Just a glimpse...

This is the scenery from the fourth floor of the Hope Center that I work at everyday in Kenya. It is just a glimpse of the conditions of the Mathare slums that surround the Center. There are at least five other slum districts within general Nairobi area.

Do not be fooled by the sight though. I went to the most beautiful church in the world in these slums; tin walls, a tarp roof, and wooden benches. What could be more right?

I am absolutely confident that this is one of Christ's favorite places on earth.

Where I'm supposed to be...

Sometimes when I find myself discouraged, tired, stressed, or lonely, I look at this picture. I remember why I am so very far away from home this summer. I remember why God has brought me here. I am convinced that there is no where else I am supposed to be right now...no where else but in Africa-Kenya-Nairobi-Mathare.

This will continue to be home for the next five weeks.
It is good to be home.

Quick...

I have a quick minute to post for ya'll.

1. As of Thursday, I am here safe and sound with my teammates. We spent two days traveling by car, bus, and plane through Chicago, London, and finally Kenya.
2. Nairobi is great and the adventures in the city are endless.
3. I am staying in a hostel run by Christians which is right next to the University of Nairobi; it's a great location. We can walk into the city anytime we want. And we also have a great opportunity to minister to the students.
4. The Kenyans are beautiful, warm, and welcoming.
5. I love my team. We are carrying each other through these experiences.
6. I am almost fully adjusted to the time change. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night here and it's only 10:30 at home.
7. My days are really busy working at the Mission of Hope International center in Pangani.I love it.
8. The Mathare slums break my heart. I will post pictures, however they will not give the poverty justice.
9. I see God moving in Kenya. The people have such faith and hope that their nation will be restored once again. I am endlessly humbled by them.
10. I have zero complaints. I feel so thankful for this opportunity and for the people praying and supporting me from home. Don't worry much about me. I have a flock of people here who are quickly becoming my family.

Be hearing from me soon :)

life lessons from some monkeys

My little "Cabin Monkeys," as they dubbed themselves, waiting for canteen.

Craft time! We made popsicle stick houses to illustrate our mission, which was Casas por Christo.

Camp was an amazing time. I was a cabin mom for five VERY energetic little girls and the craft director for the whole group, which was geat fun, because little kids+glue+paint=chaos. They were so proud of their little houses, even the ones that didn't exactly end up looking like houses.

When my girls wouldn't go to sleep the first night, I wasn't sure what I'd gotten myself into, but watching them interact with each other, I realized that their spirit is what the world is missing.

They came into camp knowing maybe one or two other people from their churches, but they just jump in and make friends, no matter what. I had one of the most outgoing, talkative girls in my cabin, as well as one of the shyest, and they were best friends by the time we left. There's hardly any pressure to impress anyone or be something you're not, and they just love everyone they meet.

More than that, watching them sing praise and worship songs during our sessions and at campfire, you can feel the joy just radiating. It's a pure and unquestioning faith for them; it's not about what they can get out of it, or what God can do for them. They just love him because, as my girls LOUDLY sang coming back from campfire, "Jesus Loves Us."

All my girls drew me pictures the last day and then rubbed body wash on them so they would smell good, and a few of the boys even painted individual popsicle sticks for me.When two of our kids got hurt at the pool in a freak accident that required five stitches and two staples, every kid asked how if they were okay, and my girls said a special bedtime prayer for them, even thouht htey didn't know them at all. They just love people-it's excellent to watch.

I wish we could all just remember what it's like to be kids sometimes...

Swinging away...

So I figured it was about time I put up a new blog. I dont have any cool pictures like Bethany, sorry.

Summer is still crazy with class and internship but I am still really enjoying working at Christian Financial Resource. Last weekend I got to travel southeast to River Run Christian Church - Brevard campus. This was a cool experience for me because I used to work as a student volunteer for the originial church plant River Run in Oviedo, FL. Well in the past few years RR has grown and were able to reach out for this "daugher" church in Brevard! I got to see some old friends and see the work that the Lord is doing down there. They have revamped an old building and made it into quite an attractive location.

