You can leave Africa, but Africa will never leave you.

Never Forget

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uge_34TY2fI

Never Forget.

Ephesians 1:15-23 

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.




Life

Adjust. Not an easy task. A scary task. Returning home there is always the fear that what I have experienced will disappear, that I will go back to my normal life, and that I will not have let it change me.

So for the first few days I cling to what is behind, I struggle, I walk numbly through my familiar life, not sure what to feel. Then all to quickly, I adjust and life is "Normal". A cursed word.

 But then a week has passed, and I feel enormous emotion tugging at my heart. What of the people I met? What of the things I saw and did? Will I allow them to mean nothing? Yet I find the most difficult struggle for me is living in what feels like a separate reality. How can such two different worlds exist on one planet? How can I live in this world and remember Africa when it feels like a dream b/c it is so far disconnected from my life in America.
And people ask why, why would anyone want to visit or live in such a place as Africa. Sometimes I cannot help but feel disgusted. I know I ought to have more grace, what people do not understand, they cannot be blamed for. And yet I am disgusted. I am disgusted with America in some ways, with the lifestyle we live, with the fact that we think we "Deserve" the best, that we are entitled to the best life has to offer.

We live in but a bubble of real life, and yet when tragedy hits us, when reality reaches its hand and shakes our little bubble, we dare to ask why. What gives us the right to complain? What gives any human being the right to complain? We deserve nothing. Perhaps I am being unfair to Americans, not all Africans are innocent of this I am sure, but the difference is that in a culture where the people have nothing, they find many things to be grateful for, whereas in a culture where we have everything, we complain constantly, and look down on those who live in such depths of poverty as though there could be nothing worse.
What is a house but bricks or wood? What is food but something to keep us alive, sustain our bodies? What is all of our extravagances except distractions from real people and real relationships? We have become so consumed by things that we have deceived ourselves into thinking that is what makes life good, enjoyable, comfortable.
I fear that even I may have deceived myself. While in Africa I asked myself: 'Could I live here? Without Chick-fil-a and easy internet access, without my creature comforts?' But then I returned home, and I realized that I really didn't miss them that much, because all they are is "things", things that will not make any difference in eternity. My money, my security, my books, my clothes, etc... I have put too much value on those things. God asks us to give all for His kingdom, to help the widows and orphans, to love people, to spread the good news. How can I do those things if my focus is on 'things'? 

Convicting thoughts God has spoken to me. But anyone can know these things, the hard part is what I am asking myself, what will you "do"? Because faith without actions is dead. Words are meaningless without someone to shout them.

The End of a Journey

Time, such a strange concept. As I sat watching the passing scenery on the drive back to the house this evening, I marveled at God’s splendor, how His glory is in the sun streaming through the leaves, in the red dirt, in the smile of a child, God’s splendor is displayed all throughout our world and yet so often we are blind to it.

I fly home tomorrow. The thought confuses me. Where did two weeks go? So much has happened in two weeks, the time has flown and yet it seems like months since I was home or at work, it seems millions of miles away, an eternity. So much life experience in such a short time. So many lives have touched mine in two weeks, I have made new friends, loved on and been loved on by the untouchables of society, and been moved to tears by the stories of people who are living in the center of God’s will and changing the world.

On Sunday we went to church, the market, and then to visit the Massai village. What a sweet time of fellowship.

Monday Molli and I went to the mini-mall and did some shopping, then prepared 100 gifts (toothpaste, toothbrush, and candy tied together with string) for the juvenile prison (Tuesday’s event) while watching a movie. The others had a good time as well on the game drive safari!

Tuesday we went to the juvenile prison- a place not necessarily for child criminals but for children up to 17 who are there because either their parent is in prison, they are waiting for their own trial, or because of minor crimes. While there we watched the Jesus Movie in Swahili, Ron spoke for a few minutes and shared the gospel, then we handed out the gifts. Some of the children were in tears during the movie and when Ron shared the gospel many received Christ. Praise be to Jesus!

We finished off the day at Amani for lunch and a little extra shopping.

