The first 10 days

I’m not really sure how to describe the past 10 days. It’s been a rollercoaster, a blur. Saying goodbye to my parents at the airport, knowing my Dad was wearing sunglasses inside just so I wouldn’t see him cry and hearing his heartbeat fast as we hugged goodbye. Flying alone the same route I had flown a month before with friends, excited and nervous for what was to come or that I’d miss a flight. Receiving an email in the London airport that my driver couldn’t pick me up at the Nairobi airport and hoping and praying to God He would take care of me as I didn’t know the address I was going or have any minutes on my phone and not sure what to do. Praising God when another driver, David, was able to pick me up and he knew so many Mt. Bethel names it was comforting. David also drove me from Nairobi to Karima and was a true God-send. We spent hours talking about Jesus and praising Him together. I’m completely in awe of a God so big, powerful, and uniting that this man who didn’t receive his first pair of shoes until he was ten and didn’t always have enough food – a life so different from mine – yet in the Lord we were instantly bonded and able to talk and encourage one another for hours. Being overwhelmed by a joyous swarm of kids as I arrived at Tumaini Children’s home on Saturday. Laughing as a chicken that was tithed at church on Sunday was auctioned off, piano still playing slow music in the background. Feeling miserably cold and hungry as ugali & some green stuff I don’t even know how to describe every night isn’t really that filling to mzungos stomachs. Crying as I held and prayed a sick child as she tried to fall asleep because she couldn’t go to the hospital until morning. Laughing as the younger children and I try to teach each other games & dances while the older children mostly watch in amusement of me making a fool of myself. Praising God as Faith, who has been sick since I arrived, was completely healed and we laughed & sang together for the first time. Feeling incredible joy when I made one of the older girls who always has an attitude and hard expression laugh. Leaping for joy when Pastor Jumba was supportive of me needing to spend personal time in the Word & prayer everyday, even if this means I have to start my work day alittle later. Missing the team as I spent the day in Naviasha and realized I was in the same market we had visited before. The people here are so welcoming, so friendly, so wonderful – as so many are completely sold-out for Jesus. I never expected to feel so lonely, yet I think I just miss my friends and family back home who I can instantly have a deep conversation with at a drop of a hat. I know it will just take time to overcome the language barrier and to build relationships with the children and staff here. Honestly, its been harder adjusting than I thought – but each time I come to the point of tears the Lord has someone from home send a text, a child come up to hug me, or a staff member share their heart and testimony for the Lord out of the blew. His is my strength and song and I have never meant that more in my life. I feel completely silly even calling adjusting to the climate, food, and way of life here a struggle because I know there are so many countless others out their more hungery and cold than I – and they don’t have something I have that means everything – a kinship with God who literally is my warmth and food. There are so many things I liked to share, but know its all just a bit overwhelming right now. Please pray for these children. I get angery when I think about how so many were abused or rejected by their parents. I feel overwhelming pain as they share stories of their parents dieing or not having enough money to feed them. I feel like I’m staring at the face of Jesus as I watch the older girls taking care of an infant they found literally abandoned on the street – showing a love to a stanger that maybe they have never known from their own families. And that is one of the biggest joys to me being here – they stress over and over – this is NOT a “Christian organization” or “Christian business” – Tumaini is a Christian family. They call their caretakers Aunt & Uncle. They love one another, argue with one another, share with one another, eat, dance, sing, sleep, and play with one another – just like a true family. Pray and sing with me. “Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides through the deserts; His name is the Lord; exalt before Him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home…” – Psalm 68:4-6