An Early Christmas Gift & Lessons On Faith

Here it is, less than two weeks until Christmas…

On Friday, we sort of had an early Christmas celebration at the Home.

A very generous woman visited the children a little while back and was majorly blessed by their singing and dancing…

So, when she left, she began to send money so the children could eventually get musical instruments and sound equipment.

The children have been dreaming and praying for instruments, and for someone to teach them how to play them.

Well, on Friday those dreams and prayers became reality.

We showed up at the home and all of the children were in the house waiting anxiously.

We unloaded box after box, and began to unpack them.

We pulled out a keyboard, a set of drums, speakers, amps, many microphones, and (my personal favorite thing,) an electric guitar.

The kids went crazy, squealing and laughing with delight.

After we set everything up, and tested it to be sure it was all working, Mama Helen spoke to the kids.

She told them about the kind woman who donated all of this to the Home. She told them that God had heard and answered their prayers for instruments. And she told them that God has truly blessed their prayers.

I was so tickled, because she told the kids that Dad and I would be teaching them how to play some of the music and how to use the equipment.

I am so happy to begin teaching and investing something I love into people I love.

Mama Helen told the kids that anyone can learn how to play music, even the girls! She said,

“Any of you ladies out there who are thinking you cannot learn how to play guitar. Perhaps you are thinking, ‘Oh, guitar is for men!’ Hannah plays guitar! And she can teach it to you. So do not disqualify yourself.”

To that, the girls all clapped and cheered.

And I just laughed.

I didn't think about the kids having funny stereotypes like that…

After all of this, we had a great time singing and playing music. 

I didn't want it to stop…

We all seemed to lose track of time. All we could think about was how God had blessed everyone.

We praised and worshiped until we were worn out. And it didn’t matter that most of the songs were in Swahili.

I could just feel the joy emanating from everyone in the room.

And to top it all off, little Ian stood up to give his devotion.

He read the Scripture about when Jesus calmed the storm. And the verse that resonated with me was when Jesus asks His disciples, “Why is your faith so small?”

The answered prayers of those children make me ask the same thing.

“Why is my faith so small?”

If these kids can pray and see their deepest hopes answered by the mightiest King and Creator, why can I not pray with the same faith?

Such faith and such joy is priceless… and so touching and humbling.

I believe that these little moments are tiny glimpses of what Heaven will be like.

Hannah Wilson

Giving Thanks and Belonging

Thanksgiving is tomorrow…

It is an American holiday meant for remembrance of the pilgrims, their long journey, their friendship with the Indians, and the celebratory meal they shared together.

But nowadays, most Americans just spend this day stuffing their faces, trying not to think about their weight, and debating if eating that third piece of pie was worth it or not…

In short, we forget what the name of the day actually means.

Sure, we say a prayer over the crazy-big spread we lay out. Sure, we take turns sharing what we are thankful for. Sure, we enjoy those warm, fuzzy feelings we get around the holidays.

But why can’t we do this year-round?

Why do we suddenly decide to “be thankful” at this specific time of year?

What makes this day different than any other day?

Since we moved to Kenya, my family has been missing a lot of things.

We miss some of the comforts we had back home. We miss people, (far too many to number,) that we loved and who loved us. And there are some days we just plain, “miss home.”

And with the holidays coming around, we are discovering just how much we miss our dearest family and friends…

But as much as I personally miss home, I wouldn't change where I am for the world.

It would take far too long for me to explain every detail of why I feel this way, so I will try to narrow it down into one word:

“Belonging.”

The feeling of belonging is such a curious thing…

It is a feeling we all desire from the very beginning of life.

Usually this feeling shows up when we are in the company of people who are like us.

People who are from the same family, people who have the same interests, people who have the same accent, who eat our favorite food, who dress and act like us; these are the people we feel comfortable with. And our human nature tells us that these are the people designed to be with.

But have you ever dreamed that you could feel this sensation with people who are unlike you?

I do.

And it just doesn’t make sense!!

When the pilgrims landed, they were strangers in a strange land, living with strange people.

