Christmas time is here again

Merry Christmas everyone!!!! I'm so thankful for friends to spend this joyous day with. This morning I'm reflecting on what Christ did for us being born of a virgin, dying on a cross, and ultimately raising from the dead to be seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. Makes me want to shout! I hope all of you are rejoicing in our Savior as I am.

Door Decorating Contest Photo

Door Decorating Contest

This morning I was still feeling under the weather, but I went to school anyway. The elementary was having a door decorating contest this afternoon, and our door wasn't finished yet. Last week was very busy and while the kids did majority of the work they did need some guidance. We finished this morning and to our great satisfaction were announced the winner for upper elementary. I'm not sure if my kiddos just wanted to win or they were motivated by the fact that I told them I would make treats for them if they won. Whatever the reason they worked really hard, and I'm proud of them. We even got compliments from some middle school and high school students who walked by our room. I'll post a pic if I'm able to get one.

Sick :(

I woke up this morning with a sneaky little cough. As the day progressed it grew to a worse cough and an achy body. Please pray that I start feeling better soon.

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Yesterday I said goodbye to one of my students. It was a little sad that while I was hugging her she started crying. She's going on furlough with her family in the States. I'm going to miss her, but I know she'll be back next year. I'll see her smiling face again walking the halls of school.

Today I've finally gotten a break that I've been desiring for a while now. It feels pretty good to be lounging around in a tee-shirt and comfy workout pants. I woke up this morning with no electricity and my car wasn't working. Quite laughable morning actually. All the foods I could have eaten for breakfast needed to be cooked and my cooker is electric. So a friend picked me up to have breakfast with their family. I visited for a bit then went home. By the time I made it home my electrical problems were fixed. Apparently the fuse box for my apartment blew and so an electrician came by and changed it while I was gone. Then a little bit later a friend came over and helped me with my car. Now I have electricity and a running vehicle yet I'm home still. I think it's nice just to know you have the option of going out if you want. I know I can go anywhere, but I'm content to lounge around at home and relax. Outside it's overcast and it gives a feeling of Christmas. My tree is lit and I'm enjoying it's beauty. I'm in the mood to bake and blare Christmas music loudly. Somehow those plans don't sound as good alone though. Guess I won't know unless I try. Hope your Saturday is fabulous!

Thanksgiving & Sleepover

It's been a little while, but I thought I should share that Thanksgiving was wonderful. A bunch of us teachers got together and gave thanks and ate great food.

This past Friday I had a sleepover with my 5th grade girls. We had a blast! Have I mentioned lately how much I love my students? They're wonderful!

On Tuesday my class went to the Elephant Orphanage on a field trip with kids from the Mitumba slum. They enjoyed watching the elephants, petting them, and spending time with each other.

Children forgive so easily compared to adults. Wednesday morning I got easily frustrated in class. Both children who had tried my patience were fine just minutes after I was finished teaching the lesson. They smiled at me and approached me as if nothing had occurred between us. If only I could forgive and forget as quickly as a child.

Yesterday when I arrived in my classroom from morning recess there was a rose on my desk. None of my students would confess to putting it there, but I’m sure one of them did. They’re sweet like that. A few weeks ago two of my students wrote me a sweet note and put it on my desk with chocolates. They just admitted who they were a few days ago. I’m so well loved!

Yesterday one of my female students showed me her bottle of boy repellent (picture below). This is the second year in a row that one of my girls has made some boy repellent. Must be a 5th grade girl thing. Lol Gotta love them!!

God Moments

So lately I’ve been experiencing what I’d like to call God Moments. A few weeks ago in chapel the speaker talked about the prodigal son. That week in class I’d talked with my students about the prodigal son. The next week a high school student gave their testimony in chapel and ended with Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That week I had talked with my students about most of Philippians chapter 1, focusing on that very verse. Then this past week I taught my students about Moses and how Moses asked the Lord in the burning bush who he should say sent him. The Lord answered by telling him to tell them I AM sent you. Well this past week the chapel speaker was talking about Christ, and he talked specifically about Christ being equal with God and calling himself I AM. After chapel one of my students asked me, “Do you notice that every week the chapel speaker talks about something you taught us in class?” I replied, “Yes, I have.” Then another student asked, “Why is that?” I answered that when God really wants to teach us something he repeats it in our lives. I assured them that I had not talked to any of the chapel speakers and that I had not even known what the topics were beforehand that were going to be taught. I let them know that it was the Holy Spirit in me giving me the words to speak to them, and then the Holy Spirit at work in the chapel speakers giving them the same message because He wanted my students to hear it. What an AWESOME God we serve! With all the stories and principles and applications found in the Word of God it is no mistake that God would orchestrate for one verse or one message or one point to be repeated by several different people. He continues to prove His sovereignty! What a mighty God we serve!!!

Here’s a picture of me with my friend’s little boy. This was the friend that I went to Kijabe to be with when she had him.

Mombasa

This past weekend was a long one and I took full advantage of it. Some friends and I flew out Friday night for Mombasa. We spent all of Saturday, all of Sunday, and most of the day Monday on the beach or at the pool. It was relaxing and just what was needed. I enjoyed my time with friends, but most of all I enjoyed the quiet time I was able to have with my Lord. How good He is! He is sufficient!!!

"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him." -John Piper

This past week the Lord has been pressing me about being fully satisfied in Him alone. Everything I've studied or been taught has been stressing this point. It's been a spectacular week of seeking God's heart.

I am blessed

Thursday a friend and I went to Kijabe to see a friend. She had her adorable baby boy a few weeks early. He is so precious! I absolutely loved holding him. Mom is doing great also. Friday I came back from Kijabe and a friend from Mombasa came into town and spent the night. She and I spent Saturday relaxing and talking about the Lord. It was wonderful! Today I read a book, relaxed, and watched a kiddie movie with friends. I am blessed!

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The past two days were Parent Teacher Conference days. I had 20 out of 23 parents come. They all went well and I enjoyed talking with all of my wonderful students' parents. Two nights ago I read the book of Hebrews. What a rich book! I thoroughly enjoyed studying about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A friend is in town this weekend and I'm looking forward to spending time with her today. I'm blessed with amazing friends who understand what it is to be a true friend. I've also been missing my parents lately. Usually missing them helps me to appreciate my friends and family all the more. I reside in the fact that the Lord knows best for my life. He knows what I can handle.

Blessings in all Measures

Today was a fabulous day with my students! During Bible my kiddos asked me so many awesome questions. This class thinks deeply about the Word of God. Some of the questions they ask are the type of questions Bible college students will contemplate for hours. I am blessed to be able to minister to these wonderful children. What's also pretty amazing is that I have learned so much from them. I am blessed.

Lead Me to the ROCK that is Higher Than I

We had a three day weekend this past weekend. On Saturday I climbed Mount Longonot with some friends. It was quite a hike! I think the internet said it was 8-9 km total which is about 5 1/2 miles of steep slopes. I'm definitely not in good shape and it was hard. I'm still a little sore today, 3 days later.

Today I'm remembering that God is in control of all things.

Gimme me more...BIBLE

This week I've been reading through the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis with my students. Today we read up until Joseph was about to reveal himself to his brothers. I told the kids we'd finish reading tomorrow. I got an emphatic "Noooooooo," from the whole class. They were so anxious to find out what was going to happen next that they didn't feel they could wait until tomorrow. I have to say that it thrills my heart to see them so excited about God's Word. I'm glad they are realizing how interesting it is to read and how hard it can be to put the Bible down. I ended up finishing that part of the story for them because I left them on the edge of their seats with where we left off yesterday in our reading. I feel like I say it all the time, but I LOVE my students this year!


