In 77 days I will be in one of my favorite places in the world. Over the past couple years Kenya has become really close to my heart. I got home last summer from our mission trip with 410 Bridge and wanted nothing more than to just fly back as soon as possible.
Over the last year my heart has ached to be back in Kenya. People I connected to and love are there. I felt at home and had so many great memories. Pieces of Kenya came home with me and are constant reminders of how much I fell in love with Africa.
After I got home last summer people asked if I would go back and without hesitation the answer was yes. I just didn’t know if that trip back to Kenya would be as soon as I wanted it to be. I knew our church was going back this summer but I just wasn’t sure that I could come up with the money to go back so soon.
But…
God is good! I managed to get a job to help pay for my trip. My awesome little sister started her own business selling dog treats and gave me money she earned. Other people donated money and in the end the money all came together. And not only am I getting to go back this year but I will also get to share the experiences in Kenya with my brother and some close friends from church.
Then…
On top of all of that my friend Aubrey and I have an amazing opportunity that we couldn’t be more excited about. A couple years ago at camp in Florida Aubrey and I started sponsoring a boy named Mzungu through Compassion International. A few weeks ago we contacted Compassion and the plans have been made to meet Mzungu while we are in Nairobi. He is going to come have lunch with us on the last day of our trip and then go with us to the Giraffe Center.
Aubrey and I wanted to go to Africa to meet Mzungu the second we started sponsoring him. We thought we might go and meet him last year but up until now our plans haven’t worked out. But this year Aubrey and I will be in Africa together and we will get to meet this awesome ten year old little boy that for the past couple years we have only seen pictures of and written too. It blows my mind that for years we have written letters to a boy thousands of miles around the world but in a couple months we will see him face to face.
I also pray that I will get to see a sweet little girl named Isiki that absolutely stole my heart while I was there last year. My trip last year changed me forever, for a lot of reasons, but Isiski is one person who I will never forget and who really impacted me. It was impossible not to smile when she did. I would have been content to stay with her the whole trip. I love that little girl and I pray that I can see her again this year.
I also can’t wait to see some very special kids who live at Havilla orphanage. Two in particular named Gladys and Rahab stayed at our house for a weekend this past October. They came to Lake Jackson with a group called the Daraja Children’s Choir and they sang at our church that weekend. Many people on our team have gotten to know the kids at Havilla and we can’t wait to see them again this year while we are there.
Oh and we get to stay two nights (we only stayed one night last year) at this awesome place called Sweetwater. We stayed last year and went on a Safari and it was definitely an amazing way to end our trip. Waking up and walking outside of a tent to watch the sunrise in AFRICA and then watch the giraffes, elephants and all sorts of other animals right in front of you is awesome.
But…
In all the excitement I am also a little nervous. How do I connect with Mzungu when all I’ve done so far is write to him? What if Isiki and I don’t have that same connection that we did last year? What if Jake and I can’t make it from Singapore to Kenya without getting lost in another country?
So…
Please be praying for me and the rest of our team as we go to Kenya this summer. Pray that God uses us as he wants and that we continue to strengthen the relationship with the people of Segera and Endana that we began to build last year. Pray that we make it there safely. Pray that our team gets along and that we all have fun together.
I fully expect God to do some incredible things while we are on this trip. He did last year, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store this year!!!
Over the last year my heart has ached to be back in Kenya. People I connected to and love are there. I felt at home and had so many great memories. Pieces of Kenya came home with me and are constant reminders of how much I fell in love with Africa.
After I got home last summer people asked if I would go back and without hesitation the answer was yes. I just didn’t know if that trip back to Kenya would be as soon as I wanted it to be. I knew our church was going back this summer but I just wasn’t sure that I could come up with the money to go back so soon.
But…
God is good! I managed to get a job to help pay for my trip. My awesome little sister started her own business selling dog treats and gave me money she earned. Other people donated money and in the end the money all came together. And not only am I getting to go back this year but I will also get to share the experiences in Kenya with my brother and some close friends from church.
Then…
On top of all of that my friend Aubrey and I have an amazing opportunity that we couldn’t be more excited about. A couple years ago at camp in Florida Aubrey and I started sponsoring a boy named Mzungu through Compassion International. A few weeks ago we contacted Compassion and the plans have been made to meet Mzungu while we are in Nairobi. He is going to come have lunch with us on the last day of our trip and then go with us to the Giraffe Center.
Aubrey and I wanted to go to Africa to meet Mzungu the second we started sponsoring him. We thought we might go and meet him last year but up until now our plans haven’t worked out. But this year Aubrey and I will be in Africa together and we will get to meet this awesome ten year old little boy that for the past couple years we have only seen pictures of and written too. It blows my mind that for years we have written letters to a boy thousands of miles around the world but in a couple months we will see him face to face.
I also pray that I will get to see a sweet little girl named Isiki that absolutely stole my heart while I was there last year. My trip last year changed me forever, for a lot of reasons, but Isiski is one person who I will never forget and who really impacted me. It was impossible not to smile when she did. I would have been content to stay with her the whole trip. I love that little girl and I pray that I can see her again this year.
I also can’t wait to see some very special kids who live at Havilla orphanage. Two in particular named Gladys and Rahab stayed at our house for a weekend this past October. They came to Lake Jackson with a group called the Daraja Children’s Choir and they sang at our church that weekend. Many people on our team have gotten to know the kids at Havilla and we can’t wait to see them again this year while we are there.
Oh and we get to stay two nights (we only stayed one night last year) at this awesome place called Sweetwater. We stayed last year and went on a Safari and it was definitely an amazing way to end our trip. Waking up and walking outside of a tent to watch the sunrise in AFRICA and then watch the giraffes, elephants and all sorts of other animals right in front of you is awesome.
But…
In all the excitement I am also a little nervous. How do I connect with Mzungu when all I’ve done so far is write to him? What if Isiki and I don’t have that same connection that we did last year? What if Jake and I can’t make it from Singapore to Kenya without getting lost in another country?
So…
Please be praying for me and the rest of our team as we go to Kenya this summer. Pray that God uses us as he wants and that we continue to strengthen the relationship with the people of Segera and Endana that we began to build last year. Pray that we make it there safely. Pray that our team gets along and that we all have fun together.
I fully expect God to do some incredible things while we are on this trip. He did last year, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store this year!!!
Sweetwater Tented Camps
Giraffe Center, Nairobi
Endana Primary School
Gladys, Rahab, Me and Mercy
Havilla Orphanage+042.jpg)
Me and Isiki
4 comments:
Man, Tori, you are one amazing human being! I could not be more proud to have you in my life and to think I get to be your mom!!!
God's hand is in this trip as much as it was last year. I, too, can't wait to see what He does in yours and Jakeb's life during this trip.
Mom
Wow! What more could be said. Tori, I will pray and Yet I know God is with you and Jakeb. Just keep on looking to HIM. I love you both. Mawmaw
We are so proud of you Miss Priss!We are and will be praying that God will give you peace and that things will work out just right.
And you know what? I'm like your mom. I am SOOOOO thankful that I get to be your mimi!
Love your blog Miss Priss!
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