They were from a different country. They spoke a different language. They were a part of a different culture. They dressed differently. They had different customs.

According to what the world would say, they did not “belong.”

(Not unlike my family right now…)

But the Indians saw the pilgrims were in need. They looked past what the pilgrims looked like, and stretched out an arm of friendship that would go down in history.

They shared their time, energy, and food with these strangers who had entered their homeland, and treated them like brothers.

(Not unlike the people of Kitale, Kenya right now…)

I don’t believe that true belonging is what the world defines as “belonging.” I think the true meaning of belonging is being able to look past the things the world looks at in a person, and chooses to see people for who God has made them to be.

I think it is accepting your brothers and sisters in Christ as you would your real “brothers and sisters,” along with all their flaws, differences, and oddities.

I think is allowing people to become a part of your life; discipling, ministering, and just sharing with each other.

That is the beauty of the Thanksgiving story…

This was a single act of kindness that has made an impact on people of hundreds of years later.

We usually just think of it as a story.

But I think that this story is a beautiful example of brotherly love, how God can bring people together, and how people can belong anywhere as long as God is guiding them.

Thankfulness, joy, and contentment are choices you must make.

And they are choices we should make all year.

I wish all of you the best Thanksgiving yet!!

Hannah Wilson

Awkward Moments...

Our visit to the Children’s Home on Tuesday was absolutely wonderful! We were really able to spend some quality time with the kids.

But before I talk about the time we spent there, I have to tell you about our trip there…

Pastor Richard and Mama Helen drove us through town and down the dirt roads to get to the home. The scenery was beautiful!! The grass is always so completely green. Hedges were growing on both sides of these back roads. I noticed the colorful Lantana flowers blossoming, too! (I grew them in my little flower-bed, back in the states. They grow EVERYWHERE here!! They remind me of home…)

And as we are driving through this lovely place, a large bird decided to drop its…… um…….leftovers on the window shield.  The window was totally covered!!

It was at this point that I was reminded once again of the 9,999 reasons guys and girls are so different.

Dad and Pastor Richard were roaring with laughter.

 Mom and Mama Helen were screaming with disgust. 

Mary and Lydia were making grossed-out faces.

 And then all of the boys, (Caleb, Samuel, Noah, Jonah, and Erick,) were in the back screeching, laughing, and shouting,

“That is so awesome!!”

And me? 

I just sat quietly, shaking my head.

And then my dad grabs his cell phone, takes a picture of the window, and posted it to Facebook…

Once again, guys and girls are so totally different….

We got to the Children’s Home, soon after.

Pastor Richard and Mama Helen wanted to get there before the children got back from school, so they could show us some of the new facilities they had added.

We got inside, and Lydia (age 3) told mom she needed to use the restroom. Mom asked me to take her.

I walked down the hall, knowing all of the rooms had restrooms attached, but not knowing which room I should go in.

Erick opened one of the rooms for us, and Lydia ran right in, not slowing down for a moment.

As she ran in, I heard Mom calling me to bring Lydia back. But what could I do? She was already at the restroom door.

Erick opened this door for her while this was going on, and Lydia ran in. When she was inside, she stopped, looked up at Erick, and said,

“The toilet is broken!”

(I think I have explained this before, but I will explain it again… Most of the toilets in Kenya are holes in the floor with porcelain inserts. Some of you may remember my story about these toilets from my last trip…)

Anyway… Lydia had never seen one of these before, or used one. So, she said,

“The toilet is broken!”

Erick turned away and started laughing.

I jumped up, and ran into the restroom, explaining to Lydia that this is kind of toilet people in Kenya use.

After coaxing her over and over she finally went.

Only then did I remember that we didn’t have any toilet paper!

I dug through my purse, and discovered a tiny sheet of tissue wadded up in the bottom of it.

As I was handing the sheet to her, Lydia’s foot slipped and plunged down into the hole…

Her foot emerged from the hole, covered in a nasty sludge.

She just looked at me, with a disgusted look on her face and said,

“That is so gross!”

