Adjusting... Well, sort of

I think I had a very mistaken impression of what life was going to be like when I got back from Africa. I thought that I would get off the plane, come home, and pick up right where I left off. Relationships would be the same. I would find a job and life would get right back into its normal pattern. I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried.

Nothing was the same. I wasn't the same person as when I left to go to Africa.  My house wasn't the same. People weren't the same. Everything felt so different and strange. Life is not falling back into that familiar pattern. I feel like I just can't get settled in most of the time.  Relationships are no where near the same as they were when I left. Attempting to get back into the swing of life in America proved to be much more of a challenge than I had originally anticipated. America was sensory overload for me. I couldn't seem to handle the most basic of choices. Looking at a menu was overwhelming. Add to that sense of being overwhelmed, the absolute sadness I felt at leaving behind my fiancé, the kids I had grown to love and cherish, the very place where I felt most at home and like I belonged, along with the utter exhaustion of having not slept much in two days, and you've got an almost certain meltdown on your hands.

Meltdown...function normally... Meltdown...function normally... Meltdown, meltdown, meltdown... function normally... That seemed to be the cycle I was in for the first few days. I could hold it together for a little bit, but then you could just about guarantee that I was going to lose my composure and cry. I cried over the most ridiculous of things... seeing a picture of one of the kids, getting a message from my fiancé, telling a story from my trip, talking about the wedding. Emotions were high and raw, and in reality no one understood. I got responses from "Oh I'm sorry" to "You know you really need to suck it up and deal with it." What I needed was someone to just listen. No judgment. No advice. Just listen to my stories. Hear me when I say that I am overwhelmed and my heart hurts. Hear me when I say that I need to just breathe and take it all in. Hear me when I tell you that it feels like I don't belong anymore. Hear what I can't say. Look in my eyes. See the hurt and the pain and the frustration and all of the emotion that come with this life change. But whatever you do, don't tell me that I need to get over it already.

 What I know is that I will never get over it. I will never be the same person I was when I left to go to Africa. You wouldn't be either. In some way, Africa changes you. In some way, it makes you completely different. That's what I know. That's what I am certain of.

As for now, I am becoming more and more acclimated to life in the United Sates again. I am in full on wedding planning mode. I am in full time working mode again too. I honestly believe that having more to do with my time than sit in my living room and stare at the walls is going to be extremely beneficial to my sanity.

This journey that I began in June is far from over. In fact if I had to take my best guess, I'd say that the best parts of the journey are yet to come.

Until next time,
Melody

The Adventure Isn't Over

Landing in Houston, Texas on Tuesday October 1st felt like the end of a three month long adventure. The minute the wheels touched down on the runway, tears flooded my eyes. I wanted nothing more than for the plane to turn around and fly me straight back to Nairobi. It felt like the life I had known for so long was just over. It seemed as though too much was changing too fast. I was suddenly in the middle of a life that I hadn't known for three months and I was overwhelmed. I am not sure why it all overwhelmed me so much, but it did. Simple choices became the most difficult decisions of my entire life. It was not something I expected to happen once I was back on somewhat familiar ground. It was completely shocking to me that such little things took my breath away. It is slowly but surely getting easier and easier to adjust to life in America once again.  

The reality of the situation is this, I am not done with my adventures in Africa. There are many more adventures to be had in the nation of Kenya for this world traveler. There are children to teach, songs to sing, stories to tell, and so many other things. I know that it won't be that long before I am headed back there to fulfill the work that God has planned for me there. I didn't meet children like these for no reason. There is purpose for me to be in Kenya. Look at these faces!

This is Sophia. She has the most beautiful smile. Ever since her first night at the orphanage, she come running to quickly find me whenever I am there. She refuses to let me out of her sight for more than a couple of minutes. It was all too easy to fall in love with her smile and gorgeous eyes. She doesn't speak much English and I don't speak much Swahili, but that doesn't stop us from communicating. She knows that I love her and I know she feels the same way. All she really wants is someone to spend a little time with her and let her know that she is special to them. I hope and pray that that message got to her through our time together. I am ready to see her again! 

This is Button. Isn't he the cutest little guy? From nearly day one, this little guy has captured a piece of my heart. He is extremely loving and sweet. He is creative and can make a toy out of nearly anything he finds on the ground. He loves to play in the dirt! I was privileged to be able to meet this ray of sunshine during my time in Kenya and just like Sophia I am ready to get back to see him again!

These are just two of the faces that stole a small piece of my heart. The biggest piece of my heart was stolen by a missionary man that just amazes me. His love for children that aren't biologically his is precious to me. The way he is so passionate about teaching God's word to them is priceless. The way he made sure I was well taken care of and protected, invaluable. I couldn't even begin to tell you all of the things that I love about him. Perhaps one day I will be more emotionally able to share some of the stories that showed me his true character. For now I think I will just let the pictures do the talking for me. 

 The two of us and Button and another of the kids. With the hoodie on I am not sure which child that might be with us. I have made some amazing memories in that common room at the orphanage!

 Supper time together at the house... Many memories at that table in the living room at Hospitality House! 

 Hide and Seek at Hospitality House... quite possibly one of the best days I spent in Kenya! The smile on Mike's face says it all. 

 Looking for fruits in the front yard... I don't know what they were talking about, but it certainly looks like Mercy is trying to prove her point. 

 Meeting Harriet for the first time! What an incredible day! This was just one of a million interactions that I saw take place that showed me more and more of Jim's true character.

 These two girls just love him! (And so do I!)

I love his smile!

I hope that in the days to come I will be able to share more of the stories that absolutely changes my life while I was in Kenya. For today, though, I ask that you pray for me. I ask that you pray that my emotions become less and less raw, that the adjustment to being in the United States becomes easier, and that my time here will be productive. Along with planning a wedding to the man of my dreams, I need to find a job and begin to raise funds for this next adventure. Please let me know if you would be interested in helping support two missionaries with a love for Jesus and the people of the nation of Kenya! 

Until next time, 

Melody

Finding Love in .... an Amazing Place

Dr. Charles Stanley is quoted as saying,"Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on the object we're waiting for."

Being willing to wait isn't something Americans are accustomed to. We don't have to wait to get home to call someone, we have a cell phone. We don't have to know how to look things up in a dictionary or an encyclopedia, we use the internet. We don't have to wait for a meal to be cooked on the stove or in the oven, we have the microwave. We don't have to wait for things anymore. It has just become the normal way of life. Waiting isn't fun. It isn't easy to be still and wait for those things that are the deepest desires of you heart. Trust me I know. I have been there and experienced it. 

Rushing through things is part of my norm I suppose. I am so used to having to rush from thing to thing from being so overly-scheduled. I am used to being busy from the time I get up to the time I lay back down at night. So for me this season of waiting has been particularly difficult. Even more so when it, at times, felt like I was completely alone in this whole waiting game. I know I wasn't really alone, but when you are the only single person in your group of friends, it has a tendency to make you feel that way. I knew that what I was waiting for was out there somewhere, but it seemed like just as I was getting close enough to reach out and grab onto it, it would suddenly become farther and farther away. That is until, I obeyed the call to come to Africa in July. 

