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.