t.i.a

How do I sum up the last 12 days of my life? I don't know if that's possible, but here's a good start:

ice cold hose showers. early morning worship. post-it birthday parties. h20 to go jr. sweaty and bruising drime practices on rocky hills. 16 hour plane rides. peanut butter sandwiches. monkeys in a barrel. grief journals. team building on the mattresses. breakfast pizza in amsterdam. overflowing porta-potties. fresh pineapple. calloused fingers from learning the guitar. concert praying. "how are YOU" from every direction. mutatu adventures. singing in the streets. cuddling with church babies. chacos. community living. swahili lessons from kibera pedestrians. african sunsets on the patio. cherished crystal light packets. breaking vulnerability. futbol in open lots. hand sanitizer and baby wipes. girltalk. laundry mat ministries. sewage streets. midnight heart-to-hearts. worms in the water. plywood bunk beds 3 stories high. encouragement mailboxes. dancing in the rain. life altering speakers and sessions. burning trash piles. big brown eyes. tear your heart out bootcamp. life in a duffel bag. missionary reality show.

This is my life. This is Africa. It's amazing. But I'll take a step back, just to fill you in on the details.

I arrived in Atlanta, GA on the the 12th, and was immediately thrown into a brand new lifestyle. I met my team, and almost instantly we've become a family. There are 13 of them, from all parts of the country, all very different story, and they're amazing. Training camp in Georgia was intense, to say the least. Every day was packed, from worship at prayer at 7am, speakers, sessions, team builders, drime practices (dramas to music), group discussions, you name it! Every night I went to bed absolutely exhausted, and excited to see what was in store for the next day. Training was a week of personal development, of ripping out the pieces inside of me that I had tucked away before grieving them, of letting go of personal rights and expectations to embrace community goals. It was fervent prayer that I have never experienced before, and worship that brought me to tears almost every night. I have grown more in this past week than I think most people allow themselves to in years. Going through it doesn't feel good, it isn't fun, but it's necessary. I know I could come home now a different person, but that was just the start of this journey.

After two 8 hour plane rides, a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam, and an 8 hour time change, we made it to Nairobi on Thursday night. Our apartments are incredible, so much more luxurious than we could have expected. Yes, there are still bed bugs and we've yet to bathe in hot water, but this new home is such a blessing! I'm living with 8 other girls, sharing everything - shampoo, toothpaste, clothes, cherished snacks and water flavoring, everything that we have. & I love it. Our nights end in prayer and card games, and my family would be proud that cribbage and spades have become a few of the team favorites.

Kibera is the slum that we are doing ministry in. AIM has an orphanage there, and we are partnered with a church community in the slum that we will be doing outreaches with. Details and pictures soon to come. I want you all to know that I'm safe and that God has big plans here. We are stepping in to be a piece of this revolution in the slums, and to make disciples that make impacts long after we're gone. This is probably the most detailed blog you'll get. I want to share with you everything that's been on my heart, but my time at the internet cafe is just about up. I'll be back with updates in two weeks. Until then, know that I am pouring love into orphans and families, and that I am being filled by my Lord and my team. God is good.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the lord has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengence of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called mighty oaks, planting of the Lord for display of his splendor.
- Isaiah 61:1-3