Welcome Home

"This is what happened when one left one's home--pieces of oneself scattered all over the world, no one place ever completely satisfied, always a nostalgia for the place left behind." The Lotus Eaters 

I'll start this post with my last week at Joytown, which already feels so long ago. For weeks, I had been praying for closure and a sense of peace going back to Mississippi. And that's exactly what the Lord gave me. Our last weekend in Thika was filled with many sweet memories with staff and kiddos--including one more tea party! At any event in Kenya, it is traditional to give short speeches of gratitude before everyone leaves. So at the end of the tea party, I was expected to thank everyone for the last six months--almost impossible to put into words:) How do I express my thanks to these people who loved me and included me in their lives for so long? Joytown has a portion of my heart, and I am forever grateful for that. But it was time to come home. All of my goodbyes were so sweet--filled with more laughs than tears. I've got to say, the most difficult was telling Naomi goodbye. She looked at me and said, "Gray if I don't see you again in Kenya, I'll see you in heaven...and I won't be in this wheelchair!"

Lord, thank you for Joytown School. Thank you for BethanyKids. Thank you for letting me tell their stories. 

I loved showing my parents Joytown and Kijabe. It was such a blessing to share this place with the people I love most! We spent a few busy days in Kenya and then a relaxing time in South Africa on the way home. My incredible friends greeted us in the Jackson airport and I have never been happier to see home. This past week, I have been overwhelmed with love by phone calls, texts, long coffee dates, and just genuine interest in my time in Kenya. I cannot thank you all for making Jackson the best place to come home to:)

 Dinner at Francesca's with her sweet baby, Jeremy 

Hugging my friend Naomi before leaving

Thanks for reading this blog of my ramblings and thoughts. Hope I brought a little bit of Joytown right to you:) 

Safe and Sound

Last night, I received a huge welcome home in the Jackson airport from my wonderful friends and family. Will post much more about the last few weeks in Kenya once I am coherent and over this jet lag!

From Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional:

"My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord....I am a pilgrim in this world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation." 

Highlights

My last week at Joytown has been filled with so many precious memories. I have be able to spend time with the therapy team, and even more with the kids. Some highlights from the week:

• Great weekend with friends in Kijabe. Toured a gorgeous tea plantation and ate homemade dairy-free apple pie one night:)
• James was enrolled at Joytown Secondary School. Happiest boy I've ever seen! (I asked for prayers for James right before Christmas...you can read his story in my newsletter)
• Special AB class party. This class contains the most severe mentally and physically handicapped children at Joytown, and of course the ones with the biggest smiles. They were literally shrieking with happiness the whole party. The staff even performed a song and dance for the kids, which was a big hit!
  
• Singing rap songs with my sweet friend, Faith. Everyday, we meet in the gym and talk, laugh, and sing anything from Ludacris to Beyonce. Yesterday, I taught some of the girls the pretzel--they loved dancing!
• Dr. Bransford's visit to Joytown. It was so encouraging to see Dr. Bransford, especially at the end of my time here. He brings hope and vision to this school, and tireless motivation to glorify God in all things.

Tea plantation near Kijabe

James--so happy to be going to school

 Happy happy Special AB children

 Dr. Bransford explaining to Mary that her disability won't stop her from following her dream of becoming a writer. Wish I had this on video!

I thank God for His protection over these past 6 months....

"My help comes from the Lord, 

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip,

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Will neither sleep nor slumber.

The Lord is your keeper,

The Lord is your shade on your right hand,

The sun will not smite you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord will protect you from all evil;

He will keep your soul.

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forevermore."

Psalm 121

Thank you for all your prayers this last week and for my preparation for home. I cannot wait to see my parents in the Nairobi airport Monday night and show them a portion of this beautiful place. See you in the U.S. of A!

Disability is Not Inability

Today,  I was the cheerleader for the Joytown basketball game! Yep it's true, children with disabilites can even play basketball. These kids don't let anything stop them from having fun--such a great reminder to enjoy the life you're given. It was such a fun afternoon and I enjoyed talking with my sweet friends on the sidelines.

Tip off for the big game

 Boys soccer game--Daniel on the far left is playing with no arms. You can read his whole story under "success stories" :)

My girls--Every afternoon, we sit outside the dorms talking, laughing, and of course playing with my white girl hair.

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."

John 14:18

Good Friends

The Lord has truly blessed me with great friends in Kenya. Some very unexpected and from all different backgrounds...but still great friends. Thought I'd post a few pictures of my long weekend in the beautiful Kijabe.

 Hiking Mt. Longonot with Marisa, Chandler, and Steve

 Fun birthday party in Kijabe

 Sweet Susan let us stay at her house all weekend

Going away dinner for one of Susan's roommates. This is their awesome backporch. 

 Everyone made their own homemade pizza!

Hope Haven

Last week may have been my favorite week at Joytown. A team from Iowa called Hope Haven brought new wheelchairs to 25 lucky students. To see the smiles on these children's faces...indescribable. I was in charge of snapping pictures the whole week, a job I was more than happy to do. The team of 5 Americans taught our BethanyKids staff the in's and out's of a wheelchair--from minor repairs to modifying the chair for a specific child. This team was such a blessing to everyone at Joytown. I would have appreciated Hope Haven in September, but after living with these children for 5 months...I have learned that a wheelchair is their world. And Hope Haven was able to make their world a little better. Please visit their website to find out more about this incredible ministry (www.hopehaven.org) and enjoy the pictures!

 Measuring Fatuma for a new wheelchair

 Antone just loved all the attention (this is the boy in the main picture at the top of my blog)

Rose accepted Jesus as she was waiting for her wheelchair. She called her mom crying, "Mom I am born again!" I will remember this moment for the rest of my life:) 

 Rose with the beautiful smile

Calling home with the good news