Thankful Beyond Measure

Today I've spent Christmas with a missionary family here. I am always humbled by the goodness of God's people. This wonderful family has taken me in as one of their own and treated me like part of the family. I almost cried this morning spending time with them. Something new that I've never experienced before was a treasure hunt for presents. A tradition this family has is writing a quatrain to find your next gift. So you read the poem to make it to your next present and next clue. They were quite amusing poems and we had many laughs. We read the Christmas story at lunch and it's always good to be reminded of the importance of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. It's been a great day! :-)

Merry Christmas!

It's 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and I'm pretty excited about Christmas tomorrow. I'm looking forward to making some new memories.

Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listenin'?

I am in the Christmas mood today. It could be because tomorrow is the last day of school before three weeks off. (insert EXCITEMENT here) Yes, I just said 3 weeks! I am in desperate need of a break. Please pray for the staff as many will be traveling. Please pray for me as well as I've been inwardly grouchy lately from lack of sleep. I tend to have a hard time sleeping when I've got a lot on my mind. And I always have a lot on my mind as it nears the end of a nine week grading period. We have our class Christmas party tomorrow which should be a lot of fun. Famine relief is Saturday and I'll try to remember to take pictures and post them.

Critters

I have to say that the tree outside my classroom is the best tree on campus. I've seen three animals in it already this year. First there was a vervet monkey, then a sykes monkey, and then a hyrax. I didn't have my camera the day the hyrax climbed in my tree. I used my computer a few weeks later when I saw the hyrax again.

Interesting fact: The nearest relative to the hyrax is the elephant. Don't believe me? Check out the dictionary. :-)

Church and Nerf

Yesterday we had our Christmas program at church. It went well. The children were adorable singing their songs. We had a luncheon after church. The food and fellowship were both good.

I was so exhausted from the day that I ended up falling asleep after I got home. When I woke up I gathered my clothes to take over to a friend's house to wash. When I arrived at her house she, her kids, a visiting kid, and another friend were all playing a nerf war. Of course once I started my laundry I joined in. When I played I got to use the water gun since there weren't enough nerf guns. By the end we were all sweaty and wet. It was probably one of the best times I've had this year. It's nice to know people with kids because then you have an excuse to act childish and play games. :-)

At Your Feet

The following song has been the theme of my heart the past few weeks. How precious it is to first of all know the Lord, but how much better it is that I have access to Him all day, every day. Anytime I stray from Him even a little and think that there might be better elsewhere He patiently waits for me to return. He doesn't judge me or think ill of me but loves me unconditionally. Without Him my life would be empty and meaningless.

Here at your feet
I lay my past down
My wanderings, all my mistakes down
I am free
Here at your feet
I lay this day down
Not in my strength, but in yours I have found
All I need, you’re all I need

Chorus:
Jesus, Jesus at your feet
Oh to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus at your feet
There is no where else for me
There is no where else for me

Here at your feet I lay my future down
All of my dreams I give to you now
I find rest, I find peace

Chorus

Here at your feet I lay my life down
For you my king, you’re all I want now
And my soul sings

Chorus

Quiet Time

I've started something new in Bible this week. I teach my students Bible for 45 minutes every day. I have started having them read in the Bible the last 10-15 minutes of class. I told them to start in Genesis and that each day they'd continue where they left off. Today was so encouraging because several of them were discussing what they were reading with other students on the way to morning recess. It's neat to hear the excitement in their voices. I think they're surprised at how interesting the Bible is. If they get nothing else from 5th grade I'd like for them to fall in love with God's Word.

"If we expect great things from God we will receive them." I don't know where I heard that quote but I like it. In the soon to be 12 years since I received Christ I have witnessed some pretty amazing things. I have seen God move in spectacular ways and I'm learning that the evident movement of God is not necessarily seen everywhere. God is everywhere and always working but so many times we miss out on what God is doing in the here and now because we are distracted. I have begun to pray for revival - both at my school and my church. I believe that if God's gets a hold of the youth and the youth take hold to God then remarkable things can happen.

FRiEnDs

I've been trying lately to daily count my blessings. Today I am thanking the Lord for friends. Do you ever notice how sometimes you can become instant friends with a person and then other times it may take years before you warm up to each other? Very few of my friends were instant friends. Even my two best friends were acquaintances for a while before we got close and eventually became best friends. I am thankful for all my close friends!! The reason I know I can open up to them and our friendship can abound is because we encourage each other in the Lord. Many of the godliest and most trustworthy people I know are my friends. I'm glad that they tell me the truth even if it'll hurt because they know in the long run that it's best for me. I'm thankful that we can pray together and pray for each other. I thank God for all the wonderful people he's allowed into my life!!

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving Day having been approaching and now past I've been reflecting on what I am thankful for. I went on famine relief over a week ago and even though it's been quite a few days I'm still processing my trip. Each time I go out to the Ukambani area I am humbled and challenged at the same time. I am rich compared to the people there and yet to hear their voices magnified to our Holy Creator brings tears to the eyes. I don't know why God has chosen to hold back the rains for this time. I do know however that God has a purpose in all that He does. He stretches us and grows us in the hard times. My problems seem so small when placed next to problems like having to walk 10K for water or not knowing where the next meal will come from. Those are things I take for granted. My trials seems so miniscule when mirrored with those suffering of hunger and health issues associated with poor water, lack of proper diet, and unsanitary living conditions. I am thankful though that rich and poor alike can have security in knowing that their sins can be forgiven and that God will never leave them nor forsake them. Praise God because He is good and we don't deserve His goodness!!

RAIn

Please pray for rain! We’ve gotten rain in Nairobi the last two nights, but there are many places in Kenya that are still not getting rain. The country is at a point where if they don’t get rain they are without food reserves to supply the country with food. Many people will starve to death if the rains don’t come. We can’t go another year without it. Along with lack of rain comes inflation of prices. For example – sugar has doubled in price since I moved here last year. Several weeks ago for a few days sugar couldn’t even be found in stores.

History Lesson

Friday I was teaching my students their history lesson. We were reviewing the lesson from Wednesday since we didn’t have school on Thursday due to the field trip. I had taught them about the French and Indian War. I had already asked a few questions about the lesson and then I asked what else they’d learned from the lesson and one student answered, “How to play bump.” Bump is a simple game where students read 3-5 sentences aloud and then ‘bump’ someone else to read. Out of everything they could have learned from my lesson they remember the game best. They daily make me smile.

Field Trip

Last Thursday I took my students on a field trip to the Maasai Ostrich Farm. They had a blast! They were also so well behaved. I was very proud of them for their amazing attitudes and eagerness to learn about the ostriches. I don’t hesitate one bit to take them on another field trip. This was probably the best field trip I’ve ever been on or taken students on.

Farewell

On Wednesday I had to say goodbye to one of my students. Her dad's job has ended in Kenya and she moved back to Korea on Friday. She's a very sweet girl and I miss her already. I talked with her about her salvation before she left. She said she learned about God in fourth grade and accepted Christ the first week of fifth grade. I guess when I asked the students to raise their hands if they wanted me to pray for them because they're not saved she thought I said if they got saved. When we had parent teacher conferences her parents told me that their daughter loves me and has strong faith in God. They said she wants to be a missionary just like Miss Pourciaux. They both told me they don't believe in God at all. I told them that I would be praying that God would show them that He is real and that they need a Savior. Please pray with me for this couple's salvation. It is good to be used by God - especially when we feel so unworthy. I believe that it's when we are weakest that God is strongest in us.


Please pray for West Nairobi School. I cannot give details but we need prayer. Thanks!

The Disease Game

On Sunday I went to the Ostrich Farm with one of my student's family and some other missionaries. I'm hoping to take my students there on a field trip next week or the week after so of course I had to check it out first. Sadly, I could not ride an ostrich as I was looking forward to doing. The tour I went on was very informative and interesting. My favorite part was the ride to the Ostrich Farm. We played an interesting game. We named diseases through the alphabet. For example: A-arthritis, B-bilharzia, etc. Most kids would want to play the alphabet game using food or something like that. Not the little girl who was in the car with me. She's funny. I was surprised at how many diseases the four of us knew.

