6/30/2013

    Today is kind of a bittersweet day. This morning was FANTASTIC with the Mwamba Children's Choir. The Mwamba Children's Choir is a choir from Uganda and they are on tour here in the US. They were absolutely amazing! These kids were not only cute, but they were talented. They were singing and dancing, and filling the room with joy! It was incredible. After they performed, the Africa team was called up to the stage. Pastor Mike spoke a little about what we will be doing over in Kenya, and talked about how every person in the church was part of the team going to Africa. I'm going to add to that, and say that every person who contributed in any way, shape or form, or anyone who is or will be praying for my team and I is part of our team. Because I know that there are people in Colorado, Indiana, Virginia, San Diego, Florida, and many other places who have helped out our team. And you are all part of the team, you guys just won't be in Africa with us. But we are so thankful to each and every one of you who have contributed to us.

    After Pastor Mike talked about the trip, he, along with the rest of the church, commissioned the team. The whole team was kneeling on the stage and all the church was praying for us. It was great. After we were commissioned, the Children's Choir came back up and performed a few more songs and got all of the church on their feet and dancing. These kids really make you want to dance. After the service I was able to talk to the Choir leader, Daniel, and he was asking me if I had ever been to Kenya, and he told me he had been and he loves it there. They were awesome. We also had a booth in the foyer where families could sponsor children from Tumaini, and my family sponsored a 13 year old girl named Nzilani, and my grandparents are now sponsoring a 9 year old boy named James. I'm so excited because both of them will be at the camp and I will get to meet them and spend time with them!  

   Now for the bitter part of the sweet day. My family and I went out to lunch after church for a goodbye lunch. It was fun, we always have a fun time going out to eat. After lunch I said goodbye to my Aunt and Uncle and went home so the rest of my family could pack up and leave for Palm Springs. Before they left, I took a picture of my family on the camera I'm taking so that Nzilani can see everyone. And then we said goodbye, and they were gone. So today has been an incredible day, I saw an AWESOME Children's Choir, my family is now sponsoring a child in Kenya (who I get to meet!), my team and I were commissioned which means we are one step closer to leaving (2 days!!!), but I had to say goodbye to my family. I'm just so thankful for such a supportive family and everyone in my life. This trip is going to be awesome!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8



6/28/2013

    I'm sitting here on my floor with most of my clothes and such spread out in piles all around me. To be completely honest, it's a little overwhelming. I have all my stuff to pack, and I don't want to forget any of my important stuff like my migraine meds, or my passport (that would be awful if I forgot that), or my camera, or a towel. I've gone over my packing list so many times, I've memorized it by now, but I'm still afraid I'm going to miss something. 

    I have 1 day to pack (I'm heading up to LA tomorrow afternoon and I have a water polo tournament that I'll be at most of tomorrow so I can't pack tomorrow). 2 days until I say goodbye to my family for a month. And 4 days until my team and I actually leave the States. Yikes. I'm so extremely excited, I can hardly contain myself, but at the same time, it's finally hitting me, I'm going to be gone for a whole month, that's a long time. Lot's can happen in a month. But in the long run, a month is only 8% of a year, thats not very long. 

   As I was looking at all the clothes in piles all over my floor, I was thinking it would never fit into my suitcase. I did get it all into my suitcase. It took a while, but it all fits, thank goodness. Now I just have to hope I didn't forget anything.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

6/10/2013

    WOOHOO! We filled 32 bins!!! Thanks so much to everyone who donated to our Goodwill fundraiser. It was truly amazing how much stuff we got yesterday. We got there in the morning expecting to only fill about 10 bins, but as we emptied our two rooms (which were packed full of all kinds of fun things) the Goodwill people realized they were going to need another truck. We filled up the first 18 bins by 1:00 and had to wait for the next truck which was bringing 15 bins. When the next truck got there, we all got in a line and started passing boxes and bags to the bins and they filled very quickly too. It was awesome! At about 3:15 or so the trucks had been loaded up and were ready to leave, and we got our final number that we made $1,600 from the 32 bins! That's absolutely AMAZING!!! We are so thankful for everyone who has donated any items to this fundraiser, you guys really made this one possible, everyone came together as a community. Whether you are in Ramona or Chino, we came together as one community and it is incredible! 

    On another note, we had our last meeting before we leave for Kenya. (22 days!!!) It was packed full of so much info. We went over things that would be good to bring over there for the VBS that we'll be putting on, we got a calendar that says pretty much everything we're doing, we also started the-dying the shirts that we'll be taking over there for the VBS we're putting on. I'm so excited for July 2nd, and all this info just makes me even more excited. Just being able to see what we're doing over there is so cool! I think what I'm most excited about (and it could change in the next 3 weeks) is going to visit a school that teaches disabled kids. I've helped out with a few camps that were for kids with disabilities and I had so much fun. These kids have such life in them, and such joy. It's contagious. I'm looking forward to everything else of course, but when I saw that on the calendar, I was ecstatic. 

   I've started putting together my packing list, and I'm slowly realizing that I think I'm going to forget something important, because I'm not a very good list-maker. Hopefully I get everything on my list, and then I get everything packed that was on my list. It'll be lots of fun trying to pack. 

    As we get closer to leaving, people keep asking me, "are you nervous?" I tell them I'm not, that I'm just super excited, because I am SO EXCITED! But I am a little nervous. I've never been this far from home before, and I'm a person who likes to be in control of any situation. Going into this country, I will be completely out of control, and that's not a terrible thing, but it is a little scary. But I know that I was called to go to Kenya for a reason, and maybe it was to work on letting go of my control, and giving God more control of my life. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:33-34