Long Dirt Road

I have realized that running is universally painful. My legs always burn, I always lose my breathe--no matter the country. But the difference between my runs in Thika and Mississippi is not the altitude, the terrain, or the fact that I almost always trip over a goat here...

Most afternoons, I run up and down a little dirt road next to a field. A field filled with wheelchairs with smiling children. Children who sit all day long, who will never feel their legs burn or their lungs burst with air. But they continue to smile. During every single run, I am overwhelmed by this. My complaining heart is convicted because I have legs. Maybe not legs that run fast, but they can run. Something most all of the children right beside me will never be able to do. Running has a whole new meaning to me now. Yes, it is still exercise, a release, and alone time with the Lord...but it is a precious gift. I am reminded of

1 Corinthians 9:24--

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives a prize?Run in such a way that you may win."

Lord may we not run aimlessly, but run with purpose the race You have set before us.

Tea Party

After much anticipation and preparation, we finally had our first tea party at Joytown! Last Saturday, we invited the girls from class 8 who will be graduating to the Joytown Secondary School in mid-November. We were eager to share dining etiquette tips, but more excited about spending the morning with these precious girls.

First on the agenda: how to make a proper introduction and handshake.
Next, how to properly sit in your chair and use your napkin.
Then we demonstrated the do's and don'ts of table manners (this got quite a few laughs).
We put the tips to use by enjoying yummy treats and tea.
And finally, the Major from the Salvation Army talked with the girls about purity and being a godly woman.
Marisa and I gave each guest a notecard with Romans 12:13--

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

Please pray for these young women as they leave Joytown. Pray they will use what they learned to be a woman of character and a light for Christ wherever they go.
Once again, thank you Lord for teaching me to not take the little things for granted. Seeing these girls' faces light up at the tea party really put things into perspective:)
Next week, we are having another tea party for the boys from class 8 (say a prayer: there are 20 of them!)

Enjoying tea and cakes!

Girls from Class 8:)

Francesca and I

BethanyKids

Back in Kijabe for the weekend--it's amazing the comfort free wireless, a comfy couch, and American community can bring:) The past two weeks at Joytown have been relatively uneventful, but I have written a few stories. It is such a blessing and privilege to write about these children. I knew they were going to have a major impact on my life, but I never dreamed the positive influence they would have. Honestly, children at Joytown are always smiling. Sometimes, they will pull their wheelchairs up to our door and wait, just to say hello.

I have been overwhelmed with BethanyKids' impact on this country.

A few facts:

• In 2001, the population of Kenya was around 35 million. Of this large number, only two were plastic surgeons and twelve neurosurgeons.
• BethanyKids is based at Kijabe Hospital and has never turned a family away because of financial reasons.
• They performed over 2,200 surgeries in 2010 alone.

What an enormous blessing this Christian hospital is to Kenya! Please visit their website or facebook page to see the work the Lord is doing.

A few prayer requests for the upcoming week:

1. Strength and motivation to serve the Lord and His children in the small things.

2. Prayer that the reading program and "tea party"classes will be up and going before the semester ends.

3. BethanyKids is in need of another physical therapist soon:)

Thank you so much for your prayers!!

The God of All Nations

Disclaimer: Much prayer and processing was needed before describing this day. Apologizes for the length!

Sunday was the most interesting and overwhelming experience of my life. Marisa and I were invited to an ordination ceremony—we agreed and were picked up at 9:30 a.m. Little did we know what was ahead. The ceremony was held in a tin-roofed church in the heart of a Kenyan slum. People gawked at us. People would scream (in Swahili, of course) “Oh my goodness! I have never seen a white person before!” So after the initial shock, I silently stared at the reality around me. Trash everywhere. Dozens of goats eating the trash. Children who looked straight from one of those “Feed the Children” commercials. But the excitement really didn’t crank up until we finally made it inside the church.

(Sidenote: Time is very different here than in the U.S. For example, the service was scheduled to start at 9:30, but we didn’t enter the church until noon)

We were quickly ushered to the front (completely unacceptable that we attempted to slip into the back row) and the service lasted until 4:00 p.m. This included 3 sermons, 2 demon-possessed women, and 1 pastor who loved his microphone (the echo feature particularly). At one point, he was so worked up that he threw the mic into the crowd, hitting an innocent bystander. The worship portion reminded me of the workout video Zumba—people were sweating, cheering, and dancing everywhere. The ordination ceremony itself consisted of the pastor pouring anointment oil from a large elephant tusk onto each new pastor’s head.

Now I am not here to overanalyze, criticize, or judge the way these people worship. It was VERY different than anything I have ever seen. I cannot explain the noises I heard during those four hours. Not really sure I want to. But these people worship in desperation. They are hungry, poverty-stricken, suffering in ways I cannot even fathom. I worship because I love my Savior, but to be frank, sometimes I worship because it is the “right thing to do.” No, I will never scream or cast out demons, and I do not agree with a lot that happened yesterday. But that’s not the point of this post. I am writing just to say that we all serve the same God. And even though this little white girl feels like an outsider all the time, one day she will worship alongside those who claim Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Lord, thank you that despite all of our differences, You are the everlasting bond.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands.” Revelation 7:9

Culture Shock

I have compiled a list of some differences in American and Kenyan culture I've noticed so far....I know there will be many, many more to come.

1. Transportation. I don't think you can picture a matatu until you ride one, but I will describe as best I can. There are hundreds of these vans that ride up and down the streets of Kenya. And they all appear full, all the time. But no...They will manage to squeeze you in and if no seats are available, don't worry, a wooden board is placed in the aisle just for you. Then when you're ready to stop, you simply knock on the ceiling of the van and the driver pulls over. I look like a deer in the headlights every time I ride one.

2. Shopping. (Disclaimer: This is coming from a girl who throughly enjoys browsing the aisles of Fresh Market at Renaissance Mall). The Kenyan market-- Hundreds of vendors are covering a certain area and all seem to be selling the same items. Yes, there are many fruits and vegetables options; however, 20 women in a row are all selling pineapple. So you have to choose quickly and not be afraid to negotiate the price. Something I have realized I am terrible at doing. Grocery shopping is not a leisurely experience, but it is definitely much more interesting.

3. Greetings. In America, you can easily slip into a room once a meeting has started or simply wave hello when you enter someone's home. Not so in Kenya. When you arrive anywhere, you greet everyone in the room either with a handshake or a kiss on the cheek. You say "hello, how are you?" to each person individually. Also, when you enter someone's home, you take off your shoes. Hm, I don't think I've ever been barefoot at a dinner party at home.

4. Hospitality. In Kenya, it is very, very common to just "pop in" anytime. No really, anytime. When you do have a visitor, you offer chai (tea) and bread, or if near a mealtime, you serve your visitor whatever you're having. And if you were on your way out the door when someone shows up, your plans change and you invite them in. It's great--your day revolves around relationships and not a schedule.

Just a few differences that bring a smile to my face:)

Let's Go Walking, Thika

Joytown School hosted its first 10 kilometer walk this weekend to raise money for the school. It was a great success! The children loved, I mean loved, participating. It's convicting that the simple act of walking can be so precious to some. Sorry for the very short post, but here are some pictures from the event!

Loading everyone up to go!

Marisa and I

The Salvation Army Walk for Joytown School

The Salvation Army provided a marching band for the event.

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