Breaking for Pleasure

It’s important to take a break every once and a while. To completely remove yourself from normal life and rid yourself of routine. It’s healthy. Yes, it’s important to be productive and active, but there’s a balance. While some people choose to brake for children, I break for pleasure.

Life here in pleasant Rwanda continues. We've been enjoying a two and a half week break off of school.  We started our break by going down to Gitarama, a town about an hour outside of Kigali. There we made a few sound panels for a children’s home, Urukundo (the Kinyarwanda word for love).  The next day, we traveled a little further south to a town called Butare to learn a bit more about Rwanda’s history. While there we visited the national museum and we saw the king’s palace from the early 1900’s. For those of you who are picturing a beautiful castle, let me put your imagination on hold. The king’s palace was a one room hut divided into four different sections. The last king, King Mutara, built a modern-palace that was quite a leap from the hut used for the past several hundred years. Mutara’s palace was more like a large house with six or seven individual rooms. Rwanda has quite a unique history. I won’t go into it all now because some of you were hoping for a few minutes of leisure reading rather than a history lesson, but I do encourage you to do a bit of research in your own time. 

We stayed in Kigali for one full week, visiting friends and relaxing at home.  Then, on Monday, of this past week, we packed up the car and headed north to Uganda. It was time to safari! (Pun intended, for those of you who know Swahili.) We drove eight hours on a combination of well-paved roads, smooth dirt roads, and roads littered with potholes.  We arrived at Queen Elizabeth game park and were greeted with one of the most spectacular views our eyes have beheld thus far.  Truly incredible.  We went on a game drive (safari) the next day and saw elephants, water bucks and kobs (native animals), a family of baboons, a family of warthogs (including the little babies) and many, many birds. In the afternoon we went on a boat safari and saw hippos and water buffaloes galore, along with a few crocodiles. And for those of you who are wondering, yes we did see one snake, but it was just a tiny one. Unfortunately Queen Elizabeth does not have any giraffes or zebras. They do, however, have lions and leopards, but sadly we never found any. The day after the safaris we enjoyed a full day at the lodge swimming and relaxing.  Then, it was time to begin our journey south. We drove five hours on the aforementioned roads and arrived at Lake Bunyoni. Our intent was to spend the night on an island but the rain was relentless and the air was colder than I’ve ever felt it on this side of the world. So, we canoed across the lake, in the rain, read books by a fire, and tried to entertain ourselves. We ended up leaving early the next morning because the weather was far from agreeable.  Back to Kigali we came.  There is something special about coming back in to Rwanda and Kigali after you’ve been away for a few days.  Rwanda is unique. It’s hard to explain, but I always release a sigh of relief and smile the whole way through the city.

It’s back to school now. The break has been nice, and much needed. Only five more weeks and then I’ll be a high school graduate!  Exciting times ahead, let me tell you. We all move forward one step at a time and anticipate the future. 

And because a picture is worth a thousand words...

Working on the sound panels at Urukundo

Such sweet kids! 

On the balcony of King Mutara's palace

We crossed the border and discovered
an issue with our spare tire so these
guys fixed it for us and we were back
on the road in no time

While we were waiting for the tire a guy
walked by selling the biggest bag of
popcorn I've ever seen!

Testing out the water slide

Looking through the hills at Queen Elizabeth

Yes, a double-decker pool!

Ugandan cranes

Family of warthogs

Big yawn for the camera

Water bucks

Scratching his eye

Coming back in to Kigali

Life is Hard. God is Good.

I have a T-shirt that says “Life is hard” on the front, and on the back it says, “God is good.”  I feel like I repeat that phrase to myself ten times a day.  Life is hard, God is good. Life is hard, God is good. Life is incredibly hard right now. Filled with manipulation and betrayal.  But, God is good. Why? Because He has given me some pretty amazing friends. Because He has called my family to spend the last two years of our lives in this beautiful country. Because He is working in our lives. Because He is still in control.  God has blessed us, is blessing us, and will continue to bless us.  The Bible is full of examples of hard times happening so that His glory is revealed. This happened so that they might know He is Lord…this happened so that His glory would be revealed, etc.