Wednesday- we started the morning at a nearby school doing tye-dye, so fun, and the shirts turned out AMAZING!!! Then we took a boda-boda (motorcycle) to Fatima. We arrived at Fatima just in time to help the toddlers eat lunch. After lunch we played and cuddled with the children until their nap. While the children were napping, one of the Sisters gave us a tour of the grounds; they have a farm with cows, pigs, chickens, bunnies (that they eat!!), and guinea pigs. They have lots of housing where many of the nuns live. Also there is a building for elderly ladies. There were only four living there but we met them and spent a few minutes talking to one who was bed-ridden because of a stroke. She used to be a teacher, and despite her disability she had the sweetest and most gracious spirit. When the children woke up we spent a few more hours with them. I spent that time holding a baby- 2 ½ months old- her name- ironic- Alice. Such a sweet baby, she would smile after every sip of her milk, then she fell asleep in my arms for over an hour. Her mother abandoned her but her father comes to visit her and will have custody over her when she is older, but has asked the children’s home to raise her up because he is not able. Another of the children that captured my heart- Dominic- 5 years old and tons of fun, always had a grin on his face; he was sharp and knew a lot of English which is surprising because most of the children don’t speak very much English.

Today we went back to the school to hand out the tye-dye shirts, the kids loved them! Afterwards the children watched the Jesus Movie and ate popcorn, then played games outside.

Next on the agenda was Kibera and Toy Market. At Kibera we visited ‘The Power Women Group’ a group of HIV+ women who are raising awareness in the community about HIV and the importance of knowing your HIV status as well as empowering and enabling women to support themselves.

Tomorrow morning Maria leaves early, the rest of the group is heading the to the Elephant orphanage in the a.m. and then Molli, Jill, Allie, and I head to the airport for our flight home. Prayers would be appreciated, as no one is really feeling well tonight- from colds to allergies to headaches.

Thank you to everyone who has donated and has been praying, we have had an awesome trip- such a blessing, can’t believe it is over.

God bless!!

An amazing first week

Yesterday we made the 6 hr trip back from Eldoret to Nairobi. We spent three days in Eldoret wed-friday. The first day we went to a local hospital to the pediatric ward. There is a place in the ward for the children to go to during the day when they are not in procedures etc. as well as a place for abandoned children. The program for the kids during the day was amazing, they would do play, lessons, and had a special place where medical equipment was available for the kids to look at and play with, this helps decrease anxiety in the children (things like foleys, steth, lab coats, iv tubing, etc). There is a small library that the parents, staff, and children can use. They also hold lessons each day for the parents on different medical conditions. I was very impressed by the many ways they are trying to encourage education within the families and therefore increase health. However, the wards were pretty tough places. It is a government owned hospital and they have such a high census of patients and not enough room, sometimes patients share beds in the adult ward, and there are no private rooms so infection is at an even higher risk.

The next day we started the morning at a place where you go on a "giraffe walk", it is a piece of land 3500 acres where giraffes and antelope run free. There is a guide who leads you on foot to where the giraffe are, the guide had been working there 9 years and has even seen one of the giraffe born and touched it. We were able to get within 15 feet of one of the giraffe and it just stared at us- crazy! Altogether we saw about 8 giraffe.
After that we went to a lookout view called he Rift Valley. It was gorgeous!! There was a little restaurant and pathway where you could walk and take pictures. The Rift valley is huge- we actually kept catching view of it for like 3 out of the 6 hours of our journey to nairobi- pretty crazy!
Lastly we went to a place called Neema. Talk about amazing- Neema was started by a Christian Kenyan couple for HIV + children who have been abandoned or left for dead. The children live there and Neema also has a school for both HIV + and not children. Out of about 45 children that live there, 27 have aids and are currently in a program called ampath at the local hospital. They are currently trying to build another facility for babies so that they can take HIV + babies from the hospital when they are abandoned because they have no where else to go. The children were gems, after hearing the story of how it all started from the husband and wife, we played with the children for about an hour and sang, danced, laughed, and played. Their smiles and laughs were precious.

The last day in Eldoret we headed back to the hospital for another 2 hours to play with the children and help care for the babies. The baby I held both days was named Esther. What a precious child. She was in the hospital because her mom had been admitted in the adult ward, so Esther was placed in the pediatric ward until her mother is stable enough to care for her- so far it had been about 3 weeks. Imagine- having a healthy baby and placing it in a ward full of infection and disease. And although separated from her mother in a place thats not home, she never cried but simply smiled and stared up at me.

