leaving home again

a funny thing is happening. first i want to preface by making sure you all understand how stoked i am to be returning to kenya. stoked, did you read that? stoked. i know this is what God has for me right now. i know i am following Him to Kenya. but as my departure date approaches, all i can think of is staying here. i mean, my bedroom's still decorated, i'm still driving my car, still working a few part-time jobs...i'm trying to make myself understand that i'm about to make another huge change, but it's like i'm hanging on to life here as long as i can. i look around me and see my family (i'm even getting to know cousins i haven't known before), my friends (emma will be walking and talking next time i see her), and my community (i've started spending more time at winshape-amazing) here in rome and i don't really want to leave all that. i've come to the conclusion that i'm ready to go to kenya, but not ready to leave here. i think that makes sense. hopefully i'll be ready in a few weeks. i know that when i get there i'll be ready to be there. i wish i could combine the two! please pray with me that i will take time to spend with friends and family and that i won't be stressed. i want to relish in these last few days with them and create memories to hold onto while i'm away. i know God will meet ALL my needs. all of them. He will provide all i need emotionally, psychologically, and any grieving i'm meant to do.

staff retreat

a few weekends ago we had our 2009 camp staff retreat at winshape wilderness. it was amazing! I was so anxious about it and nervous that people wouldn't have fun, wouldn't like each other, i would have forgotten something major, or i just wouldn't know what to say or do. once again God is faithful. why do i keep letting myself worry over things? the team He has assembled for camp this summer is so beautiful. we worshipped together, shared our stories, ate together, played games, stayed up really late...couldn't have been better. wilderness led us in some sweet adventure activities and really did a great job. we wanted some new experiences and something stretching. walking around in the rain following glow sticks at night with not too clear maps and directions was pretty stretching for the staff. and the indoor static course was just the right mix of laid back and new adventure. we also talked about our theme, "New," from 2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. Ginny made the beautiful ceramic tea mugs and presented them on Sunday morning during our worship time. then we had such a sweet time of worship and prayer together. Charlie's leading worship for us and he is truly gifted. thank you so much for praying for the retreat's success. please continue to pray that we'll grow to understand what it is to be a new creation and we'll see new and creative ways to present this concept to our children this summer. 

building a support team

Well...I'm starting a blog. I've been pretty nervous about it and have written several drafts of my first post only to delete them and wait a few more weeks. But here it is: the first post. I'm writing so you can have an easier time keeping up with me while I'm in Kenya. In Kenya. I have only 6 more weeks in Georgia. I realized this last night when I had some friends over for pizza. I have truly amazing friends. I wanted to share my heart about going back to Kenya and I was only able to choke through tears and tell them how much I love them. As much as I want to be in Kenya and as excited I am about this new endeavor, I'm going to miss my people here a lot. I have so loved being in this community here in Rome and getting to know my friends and family again. God has blessed me with beautiful relationships that I will cherish forever. I really want to communicate to you that it's not that I'm leaving you, but that an extension of your life is going to Kenya. I want you to think when you hear of Africa and Kenya that part of you is there; that part of you being me. Because, really, the person I am right now is a result of God blessing me through our relationship.

So I leave for Kenya April 15. I'll be joining the BlueSky team there in Nairobi as director of Camp BlueSky. I'm completely stoked. This is a dream job. I have loved summer camp since I was 9 years old and never dreamed I could still be a part of it! Since my return from Kenya in September '07 I have prayed every day to go back. When presented with this opportunity I wrestled with the idea for some time. Even after I verbally committed there were a million doubts in my mind. Of course we all fight against those lies that cause fear and doubt, but I am daily receiving confirmation from God that I am indeed following Him. And God is faithfully meeting my needs.

Here are some things you can pray about with me:

-camp: guy counselors, program, campers, devotion guide, staff unity

-my family as we separate again

-financial support and that I'll do my part in asking and thanking

Thank you for reading and praying!