Half-Way Around the World

Half-Way Around the World

We left for Nairobi on June 20 o6oo, yes military time. Twenty-three hours later we arrived, looking and feeling as if we had been drugged and beat. Stinky also, but alive. The aromas of different countries just wake you up and make you feel alive (Ha! You world travelers know what I mean!!). In my mind I was going to an exotic, adventurous place where we would be helping the helpless. Oh, but God, well you know what God does when we feel like we have it all figured out? We have all all these plans and expectations, well if you don't know or have never expierenced this first hand-- he totally trashes it!!!

Well I was in for a big surprise. My first night I cried and cried and cried. I mean snotty nose, swollen eyes, and unable to finsh sentences without hiccuping crying. The craziest thing was that Andy (for those of you who don't know he is my prince in shining armor) was sleeping like a baby. Funny thing how God works, Andy is usually a very light sleeper- but this night God knew he needed to rest, he did not need to be part of my emotional devastation.

So- I pleaded with God "Okay Lord this is all going to work out great, when we get back to the states we will buy a little house, Andy nor I will quit our jobs, the kids will remain in school and things will return to normal, I mean I can serve you anywhere, right? I'm sure I can volunteer at a clinic in the U.S., or yes help feed the homeless, countless ways to serve you right there from my own backyard!!" And so there I was rationalizing my miniscule faith with God. It was at that moment that I felt God say to me, okay my child here is your life you can have it back and do as you want with it!! The horror, the shock, and loneliness I felt at that point sent me back running into my father's arms. It felt like... well you know when a parent tells a toddler in the playground "it's time to go" and the child kicks and screams. Then the parent says okay I'm leaving and pretends to leave the child. And what does the child do? After maybe thinking about it for half a second runs toward the parent and jumps on the parents leg and holds on as if his life depended on it. Once I was back in my saviors arms the peace I felt was amazing. I finally surrendered....

The days went by and I fell in love with the kenyans, never did I feel so loved and encouraged. These people are amazing. It is amazing to meet brothers and sisters in christ that live on the other side of the planet and feel as though we've known each other all our lives. At this point we are still uncertain where God wants us, but I know wherever he sends us I'll go.