Final Post

I am SO sorry it's taken me so long to post!! I arrived back in Dallas on Sunday, and have been trying to adjust with jet lag, emotions, rejection of American food, meeting with people, sharing my experience, etc. The best thing about being back so far has been running- going from 6000 ft altitude in Kenya to 400 ft in Dallas has made running super enjoyable. I feel like I'm walking it's so easy!! Thank you Kenya for giving me less oxygen so when I came back to Dallas I would be able to run a marathon.

Okay, maybe not a marathon, but several miles at least!! Anyway, the last post was before we left for the safari. Saying bye to the interns was so hard, but it couldn't have been timed better. The way the trip ended was laid out perfectly; done in a way that immersed us in American 'culture' better than going straight from ministry to America. We stayed at a lodge in Amboselli, Kenya and right after we got there we went on a safari. I can't tell you how beautiful this thing was. It was sunset, at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro and there were hundreds of elephants, zebras, and other animals just roaming around being... wild animals. I have such a heart for animals- I have loved them since I was little and continue to do so- maybe a little too much since I'm still a vegetarian. But I was just speechless. I connect best with God in nature, I always have!! So this was the epitome of Jesus hanging out with me. PS- did you know that the creators of Lion King went to Kenya for inspiration? No big deal, just hanging out in the same area as the place where Lion King was born... and might I add, they were SPOT ON!!! The way the zebras move, the birds that fly around, the elephants and how they hang out by the watering holes, the wildebeest... it was so amazingly accurate I had to make sure I remembered which came first- lion king or real animals?

Anyway, it was beautiful. The link to photos of this is below- check them out and see what God has created!!

It was an amazing trip. I'm still not 100% sure as to all that happened, and how I grew, but as each day goes I learn more about what I learned. I see how the internship really taught me APPLICATION of what I learn, as well as how we are CALLED to tell people about Jesus. It isn't for some Christians and not others- it is ALL OF US!!! So what makes me more confident in other countries but not America? lack of application. this skill has forever changed my life as well as those I encounter.

I am so grateful to all of you who supported me with prayers as well as financially. The lives that were changed because God placed me in Kenya are all put into place because God put you into place with me. It is amazing to see how God moved so much to make sure I went to Kenya, and radically changed how I understand the Great Commission.

Be looking for one more post, we are writing a little summary story for ACO and I plan to post it here :)

here is the link!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2206616854557.2072921.1521480464&type=3

Kwaheri!

Molly

Back in the US!

I made it home on Sunday! I will make time today to go over the last few days of my trip and share photos. Sorry for the delay- am trying to get over jet lag and emotions!!

Sorry for the delay in posts!!

Hey team!!

Well, it's been a busy weekend. Wifi is spotty in Nakuru and we just got time to get photos uploaded and videos too!

To start, I'll go over the week/weekend. We left for Nakuru on Sunday, and woke up ready to go Monday morning to Virginia home. We had an entire half day to play with the kids and got to perform skits for them about the bible. They sang for us and it was a great time bonding with them and talking about God. I met a little girl named Joy. She was just that: a joy!! She was quiet and didn't smile but clung to me and buried her head in my shoulder most of the time... until I figured out that when you spin her around she smiles :) this smile of hers lit up my life- I mean that!! Made a day in the heat (aka like 75 degrees) totally joyful :) We then went to Ergaton University and were able to do door-to-doors and just share with several girls. It was so cool to meet students at a different university and see their experience.

Tuesday we started out at Virginia home but we got to teach classes. I taught science and english- which was funny because I learned in that class more than the students. It's been a while since middle school!!! Then we left and had to say bye for the last time, which was really hard. We then went to a high school and taught there in classes about a certain verse which was really cool. Such a difference in ages of students!! I loved sharing with these high schoolers and answering questions they had. Last, we went back to Ergaton. But not to go door-to-door, we had time with the Kenyan interns to share our memories and just thank each other for all the experiences. This was super painful, and hard, because it was the last time we would see the Kenyan interns. Basically, I cried my eyes out. But I think it was a good emotion in that the Lord really helped form strong bonds even cross-culturally. I physically hurt over the idea of leaving... I have to keep telling myself that God is in control. But it doesn't make it any easier. We headed back to Nairobi after this.

Today was a chill day because we were planning a get-together with students we encountered from Kenyatta University. 4 girls came, and it was great to say our final goodbyes to them as well as special ACO staff members. I was out of tears at this point but it wasn't fun to say bye :( We are now packing because we have SAFARIS for the next 3 days!!! Then back to Texas.