Life has been fairly busy lately, which always seems to bring about stress. It's times like these that God reminds me I need to be thankful. I've decided to write the first 5 blessing that come to mind.
1. My students
2. Good friends
3. A good roommate
4. Safe home
5. Beautiful campus to work at

Trip Canceled :-(

Today I was supposed to go to Mount Longonot with 10 friends, but I got sick and needed to stay home instead. I spent a little time in the morning running necessary errands, grabbing something small to eat, then coming back home for rest time. I felt terrible b/c I was the one who planned the trip. Four people were riding with me, and since I couldn't go there wasn't enough transportation for everyone to ride in the other vehicle. The trip was canceled, but we're hoping to reschedule for another time.

Yesterday I was thinking that as a teacher I take on many roles that I typically wouldn't in other jobs. I was thinking of former students who've had mouths filled with ink because they decided to suck on their pens. I've had students come to me with cuts and scrapes needing a band-aid. I've had students make sticky spills in the classroom. Yesterday I had a student come to me who needed their flip flop repaired. A couple staples and a piece of tape later and she was all fixed up. I find that teaching is preparing me for more future ministry opportunities. I have the rest of this year and next year on my contract. I've wondered what I'll do after my contract ends. I'm not sure if I'll renew for longer or pursue another ministry opportunity. That is far away though. A lot can happen in a year and a half. If you think of me please start praying now that God would give me clear guidance about the future. Thanks! Love and miss you all back home!!

Silliness and Spirituality

It seems like a long time since I last blogged. Much has happened in the last few weeks. I've been amused by how adorable children are. I've overheard a few funny comments from kids from other classes. "Miss Muchai, I'm getting boring," was said by a 1st grader. I can't even remember who said, "it smells cold out here." Kids really can say some of the funniest things. I've been in silly moods lately. Sometimes I fake a British accent and have my students rolling over in laughter. They've named that particular character of mine Miss Twiddle. When I thicken my southern accent and put in fake bubba teeth my character is Miss Smith. Who would've known I'd be using the drama skills I learned in high school for teaching? We have a lot of fun in the classroom! With kids it's great because you can be silly and goofy and they love you anyway. :-) I say this to people all the time but I feel I should write it now - I LOVE MY STUDENTS! Being lead teacher is made possible this year because my kiddos are so awesome. This year I'm encouraging my students to read their Bibles one book at a time. There are 27 books that take 15 minutes or less to read. One of my students parents told me that their child has been reading their Bible at home. Such music to my ears! I'm excited that my students are taking what they're learning at school home with them.

Fun, Relaxation, Fellowship, and Food

Staff retreat this past Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning was amazing! What a joy it was to fellowship and worship together with the staff at school. I wish the retreat could have been longer. I brought a book to read, but I enjoyed spending time with people so much that I didn’t even open my book. The first afternoon I spent playing with Micah, my friends’ baby boy. We rolled around in the grass for at least an hour. He’s still my favorite baby in Africa. :-) Friday was spent all over the place. I chatted with a friend in a gazebo that overlooked patches of tea farms and a curvy road. I also went for a walk through a tea farm. I thought for sure that it would smell, but it didn’t. I even rubbed a leaf in my hands and still no scent. I tore the leaf and still no scent. The flavor probably comes out in drying the leaves. Friday evening I played games in the café with several of the teachers. We played Pick 2 and Catchphrase. Lots of laughter was shared by all. Much to my enjoyment I was placed in a room that had a fireplace. Friday evening I went to sleep feeling the warmth of a fire and listening to it crackle. It was my first time sleeping in a room with a fire and I liked it a lot. I have to say my favorite part of it all was the worship/teaching sessions. I felt a part of a fellowship of believers. At school we all seem to be busy doing our own thing that I forget that together we are part of the body of Christ. The knowledge that the staff are Christians is always on my mind but actually thinking of us as the body of Christ was never linked in my thought processes. I’m thankful for everyone God has sent to our school. I look forward to getting to know the staff better as the year progresses.

We have four full weeks coming up with only weekends off in between. Please pray for endurance and patience for the teachers. Four weeks may not sound like a long time, but as teachers we run full force all day long. Sometimes I feel like an old lady because Friday evenings I’m usually in bed pretty early.

Last week I stated that I would be making a new meal and dessert every week. Today I made chimichangas for lunch and a blondie with ice cream on top for dessert. Both came out delicious. I set out to make a different dessert, but I couldn’t find a crucial ingredient for it in the grocery store.

Such good kids!

I have to brag on my students in this post. I got a new student today. I told the rest of my students on Monday that she would be coming today. They have been praying since Monday for her. This morning a group of girls waited at the top of the hill for her so they could greet her and make her feel accepted. I didn't even have to say anything to them about welcoming her. They took it upon themselves to make sure she felt loved and cared for on her first day. I'm so proud of them!

Word of God speak!

The Word of God resounds in my heart. So much so that I can’t deny it and I can’t ignore it. God’s Word is more powerful than I think it to be at times. Last Friday I spoke in our elementary chapel. I basically shared Scripture with very few words in between. A passage that jumped out at me is Psalm 29.

Psalm 29:1-11
Vs 1 – Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Vs 2 – Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness.
Vs 3 – The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
Vs 4 – The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Vs 5 – The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
Vs 6 – He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
Vs 7 – The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
Vs 8 – The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
Vs 9 – The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
Vs 10 – The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
Vs 11 – The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

The theme of the Psalm is obviously God revealing His great power in nature. More so than that it shows me the absolute power in simply His words. Verse 4 says that the voice of the Lord is powerful. Starting in verse 3 through 29 of Genesis chapter 1 you read over and over again ‘God said.’ If the Bible is His Word wouldn’t every word be just as powerful as the word before and after it? If He spoke the world into existence, couldn’t He indeed transform us with His Word?

This morning we had staff devotions. Today’s message from the Word was on humility. Sometimes it’s easy for me to see pride in other people’s hearts and yet neglect the smoldering mess of it in my own. When the speaker was talking on this topic I immediately thought of several people where pride is evident in their hearts. As the speaker continued I started to wonder how many people would categorize me as a prideful person. If I were being honest with myself I would have to admit that probably several people would put me near or at the top of their list. Humility is a difficult lesson to learn. Reflecting on the cross and what Christ has done may be the only way to find real perspective.

Mmm mmm good :-)

My resolution of making one new meal each week has been a success. I've actually made two meals so far this week. Yesterday was a "Be still and know that I am God" day. I've been on the go for 2 weeks straight and I could no longer keep going. I needed to stop for a full day and rest. I was beginning to get a sore throat which insinuated another upper respiratory infection. I actually slept until noon yesterday and still was able to go to bed by 10:00 p.m. because of my exhaustion. For lunch I made homemade fajitas. I had never made them before. I had some overripe bananas and made homemade banana bread for the first time yesterday as well. Both were a success! This morning I woke up with a pep in my step. It's been weeks since I woke up with so much energy. All day I anticipated coming home because I knew I would be making Chicken Marsala for the first time. Another complete success. Who would have thought that cooking could be such a stress reliever? Surely not me! :-) I've always enjoyed cooking and baking, but I never thought it would be such a big part of my current lifestyle. I actually get energized from cooking. To most this is laughable, but to me it's enjoyable. Here's a pic of the Marsala. It's a little blurry, but it gives you a pretty good idea of how delicious it tasted based on looks.