I told her to wait, and I ran back out into the hallway to find my mom.

For whatever reason, when I entered the hall, I began to laugh, hysterically. It’s just that the whole situation was embarrassing, I felt horrible for my sister, and the entire thing was so utterly gross.

When mom asked what was wrong, all I could manage to say was,

“Lydia fell in the toilet.”

(It turned out Mom was calling us back because Mama Helen was going to unlock a bathroom that had an “English toilet,” but Lydia hadn’t waited long enough…)

We went back, and mom sent me out to the van to find the baby wipes.

I ran back down the hall, all the while telling myself,

“Get it together, Hannah. This is NOT funny. You shouldn’t be laughing. This is just so wrong!”

I got outside, and all my siblings and Erick were playing together.

Erick looked over in my direction, and as soon as we made eye contact, he busted out laughing again!! This made me start laughing once more, but I felt so terrible about it!!

After that little episode, we had a quiet evening with the children.

I got to be reunited with some of the little girls I hadn’t been able to spend time with the last time. I also got the chance to spend time with some of the new girls that moved in.

A group of girls claimed me, and talked with me for a long time. Two leaned over on either side of me, one sat in front of me, one sat behind me and played with my hair, and we all just talked about my family. My favorite question they asked me was,

“Are you the firstborn child?”

(I thought that sounded so cool!!!)

And Elizabeth was so happy to see us!! She sat with us, took pictures with us, played with us, and just spent some much-needed time with us.

It has truly been a blessing to play a part in her life. I cannot wait to watch her bloom into a young adult!! She is so precious to our family…

Adapting

Yes, I know I haven’t updated like I was supposed to… We have just been so busy!!!

We have finally started to get into a groove. (School, chores, playtime, etc.) And we hosted our first team!

Mike Curry and a group from Tennessee came and stayed a week in Hospitality House. They were very pleased with our services, our food, and their rooms.

They were a very friendly group! The kids and I occasionally had the chance to visit with them.  One of the members of this team entertained us for hours with magic tricks. (And from that time, I now know how to tie a knot in a string without letting go! Lol!)

With us being so preoccupied and not having transportation of our own, we haven’t had the chance to visit the Children’s Home since that first night…

As I have told you before, our Elizabeth was thrilled to know we were moving to Kitale! And I think perhaps she had envisioned us being at the home every day.

When we saw her at church two Sundays ago, instead of running to come sit with us with a smile beaming on her sweet face, (like she did the week before,) she quietly sat next to Dad and hardly said a word. When we asked her what was wrong, she wouldn’t tell us.

After talking with her, we realized why she was so upset; we hadn’t seen her since that first night! In her mind, we had forgotten about her.

We very quickly explained how much we wanted to see her, but we had no vehicle.

After hearing this, and after we had apologized, she perked up. She held my hand for a LONG time; and if I so much as loosened my grip, she doubled hers.

Thankfully, Pastor Richard and Mama Helen have made plans to take us for a visit tomorrow! So we will be able to see her again. We have been sending letters back and forth by Erick, but it really is not the same…

Now, that brings me to Erick.

Erick has just recently turned 18 years old. He grew up in Seed’s Children’s Home, has lately graduated agriculture school, and is now working as the gardener for Hospitality House. He is very kind-hearted, and a lot of fun to be around. All of us Wilsons love him to death.

He has been kind enough to carry letters from us, to Elizabeth, and back again. And every day, along with letters, he brings news from the Children’s Home…

Probably my favorite bit of news he has told me concerns my baby sister, Rebekah.

Rebekah was sitting in my lap one afternoon, and Erick was sitting across the table from us. Rebekah, as usual, had the addicting pacifier in her mouth.

Erick stared at her for a long time, and then he finally said,

“Hannah, what is that thing in her mouth?”

I pulled the pacifier out.

“This?” I asked.

“Yes!” Erick said, “All of the children at the Home have been talking about it. They all think that it is a sweet [candy] that she is always sucking on. But I told them that I don’t know!”