The month of February was a blur and March has been downright hectic.  Most days in February felt like I was wading through thick muddy water, surrounded by even thicker fog, unable to see what was lying just ahead in the murky pool.  March has been full of exciting events, that unfortunately were moderately dampened by the said “water” and “fog” that was brought about by the said “manipulative and proud Christians.”  

For those of you who have not heard my clarinet did make it back to me safe a sound on February 22^nd.  After being separated for one month and five days it was a delightful and beautifully sounding reunion.  

On March 2^nd, I had my Appalachian State audition for the school of music. It did not necessarily go according to plan. The internet was less than corporative, but thankfully, the clarinet professor was flexible and understanding.  I ended up emailing a sound recording and it was definitely one of my lesser performances, not worthy of a scholarship. But like I said earlier…this happened (poor audition) so that God’s name would be praised.  If I do receive a scholarship (I’m still waiting to hear back from them on the results and any scholarship opportunities.) my only response will be to praise Him because I know that my performance was not scholarship-worthy.

On March 8^th the Injyana Orchestra Rwanda performed for the first time ever. It was a smashing success! It is estimated that around 400 people were in attendance. This was a huge event for Kigali and Rwanda.  As far as we know, it was the first full-orchestra ever in the country. We had musicians ranging from 12 to 50 years old and everything from a bassoon to a harp in our forty member orchestra.  It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of.

On March 15^th the Young Kigali Musicians performed at a private dinner party.  The Young Kigali Musicians are eight musicians that come from three different families:  three violinists, a cellist/pianist, two clarinetists, a French hornist, and an ever-reliable piano accompanist. This dinner party was not just your average run-of- the-mill dinner party.  This dinner party was a unique experience because it included guests like the U.S. Ambassador, a Rwandese woman, Jolly Dusebe, who was recently named one of Africa’s top twenty most influential women, and several important doctors in Kigali and surrounding towns.  The Young Kigali Musicians performed ten pieces total, with several combinations of quintet, trio, duet, and solo pieces.

 

And then two days later on March 17^th we gave the same recital, but this time for the general public. We anticipated twenty to thirty people and we easily had over seventy in attendance!  Again, classical music is a really big deal in Rwanda.  It was so exciting to see the amount of many people who came to support us.  The recital went very well.  The weather was pleasant and the power stayed on!  Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the previous Friday night.  The power did go off for fifteen to twenty minutes during the performance so we took an unexpected and very dark intermission, and life went on. 

On March 22^nd, we had the annual KICS Talent show led by the student council.  It was a rather successful night; people appeared to enjoy themselves and everything went according to plan. Along with overseeing all of the acts and performers, I too, performed a duet with a good friend of mine, who is also an active student council member, and we ended up winning for the overall high school category. Adam’s fifteenth birthday was on Friday and was celebrated with two of his closest friends and then celebrated again with his dear family on Saturday night.

Rainy season has kicked in, full steam ahead, or shall I say, full stream ahead?  Lately, we’ve been having long and unknowing endings to our power outages… three hours, six hours….who knows? Internet has been on and off depending on the weather…ah, Africa. I actually quite enjoy this aspect of living here. It makes me appreciate things like reliable electricity or internet and it also makes me realize that I don’t need either of those things to survive.

Speaking of Adam and the rainy season, KICS had a football match on Saturday morning (soccer game for you Westerners) and it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.  They may as well have been playing water polo. It had been raining pretty steadily all morning and the rain did not cease during the game.  The dirt field was fully transformed into a mud pond and the clean and professional team was transformed into a wild and dirty mess.  It was certainly an exciting match! After all it’s not every day that a team can come back from a score of 0-3 and end up winning
4-3!

Our much needed, two and a half week break begins on Thursday.  Things are slowly winding down for the year.  As I embark on the last few weeks of my high school career and the last couple months of my time in Rwanda, I strive to make as many memories as possible and bring glory to God in everything I do.  Life is hard. This is fact. But God is always, always good. 

Acceptance

I received word from Appalachian State University today.  I’ve worked hard at my academics, and SAT, and my clarinet for years.  I applied to one school.  The only school I wanted to go to.  And they’ve accepted me.  I’m going to Appalachian State University in the fall!!  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??  I’m thrilled and grateful to the Lord!

On a different note, some of you may be wondering how the situation with my clarinet is progressing.  Although it is still sad and hard, the Lord is working all things for His glory.