PTCs and Famine Relief

From Wednesday until today it’s been pretty busy. Wednesday and Thursday were ½ days for the kids. Not for teachers though. I had parent teacher conferences after lunch. They all went really well and I was very encouraged. I learned that my students talk about me A LOT. This is not a bad thing because apparently it’s all good things being said. It does makes me much more conscientious of what I talk about in class though.

Yesterday I went on famine relief with my church. God’s Word says it’s more blessed to give than receive. I’ve learned that even when we give we still receive though. I received a blessing in visiting the churches in the Ukambani area. I love hearing them sing their voices out in praise to our Savior. I’ve been taking Swahili lessons and it’s neat to actually understand some of the words that were spoken. It was a great day!

Next week is a three-day weekend for West Nairobi School teachers. One of the teachers has invited me to Mbita. Mbita is on Lake Victoria. I’m looking forward to the trip and I’m sure I’ll have things to say and pictures to post of the trip.

Sweet Fellowship

This was written Sunday October 18th:

This past week I've thought of my family A LOT. I miss my parents, sisters, brothers, extended family, and friends so much that I'm crying as I sit here and type. I know the Lord is with me always but sometimes I really desire a good friend here. I'm thankful for all my friends, but I desire a friendship where I can fully be myself. I miss being goofy and silly and not worrying whether the person I was behaving that way around would think I was an idiot. I feel like I have to be so grown-up all the time. Oh to be a kid again! I wish I had a dad to give me advice - like about my piece of junk car or even advice on something as insignificant as fixing my broken couch. I don't like leaning on other people for that advice – especially when I feel like I’m a bother to them. I feel so.... helpless. I guess when it boils down to it I'm lonely. I miss my friends back home. I miss having even one friend physically with me to share with what God is doing in my life and in return hearing what God is doing in their life. I miss praying with good friends. I have friends here that I can talk to about surface level things like how my class is going and so forth but I have none that I can truly share my heart with. I'm sure a lot of this is a lack of patience. Cherished relationships come with time. It doesn’t negate my desire for a friend around my age to hang out with, pray with, and share with.

Today's Entry:

Today is Kenyatta Day, which is a national holiday in Kenya. It also means NO SCHOOL! I’m home and I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with the Lord. Yesterday I was thinking that complaining about homesickness, loneliness, and dependency on others is not very Christ-like. So I decided that I would count my blessings. I tried to think of blessings throughout the day and even as I lay in bed ready to drift into a good night’s rest I was dwelling on God’s goodness to me. This morning was a morning of sweet worship with my Savior. I wondered yesterday what I would do today all alone because I had no plans. Little did I know that God had better for me. Spending quality time with Him is exactly what I’ve needed.

Ad-Nouns?

My students this year always have me smiling. :-) It seems like English is the most amusing subject. I'm teaching about verbs today and I asked them what words describe verbs. They answered 'adverbs'. Then I asked what words describes nouns and one child above all the rest blurts out 'adnouns'. He's so stinkin cute! He knew the right answer (adjectives) but the first thing that came to mind is what came out his mouth.

I have this fun thing in class where my students try to spell the word c-o-m-p-l-i-m-e-n-t. They earn the letters by getting compliments from adults or teachers on campus and administrators. This week they earned all the letters and their prize was a snack day. Today they could eat snacks at their desks all day. I kind of forgot they had music and boy did I get an earful about their behavior in music. Ooopsie! I definitely need to warn their specials teachers or have snack day start after lunch next time. All in all the students were thrilled with the day.

Prepositions

In English today I was teaching my students about linking verbs. I explained to them that they need to put all the prepositional phrases in parentheses so they can find the subject, verb, and predicate noun or predicate adjective easier. We had just completed a sentence and I asked a student what 'of football' was? The correct answer would be 'a preposition'. Instead he begins to shape an American football with his hands and says 'it's kinda shaped like this'.

Nyali Reef

Mombasa was amazing! Linda, another teacher, and I left Friday evening from the bus station at 9:30 p.m. and arrived in Mombasa at 5:45 a.m. We took a cab to the place we were staying at for the weekend. The first thing we did after all the other guests in the house left for a ministry activity was to go for a swim in the pool. It was raining and I enjoyed every minute of the drops pelting on my skin. The weekend consisted of swimming (in the pool and Indian Ocean), reading, walking, sleeping, worshiping (devotions while overlooking the ocean & church at Crossroads Fellowship), chatting, laughing, and eating. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. We left Sunday evening at 10 p.m. and arrived in Nairobi at 6 a.m. I rushed home and got ready for work. I was pretty exhausted while teaching yesterday and boy did I look tired. I tried to cover up the exhaustion with makeup but to no avail. My whole demeanor screamed sleepy. My students were quite gracious toward me. Like 5th graders they of course laughed when I slurred my words or mumbled. I was a very different Miss Pourciaux from their usual upbeat, on-task teacher. Even though I was tired we still had a fun day.

Going to Mombasa

So I am going to the coast this weekend! One of the teachers at school is going with me. We are taking a night bus and will arrive in Mombasa tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. I am bringing absolutely no school work with me. I hope to lay in the sun for two days straight. I'll come back Monday morning at 6 a.m. and have just enough time to go home, get ready for school, and go to work. I miss doing random crazy things like this. I used to take weekend trips all the time in the States. Of course when you're female it's a lot safer to take them in the States than in Africa. Please pray for safety!

fUnNy MoRnInG

Today has started off with a load of laughter. I caught two students talking during my Math lesson and told them both to flip their cards. One of them says, "But Miss Pourciaux I was telling him to be quiet in Korean because he dissed me in Swahili." I couldn't contain my laughter. I would never hear something like what he said in the States. I also found it amusing that he was trying to justify his talking because he spoke in a different language. lol

Later one of my students was in class packing up to go home. Another student didn't believe that he was sick and I pointed out how he'd been coughing all morning. All of a sudden about 5 or 6 students start fake coughing. Again the whole class was harmonious in a roar of laughter. I'm eager to see what the rest of the day holds. :-)

Unexpected Detours

So this morning on my way to work I got a flat tire. I felt my car pulling to the right a tad bit as I was leaving my gate but didn't think anything of it. It didn't take long before I realized what had happened. Thankfully there's a family here that I can always count on. They arrived to help me as soon as they could. First, we tried pumping the tire up with fix flat but it was too far gone. So, we ended up putting the spare tire on. I drove to work without any difficulty. Sadly, I need to buy a new tire. :-( There are many other things I need to repair on my car, but surprisingly I didn't get upset by this news. I've known since I first got back in July that my car was in bad shape. I plan on selling it but honestly I do need to fix a few things before I entrust my clunker (a.k.a. Bertha) to anyone else. On the brighter side of things :-) with the rain we got the other night the jacaranda trees are in full blossom. It is a beautiful drive home from work once I come to the area where the trees are sporadically lined along the main road. There are splashes of purple all over the place. I thoroughly enjoy the little things in life that put a smile on my face and a bounce in my step. I'll try to get a pic of these beautiful trees this week.

Belated Visit

Today I had lunch with the family one of my students from last year. They live not far from Nairobi Game Park. They are actually building a house that overlooks the game park. We went over to their new place after lunch. We mainly saw cows and sheep, but there were a few zebra there as well. We saw some monkeys also. Overall it was a very relaxing day. Tonight I jammed my finger though. Ouch! I hope it heals quickly. :-(

So lately I've been a not so good blogger. I'll try to be better about blogging next week. I couldn't help but smile on my way to work this morning. There was the usual traffic but what was different were the 6 or 7 matatus and buses pulled over on the side of the road with police officers around them. Most mornings buses and matatus will pass along the dirt path on the side of the road so they can avoid traffic (ultimately causing more traffic b/c they cut in line and cause accidents). Well I guess today was NOT their lucky day if they decided to avoid traffic because they were literally being issued tickets. HA HA! Every so often it's nice to see the law enforced. Shortly after passing the angry matatu and bus drivers I continued driving and I looked to the left and beheld a man carrying a van door to the matatu ahead who apparently lost it on their drive.

With the famine getting worse, more and more cows are being brought into Nairobi to find grass or water. They look so pitiful. Please pray for rain! It's heart breaking to know that while the animals are in bad shape there are people in worse shape than they are. Prayer can change things!!