I started laughing, and explained that it is something we use in America to make babies shut their mouths. When a baby cries, we put the pacifier in, and the baby is quiet.

I just wish I could have been a fly on the wall when he explained that one to all of the kids!

………………..

The missionary community here has been very welcoming. There are people from Canada, Connecticut, Washington, and all over the place!!

It’s funny, because all of the missionary families know one another and where all of them live. It’s almost like an inner community inside the small community of Kitale.

Well, I have got to get to bed now, so I will wrap up with prayer requests.

We are still in need of a vehicle. We are praying for something that will fit our whole family to come along, and for it to be in our price range.

We are praying for our anti-Malaria medicine. We found refills of our medicine here, but it is REALLY expensive. (There was a bit of a communication error when we asked about the price…)

And last of all we are praying for all of us to adapt to our new life. Living here is very different than it was when we lived in Texas. We miss our friends and family, our church, and just the familiarity of home.

I hope to update more than I have been. It’s just that the first few weeks here have been so hectic. I promise I will try to do better!! So, until net time...

Many blessings, 

Hannah Wilson

Hello, Kitale!!

I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but we have been without internet for a few days...

But, we finally made it to our new home!!!

Things have been very busy for us ever since we got here. There is so much to be done! Unpacking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and visiting the school and children's home.

It made my heart so glad to see Melody, Pastor Richard, and Mama Helen waiting for us at the airport!! It was so nice to see some familiar faces after all of the traveling we had been doing.

Much to our joy, all of our luggage made it to the house!! It felt wonderful to eat breakfast in what we knew to be our new home.

The day after we arrived, we were asked to visit the school. When we drove up, the children saw us and began to jump up and down screaming out loud! They were all so excited to see us! We introduced ourselves to every class, and they sang songs to greet us.

We ended up seeing our Elizabeth while at the school, and she immediately knew who we were. She ran up to us to give us the hugs we had been missing for so long. Yes, I teared up a bit when we saw her, but what can you expect?

That evening we visited the children's home. It was quite a joyous occasion. There are many new faces at the home since my visit in July, instead of 86 children coming to greet us, around 165 came out screaming and shouting. 

I was reunited with a few of my old friends from my last visit: Veronica, little Cynthia, Beryl, Eric, and Amos. But most of my close friends are still in boarding-school; I will probably see them in December, when they are on break.

Everyone LOVES my younger siblings. All of the kids played with my little brothers and sisters like they had known them forever. Miss June, one of the cooks at the school, fell in love with Lydia and showed her the whole kitchen. The bigger girls at the children's home all took turns picking Caleb up and giving him rides on their backs. A swarm of girls snatched Mary away to show her their rooms. Miss Lynnette, from the school, did not rest until Rebekah gave her a "high-five."

We are all very tired, but very happy.

More soon to come!! :)

Made It To Nairobi!!

Well, it's time for me to start Blogging again!! I probably should have tried writing before now, but things were too busy...
But, I am here now!!

We left the states on the 21st of September. Surprisingly enough, the plane ride was fairly easy! I sat on a row with Mary, Noah, and Samuel. I made some videos with my handy, little camera for the Vlog channel on YouTube. (I will post a link so you can watch videos about the stuff we are doing, too!)

I slept a good deal of the flight. (Thank God for Dramamine!!!) And me and Mary figured out how to lift the armrest so she could lay her head in my lap.

The food on the flight was actually good! (Except for the fish and egg sandwich they tried to give me...) I remembered how nasty the food was on our last trip, and I was happily surprised with the food. Mary, on the other hand, was not impressed at all. In fact, I thought her reaction was so funny, I took a small video of that too.

We flew British Airways, so all of the flight attendants had awesome accents. In fact, I became pretty good friends with a Scottish flight attendant. He ended up sitting down next to me and Mary, and talking with us for the first 20 minutes of the flight. And after the trip was over, he wished us all good luck in our new home.

Our time in London, though very short, was quite enjoyable!
We learned about how to time out getting on the buses, (it's harder than you would think!) We saw LOTS of the pretty flats and cottages. We attempted to eat at a pub called, "The Pheasant," but they were completely booked! So instead, we went to a McDonald's...

