As I thought about how I wanted to begin to write this blog, I allowed the memories and events that happened over this past week to flow through my mind once more and refresh my memory of all the tiny yet significant details. I have had many “firsts” here in Africa and experienced things that I certainly did not expect. I have seen Jesus in people and situations that blew my doors off. I have loved people who I can’t even hold conversations with because I know very little Swahili and they only know, “How are you? I am fine,” in English. I have shed more tears...

  Before Kenya, I had never been to an orphanage before. The orphanage we go to often is only a few minutes away from the church we are at, so we go there on Sunday afternoons, and sometimes during weekday evenings. What strikes me more and more each time we go is how it is such a family there. The kids aren't related. There may be a few siblings, but not for the most part. Yet it feels like such a family. There is so much love in that place. It's definitely my favorite place to go.  They have a play area out back that we always go to when we get there. The walls of the...

      Twice a week our team goes to the district hospital to pray for those who are there. The first time I went I was apprehensive about what all I was going to see, but God showed up in a mighty way and provided the strength that I needed to face the men in the ward that I visited. The next week I visited the children's ward, which I must say was the ward I was most concerned about making it through. Then again The Lord showed up in a powerful way and proved that when I trust in Him and act as His hands and feet, He will provide. The children were in there for various...

Squatty potties  Mystery crunch Tan lines or dirt? "Did you wash your hair?" is both an insult and a compliment  Muzungu time vs. Kenyan time  The world is your trash can "There's always room for one more" is a phrase for ANY situation  Since when are oranges green? Mirror mirror on no wall Chips = French Fries  Saturday bathing!!! Who volunteers to saw the head off the chicken tonight? thighs. thighs. thighs. thighs. thighs. Pringles, wafer cookies, chocolate bars, coke, and fanta are the BEST things in the world. All carb diet ...

So it's been 2 years since my last journey to Kenya completely changed my life and my heart. If I said I didn't have any expectations at all coming here this time, I would've been lying. I had prepared myself for the fact that this time would be different though, a different place, a much longer time, and a community. But I still expected to be at a specific school and church, and to mainly be doing ministry there, and while that has been some of what we've been doing, we have also been working with the street kids ministry here in Busia as well. When you read street kids...