Author: Adventures

No Pants, No Shoes, No Problem!

I spent my Father’s Day at an orphanage.  There are few things quite as humbling as ruminating on the blessings of my own father in the presence of 150 children with no dads of their own.  But in the midst of children lacking nearly everything I daily take for granted, I found that they have something of infinite value that I am missing – unwavering joy. I was slightly terrified to visit the orphanage yesterday.  Not afraid of being heartbroken (though I was), not afraid of feeling their hurt (though I did), but afraid of having my heart stolen.  As I have...

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Mario Kart in Real Life!

Let me begin by explaining the title of this blog and warn you that parts may be difficult to read for the weak stomached. As I was strolling along the main road with one of my teammates the other day, I happened to slip on a banana peel and nearly fall. Thankfully, I have catlike reflexes (I wish) and caught myself before I could be embarrassed in front of my teammate and every other Kenyan within sight who was obviously looking in my direction since I am a muzungu (white person). Instead of asking why on earth a banana peel was lying in the middle of the dirt road, I gathered my bearings...

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Arms Wide Open

     As I was walking to church yesterday, I looked up to see a young boy, around the age of four, running towards me with his arms wide open. Immediately I stretched out my arms toward him and stooped to accept his embrace. This was love and joy at its finest. I carried him on my side into church where he stayed with me until the children were asked to leave for their service. I did not see him again until after the second service as I was walking to the market. I found my beloved friend, Brian, running towards me with his arms wide open. A mzungu (white person) is not...

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As White as I’ll Ever Be

Jambo! Habari? (“Hello, how are you” in Swahili). My team and I have been in Kenya for nine days now, and let me tell you, we have learned a heap ton already. When we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya late Wednesday night, we traveled to a hostel in three garis (cars), two of which were on empty according to the gas tank on the dashboard. Throughout the hour long drive to the hostel, the gas lever fell farther and farther below that infamous red E. Needless to say, I was praying constantly that God would get us there without breaking down, and thankfully He did. We didn’t sleep...

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Love is not a language

 My time in Kenya has begun in full force! So far it has been a reminder to me of what authentic love looks like. A feeling that evokes every emotion and action.   We are swarmed by the bright faces of children daily. My heart has gravitated to a young boy, Felix. He seems to find my hand everyday to slip his into, followed with a shy smile. We have exchanged love since I have only learned to speak a little Swahili. I have discovered he is a Compassion child. From what I have observed I believe he lives in a very tiny wood shack on the street. I do not yet know if he is...

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Love is not a language

 My time in Kenya has begun in full force! So far it has been a reminder to me of what authentic love looks like. A feeling that evokes every emotion and action.   We are swarmed by the bright faces of children daily. My heart has gravitated to a young boy, Felix. He seems to find my hand everyday to slip his into, followed with a shy smile. We have exchanged love since I have only learned to speak a little Swahili. I have discovered he is a Compassion child. From what I have observed I believe he lives in a very tiny wood shack on the street. I do not yet know if he is...

Continue reading