Joy In The Midst of Struggles

It was Thursday night (July 13). We were at our late night debrief where I was an emotional wreck from the life changing day of going into 7 different disabled homes. I was so filled with joy and God's love that I couldn't stop joyous crying. Our debrief ends and our leader, Amanda, asks me and two other girls to stay back. Oh no..what could they possibly want from me.  "So ladies, we have our women's conference on Saturday and we would love it if you guys could share for 5-10 minutes your testimony and how God had redeemed you". Um what now? Me talk in front of 500 women about my life? Cue the heart pumping butterflies in the stomach. I did say yes because I felt the Lord saying these women need you. I mean I have shared my testimony before but in smaller environments where I knew the people. As I started thinking I said God you know what I am not going to prepare a speech I know you will be with me and provide me with the words these women need to hear. S...

I never really knew why God called me to Kenya. I knew I have always wanted to go back to Africa because I loved the people but I didn't really know the purpose of me going. I doubted it A LOT before going and it did not click until the day I met Simon. So I had found out that the organization (Missions of Hope) had just started a program for the mentally disabled. I knew that on Thursday we would be doing more home visits. I had asked my leader if there was anyway possible that I could maybe go visit with some disabled individuals. It didn't really seem promising and my prayer this whole trip was "God just let me be your vessel for your kingdom". So we show up Thursday morning and the social worker that works with the disabled was there and my leader made sure I was in her group!  We got the opportunity go into 3 different homes that morning. It was amazing how God used me because in Kenya the locals are extremely ashamed of disabled people. They make them hi...

Jambo!! I am made it back from a life changing trip in Kenya! I will be posting a few blog posts about stories that happened there but first I wanted to give you all an overview/timeline of what I did everyday over there July 7 - We landed at 2 in the morning! As we are all waiting to get our luggage we notice that no new luggage is coming out. Hmmmm what is wrong?? Yeah well all 90  of us lost  our luggage. Our flight out of LAX was delayed which made us have to rush to our next plane in Turkey. The airport personnel decided they did not have time to transfer our luggage to the next plan which ended up for us not getting our luggage. We got like an hour of sleep and then we had to wake up and start our day. We went to pangani which is the main school we worked at. We were greeted and had an opening ceremony from all of the kids. Then we got to take a social worker and walk around the Mathare Valley. We were able to go into one of the shanty's and pray over a sick girl ...

Wait, how is it already time to get on a plane in less than 48 hours and go to Kenya! As some of you may know I lived abroad in South Africa for 4 months. When I was there I fell in love with the people. Their joy and love grew my heart so much. I knew that when I left the Lord would bring me back to Africa. How and where I did not know. Until... One day I was sitting in church and it flashed across the screen that they were advertising mission trips. Then popped up the destination to Kenya. I just knew it was my time to go. I had no travel plans for the summer and I figured what better way than to go to serve others. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by what God plans for me. If you were to ask me 10 years ago that I will be going on 3 mission trips by myself (not knowing others)I would have said ha! your joking.  But here I am. On this trip, we will be working in schools, making home visits and giving out solar lights, putting on a woman conference for 500 local women, taking ...

One thing I love about one of the my best friend, Lexi, is the open conversations we have. She is the one person that asks the questions a lot of people are afraid to or the just don't bring it up at all. Recently, at dinner we talked about how a lot of people ask "don't you want to be cured?" or we experience our student's parents wanting a cure for their child's disability. Here is my response... Yeah it would be nice to not have a disability. Do I pray that God helps me to walk better, clears the way I talk, or stops the tenseness of my hands? You betcha. Do I wish I could experience just one day of what it would be like to be "normal"? Heck yes. However, here is my BUT But I don't know what life is like without CP. CP is who I am. I can guarantee you I would not be the person I am today if I was cured. You see this question I think is different than asking someone who has cancer or has come down with a disease because those people know ...

Dear Class of 2016-2017, Where did this year go?  I remember the first time you walked into my classroom. You were scared, crying, uncertain. You didn't want to let go of your mom or dad's hand into the hand of a complete stranger. You didn't know how to write your name or cut on a straight line. You peed your pants, cried when you didn't like the food, laid down instead of sitting criss cross. But me oh my. Look at you now.  To tell you I am proud is an understatement. Yesterday at our awards ceremony you heard your name, walked over to your principal, got the award, and stood on stage proudly. My eyes welled up with tears as I realized how far you can come. Yes, academically you have grown so much but socially and  confidently you have shot for the stars. Now you are proud of yourself not just because I tell you to be but because you believe it. You are independent and you are going to accomplish great things. As much as my heart is goin...

"I'm lucky because my scars are on the outside" Um wait. Hold up. What did you just say? Today I came across this show called "First Dates" (yeah reality tv. the weirdest but interesting show). There was a guy who suffered from 3rd degree burns and so he had scars all on the front part of his body including parts of his face. He was very vulnerable and open with the girl he was on the blind date with. He then goes yeah I guess I'm lucky because my scars are on the outside and majority of people have their deepest scars/insecurities on the inside. Um cue the lightbulb. I just began thinking well that is true in my world as well. My deepest insecurity is on the outside. Everyone can see that I am different than the "normal". Yeah you may not know what it is like to live with a disability but you certainly do know I suffer from something. But the part that truly hit me is he said he was lucky for that. Do I consider myself lucky for h...