We arrived late back in Nairobi Friday night and unloaded the car.
This morning the group split- Allie, Jill, Maria, Josie, and Mary went to a place called Kids club for the afternoon- which is kind of like a VBS that happens every saturday.

Me and Molli headed to Fatima.
Fatima is a clinic, orphanage, maternity ward, and nursing home. We will be going there on Wednesday, but Molli and I really wanted to see if they would let us hang in the maternity leave so we ventured there today.
After introducing ourselves to the head nun and explaining our hopes to volunteer for the day, she directed us to the maternity ward where we met the nun that runs that ward. She sat down with us and the doctor came in and we showed him a snapshot of our nurse licenses. He said we would only be able to observe and we assured him we didn't expect anything more than that. We were given a short tour and then left with a nurse in labor and delivery.

At the time 3 were in the unit. 1 was 8 cm dilated. 1 was 2-3cm dilated. and the last was 1cm dilated. As she began checking for heartbeats and checking fetal heart rate with the doppler, we found our the first pt was now 9cm dilated and the head was dropping. We also discovered the 2rd pt's fetal heart rate was irregular- jumping up high and then coming back down. The nurse began and IV and stared Normal saline in the second pt, called for the doctor to examine her, and moved the first patient to the delivery room.

Then the excitement really started. Right before our eyes, two of four people in the room- 2 nurses and me and molli, a baby was born. It happened so fast, the head was out and there was the baby, so sweet and beautiful, a little girl- perfect. The nurse weighed her and then I placed her under the warmer and returned to tell the mother. Because the nurse (midwife) performed an episiotomy and the pt had a tear, the nurse sewed her up. It took a while but then we wheeled her to the maternity ward and returned.

When we returned we found the three beds full, another pt had arrived- this pt was going to have a C-section d/t a big baby. the 2nd pt with the irregular fetal heart rate was up first however for  a C-section. As I watched the nurse round however, we discovered pt in bed 3 fetal heart rate was becoming rapid as well. Me and Molli looked at each other and were like- 3 C-SECTIONS!!! WHAT!?!? Sheesh our luck- 1 vaginal and now 3 C-sections.

Due to time constraints we only were able to watch 2 of the 3, but they were amazing.
I had seen a C-section in clinicals in the USA, but this was different, it was fast, efficient, and we were right there!! We were both so impressed however with the doctor, anesthesiologist, nurses, sterile procedure, and just the skill of the whole staff. We almost forgot we were in a third world country, amazing the resourcefulness and intelligence of the staff, we were blown away- just proves how wrong our assumptions can be sometimes about situations, because even though they may not have had all the same nice equipment that we have in the states, they made what they had work and they did it amazing, and the product- a beautiful baby and healthy mom- We were totally impressed. In nursing school I had seen some hysterectomies,  a spinal fusion, and a c-section, and that doctor- he was awesome, he sewed stitches so fast u almost missed it if you looked away! I guess when you have one operating room- you learn to move quick in case an emergency situation arises. But within 1h two babies had been delivered and the doctor was already sewing up the second mother.

So far- we have seen so much and been so blessed by this trip! Thank you all for continuing to pray for us.
God bless you all!!



Kuzuri beads- from day 1 of trip

Hashema & Amani- day 2 in Nairobi

Eldoret

Kenya- we've arrived

Yesterday me, Molli, Allie, and Jill arrived in Nairobi!!  So far we have been to kazuri beads- which is a organization that employs women and makes beads from clay, was super neat. Today we headed to hashes, a home for handicapped children. The  mothers of the children work to make jewelry and other accesories to sell and their children receive care, therapy, and special education. The vision is to teach these children who are outcasts and ugly in the worlds eyes that God made them beautiful and perfect. What an amazing ministry. After that we headed to Amani ya just- which in Swahili means Peace from above. It is an organization for women specifically widows and refuges where they work and make incredible things- quilts, jewelry, scarves, clothes, purses, etc etc etc. everything they make is AmAZING!! They sell product in the USA and Canada and their product is becoming widespread. it is unique, intricate, and lovely; they hand dye and sew everything. I will post the link for their website later. Tomorrow we head to Eldoret, a city up north, we will be spending some time volunteering at an orphanage there. Anyways will update again in a few days! Thank you all for ur prayers we have def felt them and already had some God moments.