Grumpy and Grateful

Saturday my church went on famine relief. There were 20 of us who went. I really enjoyed it as usual. I didn’t take any pictures and I must say that was the best decision I could have made. It was nice to just enjoy the people of the church without worrying about pictures.

I was thankful that my day turned out to be good because it started off with me being pretty grumpy and ended with a splitting headache. I woke up at 3am and couldn’t seem to fall asleep again because my right arm and leg were in pain. Me without sleep is a disastrous combination. I took out my grumpiness on my passengers – yikes! On the way home one of them offered to drive for me and we started our trip that way and then about 5 minutes into the drive I thought to ask if she had her license and she did not. So I ended up driving home. I took medicine before leaving for home and I think it may have helped a little, but when I got home my head hurt so bad I was in tears. I went to bed around 7:30 that night (thankfully my exhaustion outweighed the pain).

So over the past few days I’ve really beaten myself up over my behavior. I was never really a sensitive person growing up that I can remember. There was a time in my life when it wouldn’t have mattered if I hurt another person’s feelings. Now I seem to rethink many things wondering what I could have done differently. I see this as a sign that the Lord is at work in me.

Yesterday I was teaching my students a missionary story. It turned out to be a pretty awesome lesson. I presented my students with a question that I try to tell myself all the time: In light of eternity will this matter? When we live with an eternal mindset it helps us to make the best decisions possible for God’s glory and not our own. I forget this many times but He is faithful to remind me.

People Section

Okay so sometimes I get stuck behind trucks filled with people. Also known as the 'people section'. When I say filled I mean they fit as many people into the back as possible. After work today I was behind one and three guys were staring at me. So I put my visor down and they were amused by that gesture. So they started pointing me out to all the other guys in the back of the truck. Within seconds the entire truck of men was staring at me. I kept mouthing for them to turn around but they just smiled and stared some more. Thankfully I found an opening and passed them as quickly as possible. Life here just never seems dull. :-)

Ranting!

So a little pet peeve of mine is that it irks me when I go to check out a person's blog and it's 3 pages (ok a little exaggeration) long. Seriously, do people really let activities build up and then write about them all at once? Daily entries or weekly short entries are best in my opinion. Okay I'm done ranting for now. Hee Hee!

Marriageable Age

Today has been a day for laughing and fun. I received a gift from a friend in the single ladies group at church in celebration of my birthday. On the envelope containing my birthday card this was written “In my African culture, when a lady reaches a marriageable age, she is given a BROOM as a symbol of readiness.” Sure enough inside the bag contained a small African broom! I can’t help but smile (and laugh) even writing this now. I love her! I told her she's a few years late. I reached that age several years ago. She said she hopes that will change soon. I assured her it’s not likely but I know not to put God in a box. He’s a creative God and can bring someone into my life any time He wishes. For now I’m enjoying serving Him alone. I believe that people should enjoy every stage of their lives and I try to enjoy each stage to its fullest.

birthdays and memories

The 2nd was my birthday and what a great day it was! It started off with me approaching my classroom to find a single rose in a glass jar awaiting me at the door. Then when my students came in I was thankful for the precious gifts they chose to give me. I am well loved! My bouquet of roses (my favorite flowers to receive!) is still on the kitchen counter smelling sweeter every day. That evening I felt even more cherished with the group of 13 for dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant called L'Arena. Overall I'd say it was a wonderful day!

Today marks 12 years since my dad passed away. It's been a long time but I can still remember the look on his face when he was proud of me. Or the way I'd sit beside him and put my arm in his and his first question would be "What do you want?" His eyes danced as he said it and I'd giggle back "Nothing, I just want to be near you." I miss watching the rodeo with him and each of us guessing how long each guy would stay on the bull. Watching the bull riding was our favorite thing to watch. In some ways each year becomes easier to accept his absence, but I will still always miss him.

refined through the fire

This week I had one of those days at school where I'm so thankful to be a Christian school teacher. One morning I started teaching Bible before my students went to morning recess and finished after. They had excellent questions and awesome discussions followed each one. I can tell the Lord is at work in the hearts and lives of the children in my classroom. Please continue to pray for the salvation of those that do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

"It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." A.W. Tozer made this statement and it still rings true to this very moment. You could assume that with all the hurt that has transpired in my almost 27 years that I would be immune to it. That is definitely not so! If anything when I hear of a tragedy my heart goes out to the loved ones of those involved even more. I've been thinking all day of my cousin and what her mom and my aunt (her grandmother) must be feeling. I think the part that I'm having the hardest time with is the fact that I have no clue if she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. My reason for living is to share Christ with others. My hope truly is found in Jesus Christ! We have no guarantees of tomorrow. I remember not long ago having a conversation with an unsaved friend and telling her that I'm not afraid to die. To this day I'm still not afraid to die. My security is in knowing that Christ died for my sins and I'm forgiven! I have no fear because I know my ultimate home is heaven.

Lately, I've been challenged to be a bolder witness for Christ. There is nothing more spectacular than hearing someone pray and receive Christ. Their prayer is so sincere and unpretentious. They speak straight from the heart. Please pray that God would send people in my path that I can be a witness to.

Last, but not least - pray for rain!!!

LSU goalie

I got news this evening of a death in my family. My cousin died of cancer. She graduated from college in 2004 and found out about her cancer a few months later in November. It saddens me that I never personally knew her. I don't even know if she was a Christian. I am challenged more than ever to share the gospel. We never know when our last chance will be.

1st Full Week

Yesterday I completed my first full week of school. I see a lot of potential with my new group of students. I was able to talk to one of the five students who raised their hands. She was saved but just needed reassuring verses that there was nothing she needed to do to 'keep' her salvation. I'm still praying and looking for opportunities to talk to the other 4 students.

If Just One More Soul...

The Lord is definitely at work here in Kenya! There's a lady in church asking about salvation. In my classroom five students raised their hands this morning to let me know that they are not sure of their salvation or they're not saved. I have quite the mission field here. I feel privileged that God would desire to use me for His glory. Please pray as I'm going to purposely find time to talk with each student individually without it being obvious to the rest of the class.

Please pray for Emmanuel Baptist Church. Just in the last two months we lost Ryan Williams, Frank Toews, and a church member's son-in-law. While the second two were not members of our church many in our church knew them. Frank used to attend Emmanuel and the son-in-law was a pastor here in Kenya. The pastor who died left behind a young wife and a brand new baby. His wife's name is Rhea and her father, Mr. Bovard, attends our church. Please pray for Mr. Bovard's son David as he was in casts on both his legs and just as he was about to get them off last week an accident happened and he has broken both of them again in different places. He's already undergone surgery and is in the process of healing. The Bovards are in need of prayer as well as the Williams and Toews. Please uplift these families as well as Emmanuel Baptist Church in your prayers. Thank you!

Memorial Service

Today we had Ryan Williams' memorial service. This is the first one I've been to since my dad died September of 1997. The one before that was my mom's funeral. I was doing okay until toward the end. Dawn had all the mechanics that Ryan worked with stand shoulder to shoulder. Then she said to them as well as other AIM people to be sure to tell stories to her boys about their daddy. This summer when I went home I tried asking questions about my parents and no one could answer them. When people ask me who I miss the most while I'm in Kenya my first thought is always my parents. The truth is that I missed them even when I was in the States as well. Sometimes I wish I still had one of them so that they could tell me about the other. I was sitting toward the back at the service and it broke my heart when I heard the kids start crying. I may not have known Ryan well but many in my church did. I've been praying for those I specifically know that were close to him. It's always sad to lose someone. Thankfully with Ryan it is a time of rejoicing as well because he is now with our Heavenly Father.

First Day

Today was quite the interesting day. Out of 21 students 6 were absent. I foresee repeating everything I said today tomorrow. Sometimes that's just how life is. :-P It seems like I've got a pretty good group of kids. Both the 3rd and 4th grade teachers who had this group liked them a lot.

I'm really enjoying the peacefulness of living alone. It wasn't noisy with a roommate, but I like that in the evenings it's only me. In the quietness of my apartment I can pray aloud, sing at the top of my lungs (no neighbors have complained yet lol), or simply listen to good music from my laptop. There's nothing better than quiet time to worship God Almighty!

and the saga begins.......

School begins tomorrow and I think I'm ready. I'm looking forward to meeting all my students and getting to know them. It's only a half day so I'm not too worried about having to be super prepared. Full instruction doesn't begin until Wednesday.