I really wish we could have stayed longer, but our flight was waiting. When I am older, old enough to travel, I want to go back and stay for an extended visit. I really liked what I saw of London, and I would love to see more of it.


The second flight was not as great. By that flight, we were all sore from the last ride, carrying our bags, going through the endless line of customs, and so on...
I did sleep on that flight, but not nearly as well as I would have liked. Needless to say, no video was taken on that flight........

And now, here we are in Nairobi!! Our long, 10-hour flights are done!!

We ate yummy, full meal at the Java House. Afterwards, we came to the Mennonite House to get some much-need, much-wanted rest.

We are still here today. in fact, we are getting ready to eat breakfast. Our long, painful 10-hour flights are done!! The only flight we have left is the 1-hour flight to Kitale.

I cannot wait to be in our Kenyan home!! I cannot wait to see my friend, Melody, who came with me and my mother on our last trip, but she stayed in Kitale.
I cannot wait to see Pastor Richard and Mama Helen. (The couple who run the children's home and feeding station.) And I cannot wait to see all of the children, the friends I made on our previous time here.

Melody has informed us that all of the children, including our little Elizabeth, have been counting down the days until we come.

Kitale, Kenya will never be the same...

Many blessing,

Hannah Wilson

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Dealing with life...

So it's back to "normal life." The usual spin of school, chores, getting along with siblings, and church... And although it is what I would have deemed "normal" before, I know now it is not.

There is something different.

Something so subtle, yet so outrageously huge.

But the thing is, this "something" is not a something I can explain.

It is so deep down, even I can't understand it.

I was granted the ability to take a peek outside of my own little world. I was allowed to reach out of my comfort-zone to see beyond my self-made circles. I was able to touch the places and people who are thought too dirty to touch.

There is so much more to life and Christianity than going to church on Sundays!!!!

Yeah, you go to church. So what??
Sure, you give %10 of your paycheck. So what??
Okay, you are a "good person." Who cares??

If you don't reach out to others, all of that is worthless. If you don't love others, it doesn't matter.

And "love" isn't that warm, fuzzy feeling we all think we know. Love is action, behavior, and truth.

If you "love" someone, but don't care about their needs, you don't love them.
Love would care enough to look outside of itself and see the needs of the other person, and strive to meet them.

Love IS action.

You can talk all day about how much you love GOD, and not move a muscle to reach out. Do you really love HIM?
You can cry all day about all of the orphans in Africa, and never seek to help them. Do you really care?
We can preach all year about the Great Commission, yet never step foot beyond the church. Do we really believe in it?




I used to be content to stay in my "Christian Bubble"; going to church every Sunday and Wednesday, doing some ministry occasionally, hoping and praying that someday GOD would use me in a mighty way.

I got a wake-up call.

I can no longer be content with my old life.

Life is no longer about me.

Yes, I still do all of these things, but there is more meaning to it.

After seeing the joy that the Kenyan people had when we came to visit, I know I have never really been a joyful person.
After seeing the servant's hearts in those people, I know I have never really been a servant.
After seeing the contentment in those people, I know I have never really been content.

I want to walk away with this: "God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong."

I am prayerfully seeking to change, not only how I live my life; but how I look at things, my attitude, and choosing to love others with the love CHRIST had for me.

Forever changed,

Hannah Wilson

Day #5 through #9

Yes, I know I haven't Blogged in for the past four days... I kept trying to write, but I couldn't seem to find the words.

These last few days have been a great big blur. In this spinning daze, we have made some amazing friendships that will last a lifetime, we have stepped out of our comfort-zones, and we have been drastically humbled and stretched.

But tonight is our last night...

Visiting the Children's Home and Feeding-Station/School has been such a blessing. These children know the true meaning of joy. These children who, by American standards, have nothing, are more hospitable than many of our richest people. They dance and sing; they jump and shout just because we have come to visit them.

