Mungu yu mwema

I have been meaning to write a blog but I just haven’t been able to figure out what to write about. But here's a little update on ministry here and what's been going on here.
 
I have about 2 weeks left here in Mpeketoni. We still are getting to do a lot of door-to-door. Rachel and I still go with Cortilar. It has been really awesome to go back to some people we have visited and prayed for. We have seen prayers answered and people healed. Praise the name of the LORD! Our friend Peter, who is an 80-year-old man with much wisdom, loves to see us and tell us stories of his life here. We found he was one of the first families here in Mpeketoni. He grew up a slave in Kenya and Uganda. He was away from his wife for 5 years because of government issues. His stories are always interesting and are great testimonies of God’s protection and love. He really has encouraged us and really has faith in us to keep spreading the Gospel. Both times we’ve been there we have had a great time talking with him and hearing about God’s greatness in his life.

This is Peter in between Cortilar and me. They both give me such
joy and just overflow with Jesus' love. Cortilar is honestly like a big sister to me.

 

A lot of what we do is door-to-door, which can get draining some days, but really brings me joy and I love talking and meeting people so it’s fantastic! We also go visit the hospital twice a week. It’s really awesome to see how God has been glorified there in the times we come back after 2 days and there’s about half the amount of people there. I know for certain that God has been answering our prayers because He is just so good.
 
I know that He has us all here to speak love and freedom to these people. To worship with them, to pray for them, to encourage them, and just love them! Even when I feel so far from God or drained or discouraged, I know that I am supposed to be here. Losing sight of that hurts and makes me feel exhausted all the time. I keep reminding myself that God is near, that I am doing something, and even when I feel like it doesn’t, salt always makes a difference.
 
To me this place is like family. There’s always someone here to talk to. Even though not everyone speaks very much English, we can walk around and see people we know and see how they are doing. It’s like catching up with an old friend! I love being able to walk into the kitchen and talk with Mama or help her cook. I love walking outside to little kids and seeing their faces light up just to see me, and let me throw them up in the air. It’s been great to hold my little baby Nahashon for like 15 minutes without him crying! (I should add that’s a great step to the not letting me hold at all) I love talking with Ann and Cortilar about life and sharing challenges we’ve been through. I even love going to 4-hour church services I found out yesterday! I’m going to miss these people like crazy! They’ve taught me a lot and I am very thankful for that. The one thing I’ve learned here and throughout this trip is what it means to love people. It means talking to them. More importantly, it means listening to them. It means caring, encouraging, giving grace, having faith, serving, being selfless, and rejoicing together! I would be lying if I said I never want to leave here though because I can’t wait to see my family back in America. Honestly it’s not just seeing them; it’s being able to love them better, like I have done with my whole squad family and my Kenyan family. If you honestly think about it, I’ve been all around the world meeting and loving the family of God. I gave up being with family and friends I’ve known my whole life to answer God’s call and go around the world sharing His hope and the good news of Jesus! I couldn’t ask for anything better than this.

Please pray for our last weeks here and a crusade this weekend! Thanks for all the encouragement. Love you all!