Birthdays are Best!!

Yesterday I turned the big 6-2. Just kidding! :-) Every time my students asked how old I was turning I told them 62. At first I could tell by their facial expressions that they were contemplating whether or not it was true. Of course they DID NOT believe me. I have yet to admit to them my true age. My students, as well as friends and family, made my birthday so very special yesterday. The gifts I received overwhelmed me. I told my students that they could get me fruit instead of the normal chocolate gifts that teachers are given. Well they really took me serious. On my table are 2 baskets and 2 large bowls full of delicious fruit. I also received 5 bouquets of flowers, 4 bracelets (2 are homemade), 1 necklace, a rhino key chain, 1 super awesome hot pad I wanted, and a homemade spice-type cake. The evening was spent at my usual Thursday night place. It was fun as usual.

Tonight I watched the movie Julie & Julia. I'd been told by several people that I would enjoy the movie. Partly because my name is Julie and I LOVE to cook. I am now inspired to cook a new, different meal once a week for 3 months. Sunday I will begin. I've already decided to finally make the chicken marsala recipe I've been anxious to attempt. Somehow when I begin to cook I come alive. It doesn't matter how tiring my day can be. If I have energy to get into my kitchen I'm unstoppable once behind my apron. A friend came over Wednesday evening to hang out and they were surprised at how awake I seemed after baking homemade chocolate chip cookies. Driving on the road I may have a short fuse at times, but in the kitchen I easily laugh at my mistakes.

Kids say the darndest things...

Last week I was walking the kids up from the playground when I overheard a 4th grader say, "(insert name here) says he's allergic to girls." A little 3rd grader says "Nuh uh, he can't be because then he'd be allergic to his mom." I couldn't help but laugh and share with other adults.

Being sick for so long put me very behind in my work. Today I plan on catching up completely. A HUGE blessing is that I received a package in the mail today. :-)

Long Weekend

There was no school on Friday due to a Kenyan national holiday. Friday marked the day of Kenya instituting the new constitution. I decided that with a day off from school I shouldn't stay in Nairobi. I went to Hell's Gate National Park with a couple of people. It was my 4th trip there and I have to say I LOVE that place! Each time I go I am enamored with God's creation. The weather was beautiful and the company was good. That evening I hung out with one of my new friends. Yesterday I went to Amani Ya Juu for lunch with quite a few of the ladies from WNS. Seventeen ladies showed up to celebrate 2, no 4, of the teachers' birthdays. In the evening I went out with a couple that I'm friends with. I always say that their little boy is my favorite baby in Africa. :-) When we got back from dinner they put Micah to bed. Then one of my friends joined us and the four of us played two games of Settlers of Catan. This morning was church and then the rest of the day was spent taking a nap, visiting, and running errands. I am still very behind in my work from being so sick and having to stay in bed for 5 days straight. Sadly I didn't get any school work done this weekend. Hopefully tomorrow morning I can get up without problems and get to school early.

Honesty is the Best Policy

I am really enjoying my students this year. Today one of my students came back from lunch recess and handed me 1,000 shillings (about $13). She said she found it on the field. She said she was tempted to keep it but knew the right thing to do was turn it in. How precious! I am so enjoying my class this year!

Back...Again :-)

Today I went back to work. I felt miserable most of the day, but sometime around mid-afternoon I got a slight boost of energy and taught two subjects back to back. This morning it was pretty sweet when two of my students ran up to me to give me a hug. Then when my students were leaving this afternoon several of my kiddos made sure to tell me how happy they are that I'll be at school tomorrow too. Please pray that I can get a good night's sleep tonight. Last night I couldn't fall asleep until around midnight and then i was up every hour coughing. I had to get up at 5 a.m. so I'm pretty sleepy and already ready for bed. Please keep praying for me. Much love!

Prayer - what a glorious thing!

Today I went into my classroom to get things ready for a substitute. I checked our classroom P.O. Box where the students can write me confidential prayer requests. The first note I opened said, “Please pray that my mum and dad may stop fighting.” My heart melted and instantly I felt the need to want to protect this child from whatever is happening at home. As I continued reading more notes there were requests for friends and family members’ salvation, people with illnesses to get better, a parent to find a job, and one child said they are having trouble with their faith. It is interesting what weighs on a child’s heart. They can dwell on troubles just as we adults do. It is precious to me that they trust me enough to share with me, and they confide in me to pray for them. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – Teaching is a privilege! I eagerly anticipate the changes God wants to make at West Nairobi School. He has already started working on me. I’m sure He’s already started working on my students’ hearts. This year revival will happen. I’m praying for it. Please pray with me. :-)

School's back!

We started school on Tuesday August 10th. I'm excited about getting to know all my new kiddos. Sadly, I missed school on Thursday and Friday because I've picked up an upper respiratory infection. Thursday I tried going into school hoping to stay until lunch, but I left just before 10 a.m. Yesterday I went to the doctor and was advised not to go into school on Monday. I've been trying to find things to amuse myself so as not to get bored. It's kind of weird that I will have missed more school than attended for this school year. Today I'll try to get into my classroom to get ready for the substitute tomorrow. I think I got sick from a plethora of things. For one the weather turned very cold suddenly. I've been a bit stressed in getting ready for the new year and taking on some administrative duties. With stress comes loss of sleep. With loss of sleep usually comes a lowered immune system. With a lowered immune system comes sickness. I guess when you're always go-go-go and need a break God gives you one in an unexpected way. It has been nice to rest and relax without stressing over school. Please pray that I continue to get better. Love and miss you all!

I will bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me. Bless his holy name!

10 Blessings (in no particular order)

* my new roomie
* newfound peace that I know is coming as a direct result of prayer
* no violence from the referendum
* no traffic for a few days because of the referendum :-) I will go as far as to say it was pleasurable to drive in Nairobi during this time. Extreme statement, I'm know!
* my classroom should be ready for the first day of school
* faculty at WNS who have a heart to serve our Savior
* unsaved kids in my class who WILL come to know Jesus this year
* spiritual growth in the previous months and the coming months as well
* prayer - it is still amazing to me first of all that Christ would die for me, a sinner, but also that I can go before the throne of grace at any time of the day or night
* my station wagon (Big Bertha as I call her) is still running
* Thursday nights at the Gottfried's house
* the Word of God that daily gives me guidance
* great friends both here and across the Atlantic Ocean
* sermons on podcast

Okay, so I know I said 10 blessings, but I just couldn't stop at 10. I could write more, but it's pretty late and I'm tired. Blessings all!

Backwards Week

I woke up with plans of working all day at school. The day didn't exactly turn out like that. Instead I vaguely thought of school and shopped with my friend Jenny. We had such a relaxing time! I even bought a new dining room table and chairs. Several of my chairs started breaking on the bottoms. Before long I would have needed a new set anyway. This one will be smaller than the current set so I'll have more room as well. The next big purchase will be a new couch. My poor couch has been borderline broken for quite some time now. I'm trying to hold out a few months longer.

Yesterday I had five girls from BJU spend the day with me. Four of them were able to spend the night. Traffic yesterday was horrendous! We somehow got around anyway, and managed to have a lot of fun. They were a HUGE help to me in getting my classroom ready. I hope to finish getting it ready tomorrow.

