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October 18 I love these shoesFor those that don't know, for those that even visit here,
I am back in Canada again and have been for just over a month now.
My departure was kind of sudden, however not surprising considering the year that I had.
I didn't leave on bad terms, far from it actually.
My heart was kicking and screaming at the airport waiting for the plane to rip me away from a place that I have grown to fondly refer to as 'home'.
It wasn't wise of me to ignore my departure date because of denial. It wasn't until my second plane landed in Toronto that it hit me
and the sadness that overwhelmed me continued to be a blanket for a few weeks after that.
And God let me grieve for a period of time.
He let me gripe about the uncertainty of my immediate future until I had vented enough to pull myself together and snap back into reality.
I was home.
My other home, like I said I have many homes.
However, my arrival was not accidental nor was it a punishment but it was God's way of bringing me to a place physically so that I get get to a new place spiritually while He dealt with me emotionally.
And I am thankful.
The last year has been challenging, but a glorious challenge. Even on the bad days, working for the Lord in Kenya makes me feel like I'm a puzzle piece that has found it's place. I am connected, I am stable, I am locked into place and God has created this amazing picture of the work He is doing, and has allowed me to be in that picture.
It's exhilarating, frustrating, enlightening and life giving all at the same time.
The good days far outweigh the bad and the smiles of people when they experience His greatness is my reward.
Even my challenges were trumped by God's grace and He saw me through every bump and snag along the way.
But then it was time to come back to the west... and I weakly obliged only to rediscover that His plans aren't spur of the moment alterations based on situation or circumstance.
They are divine steps along a path of togetherness that you can only experience if you agree to wear the shoes that God has made for you.
Who wouldn't want to walk with their creator? The one who knows all your inner secrets and exactly why you are the way you are.
Who wouldn't want to walk with the one who loves you despite all of that and cares about you so much that He would go as far as to give up His own life so your life would be saved.
It shames me to think that so often I struggle to say yes. That occasionally I will complain about these shoes he made me.
Imply that they are uncomfortable or that they aren't the right colour or that they are too big.... or worse, that they are too small.
Bottom line is that I know that I am home for a reason. And God has already been revealing that to me.
I love Kenya and I miss it dearly. The desire of my heart is to rejoin in what God is continuing to do in that country.
But I am choosing to wear these shoes. These shoes that He made specially for me. The ones that brought me to Canada and the ones that will take me back to Kenya. And I will wear them proudly and walk tall on this path because togetherness with God is my desire.
A desire that burns in me, sometimes more brightly than other times but it burns nevertheless and nothing, not even all of those fake beautiful shoes that are meant to distract me, will put this fire out.
My fire burns for Christ as His first burned for me.
I will praise Him all the days of my life. July 10 hit the ground runningafter nearly 24 hours of transit (nearly flawless transit I should say)
I finally arrived in Nairobi around 9:30pm
I filled out the appropriate paper work, including a brand new swine flew form
stood in line for my visa - which is half what it used to cost - thank you Lord!
and descended the stairs to baggage check
man what a lot of bags!!!
after what seemed like forever, I recovered my bags and made my way to the arrivals gate where I was met by my roommate, my friend and my favourite taxi driver.
I was really happy to be back
they must have thought I was insane in the car,
or that British airways had started serving crack to it's passengers
but I was giddy with happiness to be back in this second home of mine.
since then I have thrown myself back into ministry.
A team arrives today and I've had a couple days to prepare their work locations for them
I've made 8 phone calls to ministry reps and had 5 meetings in the last 2 days
and I'm loving it
I need something to keep me warm
it's winter here
and despite what you might think, not all places in Africa are hot all year long.
Sure, Nairobi winter is about 15-20 degrees
but you have to account for the fact that the homes aren't heated here
my apartment is made out of concrete
and it's a steady 19 degrees celsius (66 fahrenheit) inside!!
i keep finding myself mentally playing with the thermostat
but I am destined to me chilled to the bone for a couple more months
but the next couple of weeks should keep me running around and warming me up
the team is here till the end of the month
and once they leave I have videos to work on
I'm excited already May 08 ch...ch...changesWell it's that time again.
That time where everything is very confusing and nothing seems right side up...
You know, that time where you start to squirm but God gives you some perspective
and then when you finally open your eyes and start breathing you see that change is not scary
it's wonderful and exciting... ok, it's still scary!