Each of us had the opportunity to teach two classes at the school. The first time, I taught the 4th and 5th grade class. The second time, Zoe and I taught the 3rd grade class. It was so much fun!!

At the Children's Home, I made many new friends. Sylvia, Stencha, Veronicah, and many more! I taught them the song, "Down to the River To Pray," and they absolutely loved it!!

I spent time with my Kenyan sister, Elizabeth. She has the sweetest spirit, and the most contagious smile. She has me wrapped around her little finger. And she is happy to know that we are moving to Kitale soon.

I have experienced so much joy on this trip... I will never be able to express how I have felt and how I am feeling now. I hold so much joy in my heart, but I am filled with sorrow because I am leaving this place and these people I have come to love.

I have completely fallen in love with this place and these people. Any feelings of fear or not wanting to move here have faded away. I am ready to come back, and this time to stay.

Day #4

Sometimes you just can't put into words the things you have felt, seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched... That is how I feel.

So, where did we go today?
It is impossible to describe the place with only one word. But we do.
We call it a slum.

You cannot imagine the filth and the stench. Garbage and sewage is trampled underfoot. Animals rummage through it, looking for a bite to eat. Unidentifiable fumes and smoke thicken the air, along with the smell of unwashed bodies. Vendors work in their stands, selling everything from clothing to fish. Flies swarm everyone and everything. Children run around freely, wearing shoes far too large, too worn, or none at all. As you drive by, everyone stares at you; some smile, others grimace. The children chase the van screaming,

"How are you?! How are you?!"

If you take the time to smile and wave to them, their faces light up, and they return the kind gesture. As you continue on, you see women and young girls with babies slung on their backs. Hardly anyone is idle; they are all doing something. Some are carrying loads on their heads, others are hauling wood in a cart, and still more are just walking with no destination in mind. The little meat-markets are scattered throughout; but they have no way to keep the meat clean, cold, and safe for consumption. Tables of dried minnows and fruit are close by, being touched by the stale air.

And amid all of this, there are the schools.

At the first school, all of the children fell in love with us, and us with them. They held our hands, talked to us, sang with us, danced with us, and laughed with us. Immediately, we all became good friends.
Zoe, (age 11, and a true joy to have on the team with us,) met and became close to two young girls by the age of 11 and 12. They were inseparable from the moment they met.
I became friends with a girl who was nearly 15 years old. She was a translator for us, and was so sweet to me. I also had the privilege of meeting her mother, who is one of the teachers there.

The whole school just warmed my heart! The children were genuinely excited for us to visit them.

We were there for perhaps 30 minutes, and then it was time to go. When the young children heard this, they wrapped their arms around us and cried,

"Don't leave us! Take us home with you!"

It absolutely broke my heart. I felt so many emotions, ranging from sadness to anger to shock. I felt like my heart was being torn in two. I was angry at myself, because I could not stay longer with them. I was shocked and bewildered that they had reacted this way, and because we had all become so close in such a short time.

Love is a curious thing. It brings such joy, but can bring such sadness too...

Zoe and I held it together. We smiled and waved to the kids, out the van window. As we drove down the road, we both sat in silence. I think I can speak for both of us when I say our insides were aching.

Susan, (our pastor and team-leader's wife,) looked in the back and saw us sitting. She asked if we were okay.

"You know it is okay to cry..." she said.

As soon as she said that, the floodgates broke loose.



.........................




Visiting the other schools was not as hard.
Each school had a short show to put on for us. They all sang and danced beautifully!!

I was very humbled at the second school.
They were living in the middle of the trash and muck. The had very small rooms with little light to see. Their uniforms were ragged. But they were all so proud! And they were so thankful for the fact that GOD had provided a clean concrete slab for the children to play on, for transparent sheets to use as skylights in the rooms, and for plenty of rice and beans for their children to eat.
They had so little, yet had so much.