Thursday I spent the day working at school the whole time.

I can't remember what else I've done since I last wrote. Somehow my days are starting to mesh together. Thank you everyone for the prayers. They are much appreciated!!

busy...unstable...

School hasn't even started and I feel like all I've done for the past week is work! It's been good but exhausting. I've made all my copies for English and Spelling, 1/3 of my copies for Math, and the 1st Unit for Reading. I'd say it's been productive. I have also moved classrooms this year. Three rooms in the new building have been finished. So I was able to help move the 1st grade teachers things into her room, and then I moved my things into my room (her former room). My housemate Anne moved out Monday morning, and my new housemate, Lori, moved in Monday afternoon. Today is actually Lori's birthday. She's in meetings all day so I hope to see her sometime tonight. I have a friend in town who spent the last month in Tanzania. He'll be going back to Jacksonville, FL tonight.

We start school the 10th of August. The voting for the Constitution takes place on the 4th of August. We were supposed to have returning/new staff orientation the 5th and 6th, but it has been canceled due to the fact that we don't know how stable Nairobi will be. We've been advised to stock up on food, water, petrol, and phone credit just in case we have to stay hunkered down for any amount of time. The school has changed orientation to the 3rd and 9th. We've also canceled the Welcome Picnic on the 7th. Please pray that violence does not erupt.

Revive Us Oh Lord!

This morning Dr. Olinger from Bob Jones University preached. It was amazing. I felt like I was back in the States. I loved the immense use of Scripture he spoke throughout the message. I've been listening to my home pastor, Tom Messer, on podcast a lot this week. His sermons are pretty powerful. I really believe that this year God is going to do something extraordinary with both West Nairobi School and Emmanuel Baptist Church. This summer has been spiritually nurturing for me. I've been able to take a break and seek His face and His alone. Oh how wonderful our God is! I seek for those that I know here to have revival in their hearts as well. "Revival is the outpouring of God’s Spirit which brings an abhorrence of sin and an overflowing delight in the nearness and goodness of God." - Pastor Tom Messer

Tonight I went to Mediterraneo with some friends. Mediterraneo is a really good Italian restaurant. It's a little pricey, but I must say it's become one of my favorites.

Provision

I was on my feet for 4 1/2 hours today making copies for English and Reading. I've also been working on study guides for Bible. Tonight I'll be working on study guides for Science and History. I'm in full swing work mode now. I've been praying about a certain situation at school. Next year I'm taking on more responsibility with being elementary lead teacher. A child is being placed in my class that has an autism disorder - Aspergers. I have fought this decision from the beginning. My main reason for fighting it being the added responsibility of lead teacher. Another reason would be that I'm fearful of it because I'm not trained to work with autistic children. I joined a friend and a short term missions team for lunch today. The girl who sat next to me happened to be an autism specialist. She has agreed to come at the beginning of August to give me some tips that will help me in relating to this child. She may also come again toward the end of August. Best of all she's a Christian traveling around Nairobi and surrounding areas to train for autism. Her missions trip is 4 months and August is her last month. She actually leaves the country on my birthday. God is SO GOOD in His provision for His children.

Today I made a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for my complex's day guard. It was well worth it when a smile spread across his face the minute he recognized what was in the bag. I like putting a smile on George's face. :-)

Complaining - Gross!

Today I had a really good conversation with a friend. It brought to mind Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." I appreciate friends who are just flat out honest with me. I had a friend tell me today that I've been complaining too much. She said that I am not praising God as He should be praised. It was a huge pill to swallow. She is completely right though! She shared Scripture with me and then prayed with me. After we got off the phone I decided to write a praise list. Right away I thought of 17 praises without much thought at all. It's easy to get into the rut of complaining. We want things to go as we planned them and therefore when they don't go as planned we get all worked up simply because we did not get our way. When our focus is on Christ everything else fades into the background.

*I praise God for honest friends. They challenge me in my faith.
*I praise God for the opportunity to minister at West Nairobi School. It stretches me as I'd never imagined.
*I praise God for a home church in the States that loves and supports me. They encourage me when I'm down.
*I praise God for Christ's sacrifice at the cross of Calvary. Without salvation through Christ I would spend eternity in hell apart from a relationship with Him.
*I praise God for taking my parents. I've learned to lean on Him as my Abba Father.
*I praise God for my burns. My confidence should be in Christ alone and not in outward appearances.
*I praise God for moving me to Africa. I am learning to live out of my comfort zone.
*I praise God for daily trials. I have to cling daily to His Word.
*I praise God for difficult parents at school. I am developing relationship and problem solving skills.
*I praise God for my new students this school year. I am privileged to shepherd a new flock for His honor and His glory.

These are just a few praises from my list. Today think of 10 things you can praise God for. I promise you it's an easy exercise. There is so much to praise Him for!!

Talk, talk, talk

This year I'm moving classrooms. We're trying to put all the elementary rooms in two buildings. One of the buildings is brand new. There are four rooms (two on top and two on bottom), but only the bottom two rooms are finished. The original plan was for 1st grade & kindergarten to be on the bottom and music & pre-K to be on the top. Well circumstances have caused 1st grade to be moved to the top and pre-K to the bottom. I'm moving into 1st grade's old room. Sadly the new room is not complete and won't be for at least another week. Once it's finished and furniture is moved in the old room will need to be painted for me. It may still be another week and a half or two weeks before I can move in. Interesting enough I got back early so I wouldn't be rushing to get ready the week before school starts. I've decided I'm not going to stress over it. I'll simply plan more vacations for the next two weeks, and I'll try to finally get some book work done.

This post reminds me of a quote I read the other day. I have to say I agree with it wholeheartedly. LOL I'll share part of it.

" In the South, the breeze blows softer... neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative. (By contrast with the Yankee, the Southerner never uses one word when ten or twenty will do)..."

I guess I could have just said that I'm moving rooms and it won't be ready until the week before school. :-)

Pigging Out!

So the bread came out a little heavy, but it tastes good. I know exactly what my mistake was. I let the dough rise but then transferred it to the two pans without letting it rise in the pans. When I shaped it into the pans it deflated. So therefore I should have let it sit and rise another hour. No worries! I'll just make more this week.

I realize I'm an emotional eater. Okay so I didn't just realize this about me. I've always known this. When I'm emotional I either eat or exercise. Today I was craving cookie dough pretty bad. Instead I ate Ezekiel bread with honey and dark chocolate with spices. Way to pig out!! LOL

Melancholy Monday.... oh wait.... maybe Sappy Sunday??

We had ladies meeting this morning at church. It went really well. It was led by the 13 girls from the BJU team. Even with a wonderful morning/afternoon I’ve been sort of melancholy all day. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that one thing that will typically cheer me up is cooking or baking. I began homemade Ezekiel bread last evening and allowed it to ferment overnight. This afternoon I came home to finish making the bread. I actually have never made bread before so I went to the store to buy 2 bread pans. When I returned home I turned the oven on, cleaned the pans, and proceeded to transfer the risen dough to their respective pans. As I was transferring dough the electricity shut off. Such is life in Kenya! Happily while I’ve been typing this the electricity has now turned back on. :-) I’ll let you know if my attempt at baking bread was a flop or success. I’ve made homemade biscuits here and they’ve turned out fantastic so I have to admit that I will probably be disappointed if they don’t turn out well. That doesn't mean I won't try again though.

