Since being here in Kenya I've learned that there's a few things you just don't do. Some of these things have come from personal experience and some from the experiences of my teammates. For the pride of those involved I won't name any names… Here is my incomplete list of things you should not do in Africa: 1. NEVER, I repeat never walk into a squatty barefoot. This is just an all around bad idea. Especially when your entire team is sitting there watching you. Just gross. 2. Don't wear short-shorts out in public.. unless of course you're hoping to find yourself...

     I don’t even know what to say about this week; all I know is that it’s been one of the best yet. I have never felt so alive or so engaged in the ministry than I did this week.      Wednesday I went to the orphanage and when the kids came out of class for break several ran up to me calling me by my name and calling me teacher. They remembered me from the previous week when I got to teach their class. Then they started telling me new stuff they had learned. While they were all just sitting around me the word mzungu (white person) started coming...

It's been a pretty crazy week including a trip to Kisumu on Monday (the reason this blog is just now being written). We were able to leave Busia for the first time since we got here and go to Kisumu to eat lunch at a place that has actual ice cream (this was big for our team), and more importantly the Massai market where most of us bought all of our souvenirs. This past week was filled with trips to the orphanage, soccer with the street kids, door to door ministry, and for me, a bit of heartbreak. I have been praying for God to break me while I have been here, because before this past...

There's a little girl that's almost always outside of the church when we're there. She's different from the other children. I think she may be autistic but the other kids just say that there's something wrong with her brain. She doesn't communicate when you try to talk to her. Instead she just parrots everything that you ask her. At first I found this quality to be frustrating and realized that I had little patience with her. But now she's probably one of my favorite kids that I've met in Busia. She always has a huge smile on her...

Honestly, the past week or so has been about perserverance. Particluarly knowing that there is joy ahead and my faith is being purified by fire (1 Peter 1:3-12). I read again a message/email that my brother and amazing friend John sent me, about being pushed to my end, but seeking God's heavenly storehouses of energy and encouragement. I am learning more and more from experience that growing in relationship and intimacy with God not an easy process. Like I said, purification by fire. There is a song called "Home" that I like to listen to. It's this guy and girl singing to...

     This past week has been so good for me. I had good Jesus time, good ministry time, and good team time! Tuesday I didn’t feel so good so I stayed back, but Wednesday I went to the deaf school and it was so good. I learned some Kenya sign language, got a sign name (letter ‘m’ by the corner of my mouth) and met an awesome girl, Anna, from North Carolina who has been working at this school for a year and a half. We didn’t do much ministry with the kids that day, but I really enjoyed talking to Anna and getting to know her. Hopefully she’ll be...