Africa, finally!

Africa... huge culture shock.

But I love it. Everything is so different here, it is an adventure with every step I take.

Today was my first full day here. And I have learned so much already. The locals and the other girls here for missions (Ashley and Heather) are so welcoming and made me feel at home right away!

So where to begin...

This morning was a surprise. The neighbor's rooster woke me up at around 4am. And wouldn't shut up. Quite an experience. Hopefully, I will become immune to his crow soon.

Today we went to the Getathuru Rehabilitation Center for young street boys. Such an experience! This week I get to sit back and observe how everything is done around here.

Of course, this is not like America at all. The classroom the kids sit in is so uncomfortable and dirty. Broken windows, chipped walls, spider webs, wooden desks and chairs. Very different. Makes me really appreciate what I had when I was in school. 

But the boys are all so sweet! They definitely have big dreams and believe that God really loves them. Most of these boys are in the rehab center because they ran away from home, were found on the street, got kicked out of their homes, or disobeyed the law. They just want to be loved and it is so good to tell them that Jesus loves them and to let them know that we love and care for them as well.

After the morning lesson, which today was on first aid, we went and got some ice cream for lunch. After that we had about an hour to relax before going back to the rehab center to teach English to the boys. I fell asleep under a tree in the field. Welcome to Africa! Haha.

After English lessons were over (around 3pm) we went home. The transportation system here is nuts! I'm still in shock. Basically, I risk my life every time I get into a matatu (which is like a 15 passenger seat van) or a city bus. There are no speed limits here but there are speed bumps! How funny is that? No stop signs. No stoplights. And everybody jaywalks. Oh, and no lanes! And if there is a faint looking lane on the road, it's ignored. People drive fast here! I figured that whoever honks their car horn first gets the right of way. On the way to the rehab center today, I got to sit up next to the driver in the matatu. He almost ran over a man. It was scary.

On the bus ride home, some young looking dude hit on me! And when I was paying for the ride, the man that was collecting the money looked at me and said, "Oh you rich huh!" (In a thick accent). 

When I walk amongst the African people I hear the word 'mzungu' a lot, which means white. A lot of them know the missionaries here already so today when they saw me for the first time they said, "Oh look, another mzungu has come". Lol. It's definitely a little weird being the only white person sometimes. This whole day, I have only seen 2 other white people. And it brought great comfort to know that I'm not the only one haha.

Life here is so different. Definitely not what I expected. I live just a minute's walk from one of the largest slums in Africa-- Kibera. Today we went into the marketplace part of Kibera. People everywhere. Kids running around. Lot's of food being cooked and sold. Stray dogs. And chickens. As you go deeper into the slum (which I will experience tomorrow) it gets more crowded because of all the mud shacks being so close together. They tell me it's going to be an experience of a lifetime tomorrow. So I'm excited and a bit nervous.

Africa is beautiful. Kenyan people are very caring. The children love white people. And adults have much respect for white people. It has already changed me so much in just one day! 

I miss you all, my friends and family in America :)

Mungu awabariki! (God bless you!)

Afraid of Africa?

I've been asked this question over and over again. And am still being asked.
Am i afraid? No. I think i'm way too excited to panic.

I do wonder why I'm not afraid though. I'm the type of person who would usually be very nervous for such a trip and to be going alone to Africa! That's a huge deal.

I keep asking God why I don't feel even a bit of fear. He answers by fully assuring me that this is His will and if i follow in His plans i am promised His provision and protection.

I refer to Psalm 37 as the Psalm of my life (as cheesy as that sounds!). But it really is the story of my life. No matter what situation I am in, when i open up to this passage, God reveals the answer.

Tonight, I ask God again. Why am I not the least bit worried? And the answer I get: Psalm 37:33.

"The Lord will not leave him in his hand..."

In other words, my God will not take away his protection over my life. No matter what happens, I will be in the will of God. And will always know that my trust is in Him for He has already gone before me. If this is from Him then I am for Him. All for Him. Whatever He wills for my life, let it be done.

19 MORE DAYS!

1 John 1:5-10

1 John 1:5-10: True Devotion with the Father

1:6: If we claim we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

We often claim that we are saved and through our salvation we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. What we don’t sometimes understand is what a relationship with Jesus really looks like.

It is a relationship that resembles the fellowship between the Father and His Son.

That is what our relationship must reflect. One of the many reasons God sent His Son to us is for Believer’s to see the relationship He has with His son and imitate it.

But we are blind to this part of our mission. We know so much about Jesus but little of our relation to Him. We know that He was obedient to His Father (Hebrews 10:7). We know that He listened to the Father’s voice (John 12:49). We know that He gave glory to the Father (Matt. 6:9-10, 12:50). We know that He honored the Father’s commands (John14:31).

We look at everything Jesus is and has done but rarely do we stop to look at the relationship between the Father and His beloved Son. The perfect example that the Lord sets for us daily! JESUS models the most pure and perfect relationship. Not only for our earthly bonds with each other, but most importantly for our spiritual bond with our Father.

Most of us don’t even know what an honest and sincere relationship resembles because we don’t personally seek the face of Jesus. A Believer’s mission is to fulfill the Great Commission given by Christ.

How do you fulfill a goal? You have to do certain things, take specific steps, to accomplish the overall purpose.