Three months ago when I left America, I honestly had no idea how this trip was going to turn out. I got onto a plane and knew that once I landed I was going to stay until the end of August. I knew that I was going to meet a man that other people had told me was perfect for me. What I didn't know is that I was going to lose my heart in the process. I didn't really know that I was going to find once I landed in Kenya, but I knew that somewhere in the middle of all of this hopelessness, there was going to be something amazing waiting for me. Did I know that I would be coming home with an engagement ring and a promise of becoming Mrs. Jim Cooper shortly after I got home? Nope not at all what was on my agenda for this trip. It was on God's agenda. It is all falling into place just as He wants it to. 

The thing that still amazes me is that I can remember being about 12 years old at camp one summer and clearly hearing the voice of God telling me that I was going to be a missionary one day with my husband. I can also remember laughing and saying "No thanks, I like it in America just fine. Pick someone else." I dismissed it. I pushed it to the side and went on ahead with my own thoughts and dreams and plans. Now I am sitting here wondering, what if I had said yes to begin with. What would have happened then? Would Jim and I have met sooner, been together longer? I don't have an answer for those questions.

What I do know at this time is that God is taking things that were broken and messed up and turning them into something beautiful and usable for His purposes. Coming to Africa was the best decision of my life. In the midst of brokenness, hopelessness, and sadness, I have found love. More love than I can comprehend most days. I am learning more about love that I thought possible. 

My encouragement to you from Kenya for today, consider the things that you are waiting for and what value you place on them. If it is something you really, really value, you'll be willing to wait. And trust me on this one, waiting on God to bring you just the right thing at just the right time is ALWAYS worth it. What God brings to you will be by far better than anything you could wish or hope for and will most likely be more than what you could imagine!

~Melody~

Running to Your Arms

Somehow, I think I was given a rare opportunity to see something perhaps how God would view something. I know you must be thinking that I am just a bit crazy, but hear me out and then make your decision about what I am saying. 

Recently one of the girls at the orphanage discovered the song Forever Reign on my iPhone. She listened to it on repeat for as long as she could while I was out there visiting. The lyrics of the chorus began to get stuck in my head, and I could almost hear them in my sleep. 

"And oh I'm running to your arms, I'm running to your arms. 

The riches of your love will always be enough, 

Nothing compares to your embrace, 

Light of the World forever reign."

I love this song and probably love it even more now that I am seeing it through this new view. 

Yesterday afternoon, at the orphanage, one of the girls waved exuberantly from the window of the bus. She had a huge smile on her face, and you could tell she couldn't wait to get off of the bus. She is one of the new girls at the orphanage, and let me tell you she is just precious. I was standing by the bus door with Jim greeting the kids as they got off, and when it was her turn to finally get off the bus she came running out the door and into my arms ready for a tight hug and a quick greeting. She has one of the most beautiful smiles, I mean really, really beautiful. It is the kind of a smile that would melt the iciest of hearts. She repeated the smiling, running, and hugging gesture several times throughout the time we were there. Every time it was with the same exuberance of joy! In the middle of all of this, I hear a voice whispering to my heart, "Melody, this is what it looks like every time you turn to Me. Every time you pray, praise, sing, worship, this is how it is." WHOA! 

Can you just picture this with me? Every time we call on the Lord, it is like we are running into His arms once again. I imagine it to be even more joyful the first time that we truly run into His arms at the time of our salvation, but oh my what a picture this is, being warmly received into the arms of a loving Savior each and every time we call on Him. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had while being here in Kenya since the 30th of June. (Wow I can't believe it has been that long already. It seems like I just got here a day or two ago...) Getting to see this picture of how God sees us when we run to Him was just an amazing experience that I feel certain isn't really being adequately retold with just my words, but it's the best I've got at this point. I hope that perhaps today you will choose to run into His arms and experience the joy and love and peace that only comes from being in His presence. Enjoy your day and make the most of the experiences you have where you are with what you have doing what you can.

Until next time,

Melody

Prayers that Avail Much

Children standing in a large circle holding hands and singing songs in both Swahili and English... "Ni wewe, ni wewe bwana, ni wewe, ni wewe bwana..." Probably my most favorite song to hear them sing in the devotions circle. Picture that same circle with the children reciting memory verses, reading passages of scripture and explaining what they believe that passage is teaching them, and then those same children fearlessly offering prayers that come straight from their hearts. Pure and unselfish prayers. Can you just imagine how different the world and our circumstances would be if we only had the courage to pray such prayers?

Praying is nothing to be taken lightly. It is serious business. Whether the prayers be for forgiveness, intercession, thanksgiving, they are a time of deep communication with the One who has all of the answers we are seeking. Am I saying that you will always get the answer that you are seeking? Nope not at all. I can tell you several stories of prayers that I have prayed that have been answered, just not in the way that I thought they were going to be answered. 

Have you ever listened to a child pray? If not, then I encourage you to listen to them. They are some of the sweetest prayer people ever. They pray with innocence. I can remember in Sunday school listening to a little girl praying for her family because they left the keys in the house and they were locked out. She prayed for them to always remember where they keys were. Innocent.. There were no strings attached. She just prayed about what was on her heart and in her mind to pray. They pray with a pure heart. They aren't jaded by the circumstances of the world. They aren't so filled with negativity that they can't see past their own noses. I have listened to countless children pray while here in Kenya. They pray with such gusto and passion. They are bold in their requests. They pray for those who are sick and hurting. They pray for their families. They pray for each other. They pray for the nation of Kenya. They pray with reckless abandon. They leave everything they have in their hearts in the hands of God, because they know that without Him, they are going to be in trouble. 

What do you pray for when you pray? Are you praying dangerous prayers? Are your prayers safe and easy? I have noticed that as of late my prayers have changed dramatically. I am not praying the same safe and easy prayers I have prayed in the past. They have become much more bold. I have been praying for direction in regards to a longer term trip back to Kenya in less than four months after I return from the first trip here. I have been praying bolder prayers in regards to my relationship with a certain Kenya missionary. I have been praying prayers from a hurting heart for a group of children that need all of the prayers we can send their way. I have been praying most recently for children that don't have a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat, people that look out for their well being... Children that are just waiting for someone to step up and take a chance and sponsor them. Children that are waiting to get out of their current situation and have a chance at getting an education and changing their circumstances from dismal to hopeful. 

