Im ruined on the streets!

I’m ruined!  Comfort, convenience and luxury seem so irrelevant right now.  When you see how the majority of people live here on this side of the world, things that were so important just aren’t anymore.  Watching the ladies push just to get a pair of shoes for their filthy, cut up, tired feet and then dance when they got them on brought tremendous joy!  They didn’t even care if they were tight and we had bigger sizes.  I think they were afraid to take them off that they might not get another pair! 

The first women I encountered had a baby attached to her back and I began to pray for her and she passed out on top of the baby.  Another homeless lady helped me get her unattached from her mom as they moved the mother to the side of the room.  The terror in the sweet girls eyes was heart wrenching. She did allow comfort but continued to look around for her mommy. I went to pray for another older lady because she had a stroke and HIV positive and wanted healing, but as I prayed I heard “pray for me to heal her broken heart”.  As I began to pray, she laid her head on my shoulder and just bawled.  Right then I knew that was so much more than physical healing for her. Then there was the little boy named Anthony that wanted his stomach to be prayed for and I got to lead him to Jesus. Soon as he prayed believing for salvation, his stomach was healed and his salvation secured!  Come on!!!

What I saw yesterday cannot be put in words.  The desperateness and hopelessness in the eyes of these precious people will grab my heart forever.  I’m afraid of living comfortable, complacent and ignorant in any form.  I want to change the world for someone. That starts just by loving one! Whatever that sacrifice and risk looks like I’m willing!

Truly affected in Kenya

     My heart is overwhelmed and we have only had two full days here in Kenya.  Spending the first day at New Life orphanage with babies to two years old was such a delight!  They are so excited to see you, immediately running to your arms.  They love the attention whether its to be played with, fed or rocked. The two we fell in love with last year, Ken and Lucas have both been adopted now.  I was sure hoping to see them, but so thankful they have a home now!
     Today affected me deeply.  We did VBS in the slums and to see the harsh conditions that these people live in is so difficult and yet brings more gratefulness into my heart for all my blessings. The kids just want to be touched and shown love.  What does that look like?  You have to look past snot, filth, wet clothes(no diapers), coughing, stench and remember why you are there!  My heart is to affect people, to be a part of change in people's lives, to help propel others to their destinies.  To do that you have to get uncomfortable sometimes! Soon as I dove in, none of the circumstances mattered.  The reward is so great-its eternal!  I spent a lot more time this year loving on the mom's walking around or on the side of the streets sewing or selling stuff.  I know as a mom it has to be so difficult to know you can't provide what your child needs.  I would just speak a little swahili, give them hugs, shake their hands, tell them they were beautiful and try to enter their world, which is so different than ours.  (I will never take for granted a toilet in the US again!) It was so hard to leave today, I wanted to hold one more, wipe another tear, give another smile, if only I could do more!  But I know by affecting one, you can affect a generation!  It was then that we headed to Destiny Community Church in the Dandora Slums.  The man who planted this church IS affecting a generation.  Pastor Kariz grew up in the slums and digging in the dump, a criminal and more BUT GOD! We spent time at his church worshipping, prophesying and calling forth destinies!  These people dont do anything to be seen, they just usher the presence of God into the place and are watching people be saved, set free and delivered.  I watched one man with tears streaming down his face as he worshipped that was just saved and immediately delivered from 15 years of drug addiction two weeks ago.  They worship like no one else is watching!  It was a beautiful sight!  I truly was affected today and I go to bed requesting of God to never stop using me, to keep me in a humble place full of gratefulness and always saying YES to Him no matter what it looks like.

Africa 2012 highlights

Another part of my heart!

     It has been a year since I walked the soil of Africa, feeling His heartbeat for the people of this nation.  The visuals of dirty, sad faces, torn clothes, slums, families high on glue to curb their appetite and then hundreds of teens worshipping God at our Count Me In youth camp are so vivid right now as I finish packing.  You see I left a part of my heart there last August and I was just realizing that another part will be left there again.  I am so deeply grateful for this opportunity to be His heart, hands and feet to these precious people.
     You see, I realize how rich we are in the US, even if someone is at the lowest income bracket.  What do we sacrifice:  our Starbucks, an extra bracelet, another dinner out, another pair of shoes.  Does our sacrifice really cost us anything? Do we really feel it?  I'm not saying anything is wrong with nice things, but do we give what we have?  I'm so excited to have dirt on my hands, snot on my shirt, little sleep, lots of Ugali(Africa food we eat everyday)!  I'm learning as I get older how rich I am when I give sacrificially.  I want to care less about my comfort and more about the hurting. I want to make a difference.  My time is now to go, for such a time as this I am called.  I hope I never lose that hunger to be Him wholly here on earth.
   So as I leave tomorrow with my girls, please pray for divine encounters, hope given, hearts restored and His love to be lavished upon these precious people.