I will try to post more later, but for now here's links to the photos from the past week and a half!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2202034780008.2072824.1521480464&type=1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2202455350522.2072829.1521480464&type=1

Back to Nakuru!

Headed back to Nakuru! Last week in Kenya :( will update when we get to the house there

Friday

Wow! busy day! we started with our classes, doing our spiritual discipline of submission, then went over Romans 7 and did our quiet time!! That went pretty slowly for me, since I slept in today (not a running day) and was pretty groggy. We then had lunch and prepared to shop- and that we did!! We went to the Masai Market and spent about 2 hours walking around a huge parking lot with hundreds of tents. I left still forgetting things I had wanted to get... so more shopping tomorrow!!! My room will be african forever :) Other than that, a very calm day filled with naps and reading as we prepare to leave for Nakuru. Prayers for safe travels on Sunday!!

Also- be in prayer for Mombasa... we aren't there, but it's on the coast of Kenya. US Embassy released this:
http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/mssg_062212.html

kwaheri,
Molly

Thursday

Today I worked some really awesome thoughts. I was thinking about this week, and how relaxed it has been. I love it, and I feel used by God, but I had that gnawing feeling that during my down time I could be doing something. As I was thinking about this, I got super tired. First, I realized that the Lord has really made me lay down and rest while i've been here. I normally don't nap, but I nap here pretty much every day. I go to bed early and wake up at 7ish. My sleep schedule is regulated by my body and not homework. So I have accepted rest and am reallyyyy enjoying it!!

Second, that gnawing feeling. I was acknowledging my enjoyment of rest, and thinking about scheduling, and then I thought about this: This is the life of a missionary. Not the ease and rest part, but from day 1 Tom said he wants us to see the life of a missionary. It isn't going out all the time and drilling wells and making shoes etc, it's going where you feel called and doing His work each day. So for those who live where they serve, they spend time at home. Like we work and spend time at home, missionary work IS their JOB. So they wake up, go out at some point in the day and spread Jesus's name, and come home for the day, spend time with their families... it isn't a constant race to spread Jesus' name or solve the worlds issues, it's being in alignment with God and going where you're called, while living your life. What a job!!

So we went back to Kenyatta University, and I made an effort to see a girl i've been praying for in the past few days. She isn't a believer, or she was, but she fell deep into sin and doesn't feel worthy of His love and forgiveness. Anyway, it was amazing to hear that since I talked to her she started praying every day, and felt a difference. She wasn't ready to rededicate her life, but she is moving in that direction. I fully intend on continuing to pray for her, as well as let the local womens ministry know her name and dorm number and have them pursue her as well. It made my heart glow seeing God working hard on her!! She said that people keep coming and coming sharing the gospel with her, pretty much daily. Jesus wants her baadd!!

So that was amazing. I have been blessed by her and love seeing God so clearly. We then came home to a wonderful dinner with some local family friends and enjoyed fried chicken, salad, beans, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and some leftover cookies!!! The epitome of deliciousness :) The rest of the night was bonding with the girls, as well as resting more. I have quite a headache- so prayers that goes away!!

Tomorrow we go to the local market- SHOPPING!!! We get to look at all the african art and gifts for friends and see what we have money to get :) prayers for wisdom and good bartering skills!!

Kwaheri,
Molly

Wednesday

Well, today was great. This was my schedule: We woke up, had breakfast, did our quiet time class, then had an hour and a half class on Islam, then had lunch, thennn we all took long naps until about 5 when we woke up to go to a local school track and playground. Well, some of us. The rest of the group stayed at the house to watch lord of the rings. So we had an extremely chill day that was so needed- a day of rest!!

I read through some of my old posts, and I feel as if I have been merely stating what we have done each day and not much about what i'm learning. There is value in both, but I need to balance it out better. Since today is a chill day I am going to post what I have been processing and learning as well as events.

I came to Africa expecting it to be similar to my last trip, which was more of a touristy-mission time. I have been challenged here, with being bold, being vulnerable, and also being weak at the same time. I have had struggles with people here that I can only understand to be satan putting a filter on their eyes, because it all involves misinterpretation of what I say. I have shared my testimony and had to really practice not glorifying my sin. I have learned the basics of Christianity that I didn't know before. I know an outline, but not the in depth stuff that is the gospel. I have learned about conviction, and how it happens to everyone but is different for everyone. I have struggled knowing what conviction is acceptable, because if you don't feel convicted of murdering, is that justified? If you aren't glorifying God with whatever you are doing, but don't feel the need to change, is that ok? Then the question is raised as to what is glorifying, or who decides what is glorifying. The problem with that is that two choices may be glorifying, but our job as Christians is to do the thing that MOST glorifies God. Back to the question above, who decides what is glorifying? Well, God of course. But the bible outlines it perfectly. There are certain struggles that I can't seem to understand. Here are some of the things I struggle understanding in other people and therefore struggle with judgment, when I've seen these struggles in my own life while I've been here: (note: this is my own conviction!!I'm not being manipulative and posting about people I know, this is stuff i'm learning. Just a friendly reminder!)