Tonight my heart is full of things that need prayer. Want to know how you can pray? Here let me give you a list:
a. Pray for the children that are still waiting for sponsors to get them into the orphanage and out of the slums
b. Pray for the children in the orphanage. Pray for their house parents. Pray for the new girls that just arrived. Pray that they will adjust to their new living arrangements easily.
c. Pray for the teachers and staff at Seeds Academy. 
d. Pray for the health of all those involved in the ministry here in Kenya.
e. Pray for two little girls in Eldoret that just witnessed their mother kill their father and were taken into the orphanage there.
Those are just some of the things on my heart. Many of the things that are on my heart I can't share with you. But you can still pray... God knows what is on my heart! 

I encourage you to continue to pray and to pray bold prayers that don't hold anything back. Prayers that avail much... Wouldn't it be great to get to share testimonies about how we prayed these bold prayers and then marveled at what God did because of them? I look forward to sharing more of the stories from the things I have experienced here in Kenya!

Until next time!
Melody

Reckless Abandon

What comes to your mind when I say the phrase reckless abandon? A car crash being left by the one who caused the problem? A child being left carelessly on the side of the road? I am just about certain that you aren't going to get a picture of what I am going to describe to you in just a few minutes.

Consider the following definitions:
Reckless:
without thought of danger
utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action

Abandon:
exuberantly excited
Perhaps you thought of the same meanings when I first mentioned the words, but even I was surprised at the definition for abandon. Exuberantly excited... That's pretty excited. I am picturing a child on Christmas morning, a girl getting engaged... lots of moments that would potentially lead a person to being exuberantly excited. 

Now try to get in your mind's eye a picture of a person who could be described as one of reckless abandon. A girl is getting on a airplane with three suitcases of clothes, supplies, and other things she might need, a backpack and a large bag with other essential items. She leaves behind some family members, tons of friends, and a church family that means the world to her. At the end of her journey waits a man that less than a year ago was little more than a stranger to her and now he means the world to her. She quit a good paying job, sold her car and few possessions, and is now headed 9,000 miles away from home to live out the calling that God has on her life. What do you think? Is she crazy/ Has she lost her mind? Honestly what do you think about her choices? Going to live in a third world country relying on the kindness of people she barely knows to take care of her. I guess to some it must sound a bit extreme and radical even, and to others, nothing more than the normal expected behavior. Did she become a person of reckless abandon? I think so. 

The girl had a choice to make. She could stay at home working in her comfortable job doing what she liked to do, or she could take a step of faith and follow what God is asking of her. She chose to make that step of faith and in the process is finding more and more blessings are coming her way. Going and serving the Lord doesn't require such extreme things of everyone. Some people aren't being called to the farthest reaches of the globe, they are being called to serve right in their own backyards. You don't have to go all around the world to serve the Lord with reckless abandon. You can be exuberantly excited in the work He has for you right at home. 
Consider two stories from scripture. The first is found in Mark 14. It is the story of the lady with the alabaster jar. It was filled with expensive oil that could have been sold and provided for her family for a long time. She didn't consider the consequences. She only wanted to give her best to the Lord and she broke the jar and anointed him that oil. She didn't do it for the glory of being seen doing it. She did it because it was the best should could do for Him.  She was most certainly a woman of reckless abandon. The second story I want you to consider is that of Ruth and Naomi found in Ruth 1. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were recent widows. Naomi told the women to go back to their people. The first daughter-in-law did just that. Ruth however says this "Wherever you go I will go, wherever you stay I will stay, your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die I shall die..." I don't know that I would have been willing to have said these things in this situation. Ruth was another woman of reckless abandon. Not thinking about the consequences of going to a foreign land, she quickly agreed to stay with her mother-in-law, and in the end was blessed abundantly for her choices. 

For those of you that know me best, you will see the similarity in this story and the one of my own that is currently being written during my time here in Kenya. While some of it has yet to come true other parts of the story are all too familiar. The things that I know right now are that Kenya is becoming more and more like home every day and I am growing closer day by day with the children and with that special missionary I have been blessed to call my boyfriend for the last (almost) two months. I want to be this woman of reckless abandon. I want to be so exuberantly excited about the path that God is walking me down that I don't stop to consider the consequences of my actions. I want to be so wholly wrapped up in Him that the consequences aren't a part of my thoughts because of my desire to be obedient. 

Today, I challenge you to find ways to be a person of reckless abandon in the places where you are.

Until next time.
Melody

Treaures

See if you can picture this... 

A dull brown wooden chest with a rusted iron lock..

Would you be tempted to look inside? Or would you just pass it up because what you see on the outside doesn't pull you in for a closer look? 

Now picture this...

The lid to the chest is being opened and inside you see glittering gold coins, sparkling jewels gold bars... TREASURE... 

The outside appearance of the chest didn't give you any clues as to what might lie inside waiting on you. However, you had to take a chance that what you might find would be worth the time and effort you put into it. 

Treasure... such an interesting word. It is something that we hold on to because we believe it has high value. Expensive cars, huge houses, designer clothes, bigger and better electronics, flashy jewelry...High value items according to society's standards. Not, however, what I would consider to be treasure.

Treasures are things that are irreplaceable. They don't have monetary value necessarily, but their worth goes beyond what we could fathom in the way of monetary worth. Smiles from children, their hugs, their laughter, meaningful relationships with people, family, friends, salvation, experiences, once in a lifetime opportunities... those are just some of the things that I believe would be much more worthy of the title treasure. 

Scripture says in Deuteronomy 26:18 " And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised and that you are to keep all his commands." A promise to the Israelites from the Old Testament, but no less applicable to us. God view us as His treasured possession. Isn't that an amazing promise? I rejoice in that knowledge. God treasures me. How much more meaningful would relationships with other people be if we treated them as if we treasured them? How much more effective would ministry be if we treasured people and not what they are able to do for us or the ministry? 

While being here in Kenya, I have seen things that I can never unsee. I have heard things I can never unhear. I have smelled things I can never unsmell, and yet in all of that I treasure those memories. You can't buy experiences like this. In my children's Bible storybook, I have lots of little pieces of paper with notes and pictures on them. I will keep them there for a long as I can. They are special notes and pictures written and drawn out of love and to me that is absolutely irreplaceable.

I am a blessed woman indeed.I have a boyfriend that loves and cares for me. I have a group of children that call me mom. I have been in Kenya for almost two months now and still have another month to go before I have to leave to go home.  Today as I sit here writing this blog, I can't even begin to count the memories that have been made here in Kenya that will forever be treasured gems in my memory. I can't even begin to write out all of the stories of the times that I have felt the arms of a child wrap around me and pull me down close to them to hear their stories, dry their tears, listen to their secrets, and hear sweet loving words from them to me. Today I ask of you only this, consider what you treasure most and whether or not moths and rust can destroy it. I leave you with this Matthew 6:19-21 " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust destroy. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is there your heart will be also."

If Home is Where Your Heart is...

We have all heard the popular saying, "Home is where your heart is." I have most certainly found this to be true in my everyday life. My heart at one time was with a bunch of rowdy preschoolers in a small classroom in the middle of downtown Longview, Texas. My heart was with my mom and my dad and my grandparents and my family of friends, and so many other familiar things found only in the United States. 