Praying

This morning we had a good but solemn service. I knew Ryan Williams but not well. It was obvious to all that he was a great husband, father, and man of God. Many in our church were very close to him. Seeing his good friends in church grieving made me sad. Even after losing so many people in my lifetime I still have no words for those who are in pain. Some of them I didn't even approach because I lacked the right words. Please continue to pray for Dawn and her 4 children and and the pilot Frank Toews' wife, Tiffany, and their four children.

Cereal

So here's a little background before my story. Last Sunday we had a youth and young adults activity at a nearby school after church. As an introduction we were each asked to say our name and favorite cereal. My favorite is Weetabix Fruit & Fibre.

The person next to me during this activity is an American girl who's been here since June. She doesn't like regular Weetabix and so gave me a yucky face when I said my favorite cereal. Then I explained that Fruit & Fibre is not like the regular Weetabix. So since she was coming to my house this weekend I decided to buy some of my fav to share with her. I checked three different stores and couldn't find it anywhere. Finally, today she and I went to this small store to get a few things we forgot to get at Nakumatt and you'll never guess what we found! Yep!!! We found Weetabix Fruit & Fibre cereal. Yum! Yum!

It was the ending to a great day. In the morning I got to meet six of my students for this coming year. We prayed together and played a little game. The rest of the day was filled with fun times.

Mourning

Ryan Williams went home to be with the Lord today. Please continue to lift his family up in your prayers.

Updates

I realize that in my last entry I mentioned Ryan Williams but did not mention how I know him. He and his family attend my church here in Nairobi. He's actually a deacon in the church. He was flown to South Africa for his skin grafting surgery. The last I heard was that he was unstable and had to be placed on Dialysis to support his kidney function, short term. Please pray for Ryan's recovery. He and his wife just adopted a beautiful Kenyan girl this summer. Ryan's wife, Dawn, and others are working diligently to get her travel papers so they can join Ryan in South Africa. So if you could lift that situation up in your prayers also that would be greatly appreciated.

With preparations for school consuming so much of my time I have not gotten my car checked out by a mechanic yet. On the upside I am getting quite the arm workout because power steering went out a while ago. I should post an update in the next week about its full condition. I'm a little nervous to find out how bad it is.

Due to the lack of rain in Kenya the country has started rationing electricity. Different parts of the country will be without electricity 2 days a week from 6am-7pm. Power plants are hydroelectric and so without the needed rain they are in trouble. Please pray for rain!!! Thankfully I thought ahead and got up earlier to turn the hot water heater on so I had a nice hot shower. The lack of sleep was worth feeling clean. :-) Of course I wasn't thinking about the fact that my stove is electric and all I had to eat were eggs. It was a good reason to go to Java for a whole wheat bagel and Malindi chai latte. Yum Yum!

Well, please continue to pray for my new group of students. I am praying for salvation decisions and spiritual growth.

Monday morning thoughts

It's early Monday morning and I've got a lot on my mind. I need to go into school today but I'm procrastinating a little.

The first thing on my mind is...well...school. I've gotten a lot done but there is still much work to be done. Thankfully I've got someone coming in to help me. I'm really trying to get ahead so I have more free time to do fun stuff this weekend.

Next is my apartment. I have plans of what I'd like to do with it but nothing can happen until it is cleared of some things in the living room...no worries.

Finally, I've been thinking about Ryan and Dawn Williams. Ryan was in a plane crash on Saturday and is in pretty bad shape. The pilot in the crash died and the 2 passengers survived with fairly minor injuries. Ryan came out with a broken hip, broken pelvis, broken patella, severe burns and lacerations. He's in critical condition but stable. He is married with four young children. Please lift this family up in your prayers.

Same Old, Same Old

Do you ever feel like Satan attacks you in the same ways all the time? Or do you feel like you beat yourself up over silly things? If you've answered yes to either or both of the preceding questions then thank you! I'm glad I'm not alone. Sometimes it seems like I struggle with the same things over and over again. I'm thankful for a gracious God who always lovingly forgives and helps me to move on. I can't help but wish that the struggles were never there in the first place. Maybe I sound a bit unspiritual but honestly who wants hardships? I'm not exactly raising my hand to be first in line. Since becoming a Christian 11 1/2 years ago it seems like what I struggle with most comes into my life in rotations. They are the same few that take turns torturing me. Okay so enough of my ramblings about struggles. The same God who allows all these thorns into my life is the same God who gives me the strength to overcome them.

Peace

On a humorous note: yesterday I got a marriage proposal from one of the workers at my apartment complex. I was most amused because he was 100% serious. I was told I'd get a proposal before my contract was up but I didn't quite believe until yesterday. Silly Kenya lol!

On a serious note: today I got my car checked out. Three different people checked it out and the outcome is that I shouldn't repair anything on my car. I should sell it as is and use the money to go toward a better vehicle. On the bright side they all said I'd get back more for it than what I originally thought.

I'm surprisingly at peace about this whole situation. I've realized that there's no need to stress because it's all in the Lord's hands. Worrying over what ifs doesn't help anyone, least of all me.

Next week I'm hoping to help with my church's camp the first half of the week. The last two days I have teacher orientation. It should be a busy but fun week.

Prayer

It's odd to think that my life was so carefree and lacking stress only one week ago. Now I'm home and beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. There's a strong possibility that I'll need to get a new vehicle. This means that I'll need to sell the one I currently have before even looking for another one. I will also need more money to afford a better vehicle. This also means that while I'm selling and then looking I'll be catching rides to school with other teachers. On top of that I can't get a hold of my house help and I've been working on school stuff and deep cleaning my apartment the past few days. I haven't even tackled cleaning my dirty clothes by hand. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I! I know the Lord is still in control and has a purpose for all this. Just because things aren't going my way does not mean that it's the end of the world. I'm being stretched and that's never fun. Please pray about these things with me. Thanks!

Car Troubles

I almost forgot to mention my car. Please pray as I've come home to bad news about its condition. My car is in worse shape than I originally thought. I'm going to get a thorough inspection this week. Once I know exactly all that's wrong with it then I'll know whether I should fix the problems, fix the problems and sell it, or sell as is and buy a new one. It's not exactly pleasant news but I'm trusting the Lord to provide. I may just have to have a roommate after all and use the money for the other half of rent to buy a new car. Please pray with me :-)

Work, Work, Work

Yesterday I worked at the school from 9am - 4pm. I'm in the same room as I was last year. I felt crowded last year and so I decided I would try a different set up in the same room. I emptied out my huge solid wood cabinet, and both bookshelves. With the help of another teacher I moved all my furniture around and now I'm very pleased with the results. It should now be spacious enough for my current 23 students. Emptying everything also gave me opportunity to reorganize my cabinet. Everyone was very surprised to see me at school yesterday. Most of the teachers who go home to the States come back as last minute as possible. Personally I like to be super organized before the school year starts. I also missed Kenya sooo much!! I am so glad I came back early.

Home Sweet Home

I am back in Kenya now and very glad to be back! I flew in Thursday evening and then took a taxi to Lukenya. I stayed with my pastor and his wife until Saturday morning. On Saturday Bethany, the Weaver's intern, and I drove into Nairobi. Over the last few days I've been working on unpacking my suitcases and getting settled into my apartment again. I had a wonderful time catching up with people at church yesterday. After church I went to Habesha (my favorite Ethiopian restaurant) with a group of American girls and one Canadian girl. We had a wonderful time! Sadly Bethany left to go back to Lukenya with the Weavers after lunch and a stroll around the market.

I look forward to this coming school year. I have been praying for my new students. Mostly I have been praying that God would be evidently present on our campus this year. Please pray with me!!

Getting Ready

Today has been a super busy day! I spent the majority of the day shopping for all the things I need to take back to Kenya with me. I hope I can fit it all in my suitcases! I had the privilege of shopping with a wonderful lady from my home church. My only thought is - Why did I not spend time with her all those years I was living in Jacksonville? I know that things happen in God's timing though. Our time was so special because we had so much to share with each other that even two years ago could not have been shared. My new friend and I's conversation included a lot of talk about God's sovereignty. Today has reminded me yet again that God's ways are higher than our ways.

