Let's Wash Our Hands

Friday officially ended "Hand Washing Week" here at Joytown! It was an eventful week of promoting a healthy lifestyle for all the children. Posters were placed around the school with instructions on proper hand-washing techniques and a program for everyone ended the week. The headteacher and head nurse spoke on healthy habits and the physical therapy team demonstrated hand-washing with volunteers. Please pray this week will inspire the children to live healthy and clean lives!

Another exciting part of the week at Joytown was the arrival of the U.S. Ambassador. He and his wife visited the school for the first time on Friday, and were greeted warmly. The children performed a short song and dance for everyone.

This weekend, new friends took Marisa and I to The Blue Post Hotel to view the beautiful waterfalls (including Thika Falls). It was a great day, ending with a camel ride!

I thank the Lord for this new community He has quickly provided. He is truly taking care of me. Thank you all for your prayers!

This verse immediately takes my heart to Kenya:)

Psalm 63:1 "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary where there is no water."

Beautiful Kijabe

I cannot believe I have only been in Thika a week and a half--so much has happened!

First week at Joytown:

• You're looking at the new reading teacher. It's quite a challenge because I have never taught a day in my life. I would love your prayers:)
• Marisa and I have shadowed the rehab team all week. We observe, learn, and stand in awe of this team's patience. They work with children who range from the inability to ever walk to children who simply need a brace. It's exciting to see the impact these diligent therapists have on the children.
• An Australia team has been working here all week. They performed a small skit and the Joytown School Choir sang, bringing tears to my eyes. One little girl named Lucy asked me if I sang and when I laughed and replied "no", she said, "It's ok, God listens to all of His children sing." I am continually humbled by these children!
• We wake up at 4 a.m. to firewood being cut outside our room and head to bed about 8:30 every night--quite a different lifestyle:)

This weekend, Marisa and I traveled to Kijabe, a small town about 2 hours north of Thika. It is home to Kijabe Hospital (another location of BethanyKids) and RVA. We enjoyed Christian fellowship and much-needed rest. The beautiful town rests in the middle of the mountains, a haven I hope we can return to in the future!

A few prayers requests for the upcoming week...Please continue to pray for our safety and health. Please pray for patience as I attempt to learn the local language. I would love to communicate with the children more easily.

But above all, please pray I will serve these children daily and continue to learn more than I teach.

Home Sweet Home

The first words when I arrived at Joytown were, "Oh you're Gray, we have been praying for you!" It's hard to explain the feeling of actually being at a place that you have thought of for so long. The word that comes to my mind is peace. I feel as if I have known this place before and I am only returning. What a blessing!

My roommate, Marisa and I stayed with the Wilson family this weekend. They are a wonderful Scottish family who answered any and every question we had about the next six months. We are moving to Joytown tomorrow, but dropped by yesterday. The school consists of over 300 children, greeting us with smiles radiating with happiness. Dr. Bransford spent the morning with us touring the school where we met the BethanyKids staff. I cannot wait to work with the people who love these students day in and day out.

Once we left Joytown, we visited Rift Valley Academy and Kijabe Hospital--both about an hour and a half drive from the school. Hopefully, we will be able to visit again. Here are a few pictures of my first view of Joytown-of course, there will be many, many more to come. Thank you again for all of your encouraging notes, prayers, and simply your interest in this part of my life!

Me, Marisa, and our new friend Emily Woods with sweet children from Joytown

Precious little Janet

Moses who will never smile for the camera

BethanyKids staff at Joytown

Our room:) Bunk beds are to the right

Tomorrow is Here

September 7th is finally here! I have been dreaming about tomorrow for so long now. I leave tomorrow morning for Atlanta to meet Dr. Bransford and travel onto Amsterdam, and then finally to Nairobi. I will arrive in Nairobi around 8:30 Thursday night.

The last few days have been filled with many sweet goodbyes...And Sunday night was the perfect going away party. I am so grateful for all of my wonderful friends! Here are a few pictures from the cookout.

Even Maggie made the blog

Please pray for safe travels on the long journey to Kenya. Please pray for my roommate, Marisa, and I to easily communicate (She is from Switzerland and speaks Swiss-German). And also please pray that I will have a servant's heart every day--for Christ to overflow in whatever I say or do. Talk to you in Thika:)

"You are a hiding place for me, you preserve me from trouble. You surround me with shouts of deliverance."

Psalm 32:7