I love being a preschool teacher. I love working in Longview, Texas. I loved my mom, my dad, my grandparents. I love my friends. I love Chick-fil-A, KVNE, sweet tea, lemonade, salad, laundry that is dry in less than three days,  the mall, scented laundry detergent and fabric softener, electricity that works 98% of the time without fail, fast wifi connection speeds, The Church at West Mountain, and oh how this list could go on and on. I love these things, you're right about that, I do love them. However, my question is now this; what if loving these things is keeping me from achieving greater things? What if I held on so tightly to these things that I can't grab on to the things God is offering to me? 

I am here tonight thinking about this saying and how different my perspective has become as I have been here in Kenya. Home is where the heart is, I can't argue with that statement. I can only find myself questioning. What makes a place your home? Is it the people you share it with? Is it the experiences you have there? Is it a feeling that you belong and have a purpose in being there? All of these things are true about a place feeling like home. Have you ever walked in a church and just instantly felt that peace and comfort come over you? That is how I feel every time I walk in The Church at West Mountain. I feel comfortable and safe there. I feel happy and overwhelmed and excited and loved.  What is it about a place that draws your heart there and makes it feel like it belongs? Is it the people?  A scent or something else that triggers fond memories? My heart is being drawn in new and amazing ways. The longer I am here, the more certain I become that my heart is being drawn to this country and these people for a reason. A reason bigger than I can fully comprehend at this point in time. For now the question becomes, what am I going to do with what I can comprehend? To sit and do nothing would be an absolute waste of the potential God has placed within me. To act on what i can comprehend is going to require an enormous step of faith. 

God has chosen me to be here at this time to fulfill His purpose for me. Whatever this season of life holds for me, I don't want to be held back because I am clinging too tightly to the things that are familiar. Do I miss things about being  at home? You bet. I miss fellowship with my church family. I miss playing my flute. I miss hanging out with my friends. I miss seeing my friends' precious little ones that won't be so little when I get home. I miss laundry that is dry the same day you wash it. I miss having a grill in the backyard. I miss starry night skies (it has been cloudy every night I have attempted to go and look at the stars so far here in Kenya). Please hear my heart when I say this, as much as I miss those things, I am ready to give them up for the chance at experiencing God's best for my life. Yes, you heard me correctly. I am ready and willing to give up everything that is familiar to me and journey forward into this new phase of life and a new place to call home. This is a scary and uncertain place for me at this point in time. I've not been so bold as to admit this is what I am thinking to anyone other than that one special guy that God has chosen to bless me with as well. He is the one that knows my heart and understands how I really feel about all of this. The reason he knows and understands so well is because he feels the exact same way. Don't sit there and assume that he is the only reason I am feeling the way I am. He isn't the main reason I feel this way. The people here in Kenya have affected me forever. They have changed my perspective on a lot of things and there is no going back to old ways of thinking. 

So if home is where you heart is, then where do you call home? The truth of it is this, no matter where we call home, the people we share it with and the experiences we have there together are what make it special. Take some time today to think about where your heart is and if that is truly the place that God has called you to be about His business. Because if you really stop and think about it, our hearts should be focused on Heaven and making sure that people around us know about the saving love of a Father that wants to see us one day when we finally make it home where we belong. 

Hug someone special and make some memories with them! I know that is what I am going to be doing for the next month and a half, until my time is up here for this season and I return to the United States to begin the next phase of my journey. 

Until next time,
Melody

Need

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

"Mom, I need..." Can't you just hear a child offering up this sentence in regards to the latest video game, electronic device, cell phone, toy, shoes, backpack, and the list could go on for eternity. I NEED a new house, a new car, a new purse, new shoes, a new boat, a new gun, a new _______. We, as Americans, have confused what we need with what we want or feel we deserve. You can't turn on the television without being bombarded with commercials advertising the latest and greatest product that you'll ever need. Black Friday, after holiday sales, holiday sales, promotions, all of them used to convince us that we need to buy this, that, or the other. 

Consider this... What do we really, REALLY need? We need food, shelter, water, clothing, and to feel safe and secure. Those are the most basic items that are needed for us to survive. We WANT nice clothes, a nice house, a nice car, gourmet food, and so on. 

Hear my heart this morning please. We are blessed to have been born in America. We are offered chances and things people around the world would kill to have. God chose for us to be born Americans. There is purpose there. We have to be willing to embrace that purpose and utilize what we have for the furthering of what God has called us to do. Has God supplied all your needs? Do you have a house? Do you have clothes? Do you have food? Do you have more than you asked for?

This morning, as I am preparing to head to church with some of the most giving and thankful people I know, I am pondering this question. What do I really need? Here is what I have come up with so far. I need the children here in Kenya. I need to be in their presence. I need to hear their stories. I need to feel their arms wrapped around me. I need to hear their voices as they sing. I need all of that and more.  

The children here are precious. I know I have said that on more than one occasion. It is the absolute truth. Many of you know that I have been having to stay at home for the last several days because I have been quite sick. It has not been the most fun experience of my life, but it was needed. I needed to rest. I needed to recharge. I needed to regain the perspective I had when I first arrived in Kenya. Friday afternoon, I was finally able to go see my kids at the orphanage. As soon as we pulled up, two girls were ready to run to the car to open my door. I was greeted with hugs and words too precious to repeat. Those words were for me from children who were speaking what God had undoubtedly put in their hearts to tell me. Tears threatened to fall. I was overjoyed and overwhelmed all at the same time. 

As much as I need from these children, they need the same things right back from me. They need my presence. They need me to listen. They need me to pray. They need me to hug them. They need me to sing with them and for them. They need me. Some days they just need a smile. Other days they need me to comfort them. The point is that I've got to be there for them. 

Today the question I pose to you is this, what does God need for you to do with what you have where you are? What is it that you are being asked to do for someone else? I encourage you to take a little time and just look around you, I mean really look. Look beyond what someone says and listen for what they need from you. You might just be surprised at the answer. 

Until next time,
Melody

The Place of Highest Honor

 Try to get a picture in your mind of what  I am about to describe to you. Two or three somewhat rickety wooden tables, lined up in front of three or four wooden benches, covered in pale blue cotton table cloths; Couches and plastic chairs covered in white doilies. Kenyan hospitality at its finest. Seats of highest honor. Guests are treated as royalty in a sense.  You are offered the best seats they have to offer, the nicest meal they can prepare for you, anything at all that they think is the best that they can give you. How do you suppose it would impact our ability to minister to people if we treated them like this? What would happen if we offered our very best to others instead of our castoffs or leftovers? I believe we could change the world one encounter at a time.