The following day CFR put on a state-wide ministers golf tournament. Again I enjoyed this because some of the guy I went to school with at Florida Christian are now youth ministers and showed up for this event. I was teamed with a father and two sons from Venice beach, and had a great day talking with them. The father actually had a voice that sounded exactly like Pete van Weren's (Braves announcer) so that put me at ease and at home! Our team actually won second place, but I found out that day that its true what they taught me in business classes. You do need to learn how to play golf!

In the office I have days that I get the "intern" jobs like stuffing 3000 brochures or doing "grocery" shopping, but then I also have days that I am putting portfolios together, designing brochures for new campaigns, and going over financial reports.

All in all I am really enjoying this opportunity, and looking forward to what God has in store the rest of the summer!

popsicle sticks, mountains, and fireworks

reading everyone else's posts here makes me feel pretty silly.

they're doing amazing things, all over the world, and i'm still in little Peachtree City.

BUT i guess i believe that even if i'm not thousands of miles away, or if i don't have some amazing job, what i do can still change the world, even if it's one high schooler at a time.

when i was little, i used to go to camp in the summer with the kids from my church, and since then, i've wanted to work with the kids at that camp. tomorrow, that finally gets to happen. i'm working the first-timers camp this week, which means i'll be spending the next three days with 1st and 2nd graders as the craft director. we're building and painting popsicle stick houses since our mission is for Casas por Cristo. i also get to take three of my high school girls as my helpers for the week.

after camp, the summer just sort of jumps into insane gear, from the cabin trip, to Kentucky, VBS, middle school camp, July 4th, the beach retreat, CIY, and then back to school :) it's a never ending stream of packing, unpacking, and doing laundry, but i'm so excited. for the first time in a long time, i feel like i'm where i need to be; that what i'm doing might actually have an impact on someone else.

i have no idea what's coming, or how things are going to turn out, and i'm thrilled to pieces. God's got it figured out.

so i'm praying for peace and patience, strength and courage, energy and excellence.

bring on the campers, i'm so ready!

Differences...and the life

As I am sure all would realize culturally I am in another world. I am really being stretched and am beyond thrilled because of this. My eyes are being open to so much and i feel like my relationship with God is growing to a whole new level because of this!
The language barrier is one of the hardest things to deal with. I am use to conversation and using it as my way to help others but the majority of the time i am with people who know as much English as I know Arabic. The Coffee house is the only place where i can use my natural gifts; and is one of my favorite times during my week, so far.
Another huge change for me is the dress and the reason for this. While men can wear whatever they wish, the woman need to be covered at all times in public. When going out for everyday things like walks, or going to the center for teaching aerobics the least I should wear is long capris and a shirt covering all of my upper arms. Of course no one can make us wear anything but culturally it is horrible to wear less. In aerobics I and my sister-in-law wore shorts, which the woman were wow"ed" by. They did not know they were even in existence for woman. When we (American woman) are in direct contact with people we are establishing relationships with, we are even more covered. Typical dress is pants and a long sleeve shirt that is long. Did I mention this is in 105 degree weather?
Although it is uncomfortable with the extreme heat I have learned to appreciate the coverage in the clothing we wear. This is due to the way men view woman here. Woman are things to be owned, American woman are looked at as the highest prize. This is not in a honored way where the woman are held in high esteem but in a way more degrading than I can even begin to explain.In the states woman are use to going to Wal-Mart and have men make comments or stare. My brother says this, as disgusting as this is, in the mind of those American men, is slightly a compliment because they only do this to woman they find attractive. With the men here, it is different and you can see it by just the look in their eye. When they stare they are raping you and conquering you in their minds. You can't make eye contact with them and make them stop looking because first of all,that only makes them feel like you are inviting them to continue and second of all, even other men can not make the Arab men look away with eye contact.
This was beginning to overwhelm me a little (culture shock) but in the midst of this I have been going through the best mentoring I have ever been under, from my sister-in-law! Then God truly has shown me more of Him. I feel more whole than i have felt in years. I can see God and things he is calling me to in a clear light. So through a time where logically i should be feeling more down and oppressed emotionally I am quite the opposite....
What I should and long to write next is all the amazing ways God is through all this and the greatness he is reveling to me about himself but I can't. The words just don't exist and the restrictions i have limit my choice of stories to explain. So this post is cut in an unfinished way, maybe only for God to work more...