I'm here. We're here. God's here.

Thank you so much for being patient in my blog post! I have been extremely busy the past week, with training and a two day travel, but I am finally in Kenya! Today was our first day out. We visited Missions Of Hope International and were able to see the different businesses made in the organization. We also visited the school there. Every classroom I visited, I felt so honored! They were so excited for us to be there and showed such kindness and joy-- I loved every second of it. We also walked through zone one of the Mathare Valley slums. The ground was covered in a layer of trash, with a sewer running in the middle of the road. There was many houses and businesses, and we were able to visit inside one. This young girl was the aunt of three little boys, but she was their guardian. They all shared one bed and a couch, with a house half the size of my bedroom. Yet, they seemed satisfied and happy. I was able to witness some of the poverty and heartbreak found in the world, but I was also blessed to meet some of the happiest children I've ever seen. Their joy was contagious and their laughter intoxicating. Even in such horrid conditions, I didn't want to leave. My first reaction was a desire to save them. I wanted to take away their hunger and thirst and bad housing situations, but I can't do that for them. What I can do is give them Christ, and show them the love and compassion that He has given us. I decided that I'm not going to dwell on the sadness I have seen, in my first day of being here in Kenya, but I am going to pursue showing them Christ through me and serving them the best that I can. This trip to Kenya is not about me, I'm not here to feel comfortable or for it to be easy. So I am excited to give everything I have to the Kenyans in my actions and my prayers. I already have fallen in love with the children here, which makes me incredibly excited to continue to build relationships with them and serve in whatever area the organization feels is best for the next two months! Thank you again for your support! It has only been a day, and I already see Gods hands working in me and in Kenya. God bless!

Prayer requests:

Please pray for the hearts of the Kenyans to be opened to His love and His Word. Please pray that my team and I will find the strength to go into the slums each day with an overflow of love and joy.