We were able to send my clarinet back with a group of people who were visiting from Atlanta. They shipped the instrument yesterday and it should be arriving in Boone, NC (the location of the instrument repair shop) on Monday, Lord willing. My upper joint needs to be replaced and so the repair shop in NC is waiting on that shipment to come in from France. Unfortunately, France is out of upper joints at the moment and is also waiting for a shipment.  Once my clarinet and the new joint gets to NC we’ll have a better estimate on how long it will take to repair it and get it back to me.

The Lord is blessing me abundantly even in the midst of this hard trial. Appalachian is being very understanding and we’ve temporarily postponed my audition.  The people at the repair shop are very easy to work with.  The man that took my clarinet back to the States is going above and beyond in making sure my clarinet arrives in Boone as soon as possible and is well taken care of.  One of my clarinet students is graciously sharing her clarinet with me. We alternate it every other day.  She plays an intermediate level Buffet (the same brand as my professional level clarinet).  It’s a huge blessing.  The fifth grade class at school raised 6,500 rwf to help with the repair costs. (Roughly $10) Their concern and kindness is humbling.  A family that I used to babysit in America also sent some money to help with the repair costs. Numerous people are praying for me and have offered to help in any way that they can.

However, just because I can see the blessings does not mean that I do not struggle with discouragement every single day. I miss my clarinet. I find myself frustrated and thinking negative thoughts pretty consistently.  Last year I went through many hardships and trials and I overcame them with the Lord’s help.  This time around I’m being confronted with a trial that feels like a mountain.  But James says, “Consider it pure joy, [Grace], when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…”  My trials last year were nothing like the trial that I’m currently facing. We will have trials of many kinds, but I must consider it to be pure joy.  God has helped me through my past trials and He will help me through this one too.  It is quite possible that I was too attached to my clarinet.  I adore my clarinet; it is one of my most favorite things on this earth.  I think that God is using this situation as a time to teach me that He is the only one that matters. My clarinet is an earthy possession that will not last. I must put the majority of my time and love into Him and not my clarinet.

This past week has not been an easy one.  My dad wisely noted that I had my eyes on the wrong thing. I was acknowledging that the Lord was blessing me but I was focused on the enemy.  Instead I need to acknowledge the enemy, realize that he is there, but “fix my eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2).  I am coming to a place of acceptance but I still need your prayers.  Pray that the replacement part arrives in NC and that my clarinet gets back to me as soon as possible.  Hopefully in time for the recital at the end of February, the orchestra concert, and my rescheduled audition.  Pray for “endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11) as I fight discouragement and search for the positive aspects of this situation. And please join in with me as I rejoice and praise the Lord for this wonderful news from ASU.

Broken

Walking and writing are two ways that help me process heavy news or deal with disheartening scenarios.  It helps clear my head of my thoughts and make room for God’s words.

Tonight I do not even have the energy to walk, so I will write.


This afternoon during ensemble rehearsal I accidentally knocked my clarinet over.

It broke in half.

Above the middle joint.

It cannot be fixed. It has to be replaced.

Devastating. Shocked. Speechless. Hurt.  So many emotions and feelings. Every time I say the words, my clarinet is broken, a new set of tears comes streaming down my face.

I have an audition to get into the School of Music at Appalachian State University on February 2nd.

I have a recital at the end of February.

I have an orchestra concert at the beginning of March.

I teach lessons on a weekly basis.

I love my clarinet.

It can’t be broken. It just can’t be.

But it is.

My brain shut down. I had no thoughts except for the reoccurring, My clarinet is broken. My clarinet is broken. My clarinet is broken.  Not in a frantic and screaming way, but more in a way that maybe if I said it enough I would wake up and find my clarinet in one piece. All I could do was cry. I laid flat on my back for almost an hour and did absolute nothing. I thought absolutely nothing. I just stared at the ceiling.

Just like my beloved instrument, my heart is broken. Aching and asking Why?

This might seem like it’s a bit dramatic for some people. I know that there are way worse things going on in the world. No one died. No one’s life was put on the line. It’s just a worldly item. I shouldn’t be so upset over something like this. But, music and the clarinet are my passions. It is a part of who I am. And it’s a part of who I will be. God has given me a talent with music and with the clarinet. He blessed me with this beautiful clarinet that now lays broken in my case.

