Love Like Fire

Kenya is awesome.
I love love love love it here!
So here is a short summary of how my life here has been:

This past week we have been teaching children on the subject of commitment. On my own time with Jesus, I too have been focusing on asking myself how committed I really am to God and my calling. This week has been a much needed week of evaluating my life and who I am in Christ. So here's what I got!

I've learned how GOOD Jesus is to me. How much He really loves. Upon coming to Kenya, I found myself in a lot of confusion because I couldn't figure out for what purpose God wanted me here. I felt like I only came back to fulfill my need of love for this place. For 2 whole weeks I kept asking and asking what God's purpose is for me here.

I STILL DON'T KNOW.

I don't think that I even need to know. The good news is that slowly but surely my perspective on ministry is being RESTORED. Not that I had a bad view on ministry. I was just really tired. Back home, I found myself getting caught up in doing a lot for God and not doing anything with Him. There's a massive difference. I was steering away from His presence unnoticeably. In the ministry work I was doing I was running on physical strength alone. My cup was definitely not running over.

This is the beginning of my 4th week here and God has brought so much restoration, healing, and understanding into my life. My COMPASSION has been completely restored too! (That would be the first thing that Africa will do to you.) I've learned that wherever I am called and placed I need to live, first, abiding in Jesus and making sure I am praising Him and receiving spiritual strength from Him and, second, serving His people with all I have, wholeheartedly. Because that is what I am called to and for. And instead of looking at it as an irritating, impossible and hard thing to do, I now see it as a JOY to SERVE, LOVE and ENCOURAGE people.

I have been replaying this song over and over again this past week. I want people to see His love that is like a fire. I am abandoned to His will and THAT IS WHY I'M HERE! (Now I know :))

Pictures!

Visiting my sponsor child, Lucy, in Mwala, Kenya

Africa

Elephant Orphanage

 Making porridge

My Week So Far

Finally I get to update on my second experience in the place I call my second home-- KENYA!

This will be short because I'm tired.

Arrived early Friday morning. Came home, slept all day.

Woke up early the next day to go cook chapatis for Nairobi Children's Home. Slept the afternoon off then started doing my homework, and fell asleep again on my books (theology is hard and boring at times!).

On Sunday I went to church (Nairobi Chapel) with Martin and his family. It was awesome! I love the way Africans do worship. After church, Grace and Hope came over and we spent the afternoon eating ramen noodles with corn, painting nails, and chatting. In the evening Dee and I went to The Junction (mall) to Java House (coffee house/restaurant) and I ordered a legit American meal! Mmmmmmm. It was that good.

Monday was a free day. Caught up on some needed alone time with Jesus. And homework :/

Tuesday we went to a girls rehab center. Got to introduce myself and sit back and observe how things are being done by the local team.

Wednesday we went to a boys rehab center. We started the day with exercises. FUN WAS HAD BY ALL. Then went into teaching. I got to lead a prayer for the younger boys to accept Jesus, what JOY!

Today is Thursday! Went evangelizing in the slum. Met some amazing people. On the way back to the house for lunch we found bed bugs on our bodies! Uhhhhhhhhhhh. FREAKED OUT. Got as much off as we can. Came home. Headed straight into the shower. Correction, I wasn't gonna take a shower until two of the nasty little things fell out of my shirt or HAIR!

All is well! Now it is just a funny memory.

That is all for now. I am going to sleep. Lala Salama! Good night!

PS- I LOVE IT HERE.