To think that God takes notice of a sinner like me baffles my mind. I fail Him and disobey Him and yet He still loves me!!! On Sunday we had Hosanna House sing a special during the morning service. Hosanna House is a home for struggling, troubled, and rebellious teenagers. They sang of redemption in Christ and it was evident that they believed every word that poured out of their mouth. Looking at my past it is obvious that God has had His hand in my life. I never want to forget about the power of salvation. I want to shout out "MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN!" Everyone I know has a unique testimony about how they came to know Christ as their personal Savior. Not one story is the same because each person is different. I believe it's good to share your testimony with others because while it may be a blessing to others it reminds us that our Heavenly Father cares enough to have sent His very best - Jesus Christ! I am also reminded that were it not for grace I don't know where life would have led me. It is by God's grace that I've made a lot of good choices and I didn't take a path that led to destruction. Have you thanked God for salvation today? Do you know God as your personal Savior? If you don't please send me a comment with your e-mail address included and I'll write you and share with you how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and know that your sins are forgiven.

Anticipation

I have had a wonderful summer. I have spent time with so many friends and almost all of my family. Even though the summer has been great I can't wait to get back to Kenya. I'm praying that God will do some pretty amazing things in both my life and those that I know in this coming year. More and more I am aware of my desperate need for the Lord and my dependence on Him. This summer at times I've felt stretched in all directions. I've upset people because of not visiting them or needing to change my plans. My motivation was not to hurt anyone. I don't like knowing that people are upset with me. Do you ever feel like you have defining moments in life? I had one this week. I won't go into specific details but I'll let you know what it was about. This summer I've wanted to please people because I love these people and care a lot about them. Yet I longed for the quiet moments I'd have in Kenya where it was just me and the Lord spending unhindered time together. I came to the decision that no matter how much I love my family and friends they can't have first place in my life. The Lord is the only one worthy of that place. I shouldn't be, but I'm still amazed at how often God has to tear down idols in my life and refocus me. His tender loving care is more than I deserve. My life would have no purpose if not for Him. Well meaning people keep asking me when I'm going to move back, settle down, and have a family. The truth is that I do want to get married one day. I have no doubts that God has an amazing man out there for me. At the same time I wouldn't trade this unhindered time with my Savior for anything! I spend a lot of time with friends and family members who have children. While I want many children someday I know how demanding they are. I'm always watching mommies with their little ones to get ideas for the future. There is still so much work left on me before I'm ready for marriage and children. In the meantime I'm following God's direction and not just waiting to be swept off my feet. I'm seeking His will above my own. This song came to mind with my defining moment that God needs first place.


Lyrics to Draw Me Close To You :

Verse:
Draw me close to you.
Never let me go.
I lay it all down again.
To hear you say that I'm your friend.
You are my desire.
No one else will do.
Cause no one else can take the place.
To fill the warmth of Your embrace.
Help me find a way.
To bring me back to You.

Chorus:
You're all I want.
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want.
Help me know You are near.

Shopping

Today I went looking for things that I'll need in Kenya. I must have spent over an hour in the teacher store. There was so much to choose from. I like shopping in the teacher store because I like to find things that I can use for my students. Today's experience in a store was very different from my experience last week. I went with some family members to a pet store because they needed dog food. We went to Petco or some huge store like it. I was amazed at all the things they sold! While there are children starving in other countries people are spending there money on $6.00 rope knots for their animals to chew on or $15.00 pet outfits. Some bags of dog food in that store cost $50.00 or more. There is plenty of money in the world but are we really spending our money wisely? I felt sick when I left that store. Even as I was shopping for educational tools to use with my students I was hesitant to buy certain things because I knew they'd be a waste of money. I guess it's all about perspective and values.

Side note: I'm tired of people talking about Michael Jackson like he was some sort of saint. In light of eternity will his music impact the next generation for Christ? Do his values mirror that of what God's Word teaches? Conversations lately seem to be engulfed with talk of Jackson and his viewing/funeral. As Christians we need to encourage children to exemplify Christ and His characteristics and not that of celebrities.

He never ceases to amaze me!

I got some less than exciting news two nights ago on an e-mail. My first response was to let out an exasperated grunt. I know, I know...not very spiritual. Then I proceeded to complain for about 30 seconds. In the midst of the complaining I realized that the best thing to do was pray. I stopped and approached the throne of the only One who could make a difference in my situation. Within 24 hours the request was answered in full. Our God truly is amazing!!!

Back in the States

I've been back in the States since June 4th. I have already visited with probably 40 or more people in Jacksonville, FL. I flew to Lynchburg, VA and got to see one of my two best friends after being apart from her for 3 years. Then I flew to Wisconsin and got to see a very good friend of mine. While I was there she delivered her first child. It was a 7 lb 15 oz adorable boy with a head full of hair [a.k.a. afro :-) ]. I was privileged to hear his first cries and hold him in the first hour of his life outside the womb. I also stayed with her both nights in the hospital (her hubby was nice to let me) and got to cuddle with her sweet baby. At present I am in Sarasota, FL visiting my brother and his family. I visited with a different brother last night an hour north of here. I go to Louisiana this Tuesday and get to see my other 2 brothers and my 4 sisters. I'll be there for 2 weeks then spend a few days in Atlanta with a friend. While in Louisiana I'm going to be able to see my other best friend one day. Then it's back to Jax before I fly home to Kenya. I enjoy traveling but I really miss sleeping in my own bed. I'm also looking forward to not living out of a suitcase. Please pray for me as I'm giving a short update to my home church July 19th. Before the morning service I'll be speaking in my former Bible Fellowship class. So please pray for that as well.

Goodbye

I'm on my computer looking up pictures for a presentation I'm giving this summer. I fly back to the States tonight. I haven't even left yet and already I'm struggling with saying goodbye to this place I've called home for the last 10 months. My closest friends and all my family may be in the States but I'm beginning to build friendships here. I'm sad to leave all my new friends. I know I'll be back in 7 weeks but I guess I've never really been good at goodbyes. It is in coming here that I've learned to trust the Lord more. It is in coming here that I've learned God is in complete control. It has not been easy and I've made MANY mistakes but He has been faithful as always.

End of the Year Activities

The last week of school was VERY busy!! Wednesday was Reading Day. The students got to wear their pajamas to school and bring sleeping bags and pillows. I ordered pizza and got drinks and snacks for them. It was overall a fun day. Thursday was Field Day. The kids went to six different stations set up around campus for fun activities. I even joined in with a few of them. Friday was the last day of school. The students brought in breakfast items and we had breakfast together. We had a closing ceremony shortly before school officially ended to pray for those leaving for the summer and leaving the school for good. It was a good end to an eventful year. :-)

So Sweet!

One of my students gave me probably the sweetest note I've ever gotten while teaching. It was written by hand and a full page. It was so touching that I had to wipe away tears from my eyes while reading it. Notes like this one are why teachers keep teaching. She also brought me my favorite candy. YUM! Today was also field day. A post and pictures will follow.

Jailhouse Rock

On Friday my students took part in the upper elementary musical. It was called Jailhouse Rock. It was fun to watch and the kids were very animated and lively. Attached you'll see a short video from the production and some pictures of the main characters.

Singles Activity

Today all the young people in church went to a local school and used their field to play sports. We began our time with ultimate frisbee then branched off to play soccer, basketball, and board games. We had a lot of fun and I'm sad to be leaving everyone for the summer.

Going Home

Well, I leave for home in 22 days. I figured I would post a blog about the things I'm looking forward to and the things I'll miss during the summer.

Things I'm looking forward to this summer:
*seeing friends and family
*exercising outside
*being out late at night
*traffic laws being followed for the most part
*non-pothole roads
*Wal-Mart and Target
*Starbucks
*there are too many restaurants to name
*Brewster's Ice Cream!! (I think I spelled it right)
*swimming and the beach
*drinking out of the tap
*fast internet
*Trinity Baptist Church
*personal space
*air conditioning
*real toilets everywhere I go; not holes in the floor or the great outdoors
*laundry being washed in a washing machine and not by hand
*order

Things I'll miss this summer:
*the fresh fruit and veggies (they're so much sweeter here than the States)
*having all incoming calls on my cell phone free
*Emmanuel Baptist Church
*singing in choir
*new friends I've made here
*For You Chinese
*Habesha Ethiopian
*no enforced speed limit
*game drives (I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing the amazing animals here)

I'm sure there are more in both lists but these are some starters. I'm sure I'll miss Kenya this summer but for now I'm so excited to be going home.