Not even six months ago I received a very generous gift from a dear family friend: a brand new professional clarinet. Given with the intent of helping me as I pursue my dreams and passions.

What am I going to do?

I’m in Rwanda.  It’s not like I can just run over to the instrument technician.

Thankfully, God is in control. God was not the least bit surprised when my clarinet fell over today. He knew it was going to happen and He already has it worked out. I take comfort in that.

“…to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”  Isaiah 61:3

I don’t have the slightest idea why this happened today.  Nor can I see any good that could possible come from this traumatic situation.  But I know God. He redeems. He works all things for His glory.

Already we’ve contacted the music store in North Carolina where I purchased the instrument.  I will be sending my clarinet back to the states. They will repair it and then ship it back to me as soon as possible.

This is good news. But I don’t have an instrument to play in between now and then. I can’t continue to do what I do without a clarinet.

I appreciate your prayers as I struggle to find joy in all circumstances and look to Him for guidance.

Here We Go Again

Just a quick update before the routine begins again.

First semester ended on a good note.  My grandparents from Florida (my dad’s parents) arrived on December 12th.  On December 13th we had our Christmas concert with grades 5-12 participating.  It was a huge success, just like anything my father does.  Final exams went well for both Adam and I and then we enjoyed a few relaxing days with my grandparents as we showed them around Kigali.  I celebrated my eighteenth birthday and we had a wonderful Christmas.  My grandparents brought many American treats with them and so it was nice to have a somewhat familiar-feeling Christmas morning.  Five days later, on December 30th my other grandparents from North Carolina (my mom’s parents) arrived. Yes, two sets of grandparents at one time!  We enjoyed a second Christmas with these grandparents; they also brought us fabulous American treats from our friends and family in America. Then, on Monday (the 31st) we, all nine of us, drove down to Kibagora (the southern location of Lake Kivu) to take a break from the city.  We spent a few days by the lake, enjoying a true vacation.

Kibagora

My dad’s parent’s left yesterday and my mom’s parents are here until Sunday.  We’ve been showing my grandparents around and relishing our last few days before school begins again.  I’ve been able to read a book over this break (something I don’t usually have time for) and I even learned how to make a pie! Pie is very important on my mom’s side of the family. I made a total of three pies: two apple and one shoo-fly (a pie that’s been in my family for generations).  I like cooking and baking but cooking and baking over here is a whole different story. Making everything from scratch and using a gas oven that has Celsius temperatures are just two of the unfamiliar elements of cooking here in Kigali. Actually, today while I was making the shoo-fly pie with Meemaw, the power went off.  Thankfully, our oven is gas and not electric.

School begins tomorrow. Second semester will be very similar to the first one.  I’ll have the same class schedule, I’ll be teaching four clarinet lessons each week, and I’ll also be fulfilling my student council roles.  Along with that I’ll be preparing for my audition with Appalachian State University on February 2nd, as well as a recital with four other musician friends towards the end of February.  I have several extra music things to do this semester; of course I’m looking forward to them all.

I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of January 25th – the day I receive my letter from Appalachian State University informing me of their decision.   I am ready to start second semester.  I’m ready to get back into the routine and I’m ready to finish high school and move on to new and exciting things.  And I’m looking forward to what God has in store for me this semester and for the upcoming years.

While Living in Africa, I Went to Africa

This past week I went on an incredible adventure. God called me to Kenya and so I went. I met up with a small team from America that came over to work in Kibera, a large slum in Nairobi, for one week.


I left Kigali on Saturday morning (Nov 10) and flew to Nairobi. (I enjoyed flying alone, probably a little bit more than I should have.) A driver was waiting for me at the airport, holding a sign with my name on it, making me feel rather dignified. I made it to the guest house, without any complications and I met up with the rest of the team. Throughout the week I met a lot people (some who quickly became good friends), I compared and contrasted Rwanda and Kenya, I learned many new Swahili phrases, I ministered to kids at 
Trinity primary school, and I learned more of God’s calling for my life.

