But mostly I just sit here and praise God. I praise Him for allowing me to go to Kenya, I praise Him for continuing to reiterate the desire I have for missions, and I praise Him for all the work He did and will continue to do in Kenya. I serve a faithful God, who deserves all of the glory. Bwana Asifiwe! (I'm going to be dropping swahili phrases like no body's business...just go ahead and prepare yourselves.)
With that being said, I know that there is no way to efficiently fit a month into one post so I am going to do a series of posts about my time there.
I want to start with sharing a journal entry from June 24th.
"Oh what beautiful day we have here today in Kenya! The forestry, sunshine, and cool breeze were all wonderful but the little smiling faces I got to gaze upon all day were what made it the most beautiful. I got to hang with Momma Joy most of the day which was so fun. She let me hang around her shop, and taught me a few things about shopkeeping that I know will come in handy someday, ha!
In the latter part of the day I sat under the shade of a nearby tree and watched her plait or braid her 2 daughters hair - it was during this time that a little girl I had met my first week there came up to me. This little one is special and beautiful for so many reasons but one of the less important reasons that set her apart are her debilitating mental issues which effect her social and cognitive skills.
In that moment her sole desire was to just sit there and stare at me and hold my hand. This suited me just fine! :) After about 30 minutes of just sitting there holding hands, I began to really study her small, precious hands and feet. They were caked in mud and peeling from the dryness of her skin - her nails were jagged and embedded with all sorts of dirt and grime and her feet had several deep gashes in them, probably from stepping on sharp rocks. I felt that I needed to do something, just to make her feel clean, beautiful, and loved - so in jumbled, hurried swahili I told her to wait there and that I would be right back.
I returned 5 minutes later with the brightest nail polish I could find and wet rag and proceeded to spend 30 minutes attempting to clean her hands and feet. It was no easy task but eventually I was able to see that beautiful ebony skin unmarred by any of natures contributions to her earlier dirtiness.
Oh my the smile that lit up that little face when the first brush of bright, coral paint appeared on her nail. We giggled, and we laughed - and we did a lot of redo's since the concept of letting it dry before touching it wasn't catching on. What a contrast to the little girl that had walked up to me an hour before, so solemn and sad.
As I sit here and write this and reflect on the absolute joy of today, a thought hit me like a ton of bricks and it knocked the wind out of me.
Oh Jesus.
That little girl is me!
You took me when I was covered in filth, dirt, and grime -when I was solemn, lonely, and sad. You took me and you washed me clean. Except you didn't use water and nail polish, you used your blood. You redeemed me, you loved me, and you gave me a deep rooted joy, unmovable by anything this world throws my way.
Tears of praise streamed down my face as I write, because I have truly seen and felt the redemptive power of Christ.
And He constantly reminds me everyday of the beauty He has made out of what was once my formerly dirty and broken life.
And He constantly reminds me that all the praise belongs to Him."
This is my sweet friend! If you look closely you can see the chipping, coral paint left on her nails from our painting extravaganza the week before :) Isn't she beautiful?!
Shout for joy to God all the earth!
Sing the glory of His name; give Him glorious praise!
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the ends of the earth worship you and sing praises to you;
they sing praise to your name."
Come and see what God has done:
He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man.
He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in Him who rules by His might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on all the nations -
let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Bless our God, O people;
let the sound of His praise be heard,
who has kept our soul among the living, who has not let our feet slip.
For you, Oh God have tested us; you have tired us as silver is tried.
You have brought us into the net; you have laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads.
We went through fire and water, yet you have brought us into a place of abundance.
Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what He has done for me.
Psalm 66:1-12,18