Famine Relief Part 2

Yesterday I went with my church for famine relief. This was our second trip. (You can see the dryness caused by lack of rain by the picture to the right.) This trip seemed to have impacted me more than the last one. It's not so much that the churches seemed more desolate or needy but that my heart was different going on this trip. I've been discussing with a friend lately about the rich and the poor. I live simply here and yet I'm still rich compared to so many.



My classroom is a prime example of this even more than my home. The walls are practically covered with bright posters and charts and other fun decorations. The first church we visited had a Christian school. The classrooms in the school we visited were bare. This was the same school we visited the last famine relief trip. Last time the children were on holiday and therefore not at the school. When we went yesterday all the students were there. When I stepped into the Standard 5 (5th grade) classroom a huge smile spread across my face. Truthfully I wanted to cry because it was evident that they have so little and I have so much. The walls had flattened cardboard boxes across the back wall. There were no colorful posters or decorations like my classroom. I greeted the class and explained to them that I teach students their age in Karen. They were warm and welcoming and I wished I could have stayed there all day.



One church that really made an impact on me was the second church we visited. There were actually two churches that came together to greet us at one church building. There was a lady who greeted my friend Alice and I right away. She remembered us from the Leadership Conference back in March. Our group was welcomed into the pastor of the church's office and the same women was in the office with all of us, the pastor, and the pastor's wife. She spoke of how thankful she was to be able to go to the Leadership Conference and how she is teaching the ladies in the church from the material she was given in March. She spoke of how grateful she is that God has placed her where He has to minister to the ladies in the church. She conveyed to us her passion, as well as the other ladies' passion, to learn the Word of God. She said that they greatly desire biblical teaching for the ladies. I am praying that it will be possible for ladies in our church to go back and hold classes for these precious women. There was also a woman there who had triplets. The picture to the right is of the triplets. The mom is on the left.



The third church was just as warm and welcoming as the first two. What stuck out to me at this church was the rows of bricks in the back of the church. They have been building their church building and make their own bricks. We couldn't stay at this last church as long due to time constraints but I was still glad to be able to have gone in the first place.

We found out that the areas we visited yesterday are already rationing water. I am never without water in my apartment building. There have been several other teachers in my school that have been without water for days or weeks at a time in their homes. Back home I never thought about what I would do without water. I never kept large jugs of water in my home just in case of water shortage. I am so thoroughly blessed and I know I don't deserve it.

I can't help but always think about my students when reflecting on this trip. Whereas my students may have water and electricity and food to eat, these people we visited in many ways have so much more. They have a love that is evident and a hunger for God and His Word. Sometimes I can't help but cry out to the Lord for the precious souls He has entrusted to me. My students may have their physical needs met but when it comes to spiritual several of them are desolate. I know they are young but they are not too young to give their lives to the Lord.

Mombasa

This past weekend I spent two wonderful nights at Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa. It was so nice to get away from the city. I went with the 6th grade teacher and we had a lot of fun together. It worked great because we both like to go to bed early and get up early. We also get along really well and I had a marvelous time getting to know her better. My favorite time though was the 2nd night when I went out alone and sat in a chair under a light where I could see the beach and ocean. I sat there and read for an hour. It was relaxing to listen to the waves crashing against the shore as I read my Bible, a book that I brought, and prayed. This weekend was a good time of fellowship with the Lord. Now it's back to the hustle and bustle of every day life. It's nice to set times apart for focused fellowship with the Lord. I'm starting this week in a much better mood than I was in before I left for the weekend.

Chapel

I spoke in Chapel last Friday and really enjoyed it. There is a sense of spiritual struggle across campus from the elementary to the high school. I'm praying for revival. I'm burdened for students to come to know Christ personally and for those that know Him to act like it. Please pray!

A Speck of Light

Yesterday in class I showed the movie "Facing the Giants" to my students. I'd never seen the movie before and there's one part where a kid who's very disrespectful to his dad gets his heart right with the Lord and apologizes to his dad. During this part one of my students, who's very disrespectful to his mom and dad, looked up at me and there were tears in his eyes. It was obvious that the Lord was working on his heart. This student is not a Christian and honestly I was getting discouraged because it didn't seem like anything was getting through to him. I had prayed specifically for him yesterday morning and I praise God that He chose to encourage me to not lose heart. He has a plan for this boy and I'm a vessel that He's chosen (what a privilege!!!!) to share His message with him. On Sunday we had a visiting preacher at church and something he said has stuck out to me and I've thought on it all week. He said that many times we don't think God is as powerful as He is. How true that statement is! God desires for this boy to know Him and the sheer fact that his parents are not believers and don't want to be believers but have him in our school is a miracle. They send him to our school for the character building that we teach. Little do they know how much he is daily exposed to Bible verses and a clear message of the Gospel. God's Word changes hearts and he's hearing God's Word regularly. Please pray for his salvation. I know God is at work!

She's Back! :-)

Our 6th grade teacher is back after being gone since December. She went home and had a routine mammogram in the States and they ended up finding cancer in her breast. She underwent surgery and has been recovering for several months. She's always an encouragement to me and I'm so glad to have her back. I didn't realize how much I'd missed her until she came into my classroom on Tuesday morning. Just the sight of her made me smile. She's looking great and has come back renewed and refreshed. This is quite the contrast to the overall climate of the school right now. Many of the other teachers are struggling through these last 7 weeks. There's a sense of "I'm done, let me go home" around the campus. It's been a tough year. I know I've learned a lot both about myself and about schools in general. I'm sad that there are five teachers not returning next year. I think if things weren't so rough this past year there wouldn't be so many teachers going. I will miss them but I'm sure God has other plans for them.

Easter

We had a good Easter service yesterday. It was the first time in a while I was able to be in an actual service and not with the kiddos. After the service we had the Lord's Supper. 'The Old Rugged Cross' was played during the time of the Lord's Supper. After thinking of my family for several days I thought of the first time I heard that song. It was at my mama's funeral. It was her favorite hymn and I had never heard it until that day. It's interesting how music can bring you back to memories from long ago. When I became a Christian I remember how I finally understood that precious hymn. I had no longer thought of my mama first when I heard it but of Christ and the wonderful sacrifice he made for me on that old rugged cross. Yesterday though I thought of my mama and how much I miss her. No matter how many wonderful women I have in my life no one will take her place. She was strong, spontaneous, and just plain fun. I like to think that in some ways I'm like her. Probably one of the hardest things for me is that I don't even remember what she sounded like. I can't remember my daddy's voice either. I understand God's purpose in taking them but it doesn't take away the sadness that I sometimes feel in not having them. I was supposed to go to lunch with friends after church but was a bit too emotional to go out. I went home and spent time with the one Person in my life who will always be there for me. It's amazing what therapy for the soul tears can be. Pouring my heart out to the Lord was what I needed. I didn't need to go out with people even though I'm sure they would have helped to make me laugh. I know that friendships take time and sometimes I get impatient. I think of all my wonderful friends back home and wish I had that type of support group here. I have to remind myself that those relationships were built over time and they didn't happen instantaneously. I'm very thankful for the new friendships that I've made here. I'm sad that the one friend I've grown the closest to will be leaving to go back to the States. But I also know that God has a purpose in it. I know that He sees the big picture and I only see one frame at a time.

Spring Break

This past week was Spring Break. It was a good time of reflection and rest. Tomorrow is the first Sunday in a while where I will be able to attend the 10am church service. I'm looking forward to hearing Pastor Weaver. It's weird to think that tomorrow is Easter. I keep remembering Easter 13 years ago. It was the last time my entire family was together. It was a month before my mom died and my parents and all my brothers and sisters were home. It was such a fun time and it makes me homesick thinking of those memories. I'm thankful God gave me the time he did with both my parents.

Finally Fixed

It's amazing how many people are out of town! After several calls I finally found someone who had a vehicle and did not go out of town. Thankfully she was able to take me to get a new tire. I ended up having to get two new tires which was a little distressing on the financial end but all is well. Now my tire is fixed and I can get around to places.