Nairobi is very different from Kigali. In fact, it’s so different that I’m not even sure where to begin. I continuously felt like I was in America. (The American team found this a bit odd.) Nairobi is very developed and crowded with buildings and cars. The traffic is intense. The driving happens on the opposite side of the road (comparing it to America and Rwanda) but it’s not disorderly. It’s just really backed up. Personally I think the driving is crazier in Kigali, just with fewer cars. I guess, to give those in America a bit of a perspective, comparing Nairobi to Kigali is a bit like comparing New York City to High Point. There are numerous malls with food courts, there’s a KFC, there’s a Feeneys (Planet Yogurt), and nice paved highways, large buildings, and lots and lots of cars.


This trip was a perfect opportunity for me for numerous reasons. First, I needed a break from my normal life in Rwanda. Second, I have had a desire (and still do) to do more ministry projects, and that is exactly what this trip was all about. Third, God strengthened and challenged my faith in Him and taught me how to sacrifice seemingly important things for Him, my academic grades being the primary example. Fourth, this trip was my first experience with following God’s calling on my own – it was my first adventure, with many more to come.


During the week we (from now on when I refer to “we” I mean “the American team and I”) worked in a small compound, called Trinity, on the edge of Kibera. Some of us taught in the elementary school, some ran a soccer camp for kids, some worked in the medical clinic, and some offered counseling and the good news of Jesus. Together we made a great team. I worked with a class of 4-6 year olds during the week, teaching Bible stories, playing games, and sharing the love of Jesus with them. Our days followed a similar pattern with the exception of Wednesday, which I will address specifically in a minute.


Daily Routine:
6:15am wake up and make breakfast for the team with my roommate
7:30 board the bus and travel to Trinity
8:15 arrive at Trinity (It wasn’t that far of a drive, it just took a while to get there because of traffic)
8:30 brief devotion and prep time for the day
9:00 begin teaching and playing with the kids
1:00 (sometimes after 1:00) lunch
4:30 leave Trinity and stop at a store on the way home to buy supplies to make PB&J’s for the kids at Trinity
6:30 eat dinner
7:30 debriefing time with the team/preparing lessons/making 225 sandwiches for the next day

Please note: All these times are susceptible to change. We operated on a very relaxed schedule, without much awareness to the time of day – a very African lifestyle. Our pastor at church once said, “You in America have the watches, but we in Africa have the time.”


Wednesday was a very special day, my favorite day of the week. In the morning we went to Trinity for a couple hours and then we went further into the slum to visit a school and church called Emmanuel. (This is the place where my mom was when she went to Kenya in 2009.) Emmanuel completely defines Africa. The smells were beautiful, the people were beautiful, the sights were beautiful - everything about it was just perfect. I wish I could effectively explain to you what Kibera is like. The only thing I can say is; while living in Africa, I went to Africa. I experienced a real Africa. It was incredible. Those few hours I spent in the depths of Kibera were some of the best hours of my life. The children were so respectful and sweet.  It costs just under $4 a semester to attend school at Emmanuel and most families cannot afford it.  The children that have the privilege of going to school take their education very seriously. After being at Emmanuel for a couple hours we went to the women’s prison.  That was another incredible experience. When we arrived at the prison the women were in the middle of their church service. Some of the women were worshiping and praising God in a very sincere way while others stood along the wall with their arms crossed.  Two of the ladies on our team shared their testimony and several women accepted Christ for the first time in their life.  After the service we handed out small bags containing toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, and a tract.  It was amazing to be around all of those women who had committed crimes – it’s not the first place I would have chosen, but it’s definitely were Jesus would have been, ministering to the criminals and the poor in spirit.


I am sure there are many details of my week that I’m failing to mention.  It’s hard to explain what I experienced to those who have never been to Africa before. It’s a little bit like trying to explain augmented chords to someone who has never heard of music before.  If God ever calls you to Africa, do not hesitate. It will change your life.


My life didn’t change when I went to Kenya. That’s probably because I had already been living in Rwanda, and so it wasn’t that big of a cultural adjustment. My life has been changing ever since August 2011 so going to Kenya was just another step in the changing process. What did change was my perspective of life – walking the streets of Kibera and experiencing that “Africa” – is what changed me.


God has been teaching me so much. I could fill blogs only about what God has been and is currently teaching me.


