Pure Joy

June 07, 2012

Pure Joy

It has been an amazing coupl days in Africa, but hard as well. I miss my family a lot and wish they were here to experience all this with me. I know this is where the Lord has me right now bt it is still hard. Here is a little exert out of my journal from yesterday.....

6-6-12

Today was a good day, full of lots of laughter and joy spilling from the children's eyes. I helped a babies class today with 3 and 4 year olds. They were so precious. They had the biggest smiles and biggest hearts. I am so thankful for th etime I got to spend with them.

I love when they call me white person in Swahili, although I think I like it better when they say Hannah. (they have begun to call me Hannah as they get more comfortable with me.)

These orphans are a pure example of Jesus' love. ALl they want is your eyes to be on them. Maybe that is what Jesus wants from me. For my eyes to be on him always and to not falter.

Jesus oyu give me peace that transcends all understanding.... please allow me to fell that. My heart hurts right now from all sorts of things... anxiety and the kids who I so desperatly want to hold forever. Jesus please allow my heart to be still and now that you are God. You are there protector and father in both good times and in bad.

Thank you for loving them. Thank you for loving me. ALlow me to realize how precious there souls are. Allow me to show them love and attention that comes straight from you. I know you did not call us to be comfortable and I am amazed at how uncomfortable I am. Allow me to find strength in that.

You are God, you are the one who provides all the necessities to the people of Kenya... so help me rest in the fact that you are the one who saves them... NOT ME!

I am but a hand to help, not much, but you have called me to such a place of hurt and abandonment that I will give all I have. Lord, thank you for saving them and thank you for adopting them as children.

6-7-12

Today was our off day of the week... which meant tons of exploring! We woke up at 10 a.m. which was a nice little break from our 7 o'clock wake up call. After we got dressed we headed to the Giraffe Center.... Yes that is right I got to feed a giraffe. It was so amazing to see the strength but gentleness of these creatures. Exactly what the Lord call us to be like.

After spending hours at the Giraffe Center we headed to a market where we bargained our heads off to get the best deal possible (which probably wasnt the best deal if we are being honest). When the market owners see white girls coming in they know they can jack the price up (which is unfortunate for us).

The rest of te afternoon we went to java House where we thought we would get wifi but upon getting there realized it was down. So what we thought would be an afternoon talking to friends and family turned into a deep conversation between friends. Maybe just what we all needed. Thank you Jesus for divine interventions.

Tomorrow will be similar to the past few days... so get ready for more blog enteries about the precious children of the BCC!

Shout out to Jack who is busy coaching Hampton Cove swim team this summer! I miss you so much and am so proud of you! cant wait to tell you all the stories!

Lize (one of my teammates from Chicago) reminded me of this the other day and I wanted to share:

"Maybe God calls us to Africa because he wants to be intimate in a new way that he cant when we are in the states!"

Enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them!