I propose, though, that there are seats of much higher honor to be had. Take for example last week's closing ceremony with the team from Colorado. There were countless places to sit. On the benches next to Jim. On the window sill by the kids. In the kitchen with Ms. June and others. Where was I sitting? Nowhere near any of them. I found a spot on the floor just in front of some of the smallest children. I was sitting in the middle of a dirt floor with 300 plus children around me. Teachers offered me a chair, a bench, anything but the floor. I was perfectly content to be sitting on the floor surrounded by little ones. I even had one in my lap sleeping peacefully and soundly throughout the entire ceremony. I was most surprised by the fact that some people had looks of annoyance or even disdain on their faces. I wasn't behaving like a normal white person. I should have been in what they deemed to be the place of highest honor. 

Being surrounded by children, for me, was a seat of more honor than the finest chair covered in the finest cloth. Children are quite discerning when it comes to people. They know who is being sincere and who is just giving them lip service. For my lap, arms, and legs to be covered in children speaks to the fact that they know that I am here to love them for as long as I am in Kenya. Beyond that, each of them at different times needs something different from you. Some days it is a hug. Other days they need you to listen to them, I mean really listen to them. And on other days they just need to be close to you for as long as it takes for them to feel safe, secure, and loved. Jesus didn't command us to go out and sit in places of honor. Jesus commanded us to go out and share His love with the masses. You can shout and scream all you want, but until you are willing to get your hands in the big middle of something and develop real relationships with people, all your shouting and screaming isn't going to do you a bit of good. Make your interactions with people count. Do something more with an encounter than just let it pass you by. 

Today, what do you suppose would happen if you took the time to just notice someone? What do you think would happen if you were to be Jesus with skin on and love on someone who needs it today? I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be here in this time for these days to have these experiences. The children and people of Kenya have changed my life immeasurably and will continue to do so until I leave to come home. 

Until next time
~Melody~

Based on the fact that I have a background in theater, debate, and public speaking, I find it amazing that at times, I can't even find the words that I need to use to express what I am thinking or feeling. Tonight is just that kind of a night. There is a lot that I want to say to you, but it just isn't coming out the way that I want it to. Feelings are a hard thing to express in words for the most part though. Words are one dimensional and feelings aren't. Feelings are complex and often the words don't do them justice. 

Can you remember a time that you were with someone who meant so much to you and then the time you had together suddenly came to an end? Do you remember how you felt? Imagine with me, if you will, being six years old. Remember that time? Full of hope, joy, love, exuberance, excitement, ideas, plans, and so much more?? Now, close your eyes... Okay we have been through this before... Don't really close them because then how would you be able to read what I am writing to you now... Imagine being a little kid who lives in an orphanage and all of a sudden there are people around that are paying attention to you and making you feel special. Now just as suddenly as they arrived, they are leaving. How do you think you would feel? Can you imagine those feelings?

For me the amount of imagination involved is relatively little.  I have known the feelings of abandonment well. I have known feelings of rejection. I have known the feelings of loss and sorrow. It is hard for me to watch those feelings register on the faces of children. Tonight I am struggling myself as memories surface of times gone by, people that I wish were still around, voices that I can't quite remember, embraces that weren't nearly long enough, and the list could go on and on. I can all to clearly remember being six years old and wanting nothing more than for my daddy to notice me, to see me for who I was. When he did notice, I can recall feelings of joy, and when he didn't or he stopped, feelings of intense sorrow. My heart is just a bit heavy for the children that have grown so attached to the team that is in town now and leaving tomorrow. I know that they are resilient children and they will recover quickly, but it doesn't change the fact that I saw something register on the faces of the children in my lap tonight that I won't soon forget. It was a look that plainly said, "You have come and been with me, but why must you leave so soon? Did I do something to make you leave? Are you ever coming back? Will you think of me? Will you remember me?" For this girl, that was almost too much to take in. 

Please hear my heart here. The team that has been here has been absolutely amazing. You can feel the love that they have for the children radiating from them. What I am coming to understand is that this is the reality for the children. Visitors come and visitors go. It is just a part of their lives. The thing that I think sticks out the most to me in this case is that there is a truth that is just waiting to be imparted to the children. The truth is this, visitors will come and leave; your parents and families won't be around forever. However, there is one "person" who will be with you in all situations. The only one who can be with you like this is God. He loves you. He has chosen you to be His child. That is special. That makes you special. God will be the one that will stick by your side closer than a brother. He is the one you can ALWAYS count on. 

The reality of those statements needs to sink in more deeply every day. Identity can't be found in your family, social status, job, salary, marriage, friends, or any other material possession that you wish to put in this statement. It has to be found in Christ and the plans God has for your life. It's that plain and simple. While my reality tonight is that my heart is heavy for those children, the truth of the matter is this, I have to turn them over to God and pray that He will be their comfort, their source of strength, their EVERYTHING. Because in the end, He is the only one who can provide for all of their needs. I just pray that He allows me to be an instrument in that provision, and that while I am here, I can demonstrate that love and comfort to them. 

Tomorrow begins another adventure in life in Kenya. I look forward to sharing more of the journey with you. 

Until next time,

Melody

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure,
measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In
inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you
measure a year in the life?

Yet another set of song lyrics that speak to my heart. What is going to be the measure of this year? Is it going to be yet another year of working and earning a paycheck? Another year of searching for that one thing that will make life complete? Another year spent wondering about the direction God has for my life? 

Today marks the 209th day of the year 2013. Of the 525,600 minutes in the year, today we have gone through over 300,000 minutes. This year is going to by far outweigh all of the rest. I can't compare the sunrises I have experienced here to any others before. There is a peace and beauty seen here that I don't find when encumbered by the busyness of home. Each morning I am greeted by a chorus of birds. I don't know what kind they are but they do sing sweetly. Kenyan sunsets are just as beautiful as the sunsets at home. For those of you that know me best, you know how very much I love to watch the sunset paint a colorful palette of reds, oranges, and yellows that fade into a deep bluish purple sky that becomes filled with twinkling stars. Midnights... There are some midnights that will be burned into my memory for as long as I am able to remember. Nights filled with laughter and tears and endless conversations.Cups of coffee... Well there are more memories tied up in cups of coffee and conversations than I care to think about at this time. Miles... around 9,000 miles traveled to get to this adventure of my lifetime. Laughter...Giggling adults laughing until the tears are rolling down our faces about random movie quotes... Laughing because you are so tired that everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING even breathing, is funny.... Telling ridiculous jokes and making yourself laugh... For example: Why do cows wear bells? Because their horns don't work... Laughing with children...  A mission trip isn't a mission trip without some laughter along the way. Laughter through tears, laughter that results in tears, tears that resolve into laughter... No matter how you look at it, laughter shapes our day moment by moment. Strife... yeah I guess you would have to say that there has been some strife this year. Nothing unbearable, but certainly life changing. 