One thing I learned prior to my trip to Kenya was what it really means to have faith. I have been watching my parents step out in faith for many years, but I this trip to Kenya was my first opportunity to step out in faith by myself. If you step out in faith God will provide. Another thing I am learning is that stepping out in faith is not all about God providing, sometimes it’s about you making sacrifices. And God always “works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)


It’s amazing how hard and how easy things can get when you turn your life over to the Lord. Yes, you will face challenges and trials. We, as Christians, are called to a life of hardships, that’s just a part of it. But, if God is in control things somehow get easier too. I don’t have to worry, because He’s got it all figured out. God has big things in store for the rest of my life.  I got a little taste of those plans this past week. I’ve sensed God calling me far away from the “American lifestyle” for some time now, and this week it became even clearer that I am not meant to be in a place where the people already know about God and they have electricity, and running water, and all the other necessities.  I am called to be in a poor, poverty-stricken area that does not have the general necessities and does not know about the greatness of our Lord. I am called to put everything on the line for Him. I long to live among the ugly-beautiful, to embrace them, love on them, help them, and comfort them.  But more than that, I long to serve the Lord for the rest of my life. Wherever He leads me, I will follow.

Dear Faithful Readers

I apologize for the long pause. I did not intend for so many days to go in between posts. I live a very busy life over here in ravishing Rwanda. I’m overextended and attempting to accomplish more things than a person probably should. I won’t bore you with the details of what I do in a week’s time; I’ll just lead you to believe that it’s quite a lot. 

That being said, I have decided to sit down and inform you of a few things going on in my life... 

First things first, on October 6th, after taking the SAT for 4 hours, I came home and sat for another 10 and a half hours while I got my hair braided....

Yes, it hurt very badly, and it itches off and on but I do like the finished product a lot. 

Secondly, if you've read my other blogs from this school year (Aug 2012-Oct 2012) you know that I've been struggling with homesickness. You’ll be happy to hear that my homesickness has subsided. While I do have a day here and there where I miss home more than anything, I would not classify myself as being homesick. Part of that might have to do with how busy I am, and if that’s the case, then I’m thankful for being busy. 

One thing that has helped me overcome my homesickness is a quote I stumbled upon by my favorite missionary, Jim Elliot.

 “Wherever you are, be all there."

After reading it, I immediately felt convicted and realized that I was not being all here. I was trying to live my life in North Carolina while living in Rwanda…it wasn't working. At first I wasn't sure how to let go of my NC life, but God has helped me. He has blessed me with so many wonderful friends in North Carolina who I've been able to stay in contact with and He has also given me a sense of peace about being so far away from home. 

A third update relating to my life: I've been struggling with God’s silence. I talk to Him every single day. I tell Him things, I thank Him for things, I ask Him for things, but I haven’t been getting a response. In reading My Utmost for His Highest I came to realize that “His silence is the sign that He is bringing [me] into an even more wonderful understanding of Himself.”  

Psalm 27:14 says “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

And just a few chapters later...

Psalm 31:24 says, “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”

For God, time is nothing.  Humans (Americans, especially) are so time-oriented and driven by plans that we get easily frustrated with God when doesn't reveal the plan or the answers when we think we need them. God knows exactly what we need, He knows the best time to reveal His will, and He is always, always in control, even in His silence. 

Fourthly, I have a very of exciting opportunity to go to Nairobi, Kenya on a short-term mission trip. Greenstreet Baptist Church in High Point, NC goes to Kenya every year to work in Kibera, one of the world’s largest slums. I feel God calling me on this trip, but I face two problems: (1) I would be missing five days of school…five days of unexcused absences, meaning that my grades would be severely affected. However, I am going to ask my teachers if I can work ahead and turn my assignments in before I leave. (2) Money. Money is always an issue. I ask you to pray with me and for me. Pray that my teachers will show grace and be willing to work with me and pray that God will provide the money I need to go on this trip.  The wonderful thing is that these “problems” are not problems at all in God’s eyes. He has already orchestrated everything and if He wants me in Kenya from November 10-16 then He will make it happen. 

Thank you, dear faithful readers, for reading my blog. I aim to update it more regularly and hopefully with exciting stories of my life in Africa. I don’t know what’s in store for the rest of this year but I invite you to join with me as I wait in anticipation for God to speak to me and reveal His plan to me.