"There is a time for everything"

Today I woke up 9,000 away from where a woke up just two days ago. 

I woke and realized I wasnt sleeping under a mosquito net, last night I turned on the shower and warm water came out without any hesitation, yesterday I washed all my clothes in our nice washing machine (well actually my mom did, thanks mom!), last night I slept on a bad that's a full instead of a small twin, this morning I plugged in my straightener without having to use a converter, Yesterday went downstairs and opened the refrigerator to find lots of food, last night my wonderful mom dyed and cut my hair and I got to use REAL conditioner for my poor dried out hair, last night I jumped my car and drove somewhere.....

These things may seem silly but in the last 20 hours I have realized how grateful I am for these small things but also how much I take it for granted. Yeah yeah, how cliche to come back from Africa and be grateful and wanting not to take anything for granted blah blah blah. Everyone says it when they come home, but I think we are missing the point. I am grateful because I have "lived without" (loose term) for 3 months, I don't want to take it for granted because I never want to become complacent with my life. We should always be pushing ourselves closer to The Lord in a way that makes us want to continually bring things into our lives and take things out of our lives in a mindset to grow closer to him. 

This time coming home, I wasn't as sad and it wasn't as hard. I prayed before I even left to go to Kenya that The Lord would prepare me for the next season in my life and OH did he ever! I realized awhile ago that in Ecclesiastes 3:1, it says "For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth." What a beautiful sentiment that The Lord shares with us ahead of time that nothing in our lives is forever except for Him. I am so grateful, honored, and blessed that I was allowed to teach at Masii Academy, work with Tumaini and Masii Christian Chapel for the last 3 months. 

There is nothing that will change how much I love Masii or how certain I am that I am called there, but today on August 17 after being home for less than 24 hours, I am so thankful to be home in California. 

Pray for me.

Well, my time here is quickly coming to an end. As I spend my last few days here, I can’t help but be in awe of all the things that God has allowed me to do and experience since I have been here.

• I was able to visit Wamunyu Special School, three times. This school and these students have such a unique and special place in my heart.
• I was able to do ministry with Pastor William and Pastor James at Mwangaza School. What a blessing this was! I was so honored to share my testimony with them and truly share with them all that the Lord has to offer them.
• I was able to teach school (again) at Masii Academy. I learned SO much about the kind of teacher I want to be and different ways to present myself and the material to my students.
• I was able to meet my new baby sister, Jessica and spend more time with my Kenyan mom and dad. I am so blessed that they take such good care of me, always.
• I was able to become very close to Elder Henry’s family. I spent so much time with Mama David, David, and Keziah. I am so honored that they allow to buy them presents and to become a part of their family.
• I was able to work closely with the Tumaini office here. I was able to help video tape kids for the marathon next year and grow closer to all of the staff here.
• I was able to begin to support a little girl through Tumaini. What a blessing to meet her, hug her, and kiss her! I love her so much!
• I was able to spend time with the team that came from Valley! I am so grateful that they came and that I was able to share with them the things that have gripped my heart forever and to work alongside them in ministry was such a gift. Mom, Dad, Sarah, Caleb, Kaleb, Rick, Ken, Catie, Sean, Jackie, & Ian, KNOW that YOU are missed and everyone is so glad that you came and keeps asking when you will come back! KNOW that you changed SO many lives here!
• I was able to spend time with the many teams that have come to Masii. Yuma, Parkcrest, Downey, and Wisconsin, thank you for all you did while you were here! Everyone was so blessed by your presence.
• I was able to preach and give my testimony at church. What an incredible honor to stand before both my American & Kenyan family and proclaim the victory that Jesus has had in my life.
• I was able to and completely honored to go visit Faith at her school, and meet all of her friends and teachers. Faith has changed my life in so many ways that I can’t even begin to name. I am so blessed by her constant love in my life.

I am so thankful for these past 3 months and how God has moved and changed my heart. I am grateful that He called me here and that not one single second had He ever left me alone.

As I spend my last 3 full days in Masii, I ask that you pray for me.

