A quick post before we head to western

Hey everyone!! We just finished the 2nd week of camp and have spent the past 2 days in the city getting some refueled and ready to head out for a 3 week adventure. Tommorow (monday) we will be working with some youth in the slums and then on Tues. we are heading to Mount Suswa to camp for the week to work with the Massia Tribe and build a green house. Then we will be going to western kenya for the next week and living with different families there working on some feeding projects and helping out at the childrens home there. Then we are heading to Uganda for the week after that and will get to raft the nile while we are there! I am so excited about the next 3 weeks! The Lord moved in powerful ways this past week at camp... Lots of hearts were changed and the Jesus was lifted up. God's truth really does change people's hearts. Please continue to pray for me and my team. The Lord continues to show me new things about Himself each day. I am continually overwhelmed by His providence and faithfulness. It is amazing that He uses us to accomplish His purposes. Expect a much more informative post after I return! I love and miss you all! You are in my prayers. Praise the Lord for what He is doing in Kenya!!

A post that is long overdue

I'm sorry that I'm terrible about writing blog updates-- there is so much going on here and yet it seems to be so hard to find the words to describe everything. But I've got a little time today so hang with me as I do my best to sum up what's been going on in Africa over the past few weeks. The past two weeks of camp have been incredibly different. The first week almost all the campers were missionary kids who had all grown up in Christian homes, knew more about the Bible than I probably ever will, and for the most part were really well behaved. The Kids were a blast and all seemed to just love being at camp so much. During the first week with these kids I struggled a little bit with remembering and understanding my purpose for being here but I had no idea how the Lord was working in my heart  lst week to prepare me for the 2nd week of camp that we are currently in the midst of. I am with the middle school aged girls who all go to ISK (International School of Kenya). These girls come from all different countries, religions, and traditions which has made this week incredibly unique. The first night during cabin devotion we all talked about our faith and the things we believed in. Only on girl said that She believed in Jesus. The rest said they were very unsure, confused, and one of my girl (Nana) is torn because her mother is muslim and her father is Christian. After that devotion I realized that this was going to be a special week and realized once again just how important would would be for me to decrease and for the Christ increase. Less of me and more of Him. that night before bed I was reading in Ephesians and the Lord gave me a verse that has become my prayer for the week. it says... "Be very careful how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." I just thought wow-- Yes, Lord! I want to make the most of every single opportunity with these girls whether it be to love on them, speak truth to them, or just serve them as Jesus would. But knowing my own flesh, I suddenly felt overwhelmed and worried that I would mess up, not say the right thing, of miss an opportunity. I read on down to the next verse which immediately gave me so much peace-- it said, "be filled with the spirit." and there it was once again-- the reminder that apart from Christ I am nothing and that totaly reliance on Him is imperative. The only way we are able to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity is to walk in step with the spirit. This is a truth that I am incredibly thankful for :) The Lord has been faithful and opened so many doors over the past few days. Each of them have become so intrested in understanding this whole Jesus thing and have asked my questions like Why do you sing to God? Can you be a Muslim and Still love Jesus? What does Amen mean? The Lord has used these questions to provide opportunties to share the gospela and the incredible Love that only come from Christ. It's been amazing how the Lord has given me the words that need to be said in each situation-- all Glory to Him. Please pray that the seeds planted this week will take root and these girls will experience the Lord and grasp just how wide and deep and beautiful the Love of Christ is. This has already been an incredible journey and experiencing the awesome power of God this week in new ways has been so amazing. The Lord is moving and hearts are being softened. It's beauitful.

I am slowly realizing the cost of following Christ to unknown places---  it is hard, but the Lord continues to provide everything I need and I have never felt so much joy and satisfaction in my life.

We leave for western Kenya on Saturday! I am so excited-- this will be a completely different experience than camp.

Continue to pray that I would FULLY rely on the Lord every single day. Pray He moves in the Hearts of the campers.

I love and miss you all!!!! :)

p.s. while i was taking a shower the other night it caught on fire.... only in africa! haha-

Africa So far!

Hey Yall! okay i don't have much time so I'm going to have to keep this post short and sweet but i wanted to share and give you all some updates on my trip so far. (smile).
For starters... I ended up arriving in Kenya a day later than everyone else. Rob (another member of my team) and myself got seperated from the rest of the group cause we got bumped from the flight in Atlanta. It was such a crazy day at the Airport working out details on how we were going to arrive in Africa and making sure our bags didn't end up Sudan. At first they didn't think they could get us on another flight the next day but the Lord was faithful and Rob and I arrived in Kenya a day later than everyone else with a nice Sky Team shirt compliments of Delta. haha  This whole flight bumping things was my first reminder that the Lord is in control and will provide whatever we need... and of course He did. (smile.) To be honest I didn't really get the full feeling that I was in Africa until we went to the Market yesterday cause up until then I had pretty much been surrounded by white people. And let me tell you is you want to feel like you are in a completely different place- Come to Africa, haha! It is so beautiful and interesting. I can't wait to explore more. So far we have just been getting LuKenya ready for the Campers to arrive on Sunday and bonding we team as well as dealing with various insect, and digestive issues( sorry if that was too much info) :) But it has been wonderful but also challenging. I think it's safe to say that we are all pretty much out of our comfort zones. The Lord has already started to teach me so much-- it is so different being on a place that isn't full of comfortable situations. I  am already learning that being here is going to require COMPLETE reliance on the Lord. Daily I must alow Him to fill me with His Spirit in order to accomplish His purposes. Camp is coming up reallly soon and I am going to be with the youngest group of girls this week.. I am so exicted and we have our cabin all decorated and are ready for them to be here! Most of the kids coming next week are missionary Kids so we can't wait for them to be here! We rock climbed on thurs and I learned to belay- not gonna lie i felt really outdoorsy. haha but It's been amazing and fellowship with Jesus has been sweet. Pray that more campers will sign up to come through the summer and that our team will continue to bond. Also pray that i will daily surrender to the Lord and have Faith in knowing he will supply all my needs. I love and miss you all!! Send me emaails!!! :)

and I said I'd never blog...

I always said I'd never create a blog... and of course here I am at 6:45 on a saturday afternoon doing just that. A big factor that I might should mention is that this is finals week and of course I'm looking for anything to distract me from studying. 
But regardless of procrastination and my lack of communication skills the main reason for this blog is to serve as a way to keep my dear friends and family updated as I embark on quite the adventure this summer. My hope is that as often as possible I will be able to share my experiences and stories as well as all the ways the Lord will be working in my life, in our team, the campers, the western project, and SO much more. We are now officially 22 days away from leaving which makes it incredibly difficult to focus on school.  My heart overflows when thinking of the ways each one of you have supported and encouraged me - I graciously ask you to continue to pray as I prepare to leave. 
LOVE TO YOU ALL :)


I should think about getting back to my psychology paper and leave you with some of my favorite words from Isaiah 58... 

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
       to loose the chains of injustice
       and untie the cords of the yoke,
       to set the oppressed free
       and break every yoke?
 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
       and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
       when you see the naked, to clothe him,
       and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
       and your healing will quickly appear;
       then your righteousness will go before you,
       and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."