Love Crosses Oceans

I am so excited about an amazing opportunity! In September, I will be moving to Gulu, Uganda to serve for 6 months with Four Corners Ministries. 

As many of you know, I have a passion for education, working with people who have disabilities, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These passions combined while I was on a mission trip in Nakuru, Kenya in 2014.

I met a 13-year-old boy with an intellectual disability. He was in a class with 3-year-olds because he was unable to pass basic tests that would send him to a higher grade. It broke my heart to see how many people in other countries have very little, or no knowledge about people with disabilities. They are often seen as a curse, hidden away from society. 

My goal is to remove this stigma and help places around the world understand how truly wonderful people with disabilities are. In 2015, I was able to return to the same orphanage and assist a special educator as she performed IQ tests on 10 children who we thought might have disabilities. From these experiences, The Lord gave me a desire to work with nonprofits on enhancing special education at a global level.

As of 2014, there were about 2.5 million children living with a disability in Uganda, with the northern region having the highest prevalence. This same study states that only about 9% of these students are enrolled in a primary school.

The Lord has answered my prayers and has given me an amazing opportunity to accomplish this dream of providing Hope & Education For Every Nation. With Four Corners, I will be raising awareness around the community and showing others how to recognize a person's abilities rather than their disabilities. 

I will be training the teachers at Abaana's Hope in the area of special education. Most importantly, I will be telling the Acholi people group about the good news of Jesus Christ!

Please help me with my life's passion of Hope & Education for Every Nation. I have an exciting fundraising opportunity coming up, so please stay in touch to help send me to Uganda!

The Greatest Gifts

Letters Round 2

One month later...

August 24, 2015

"God bless you for coming back to Fiwagoh and making it your second home." - Lucy

It's been 31 days since I last saw my Kenyan family ... four weeks since I last held my sweet babies in my arms ... one month since I said goodbye to the place that has stolen my heart once again. 

I'm not gonna lie. It's been hard to be back. I just miss them all so much and would do anything to spend two days traveling back even if I could only spend an hour with them. 

"Love is something when you give it away it comes back to you. I will miss you for a long time than before with enjoyed together with you and others" -Shadrack 

I was reading through letters today that were written by my African friends. I would read a letter, tear up, and then pray for whoever wrote the letter. 

"I feel to cry but no need because I know that we shall meet again" -Eveline 

I would pray that they would no longer feel like an orphan. That they would know that they have been adopted in the family of God and He is now their Father. I pray for them to remain healthy and in fellowship with each other. If they do not have a sponsor, I pray that they we get one and that they will know how loved they are. 

"I love you to the moon and back. You are my friend foreva and eva." -Martha

"You are my beloved best friend. I love you so so so much. Nakupenda naroho yangu yote" -Nabola

I also pray that I will be able to go back again. Unfortunately, I have to take classes next summer for my major, so I will not be able to return until after I graduate. My hope is that everyone reading this will consider traveling to this wonderful place and loving on my kiddos for me. Visit equip1.org.

"My precious stone it has spent you so much to come and visit, love and help such an orphan girl like me. You have left a missing rib in me as you've left us. The precious things you have surrender to come and visit are always cherished in me." -Jacky

If traveling across the world is not an option for you, then I would love for you to consider sponsorship. Sponsoring a child at the orphanage means you will pay $75/month (or $40 for a half sponsor). This amount covers the cost of shelter, food, supplies, clothing, education, and healthcare for the children. 

By sponsoring the child, you become their family. My friend, Molly, just recently started sponsoring a boy named Dennis. Molly got back from Africa the week before I went, so she gave me a letter to give to Dennis that explained that she is now his sponsor. 

I have a video below that shows him reading this letter. For the entire time I was there, he only referred to Molly as his mom.  Visit thefiwagohfamily.org

I don't want anyone to feel like they are forced into going on a mission trip or sponsoring a child. I understand that it is a huge financial sacrifice. These people have had a huge impact on my life and I just want to do what ever I can to raise awareness and help them in any way possible.

"As you will be flying back to your country, I wish you all the best and may God be your pilot." -Victorine 

"You (and Molly) have decorated and built my life in one way or another. I enjoyed shopping with you all and very excited for my new dress. I can't wait to wear it! I will always see you when I put on the dress." -Frezier 

"You are such a nice friend. I have been watching how you love Alan and John with all your heart." -Sharon 

"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do" -Galatians 2:10

 

Where It All Started

The Slums

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Day 12

Kenya is filled with government-owned housing called slums. When you think of someone going on a mission trip to Africa, this is what you probably imagine. 

