It all belongs to You!!!

I know I just updated my blog last night, and normally I try to give a few days in between posts, but after the day I had, I couldn’t help myself but to write, yet once again. As most of you know, I am falling in love with Africa more and more each day, for a number of different reasons. One of the reasons being, the church I attend here in Nairobi is incredible. The church is called, Nairobi Chapel, and each week I look forward to going. The church is fairly large and is held outside under one of those big circus looking tents. Kind of cool. Anyways, there are all different types of people who go there. You have your Kenyans (obviously), your Europeans, and of course your Americans. The worship is amazing AND they sing songs I actually know! This morning we sang a song that struck me straight in the heart. Tears filled my eyes as I was looking around and witnessing such a beautiful picture of God’s people praising him while singing such powerful lyrics. The words ring true to me and the lyrics are my hearts cry.  I wanted to share it with you guys! I hope it’s a reminder that our lives only belong to Christ. God is enough and Emmanuel is all we need!

“It all belongs to you”

My heart
My mind
My soul
Belongs to you
My love
My life
It all belongs to you

Changed, for the better

When people use to ask me the common question, “Who are you most like, your Dad or your Mom?” while growing up, I would almost always say, “The perfect mix of both!” No, not meaning I’m perfect, I just thought I was lucky enough to learn how to act and learn who to be from the best! Despite whatever ups and downs or disagreements we have shared over the years, I couldn’t have handpicked better parents for myself! My Mom is the most honest (sometimes a little bit too honest, if you know what I mean! ;)) and loyal person I know! She is the most hospitable and gracious host to anyone who walks through the doors of our home! She is encouraging; she is kind, and she is loving. She is strong and selfless. She has the sweetest spirit and smile. She is the best friend I’ve ever had or will ever have! My dad, on the other hand, is adventures and brave. He is hard working and thrives at whatever he does in life! He is driven and self motivated. He is the provider, often peace maker, and sustainer of our family! He is the most generous giver and asks for nothing in return! I have watched and witnessed true love at first hand! No, they are not perfect people, who is?, but together they make the perfect team! God has been the glue that has held my family together throughout all the years. I will be forever grateful for every trip that we took, every church, school, and sporting event they attended, and every memory we’ve made! They are truly the two greatest people I know!

I always knew that I possessed my Mom’s outgoing personality. However, I am just like my Dad in the sense that we share the same characteristic traits. My Mom and I enjoy meeting and getting to know new people and we try to make each person we come in contact with feel special in some way. My Dad hates to be late, as do I. My Dad is a planner, as well as I. My Dad is a germ phobia, just like me. My Dad is much more cautious when it comes to safety, that's me! My Dad likes to stay busy, is always on the go, and loves to travel, yep; you guessed it, just like me! However, since spreading my wings, and leaving home, I have noticed that some of those qualities I use to posses, have flown out the window, and no longer exist.

No worries, I am still the same sometimes awkward, always corky, Katyn, but I have learned how to live a different type of lifestyle, and in the process, I’ve changed, naturally, without any warning or notice. I no longer take certain things for granted and on the flip side I care much more about other things. I now have a thankful heart for simple things, such as; food, power, electricity, internet, and hot water. Before I came to Kenya, I would have been scared to death to go anywhere alone. It’s now, safe to say, that I’m BRAVE!! (Hooray) God is teaching me to set my fears aside cause the safest place to be is in his will! I’m pretty sure I could face any fear of mine because I have conquered some of the scariest situations in my life! Traveling across the world alone and walking miles to and from work each day down dirty and dusty slum streets aren’t exactly my idea of fun. Any chance of being a germ freak is gone. I am trying (the key word here is trying) new foods from different families and homes. There is no sense of time here, which took awhile for my type A self to adjust to. My outfit for the day isn’t the first thing I think about when I wake up in the mornings. My makeup is minimum and I’m not even going to mention the hair. The list goes on and on. What use to be important, I now consider insignificant. I have come to know and love the people I am serving as family. I’m learning the importance of being independent more and more every day. Christ is challenging my life and changing my heart from the inside out and did I mention that I love each and every minute of it?

I knew that I would come back from Kenya with a different outlook on life, but I didn’t realize just how big of an impact Africa would have on me and the person I am! I am not the same. As Rascal Flatts say, “I’m changed, for the better!” Africa has changed me! God is changing me!

Pictures are worth a thousand words...and then some....

Hey friends! Just wanted to post some pictures on here for you guys to check out. Enjoy :)

Faith, my friend and housemate!

 

My girls :) Lilliann and Viviann!

 

 

Meet my main man, Henry!!

 

Milcha, has a heart of gold!

 

Kibera!! Where I work and where my students live!

