Fun Facts

Here are some random fun facts about my life here.

#1 (and the most important)? I found frozen yogurt 10 minutes away. Granted, it's not exactly like American frozen yogurt. But it is YUMMY and because it's called frozen yogurt, it immediately losses half it's calories, right? I enjoyed my first on last Friday with a new friend from my street.

#2 Drinking Coke is more fun here! They don't do recycling, so the responsible way to drink Coke Light is to buy glass bottles and bring them back to the grocery store when you're done! Not only is this eco-chic, it's obviously more fun to drink this way (duh!) and very nostalgic. It's like glass bottles of milk delivered to your door, only better because it's COKE, not milk. :) 

#3 The flowers are BEAUTIFUL and they are CHEAP. Which means fresh blooms in my room all the time with zero guilt. 

#4 No voicemail. Weird, isn't it? If someone doesn't answer their cell, you either keep calling, text, or let it go. At first I was worried, because heaven forbid I miss something important. But you know what, it's kind of nice. 

More revelations to come!

Thoughtful Jumble

I really want to write some profound post about my thoughts and emotions and experiences since coming here, but it feels like too great a task to put into words. Suffice it to say, it is good. The kind of good that only comes from God, the giver of all good things. It's exciting, it's challenging, it joyous, and it's fun. I wake up in the morning, and I feel simultaneously at home, and like I'm in a foreign world where everything is new and saturated with meaning. And that is a fun place to be. I have often wondered at how someone with duel parts adventurous spirit and also a longing to be at home and to be settled could possibly live in a state of satisfaction on both sides. And guess what? For the time being at least, I believe (I) have found it. (I being not me of course, since let's be honest I played a minimal/non-existent role in my own road to Kenya). Not surprisingly, my Lord knows me best, and crafted a role for me that would speak to my various layers of spirit. Don't get me wrong, I don't for a minute think the purpose of life is to feel a certain way, or that there is any real value in self-satisfaction. Life is not about me, nor is my role in God's kingdom about finding my perfect niche. I guess my point is that when we somehow, miraculously find ourselves in the midst of God's plan for our lives, instead of our own plan, we find a new level of satisfaction that has nothing to do with the outside elements. Yes, living a life of adventure and relative ease is enjoyable, and I'm loving every moment of it--but what I'm truly marveling at is the feeling of purpose and joy that I've found in the service of my King. It's the American dream to be your own boss, the king of your castle, the TOP of your self-propelling pyramid of being (what? just run with it). But oh the joy of living for someone greater than yourself, THE someone to be exact. Believe me, there is truly nothing sweeter than giving up all control to the giver of life itself.

That wasn't at all what I set out to write about, but it's what is on my mind, and what I'm thanking God for right this minute.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Creatures

In case you are worried that I'm living it up too comfortably here, based on my last post, don't worry too much. First, I found a lizard in my room. Right before I went to sleep. Lizards in the pantry, fine. Lizards in my room right before I lay my head down and stop paying attention for 8 hours? No. 

The next night, I caught sight of this beauty at bedtime. 

Yes, a Giant African Slugmonster. That's the official name. I think. Obviously I behaved like an adventurous adult who is capable of moving to another continent and can be entrusted with young minds...

(Yes, I know it's kind of blurry, and also that I'm speaking like an alien. I blame the adrenaline).

The NEXT night, I opened my bedside drawer and found it filled with ants. All over everything including my hair straightener. So I sprayed it with poison. And no, I didn't explode the next time I turned it on. But I thought it might happen. Worth it!

So now I have instated a strict Creature Check each night before bed. I'm not afraid, but I'm aware. :)

Now if only I could block out the sound of the ridiculous bird that makes this sound for HOURS. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Seriously, I thought it was a machine, but it's a bird. Oh Africa, you are wild and I love you!

yes, please.

This weekend was wonderful. Perfect, really. Last weekend I was hazy, asleep on my feet, and on major overload. This weekend was effortless, one thing fading perfectly into another. Friday was a great day in and of itself. Kim and Emily were off on a safari (I'm waiting a bit...wasn't quite ready to take it all in during my first week and I want to make the most of when I do go to the Mara), so Amanda and I had a few girls spend the night after a VERY productive and encouraging work day. We also hit up my first African market experience where I took in my share of tribal masks, elephant and giraffe figures, beads, etc and tried my hand at market bargaining. It was a bit overwhelming, but a really cool experience--I have no doubt shopping for gifts this Christmas will be the easiest thing EVER). Saturday I slept in and then went to Westgate, a mall SO very like a mall in the States that it's ridiculous. I guess a mall is a mall...I bought a few last things on my list for my room Lexification project. It's almost ready for its debut party. Seriously. More on that later. Saturday afternoon I went putt putting with my new friends Nick, Jane, and Joe at the Village Market, which is our local open air shopping center. It really reminds me CA...like a Kenyan version of the Grove. Yeah, I'm not roughing it so much here people. :) They have a bowling alley, movie theater, putt putt, a mini water park, and tons of shops and restaurants. Sadly Jane and I lost to the boys by 3 tiny points, but at least yours truly scored (the only) hole-in-one. Yay. We had a blast and then went out for an AMAZING, delicious Ethiopian meal with Stephen, Jason and Andrew at Habesha. I knew I was going to love it from the moment they brought out our appetizer of popcorn. POPCORN. At a nice restaurant. Served with strong Ethiopian coffee. Oh yum. We then feasted on a few dishes I haven't yet mastered pronouncing, let alone spelling, all with our hands. It was SO good. Nick, Jane, and Joe stayed at the house (they live outside of the city and come in for the weekends) and we all went to church this morning and followed that up with lunch at Village Market. I'm now enjoying my first rain, which thankfully I just beat home from my workout...with an unplanned jog at the end to avoid getting drenched. Tonight is catching up with Kim, Emily and our weekend guest Michael to hear all about their safari, and perhaps a little Mad Men thrown in there somewhere. 