One-room houses built out of mud and sticks with tin roofs. Hundreds of people living in close quarters. Most don't have jobs and are starving on a daily basis. A lot of the kids at Fiwagoh come from slums, so we packed up two pairs of brothers (Alex, Vintage, John, and Zechariah - who are all cousins) and Pastor Benson took them and the team to the slum they are from. 

We brought bags that contained maize, beans, cooking oil, and soap. We passed the bags out to some families and walked with them to their homes. 

Some senior boys came with us, as well. An older woman named Ruth Wangico needed help carrying. Her bag was heavy, so Johari and I helped her carry it to her home. Ruth immediately grabbed my hand and you could just see The Joy of The Lord on her face. 

Johari translated for me since she didn't speak any English and she said, "I've never held a mzungu's hand before." And I thought about how no one has ever held my hand so tightly. 

Ruth told us that her husband is very sick. We went inside to meet him and their grandson. The room was just a little bigger than my bathroom at home. They don't have beds and just sleep on the dirt floor. 

Her husband talked a lot. Johari translated some of it and other things he kept to himself. Ruth took us outside and in a very hushed tone explained to us that her husband is an alcoholic. I got to pray over Ruth's family and home and then we took a picture together. 

Johari and I walked back to the team's central location where Rachelle was handing out some bracelets with bible verses on them. A man came up to me and started speaking in Swahili. 

Zechariah and John were nearby and stood in between me and the man. John (11) held on to my hand while Zechariah (13) told the man in Swahili to leave us alone and go away.  The man was drunk and the situation would have been fine of the young boys had not been there, but the fact that they protected and cared for me meant the world. 

The boys wanted to show us their home, so they walked the whole team over there. We met their mom and aunts earlier, but they did not hug the boys or show them any love. It was as if they were distant acquaintances rather than family. We were the only ones in the home and prayed for those who lived in it.

Pastor Benson then drove us around to see where Fiwagoh all started... Their first home! They had 12 kids living in this three-room house. They later moved to a five-room house and had 112 kids living there before they moved to the compound where they live now.

We got back to Fiwagoh, played with some kids, took some pictures and had a blast. I helped the cooks make ugali and then I ran to the med clinic because I found out that one of my boys was sick.

Currently, I am at the local hospital with my sweet boy, Boniface, Johari, and one of the nurses on our team. Boniface has an immune deficiency disorder which causes him to get sick very easily. 

PLEASE pray for my sweet friend. He was the first boy I met here and has had a huge impact in my life. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and healing for my boy.

Asante Sana (thank you very much)!

Update

Boniface got an IV and some rest and was able to return to the orphanage with us. A smile will not leave his face on the ride back!

"Blessed is the one who considers the poor!  In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.  The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health." -Psalm 41:1-3

Something of Her Own

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Day 10

This morning, I helped one of out nurses in the med clinic. I lathered some kids up with hydrocortisone because of rashes they had, I did some ringworm treatments, and I cleaned and bandaged some wounds. I also helped Rachelle organize the clinic so that everything is easier to find.

I went over to the new kitchen and helped two of our team members cook food for a teacher's banquet. We wanted to honor the teachers for all of their hard work, so we served them a mzungu favorite... Mexican food. 

We had tortillas, salsa, corn dip, guacamole, refried beans, and fruit. They loved them so much that we were making more for them on the spot. 

We surprised them with the backpacks that contained lesson plan booklets, clipboards, etc. they took a ton of pictures with their backpacks and couldn't stop smiling. I was thanked a hundred times for everything.

We played with the medium kids, went to evening worship and had another senior night where we played signs. They made fun of our Swahili and we made fun of the American accents they tried to do. We had a blast. 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Day 11

We went to the market in the morning. Some seniors joined us to help us barter. Going to the market stresses me out so much because the vendors push everything on you to buy and I just feel so bad to say no. 

Thankfully, my senior friend, Frezier, stuck by my side and helped me out. I was much better than last year and ended up haggling one item a third of the price down all by myself!

We went to a superstore-like place to buy some snacks/Kenyan coffee/necessities. I told my friend that I would buy her something, thinking it would be a candy bar or something. 

She led me to the clothes section and I just kept thinking, "please don't be expensive... Please don't find anything you like." She saw a dress and cardigan on a mannequin and said, "this is good." 