 

 

 

"Katyn in Kenya"

This past week was my first full week of teaching in Africa. It was busy, exciting, exhausting, etc. A day in the life of “Katyn in Kenya” starts roughly around 6am. I get up, get ready (depending on if we have power or not) spend some time with Jesus, eat a banana, and begin my thirty minute walk to work down the long, muddy, red dirt roads. When I get to the gate at work, I am greeted by some of the sweetest smiles and biggest hugs ever! It’s almost like I’m a celebrity or something? I try not to let it go to my head toooo much, but it is kind of cool, just saying! On Monday’s, Wednesday’s, & Friday’s the students start school by having an assembly. The kids sing praise songs and spend some time in prayer (one of my favorite parts of the day.) Afterwards, I teach the students some English (ABC’s) and then math (numbers 1-100) along with another Kenyan teacher, who’s also my age. The students then take tea. They go to the toilet, have recess, and eat lunch. After lunch the students nap, or pretend to nap, and then prepare to go home! I work with 4 & 5 year olds and can testify, on their behalf, to being the most well mannered, well behaved, and respectful kids I have ever worked with or met, for that matter. Every day I follow the same school schedule, which my type A personality appreciates, but each night is different.

On Monday’s I meet with other single Christians in Nairobi to play volleyball, worship, and have bible study. Tuesday’s I clean and do laundry. Wednesday’s I TRY to respond to all my missed messages/emails, and also begin on  that week’s blog. Thursday’s I run errands and eat dinner out, which is something I use to do every night back at home, but is a treat here. Fridays I do something fun. Saturdays I teach bible school, and on Sundays I go to church till about two ,and then rest and relax. Each night I also spend some time with my housemates, talk to my parents, and Skype depending on which ever friend is free. I have honestly LOVED every minute of being here! The Lord is already at work all around me and in me!

Throughout the three weeks I’ve spent here in Africa, God has already been teaching me so much! He has such a sense of humor because I thought I came to Kenya to be the teacher but right now, my mind is on information overload from everything I am learning just by being here! Living in Nairobi, loving on kids, and learning more about God’s amazing grace everyday is truly the good life! However, some days are better than others, just as if I were still at home. You have your highs and your lows, your ups and your downs, your cloudy days and your sunny days, no matter where you or what you’re doing in life. It’s just part of living. One of the things God is teaching me is that being a Christian isn’t always easy. As Christ followers, Christ demands that sacrifice the things we love in order to follow him, know him, and make his name known. I am definitely being challenged every day, I am obviously out of my comfort zone, and I am always missing my family, but God has been so gracious to me during my short time here. I am experiencing things that I couldn’t begin to put a price on! I’m making memories that will last my lifetime and I’m building relationships that I will forever be grateful for. God promises that if we take up our cross and follow him our rewards will be great. He is rewarding me already, but the life I am striving to live is not for earthly riches, but rather heavenly rewards. I look forward to the day when I stand in the presence of my savior and say with a smile, I ran my race, (Heb. 12:1-2) and he replies, “well done, my good, and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23) Let us rejoice with great rewards!” (Luke 6:22-23)

My Africa Adventure has begun!!

            My Africa Adventure has begun!! I have officially now been in Africa for a full week! However, the actual planning began eight months ago, the praying started ten years ago, and the preparation has been a part of my entire existence, thus far. Sitting in my new room, at my desk, blogging about my day to day experiences seems so surreal to me! Living a life in Africa has been just about the only thing concerning my mind over the course of the past few months, and the fact that I am actually here is a dream come true for me! I have wanted, wished, and longed to be here for quite some time and I am simply in awe of God who has gotten me here! The fact that God would use a sinner such as me to share his love to the least of these amazes me! I am so undeserving but yet so blessed and thankful to be here!

            My first 48 hours in Kenya were nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. If you know me, you know I’m an emotional person anyways, so add 72 hours of travel, saying goodbye to ALL of your closest friends and family, and you are sure to get a break down or two in the midst. Let me be honest here, those two days were t.o.u.g.h tough. Gaining a new family, new house, new country, and learning to live a new type of lifestyle all together was A LOT of change to take in, all at once. It was overwhelming. I had one break down (that luckily only lasted for about 5 minutes) of me feeling inadequate, unqualified, and doubtful (from the Devil himself) to do what I KNOW Christ has so clearly called me to do, but with a little help from Jesus and Kari Jobe I was over it in no time! It took some time for me to get over being jet lagged, to settle in, adjust, get use to all the different smells, the stares from strangers, and the scariness of walking down the slum streets of Kibera, but I now, thankfully, feel right at home, and where I should be! I am resting in his perfect peace.

            God has placed me in a loving home, with loving Kenyans, to love on me and vise versa. He has provided an incredible staff for me to work with, and he has given me students to teach, encourage, inspire, share my story with, and love on! Some people find it shocking or odd that I would want to move to a foreign country to do what I am doing. I get it, it’s not the “norm”, or the “All American dream,” but I am seeing some of the most beautiful parts of the world that God created for mankind, meeting incredible new people along the way, and experiencing the most beautiful love story of all. God’s love. Is there anything better?