As I’ve been typing I hear the children in my apartment playing. When I came back from the States my housemate told me that the children would knock on our front door and run away. She said it took her a few times before she realized it was them. Oopsie! I probably should have told her before I left that they sometimes do that. I usually open the door and call out to them with a smile in my voice. They typically respond from their hiding places with giggles.

Stuck On Food

I was watching a movie last night, and I couldn’t help but copy a quote from it. The quote is “Life is not solely comprised of tasks but tastes.” Bonus points if you can tell me what movie it’s from. I thoroughly enjoy watching cooking shows and movies about cooking (Ratatouille, No Reservations, etc.). There’s something thrilling about creating a new meal that sparks life to your taste buds. I’ve decided to start eating healthier, and as of right now it’s been 8 ½ days since I’ve had sugar. By sugar I mean sucrose – table sugar. I’ve had plenty of fruits and some honey. I’ve also cut out foods containing white flour, processed things, artificial sugars, or heavily fattening ingredients. Being a person who enjoys cooking I’ve looked at this new lifestyle challenge with eagerness and determination. I have been surprised to find that there are a myriad of meals you can make that are super healthy and tasty. For example this morning I had leftover brown rice, homemade guacamole (avocado, tomato, onion, garlic, & a pinch of salt), and egg whites seasoned with cumin and ground chili peppers fried in olive oil. Last evening I had tilapia seasoned with Caribbean seasoning, brown rice, and a delicious sweet potato. I’ve noticed that without eating sugar some things just taste sweeter – like the sweet potato. It was so good on its own that I didn’t even need to add a bit of butter to it. I’m hoping to make it to the store so I can get a few more ingredients I need to make homemade Ezekiel bread. Once the bread is made I’ll eat it with homemade tomato soup. Yum! The next thing on my list to do is to find an excellent homemade spaghetti sauce recipe.

food . . . memories . . . love

I grew up in a home where many meals were quick and makeshift. Holidays on the other hand were a different story. When Thanksgiving or Christmas or New Year's took place somehow our kitchen was transformed into a magical workplace. Homemade goodies abounded. This is where I learned to love cooking and baking. They say you always want what you can't have. I suppose that's true in more than material possessions. When holidays came along the men were usually outside talking about sports, the kids were playing outdoors, and the women were in the kitchen laughing and cooking up a storm. As a child I usually wanted to be in the kitchen observing rather than playing. It was a glorious day for me when I was finally allowed to help. You see we weren't allowed to help in the kitchen until the women felt they could trust us to do things the way they would. So in saying that, I desired to cook before I was ever allowed to. I wanted what I couldn't have. :-) I remember baking on my own even as a small girl. The cookbook was a good 'friend' of mine. Proud was the day when my sisters praised me and said that I made the best peanut butter cookies in the family. The best part is the fact that I didn't really care much for peanut butter even then, but I made them because everyone else enjoyed them so much. There's something joyful about seeing a smile spread across someone's face who's just tasted a meal you've prepared or goodies you've baked. I LOVE to cook! Even here in Nairobi I find myself having people over just so I can prepare a meal for them. There are a few guys here that I try to cook for at least once every other week. I do it simply because I know it is well appreciated by them. They live off sandwiches and most recently pancakes and beef fried rice. I couldn't imagine eating those same things over and over. Variety is the spice of life! I enjoy cooking for my housemate. She's convinced I can't make a poor meal. I believe that cooking reflects the chef. When I make a meal I don't usually throw it together quickly without thought. I think about what I'd like to pair together. Then I determine what spices would bring out the best flavors in each item. I may even spend hours upon hours on the internet looking for the exact recipe I believe would be delicious for the item of choice. Then I typically will add my own touch to it after I begin to cook it. All this to say I miss my mom something terrible. I can imagine her calling me and my sister in from playing with hot bowls of custard awaiting us. Or her ever gently dipping cherries wrapped in coating in chocolate for her homemade cherry cordials. Some of the best memories I have of her revolve around the kitchen or good food. Perhaps I enjoy cooking so much because it causes me to feel like I still have a piece of her with me. Alright, I'm going to dry my eyes and get back to preparing dinner. I promise I'm not typically sappy people, but today is just one of those days I guess.

Back Home :-)

I'm back in Kenya and jet-lagging. I hope I can get over it soon. It has been eventful and fun since I've been back. The day after I got in I went to Nairobi National Park with some friends and a new acquaintance. We got to see many animals, and we got chased in the van by a rhino protecting its baby. Here's a pic of them while they were chasing us. My camera has terrible zoom, but I promise you they were much closer than the pic makes them out to be.



Tomorrow I plan on running errands and re-organizing my kitchen and bedroom now that I've brought back some good stuff from the States. Wednesday I head to Lukenya, and I'm going on safari to Amboseli National Park with the Weaver's visiting team on Thursday. I'll come back to Nairobi on Friday. It should be a fun-filled week.

Fireworks & Fun

Last night we had our Trinity Freedom Festival at church. There were stands set up for food, inflatables for the kids, good music, and plenty of fellowship. When it got dark we had an amazing fireworks display. My church hires a company to put on a show. It was cued to music which was pretty cool. This was my first time being able to attend in 3 years. Last year I was in Louisiana for my niece's 14th birthday. I can't believe she turns 15 tomorrow! The year before I was traveling around getting ready to move to Kenya. It was just as fun as I remembered it. I guess I really am an extrovert because I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with friends. Today I'm hanging out with a friend, then tomorrow is the lakehouse. Oh summertime I love you!!

I really like quotes. Since I was a little girl I would write down a quote when I came upon one that I liked. Last night I was going through some books and papers that I had packed away. I found several devotions I wrote in college as well as sermon notes and quotes I had copied. One of them has me thinking (I've been doing a lot of that this vacation) and I thought I should blog about it. I don't know the author, but the quote says, "A woman with a pure heart for God does not focus on what He gives, but delights in who He is. She seeks God's face, not just His hand." I've been reading in Scripture about thankfulness lately. I am a truly blessed woman, but I don't always act like it. I can many times focus on external things instead of focusing on Christ Himself. I think that we as sinful human beings tend to want more. We're not always satisfied with God's blessings in our life, but we desire more blessings. We desire the blessings that we choose. When God doesn't answer or answers in a way we are not satisfied with we can pout and get disgruntled. I've been reminded that God's ways are not our ways. As I read story after story in the Bible I realize more and more that God truly knows best. We can think we have a good grasp on life, but in actuality He who knows the number of hairs on our head knows us better than we even know ourselves. HE knows what's best for us. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't questioned why God has planned for me to go back to Kenya. I've been struggling with returning since I got back to America. I have asked God in prayer why it is that He's sending me back when I have missed home so much. My mind then floods with images of children - both slum children and West Nairobi School children. When I think about the kids I've been able to get close to and minister to I can't imagine being any other place than Kenya. My reasons for staying in America are selfish. It's comfortable here. I am a people person and here I have many friends that I can confide in and that confide in me. I have deep, true friendships. In Kenya I can be in a room full of people and still feel alone. I'm aware of the fact that it is during all the lonely months of being away that I've had to lean on the Lord like never before. My relationship with Him has deepened in ways that it couldn't have by staying in my comfort zone. I have been praying for peace about leaving the States and returning to Kenya. I've been praying for a renewed passion for the ministry at West Nairobi School. This morning God answered. I woke up anticipating my return. I have been thinking about the school and what can be done to improve it. I've also been thinking about Emmanuel Baptist Church and the single ladies. There are many unsaved girls that attend. I had become discouraged because they've been attending for a while and not a one has made a decision for Christ. This is where God has been gently telling me that everything happens on HIS time table and not my own. It is not by my persuasion that someone comes to know Christ. It is the Lord at work. How do we go from seeking God to only 'doing' for God? Somehow over time I'd shifted from really seeking His heart to mindlessly serving Him, but justifying that I was okay because it was all in His name. Ministry seems pointless to me if we don't first seek to know Him above all else. Falling at His feet is most important. Keeping appointments with Him is more important than keeping appointments with people. I look forward to returning to Kenya for as long as God has me there. I can't count the number of times I've been asked if I'm staying in Kenya longer than my next two year contract. In all honesty I don't know. I know that for now He has me at West Nairobi School. I plan to delight in the Lord and seek His face. Everything else will fall into place. I'm sure of it. :-)