I told her to go try it on. She modeled it for me after she tried it on and she looked so beautiful and happy wearing it. I just had to buy it for her (with Pastor's permission of course). 

The outfit cost about 2,700 shillings ($27). I all of a sudden could not believe that I had been so selfish and stingy with my money and even hoped that she would change her mind and just want a snack instead. 

This was something she could call her own. Something she didn't have to share. And I was all of a sudden overjoyed to purchase a new dress for her to wear. She thanked me and was overwhelmed by my gratitude. 

I know I blessed her by buying her something new, but she blessed me by showing me how much greater love for others is than money.

We got back to the compound around 2. I helped Allison grade some tests and I went down to the field with some kids. We took pictures and videos until my camera's battery died and we laughed until our stomachs hurt. 

I tucked all the girls into bed after evening worship and they all loved it. I would wrap their blanket around them, tickle them, and then give them a kiss on the cheek. 

Some would jump out of bed and ask for me to tuck them in all over again. One group of girls asked if they could tuck me in! 

My mom tucked me in every night when I was growing up and I didn't think anything of it. Tonight allowed me to see that taking the time to make sure someone is safe in their bed shows how much they love them. And I sure do love these kids. If only I could tuck them in and give them kisses every night.

Sweet Hannah has written me a note every day we have been here, and I have always written her back. When I went to move a blanket around on her bed, I noticed that she had all of the letters I had written her hiding under her sheet. 

I turned to another bed and a group of girls were re-reading and passing around letters I had written them. I decorate and draw pictures on these letters and pretty much write the same thing in every one. 

I do it every night before I go to sleep and sometimes I feel like I can't even move my pen because I am so tired of writing the same thing again. But man... these girls cherish these letters the same way (or maybe more) than I do. 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." -James 1:27

Hope and a Future

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Day 8

We got to sleep in an extra hour today and then we headed off on another nature walk. We went about a mile down to the lake. Now this lake is a run-off lake, so while it is still beautiful, it is green and gunky. 

This may have been intimidating to the mzungus, but the Kenyans didn't care. As we got close, all of the little boys started running, throwing their shirts off and jumped in the lake. It was so cute. 

A lot of the younger girls wanted to join in on the fun so they just hoped in in their long skirts and t-shirts. Everyone had so much fun. 

Sweet Alan got covered in mud so he walked out of the water, took his pants off to reveal that he was not wearing any underwear and then he just went back to playing. It was so funny and adorable and some of the kids helped him clean up and get his pants back on. It was so sweet.

Kishanto woke up without a fever and is completely fine! Thank you for the prayers!!!

Later on, I was having tickle fights with Kiptoo, Kimutai, and Hashim. Little John Muaga Jr. came up and started tickling me as well. 

I noticed his skin was really scaly and dry so I told him to wait there so I could grab some lotion and lather him up. His cousin, John Muaga Sr., came up and asked for lotion as well. 

These boys along with John Sr.'s brother, Ian, and their other cousin, Peter, have a heartbreaking story. All but John Jr. were in the same poor living situation where they were very neglected and malnourished. 

They went six years without a shower and ate their "meals" out of trashcans. 

Because they practically never bathed until coming here, their skin became very scaly and dry. They came to the orphanage a couple years ago and all of their health has improved so much. 

Their skin is better than before, but still pretty bad. The scaley-ness will most likely never go away. But rubbing lotion on them made them feel so loved.

This family is so dear to my heart and it pains me to think that their parents could abandon their precious faces and not even care about them at all. 

I held on to Ian for so long before we said goodnight because I love him so much and don't understand how his parents didn't feel the same way. 

Nahashon has been here for around 10 years, so he knows everyone's background stories. He shared a lot with me that I hadn't known prior to this trip. 

These poor orphans. I want to adopt them all and show them how loved they are. But praise The Lord that they are immersed in the church and reminded everyday that they are SO loved by their Heavenly Father.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Day 9

While the kids were at school, I spent some time helping pack the new backpacks we are giving to the teachers. 

Later in the day, two of our team members took all 15 of them to town and surprised them by letting them pick out a brand new pair of shoes. They could not believe it. 

I helped one of the cooks chop the firewood from Acacia trees that they use to heat up the huge pots of food (I could probably sit in one of these pots. They are huge). He helped me with my Swahili and said that all Kenyans have chopped fire wood before so I guess I'm part African now.

