Tomorrow I leave for Africa! I'm going with my team formed through Visiting Orphans Organization, and I can hardly wait! We are flying through London with a long layover, so we're going to get to go on a quick tour of London too. We'll arrive early Monday morning in Kenya ready to serve and show Christ's love to orphans. I was blessed to receive many bags and a very large box of baby clothes to take to donate to the orphanages and baby cottages where we will serve.
Check out all of those donations! I wasn't sure how I was going to fit in all in my luggage...but God performed the miracle of the Space Bags! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who donated!
Above are my clothes for the next 2 weeks...Jesus and space bags saved the day again and I got it all in my carry-on! The last international mission trip I went on involved total loss of checked luggage, and since my high school BFF Bethany isn't going on this trip with me and enough clothing to clothe 5 people (I'm so thankful Bethany was there to save the week in Nicaragua!), I decided it was safer to keep my belongings in my possession.
Most everything in the basket went in my backpack...notice the Epi-pen, Mom...it only cost $207, thank God for the HSA!
My bags are packed! The bottom two duffles will be rolled up after the donations are handed out and brought home in my backpack on my way home.
Here are a few verses our team is meditating over and praying through for the trip:
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and he will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
~Isaish 58:11
~Isaish 58:11
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. Ephesians 4:1-4
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV)
My team and I covet your prayers for us and the people we will serve in Kenya and Uganda. Pray for our safety and health. Pray for divine appointments. Pray that these children will come to an understanding that they have a Heavenly Father and put their trust and faith in Him. Pray for the babies to feel Jesus' love through our care. Pray for our ministry teams to work well together and with purpose. Pray for peace as we have to leave and come back home at the end of the 2 weeks. Pray for my wanna-be-a-mama heart as I long for my Ethiopian babies to come home. Pray that the Lord will begin a new work in me and draw me closer to Him. I believe that He is going to go amazing things, that I would not believe even if I were told...
Here's our itinerary:
Day
Activity
Saturday, July 28
Day 1
Miami Group: Fly out of Miami on AA flight 056 at 6:35 p.m. JFK Group: Meet and fly out of JFK in NY on AA flight 138 at 7:35 p.m.
Sunday, July 29
Day 2
Both teams meet up at London Heathrow airport. Miami Group arrives at 8:10 a.m. JFK group arrives at 7:40 a.m. Fly out for Nairobi on Kenyan Airlines flight 103 at 10:20 a.m. Arrive in Nairobi at 8:50 p.m.; exchange money and travel to Fiwagoh Orphanage in Nakuru where you will lodge for the week in Kenya
Monday, July 30
Day 3
Worship & devotion at Fiwagoh. The team will break into teams. Team 1: Haven of Hope, Team 2: Grace Children’s Center. The day will be closed with devotion and reflection at Fiwagoh.
Tuesday, July 31
Day 4
Visoi Children’s Center to serve the children together for the day; return to Fiwagoh for dinner, rest, and reflection.
Wednesday, August 1
Day 5
Devotion and worship. Team 1: Grace Children’s Center, Team 2: Haven of Hope; evening of dinner, devotion, and rest
Thursday, August 2
Day 6
Serving together at Fiwagoh Orphanage. After lunch, the children will take the team on a nature walk down to Lake Elementaita where you will hopefully see flamingos and monkeys.
Friday, August 3
Day 7
Wake up and spend some time with the kids at Fiwagoh. Depart Nakuru for Nairobi around noon. Fly and depart Nairobi, Kenya for Entebbe, Uganda on Kenyan Airlines flight 414 at 5:50 p.m.; Arrive in Entebbe at 7:05 p.m.; exchange money and travel to Canaan’s Children Home in Jinja; eat and get some rest
Saturday, August 4
Day 8
Team 1: Canaan Children ministry (9-12), Team 2: Ekisa Ministry for the first half of the day. Meet up at the Source for lunch. Team 1: Ekisa Ministry (2-5), Team 2: Canaan Children Ministry. Meet up for dinner, reflection, etc at Canaan.
Sunday, August 5
Day 9
The team will join Pastor Isaac for church and worship in the morning. They will then return to Canaan where they will spend the rest of the day loving on the children at Canaans.
Monday, August 6
Day 10
Team 1: Amani Baby Cottage for the day, Team 2: Sangalo Baby Cottage for the day. Return in the late afternoon for dinner, reflection, and rest.
Tuesday, August 7
Day 11
Spend the morning at Canaan before going to meet Pastor Andrew with Home Again Ministries. You’ll then break into groups and minister to the Karamojong Tribe. At 4 p.m. you’ll have a boat ride on the Nile with King Fisher and dinner at the lodge. Return to Canaan for rest and preparation.
Wednesday, August 8
Day 12
The team will wake up early and travel to Kampala. Upon arrival, they will serve at My Father’s House. Afterwards, you will head to The Victoria Travel Hotel for dinner and lodging.
Thursday, August 9
Day 13
The team will head back to My Father’s House in the morning and serve there for the morning and early afternoon before heading to the airport in Entebbe, Uganda at 3 p.m. on Kenyan Airlines flight 415 at 7:55 p.m. Arrive into Nairobi and board Kenyan Airlines flight 102 at 11:45 p.m.
Friday, August 10
Day 14
Arrive into London Heathrow at 6:45 a.m. Depart for Chicago O’Hare on AA flight 087 at 10:25 a.m. Arrive back into Chicago to connect for your domestic flights. Arrive home with your lives forever changed.Thank you for praying and for your support! Can't wait to share when I return!
Epi-pen ~ $207
ReplyDeleteYour life ~ priceless!