Safe and Ticketless

The trip to Sarasota was not boring in the least! About an hour or so into our trip we come to this little town along 301 called Citra. We were talking and Melissa didn’t realize the traffic light was changing to red. She zoomed through the intersection just after it changed. This town was very small but ‘fancy’ because of its blue lights above each traffic signal. As we passed under Melissa had noticed blue lights pop on. She said, “What are those blue lights for?” I said, “That’s so cops can tell when someone has run through a red light.” She said, “Oh,” and we both started laughing. Then she realized the person behind her was following extremely close. She moved to the right lane and the vehicle behind us moved over too. Then his red and blue flashing lights came on. Thankfully the cop showed mercy on us and did not give her a ticket. The funniest part of the whole story is that all along 301 she was going either right at the speed limit or under because she was so fearful of getting a ticket. I kept saying the speed limit aloud every time a new speed limit sign came up so she would speed up. On the brighter side of the story the cop was really cute. Too bad I didn’t look for a ring. J/K I don’t pick up random officers. Even though I do like a man in uniform.

On the Road Again....not really

So my friend told me to take her car so I can pack, and pick her up after praise team practice. As I approached the street there was no traffic coming in either direction. I pulled onto the road, and my first thought was, "Am I on the correct side of the road because I'm about to drive around a corner and I can't see the other side?" Thankfully I had pulled out onto the correct side. My heart skipped a beat for a second there.

My friend Melissa and I are driving to Sarasota tonight. We plan to leave at 10 p.m. and arrive at 2 a.m. If you read this before we leave please pray for safety and that we'll stay awake and alert.

Blessed Beyond Measure :-)

Sadly my mind is beginning to gear up for 'work' mode. I may have a few extra weeks in Kenya before school starts, but I know those weeks will fly by.

My time is the States is going by much faster than I anticipated. Tonight I'm going for a sleepover at the home of two of my former students. They are sisters and after the first had me for a 5th grade teacher her parents requested me for the second daughter. Their grandmother was our Room 'Nana" for both years, and I love this woman dearly. The sleepover will be at her home. I have so much fun with these 3 sweet people! The girls are going into 8th and 9th grade next school year. Needless to say they're at an age where they can be super silly, super fun, and super exhausting. :-)

Last night I got to spend time with two friends. One of them is leaving Thursday to go home and start saving money. She plans to go to Morocco at the start of the year to teach English. It was neat to talk one on one with her later in the evening and hear about what God is doing in her life.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the time I've spent with friends since I've been back!! This coming weekend I get to see 2 brothers and 1 sister. I'm pretty excited about that as well. I am blessed beyond measure!!

Outdoorsy

I must say that one of my favorite things about being 'home' is being able to be outdoorsy. I really like the beach, camping, jogging, biking, etc. If it's outside I probably like it. I've been swimming at a friend's pool several times already. Yesterday I went to the beach with a friend. This morning I went on a 10 mile bike ride. There's a trail not far from where I'm staying, and it's beautiful country scenery the entire time. Jacksonville may be a big city, but it is big enough to have some country too. :-)

I have only been out of school for 3 weeks as of tomorrow, and I have to admit that I am missing routine. I have gotten into the bad habit of going to bed really late then sleeping in in the morning. It's already 11:46 p.m. as I'm typing this sentence. I'm starting to think that maybe I should set some daily routines for myself like getting up and going to bed at the same time. If I got up at 8 or 9 a.m. in Kenya it was because I was so exhausted the night before that I slept in big time. Now I'm rambling. I guess I'm tired. Goodnight to my blog peeps.

Jesus Paid It All

This morning in church we sang a sweet hymn that touched my heart. I have always loved this precious song.

Jesus Paid It All

1. I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
* Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
2. For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
3. And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
4. Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
5. When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
6. And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

The few weeks before I left Kenya were stressful. I arrived on American soil worn out and weary. I'm slowly recovering from the exhaustion. My time with the Lord has been intimate and fulfilling. This song brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. My strength indeed is small but in Him I can find my all in all! It is His power and His alone that is renewing me daily. When focusing on Christ and all that He has done for me I find that I can conquer any trial that comes my way. Oh how sweet salvation is!

FrIeNdS

My best friend Cheri flew in last night to see me. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my friends? She came to see me for the weekend. We were up really late talking and as I'm writing this entry she's still sleeping. My pastor preached a really good sermon on Sunday. He said one thing that has really stuck out to me. It's caused me to evaluate all the 'friendships' in my life. He said, "you're not friends with somebody if they can't make themselves vulnerable to you." How very true that statement is! I know that I'm close to people because we share things with each other. I have learned over the years that some friendships take time while others happen almost instantaneously. I'm generally a very open person, but when it comes to matters of the heart I don't share those with everyone. I'm actually quite closed toward people I don't feel I can trust or toward those who are closed toward me. Friendship really is a two way street. It can't be one person putting forth effort in the friendship because it just won't work.

It's later in the day now, and I'm getting ready to go out. Two of my friends from college are getting married. I'm extremely happy for them. They are both awesome people who love the Lord. It's been wonderful to see God use them single and I can't wait to see how God uses them as a married couple!

Divided

I find it interesting that when I'm in Kenya I know it's where I'm supposed to be. And yet when I'm back in Florida it seems right too. I guess in Kenya I feel more needed, and in Florida I feel more myself. I'm the same person, but there's something different about me when I'm stateside. I seem more vibrant and full of life. That could be because I'm on vacation and not working. There are pros and cons to both places. I can't say one is better than the other. They're just different.

Updates

I arrived safely on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday I had breakfast with the principal, vice-principal, and lower division administrator of my former school in the States. They were extremely helpful and gave me a lot of good advice. After breakfast I was able to meet with the lower division administrator for another hour to discuss things and ask questions. I spent the rest of the day hopping from classroom to classroom hanging out with teachers. Then in the evening I went to church. I have really missed my home church a lot. It was great to see and reconnect with people.

On Thursday I stayed home and rested most of the day. I was going to go back to the school but I woke up with a headache and it lasted almost the whole day. I went swimming late afternoon. In the evening I attended the graduation of a girl who was a student in my Sunday school class when I taught 6th grade. It was neat to see many kids in her graduating class that I taught in extended education when they were in the 5th or 6th grade. I felt older needless to say.

On Friday I spent time with several different people. I went to the church office and had a wonderful time sharing stories about life in Africa with some friends. I went to dinner with a good friend and some acquaintances.

