a promise.

My dear Ada Joy,

Today is your dedication at church. A dedication of you and Mommy and Daddy, Nana and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Carrie, Auntie Nicole, Uncle Andrew and Auntie Kristi to commit in love and support your life to our family and to God. And all the friends at church who share in their commitment to pray for you and teach you and support you as you grow. We thank God so much for the joy you bring each day - your sweet smile and voice (especially your singing!) You bring so much happiness to us Ada! We love to watch you grow each day and are so excited to see what God has planned for your life. It's going to be fun!

I am sorry I am not there today to celebrate with you and Mommy and Daddy. I wish I could be! But today I am in Kenya (its a very long airplane ride away!) and I want to tell you about my church service this morning. I thought of you. Ada, I cannot wait to show you Africa! I do hope mommy and daddy bring you here to visit soon. Sharing in worship in the African church is one of my favorite things to do. You are going to love it! The singing and dancing is so beautiful, so alive, so contagious! You will love the music so much! I can already see you singing your little heart out and moving to the songs. I think your daddy will really like it also. And you know what? Our God is here too, in Africa, he is working in many hearts and in many homes here - you will see his excitement and love when you meet people. They will smile and welcome you!

There were so many children today - you will have many new friends to play with and run around in the sunshine. It is very pretty here, Ada! It feels like a hot summer day with a nice breeze. Lots of sunshine, bright colored flowers and many green trees. Some of the trees look like they do at home; others look like ones you will see on a beach. But guess what? There is no snow! Only sunshine and warm. It will kiss your little cheeks and nose until they tickle, you will see. And today Auntie Kristi found a new home! It's right behind the church too. When you come to visit, you can have your own room (or you can stay with me in my room so we can catch up on our girl talk!) and on Sunday, we can walk to church together. There is also a pool to splash in when the sun feels too hot!

I celebrate your life today, Ada, with all our family. I love you so much and miss you like crazy each day I am away. But I do not worry, because you have the best parents and they too love you so much and will teach you amazing things. And when you come to Africa, I will teach you things too.  I think you will love Africa just like Auntie Kristi! Your Mommy and Daddy definitely will. I am so excited they are coming! I can't wait to see you again and show you so many beautiful things here.

I send you a big hug and lots of kisses from across the ocean, over the mountains, and all the way from my little home in Kenya. I love you, Ada Joy! And I promise to support and encourage and teach you in the grace and love that Jesus gave us. Please give Mommy and Daddy and Nana and Papa and Auntie Carrie a kiss and hug for me today, ok? I also miss them very much! Maybe you can even convince them to come visit with you. :-)

All my love, my sweet niece,
Auntie Kristi

hello, sunshine.

I need just a moment to brag. Tis another warm and sunny day in Nairobi. Ahh...love it!

(to want) beautiful feet

I sit once again in the calm chaos of Nairobi, Kenya. I have come back. To a city I call home. To a country I fall deeply in love with over and over. But this time I come with an organization that has a very bold and unapologetic mission pulsing throughout their work. As a Christian I believe we are each called, by faith and obedience to our God, to live out his words of Truth. This includes being His hands and feet. Responding to the needs of our communities, our families, our brothers and sisters. Even our enemies. To love our neighbors, to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry. It also includes sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I spent a week at headquarters in orientation before heading out to the field. It was a difficult week for me. I don’t enjoy being preached at. There is a passage in Romans, chapter 10, where Paul is speaking to the Israelites. Asking them of their unbelief and in all logic, what they are to do about it. Verse 8 begins:

“’The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’.  14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone sharing with them? And how can they share unless they go? As it is written, ‘how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

I strongly believe verse 17 to include all of Christ’s words, including those of action calling us to ask, seek and find. To go, to be beautiful feet, means using them. Our feet were made to keep us standing strong, to give us the ability to run, to close distances, to step forward. I wish it were as easy as a good soap and water scrub and a pretty pedicure. I have a feeling Paul had a dirtier picture in mind. The earlier verses are pressing me to read over and over again that it is not only through our actions, but also by our words. Our confessions by mouth, our faith by heart, and our actions by reaching out and stepping forward.  

I am great at the behind the scenes. I love getting my feet dirty. I’d rather not at times open my mouth. This calling, Paul’s command to the Israelites, is a challenge for me. Wise women passed on the reminder before I left to come here that it is fearful and more dangerous to live outside of God’s calling, than it is to answer it. I’m begging to differ. But I know they are right. Thankfully, I am not asked to do it alone.

its the little things

• jacaranda trees
• red dirt between my toes
• crazy squaking jungle birds fleeing the treetops at 6am
• cars being washed early morning in the parking lot - every morning
• roadside stands of colorful fruits and vegetables
• chai, chai, and more chai
• habari, sawa sawa, asante sana, karibu!
• giant skeleton keys
• chipati
• beautiful smiles
• children in uniform laughing and running down the street
• toast with blue band and jelly from a can
• matatu drivers shouting and pointing
• SUNSHINE!!

“Last call…K...P...please find your way to gate xx”

Adventures do not always start out in grand flare.  Just after Thanksgiving I interviewed for my dream job with a Christian International Relief and Development organization. By Christmas, I had received and accepted the offer. I was headed back to Kenya - to live in Nairobi and travel throughout Africa supporting 7 country offices and numerous projects. I could not be more excited!!!

Leaving Minnesota was a lot harder than I anticipated. I was happy in that I had accomplished a small victory in making a home and trying the “normal” life. If I was having a hard time leaving, I must not have failed too miserably at it.  This new adventure began with a week and a half at headquarters in a beautiful little mountain town in North Carolina. Complete with winter blizzards and deep southern accents.  New friends were made quickly (who I am already missing); each of us boarding numerous planes to countries around the world. All going for the same mission, wrapped up in nerves and excitement, commissioned to our new assignments.

The start of my moving trip began with little sleep and a very rainy and foggy day to drive down the mountainside. Catching the first flight out gave me an opportunity to exercise my bargaining and bribing skills as I checked in but three minutes before cut off and said a quick prayer as my rental was parked illegally outside the doors. I entertained the security guys as I chugged my full water bottle and unloaded my oversized carry-on to walk through security. A brisk sprint down the corridor brought me to the first flight just as the doors were closing. The couple behind me was denied their seats as they too were late and the airline had already given their seats to standby. I was extremely lucky to be bumped to first class on that flight and therefore still have my seat. I landed in Detroit thinking I had several hours to conduct last minute business calls, postal mail, grab some lunch, and make my last stateside calls to friends and family. Nope. To my surprise, I hear my name being called over the loudspeaker. ”Last boarding call…K...P...please find your way to gate xx. We are now departing for Amsterdam.”

I ran.

The gate was already closed. I was out of breath by this point and some nice lady took pity on me opening the sealed door. I was on my way to Amsterdam. But I hadn’t grabbed lunch and I hadn’t made my phone calls. Here I go.

I arrived in Amsterdam at 6am. The sun was not yet shining. There is a section in the airport labeled “comfy chairs”. I found one and sat down. In my exhausted state I did not set an alarm. I figured I had five hours till my next flight.  Turns out I can’t do math when I am sleepy. Not five hours. Just three. I woke to a very bright sunny morning. It was a good thing I was wearing my running shoes! I almost missed my third and final flight. Now I realize I am sounding quite irresponsible at this point; but have I mentioned I also slept 15 of the 19 flight hours?

Nairobi welcomed me with a warm breeze, a full moon, and a giraffe slowly making its way across the highway. 

Oh, Africa. How I’ve missed you!