Saturday, January 30, 2010

T.I.A- "This Is Africa"


So I'm in Kenya Africa...yes that's right. Wow it's crazy to think! But I've been here since the 17th of this month.
I don't think I could have prepared for what I was going into. But God prepared me. I have come up against many various things in these first 2 weeks that if I would have known about them beforehand...I would have said "no thank you!" But the 'Lord's strength is made perfect in my weakness,' and boy have I come face to face with my weaknesses.
For example... The first night in Kenya was in Nairobi (the capitol). We were staying at a safe house and getting ready for bed. Now mind you we've been on a plane since 3 in the afternoon the previous day with no shower or anything. I was worn out and feeling gross. It was hot and we were all tired and jet-legged like nobodies business. Well I went to take a shower and...no water! The faucet didn't even have proper handles. So my first night and many have followed where I have had no water... or I take a bucket bath. Before coming here I had never really taken a cold shower but here that's about all there is.. which is just amazing!
The lifestyle of people here and the living conditions are so completely and utterly different than back home. I truly have and am living in a different and other side of the world. Yet even though all the surroundings around me have changed and the people I'm with are not my family or friends from home. I know and am completely confident that God has not changed. That no matter how far away I am or how lonely or what I go through. God is there, He's watching, loving and protecting me. I think that knowing that and believing that and holding onto that has keep me from completely losing it here. I have not had any crazy moments of homesickness or emotional breakdowns. I know that they will most likely come but I try to keep my eyes heavenward and everything else makes sense.
Thank you all for your prayers--- remember my team and I and that we are in enemy territory.
(Me cleaning a butcherd chicken...yes that's right)