Today was the birthday of a friend who is like a father to me. I spent most of the day with him, his wife, and daughter. I am truly blessed by the Lord. Not having parents of my own it seems like God provides substitutes each place I go. These people will never take the place of my real parents, but they sure are wonderful.

One of my goals while I'm home is to 'take a chill pill' so to speak. I plan on relaxing as best I can. Already I can look in the mirror and it seems as though a weight has been lifted and my stress lines are going away. A second goal is to get in shape. I'd like to run a 5K by the end of my stay in the U.S. I used to run before moving to Africa and I miss it quite a bit. I have exercised every day since I've been back in country. Probably the most important goal I have is to deepen my prayer life. I would also like to read several books over the next few weeks.

Leavin' on a jet plane... don't know when I'll be back again....

I leave tonight for the States. I have mixed feelings. Part of me is very excited to see family and friends. Another part of me is sad to be leaving home for 5 weeks. I can tell I'm drained though and in desperate need of some rest and relaxation. My friend Anne and I have been joking lately about me being superwoman. I think I give off the impression that I am superwoman to many people. I have a new position at work next year. I'll be teaching 5th grade and be the lead teacher for the elementary. To be honest I'm not really looking forward to it. I know it will be a lot of work. I've prayed about it and I know that God is leading me to do it. Do you ever just want to say, "No God, I don't want to be obedient"? That's a very unspiritual thing to say I'm sure. My goal in life is not to seem spiritual. My goal in life is to please the Savior. Perhaps it's childish to say such things, but at least it's being honest. In Christian circles I think we're so focused on giving off this image of perfection that we fail to let people see who we really are. The truth is that we're all sinners saved by grace. We will fail because we are NOT perfect. We strive toward godliness and holiness, but until we reach heaven we won't arrive. We can't live on mountaintops forever. The valleys must come, and I'm going through one right now. I'm thankful for God and His Word to comfort my heart and renew me daily. I'm looking forward to being at my home church and worshiping with 'family'. I can't wait to see people that I've developed such close friendships with over the years. You guys know who you are and as the apostle Paul would say, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you". I love you all and can't wait to spend time with you! He is so faithful and He is so good to His children!

Chapel - JOB

Yesterday my students put on the last chapel of the school year. One of my students had been saying for 3 weeks that he wanted one or both of his parents to be there. Even that morning I heard him telling another student that he didn't care what the other kid thought, he likes his parents to attend his events. To my surprise and satisfaction his mom walked in late. I don't think anyone could have wiped the smile off my face. This child is probably the main child I have the least amount of patience with. I'm not exaggerating when I say that he can easily ask me 20-30 questions a day. I try to be patient with him, but I know I fail a lot. He's craving attention from his parents more than anything. After his mom attended the program, his behavior yesterday was the best it's been in weeks. It solidifies to me the importance of a parent in a child's life.

Rain, Rain, Go Away... Come Again Another Day

It seems odd to be writing about too much rain when less than a year ago I was asking for prayer for rain because of the famine. We're now getting so much rain that it's flooding roads. All the rain makes me want to wrap myself in a warm blanket and read a good book or watch a movie at home.

Only a few more weeks of school left. :)

Friendship

Today I was thinking about friends. I have some pretty amazing ones!! The best part of a friendship is that your friend knows you really well yet still wants to be your friend. They accept you for you. There are no facades that have to be put on. You don't have to walk on egg shells around them.

Hell's Gate w/EBC Singles

On Saturday I went to Hell's Gate National Park with the singles from church. There were 7 of us who ended up going, and we had a great time. Here are a couple of pics. The first pic is of the whole group. The second pic is me and my new roomie Anne. She's a fabulous person to be housemates with!

Giggles and Laughter

I like writing about every day life. I have several friends who have ministry update blogs, serious blogs, musical blogs, etc. I like that mine has a mixture of many different genres.

Yesterday I did something uncommon for me on a normal school day. I guess with it getting closer to the end of the school year and myself being ahead in the classroom I felt freedom to goof off. My students and I must have laughed and giggled for an hour yesterday afternoon. I kept joking around and saying, “Kids we have to stop laughing. There’s no fun in school.” Then they’d start a new round of laughter because they know that’s not true.

As stressful as teaching can get at times I really do enjoy it. That’s not to say I’m not ready for a two-month break because I definitely am! I like the versatility of the classroom. While I teach all the subjects every day I don’t have to teach them in the same order all the time. I can play games and sing songs with my kiddos. Best of all I can share truths about God from His Word every day. By no means am I perfect, but I’m striving toward holiness. If my students leave my classroom knowing that it’s possible to have a relationship with Christ that is alive and real then I’ve succeeded.

I just confiscated this note that one of my students wrote. It’s an acronym for me.

M arvelous
I ncredible
S elf-control
S ervant’s heart
P olite
O h! so creative
U nique
R esponsible
C ourageous
I ndestructible
A gility
U are good!
X tremely awesome

These kids are pretty cute!

Holiness

This Sunday we had Ladies Meeting after church. I was the speaker and I spoke on holiness. To be honest that's not exactly what I had in mind when thinking about my topic. I don't think I really had anything in mind at first. I also know that when I started studying for my lesson I felt ill-equipped to speak on such a topic. The material was difficult for me to digest so I knew it might be offensive to some people. In obedience to the Lord I continued studying and presented the lesson to the ladies. I'm praying that God's Word impacts their hearts like It has mine. I'm thankful that God is always changing me and conforming me to His image. I can't wait to go back to the States and share what He's done!

CaLeNdAr DaYs

This morning before school I had prayer with two ladies I've been praying with all year. We were discussing the 2012 Kenyan elections. We were saying that we'd rather not be here during that time period. One of the ladies helps to plan our school calendar. She said that during the meeting for next year's calendar they discussed whether they needed to build in riot days just in case for the upcoming voting. They decided not to build them in because the voting should take place sometime in June or July when we're not in school. She made an amusing comment. She said, "Schools back home have to build in snow days. We have to build in riot days. Oh, the joys of living in Africa." I remember growing up in Louisiana, and they built in flood days. To each his own I guess!

**Easter Break **

For those of you that will see me this summer you'll have to ask about my very African traveling experience to get me to Mbita. Once in Mbita I watched the sun set on Lake Victoria. As you can see it was gorgeous.



I also rafted on the Nile River. The morning of rafting I got up about an hour before everyone else. My body wouldn't let me sleep late all break. The place I was staying at had a deck that overlooked the Nile River. It had rained and as I looked across the river there was a beautiful, vibrant rainbow. It was a pleasant time to spend with just me and the Lord. I sang praises to my Savior and opened His Word for some daily bread. The quiet time spent alone with Him was probably my favorite part of the whole trip. That's not to say rafting the Nile wasn't amazing because it definitely was.

Sadly I seem to have picked up 2 parasites from my adventures. I missed school Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. I was back today, but had a headache for about 5 hours of the day. :-( I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be 100% back to normal.

School got out last Friday and Saturday I went to Kiambethu Tea Farm. I had a lot of fun!











Today I leave for Mbita, Kenya which is on Lake Victoria. Then Friday I leave for Jinja, Uganda to raft the Nile. I'm pretty excited about it.

