"Oh God you are my God;

I shall seek You earnestly.

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,

In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips will praise You.

So I will bless You as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name."

Psalm 63:1-4 

                             Happy Birthday to my sweet roommate Marisa!

What a special friend to experience this journey with--I am so thankful for her! We enjoyed a wonderful bday lunch at The Coconut Grill  (hotspot of Thika) and then did a little grocery shopping at the local supermarket, Tuskys.
Before lunch, I took some pictures of a typical day at Joytown and thought I'd share...Enjoy!

                  
                      Samuel just lounging around. He has a pressure sore so he's on bedrest.

                             Housemother trying to help this little boy stay in his wheelchair

                                                              Can I take you home?

 

Rehab team:)

Home Stretch

During my first weeks, maybe months, at Joytown I would breathe a sigh of relief each Friday. Another week down, which means a little closer to home. I know it is a terrible thing to admit, but I am saying this because of course my heart has changed. Yesterday, I arrived at Joytown after being away for far too long, and I had no idea how much I missed this place. I missed all the unusal sounds of this school. The firewood being chopped outside my room every morning at 4:00 or the baboons that run across my tin roof at night. But I especially missed the sweet sound of wheelchairs and walkers scraping against gravel. A sound I can find no where else. Endless laughter and singing at all hours of the day.

I was greeted by the love of my life--Isaac. This adorable six year old has captured my heart. Even though the only words we can exchange are a simple "hello" or "how are you"....I have missed his smile. That smile just brings tears to my eyes. So instead of counting down the days til home, I am praying that these last 6 weeks will drag on and on.

Back to Reality

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post-- SO much has happened! I spent the past 11 days in Dubai enjoying a wonderful Christmas and New Years with the Terney family. Riana and I go wayyy back...since the day she was born to be exact! Our grandparents are close friends and she visits the U.S. with her parents every summer. So I was very happy to finally get the chance to visit her in Dubai. The Terneys opened their home and let me be a part of their lives all week. They were my family away from Jackson, giving me the best holiday season I could ask for! I am incredibly grateful for their hospitality and friendship:)

Riana, Gulay & Steve Terney & I on Christmas morning

A few Dubai activities:

There is plenty do to in Dubai--I could stay another month and still not see everything. Of course we shopped at a few of the massive malls. The Dubai Mall has over 1,500 stores. Insane. Shopping is an experience in Dubai and all the Christmas decorations just made it even better! We saw the Burj Al Arab--the first 7 start hotel in the world and the Burj Khalifa--the tallest building in the world.

Burj Al Arab--designed in the shape of a sailboat

Riana and I in front of the Burj Khalifa. Watched a great firework show here on New Years!

We also saw the historic side of Dubai, which I really enjoyed. We toured the Dubai Museum and walked around the older part of town called the Bastakiya. We had a great tour guide--Riana's dad, Steve!

Hindu Alley--including a Hindu temple which is uncommon in this area

Made a few friends by the docks of Dubai Creek

Fun boat ride across the creek

We visited a few hotels, which are all extremely luxurious and beautiful. My favorite was Atlantis Hotel, which had its own aquarium inside.

We enjoyed Christmas Day at the Terneys with a few other guests. My sweet mom sent me presents with Riana so it felt just like home. I also watched my family open their gifts over skype--I just love technology. I met all of Riana's wonderful friends, who made me feel immediately welcome. We spent alot of time laughing and eating good food: ) It will be hard to eat hummus back home after having it fresh in Dubai. It was an exciting and eventful break that I will never forget!

Today I am spending the day in Nairobi with my close friend, Julie Carter, who is serving the Lord in a hospital in Kapsowar. Please keep her in your prayers and follow her journey at http://kapsowarkenya.blogspot.com. It's good to be home!

Merry Christmas Y'all

I can't believe it's already the week of Christmas..I have been listening to James Taylor's Christmas album for weeks now:) I went for a long walk this morning around the beautiful RVA campus and realized I really miss walking with a friend. Walks have been a time for my friends and I to really catch up, laugh, and even pray together. But as I was walking today, I never once felt alone. The Lord's presence was absolutely overwhelming. For a brief moment that made my heart race, I could actually feel Him holding my hand. You may think I sound crazy, but in all my aloneness in Kenya, I have found my dearest friend. My ever faithful Savior. He has drawn near to me in a way I never felt in Mississippi. I am reminded of a wonderful passage from Charles Spurgeon's devotional Morning and Evening...

"Job's communion with God was intensified by the failure of all other consolations."

Yes, the Lord has blessed us with the incredible gift of friends and family. But even our friends and family can fail us. However, the Lord never will. Sometimes we don't feel His presence, but when we do...it replaces any and every emotion this life could offer.

So this Christmas, may we bask in the irreplaceable gift of Jesus Christ. And may we be His hands and feet to a watching world.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

P.S. I will be traveling to Dubai in just a few days to spend the holidays with a wonderful family. Please pray for safe travels!

Kijabe Hospital

Since living in Kijabe, I have shadowed a few surgeons at the hospital and interviewed them for stories. It has been such an eye-opening experience. I have never been in the OR back home, but I am pretty sure it's very different. Kijabe Hospital runs almost completely on donations. Only about 5% of patients can actually pay for their medical care. And BethanyKids has never turned a patient away if they could not pay. It's incredible to see the people of God financially support a hospital they may never see. I can feel the Lord's presence at this hospital...before and after every single operation, the surgeons pray specifically for the patient. I have met many doctors who dedicate months and even years away from their home to serve the Lord at this hospital.

I watched one surgery of an infant whose mother had accidentally spilt tea on him. The baby's burn had become severely infected because the family waited a week to bring him to the hospital. In most African countries, a lack of education or poverty result in poor medical care. This mother probably tried to help her child on her own, underestimating the burn. But seeing the relief on the mothers' faces in this hospital is heartwarming. They are truly thankful for Kijabe Hospital, and the doctors immediately give all the glory to God.

Sweet baby with an awful burn

Happy, happy mom--her little girl with hydrocephalus just successfully came out of surgery, putting a shunt in her head. The mother was crying and praising the Lord:)

Slow Down

I just finished one of the most inspiring books I have ever read-- "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson. I have been meaning to read this book for awhile, and glad I finally had the time! One part sums up my impression of Kenyan culture. Mortenson is talking about his mentor, Haji Ali in Pakistan...

"That day, Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I've learned in my life. We Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly. We're the country of thirty-minute power lunches and two-minute football drills. Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them."

As many of you know, African time is very different than American time. Things run more slowly and projects are not "accomplished" as quickly. Years from now, when I look back at my time at Joytown, I'm not going to remember how many stories I wrote. Or even how effective the reading program was. I am going to remember the people that loved me. So I am very thankful that the Lord is slowing me down to appreciate others in a whole new way. And read "Three Cups of Tea" if you haven't already!