All About Africa: 11

While in Amsterdam, we.....

rode the tram.....

 

ate the BEST breakfast ever.....

 Cappuccino and Bacon Crepe

saw beautiful architecture......

found lots of birds, but even more bicycles......

found a tattoo shop named for Peter and established in his birth year (randomly cool)......

did quite a bit of walking......

posed for group pictures......

sat around waiting at the airport (of which we became experts).

As you can tell we had a few fabulous hours in the Netherlands. So glad we added this city to our trip, even if we were jet-lagged and exhausted. 

Great time with precious friends is priceless!

All About Africa: 10

We said goodbye. It was harder than I thought it would be because after a few short days this land I could barely find on a map months before had taken a piece of my heart. We loaded onto a little plane (and I do mean little!) Don't believe me.......here is a shot of everyone on the ENTIRE plane.

Our group and about 4 other people :)

Just chillin' on the runway.....with the goats.....waiting for the baggage to be loaded.

Once in Entebbe, Uganda we had about 12 hours to wait until we boarded our plane for Amsterdam. Justin allowed us to spring for the VIP Lounge = best decision ever! So after 8 or so days, I had my first HOT shower, enjoyed the air conditioning, and sat on comfortable couches!!!! It was a fun way to spend our last day in Africa, but I would have traded it in a heartbeat to go back and see those sweet children again. 

We spent about 10ish hours on the flight to the Netherlands. Once again, sweet Rachel was my travel buddy. We always had seats by one another and I cherish the time we spent together......in between movies, that is ;).

Justin joined in on this pic.

Once we landed in Amsterdam we had about 6 hours to explore this city that none of us had been to before. It was awesome that Justin worked our schedule so that we could do some sight-seeing and add another country's stamp to our passport (the main thing that the girls wanted to do). Heck, we would have gone in and out of the airport simply to get that stamp, haha!

The next post will be full of pictures from my very short visit to a place that is in DESPERATE need of the saving power of the gospel!!!!

All About Africa: 9

5 days at the orphanage was definitely NOT long enough! Leaving those precious kiddos and widows was incredibly difficult, but we were blessed by our time there. The most moving and humbling experience of my life occurred on the last day. The ladies on my team and I were blessed by the privilege of washing the feet of the "Mothers" and cooks.

If you know me at all, you know that I am quite a germaphobe. So, the idea of washing someone's feet (mind you, the dirtiest feet you have ever seen) is not exactly an act you would equate with me. However, when this idea was mentioned in our pre-trip meetings I was beyond excited about pampering these very deserving women but also very nervous, for this was new ground.
Then I met them. I watched them work. I watched them clean. I watched them sweat over large pots of boiling food. I watched them sooth crying babies and sick children. I watched them walk shoeless on hard, hot, red dirt. I watched them serve. And I knew that I couldn't do anything but humble myself as my Sweet Savior had done for the disciples. John 13 tells of the most powerful, deserving, Holy being getting a basin of water and washing His' friend's feet. Why? Because He loved them. Because it was an outward symbol of the cleansing that His death would bring.
Christ calls us to serve one another and in doing this small act of washing these women's feet, I thought I was serving them. The truth was that I was actually the one being served. I was incredibly blessed by the surprised looks on their faces because a white girl knelt before them and washed their dirty, tired feet. I was blessed by their silent smiles. I was blessed by the happy chatter in a language I did not understand. I was blessed by the laughter that transcends all language barriers.
I WAS BLESSED when I thought I would be the one doing the blessing. The Lord works in mysterious ways and His ways are ALWAYS BIGGER than mine!

Jesus calls us to serve. It is not a choice......does not depend upon your mood......it is a command given by the One who so willing left His glorious home to serve you. 
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:"   ~I Peter 4:10 

Join Me...

......in praying for the Lord to guide me to the right short-term mission trip. 

During this season of Thanksgiving, I am reminded of what experience I am most thankful for and hold most dear from the past year: my trip to South Sudan, Africa. I count it a privilege to have observed the Lord's love for the nations and to have served His precious Sudanese people. My hope and prayer is that He will allow me to return to the continent where I left my heart 5 months ago. My dilemma-Back to South Sudan or on to new adventures in Kenya? Either way, I am sure that the Lord will bless my time in Africa because it is always a blessing to serve Him AND how could you go wrong in AFRICA?!?!?!