Each day you have 1,440 minutes to spend. You spend about 480 of those minutes sleeping. That leaves you 960 minutes a day to make an impact. What are you doing with those minutes? My minutes are being spent teaching children, cooking in a large kitchen, getting to know a most wonderful man better every day, and loving on some very precious children. Every minute is a chance to minister to someone somewhere. You only have to be willing to stop rushing from minute to minute and stop to cherish the minute you are experiencing. God didn't create things like sunrises, sunsets, stars, babies, or any other number of things for us to rush past them without giving them notice. Noticing takes time. It is just that plain and simple. You can't notice something without taking time to see the small details. Intricate details that would escape you if you glanced too quickly. God is truly showing me the importance of each minute. 89 children at the orphanage... 300 children at the school... Each and every one of them deserves to be noticed, deserves to be heard. That can't be accomplished rushing through the minutes I have each day. Getting to know that special guy in my life can't be accomplished rushing through our time together either. 

Today I challenge you to take a long hard look at how you are spending your minutes. Make the most of the minutes that you have. You can't get them back once they are gone. You can't reclaim the memories that might have been made had you taken the chance to simply stop and observe what is going on around you. Cherish them! Make them count! Find ways to serve others before yourself! Find ways to be Jesus with skin on to someone who needs it desperately. Look for opportunities to be the church to everyone, everywhere. You don't know when that will be a life changing encounter for someone else. Find a way to make someone else smile. It isn't hard. Just be willing to step out of your comfort zone and be amazed at the things that God will show you. I know that I have been in the last few days here in Kenya. 

Making memories of a lifetime and loving every minute of the journey!
Until next time!
Love you all!
Melody 

Look at this picture. Isn't he the most handsome little boy? He has amazingly bright eyes and a beautiful smile. I can tell you from experience that underneath that smile is a boy who loves to build and create things. He loves to sing. He loves to do the same mischievous things that most little boys his age like to do. What would you say if I told you that he almost didn't get the chance? Would you be shocked? Let me tell you a little bit more of his story.

First of all his name is Delmas. My friends Mick and Tammy are his sponsors and since I consider Tammy to be like one of my sisters, I consider him to be my nephew. I love him like he is family. He is quiet and shy when you first meet him. He would duck his head and run away when I would try to talk to him. That has most certainly all changed. He comes running to find me at the school or the orphanage. He is the first to tell me about his grades or anything else going on. He comes running when he feels there is some great injustice that he needs help fixing. Just a normal little boy.... Now.

What would you say if I told you that Delmas had been taken to the woods in the mountains and left there? He had basically been hidden there and left to die. I am sure that stories like his are abundant at Seeds. I am sure there are so many more that don't have the same happy ending that is there for Delmas. The thing that just unsettles me is that children are disposable. If there is something wrong with them, get rid of them. That just breaks my heart. If you don't want them abandon them somewhere and hope for the best.

I know that the societal standards aren't the same here. Things are wildly different, but that doesn't change the fact that I just don't understand how you could do something like that to a child. The thought that kept coming back to me was that if I had been born here, would I have been cast aside? Would I have been called cursed? More than that I know that my dad would have been cast aside because of his heart problems. Which if that had happened there wouldn't have been him and there wouldn't have been me. It was too much to process. It still is too much to process.

In light of all of this, my thoughts then turned to God. What if He cast us aside or left us to die because there was something wrong with us? We would be in a whole lot of trouble. Praise God He saw us in our time of need and met us there with a free gift of salvation that frees us from being cast aside. I encourage you today to extend love to someone who can do nothing for you in return. Simple acts make the world much better. I plan to love on as many kids as I can today while I am at the school. I am truly learning what it means to be the church to everyone, everywhere, and I am thankful for the people that have chosen to love me when I needed it the most.

Brokenhearted but full of love,
Melody

A New Take on Normal

A house with people coming and going regularly every day has been a comfort to my heart for many days now. A house with the smells of supper cooking away, boys talking and laughing about who knows what, and sharing suppers together every night have been my normal since Sunday. I'm not ready for my normal to change. I'm not ready to send this group back to the United States. I'm going to miss having someone just across the room that completely understands my goofy sense of humor and fascination with quoting lines from random movies. I'm going to miss having someone here that I can just look at and both of us start to giggle. I'm going to miss having someone here that understands the cause of my sometimes scary and strange dreams. I'm just being wholeheartedly honest.

 Sending them home signifies the beginning of a completely new phase of my stay here in Kenya. The wonder and excitement of everything is beginning to wear off and I am starting to see some things for what they really are. This is a good thing. It is time to stop seeing things through the rose colored glasses and start to see the world as it really is here in Kenya. I know that can't really begin until I begin to experience life on my own. For the first time in a long time, I feel as though I finally made a choice to do something that was entirely for myself and didn't have to be concerned with who needed me to be at home and take care of something for them. This is a time to learn what I am really capable of doing while completely on my own.

Furthermore, I am completely ready to go beyond just surface knowledge of a lot of things here. Deeper relationships with the kids at the school and the orphanage are beginning to build, and for that I am very thankful. Those kids, all 350 plus of them, are incredibly special to me. I don't know all of their names yet, but I will learn them eventually. I want to know more than their names! I want to know their stories even though I am certain that their stories will probably break my heart into millions of pieces. I am also quite excited about the new friends that I have made since I have come to Kenya. Many of these look to be life long friendships, and that alone is great. I wasn't sure how that was going to work, leaving all of my friends behind at home and venturing off into a foreign country. God is faithful and meets us at our point of need. He knew that in order for me to feel at home, I would need some friends, and that is exactly what He provided very quickly into my stay here. Friends and kids... what more would my teacher heart need to feel at home? Not much else! Going beyond surface knowledge isn't just limited to the kids and new friends. I am probably most excited about learning more about Jim. We've been communicating for almost an entire year now. It isn't easy though to reveal the most personal details and stories about yourself over a computer screen. Those things have to be done in person and I am so glad that we have the time now to do just that.

For now, I am learning to be content in the newness of this experience. I am looking forward to it becoming less new and more familiar. Time will most certainly tell if this new normal is the plan that God has for me to become my everyday normal. I look forward to sharing the experience with you all.

It is time to get ready for another day here in Kenya: time at the feeding station serving fruit to the children, lunch at the Coffee Shop, visiting one of the kids at boarding school, spending time with the kids at the orphanage for devotions, and hopefully some time with Jim tonight. Days are always full of things to do, people to see, and children to love. I wouldn't trade my days for anything.

Until the next time
~Melody~

Rest

 

What is it about being a woman that makes you think you are Wonder Woman and you have to accomplish everything in one day? Why is it that sitting down to rest is such a challenge? Exactly what do I think isn't going to be there tomorrow if I don't do it all today? Am I going to miss out on something? Am I going to lose a race? Is someone going to accomplish more than me? Will there be someone that I didn't take care of the way that I should have if I take a little time to rest for myself? I have so many thoughts and questions just racing through my mind right now!

Rest, my child. You need to just rest.