Africa Plans

Hey everyone, so wanted to update ya'l on our rough draft plan of events for the trip!! SO EXCITED!!!!!

So below are some of the things on our list of things to do while in Africa in July, exact details aren't pinned down yet but here's kinda the layout so you can get an idea of what we'll be doing and how better to pray for us.

-Visiting Kiberia- the largest slum in nairobi
-Exploring the Giraffe/elephant orphanage
-Spending a few days in Eldoret helping at an orphanage there
-Helping at Amani
-Going to the Handicap center and helping do something (not sure about specifics)
-Volunteering at another ophanage in Nairobi
-Visiting the Massai tribe and doing some kind of ministry there
-Game drive- checking out the safari!
-Some local shopping :)

Basically: Living, breathing, and loving AFRICA!!!!

I cannot express in words how thrilled I am about the upcoming trip, God is going to stretch us all in incredible ways, and I am so excited to see how he works in and through us. In my heart I know the truth- we think we're the ones going to minister, but we will be the ones ministered to. I am excited to get to be a part of this experience with my cousin as this will be her first experience in Africa, but I also know I will be stretched in ways I don't anticipate. It has been 6 years since I left Kenya after my first visit, and I have never forgotten, always wanted to go back, and I am so blessed by the realization that I will have that opportunity in a month and a half, and I don't know what God has in store, but I know it's going to blow my mind and I will be changed in ways I can't imagine, because GOD IS FAITHFUL.

Pray for our group of gals please, pray that, not only will we be used and God work through our hands and hearts, but that we will have servants hearts and will work together as a team. I pray God uses this experience to bring us together and form strong bonds of sisterhood, faith, and love. Pray that God prepares each of our hearts for whatever is in store.

And pray for Alice and the millions like her, as well as all Africans- men, women, children, orphans, widows, etc... wherever there are, whatever they are going through, that God will be their strength and song, their freedom and victory forever.

Blessings

For those of you reading this who have not yet heard the news, in July I will be going to Africa for two weeks. I have always loved helping and serving others in any way I could. I am a nurse, my profession is basically me doing exactly what I love. It's not just a profession for me though, my job goes into such a greater detail than just a paycheck. It's a calling. More like a blessing personally.

I had been going through a hard time lately. Just not knowing really what my future was going to hold. I often felt sad and then I would feel guilty because I know how truly blessed I am. I have always wanted to do missions but my desire for it became exceedingly strong in high school. I found myself researching all kinds of mission and medical mission trips and I remember feeling so overwhelmed with the applications and acceptance needed to even be considered. I remember one night, sitting in my room reading the qualifications for a certain medical missions trip. It read *must have 2 year of experience required* I thought to myself, 2 years?! I don't even know where I will be next month, let alone two years down the road.

Just recently, my cousin had been offered the opportunity to possibly go back to Africa, where she visited six years ago. I was SO excited for her because of the giving and loving person she is. I expressed to her that if she was to go if it would be possible for me to even come long. A few days went by and we didn't hear much and then she told me that they were not going to be able to go. My heart sunk, not just for me, but for her as well. A few weeks later I was over at her house, playing cards with our family. I remember her family talking about how she was going to go to Kenya this summer and that it was working out after all. I was SO excited for her but at the same time wishing I could just hop in her suitcase and go with her. :) In the middle of the card game she came downstairs and said hey, we have room if you want to go, but you need to decide fast since we are buying the plane tickets tonight. My heart felt like it was beating outside of my chest. Of course I wanted to go, its something I had been praying about for awhile now.I kind of took a chance in this next part. Without knowing how I would really pay for it all, I honestly felt God telling me to not worry that He would supply all my needs and bless me. To just GO! So I said yes, buy me a ticket.I am beyond excited for this trip, I can't sleep at night and every time I think about it I get that kid in a candy store smile. My heart is filled with love and my mind is filled with peace. I can't find the words to describe how blessed I already am and the best is still to come!

