
received?" This is so true, because I am aware that I am not so easy to
love all the time myself. So, I choose to love when I don't feel like it, and God
is making it easier by filling me with love I have never felt before. Needless
to say, things are picking up and I have a brand new attitude this month.
We are excited about
what the remainder of this month holds, and are enjoying our time here more and more
each day. Pray we would clearly hear from the Lord what this church needs and
in what ways we can empower them. Pray that leaders would step up in the church
and take action. Also, pray against spiritual warfare in this area, as we have
already been targets of it. We are on the frontline as we are doing
evangelism, so of course we would be attacked first hand.
I am excited to share
specific stories with you of what happens within the next week! In the
meantime, check out this song of which the lyrics above are from. It is truly
powerful and I see it as our theme for the month.
If you haven't read my previous blog, I encourage you to do
so first!
Some difficult moments this year have been knowing I am
missing out on "milestones" in the lives of my family and friends. Obviously I
knew coming on the race these moments would come, but that doesn't make it any
easier as I see them pass on without me there. Some of these have been as small as my nephew's graduation
from Kindergarten or as big as weddings of my closest friends. I never thought
I would be involved in such moments on the race as well though. In the
Philippines, we attended a wedding. Now in Kenya, I find myself celebrating the
birth of a baby as if it were my own.
Being it is our last week in Kenya, I have spent as much as
time possible with Adrienne, keeping her company, encouraging her and
attempting to ease her mind and duties this week. I have also prayed countless
times that I would meet her baby before leaving this country, even that I would
receive him/her as a birthday gift on the 27th.The week began on Sunday when Adrienne
and Nelly invited our team over for lunch, which little did they know we would
turn into a baby shower. I wanted her to experience how we do things in
America, but most of all show her she wasn't alone in this. Although many
people close to her have left her during this difficult time, there are people
excited about the birth of this precious child. We came bearing small gifts for
the little guy or girl. I was so excited as Alex, Amanda, and I were at the
market picking gifts up, truly feeling as if I were on my way to one of my best
friend's houses at home. The women from my team joined Adrienne, Nelly's
children and husband, another cousin, and neighbors for lunch. It was such a
fun time. Not to mention they made our favorite dish, chapatti, and killed a
chicken for us. I felt so honored. We gave Adrienne the small gifts we had
bought and she was thrilled! Her reactions to the few items we brought were
priceless as well as truly humbling. The items we brought were not much at all,
especially in comparison to that of which I have brought to past baby showers
in America. Pictures paint a much better description than my words can.
[Adrienne placing the blanket around her belly, "showing the baby" it's new things.]
[The women of my team and I with Nelly, Vanessa, and Adrienne after the baby shower.]
So there we were Thursday morning. Alex, Amanda, and I went
to Adrienne's because she had a scheduled check-up at the doctor's office. With
Amanda being a nurse and all, she accompanied Adrienne while Alex and I played
babysitter for Nelly's children. Adrienne and Amanda returned from the doctor
with nothing but good news. I spent the entire day with Adrienne, really just
trying to keep her from doing anything, which is a job in itself fighting her
strong-willed personality. She also made me read a pregnancy chapter from a
book titled, "Where Women Have No Doctor". Around 1:00 p.m. she began
experiencing pain, but nothing too serious she said.At around 4:30 p.m. I left knowing her cousin would be back
any minute. Not even two hours later, her cousin Nelly comes to get Amanda to
check on her. Of course most of the women from my team accompanied. Amanda did
her nurse thing, checking how dilated Adrienne was, confirming that we would in fact meet this baby before morning. Adrienne's pains were getting stronger and she was restless. We paced the yard, we sat in inside, we
laid on the ground, and we had tea. Any time is a fitting occasion for tea in
Kenya.
[Adrienne and I hanging out earlier in the day . . can't you tell she is in labor?]