I heard a soft and peaceful voice telling me these words in my dreams last night. Comforting and delightful feelings wrapped around me as I drifted farther and farther into deep sleep.

 I know that I have been needing to rest. I can feel it deep down, but it is hard for me to justify sitting down and resting when there is work to be done. There are things that need doing, meals that need cooking, children that need loving, and the list goes on and on and on. I know that the same things will be there the next day and the many days after that, but there is something pressing about needing to make the most of every day that I have here and not letting one go to waste.

Pushing through and continuing to work even when you don't feel well isn't a foreign concept. You can't sit down every time you feel bad and just wait for it to pass. Life doesn't wait on you to feel better. You have to keep going. I suppose that is just some jacked up logic imposed upon people in society because you are expected to do it all faster, smarter, and bigger than the person before you. It's like we don't want to be left out or behind. This week I am quickly, quickly learning that you have to take time out to rest, or your body is going to force you into resting so that it can get what it needs to build you back up and keep you going. To say that I haven't felt great for the last few days would be the absolute truth. As a result of the dry, dusty air, a sore throat has been bothering me for several days and is now being accompanied by overwhelming exhaustion and a headache that varies in intensity throughout the day. Thankfully, we have had time every afternoon to come home and relax, and that helps tremendously in keeping me running. However, because I know that I have work to do, I will put that all too familiar smile on my face and keep going no matter if the headache is bad or not or I am tired or not.

Yesterday afternoon, completely out of concern for my well being, a certain special guy informed me that I really needed to rest. This is a whole new experience for me. I am not used to having someone else looking out for my well being. It has always been up to me to make the decisions and take care of the things that needed to be done. I am incredibly thankful that God has chosen to place someone in my life that looks out for my well being.  Today, after much debating with myself, I am staying home to rest. It is much needed. I realized last night that I have been pushing myself a lot more than usual and not taking the recovery time to let my body recharge. Late nights and early mornings are starting to catch up with me. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything in the world, but I am realizing that if I don't take the time to rest now, later on I won't be able to enjoy the things God has prepared for me here in Kitale, Kenya.

For today, I am content to listen to the birds merrily chirping and watch the beauty of Kenya through the doors facing the backyard at Hospitality House rather than viewing it all from the window of a vehicle as I am whisked away to one location or another. Tomorrow, I am certain that it will be back into the same routine of school, lunch, cooking, and going to the orphanage. Today is though is all about resting.

Enjoy your day!
Melody

A Heart Full of Love

"A heart full of love, a heart full of song ..."

Yep it's a line from possibly one of my favorite musicals of all time, Les Miserables. It however accurately describes how I am feeling after a wonderful afternoon a couple of days ago. My heart has been captivated and I don't think I will ever be the same again.

Slow down and read what I am writing before you make too many conclusions about what this could possibly be talking about.

God is truly showing me some new things about myself that I either didn't know or had pushed back so far I didn't realize them. There is a deep, deep seeded mothering instinct in my heart. I know I love children and I would adopt everyone of the ones that I have seen, but I didn't realize how much of a mothering instinct it was until yesterday. My heart was nearly broken in half yesterday when I met a precious little guy named Mickey. He has the most infections smile I have ever seen. You can't help  but just grin when you look at him. And then someone puts him in your arms. He kind of burrows in close to you and you feel his body relax. While I was holding him, one of the ladies there told me that he has had rickets but is greatly improving. He is also slightly behind developmentally and isn't able to sit up on his own quite yet. I was also told that he would most likely never be adopted because he is HIV positive. My heart completely broke then. What did that precious little guy do to deserve that outcome? Why would the HIV status be the deal breaker? Shouldn't a child be given a fair shot at having a family? These questions and more marched through my mind as I struggled to comprehend what I was hearing. I had to fight back the tears at the injustice for such a precious little boy. I just don't understand how you could not fall in love with him immediately. Big brown eyes, a gummy smile that will just melt your heart, and a ready and loving spirit. Talk about the momma coming out in someone. I can't even explain how that happened but it sure did.

My heart has been captivated by a tiny little guy with big brown eyes and  a sweet gummy smile that reminds me all too much of little miss Susanna Jane. Hasn't Jesus commanded us to love the least of these? That which we do unto the least of these we have also done to Jesus. I haven't been the best at this, but thankfully eye opening experiences are all a part of being on a mission trip like this and from this point forward things have to be different. It isn't enough to throw money at a problem. It is time for action, and the action I know is required of me is to love on these precious children every chance I get.

From my heart to yours!
Melody

Dramatic music, shocking pictures of children dressed in rags, and one celebrity or another speaking about the horrors of this country or that where the children live... Those were the images that I had in my head in preparing for this trip. I know that a lot of it was just unrealistic, but at the same time it did reflect some of what I experienced.

Life has fallen into somewhat of a predictable routine. I have a schedule of when I am teaching the children each day and can sort of begin to plan out my days. I never dreamed that I would be coming to Kenya to teach fifth grade math, that's for sure. After class, we leave to go have lunch, and shortly after that it is time to head out to the orphanage. After the orphanage it is time for supper and then some relaxation time. The next day the pattern is the same. I'm not going to lie, I love it when life finds its pattern and I can settle in and get to work.

Through all of this though, there is one truth that seems to be resounding. Kids are kids, no matter what situation life has placed them in. Kids still want to play. Kids still desire boundaries. Kids still desire affection and attention. I love to sit outside and just listen to the games that the kids play in the yard in front of the school. They play on playground equipment, draw in the dirt, and make toys out of nearly anything that they can get their hands on. It was no different at the preschool. The kids made food and who knows what all else out of wood chips.

I am completely humbled by the fact that two little girls from the orphanage have declared that I am going to be their mother forever. They are such sweet girls with some of the same spunk and spirit that I seem to remember seeing in myself when I was their age. They are smart, funny, energetic girls that make me smile every time I see them at school or the orphanage. They make the "Mom" part of my heart come to life.

 Can you imagine the impact that the sappy TV commercials would have if they would just show the kids being kids, instead of trying to make people feel sorry for them?  Please hear my heart, I am not saying that there are real problems that need to be addressed in countries around the world. I know that's the truth. Just look back at some of the pictures that I posted in earlier blog posts. There are real people, really suffering, who need to know about Jesus and who need a helping hand.

Like I said, kids will be kids regardless of their situation. They will still play. They will still laugh. They will still seek out affection and attention in whatever ways they can. These kids in just a few short days have all captured pieces of my heart, through their singing of "making Melody in my heart" to their constant "How are you's". The days ahead are likely to be filled with challenges and things I have never considered before, but for today I am perfectly content to tell you that life is good. I am happy. I am learning more and more each day about the plans that God has for me while I am here in Kenya and I wouldn't trade where I am for anything in the world.

