Starting another school year :)

Every time I have walked into my classroom this week I have gotten this giddy feeling. It is a feeling of knowing I am suppose to be here, a feeling that someone is praying for me to enjoy the start of my school year. It is an excitement of know that those who walked with me last year as I stepped out to walk "missionally" in faith to commit the year to the Lord will get to walk with me again this year. (kind of like a friend that you haven't seen in a while, and I think that is why I am most excited about the year.)

Thanks for all who have supported me to get to this place.

So here go for this school year...

The first word that came to mind on August 21 was light, so I copied verses about light and this is the one that stood out. "Arise, and shine for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will rise over you, and His glory will be seen on you. Isaiah 60:1-2

This is the verse that was printed on our t-shirts the second year I went to Kenya, as I prayed this scripture I know that God will be the Light in our classroom.

The second word that came to mind was purpose. I know He has a purpose for why I am here, and the verse I read was Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to walk in them. "

Please pray: that I will be the light that shines Christ glory. I pray that I will be the light/ smile the students need to see as they walk into the room each morning.

That I will be brave enough to allow Christ to fill me with HIS truth daily and then be couragous enough to walk in the purpose He has for me.

The power to "move mountains": A glimpse into what God is really doing with us

Many mornings I woke up in Trena's room (because there was no way I was sleeping in the "spider room" alone) staring at the intricate wooden ceiling with the feeling that I was being prayed for by someone. Often I would just lay there a while, pretending to sleep, listening to Trena click out her messages/ to do list for the day on her phone, and wonder WHO it was that was praying for me... there was never a specific event, or action that I felt was going to happen, but just knew that someone was taking time out of their day half way around the world to lift me up before the Lord. I guess I QUESTIONED how I knew, or why on specific days I would wake up feeling prayed for, or feeling loved by God as opposed to other days. In those few moments each time it happened, I felt that peace and power, and I remember letting it soak in thinking "well it's just because I have asked people to go with me in prayer through this journey, I guess a few are praying."

Fast Forward to...

Sunday, August 9

My first Sunday back to Sunday school class and a few people mention how when I was Kenya, they had my name at their table to pray for, so they had prayed for me.

Monday, August 10

At a farewell party for a friend, someone who is in SS class (who I haven't had a chance YET to get to know well) says the same thing about getting my name in class and praying for me.

AT THIS POINT I AM BEGINNING TO BE BLOWN AWAY BY GOD. (because I am also beginning to remember all the people who emailed in response to my requests, and knew they had been praying)

The rest of that week as I saw co-workers for the first time at school, they were asking about the trip and excitedly shared how they had followed through the process on my blog. Another wow! moment.

Friday, August 21

Meet the teacher day at school ( I had been in a "battle" all week with myself about wanting to be in Kenya to hold the babies, but having a peace of knowing God has me here to do His work)

Throughout the afternoon of greeting my new students for this year and hugging old ones from last year, in walks the confirmation to my many mornings of waking up and staring at the ceiling. One of the girls from last year handed me three yellow cards wrapped in a white note, she said she had submitted my name throughout the summer to her church prayer room and they had prayed for my trip to Africa. She explained how sorry she was that she didn't know my address there, but had kept them to give to me and wanted me to know I had been prayed for.

A sudden peace and connection for why I am here, back in the classroom, connecting with the kids occurred.

For me, she was a beginning glimpse into something so much greater when we ask others to walk along side of us in prayer through our journey of life. I continue to see how God desires for us to be apart of HIS story, and the joy we get when we have other share in the process. I echo the phrase I learned as I was leaving for Kenya, Do we believe what we say we believe about Him? Are you willing to walk with Him and give others the joy of walking with you? I now believe that if we are willing to ASK others to walk with us, we become bold in Christ. I also believe that it does NOT have a be a grand adventure, like Africa to have friends and family rally around you in prayer. Take a simple step, ASK God where He has you if you can serve Him, JOIN Him in His work, FIND those around you who will pray for you, GO...

5 days left...and coming full circle

The start of my trip to Kenya had me questioning whether I believed what I said I believed about God. Did I really trust Him?

The last few days have had me looking deep into that question as I entered my last week here. Stepping back from myself and realizing that I am not here to serve myself or even others here who have become dear friends, but the God who created and called me. The one who I have learned to call Lord in all situations. So as I watch paperwork try to be submitted, others go on safari to see God's wonderful creation, I am content to sit and have conversations with men who love the Lord and those who are seeking to find answers to questions they don't even know they have. These are the moments God has called me to and I would rather be no where else than where He calls. The last two days as I watch God surprise me with the small gifts of a schedule, answered prayers that only I know about, and peace that can't be explained to return to teach, I see the greatness of who He is amaze me. Who else knows when there will be no traffic? Who else knows how to send water to the thirsty? Who else knows the names of babies that need a home?

