Ready for Take-Off

I will be heading to the airport in just a few hours to board an airplane that will take our team to Miami. From Miami we will fly to Pairs and then on to Nairobi, Kenya. We won't actually set foot in Africa until about 8:30 pm on Wednesday. (It will be around lunchtime here in the states.) So, it looks as if we have long flight ahead of us with lots of time to reflect on what lies ahead. I'm truly excited and humbled to be serving with such an amazing team of individuals. With so many unknowns that still lie ahead, I'm learning to accept those and put my faith and trust in Him.

One of the "unknowns" is internet. Will we have access or won't we? Either way I'm fine with it. My plans are to keep you updated, but if access is not available I will have my journal and will share when I return in a few weeks. So, that will give you something to look forward to if that is the case.

One thing I will share in regards to our trip is our itinerary. It looks something like this:

Tuesday April 2 - Travel
Wednesday April 3 - Travel/Arrive
Thursday April 4 - Elephant Orphanage/Water Filter Distribution to a United Methodist Church (UMC)
Friday April 5 - Feeding program in Nairobi Slum/Travel from Nairobi to Nakuru
Saturday April 6 - Spending the day with Holy Trinity School Children
Sunday April 7 - Worship/Water Filter Distribution at church
Monday April 8 - Brick Making and Building (all day)
Tuesday April 9 - Brick Making and Building (all day)
Wednesday April 10 - Water Filter Distribution in Nakuru/ Lake Nakuru Game Safari
Thursday April 11 - Water Filter Distribution in Majani Mingi/ Visit to Gituamba IDP Camp
Friday April 12 - Travel to Nairobi from Nakuru/ Giraffe Rescue Center/Travel
Saturday April 13 - Travel

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given is..."Don't anticipate!" This is something I learned a number of years ago on a spiritual retreat (The Atlanta South Walk to Emmaus) that my husband and I attended. It really changed my life and probably has something to do with where I'm at in my life today. For basically three days I had no contact with the outside world and it was the most freeing experience I have ever had. God blessed me beyond measure that weekend. So with that in mind I face forward to what lies ahead. God always has a way of meeting us at exactly where we are and showing us what it is we need.

All I can say is stay tuned.....jhd

Its all in the details...

The packing has started, the supplies are being collected and I'm having to make decisions as to what is really necessary and what I can live without. I guess you could say in a sense I feel as if I'm going on an episode of Survivor. It's funny because in all the travels I've taken I have never packed quite like this and I've never been gone for almost two weeks. I'm the girl who takes at least five different pairs of shoes and two outfits per day. I can promise you I have no problem filling my 50 lb. bag of checked luggage. But as I pack for my very first mission trip, I'm discovering a lot about myself and what is really important to me. What are my necessities? What I can live without for two weeks and what I can't? Have you ever really sat and thought about that? What you could and couldn't live with for two weeks? I encourage you to sit down and really think about it. Name five things - yes, just five things that you couldn't live without. It's funny because the things I'm finding I can't live without are my Bible, pictures of my family, my journal, my Kindle and yes, my toothbrush.

When I was told how much luggage we were allowed to take (two 50 lbs. bags) I had grand plans for an entire piece of luggage to be filled with supplies for Kenya and the other bag would carry some of my clothes and more supplies for us (toilet paper, peanut butter, crackers, Crystal Light, detergent, etc. - you get the idea) and my carry-on would have a couple change of clothes, shoes, etc. Well, the closer my departure comes and the more I have packed and repacked I'm realizing I need both pieces of luggage for supplies and not my clothes and shoes. I haven't even left and God continues to teach me more and more about myself.

What I'm learning is we don't need to fill a 50 lb. bag just for ourselves. We can get by on the minimum and that is exactly what I intend to do. I'm realizing we are so used to having so much we don't know how to edit down and just go with the necessities of life. We are afraid that if we don't have it we are in trouble when half the time we don't even realize we don't need it in the first place. The Bible tells us again and again that God will provide. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 it says "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (NLT) So in reality all we really need is one small carry-on, God will provide the rest.

Lies

As you can see I have this Bible verse written on my wall in my office. I look at it everyday hoping that maybe through osmosis I will start to actually believe what it says. There is so much comfort in those words that I read everyday. Today I needed these words and so much more. 

You see the realization that I'm actually leaving in a week is really starting to set in. I'm excited and for the most part am ready to go and serve. However, with all that being said I feel the enemy looming around trying to get me to second guess my decision and that is frustrating. He is giving me such negative thoughts right now, causing me to worry about stuff that I have no control over. Things that I haven't even thought about happening I'm now worrying about - luggage getting lost, missing connecting flights, not being able to sleep on the airplane, not being able to talk to my family. The list could go on and on. Oh yeah, did I tell you that I hate to fly. Absolutely can't stand it and basically it will take us close to 20 hours to get there not to mention changing planes three times! I know that if I dwell on it to long I will actually start to believe his lies. And that's just it – they are LIES! 

With the enemy lurking around I'm having more than ever to stand in God's promises knowing without a shadow of doubt that He is true to his word. Everything I believe is being put to the test at the moment and it's hard not to throw my hands up and say "You're right I'm not ready!" or "I've changed my mind I don't really want to do this!" But despite what the enemy wants me to believe, I know deep down that my God would never discourage me or cause me worry. I have to believe that more people are scared to step outside their comfort zones because they choose to hear the enemy's voice and not God's. They get comfortable. So, instead of being bold and standing up for what they believe they cave and give Satan his due. What we must remember that no matter what "Nothing is impossible with God - Luke 1:37"

God Is In Control

From the moment I was called to Africa on this mission trip I should have know that God was gonna take me on journey of unbelievable blessings. Ever since college I have had a special place in my heart for the country of Africa. I can remember taking an African art class one quarter because the Italian Renaissance class I wanted was full, so to fulfill my art elective I took the class. Little did I know how much I would enjoy it. You see African art is very much tied to their beliefs, their culture and their traditions which is just fascinating to me.

