The First 24 Hours

We have now been in Kenya for about 24 hours.  After 2 days of traveling we have finally made it!  It is amazing how all the memories from my time in West Africa have come back but Kenya is so different from what I experienced before.   Even from the first moment of landing I noticed something different- quiet! Even when running around Nairobi to get bus tickets so we can head out to our first ministry, it is so much quieter. Hardly any horns honking, no people trying to sell you things when sitting in traffic (which is actually something I miss J– you could always get food whenever you wanted!). We head off for our ministry tonight and 12 hours later we will finally be   

Now about the past week . . .

            AMAZING.   OVERWHELMING. BLOWN AWAY BY GOD.

All I can say is that my team is amazing! From the first moment they all met at the airport there has been some sort of unity that I cannot even describe. From the first night of them being a team they were sharing some of their deepest secrets, wounds, and hurts (something that most of us will not even share with those closest to us- let alone 14 strangers). And the amount of love that is flowing through this team – all I can do is smile!

Yes- this past week has been overwhelming and exhausting. Even though I knew what I was signing up for being a leader and all, sometimes the weight of the responsibilities and the burden of being a leader can be a little overwhelming. As one of my "kids" put it- that as we lead this team, God will be leading us! After running around Nairobi yesterday getting things ready for ministry while our team was at the hostel sleeping, I never realized just how much leaders do. So for all of you leaders in my life- Thank You!!

And when God is in the midst of it all and the Holy Spirit is all around- how can you not be blown away? From looking at these kids from the first night even up through the second day at training camp, such a transformation! God is at work. Breakthroughs have happening. Chains are being broken and freedom is coming! God has already done so much with these kids and it was only one week (and training at that)! There is so much more on the way and all I can say is that it will be more than just rain!