Last but not least, two delightful things: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOEY!!! Can't believe my little Z-Boo is 4 years old today. She had a Princess party yesterday and loved every second of it. Also, welcome to the world sweet little Evie Claire Prusa--Robert and Anna had their second daughter this week. She's about 9 weeks early, so she and the Prusa's would love your prayers. Mama and baby are doing well though, and I can't wait to meet her one of these days. :) 

ps...sorry no pictures from the weekend. I keep forgetting my camera, will try harder this week. 

xo

I live here

Today, I lived here. 

I visited our office, and met some of our Blue Sky Adventure Staff. 

I learned some Swahili. 

I went grocery shopping. 

Not only do they have my light cheese wedges, all the ingredients for my favorite soup, AND Haribo Star Mix, my sister will be relieved to know they have plenty of this...

I bought a bedside lamp, and some shades for my hanging light bulbs in the ceiling. Yes, they are pink. And yes, I have photos lining my desk mirror. In the States this decorating would pass for dorm room passable. Here, it is downright chic. Trust me. 

Yes, I know this picture is out of focus. That's because I'm not quite ready to show off my room yet. Patience, people, I have more decorating to do. 

I even went to see a movie, in the yellow Defender, a beast of a vehicle that is truly a Kenyan experience. Let's just say, if they make me learn to drive this thing, I'll be singing "Jesus take the wheel" nonstop. At the top of my lungs. While crying for my Mommy...

Tuta Onana!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your won doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." 

Goodnight Dallas, Good Morning Kenya

As I told my parents today on the phone, today was my best day yet! :) I realize there have only been 2...
What a difference a good night of sleep can do, and having my room start to come together! Today was also the first day I felt up for real conversation and social events--I'm already meeting so many cool new people and I am feeling so energized, excited, and joyful.

Packing and leaving Dallas feels like ages ago--it was very stressful to try to fit my life into 4 checked bags, a carry on and a tote, but my team STILL teased me for bringing the most stuff. I'm not sure why they don't see my down comforter as a "necessity" to life here...haha. Right about now in my brownish, very simple room I am VERY thankful for those cozy reminders of home! I thought you'd enjoy seeing some snapshots of the process. Don't judge me.

THIS

Becomes THIS

And no perhaps it was not a brilliant idea to spend a layover night in London when I had this many bags, but I am so glad I did. It was so wonderful to be in my most favorite destination (the UK, duh) even if only for 24 hours. I walked and walked and walked around London taking it all in, and made the most out of my one day Tube pass. I had posh dinner with a brand new friend, the fabulous Mrs. F, which was exactly what I needed in between two 8 hour plus flights!

When the plane finally took off for Nairobi, I couldn't help but let a few tears escape, and not out of sadness. The act of literally going where I have been sent was a powerful experience. Fast forward about 8 hours, and I was on the ground in on a continent I hadn't been to, in a country I had never visited, in a city I had never seen, in a hemisphere I had never set foot in! The visa line and customs experience was a bit nerve-wracking as I had been told to possibly expect some resistance, but it couldn't have been easier. I even made some new friends in line. When I was getting my bags, I saw something out of the corner of my eye and it was my whole team, waving, jumping and smiling, and it was a grand sight to see. When I finally made it past the baggage inspection (all these clothes are for YOU??? Funny part is, they were...) I was greeted with lots of hugs and escorted to our sweet ride: (as seen in the morning light). Doesn't this just say Kenya to you? :)

Last night was kind of a blur, driving through the city to get to our house. In case you haven't been here, this is a pretty modern city. I had seen pictures, and had certain ideas from the team what to expect, but overall I was surprised how normal it feels to me. Sure it felt different than America, but it wasn't this huge 180 from what I am used to. Of course the city is a bubble of comfort--I look forward to venturing beyond the border of modernity sometime soon for a real Kenyan welcome. 