We set up different stations for all of the junior kids (youngest) to play at. We had jump ropes, skip-it's, ring toss, and a huge rainbow parachute. They loved it. 

I traveled around with a group of boys and the camp counselor side of me came out. I remember almost saying, "If you are in Rapple's cabin, you should have your eyes on me." (Rapple was my camp name). But they had so much fun and were just so cute.

I went down to the field and played on the swings with Ian, Peter, Shadrack, Jenga, and James. 

They asked me to take a ton of pictures of them singing and just talking and then they would all watch the videos over and over again. 

I went back up by the boys dorm and talked to one of the senior boys, Okuku, for a long time. He came to America for a visit a couple years ago, so we talked about differences between the two countries and how different the cultures are. 

We had a senior night for all of the older kids and played q game called 4 on a couch. Everyone had so much fun! 

The older kids are basically like parents to all of the younger ones, so it's nice for them to be able to take a break and just have fun. The game also helped me finally get all of the seniors' names down. 

Last night, the team went out to dinner and Pastor Benson shared his testimony for us. I had heard it before, but it was so great to hear bits and pieces that he had left out before. 

He talked about the "original" 42 orphans and most of the seniors were there. This was about 10 years ago, so it is so crazy to me that they have been at the orphanage for so long. 

One girl is 24 and still living here. It is hard for them because they have to have a plan before they get out. In America, most people have their parents as safety nets to help them get started or go to college. They don't have any safety nets here. 

Pastor Benson and Florence will always be their mom and dad, but the seniors have to find a way to make a living for themselves after they finish school, and that is very scary to a lot of them. But a lot of them are close to my age so we all have so much fun together. 

It was just a really good and peaceful day.

For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the LORD," plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

Letters from the Kids!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Day 6

A lot happened today. It was the hardest one so far. But it was still good. So good. 

Three kids had to be taken to the hospital today and our med clinic was packed. I sat in on Alan's special education assessment and then went over to the clinic to help. We flushed out part of a pencil out of a kids ear. 

We did ringworm head treatments again. We gave out a hundred bandages. We loved on some kids.

Instead of going through every little detail of the day, I just want to share some cute words from the orphans. They LOVE writing and receiving letters so I always write back. Here are some excerpts from the letters I received today:

"I love you so much I can't explain how much I love you but God knows... Always remember you have a friend in Kenya called Louise. I will forever cherish you in my heart." - Louise

"When you go back home, greet for me Molly and your family members." - Sarah

"I thank you for the love that you gave to me through the time you came. I thank you for the smile that you give to me because no one could give me a smile. When I see you giving me a smile I smile back to you. So a smile it is so precious to us mostly me and you Shelby. and God." - Boniface 

"I love you to the moon and back. Jesus died on the cross because of our sins." -Christine

"I really pray to God that He may make me a carpenter and I may visit the states of America." - Emmanuel 

"I love you so much. thank you for the fun." - Miriam 

"I will never forget you in my life. I don't have much to tell you. God bless you." -Hannah

"Hellow? How are you? I hope that you are fine and okey Jesus love you?" -Diana (they don't quite understand the difference between exclamation points and question marks)

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Day 7

The orphanage is Seventh Day Adventist, so their sabbath is from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night. During that time we have a (very long) church service and we do not lift a finger. We are to truly rest and not do any work. 

All food is prepared beforehand and all cleaning is done right after sundown on Saturday. I sat next to Alan and some of the senior girls (aged from 17-24) and my dear friend, Nahashon, gave the message. 

During a time for testimonies, 5-year-old Grace went in front of 250+ people and said something along the lines of, "My mother killed my twin sister, but now my big sister and I get to live here. Praise God." 

I was already aware of this story and so many others, but my heart is just continually broken for these orphans. Unimaginable things have happened to them, yet they remain joyful still because they understand and have faith in what Jesus did for us and they place their hope in The Gospel.

We went on a short nature hike up and around a cliff and back to the orphanage. Kenyans are absolutely fearless and some of these kids would walk right on the edge of a 50 ft drop off while most of the the mzungus (white people) were standing as far from the edge as possible. No one got hurt (Praise The Lord!). 

Sweet little Kishanto, however, did have to go to the hospital because his fever of 104 degrees hadn't been going down. Pastor Benson and one of our nurses took him to get a shot and Kishanto will go back tomorrow if the fever rises again. 

So please join us in prayer that this is just a virus and nothing more serious. And pray that none of the other kids will get sick either. 