My application for the South Sudan trip would be due on December 18th and Kenya on December 11th. Please pray that the Father pours His wisdom over me and that it is clear where He desires me to serve this summer. 

Last year I clearly heard God tell me to go to Sudan, but this year I have yet to hear His voice. I know that He will guide me if I am still and listen. 

Thank you, sweet friends!!! :)

Like A Proud Momma

So, in case you haven't noticed, I love my sweet 5th grade kiddos! This job is incredibly difficult and more demanding than I ever thought possible. However, it is also more rewarding than I would have imagined. 

God has graciously given me a heart for the nations. More specifically, third-world nations and the precious children who try to survive in these challenging areas. As you have seen through my blogs about my trip this summer to Africa, my heart has fallen in love with these people who have so little and need so very much. In the midst of experiencing these cultures, God has called me to teach in a very affluent school. After seeing such poverty in Africa, I struggled with the abundance of luxury that exists in America. Thankfully, the Lord used my heart, a group of loving 10-year-olds, a sweet roommate, and thousands of hungry children to show me yet again His sovereign will. Here is the amazingness (yeah, I like to make up words) that has taken place in my classroom over the last few weeks.

My former roommate, Kristy, told me about this great organization that helps feed children in impoverished countries. The group will send you "rice bowls" that you fill with change and then that money goes to feed orphans around the world. She gave me 2 bowls and suggested that I take one to school to see if my students would like to fill it up. To be honest, I didn't think much would come of this. And there I went again, looking to my own strength instead of the Father's infinite power. I explained the concept and told the kids that it was not mandatory to participate but that if the Lord led them to give of their OWN money, then this would be a great opportunity to share our wealth with those who go without. I put the bowl out on Friday and by Tuesday the bowl was overflowing and they were asking for more bowls to fill. I got more rice bowls from Kristy and they continued to fill them. I wish you could have seen the excitement as the children brought in bags of coins each day. We also watched a video from the organization's website that explained where the money goes and highlighted a few children from the different orphanages. As I watched my students intently focused on the videos and chatting to one another about the children, I realized that this is what education is all about. Yes, I have the incredible privilege of teaching in a school that allows me to share the gospel on a daily basis and discuss my faith in Jesus Christ, but we are ALL called to share the joy of giving. We should be educating ourselves and those of the next generation about what is happening in other countries and how to show the world Christ's love and selfless service.  The Lord gave me this verse for my classroom in Africa and I believe that this "Rice Bowl Project" is an outward expression of this biblical truth. 

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself....." ~Philippians 2:3

So far my class has raised $219.59 and they have each taken home rice bowls to fill with their families.

A little project with a big heart behind it can make a big difference. 

Sugar High

Last week was "Spirit Week" at my school in preparation for Homecoming. This is a tradition practiced throughout the school, preschoolers-12th graders participate in the fun. Each day has a theme and students and staff are encouraged to deck-out in that day's corresponding apparel. Anything and everything goes. Needless to say, my kiddos were CRAZY!!!! Haha! Can I blame them? No. Each day they got a snack that corresponded with the theme. Most of these snacks were sugary, and so my precious 5th graders added "sugar high" to their already excited, energetic countenance. 

Here is a glimpse of our crazy, fun, outrageous, spirited week!

Monday: "Camo Day"

Snack: Trail Mix 

 Tuesday: "Decade Day"

My team and I were the "Pink Ladies" :)

CUTE and TASTY 80's cake pops that the moms got for my sweet kids!

Wednesday: "Clash Day" (My favorite day!!!)

Snack: Tye Dye Fruit Roll-Ups

Thursday: "Class Color Day" 

As you can see, 5th grade was ORANGE

Snack: goldfish and Sunkist

Friday: "Navy/Gray Day" 

Friday was Homecoming so we celebrated by wearing our school colors: navy and gray. Unfortunately, we didn't get a class picture this day. :( But, you can be assured that my kiddos were deck-out in Liberty gear! 

Snack: Football-shaped donuts, chocolate milk, pizza, and cookie cake......what a day to blow a diet!

At Liberty, we love our school and love to show our SPIRIT!!!!

All About Africa: 8

We had an incredibly eye-opening, life-changing week at the orphanage! I wanted to simply share some of the pictures of the people that we ministered to and ultimately, ministered to our team. As you look over these pictures, please pray for these precious people in Lora, Sudan.