It's amazing what can happen when you let go and let God, He knows the plans for you. He knows the desires of our hearts, and He hears all of our troubles. Like Jess said in the post before, even if you can't serve by going to Africa or another country, doesn't mean you can't serve here. I challenge everyone reading this to serve someone or do something( not for yourself). It's not about us, we are servants for the Lord.

-Molli 

p.s. for the other girls that are going, I am praying for you daily and I am excited to share this blessing with you all as well. (:

A Girl Named Alice

Nearly six years ago now, my life was changed forever.

In 2007, my sister and I began a journey to Nairobi, Kenya.

I think I sensed that my life would never be the same, but I had only an inkling of the kind of affect the three-week trip would have on me.

In Kenya, I met Alice.  Alice was an orphan, about two years old, living at Imani Children’s Home. With a group of people from my church, I spent multiple days at Imani Children’s Home building a play-fort for the children. But mostly, I spent those days falling in love with the innocent and carefree smiles and laughter.

I formed a particularly strong bond with one little orphan, Alice. She had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen and her eyes sparkled with life and joy, she was always laughing and playing. She was carefree, adventurous, and so unaware and naïve of what life was like outside of the gates of the Children’s Home.  But as we drove away that last day, I knew someday she would be faced with a harsh and cruel world, and I prayed in that moment that the Lord would be real in her life and would sustain her through whatever her life held.

At 16, I felt helpless as I stared out the window, knowing I might never see her again, wishing there was something I could do.

I am nearly 22 and often I have felt that same helplessness, wishing I could do something and feeling powerless to make a difference. For the last few years, I told myself that as soon as I got my RN, then I could finally do something, finally help, make a difference. But last summer, RN finally in hand, I told God enthusiastically that I was ready and asked Him to open a door. I was met with silence.

Discouraged, I felt lost and confused, for years I have felt the call “go”, the command “love”, the desire “heal”, and now, when I was finally done with school, no door opened and I felt frustrated. In December, God blessed me with a job at the hospital I had hoped to work at, and I felt peace.

However, as summer draws near I have begun to feel that same restlessness grow, the desire to go, the longing for Kenya, for my Africa, for my Alice.

A few weeks ago, I did not know what this summer will hold, whether I would go or stay, and during that time God spoke to me.

I was sitting in my car in the drive-through for McDonalds on Sunday morning before church and thinking of Kenya, wondering why God would give me a desire and not fulfill it. I felt frustrated and remember thinking “God, if I don’t go, how can I possibly be of use to those orphans?”

That’s when it hit me straight in the face.

I have been making excuses for years, that I couldn’t make a difference here for Kenya, I have been refusing to act because it seemed impossible.

I have always known God asks some to go, some to pray, some to invest, but I never realized He could call one person to all of those at different times in their lives, and despite myself, I always held “going” above the other two as more important.

It was in that moment, I saw the truth. Going was easy, and I could see the benefits of my labor. Giving and praying are harder in many ways. For the first time in my life, I realized that maybe I was not only called to go.

That was when it came to me, I knew I wanted to start something here, regardless of what this summer would hold, I wanted to begin something, to share this message, to make a difference for Alice, and all those like her. Not all are able to go, we have responsibilities, families, full time jobs, but perhaps we can still make a difference.

“A Girl Named Alice”, is in a way, their voice, the children’s voice, crying for love, crying for help. We can do something; we can be God’s hands and feet.

I am not sure yet what God has for me to do here in the USA, whether its simply raising awareness or whether I am to begin a specific ministry. However, this week I found out I will be going to Kenya this summer and I am elated. The Lord has answered my cry with a yes. I will be traveling with three other girls, and one will meet us there. So the other night while I was laying in bed, the idea came to me to start this blog.

I am hoping the other girls will post as well throughout this journey. 

I do not know what the Lord has in store for us, and the work He has for us to do, but I pray that He uses us, and that we take our experiences and change the world and enhance His kingdom. 

I am asking that any and all who read this, do not make the mistake I did in thinking that just because you cannot go you cannot make a difference, please, please pray for this trip, pray that our hearts and eyes would be attuned to God and His spirit and His will.

God bless you all!

(P.S. the attached photos are of Alice)