Love to you all!
~Melody

Quiet

The house is very quiet this morning after the rush of suitcases, backpacks, and people out the door. There isn't any chatter. There isn't any laughter. It is just very, very quiet. The only sounds I hear right now are the clicking of the keyboard, the quiet hum of the fan on my laptop, and the occasional sniffle of my nose.

I have never been very comfortable just sitting in the quiet and listening. I feel like there needs to be something going on. Maybe that's the lesson here. Sit still, be quiet, and listen for what God is saying to me.

My heart is full and ready to just overflow with so many different emotions floating around. Perhaps the quiet is what I need to be able to sort through them all.

I do know this. In just a few short hours, the second team will be landing in Nairobi, and in just a few days the team will be here with me in Kitale and the house will no longer be quiet. There will once again be laughter and chatter, although I am certain it won't be anything quite like "God bless America... Who lives in a pineapple under the sea..." or "Asante sana squash banana".

Until then, I am content to listen to the quietness and learn whatever it is that God is trying to teach me.

Blessed Beyond Measure

Have you ever had those days where you just want to look up and smile toward Heaven and say "Thanks God, I know this is coming from you as a sweet reminder that you are taking care of me and filling in the things that I feel are missing with the things that are coming from You?" If so, then you will understand exactly where I am coming from with this post. If not, then I encourage you to check your heart and see if there are areas that need to be completely and totally relinquished to God's control and taken away from wholly relying on yourself or others to fulfill the needs in your life.

Friday.. July 5th... This is a day that will forever be burned into my memory. I pray that I never forget the sounds and the emotions of this day. I feel certain that you may just be a bit confused about what I am talking about. A birthday in Kenya is a big deal. It is a chance to celebrate and share and that is exactly what happened.

If you had asked me last year what I wanted for my birthday, I probably would have given you some ridiculous idea of a present that wouldn't matter after six months or so. Before leaving to come to Kenya, I asked God to show me something new and exciting for my birthday. I can't believe the way that He chose to answer that prayer.

For starters, I didn't expect Jim to be waiting for us to arrive at the airport. That was a sweet surprise! We landed rather early Friday morning and I thought that he would have been at the school teaching his Bible classes. It's nice to be surprised every once in a while. I wish that I could say that that was the end of the surprises for the day, but it wasn't. The surprises continued throughout the day. We went to the feeding station/school and the entire school full of children, which was about 350 kids, sang and celebrated my birthday with me. If you want to feel love, listen to a group of beautiful Kenyan children sing to you at the top of their lungs with more passion that I think most people possess. My tinsel necklace will by far be one of my most treasured possessions because of the sweet memories it brings to mind. Later in the afternoon, we headed out to the orphanage. This has been a place that I have only dreamed of and experienced through pictures and stories of others. You can't even begin to imagine the love that just radiates from the entire property. Again the surprises weren't done. Jim Cooper again found another way to bless my heart and add to the feelings that I was special. Shortly before we were to head out to go back to the house, two large metal pans were brought into the main sitting area. We had devotions with the children and then I began to figure out what was going on. Jim planned a birthday party for me to share with the children. I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to share with children who have so very, very little in this world. Sharing my birthday with them is something I will never, ever forget. The thing that makes it just a tad bittersweet is thinking that at home, my birthday is considered more of an afterthought because of its closeness to a national holiday. Someone taking the time to think of me, wanting to make the day special, really spoke to my heart.

It is easy to focus on the things that are missing from your life... I don't have _______... the perfect job, the perfect husband/wife, the perfect children, the perfect house, and the list could go on and on. What if instead of focusing on what was lacking we took the time to look around and see the things that God is placing in our lives that are far, far better than the things that we lack? What if we placed value on relationships, people, and acts of service rather than what others can do for us and things? I can tell you this much, you'd be seeing and experiencing so much more in life than just being miserable with what limited things you have. It would be easy for me to focus on the fact that I am 34 years old and not yet married without children of my own, without parents, mostly without grandparents, and lacking the ideal job and income that society says I should have. Being around such precious children and absolutely wonderful people here in Kenya has put an entirely new perspective on society and its expectations of me.

 Again, I know that the words that I am writing really aren't doing this trip justice. It truly takes being here to understand what I am trying to describe. This has truly been the trip of a lifetime and the experiences are making dramatic changes in my life.

More will be coming in the days to come. There is a lot more to see, hear, and do. I will update as I have the chance. Love to you all!

Melody

A lot to Take In

Today was one of those days where you can't quite seem to get a good grasp on all of the things that you have seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and experienced. It's almost as if some of it feels like it came directly from a dream. As I am sitting here writing this, I am beginning to feel more and more that most certainly what I experienced today was the farthest thing from a dream.

Close your eyes... Well not really because that would make reading kind of difficult, but imagine if you will, gray dusty streets filled with people, cars, animals, and every kind of trash and waste you can imagine. Now add to that noise. Noise from people, noise from the animals, noise from the cars... Just lots and lots of noise. Now add to that the smell of raw sewage, burning trash, dirty animals, body odor, cooking food, burning charcoal, raw fish, and probably a million other things that I just don't have the right words to describe. Can you picture it?? Can you smell it? Can you hear it? Trust me it is not something that once you have experienced you will be soon to forget. These words of mine truly aren't enough to even begin to put into words what the experience of going into the second largest slum in the world was like. It is sensory overload.

This isn't from the slum that we visited this morning, but it gives you an example of the kinds of livestock that just roam freely through the streets. Add to that sheep, dogs, cats, pigs, and goats and you have a general idea of the things we saw.

This is one of the teachers and her children from the school in the slum.

 Another group of the children from the school along with Hannah, Zoe, and Misty.

 Zoe and two of the children in the slum. Do you notice something on their faces that you don't always see on the faces of the children at home in America? That's called joy.

At the school we visited in the Mathare slum, we were able to see the Scout Team practicing. They are very good at what they are doing. They are very respectful and polite.

More of the Scout team practicing.

 Again the scout team. They were really cute!

 Looking up from the end of the street, in the slum this was the view. In the light of such desolation and despair, you find this picture of beauty.

 The children were waiting to perform for us. They were such sweet children. The one thing that I noticed the most about them was the way they obey.

 They are just beautiful! I think they may have already captured a piece of my heart.

 Some of the teachers praying with Chris over the school and the children.

 A view of the slum. Can you imagine your house being made of just pieces of random materials? Can you imagine your house being this close to your next door neighbor? Can you imagine living with about a million other people... and livestock... and trash... and sewage?

These children are just wonderful. They are so happy! Living in the midst of such terrible conditions and they still have joy!

 

Like I said, it has been a day that makes you wonder whether or not you are waking up from a horrible dream. Time will make things make sense and help to heal the pains in my heart. For now, it is enough to know that I was blessed to have encountered these precious children who have absolutely captured a part of my heart.

 

Tomorrow morning we leave for Kitale and a brand new adventure will await me there. Looking forward to more experiences!

 

~Melody~