The baby was coming, and since Adrienne says it was my fault
due to all the prayers I had been praying to bring the baby in, I received the
brunt of the pain by way of the cliche "hand squeeze". The girls and I willingly took turns with this. Let's not forget, Amanda
has been praying since month two of the race she would get to deliver a baby. Both of our prayers were being answered! Since we knew the baby would come sometime
within the night, Amanda and Ginger ran back to get some things from our
home, leaving Alex, myself, and a few neighbors behind. Only a few minutes
later, the baby was coming with Alex and I as unprepared as two people could be
to bring a baby into the world. Alex did a great job staying by Adrienne's side
and being aware of her needs. By this time it was dark out, so Alex told me to
grab a lantern from inside. Upon being in the light, we unexpectedly got the
first glimpse of the baby (the head), so I grabbed the first thing I saw to
place under Adrienne, which was a burlap sack from the yard. I was barely able
to flatten the bag out in time, because not even two minutes later there she
was. Alex about ripped my head off in attempt to get my scarf, and at the sound
of the first cry, ran back home in the dark to get the others. We can't even
say we delivered the baby, because the baby literally delivered itself. The
first fact I recalled from the book I read earlier in the day was that we
needed string. So that's what I said. "We need string and scissors!" A mother
from next door came to the rescue and that is when things begin getting crazy.
Everyone was in a million different directions as the mothers and I wrapped the
baby, tied and cut the umbilical cord, and got Adrienne in the house. However,
I was so distracted by the screams of Nelly's three children and Nelly herself,
that I don't recall what I actually did within these few minutes. Ready or not,
we welcomed baby Amira into the world, and the poor thing was probably
frightened to have my white face be the first thing she saw upon opening her
eyes as I was holding her.
Amira came a few hours before my birthday, at around 7:30
p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011, and let me tell you it was the surprise of a
lifetime. I never thought I would experience such things on the World Race,
that I could be filled with such love for a child belonging to another person,
or that I would ever play a part in delivering someone's baby, let alone in a
front yard in Kenya.
It was a beautiful night as my team and I had the amazing
privilege of spending the first few hours of life with this beautiful child and
to be able to support Adrienne. We were able to celebrate with neighbors and
family inside the home, taking turns holding Amira, as Amanda nursed both mama and
baby by the light of two small lanterns. I was so excited that I didn't sleep
at all that night. It is all still so surreal, but all I know is God is so
good. He is good to have provided such an easy birth knowing what the
circumstances would be. He is good to have answered our prayers and allow us to
take part in this miracle, and He is good because I know He has a perfect plan
for both Adrienne and Amira's lives as long as they choose to follow Him.
Well, my joy was stolen the following day as Amanda, Alex
and I went around 6:00 a.m. to check on mama and baby, hearing they would be
leaving to stay with an aunt nearby. What awful news this was to receive on my
birthday. I never dreamt I would have to send her off, it is supposed to be the
other way around. So here we were on Saturday, just two days after the birth,
saying goodbye to Adrienne and Amira. Throughout the morning we reminisced on
countless conversations and funny moments we had throughout the month, as well
as replayed that wondrous night a hundred times in our minds. We basked in one
another's presence, taking it all in. We passed around Amira, as I divided my
time staring in awe of her and loving on Adrienne. We sent them off in a van,
and my heart broke in pieces knowing it could be the last time I ever see them,
or even talk to them for that matter. After taking part in the first few days
of a child's life, I may never know the person she will grow to become. I may
never know the future God has promised Adrienne. I truly hope this isn't the case.
Needless to say, I will be leaving more than just a great friend in Kenya, but
a huge piece of my heart as well.
I could have posted many more details in this blog of how
things on this night happened, but that isn't the point I want to make. If you want
that, numerous teammates of mine have blogs including those.Instead, I want you to see God's faithfulness in
all of this, how He answered countless prayers this month, and broke my heart for something, someone, again . . which hadn't happened in a long time. We have known for six months we would deliver a baby on this race, and He worked it out so perfectly. He gave us time to enjoy this special moment with our sister we have grown to love so much. God had a plan for my team to be in Kiminini this month, even though we wondered at times. He
divinely placed Adrienne in our lives, and I could never voice my gratitude enough. He provided me with an immense amount of love when I
needed it most. He led me through a valley and placed me on the top of a
mountain. I have seen God answer so many specific prayers this month, and even
this week alone. Join with me in continuous prayer for both Adrienne and Amira.
They will be staying with their aunt for at least one month, until they are
both stronger. Adrienne's tentative plans will then be to come back to Kiminini
to stay with Nelly, as well as look for work. I am so excited to see what the
future holds, and am confident this isn't the end of my relationship with Adrienne and Amira.
We will be in Nairobi at debrief for one week and will then
head to Uganda on June 5th for month 9 of the race!
