The path has changed a little....

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 There are many things on my heart as I write this update today, but the biggest thing I need to share with my amazing group of family, friends, and supporters is that God has changed the direction of this season of my life.

My health has not improved and I am now experiencing more side effects from the high elevation. They are to the point of it is hard to function on a day-to-day basis here in Kenya. God however is completely in control of this situation and after much prayer a decision has made. I am coming home to the states in 2 weeks. It will roughly be around the 25th of October.

My heart is deeply torn over this decision and I can be very candid and tell you it was not an easy decision to make. I know in my heart this is one of those times that I do not understand the ways of God. I am trusting and choosing to be joyful in all of this, but my human nature wants to rebel and be angry! That verse has been a huge reminder to me that all the glory goes to God even through this craziness. I know that it is only by His strength that I have been able to get each morning the last 4 weeks and participate in ministry, team stuff, etc. The glory goes to Him even though plans are changing. I know that He is in control and when I am weak then He makes me strong!

Here is what is going to happen from this point on. I am going to be involved with the tutoring program for the next two weeks (which I will tell you about in a minute!) and then once I am back in the states I will take on a role that is a support for the school. I am not sure what it will look like exactly but I know that it will still involve being connected to New Adventures School.

I am excited that God knows way better than I do what He wants for this next season of my life, which is starting quicker than I anticipated! I am opening my heart to the possibilities that God will put before me! Please join me in praying about what my responsibilities will look like!

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about any of this.

So on a more lighthearted note. Here is an update on life in Kenya. The tutoring program just completed its first official week, not without its craziness of course. But already we are seeing great progress. We have 8 tutors who are split between 6th and 7th grade. Each tutor has 3 students in their grade level. They are currently working with the students in the subjects of Math, English and Science.

The students not only need help academically, but in self-esteem and confidence as well. We are prayerfully planning tutoring sessions that not only involve teaching, but encouragement and the sharing of God's love. It is a challenge for some of our students to take on this huge task of teaching and discipleship. However our team is doing a great job of thinking outside the box and trying to provide various manipulatives and learning tools that will help the students succeed! I absolutely love walking from group to group and watching our students come out of their comfort zone and throw themselves wholeheartedly into teaching these amazing kids. The tutor program has gotten off to a great start.

Now at the very end of this update I would just love to share with you an experience I was able to have here in Kenya. Yesterday we took the team to a giraffe park right outside Nairobi. At the park we were given the opportunity to feed the giraffes and if we chose to kiss the giraffes! Meaning you stick a piece of food between your lips and you let the giraffe take it out! Basically you get a nice, big, scratch kiss with a tongue that is humungous! Here is a picture for your enjoyment!

I will send one more update before I leave Kenya. Thanks for all of your prayers.  Please continue to pray for me as these next two weeks unfold. I am confident in God that He will give me the strength and grace I need to face each day!