Weekly schedule, and Wednesday and Thursday

Wow. What an adventure the last two days have been!! I plan to write chronologically, just to keep things in the right rhythm.
Also- during the mornings we have 3 back to back 'classes'. The first one is a guided quiet time with discussion of a devotional we are doing as a group. The second is a class with a local missionary on how to tell biblical stories in a 'storytelling' form. So we literally take stories in the bible, and learn them in a way that's interesting, and exciting. This isn't to say the originals aren't, but who really likes being read word for word long stories from thousands of years ago? Not me, anyway. The last is a study over Romans we will be doing all month. I have done studies over Romans before, but none like this. Tom (the director of ACO) is leading it and applies it to everything we are doing as WELL as life in the US. The morning schedule looks like this:

7:00- Guided quiet time
8:15- breakfast and chai tea
9:15- Storytelling
10:30- break and lunch
11:45- Romans Study

Wednesday
Wednesday was special. There are exciting days, fun days, scary days... today was special, and sweet. We had the opportunity to go to Treeside Special School For Mentally Handicap. They forgot the 'the', but this is Africa so that's what it is. This school is what it says- for the mentally handicap. I am going to be honest and say I don't usually interact with the mentally handicap in the US, much less in Africa! I was really nervous about this on the drive over, and those fears didn't ease up when I arrived. I don't think it helped that I had to potty REALLY bad as well. I expected the love I felt, and the importance of physical touch wasn't a secret... But I just wasn't prepared. I felt like I was finally 'comfortable' around the time we started to leave. But, the face I put on during the main part of the time turned from a forced face to a genuine face. I saw a clear example of God acting in a situation that I felt like I was being 'fake' in. He replaced my fear with love, and that's all the kids at the school wanted. God took my numbness and transformed it! So cool. Now, my fear and discomfort wasn't to say I didn't enjoy myself. I want to be a therapist, and I absolutely enjoy being uncomfortable and confrontational with the world. I enjoyed the challenge and really grew from it. The kids sang us some songs at the end of our time together, and we prayed over each other. They asked as we left for us to come back with 'cookies and sodas'! Nothing would make my heart happier :) I then was able to get a Kenyan phone that uses 3g internet (super cheap here) and can make my own wifi hotspot, so I will not have to rely on a local missionary's wifi as well as the weather (we have to sit outside to use their wifi).


Thursday
Thursday (today) was also eventful. We started the morning as a regular day, and finished up with the instructions that we would be meeting at 2 (we had a nice break) to do our 'discovery' ministry. This is basically a ministry we seek out, and participate in the rest of the month. Turns out this was not what we were doing, it was actually going sharing at a local college, called Kenyatta University. We were tricked! I was actually really nervous about this as well, but i prayed God would take over. He did, to an extent, but man did I see how unpracticed I was with walking up to people and just asking them about their lives. This is what I want to do for my career, and I was nervous! I did get to talk to two girls, Liz and Joan, and get to know their stories. They asked me questions (as if I was super smart or something) and told me how much they appreciated my company. I plan to see them again! One thing you (audience) can be in prayer over is for Liz's brother, James, who is a recovering alcoholic with a kid, but isn't a christian. He is falling fast she said and she knows he isn't a believer, and the reality is setting in that He would go to hell. Prayers for salvation and for his family to continue working in his life!!! Also, Joan was diagnosed with a skin condition called Vitiligo in September of 2010 (her freshman year) and is having treatment, but it's really putting a damper in her walk with God. She doesn't understand why this is happening and is confused. I loved getting to share with her about my tumor, and feeling the exact same as she does. This was encouraging for both of us, but doesn't make it easier for her. You can't even really tell she has the condition, but it bothers her. We then took what we call 'party busses', which are big bus-taxi things that blast reggae music and have lots of metallic and bright colors inside, back to the compound and finished with a night of card games with the Kenyan students. God is SO good and is providing! Check this link to see pictures of this week so far, and soon videos!

photos
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2184655265531.2072456.1521480464&type=1