Tire

This week I'm staying at a friend's house in Karen. Yesterday I was rushing to make it back to their house to let their grounds keeper go so he wouldn't have to walk home in the dark. As I was making the turn onto the road they live off of I hits some rocks. Now to drive over rocks is not really a big deal here. But I failed to realize how sharp those rocks were until I heard my tire blow. It should be interesting finding someone to help me fix my tire since most people who are able to help are out of town right now.

Slipped - OUCH!

So today started off great! My students were wonderful before lunch. After lunch was a different story. I'm thinking part of the reason could be that I was pretty irritable. After I finished eating lunch I was walking down the stairs to take my plate to get washed and apparently I slipped on mud or water. I tried catching my balance by hopping over 2-3 steps at a time. Thankfully I didn't fall down in the mud but smashed my hip area into the side railing. If it wasn't for the railing and my grabbing the bush beside it to catch my fall I probably would have been hurt worse. The pain didn't start right away but now I'm having major pain in my hip area and back. I really hope I wake up in the morning and feel all better.

Lukenya Getaway

I got home yesterday from the Leadership Conference. Seven single ladies went to the conference from my church. I was pleasantly surprised with how many girls decided to go. I enjoy spending time with them and we had a lot of fun talking and hanging out the past few days. On Wednesday when we arrived at the camp we came to find out that they already had many more people show up than expected. Someone helped me scramble around to find some sheets and blankets for all the girls and myself. We were so grateful to have something to sleep with! By the end of Wednesday there were 195 people that came for the conference. Wow! All those voices singing praise to our Creator was an experience I'll never forget. On Thursday I attended sessions for the ladies and they were quite the blessing. I even managed to get some schoolwork done while being there. Okay so I didn't get it done but got a small chunk finished to lighten the load for next week. Please pray for my students as next week they have SAT testing on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Home Again

I had tons of fun in Karen this past week but I'm glad to be back home. Normally on Sunday I go to church, get lunch, do work at school, then head to a friend's house to spend the night. Today, I had my pastor's wife and 7 single ladies from church over for lunch. We had a great time! Well with the week being so fun-filled I decided to stay home tonight. My church is having a Leadership Conference Tuesday through Friday. On Wednesday I'm going to Lukenya to enjoy a break from school and to take some classes during the conference. I'll travel back to Nairobi on Friday. I'm looking forward to time away from the city.

Fun Times

Since Wednesday my roomie and I have been staying with one of my students and his brother at their home. We've had so much fun!! The other day we spent almost 45 minutes playing on the trampoline. I'm having such a good time with these kiddos. I don't think I'll want to go home. Lol!

But By Prayer

This morning I lead faculty devotions. I had been praying for almost two weeks about what to speak on and even when I woke up this morning I still wasn't sure what to talk about. I had Scripture swarming around in my head but what the Scripture spoke to me about I was nervous to share. Well, I finally listened to the Lord. I talked about trials and how God is with us through all of them. I shared how I've realized since being here that God really is the only one who genuinely has time for me. I never have to worry about Him being too busy to listen to my prayers. I also talked about how as a Christian school teacher I feel like my first priority is to lead my students to the Lord and see them grow in their relationship with Him. I closed devotions with prayer and earnestly prayed for the salvation of students at our school. Not even two hours later I got a note from a student who was unsure of her salvation. I was able to speak with her and she accepted Christ!! There is nothing like the smile of joy that spreads across a person's face when they realize their sins are forgiven! This year has not been easy but spiritually it has been rich and very fulfilling. It's wonderful to know that I'm in the exact place God wants me.

Ladies Meeting

Yesterday we had our monthly Ladies Meeting after church. It went really well! We had a panel discussion where we single ladies came up with questions that we wanted answered and the older ladies answered them. There were ten single ladies present yesterday including myself. It was a very good discussion. I appreciate the older ladies in our church wanting to reach out to the younger ladies. Yesterday I was amused because one of the single girls thought I was 17 or 18 years old. LOL! I know I look young but do I really look that young? I would have thought they would assume I was older because I'm the leader of the single ladies. It turns out that I'm older than all of the girls except for one. I really like talking to the girls and spending time with them. They are a great bunch! Please pray as I'd like to start a Bible study with them. I'm praying about what book to use and what day to have the Bible study. Your prayers are much appreciated and always welcomed!

Teamwork

For the last three weeks every Friday has been Hat Day. Our 6th grade teacher went home over Christmas break and had tests done. She found out she had breast cancer and had to have surgery. She's not been back yet but we've been having a special day just for her. The students pay 50 shillings to wear a hat for the day. All the money is going toward her doctor bills. Since today was the last Friday there was a contest. The class with the most class participation wins 20 minutes free time and each a soda. I told my students yesterday that if they all participated I would add brownies or chocolate chip cookies to the reward. Today they came in with their money and hats. The precious part of it is that many students brought extra money to help out those that didn't bring any. Some students even brought extra hats and materials to make fun hats. I just love these kiddos. We talk about team work a lot and it's always good to see them applying what I teach them.

The Lord is teaching me so much by being here. I'm learning a lot about people in general and also there are personal lessons the Lord is teaching me about myself. Some days I really desire to have parents to talk to but I've learned that without them I lean on the Lord much more than if their ears were readily available. The Lord is my Abba Father and he will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. He's the one constant in my life no matter what else changes. I'm thankful that he chooses an imperfect vessel such as myself to convey His love and care for His creation.

Expulsion

One of my students got expelled yesterday. It's something I knew was coming. I just wasn't sure when administration would finally say he had to go. I have mixed feelings about the outcome even though I know it is for the best. He needs the Lord more than anything else and I've been praying for his salvation all year. His home life is rough and I know he's seeking love and attention. Sometimes I wish I could separate myself and give each child all the time that they need. But I am only one person. All I have left is prayer and I know that is enough.

Famine Relief

Two days ago I went with my church for famine relief. It was an amazing experience and I'm glad I went. Now when I say amazing I mean it was amazing to be able to see the 'real' Kenya but it was also saddening at the same time. I take so much for granted on a daily basis. These people have so little and yet to hear the ladies choirs sing and praise the Lord my heart couldn't help but be warmed and convicted. The first church sent us off with a large bag of mangoes. The second church served us tea, boiled eggs, and bread with butter. For people with so little their hearts are so big. The first church had a Christian school. My heart ached when I stepped into their classrooms. My classroom is colorful, warm, and inviting. There are posters, charts, and decorations all over the walls. These classrooms were almost bare with hardly anything on the walls. The few things they had on the walls were homemade pictures and charts drawn on empty sacks. I found out that they share books because there aren't enough for each student to have one and they aren't allowed to take them home. They have very limited school supplies as well. I talked to my students this morning and we are going to start collecting school supplies that I can bring back with me next time I go to the school. I'm going to go through all of my teaching supplies and donate what I can out the things I don't use much or haven't even used yet this year. It's not much but it is something.

Protests

Yesterday the 8th grade class at our school had a field trip to Dagoretti Slum. The teacher in charge was not aware of the protests with members of the Mungiki sect taking place in this particular slum. She brought the children while the protests were taking place. As the school bus was pulling out of the slum they were driving over burning tires. Each day really is a blessing from the Lord! I am thankful for His protection and constant care for me and West Nairobi School.

Tomorrow my church is taking a trip a few hours from Nairobi for famine relief. I'm going with them as well many others from church.

Summer

I find it amusing that in some areas of my life I'm a complete mess but with others I'm completely an organizational freak. I already have my entire summer planned out. I just hope none of my flights get delayed because I'll be in big trouble. First I'm flying into Jax where I'll see my church family and friends that I've known for the last eight years of my life. Then I'm flying to Virginia to see my best friend that I haven't seen in 3 years. Then I'm going to Wisconsin to see one of my good friends. Then I'm catching a ride with one of my friends whose family lives near mine. He'll take me to see my brothers. Then I'll be flying to Louisiana to see my family for two weeks. Then back to Jax before I fly back to Kenya. I'm wanting to take an online Master's course on curriculum development as well but I'm not sure I'll have the time. It's hard to stay focused in school with summer plans looming in my mind. I will be home in exactly three months from today. I can't believe I've been here for so long already. I'm already thinking of the things in Kenya I'll miss when I go home. As silly as it sounds I'm really going to miss the mangoes here.

