well here i am...5 days after returning from leading the real life kenya trip. i haven't had as much sleep as i had hoped yet, but it's all good. but, one thing i've had the opportunity to do is to reflect on what God has done in and through the students, nate-who was my co-leader and myself.

 

if i were to try and write about all that God did indeed do, this blog would be way too long, and i probably couldn't almost remember everything in one sitting. but my heart is full of  gratitude towards my God. everyday i see or hear something that reminds me of the things He has done over the course of these last two months...even the seemingly smallest of things. 

 

based off of these last two months, i can't imagine what else God would have for my life. i can't imagine the levels He wants to take me to. every dream i've ever had He's met exceedingly. so the obvious thing, i know, is to dream again...to dream bigger...bigger than anything i could ever handle on my own.

 

i can't answer for anyone else's life but one thing i know...God is taking me to a place where He saying in great excitement, "this is what i've set before you. take your pick!" and no matter what path i choose in faith, from what He's set before me, all roads are in Him and leads back to Him. i think my perception has been skewed for a while about how God calls us to the things He has for us, but He's making it more clear these days...or at least changing my perception.

 

so now i look forward to finding out where these roads lead. i'm like a child in sheer anticipation on which toy or candy or puppy to choose...but it's so much more than this. so much more than a toy or candy or puppy. it's Kingdom and it's being a part of my Father's eternal plan in continually bringing His Kingdom into the earth. this, i'm convinced, is now where i stand. i stand with many roads to choose from...no wrong road really...and my Father is smiling, telling me, "take your pick!".

goodness!!

 

i just wanna say that's it's been great serving with the real life-kenya team!! our time is really winding down. with one week left, i look forward to the fact that i get to spend the rest of my life remembering how God hand-picked this group from different parts of the United States, brought us together first in the Atlanta airport and over the course of time have made us as a close family!!

 

i am happy to say that i have their names down...as opposed to the first 2 weeks. and their names i don't think i will forget for a long, long while. there are so many inside jokes that i am so happy to have with them. they have done well and learned much over the course of these weeks and i'm proud to be one of their leaders. i thank God for how he's orchestrated all of these things and crossed all of our paths!! we still have some days left! tomorrow will be a great day as we will be doing some baptisms. i thank God for the opportunity!!

 

keep us in your prayers as we finish strong as a group!  

well...here we are in kenya...winding down our time. as of today we have less than two weeks before we board the plane in nairobi. we know already that this will be a bitter-sweet time for us. we've had so many fun times and learning experiences up until now...and they are still to come. if i were to mention most of them, they probably wouldn't make a lick of sense to you...simply because they came from this family who gave up their summer to serve God in kenya. but one thing we did want to do is introduce yall to our faithful companions. we're all on a first name basis here. my faithful companions name has been suzy. suzy has been with me since training camp a week or so before we left for kenya. as for the others, here are the names of their friends: eddie, rosie, penelope, lou lou, na' tasha, patty, fernandikwa,  charlie, tina, gus gus, brutus, douglas, anastasia, peache$, cocoa, kierra, and helga.

 

who are they, you might ask??? they are not our Kenyan companions, that's for sure. they are........our stomach woes!! anything ranging from gas to diarrhea to nausea and vomiting to any other gastrointestinal symptom...which are common to have once entering Africa. i can assure you we have been overcomers in the various battles they have presented although, it did not come without a major fight sometimes. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."-Romans 8:37. 

 

Blessings!!..........and remember, you are an OVERCOMER!!!

   Dusty roads, trash everywhere, the stinch of open sewage, goats grazing in the trash, chickens scratching through the dirt, a chaotic mass of matatus and other public transport vehicles in traffic jams, black clouds of diesel fuels pumping full force from the buses, horns honking in impatience, people dodging traffic as they race across the street, everyone in a hurry to get anywhere and no where fast. People sitting along the dirt path...some with leprosy and begging, some with their items to sell you...fruits and veggies, wallets and purses, coats and shoes, jewelry...whatever they can to make any kind of money, some just sitting and watching the day pass...as they do everyday. It's hard to breathe here with all the polution...it's hard to see with all the dust constantly finding a way behind my glasses AND huge sunglasses. Of all the places we've been so far, with this decription, it seems we could be in anyplace here in Kenya, but this day we found ourselves in Mathare.

   

   We were welcomed by the children at the school as they stood with warm smiles, clapping their hands and chanting loudly, "WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! The chant would last until everyone was in this small classroom with students ranging from grades kindergarten to 6th grade.

  

We would file in and before we could make it to the other side of this small class room, different students would break formation to give us as big of a hug as they could and we do the same. Here is Joseph with me in the picture. This 12 year old boy cried as we would end our time with them.

  

   It was a Monday last week and we were divided into three groups of six. I and five other Real Life students were to go into the slums that were across the street. This is where Joseph lives...along with 700,000 other extremely poor people not including the children. Before we could even get there, we would run into a mob like group of people standing in a circle yelling and pointing. They were just across the street from the school. As we walked up to see what all the commotion was about, we noticed a guy laying on the ground. He had on blue jeans and a tattered orange t-shirt. He looked to be about 15 years old or so. He was dead. A group of his friends had dumped his body there just minutes ago and drove off. From what I'm told, he died from the illegal brew they make from sewage water. They can't afford alcohol, so they make their own...illegally. As we walked through the slums, we saw first hand how they were making it. At one point, one of the barrels burst open and began spewing some kind of brown chemical...and they drink this stuff. They drink it to forget their sorrows...and it kills them in the end. They die burdened and hopeless. For them, it is better to die than live in the hell they are in...but is it?

