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.