This weekend was mostly about nesting for me. The house feels like a compound/sorority. It's sprawling, open, and very comfy feeling. It's also kind of chaotic--dishes in the sink waiting for Flora (our house cleaning lady....everyone has one here), hundreds of ants (which are obviously gross, but don't bother me deeply), stuff just randomly stacked everywhere. For a person who normally craves order, it doesn't really phase me, as long as MY room is my neat, organized, decorated haven. :) Soon the wall murals will go up, pillows will be made, and it will really start to feel like home. 

I know you're all wanting some pictures, but I haven't seen a lot beyond our house, the market/mall, church, and the guys' house. I did go to Java House for the first time tonight--it's our chain coffee shop/restaurant with very American yummy food. I had a quesadilla and it was so good. They make killer milkshakes too, Whit! 

This is Lucy, Amanda's puppy. We have another dog named Zoey, too. :)

Amanda's new vegetable garden...I weeded one square!

OK, I know that was long, and kind of disjointed. I promise my brain will become less foggy as the week progresses! I can't wait to talk to y'all soon...if you have a Skype name, email me so we can chat! If you want to call, I'll have my Kenyan cell soon, and my Dad found a .10/min plan that I can forward to you. 

Love to you all from around the globe! PS...Sunday afternoon/evening turn out great. HA. xo

LA to Kenya: An Unexpected Turn in the Life of a Work in Progress, Part IV

Read Parts I, II, and III here. 

I wrote this a couple weeks ago and forgot to post it. Since I leave tomorrow, I’d better get this thing wrapped up! I'm off to pack and pray away this snow that stands in the way of my time with my Zach and Zoey!

As I left off in Part III, the Lord was doing some major housecleaning in my heart. He was breaking down idolatry in my life, and showing me how to be content in my present circumstances. Then my amazing community group through Reality LA did a study on prayer that really helped me to re-learn how to pray and meditate on God’s word. My prayer life went from almost non-existent to a large part of my daily life. I was SO thirsty for the Word as well, spending about 300% more time reading my Bible than I had at any other point in my life. Obviously the Holy Spirit was doing something major in my soul. I was changing so dramatically that it was obvious to friends, family, and even my non-Christian friends. In some ways I felt like a new believer, as if a veil had been lifted and I was seeing with new eyes. Here’s where Part IV comes in...

I want to tell you about how God brought me into his plan for me to move to Kenya. It’s a pretty straightforward story, but one that bears some explanation. The short version is this: out of seemingly nowhere, but during a time of immense Spiritual growth bolstered by a new found prayer life and a lot of time in the Word--God whispered a word directly into my soul: Africa. 

I realize this could sound crazy, especially if you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. I had a funny experience at a party a few months ago when an old acquaintance pressed me with what exactly had been the decision maker to move to Kenya. As I tried to explain in sort of a broad way that it was God’s desire for me, he pressed for a more practical explanation until finally asking, “But it’s not like God literally just said, move to Africa, right?” Wrong. That is exactly what happened. Though not in an audible out-loud voice, the Holy Spirit spoke to me clearly and simply with one word during a time of prayer. 

At first, I didn’t tell a soul. I wanted to mull it over, because it seemed crazy! I honestly thought that maybe I was just over-zealous during this time of passionate spiritual growth. Perhaps I was over-eager to serve in some dramatic capacity, so I was turning to the age-old classic of International missions. If you know me, even a little, I’m sure you understand that this was the LAST thing I ever expected to do. But if you know Jesus, you also understand that when he speaks, you know it. There was no real doubt in my mind from the first what he said and what he meant. I knew this was no 3 week trip building houses or orphanages, yet I had no idea what it might look like specifically. 

I know God speaks to us in different ways at different points in our life. For me, this kind of direct verbal communication is a rarity. Usually God leads me to a decision over time and I rely more on a feeling of his peace than a specific yes or no to decipher his will. I can only guess why he chose to speak to me so directly and specifically--aside from a direct word from him, would I ever have considered this path? In the past my big decisions--college, where to work, who to date, places to live--have all made sense and fit into a recognizable pattern one after the other. In almost 28 years of life, this is the first time I’ve made a big change in direction that only makes sense through spiritual eyes. I count it an extreme honor to have the experience of a plan 100% chosen by the Lord for his purposes that I never would have stumbled upon on my own. 

Because this story is so long and you’ve already read a LOT, I will skip over the months and months of searching for those specifics that brought me to Camp Blue Sky, Nairobi, and Kenya. Suffice it to say that though God chose to share his major vision for me in one word, it took an immense amount of prayer and work to find out what he wanted me to do, where to go, and how to get there. But every step of the journey has been filled with confirmations that I am where I am supposed to me. Some have been major, miraculous confirmations, others have been so small no one else would notice. There have been some high highs and low lows. I have felt excitement, fear, empowered, utterly incapable, encouraged, dismayed and just about everything in between, but here I am on the cusp of departure. Peaceful. Assured. As weak as any human, but fortified with the Lord’s strength. 

Thanks for reading about my journey--I hope it serves not only as an encouragement of what the Lord can do in any undeserving and unsuspecting individual, but also as a witness that he is at work in mighty ways and invites us to play a part in his story. I can’t wait to see the rest play out!