For example, your goal is to lose 10 pounds in 1 month. What must you do to reach your goal? You don’t just write it down and wait for it to happen. You begin to work out, you start eating healthy, you take longer walks, etc. The same way in a Christian’s life. We have a mission: Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So then, what must we do to achieve our mission? We start exercising spiritually. Start working out (your faith), start eating healthy (spiritual daily food: the Word), take longer walks (spend more time with the Lord).

In this, there is no room for darkness! So if we do not do this and claim to have a relationship with Christ, we are liars (1 John 1:6)! But if we do try, everyday, to live up to the truth, we have true fellowship with Him and are ensured that even though we may slip and sin at times the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7)!

This passage stretches on the act of claiming. We are claiming either to have fellowship with our Lord or not. We are claiming to be without sin or choosing to confess our sin.

Claim the truth that is found in no one else but Jesus. Take a hold of Him and claim Him. Declare your life to be all about Him.

The most convicting part of this passage is if we claim to be in fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, the Bible clearly states that we are making Him out to be a liar (1 John 1:10). If we are still walking in darkness, we do not understand the will and even the mission of our Lord. His Word has no place in our lives (1:10). And how could it? What would it be used for if it is completely useless in our life?

Unfortunately, we don’t even have the option of keeping the Word around for when we’re ready to surrender to God. “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away” (Job 1:21).

He will take it away from us because there is no use for His word in our hearts, in our lives, for we are liars in claiming a relationship with Him by continuing to walk in darkness. When we claim fellowship with Him, let’s claim it with confidence (Philippians 1:6) and readiness to be in a devoted relationship with God as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Africa

I AM GOING TO AFRICA!

The Lord has been faithful and is paving the path for me. I am overjoyed to finally fulfill one of dreams.
I will be going to Nairobi, Kenya in November for one month to do mission work. Specifically, participating in outreach programs to orphans and helping out in any projects that are currently taking place. I am so privileged to do this for the glory of Jesus! I am excited to be even more encouraged, stretched and challenged as I live and serve among the people of Kenya in the context of their culture and their country. God is up to so many awesome things in my life! I am more than glad that I am choosing His will for my life and not my own.

I am in the process of raising money for this trip. If you would like to donate, click on the donate button on top left of  the page. All of your proceeds will go toward my mission trip for Africa. Please prayerfully consider if you feel like it's what the Lord is calling you to do. Thank you so much! God bless.

Worship Signals by Tim Hawkins

This is the funniest thing i've ever seen lol!

2:20 a.m.

I am so consumed with the presence of God right now... it's 2:20 a.m. After a long day of being hurt and confused as to why He isn't helping me... He answers me. At 2:20 a.m.! You know God doesn't have timing when He's keeping you up at night answering your prayers. He is so good.

This is such a testimony for me because the Lord has been bringing me through it up to this day. Two weeks ago, I was asked to lead worship for Friday, the 20th, at our youth service. I was so excited, and I knew that I had to prepare extra hard this whole month. That ment more praying, fasting, and just seeking Jesus and his word. And i also knew, the second that i agreed, i knew that it was going to be the hardest battle to fight. I got so busy. Busy with working in ministry and making goals for the new year that i didn't have time to just stand still and worship Him. I was always in a rush to go. To go to a meeting, to go to practice, to go to work, whatever it was.. I had to go! Not once did i stop to just dwell in the presence of the Lord. I kept reminding myself- "tonight when i get home, i'm gonna just sit, seek, and find Jesus." Never happened. I felt satan use lies, excuses and restlessness to stop me from entering His presence.

Today was the meltdown. I just cried to God. I was so frustrated and angry. So tired and hungry for Him at the same time. All I could ask was why He appointed me for this worship part of the service if He knew i would be such a mess. It was a miserable end to my cry. I was even more angry. Why would God use me to lead others when i myself needed it the most, and definitely was in no position to lead? By the end of the day i started hoping that service would get cancelled.

That night i came home.. Through facebook, i found and listened to a podcast of Kari Jobe preaching on worship. 2:20 a.m. Wow. Everything that i was asking God, everything that i was complaining about, everything that i was worried about... He answered. And it was so powerful. He said He honors my truth! So when i was complaining to Him why He chose me and why he let me be this way, He honored me. He honored my truth! He didn't leave me to figure it out on my own, He listened to me. He honored me. My words. My feelings. It was the most calm, the most sweetest presence i've ever felt.

I'm so glad that my Father brings me peace. That He calms my every storm. That He ends my every pain. That he fills my dry spirit. And revives my burnt out heart. He is so faithful. And I'm so honored to be called His.

Till I See You...

Love this song:

Been playing it over and over again for months! Just can't get enough of it. 
Lately, I've been thinking of what heaven will be like. Telling God that i can't wait. And just imagining a royal and uncomplicated kind of life. Burden-free! And of coarse, eagerly waiting to see Jesus face to face.
And naturally, reality hits. 
Till that day, much is to be done.
He came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), and left with a mission for you to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation (Mark 16:15). God is calling you to seek the lost!
When i start to visualize of heaven, He stops me. Start visualizing revival! Start living out the mission! Keep moving forward in relationship with Him instead of settling for "good enough". 
Living to love Him.
Living to praise Him.
And living in awe of Him.
Simple as that. Living for Jesus, imitating and serving Him. Oh, the good life :)