Africa 2018 Summary Blogs Coming Soon

     While you wait, I will share a little background information.  Prior to this summer I had traveled to Kenya, Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage four times.  My first trip was in 2012 where I met some unbelievable people who I now call friend.  However after my last visit in 2015, I returned home not wanting to go back; not feeling I should go back.  I felt I was not helping there, that I had become judgmental, that my heart was no longer in it, and that perhaps God was calling me elsewhere. So on my last day at the orphanage in 2015 I told a couple of the orphans that I would not be back the following year.  I wanted them to know this and to know it had nothing to do with them.  Once I returned home I got busy and found many things to do to occupy my time here in the United States, many very good,  yet I was still searching.  I wondered if Mexico,  Haiti, or India was where I should go because I had learned being on the mission field away from home was not in my comfort zone yet it is where I felt called.  (There is a song about that.)

     I met Ryan Bostater in 2012, it was both our first mission trip to Africa.  In 2017, Ryan, who by the way is an amazing young man with a huge heart for God and orphans, lead a small team back to Fiwagoh. Ryan asked if I would be joining the team; I declined.  After he returned from the 2017 trip Ryan sent me an email saying "They need us."  I responded without even thinking, "I'm in."

     As the year went on, preparing for the trip felt different.  This is hard to explain but I just didn't do a lot to prepare.  I had fund raisers, but that was more about making things and selling them to raise as much as I could to take to Fiwagoh.  Soon it was about time to travel to Africa and still I felt different, it seemed like indifference at the time.  I wondered, am I going out of guilt, will I be critical this time when I am there, why am I not feeling anything? 

     Well........I learned that what I was feeling was peace, contentment, and for a moment in time I was actually Mary and not Martha. (Luke10: 38-42)

     So this past June-July I traveled back to Africa, became a Spice Girl, experienced things only God could be a part of, traveled out of the orphanage to meet and see amazing people doing amazing things, saw the moon so full and close in the sky it seemed like I could touch it...... I could go on and on, but already this post is longer than I wanted it to be. 

     I have now been asked to be an Ambassador for our new nonprofit, headed by Ryan Bostater.  When asked if I was willing I said I am all in!  Two days ago I heard the song "All In" for the first time. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I smiled at God.  This song represents my last three years. Click the link below to hear it.  If the link doesn't work, go to youtube and search "All In" by Matthew West.

     The best is yet to be posted.  Okay I will post one super cute photo:)  Meet Lukerdoo my African Luke!  This was taken in 2012.

All In

Peace and Joy, 
krees (kris)

JOY

     

     This trip to Kenya was absolutely the best trip. There are many things that I could list as to why, however only one really works:  God.  I believe this time I was ready to just let God do what he wanted and with that He did!!!!! Something our team did every night was debrief and reflect on the day and give prayer requests if needed.  On the final night we were asked to summarize or give any input we felt like sharing.  Well early on the word, name, feeling JOY came to me loud and clear.  More about that in future posts.  I will share a photo or two that will lead into other posts but it is time I begin telling my story. So I had to begin with Joy, because that is what I felt and I am continuing to carry it with me now.  No sadness, no guilt, simply Joy!

Peace and Joy, 

Kris

Three Years Later, I Have Returned to Africa and God's Timing is Perfect!

     The 2018 Mission trip to The Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage and School located in Gilgil, Kenya was from June 15 - July 3, so I returned Tuesday evening and I am trying to get my internal time clock working.  In the meantime, I want to send thank yous out to those who helped raise funds for the orphans at Fiwagoh.  Between donations, sales at the December Open House, Etsy "Kurejesha" sales, and jewelry sales, I was able to raise $3000.00 to give to the Orphanage.  Once my thank you notes have been distributed, I will begin to complete brief weekly posts which will give snapshots of the trip to Kenya.  Below is a picture of some of the team in the London airport waiting to catch our next flight back to the states.