The kids share everything... Clothes, shoes, cups, beds, etc. So when one kids gets sick, many more follow. 

The kids got to watch not one, but TWO movies tonight! One was on Abraham and the other was on Esther. These were similar to "The Bible" series that came out a few years ago so it was very interesting to everyone. 

They set up a sheet in their dining hall and used a projector to play them. Alan fell asleep in my arms during the movie. Emmanuel went to take him to bed but a couple minutes later Alan was back in my arms fast asleep. 

I asked Emmanuel what happened and he said that when Alan realized I was no longer there, he jumped out of bed and ran back to see me. His twin brother, John, came up to us and fell asleep leaning against me. 

While I was working at Pine Cove the first half of the summer, our team secretary suggested that we all started voicing when we felt content or satisfied exactly where we are. This was one of those moments.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." -John 4:18

Two Eventful and Rewarding Days

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Day 4

Today was long and eventful. I helped Allison with the special education assessments. It is so great that she is here to run these IQ tests to be able to better understand what areas these children need more help with. 

I sat in on three of the assessments and then had to leave half way through because this little boy was looking at me the whole time instead of paying attention. 

We are doing two more assessments tomorrow for John and Allen. 

I hung out with the littlest kids for a while today. Mark, Brian, and Lucy are a handful but we had so much fun going down the slide (again and again and again...). They would just cackle and laugh when I pushed them on the swings.

Allen was upset earlier in the day for an unknown reason so I ran up and sat by him. He crawled in my lap and when he realized it was me, he stopped crying and got the biggest grin on his face. He was so happy! 

Some of the other kids started playing and tickling him and Allen was laughing so hard. I was so content in that moment. 

A 12-year-old boy named Moses came and sat with us and was SO good with Allen! He translated for me and just made Allen laugh and smile so much. It made me happy to see that even though most kids don't understand why John and Allen act and talk different, a lot of the kids still love these boys unconditionally. 

What a beautiful picture of The Gospel! Despite all of our flaws and imperfections, God still loves us and cares for us. So much love that he CHOSE to send His son to die a death that we all deserve. I will never get over that.

One of our team leaders shared his testimony at evening worship. He had a major stroke a couple weeks after he got back from being here last year. 

Doctors and nurses didn't think he would make it very long. So, his wife called Pastor Benson and told him what was going on. Pastor had the whole orphanage pray for him around 4 am our time. 

At that exact time, Bret woke up and could speak clearly. Now he is completely healthy and was able to come back to Africa, which no one thought would ever be possible. Prayer is so powerful! I see the Lord's faithfulness again and again while I am here and it is so wonderful.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Day 5

I sat in on some more special ed assessments today. These kids just need someone that knows how to teach them in a way that they can learn. 

Thankfully, we are making up a plan for how to help them succeed in school this year and we're praying for more special education training with the teachers.

 IDD's just aren't identified here so most people think my sweet boys are weird or crazy. They don't understand that there is actually a reason why they talk and act different from the other kids.

After lunch, I helped one of the nurses do head treatments for the 40+ kids with ringworm. We washed our hands and put on new gloves between kids, and basically shampooed their bald heads with ointment. 

The kids thought it was so funny because all of their heads looked white. After I treated them, just about everyone asked for a band-aid for a year old scar they had just because they treat band-aids like stickers and everyone wants one. 

At first, I was hesitant to give them away so fast, but the kids are just so darn cute that I couldn't say no to giving them a bandage. 

Our team had paid for, bought, and prepared supper for the orphanage that night. They only eat twice a day because of limited funds and because it is extremely hard to feed 230 people. 

They eat almost the same thing every day, so we treated them to something they don't usually have: vegetable stew (they had never had broccoli or cauliflower before), penne pasta (also never had), a big chunk of watermelon, and my personal favorite, chapati. 

It was such a blessing to be able to serve them all in this way. The kids loved it and they will also get mangoes (another delicacy to them) for breakfast. 

I got to speak at evening worship tonight. I talked about The Kingdom of God and got to preach the good news of Christ to 230 orphans! 

The kids there go to church every week and worship twice a day, but it was good to be able to share the gospel and remind them of this hope we have. No matter what hard past they have been through, they are loved... maybe not by their birth parents, but definitely by the creator of the universe. So much that He sent His son to die the death that we all deserve. How beautiful!! 

"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." -1 Corinthians 9:23