I had a few girls stay with me who are doing something called the World Race. It's a trip of 11 countries in 11 months, 11 months of ministry. They were so much fun to hang out with!

traffic & the BIG picture

Last night a few friends and I went to Westlands to meet another friend of ours for dinner. It rained and we got stuck in some majorly heavy traffic. What should have been a 15-20 minute drive turned into an almost hour drive. While I was sitting in my friend's car surrounded by too many vehicles to count I reflected on the Lord. I was thinking of what it would be like to view the traffic from a helicopter. From a helicopter one would easily be able to see what needed to be done to clear the traffic. Someone could say, "oh this car needs to take a left, these cars need to continue straight, this car should wait for these three cars to pass then turn, etc." The possibilities of how to fix the traffic are endless I'm sure. If you were looking from above you could see the big picture. God sees the big picture of our lives. He directs our steps and guides our thoughts. He's there telling us when to stop and when to go. He is sovereign over all things and there's peace and rest in that simple fact. It's not sufficient for me to just know that God knows all things, but to know that God orchestrates my life is a satisfying thought. He will do a much better job directing me than I ever could do on my own.

car lights and headaches

The other night someone turned the light on in my car. I guess I turned it off a while ago and forgot all about it. I actually thought it was broken because it had been so long since I'd used it. The whole time I could have switched it on, but I failed to remember that it was available to me. At times I even used my cell phone to provide light to find things in my dark vehicle at night. This, oddly enough, made me think of a spiritual application. How many times am I in need of God's working in my life or God's comfort during difficult times. His Word is always readily available to me and yet I turn in so many different directions other than straight to His Word. The truth that He imparts is far greater than any earthly wisdom.

Two Sundays ago I had a migraine. These headaches continued from that Sunday through this past Sunday. Saturday was the only day I did not have a headache. Yesterday I went to a chiropractor here in Nairobi. She was excellent! All of my bones are now in position where they're supposed to be. When she began adjusting me she couldn't finish until she loosened my neck and shoulder muscles with a heating pad for 15 minutes. She said she could tell I haven't had an adjustment in a while and that I'm stressed. It's a good thing Easter break is coming up. I can't wait to go out of town and relax.

Last week was spirit week at school. Thursday was career day and this is what the 4th grade teacher dressed up as - an old British rocker.
















This past weekend I had a sleepover with some single ladies from church. Seven girls spent the night! We had a lot of fun hanging out.




Tuesday evening my friend and I babysat Micah. He has to be my favorite baby in Africa. The poor kiddo was so exhausted, but we kept him up so he wouldn't keep his parents up later. He fell asleep while I was feeding him dinner. After food we tried teaching him how to climb the stairs. We got bored with that activity faster than he did. We distracted him with another activity to get him away from the stairs. We also got to give him his bath and get him ready for bed. He's absolutely precious!

God is GOOD!

I would always rather hear the bad news first and then the good news. So I'll talk about the bad parts of the past two weeks then the good ones. Last week, as well as this week, have been trying. I had an hour and a half meeting with some parents last week where the director and I let the parents know that their child's last day would be March 15th, the last day of the 3rd 9-weeks. Then my internet was cut off because I didn't pay the bill because I couldn't get a hold of Zuku, my internet company. The bank where I have to pay the bill closes at 3:00 p.m. so with my work schedule there's no way I could pay the bill without taking off work to do so. Then the power cord for my computer had stripped and the electrical wires were cut causing it to not work at all. So that means that I couldn't charge my computer without the help of other people who let me use their cords when they weren't using them. I have a washing machine that has not worked for a while. A friend came over and fixed it on Saturday. Then on Monday when I went to do a load of laundry the machine wasn't working right. On Tuesday morning a parent took a comment that I said the wrong way and no matter how much I apologized for how I came across she gave me quite the tongue lashing. That evening I received a hateful e-mail from a different parent. Then the next day I got my water bill and according to the bill the last day I could pay the bill before them turning off my water was February 23rd. I received the bill on March 3rd. Now mind you I had tried to do laundry and apparently almost completely emptied my water tank doing so. With that I had to boil water in a kettle and put it in basins to bathe for the past few mornings because there wasn't sufficient water coming from the faucet. Then March 4th when I went to pay the bill the system was down and I could not pay the bill. On top of that I found out my rent is going from 30,000 shillings ($400) to 40,000 shillings ($535) per month.

You can imagine that after all this is was overwhelmed. A year ago my reaction would have been to sit down and cry. What I did instead was get together with a friend and pray. I knew that any of the above things that stressed me so much would not have done so on their own. It was the culmination of it all that was difficult.

Music has been a huge comfort to me these past months. I've sung the following hymn almost every day for a week now:

I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Chorus:
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art night.

I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son

You might be wondering if anything has been resolved. Now to the good parts of this week. Well a friend took off work to pay his internet bill and was able to pay mine as well. The IT guy at school was able to fix my broken computer power cord, saving me $100 which is the price of a new one. Our go-to guy at school was able to pay my water bill for me. My friend told me what to do to fix my washing machine situation and I hope it will work now. I talked to my director about the first parent who gave me a tongue lashing, and he assured me not to worry about her. Then someone helped me to kindly write back the other parent (my original e-mail back was not kind). I am hoping to get a roommmate next year and that should help with rent.

All in all I'm ready for Easter vacation. I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, but I'm sure I need to go out of town.

Kibera and then some...

So much has happened since I last posted.

I started a new ministry in Kibera this last Saturday. Kibera is the largest slum in east Africa. It is an AWANA program that we are trying to do with some children in the slum. Please pray for us because we have many kinks to work out. I'm not running the program, which I'm thankful for, but I am going to be a helper. It will run for 5-6 weeks. It will end because soccer will begin and that's a whole different ministry that many of the AWANA leaders are involved in.

I have also starting attending a Sunday evening Bible study with a few ladies I know and some that I don't know. We're studying through the book of Esther. I'm enjoying it so far, and I'm sure I will continue to enjoy it.

Please continue to uphold West Nairobi School in your prayers. On January 27th our Athletic Director/Community Development Coordinator passed away. His wife was our kindergarten teacher. She is now back in America. Please pray for her.

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. My students showered me with gifts and good behavior.

As you can gather it's been a busy time. In all of this God has been near and dear to me. I see over and over His sovereignty in all things. Even when I don't understand the details or can't see behind the scenes I know He is at work. There are circumstances that I can't write about that I am continually taking to the Lord in prayer. While I can't control these circumstances or even have a say in them I have to trust that God is in control. He's proven time and again in my life that He's able to do exceedingly and abundantly above what I could ask or think. I've seen Him change me in ways that I never thought possible and I'm confident that He'll do the same in these circumstances. He's so good!

New Students

So I will admit that I've been a terrible blogger lately. I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted. I will try to be better. We started back at school on January 12th. I've gotten a total of 4 new students since then. Two came on the 12th, one came last Friday, and one came this Monday. One of them is struggling academically, and I don't think our school is going to be able to give him the help he needs. I feel like I might be coming down with something. Please pray that I don't get full-blown sick. Well I will write more later.

Social Butterfly

This past week I have hung out with people every day of the week except Saturday. It's been so much fun! I did have a little accident though. On Thursday I went to Hell's Gate National Park with a few friends. We were just at the end of our hike and the dirt underneath my foot gave way. I fell into a 5 foot hole. I bruised several places on my body. I also forgot sunscreen and after a 4 hour hike I got pretty bad sunburns. On a bright note though December 31st marked 12 years of me being a Christian!! It's always good to be reminded of our salvation. It's even better to be saved :-)