About a year and-a-half ago the opportunity presented itself to travel to Africa. In fact the initial trip was to Zambia. I was very excited and remembering calling Kevin on the phone one afternoon and telling him "I'm going!" So afterwards I began getting needed immunizations for my travels to Zambia. Well, somewhere along the way the trip fell by the wayside and Zambia soon became replaced with Uganda. I remembering thinking, "Ok, God are you sure, Uganda?" I was a little unsure of Uganda at first just knowing a bit about the history of the country but nevertheless if I was going to Africa I was going where God wanted to use me. I got see pictures of the school of where we would be working and the students and teachers that we would interact with, I was really excited and looking forward to that adventure. What was even cooler was that one of Lela's gymnastics coaches was traveling there at Christmas. What were the odds? 

Well, let's forward to about 10 weeks ago - give or take. I pull up my email to find out that instead of Uganda we were heading to Kenya. Uh? What? We've paid our team dues, gotten immunizations, etc. with the idea of heading to Uganda. What do you mean were going to Kenya? I'll be honest I was upset. I was heartbroken. I didn't know what to think. It seemed that every time I turned around something was happening and at times I felt as if Africa was a dream. As I was reading the email it was brought to my attention that this was God at work. He needed/wanted us in Kenya not Uganda. Our presence in Kenya was much more important. So, here we are..nine days and counting.

As the information slowly comes in as to what Kenya holds for us I'm truly excited. The details are sketchy. I've heard of us traveling to tent communities, making bricks, and even having a VBS. I can honestly say who knows what we will be called to do and I'm OK with it. What I do know is that I have an airline ticket with my name on it and I'm heading to Kenya. God's got the details - not me. All I have to do is just show up.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 
- Romans 8: 28

Rock Climbing, Anyone?

I love watching our girls. They are definitely a source of inspiration for me and a few weeks ago was no different. As I was watching them climb some 40 feet up into the air, reaching and feeling for the "holds" in the wall and then pulling themselves up, it caused me to think about our spiritual climb in life and how very much like rock wall climbing it is.

The way I see it is like this...We are each tied into a harness which is God. The various "holds" in the wall are the challenges that God sets before us. In order to grow in our faith we must "feel and reach out " toward those "holds" knowing that without a shadow of a doubt God will catch us. We climb up further and further not even realizing how far we've climbed because we have put our confidence and faith in Him. Each path we take is different in our ascent - some easy, some hard and some where we are required to really stretch and just trust. But no matter what path we climb we can always be assured that whatever happens in the ascent if we slip He will catch us never leaving our side.

So, I ask you where are you in your ascent? Are you really having to stretch? I promise if you are that "harness" won't let you fall. Go ahead and just try it and see what happens.

Reckless

I would say that's is how I'm feeling these days. Not to mention it's like my favorite song at the moment by Jeremy Camp. It is really speaking to me about how I want to live my life. Webster's defines reckless as marked by lack of proper caution; careless of consequences; irresponsible. Why you may ask would I want to live reckless? Here I am a wife and mother and I want to live as if I don't have a care in the world. Why? Because I believe that is what God wants for our lives - to let go and be who we are.
That's my goal to have the faith to follow God with a reckless abandonment wherever I am called. It's about being reckless toward this world and what is expected; putting all my focus into what God tells me and not listening to others. Life is meant to be an adventure a once in a lifetime journey and I believe that by following God He will allow me to experience life to the fullest - no regrets. So my question to you is wouldn't life be so much easier if we all just lived reckless?

Reckless by Jeremy Camp

Every time I try to play it safe
Holding back just a little part of me
I find myself forgetting what
I say that I believe
The promise of Your Word
Is all I need
I'll lay my life down
And give it up
I'll give it up

I wanna be reckless
Cause You are endless
I wanna be shameless
And shout Your greatness
I will not be afraid
To surrender my way
And follow who You are
I wanna be reckless, reckless

I will lose my life
And just let go
Because I know this world is not my home
With fearless faith
I won't be moved
Unshakeable inside Your Truth
You laid Your Life down
And gave it up
So I'll give it up

I won't waste any more time
My life's Yours it is not mine
Use me Lord not matter what's at stake

Your Invited

"When the Spirit of God moves within us, we must move with Him or we'll be miserable." - Beth Moore

I believe that's how I got to this place. God placed on my heart the need for me to take a mission trip not just any mission trip but one that would entail me traveling some 8,000 miles away from my friends and family to Kenya. I wish I could say that the decision was an easy one considering God was involved but in actuality it was one that required a lot on my part - prayer, faith and trust. Something that continues to this very day - placing one foot in front of the other and not worrying about the tomorrow. Not to mention I knew without a shadow of doubt that if I didn't do this it would be something I would regret for the rest of my life. The time was now and God was wanting me to act. 

For months now I have been toying with the idea of a blog. I had a blog a few years ago where I shared with family members who we didn't see much what was happening in our life. I really enjoyed keeping up with it, but as life would have it the girls got bigger and I got busier and the blog fell by the wayside. I few days ago I was having my quiet time when the blog idea came up...again. It occurred to me that I could use this as a means to share with you my personal experiences of how I got to this point, what is happening while I'm in Kenya and what I learned while I was there. I guess you could say a "before, during and after" of my mission trip. My hope is that you will learn something about yourself through my experiences and words. Maybe just maybe you will feel the Spirit of God move within you and you will move with Him. 

So, I invite you to come along as we make the journey to Kenya....