Better Days

Yesterday was a pretty rough day. My students chose to be uncooperative and I didn't feel well. That combination is usually a recipe for disaster. I left school discouraged and went to Bible study. It was an interesting Bible study. I stayed pretty quiet but my mind was going a mile a minute. Today was the complete opposite of yesterday. My students were fantastic (that's how they normally are). I don't know what got into them yesterday. I guess they were just having an off day. This morning I woke up skeptical about how the day would go. I went online and a friend shared a verse with me that I needed. Then I read something online that was an encouragement. Then during my students morning recess I was reading my Bible and I came to the exact verses I needed. God is so good! His Word has encouraged my heart yet again. Praise His name!!

Long Days

Today is the one day a week where I have no breaks except for lunch. I have determined to make it a great day. I'm already thinking of fun things we can do so the day doesn't seem so long.

I probably should mention this since I haven't yet but I am traveling home on June 3rd. I arrive in Florida on June 4th at 5:30 p.m. I'm looking forward to seeing family and friends. It doesn't seem like I've been gone for as long as I have.

Balance

These past two weeks I've been learning to balance church responsibilities and work responsibilities. I finally got my students' progress reports finished by lunch today. They were due today so I got them done just in time. I decided that tonight would be a NO WORK night. Some friends and I got together and watched a movie. It was a nice relaxing evening. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get lots of work done because I have three breaks. This happens every two weeks. Sometimes it's a great thing and sometimes I struggle to get everything taught. I may take my hour and fifteen minute break and make a quick trip to the store to buy supplies for Sunday School. My goal is to completely finish all my school work before the weekend comes. We'll see if it happens. I haven't been successful in that goal all year.

Attitude

This entry may be a little personal but it was what was on my heart. Do you notice that attitude is everything? Sometimes things in life happen where you have absolutely no control over it. The outcome of how it affects you is all about your attitude toward it. You can grumble and complain or you can suck it up move on. Bad things are going to happen! It's all part of life. How we react when those bad things come is a whole different story. Not only bad things will happen but unexpected things will as well. Life can change at the drop of hat but that doesn't mean that God is any different or that He's playing a hateful joke on us. He knows best! He sees the big picture when we have tunnel vision. Have things gone perfectly since I've been in Kenya? Absolutely not! Have I gotten discouraged at times? Yes! Does God still guide and direct my path? You betcha! The book of Romans says that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. God always tells the truth. We just have to trust Him and His Word. Our school is suffering right now and things are being said that are hurtful to others. People are behaving in ways that are deceitful. There's a lot of tension around campus. I'm not really a clueless person but I'd rather try to look on the upside of things. God knew what was going to happen with our school before it ever took place. He's knows what the future holds. Prayer is all that will change people and situations. Sometimes I think people need to do a lot less talking to others and a lot more praying to the God of the universe.

In His Hands

Lately, the Lord has really been teaching me that He is in control! I tend to want to know exactly what the day holds and take charge of it. He's saying to me 'Slow down Julie, I know what I'm doing." Some days I wish I knew what my students were thinking. I wish there was something humanly possible I could do for my students to become Christians but I am fully aware that I'm only the messenger. My responsibility is to live a life that edifies and magnifies Christ Jesus and to share His love and sacrifice with them. Last week I felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities. I didn't serve with a cheerful heart as I should have and I definitely didn't put my all into my lessons when it came to my church classes. Ministry is about people. It's not about me picking and choosing what I prefer to do. I need to be available to those that need a listening ear. God is teaching me to put my selfish desires aside to better be used by Him. It's humbling to think that the God of the universe would use even me with all of my flaws and failures. I praise Him that He uses me! I am clay in His hands desiring to be molded into His image each and every day. All things happen for a reason and it's in seeing the blessings even in the difficult times when I hear God's voice the clearest. Just as Elijah heard God in a still small voice I believe He speaks to our hearts in that way even today. The Scriptures have comforted me these last few days as I've missed my parents. Sure, I may not have a mom to call and pour my heart out to or a dad to snuggle up next to on the couch but I have an Abba Father who loves me more than they even did when they were here with me. He will never leave me, He will never fail me, and He knows what's best for me.

Heshima Disabled Children's School

Today I took my class on a field trip to Heshima Disabled Children's School. I don't remember the name of the slum it is located in. We had such an amazing time! Half of my students played with the disabled students inside and the other half picked up garbage outside. Halfway through our time there the groups switched. After the trip all my students exclaimed that it had been the best trip of the year. I was told that my 5th graders worked harder than the middle and high school groups that had already been there to help. I can't help but be thankful that the Lord placed me as their teacher. I was absolutely smitten with two of the four children. The little girl was glued to me and wouldn't go with any of my students when I tried sharing her. The little boy kept grabbing my hand as we were leaving. Finally one of the other boys grabbed him and he had a death grip on my hand and just as I released my one hand he hooked on to the other. I didn't want to leave! Just this morning I was reading a book that talked about how God is such a creative God. He makes each of us unique and designs us specifically for His purpose. What an amazing God we serve!!!

Sad Times

My friend Tracie is leaving for the States in two days. I'm quite sad about this. We haven't known each other long but she has shown herself to be a true friend. I am now praying that the Lord sends someone to sort of take her place. Finding a good friend outside of school is hard to do but I know the Lord has someone out there for me to be friends with. She will be greatly missed but I have comfort in the fact that she is following the Lord's leading in her life.

Nairobi Park and Lukenya

Today my friend Tracie and I started off our day at Nairobi National Park. We drove around the park for several hours looking at animals and having a good time. After the park we drove out to Lukenya and spent the day with my pastor, his wife, and their son. Tracie and I had a great time! I had never been to our church's camp and I really enjoyed the tour.

Chapel

Yesterday was quite the day! It started off by me finding out that I had an hour and a half meeting after school. My original plan was to check off my long list of errands. Well about the end of the school day I get a text from the person who was scheduled to speak for me for chapel today. He got food poisoning several days ago and said that he wasn't feeling much better. He didn't cancel but checked to see if I had a back up speaker just in case. I couldn't put much thought into it because I had to race off to after school duty then the unexpected meeting. After the meeting I texted the chapel speaker to find out if he thought he might make it. I went to leave school about 5:10 p.m. and realized I had a flat tire. I didn't think much about it because I have a spare. Well the spare was put on and it was flat. I got my front two tires changed about two months ago. The spare was on the left or right side of the front of my vehicle. Apparently when they took it off they gave me my flat tire back for my spare. I was a little frustrated that they would be so dishonest. My roommate and I ended up borrowing the school car. We went to a tire place to get my flat plugged. I could tell the guy was dishonest and wanted to overcharge me. All I could think about was the stack of papers that needed to be graded and errands that weren't getting run. I didn't bother getting it fixed at that place. As we pull into the place where we buy vegetables I get a text saying that my chapel speaker needs to cancel. Mind you by this point it was already 6:00 p.m. and I still wasn't home. By the time I got home I was so flustered I couldn't get anything done. I ate a bit of dinner then went to my room for some quiet time with the Lord. After the attitude I had over all the drama of my day I needed some confessing time. I know that I get that way because I'm selfish and want my day to run the way I want it to run. After I had some good fellowship with the Lord I went to sleep. I got up about 4:50 a.m. and prepared for chapel. This morning went great! Everyone really enjoyed chapel. I even had sixth graders be sure and tell me how much they enjoyed it. I know it's all in the Lord's hands but I really hope they got the point of the story I told them. I know I was entertaining but entertainment without a heart change does nothing. Speakers can be phenomenal but if what they say doesn't stick then they really weren't phenomenal. My prayer was that God would speak through me and I pray that He did and continues to. He's taught me a lot about His will over mine these past few weeks. Sometimes it hurts to be molded into His image because I'm stubborn and not always moldable. Thankfully, He is a God that is patient, loving, and kind!!!

Blessings

One of my students came to know the Lord!! She left me a note last week saying "Miss Pourciaux thank you for helping me get saved". Well Monday I talked to her after school and she was so sincere. Today she wrote me a note asking about Heaven. She wanted to make sure there wouldn't be sin in heaven. When I assured her there wouldn't be the biggest grin spread across her face. How precious! I'm so glad to see God's blessings and confirmation in me coming here.