Here is what is going on.
Not too long ago I found out that AIM is finding it difficult to continue sending teams to the Nairobi area.
I know I've talked about housing costs for me personally but AIM is also feeling the crunch and as a result my future here with them is uncertain.
It has been a challenging thing to think about for various reasons: moving on
and I'll admit it... I shut down any thoughts that arose of the situation for about a week
till I remembered that I'm supposed to be an adult and no one else is going to solve my problems for me.
No one but God... but thank goodness He calls us to act on our faith...
can you imagine how lazy I would be?
anyways..... ;)
down to the nitty gritty
I have been researching some other organizations that are working in Kenya and specifically the Nairobi area.
My priorities have been looking for canadian and international organizations
and as you probably all know, I love video production... so I've also been looking for any media ministry opportunities.
well, I'm praying this is where God wants me because I have found something amazing.
A brand new branch of African Inland Mission called On-Field Media
Their team is small, their office is 5 minutes from my apartment here in Nairobi and their focus is glorifying God through film, graphics, writing and web design.
not only that, but the canadian office is about 20 minutes from my mum's house
It all sounds too good and I am actively finding out more about them, even as I type this.
I'm not limiting myself however,
and will continue to look elsewhere until I have found my place and pray as I do
because I want to be sure that I am not just rushing into anything that I was not designed for.
I am certain that wherever God leads me will be the best and only place for me.
and I can't wait to find out where that is!
My time with Adventures in Missions has been great!
So great in fact that I don't want to leave Nairobi and I still feel called to full time missions.
Right now I need prayer for peace, trust in the Lord's timing and support.
If this is where I'm supposed to be, I'll need to start raising support all over again.
which is intimidating and exciting all at the same time.
I want to thank all my supporters... financial, prayer and encouraging...
I seriously would not be here without you
and I love love LOVE it here. April 10 A Poem: Africa AFRICA
Africa! Africa! Africa!
Who gave you the name Africa?
Is it God, animal or man?
Why is it you are known as a 3rd world country or developing country,
not developed country!
Is it because of poverty, war, famine or flood?
Sudan and Somalia ever fighting among themselves,
no benefit they are gaining!
Children and women are always crying with agony in their camps.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Or is it because we have prostitutes
and that is why we are dying like chickens
with this killer disease known as HIV/AIDS.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Or is it because we lack land!
That is why we stay like elephants in groups.
Or is it we don't know how to build, that is why we stay in slums
like Kibera and Soweto.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Or is it because we lack education?
That is why we give birth in our early ages
and increase the population hence decreasing food.
Why are we giving birth like fish in the water?
Africa, who gave you the name?
Let's stand like Africans and join our hands together
to built our continent.
What we need is peace and love.
Let's live like a family.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Written by Oliver Omondi
Age 15 Oliver ReturnsToday was a good day!
I got news that Oliver had arrived in Nairobi while I was away in Othaya so I called up his neighbor and arranged a visit.
I haven't seen Oliver since spring of 2007, though I talk to him on the phone regularly, so I was anxious to finally see him again.
 I got to the house mid morning and sat and sat and sat.
Four times, someone was sent to fetch him but still he wasn't coming.
It wasn't until I asked that I was told he refused to see me without showering first.
Kenyans love to be presentable...
He finally arrived and I was surprised to see that he is nearly as tall as me now.
15 years old and he is a handsome young man.
It took about 10 minutes for him to remember that he is indeed not shy and after the giggle subsided, the original Oliver finally emerged.
He started by asking many questions the way he does on the phone. We then talked about his writing and the newborn triplets back home.
He brought his book with him. I had asked him to bring his stories so that I could read them.
I will share one of his poems with you in the next entry.
We took some photos and he asked about Narnia.
I had sent him the first book of the Chronicles of Narnia and he finished it in about 4 days.
I mentioned that there was a movie made and he hadn't forgotten.
We will watch it together with the other boys on Monday.
Unfortunately I had to leave not long after but we walked back to the road together and said goodbye for the weekend.
It's good to see him. I'm praying that him living in the country is not hindering his education.
He has so much talent it's sad to think that it could go un-noticed, or even worse, get lost in a life spent in toil and struggle for survival. |
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