We serve an amazing God if we will but stop and listen to where He is calling us. As I go from Africa to America, I will never forget that with each new day He continues to tell us to GO with Him. We have to remember to be silent enough to listen to where that path will lead us, and courageous enough to take the steps that put that into action.

Prayers:
*meeting with neighbors for a fellowship meeting-thursday morning
*meeting with a small community school-thursday afternoon
*spending the night with missionary friends-thursday night
*passing out water from a water truck-friday morning
*completing and submitting paperwork to the new district officer-friday afternoon (praying for a letter of recommendation to accept the children we have identified that same day)
*trying to get paperwork together for His Cherished Ones to take to America-saturday

Praying for babies before I leave Monday, but at peace if they don't come before then, because God is faithful!

God is working things out, will you join us in prayer?

We went to turn in the registration paper work today for the BABY HOUSE. (I think I should mention that I drove all the way back home, Trena is so trusting after only a day of practice)
We were very encouraged as we talked with the assistant children's director of the area, because he was very interested in hearing Trena's heart with the ministry and listened to her desire to be so specific in how God is directing her to serve the community.

So as we walked away we prayed:

*For the senior children's director of the area to be open and willing to listen to the explanation of the assistant, who heard us speak today, so that he can also hear the heart of the ministry
*That the assistant is able to communicate the goal and vision of the ministry the way we have expressed and God would have them see what He is doing in that area
* For the committee who has to meet to give approval to meet quickly and agree that they should allow the go ahead of the babies to be accepted by the baby center
* That all the remaining staff (cook, ground keeper, night watchman) travel safely to the house this week
* The certificates of good conduct, resumes, and all remaining paperwork for staff come in quickly, so the registration process can be complete so we can submit to the government headquarters.

So amazing to see God go before and after us, please continue to walk with me as we go.

Visiting my world vision sponsor child on June 23

Thank you for your prayers for my time in Kenya. I will be traveling to Mombasa tomorrow to visit my world vision child on June 23. Please pray:

*safe travel to the airport and flight to Mombasa
*clear communication ahead of time with the World Vision representative so that I know what time and location I will meet him
*excitement and love as I meet Barisa, he is a 13 year old boy
*fun time together as we meet on Tuesday, not an awkward time, but quick unity
*that I can share with him how much God loves him

Thanks for your prayers as this is something I have been planning and waiting for a long time to do, but am a little anxious to have happen.

planning to go...who will go with me?

May 20, 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

God’s truth, love, and grace are three big concepts I have learned over the last few year and several months ago I was challenged as to whether or not I was ready to put these skills into practice. A friend mentioned that she was thinking of going to Africa for the summer, I was excited as I had been longing to go back to Kenya; I however was thinking two weeks, and she was thinking longer. The conversation got me thinking, how long was I willing to go and what was I willing to give up to be there? After conversations with friends and a growing passion in my heart to serve others, I made a commitment to go.

Trena Ivy, is a missionary serving in Kenya, Africa and I will join her to be “a second set of hands” for 6 weeks. Trena oversees two orphanages and a school for learning disabled students. I am excited to see how on a daily basis God will use me, while I meet people and get to know their stories. Unlike other mission trips I have gone on, this one has no set schedule to serve, other than my arrival and departure time. I will leave Houston June 15th and stay with Trena until August 3, 2009.

The journey to go has reshaped my understanding of trust; God has called me to trust on Him and not base my trust on what my earthly eyes can see. I know that He wants me to see how worthy He is in being called trustworthy.

Will you commit to go with me?

Perhaps in prayer or financial support.

Please pray:
•Physical- That my body remains healthy and strong, that I am able to eat the right foods needed.
•Safety- travel to Africa and entering customs alone be smooth, connecting flight in London on time, making smart decisions while talking and meeting people
•Work-that I remember to see what God is already doing joining Him and not planning my own activities, that I love the people with a love from the Lord, I will not be a burden to Trena but a second set of hands in her ministry
•Financial- I am still trying to raise financial support for those who desire to give. The total trip from June 15-Aug. 3 is going to cost about $3,327. This amount will include airfare ($1,426), food and drinking water ($734), shots needed for the country ($380), insurance, visa and traveling in the country ($787). At the start of this letter in May, I had $835, that has increased to a total of $1,105!

Thanks to all who have already started praying and given financially to see God use me in a powerful way this summer. I can’t wait to share what He is going to do.

Thanks to all who are asking how to donate. You can do it two ways, you can send it to me and I will apply it towards costs already spent ( such as the plane ticket and shots) OR Trena's ministry is registered for tax deductions, so you can send a check to the ministry and then she will write me a check.

If you send it to His Cherished Ones, be sure to write Kenya 09 in the memo line, so she knows it is a donation for me. Here's the address for that:

His Cherished Ones, Inc.
11307 Travelers Way Cir.
Houston, TX 77065