• Teasing. I love teasing people but when it is constant cutting down teasing, I don't see how that is uplifting at all or glorifying in any way. I think there is a difference between teasing and making fun of someone, or even pointing out things that upset someone else and slathering it with loads of humor. Now my roommate, Reagan Sinclair, is a wonderful woman of God and is the epitome of a teaser. But she never mocks, makes fun of, or even points out things that upset someone. She is silly, and may sarcastically say 'go away' or something like that but always clarifies the humor. Maybe that's what I need to change, tease, but clarify love. We are called to LOVE!!! I guess I try to keep it simple and do that alone without wrapping hurt in love, but that may not be the same feelings of the person I'm in contact with.
• Exclusion. I can not STAND exclusion. It is something that just shakes me to my core with anger. This falls under the command to love, but I was excluded from so many things in my childhood and am very scarred from that (thanks a lot Highland Park) but am the person I am because God worked in that. Despite His work, I wouldn't wish it upon everyone. So I make every effort to not only include everyone, but be REAL with them. I fail at this a lot, i'm not perfect, but man do I make an effort. The problem with this is that satan puts goggles on people i'm around so that they think i'm not being genuine, or i'm trying to be better than them, etc. The reality is I'm going out of my comfort zone to understand a person who I am a stranger to. This desire with people is NOT of me, it is strictly from the Lord. I pray that God sends angels to defend the perception of what I do when I do this, because the only issues I've had with people in my life is misconception of this joy of mine.
• Ignorance. Tonight at dinner we discussed things about Catholicism, and what it means to be Catholic and the beliefs behind the things that other denominations criticize. It really bothers me that people criticize so frequently and don't know anything about what that 'idea' is all about. This isn't strictly to Catholicism, I mean in life. So a bunch of the girls had experiences with Catholics that didn't know what the Catholic Church was about, and that was very sad to me. I don't know much, to be honest, but I respect Catholicism as much as the next denomination. It got me to thinking about how someone might view myself, as a 'non-denominational' christian. I would hope they wouldn't base Christianity off my life choices and actions- because I am imperfect and am going to sin and fail for the rest of my life. And yet, I take one persons life and apply it to their denomination? Why is it ok for me to do it but not them to me? This was all a quick revelation, and I decided I want to learn more about denominations and why they group together, etc. Because I have decided my feelings about groups based off one person in the past, and that is so ignorant to the 'group' ideals and beliefs, as well as incredibly disrespectful.
• Missed opportunities. I hate walking away from a situation knowing I was supposed to do something or ask someone about something and I didn't. God sets divine appointments, and I feel I think too much or over analyze and then regret. I know that i'm a part of God's plan, and there's nothing I can do to mess His plan up, but man do I feel Him encouraging me to be more like Him next time. I hear Him tell me to not rush, slow down, ask questions, listen more, and encourage encourage encourage.

This coming week I want to not pray AGAINST these things, but pray for the opposite. So I will pray for encouragement, inclusion, topic knowledge, and answered opportunities. If you all want, pray for that with me! Let's see God work in this :)

We spent some time by an outdoor fire tonight and Tom told a scary story. When it came to a close, I offered to tell a real story about spiritual warfare... and the idea was immediately shot down. I shut myself down because I wondered if I had offended anyone, and then I asked if ghosts were of the Lord... I decided they're not, so I said to the group that if ghosts aren't of the Lord, it's demonic. I can't imagine Jesus finding humor in fear and spirits for those He loves. So in reality, even ghost stories are spiritual warfare in a sense. I am unsure about what my full thoughts are on this, but would invite anyone else to comment on what they define 'ghosts' and 'ghost stories' as. Do they invite demonic influences in? Are they already demonic from the start? Are they classified as spiritual warfare? Is it glorifying to talk about things that have potential to make you look away from God because of the distraction of fear?

Anyone and everyone can comment :)

We are in bed now, some girls watching lord of the rings and others asleep, journaling, etc. I am thinking about sleep since I will be getting up to run in the early AM. We go back to Kenyatta university tomorrow to do follow up! Prayers for movement in the lives of new Christians we have encountered.

Kwaheri,
Molly