Madagascar

A video I made documenting our 12 day Madagascar adventure! ha! Enjoy :)

"Jesus is my hope, I know He stills the wind.
So take my very life away, as long as I get Him."

pumpkin post

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.
Things have been pretty busy and honestly...I haven't been quite sure what to say.
I think somethings are better left unsaid, ya know?
That's a lesson I've learned the hard way. ha.

but....I leave Kenya in 48 days (thanks for Ashley A's caterpillar countdown).
And that is blowing my mind. (I'll post on that later.)

Things have been a little tense here in Nairobi the past week, but I am safe and well.
I was supposed to run the 10k in the Nairobi Marathon tomorrow, but will not be running due to security alerts and threats made against Nairobi. I'm pretty bummed...a good run would be fun right now, but I think it's best I listen to my mission's directions and not push it.

I've been teaching at the youth group here that I've gotten involved with on Sunday nights. I'm loving it! The kids are so awesome and teaching/hanging out with that age is one of my very favorite things in the world!!
Makes me miss some other really special guys/gals back in the states (shout out to my west palm crew -love you guys!)

This week I've really felt loved by God. And I know that I always am, but I've just felt it more than normal the past few days, and I'm thankful for that. I am so unworthy, yet He chooses to love me. and change me. and use me.
He is worthy.

My grandma has been in the hospital this week - she had several strokes and now is in a rehab/nursing home type place to recover.
In some ways, my heart has been elsewhere - longing to be home with my family.
It really got me thinking about how my heart really is in so many places. I mean, I'm here in Kenya and love it and can't even imagine leaving, but a part of my heart is also in Pace with my family. And a big chunk is in Gainesville. And West Palm. And Peru. And Nashville, etc, etc...and all these places that I've gotten the opportunity to live and places where my loved ones are.

And it's a good reminder that my heart will never have a home here on earth.
Because as much as this little heart is spread across the U.S. and the world...more than anything it longs for it's true home.

But anyways, it's my bedtime. Love you guys!
In case I don't say it enough- thanks so much for your prayers, sweet messages and emails, and encouraging words!


Tonight I had some friends over and we carved pumpkins. A lot of fun!
Kenyan pumpkins are different than American ones. ha.

[been obsessed with this song "jealous". okay now i'm really done.]

I could do this forever.

I keep praying for God to speak to me, but today it hit me...that maybe He already is. and has been.

"the Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."
Psalm 16:5-6

happy

note to self: don't reminisce at midnight when you're 8,000 miles from home.
a few pictures that made me smile tonight....


belongings!!



my penske partner.

my bestie.

obama's funeral. :(

islands of adventure.

the picture that made us famous...

SB 98!!

THE combo cake!!!

foamhenge.

kenya

So in case you haven't been keeping up with the news on my side of the world, here's an update.

In the past month, four people have been kidnapped from Kenya by Somalis. In response to these kidnappings, Kenya has sent troops into Somalia this week. There have been threats from al-Shabab, a terrorist group, of attacks on Kenya unless the troops withdraw.
We have been advised to use extra caution in the city.

Please keep Kenya and it's leadership in your prayers.
Obviously, I am free from living a life led by fear, but it is a pretty stark reminder of what a fallen world we live in.

I am no exception.
Earlier this week I was having a hard time with some things in my past-words I wish I had never spoken, unnecessary hurts. I couldn't shake this feeling of just how 'messed up' I really am. But then I remembered some of the best words I've ever heard...
"Position yourself under the waterfall of grace."

And I only share any of this, because I'm sure someone reading this needs to be reminded...there's nothing we can do to make God stop loving us. His grace is bigger than our mess-ups. Boy am I thankful for a great Savior who loves this great sinner.

In the words of porky pig...
"That's all folks!"

I was really obsessed with this one little kid during our stay in Nosy Mitsio, Madagascar.
This was the island with no electricity or cell service or anything. Very, very remote.
I wanted to take him home with me.
Creepy? definitely not.



I realize I haven't really given a proper Madagascar update. Ill do that in the next post.
Also - Im working on a travel-log video from the trip. We took my little flip camera and recorded a lot of extra/funny stuff, so I'll have that to share soon. (shout out to the Jacobsons for getting me that awesome little camera!!)


okay but seriously...look at this photo without smiling. not possible.

happy monday.

there has been a lot of traffic on the blog the past couple of weeks.
i better start making more interesting posts :)

I had a really great weekend.
I visited the kids at the children's home. This week we went to the actual home, where they stay and go to school, and I had some really special moments with the girls. They showed me their different rooms and they wanted me to lay on their beds? Ha. it was really cute.

A few weeks ago I printed out some of the pictures I took with the girls and gave them copies. One girl, Monica, took me to her bed and showed me that she had a picture of her mom and dad and then the picture of us hanging up. This girl didn't have many belongings...a few books, a backpack, two outfits, and these 2 pictures. I had to fight back the tears as she held up the photo with a huge and honest smile.
I really have grown to love these kids. I hope more than anything that they feel loved...not just by me, but by their Heavenly Father.
I'm thankful for sweet little moments like these. Make for an overall great weekend.

gracious uncertainty

"Our natural inclination is to be so precise—trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next—that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God—it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child.

We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “. . . believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in—but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him."
-Oswald Chambers

I hope that is as encouraging to you, as it is to me.
I am embarking on a season of, well..."gracious uncertainty". In 8 weeks(ish) I will get on a plane and fly to America - with no real plan as to what is next in my life.
Today I am believing that the changes in my life will bring me to peaceful shores.
Not certain where those shores are, but God's track history with me is pretty good. and constant. and faithful.

on a lighter note... i have a cool job :)

heaven

"my soul is getting restless for the place where I belong..."

period.

my day:


It was a good day. I went rock climbing at Hell's Gate with some friends.

Also...
Today is my dad's birthday! I am so thankful to have such a wonderful dad! I am beyond blessed. love you!

Going to sleep tonight with these words on my mind and heart:

Our present, our future, our past is in Your hands
We're covered by Your blood

I believe it.

beach boys and birthdays

getting sick of me uploading pictures, yet?
i sure hope not!
:)
this was one of the little "beach boys" that hung around the villa we stayed at on the island, Nosy Be.
on our last day, he walked up and gave me a big handful of seashells he had gathered for me. i guess he saw me the other mornings picking up a few shells from the beach. sweet, huh?

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
on them he has set the world.
1 Samuel 2:8

I've been thinking a lot recently about the idea of people as the earth's true riches. What is more important than investing, loving, caring, for people? Everything else fades away. We have to first realize the depth of God's affection for us before we can possess that true, genuine affection for those around us.
Anyways, thoughts?

"The energy and vitality that we have to love on, encourage, engage, and walk with others bubbles up and is rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ. You will never be able to extend the type of patience, love, and grace to people until you have walked in those things with Jesus Christ." -Matt Chandler


last thing: Happy Birthday to Jonathan Tony AND Katie Douthwaite!!! (it's midnight in kenya!)
Whoop there it is!!! love you both so much!!

aged smiles.

photos

hanging out with this lil dude....




overlooking this: the city of Tana.


i just started editing my pictures from the trip, so I'll post some of the interesting ones as I come to them :)
crazy, crazy trip.

hold tight

trying to be creative today.
making something for my supporters.
hoping the finished product turns out well.

i've been really homesick and tired since getting back to Kenya.
it's 10:30 and I want to take a nap. VERY unlike me.
i miss my family and friends a lot.

but this aint my first rodeo. the heart is deceitful above all things.
i won't be anxious in the drought.