This month has looked very different ministry-wise than any
month prior to now. My teammates and I have been in different outlets, some of
which we have not loved, making this month very mundane at points. I can only
speak for myself though and share with you what ministry has looked like for me
this month. I started off teaching at the school run by the church we are
partnered with here. After only a few days I realized I seemed to only be there
because the Pastor knew teaching is what I had been trained to do. Little did he know the reason I was
intrigued by the race is because I felt called away from teaching, not even
enjoying it much anymore. I was miserable and knew I couldn't do it for a
month. I battled with whether or not I needed to suck it up and serve in this
way, while also feeling confident this was not why I was brought to Kenya.
Don't get me wrong, in past months we have taught as our main ministry, and
that is fine. However, this time it was different. I knew God was calling me to
more, but I just couldn't seem to figure out what it was.
Something I have grown to love over the past few years and
even more so since being on the race is building relationships with other women
and discipling those younger than I am. I have begun to see the importance of
ministering to other women and encouraging them through trying times. We all have a story and each of us are
called to use it for God's glory, bringing others to know Him and be
strengthened in their faith. God has been so faithful this year in providing me
opportunities to do this, and yet again in Africa He has done so.
What a blessing that our month in Kenya is our longest month
yet on the race. God provided us with extra time to find our outlet of ministry
this month. While teaching one day, I met Adrienne, who God soon made it clear
to me would be my ministry this month.
Adrienne is twenty-three years old, and is one of the most
beautiful, strong, fun-loving women I have ever met. I struggle with even
calling my time with her ministry, because it is more of a blessing to my life
than anything. Adrienne is currently living with her cousin, Nelly, due to an
unfortunate relationship with her mother and the passing of her father a few
years ago. Adrienne has four year-old twin daughters who live with her mother a
few hours away, whom she does not see often. Due to her young age at the time
of their birth, her mother decided to care for them. She and her mother have
never had a healthy relationship, but when Adrienne became pregnant a second
time, her mother wanted nothing to do with her. She came to Kiminini a few
months ago to stay with Nelly for the remainder of her pregnancy. She is now in
the last week of her pregnancy and we have not so patiently been awaiting the
arrival of the baby!
I have become very close to Adrienne and have had ample time
to get to know her and share life with her. God has used her life as an
encouragement to my own, as well as mine for her. She has gone through many trials
in life, everything good seeming to be taken away from her. I am saddened at
the difficulties she has faced in her young life, the circumstances she was
brought up in, how people in her life have overlooked her and used her. We are
the same age, and while we do have many similarities, our upbringings couldn't
have been more different. Even through all of this, I see who she is today, her
joyful countenance and intelligence. It is obvious that God brought her through
everything in her past. It is obvious He was there with her and had a better
future for her. It is obvious He is still with her today with an offer of a
better life.
Each day Adrienne cares for Nelly's eighteen month-old twin son and daughter
while Nelly is teaching. Nelly's husband, James, currently works as a mason in a town far away and is only able to visit on weekends. They also have a daughter, Vanessa, who is four years-old. I spend
time with Adrienne and the children throughout the day and cherish every moment of it. I have truly
begun to see these people as my family, and have been the recipient of their
familial love as well. They have accepted my entire team into their home on a
daily basis and truly care for us.
Nelly, Victoria, Vanessa, James, David
Adrienne is struggling with fear of the near future and
feels pressure of providing a good life for her three children, currently single
and seemingly alone. She sees and feels God's presence during this time even
though it isn't always easy. She has given it up to God and truly seems to be
seeking Him. I have had a rough month myself with being sick and having a
difficult time finding joy some days, but God has shown both of us His
unfailing love and faithfulness through providing us with a priceless
friendship. Adrienne put it this way, "There might be hard times and times when
you are sad, but God gives you times to be happy, like now. He brought you here
for some reason, maybe for me to be happy." I truly believe He brought me to
Adrienne for a time such as this. Only God could orchestrate something with
such perfect timing. Communication this year has been very difficult at times,
making conversations exhausting. For the first time, I have met someone who I
can just share life with, and this is such a blessing.
I strongly ask for your prayers for Adrienne during this
time. Pray that she would cling to God more each day, that He would use these
circumstances to bring radical change to her family, and that her dependency on
Him would increase her faith, bringing her closer to God. Pray for strength and
peace in the new stage of life she is entering, as well as for a healthy baby.
Things have changed since I first began writing this blog,
so check back for updates!