• Pray that my heart will become completely as peace with coming home, and knowing that I will come back.
• Pray that I will never forget all that I experienced and did.
• Pray that I can cherish my last days here.
• Pray that I can honor the people here with my last days and last words as I say goodbye.
• Pray that my nerves of leaving from an airport that was on fire last week will be gone and I will be filled with God’s peace.
• Pray that as I pack my stuff, that everything will fit! J

Thank you for everyone who read my blogs and really encouraged me since I have been here! I am in awe of how God used YOU in my life. Thank you so much. 

"The Lord bless you and keep you; 

The Lord make His face shine upon you, 
And be gracious to you; 
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, 
And give you peace."

Number 6:24-26

Freedom.

Freedom means "the power to determine action without restraint". (dictionary.com)

We celebrate the 4^th of July, for some people they celebrate it even bigger than Christmas. But WHAT is freedom? Is it simply the thing we celebrate on the 4^th day of the 7^th month every year?  Is it something that came out of the revolutionary war? Can the term freedom only be used when you are not physically in shackles anymore?

Recently in my life, I have learned what FREEDOM and HEALING in Jesus looks (& feels) like. We sing so many songs about Jesus being our Savior. But honestly, for me, I never even understood why we sang that, I never saw what I needed saving from. I wish that I could share what the last year has been for me, and what Jesus has done in my life and in my heart. Thankfully, (I learned) Jesus DID SAVE ME, from so many things, mostly from the hurt and pain, I had and that kept inside myself.

I recently heard a song called ALIVE by Hillsong Young and Free. It is by the youth of Hillsong church, which I didn’t even know until after I started reading more about this project. I love this song because EVERY SINGLE WORD speaks truth and brings light to the FREEDOM that Jesus brings to our lives. I also love this song because it’s a song that we would jump around to at camp or one that makes you want to scream the words or dance to it.

Here are the lyrics:

I was lost with a broken heart

You picked me up, now I’m set apart

From the ash I am born again

Forever saved in the Saviors hands

You are more than my words could say

I’ll follow you, Lord, for all my days

Fix my eyes follow in your ways

Forever free in unending grace

Chorus:

Cause you are, you are, you are my freedom

We lift you higher, lift you higher,

Your love, your love, your love never ending

You are alive in us, nothing can take your place

You are all we need, your love had set us free

In the midst of the darkest night

Let your love be the shining light

Breaking chains that were holding me

You send your Son down to set me free

Everything in this world will fade

I’m pressing on till I see your face

I will live that your will be done

I won’t stop till your kingdom come

Chorus (2x)

HERE IS THE LINK TO LISTEN TO THE SONG ON YOUTUBE:

Isn’t it neat, that our lives, what we have done, what we are doing, and what we will do, is all because of the FREEDOM we have in Jesus?!

There is freedom in the idea that where I live (both in Chino and Masii) I can worship a Savior who never fails. There is freedom in the idea that I CAN go to places where there are people who cannot worship Jesus freely, yet I am called to GO to THOSE places. There is freedom in the way we live our lives. The very essence of WHO Jesus is, screams freedom. God gave his ONLY son, to DIE, so that I am CHOOSE (and not be “forced) to be in love with a Savior, who daily saves me from myself.

So thankful for the FREEDOM I feel to be called to somewhere I now call home, that even at the end of 3 months at "home" I one day begin to feel "homesick" for Chino and for my family. THAT freedom is ONLY found in Jesus. (He never said it would be easy, He just asks us to say YES)

I am so grateful to be in love with a Savior who is constantly granting me more people to share who HE is with them. I am so grateful to serve a God who never looked at my life and said “this is too bad” or “I am done with you”, He continually surpasses the small things I can understand, and proves again how BIG HE IS.

I am thankful that  as I prepare to go back to Chino, and begin (now) to stress about the things that seem too big for me to handle, I am thankful to be in love with Jesus, who continues to take my burdens and carry them for me. I am thankful that He has gone before me and settled everything that I cannot see.

As I listen to this song, ALIVE by Hillsong Young and Free, I cannot help but cry and be reminded of Jesus great love for us that He displays through the FREEDOM that He gives us. I am so honored that I was called to Masii for these last 3 months (11 days to go), and that HE mended my broken heart (& spirit) so that I may come and share HIS light and what He has done in me with the people here.

Thank you, Jesus for this extraordinary life and this incomprehensible journey.