short and oh so sweet.

A Reflection from Variable on Vimeo.

a "proper" update.

It's been over a month since I've been home now. And perhaps you may be asking yourself, "What the heck is Tana doing with her life these days?!"
Well besides reading 'The Hunger Games', drinking lots of hazelnut DD coffee, and catching up with old friends, there have been a few changes.

And I say "a few" very jokingly, because I feel like my life has changed so much since I left Kenya in December.
Life is just different over here. And it's not bad, or better, or worse...just different.
I am back in my hometown where I grew up, Pace, Florida (2+2=football!!) :) and I am so thankful to be near my family.
But even here, at my "home"...it doesn't quite feel like home. Things, places, my family...it's all very different than when I lived here before, 6 years ago!

So yes, I'd say I'm making some adjustments.

I also recently started a new job! It's been such a blessing. I am working with the non-profit organization, Heart of the Bride. I am helping facilitate all of their short-term mission trips to Haiti, Ukraine, Uganda, Zambia, and Kenya! I get to talk about/think about/share with others about the things I love most!
Heart of the Bride's main focus is orphan care and it is just an incredible organization that is actually helping to make a difference in kids' lives around the world. Super pumped to be on board.

Also, it works out really well, because I am looking into returning to Kenya full time with Heart of the Bride. All of this is still very much in the planning stages, but I am looking at doing some youth work/discipleship/training over there. And definitely still keeping video a part of whatever I will be doing too!
But again, nothing is set in stone with any of that. I will travel back to Kenya this summer to just get a feel for things - the kids, the programs, the logistics of what I would really be doing. So we shall see.

Either way, I'm so excited to get the opportunity to go back to Kenya, even if it's just for a short time right now. I left a lot of people I love very much over there.
I will also be going to Ukraine and helping out with some summer camp opportunities there and the same in Uganda.

In other news, really been exploring the idea of "freelance video" recently.
Seems like its the "hip" thing to do these days...start your own photography or videography business. hmmm.
Not sure if I'm hip or not. :)

Leaving for North Africa in a week to do some freelance work actually. Eeekk! Cannot believe I will be boarding a plane back to Africa! So so excited and thankful.

I started this blog because I was living in Colorado and was thousands of miles away from most of my friends and family. And now, I am back in Florida, but am still very far from so many of the people I love most.
Since that first blog post I now have been in 7 different countries, moved to and worked in South Florida, moved to and worked in Kenya, moved back to Florida, said lots of goodbyes, made new and lasting friendships, and have experienced so much life in such a small amount of time. I'm thankful. And I like being able to look back and remember.
So I guess, for now at least, I'll keep this blog thing going.
Whatcha think about that peeps?

love yall.

"beyond your utmost wants,
His power can love and bless;
to trusting souls He loves to grant,
more than they can express."

a real update.

I realize I've been posting a lot of short, pretty uninformative posts about random things.
So tonight I will do my very best to just stick to the basics, tell you what's been going on in my life recently.

I've started visiting an orphanage every Saturday and spending time with the kids there. I can say pretty confidently that this has become the highlight of my week. A friend of mine's church here goes every Saturday just to play and spend time with the kids there. It's nothing fancy and many times I'll just sit with the girls and tell them stories, play hand games, make bracelets, color, etc. My prayer is that they would feel loved and special, because they are. And especially because they don't have that constant support group (family) to show them unconditional love. I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have loving parents and tons of other psuedo-parents in my life.

Today was a very encouraging day at OFM. I was reminded of the big picture- of why we spend hours tweaking a script, or shoot and reshoot a take until it's perfect, or why I spend hours editing through footage. Because in the end, the final product...it's all worth it. Today I was really impacted by the very story we are telling.
We are still in production of our current film. We have another shoot scheduled for Thursday. This past week I spent a few days outside of the city filming. It was a lot of fun and a little crazy at times, but overall very productive!


[very thankful for this job I get to do]

While I was out of town I went for a decently long run out in open fields of Kenya. It was a really special experience. Running does funny stuff to me. I've decided to run the Nairobi half marathon in October. Pretty pumped. But, I spent some time in prayer during this run, and really thought about my purpose here. And about all the ways God is changing me.

Speaking of, God is changing me a lot. Now don't get me wrong, I still love tacos, I still think laffy taffy jokes are really funny, and I still drink ungodly amounts of water. But I'm not really sure how you can be in a completely new environment, surrounded by entirely new people, doing totally different tasks than you were 2 months ago...and not be changed.
I'll just leave it at that.

I've been helping out at the youth group that meets here on the compound on Sunday Nights. Also, another highlight of my week. I love spending time with the kids and we are really diving into some important topics. It's fun.

Also been spending time with good friends here. I am very thankful that God has placed some really awesome people in my life. Tonight a group of us played volleyball and had some worship afterwards. Reminded me a of YelllowTeam 09.

I am meeting my Compassion sponsored child, Monica, in a few weeks! I cannot wait.
I am trying to plan a trip to go rafting down the Nile River soon. eek!!
Still scheduled to go to Madagascar in the fall. There are two remaining unreached people groups there, so we are going to make a film about the need for missionaries in these places.

There are many uncertainties in my life right now. But what a joy to find peace in uncertainty. Takes a lot of pressure off of me.
I have no idea what is next for Tana Conner. So I will wait.

last thing- today is Ashley Agoranos' birthday. So here's to your 23rd year, my sweet friend.
bzzz.

[your "surprise" birthday 3 years ago]

love you guys. so very thankful for all of you. thankful for the chance to live and do ministry in kenya.
I will be sending out the June email update soon, so if you didn't get May's and want to, send me your email!