  

   I pray Joseph grows up remembering that he is a child of God that matters to God and that he is forever loved by God. I pray He remembers that God is his only Hope and his Protector. Joseph is only one boy that wasn't counted among the 700,000 people in those slums, but he is who God allowed me the opportunity to encounter this week. Pray for him and the other 68 students who attend this free school where they are able to get three meals a week.

 

   Blessings to you all!!

 

Here's a quick update on how the Real Life-Kenya Team is doing.

 

So we have been in Nairobi, Kenya for about 6 days now. We have a great team who are very eager to be on these streets meeting people, sharing with them, praying for them. They have blown our minds on how quickly they are to minister to each other when they see the need. They have huge hearts to serve. We've officially known each other 9 days, but it feels like years. 

 

Today they went to a school in the slums to teach the children, sing with them, help serve their meals, laugh with them, love them. As Nate and I met this morning with Seraphine, one of our contact ladies, they were in the care of our awesome friends who have given of their time to be with us these couple of months. After meeting up with them at the school, the expressions and joy on the faces of the children said they were being effective in giving them love and attention.

 

I have a new little 6th grade friend named Joseph. All i had was a purple ink pen, so i drew him a quick picture of a landscape with mountains, a river, a path, and some grass. I put on the front "To: Joseph From: Tracey". He took that paper in sheer joy, showed the other little boys and held on to it. He asked me to ask one of my team members to take a picture of us, so i did.

 

We would have a Kenyan dish for lunch with the children and leave around 2:30pm. Getting out of that place was tough. The children wanted a handshake, a hug, and assurance that we would be back tomorrow. So, that is the plan.  I hope to have pictures posted soon of our adventures!!

   So I guess there's a first time for everything. Today (05.29.2010) was one of the more relaxed days at training camp. We had the opportunity to go where we wanted to and today's road-trip would lead us to Walmart. Both Kara and Tangi needed to get their vehicle's oil changed. We, Kara and I, roll up into the Walmart automotive area where they do all of that. As we pull in, we notice a man...maybe in his mid 50's standing in the area where you pull your car in. He was making notes or something. He takes note of us in the car and begins walking up to us ready to take down some information on Kara's car.  Kara and I were jammin out to a song and it was still in her head. So she's getting out of the car, she's singing the line, "if your eye is on the sparrow" but then fades out because it's time to give the man info on the car. He stops what he's doing and asks her, "What did you just say?" Kara says, "Oh nothin, i was just singing."

  

        The man says, "I know. What was it that you were singing?" So Kara tells him, "if your eye is on the sparrow." He gets so happy and finishes that line with the older 'eye on the sparrow' song. Kara kindly tells him that that wasn't quite the song she was singing...and as they joke about the song, he leads us up to the cart where he has his wallet, maybe some papers and a small King James Version Bible that was opened. He asks us what we're doing there in Cartersville. We tell him that we're missionaries helping to run a training camp for the World Race. The man immediately got krunk. That's when...unbeknownst to us...we would become his congregation.

   wow! i've been taught a lot of things over these last few days; things that range from cooking in the kitchen to sitting in the pavillion with over 150 other people in the middle of worship. this is my first World Race training camp experience and i'm so thrilled to be here!! i've met more people than i really realize, remember fewer names than i thought i would, but life has been awesome in this atmosphere! i don't know how many people i've shared or exchanged tattoo stories with. it's been great!

   i was reunited with some of my D-Squaders the other day! it was a real treat to see aaron and seth from my team. days later i would see caitlin. one of the main things i've gotten to do no matter where i'm at...minus my bathroom time...is constantly be surrounded by lots of people. normally, i'm more than ecstatic to be somewhere chillin by myself...in my own space doing my own thing, but it has really been awesome to be with people who have a common denominator...and that's our Father God!!

   over the course of these days, life has looked a little more than a tad bit chaotic and even felt that way sometimes, but in the end it's all working together. you could literally see the transformation in the two squads here over a period of 3 days. God was and still is doing things in them...He's doing things in me!...breaking and remolding my heart...softening areas that were hardened...speaking life to areas that needed reviving...and most of all telling me that i was His daughter! this i knew...and believed, but He revealed it to me in a much deeper way that brought me to tears as i saw and felt myself melt into His arms.

   i'm seeing differently now. hearing differently. He's everywhere!

it has been quite a journey! and to be honest, some of the days in this journey were a dread...i must admit that. but at the same time, most of the days i wish would have never ended. as there is an end to all journies, in this life, it is my ambition to always see where the wind of the Spirit is leading me as i press on to the next season...and it will be amazing to see where the wind of the Spirit leads each of the squad members.

 

i thank each and every person who supported me, prayed for me, and encouraged me. thank everyone for supporting the people on my squad. thank you for all the blog comments and emails.

much love and many blessings to you and your family!!

 

so here we go...the next season of our lives and of this journey in the earth!!

 

hope to see everyone of you on the squad at some point, but if not...

 

enjoy the journey!!

 

 

Hey there Family!!

 

This is a note to my dad!!

 

Tomorrow (Sunday the 20 of July) is a special occasion!! I would like to take the time to tell Daddy HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It is an honor to have you as a father, a friend, a fishing buddy!! I look forward to seeing you and hanging out with you!!!!

I pray that this year is the best year of your life...atleast until next year!! Be blessed!! I love you!!

 

See you soon!!

xoxoxox

Traday