At the last school, (which was held in the church we taught the conference at,) there were many small children. Before the program started, I ran to the restroom. (I'm not going to lie, I have tried to avoid speaking of the restrooms, but I have to, so you can understand this story...) The restrooms at this school/church are, quite literally, holes in the floor with shaky stalls made of wood and sheets of metal.
After I had went into the stall, a little kid came running in, trying to open the door. I was pushing against the door to keep it closed, because there were no locks on the inside.
Soon, a little face was looking through one of the many cracks in the door.
I shoved my hands over the crack, telling them to not come in.
The child stopped trying to get in, but I heard a small, rattling sound on the other side. When I looked closer, I saw that there was a lock, but it was on the outside. The kid locked me in the bathroom.
Well, I kinda freaked out... But I didn't scream out to someone, because I was mortified.

What to do?? I shook the stall, hoping the lock would slip out. I reached through the cracks, trying to reach the lock. And finally, I shoved my fingers through a half-inch space, and scooted the lock out of the pin.

When I came out, nearly 15 minutes later, the ladies were wondering why I took so long.
When I explained my situation, I could not get them to stop laughing...


..............



We are heading out to Kitale!! Please pray for safe travel, and for all of our luggage to arrive on time.
Thank you for your time! :)

Day #2 and #3

The past two days have been so busy, I didn't have the time or energy to write!!  But it has been a good kind of busy...

Yesterday, we went to the pastors' conference. The women who came were very tickled that "women from America" came to visit and give them council. There were no young people for me to teach, so I listened to the other ladies. (They all did a fabulous job!!) In the lessons, the ladies were reminded that they are the "crown of creation." GOD saved them for last, when HE made the world. Women were the "finishing touch." (Needless to say, they were all very happy to hear this!) The women all walked out of the session with their heads held high...

Today, we finished the conference. Both the men and women had many questions that needed to be answered; so the final session was held together.

Right after we finished the conference, everyone wanted to take our picture!! It was rather uncomfortable to me... I don't like too much attention focused on me at one time. But being white missionaries, there was no choice. We posed with everyone, picture after picture. Finally, they were all happy...

When that little experience was over, we went into the slum for an "open-air." (In an Open-Air, people stand in the streets to share testimonies, preach, and sing.) All of the children swarmed us, as we walked. They all wanted to shake our hands, and touch our skin. As we played with them, more and more kids came! We were surrounded by children who only wanted a new friend.
Although, I had to laugh... There was a small group of little boys, (all around 7-8 years old) who kept staring at me and giggling. When I waved to them and said hi, they all giggled harder. Soon, they began pushing one another in my direction saying,

"Go talk to her! Go speak to her!"

To which the other would say,

"No, YOU go talk to her!"

And soon the whispers turned to,

"You love her! You want to marry her!"

One of them eventually became quite bold, and kissed my hand as we left.
What can you say to that...? I just had to laugh. It was too precious...

............


Today was a HUGE blessing!! I cannot wait to go back tomorrow to share Jesus with all of them. It will be my turn to get in front of everyone on the street; so please pray for me. We will also visit the slum-schools.

My mom will be meeting with the person who is helping us get our visas, as well. Please pray all goes well!

Thanks for the prayers!! :)

Day #1

We made it!! After 19 hours of sitting in an airplane, we are comfortably sitting at a boarding-house in Nairobi, Kenya. All of our luggage was accounted for, and we didn't have any problems. Thanks for the prayer!!

We got in around 12:00 AM, and slept until 10:30. (I must say, sleep never felt so good!) After eating breakfast, (or, I guess, lunch...) we ladies went to the mall. (Which was quite an experience, I must say!) I could never go into all of the details, but many of the fun(ny) moments included a stand in the mall selling roasted-corn-on-a-stick, us trying on BIG crazy wigs, and buying some flip-flops and a toy giraffe from a street-vendor.

We enjoyed our "recovery day," but are ready to start work tomorrow. We are going to the pastors' conference to share with the ladies and/or any youth that come. I have two lessons prepared, but when we were walking through the mall, I was talking to one of the women that came with us. As we were talking, a new lesson hit me like a ton of bricks! GOD revealed that we need to have the faith and trust of little children, when it comes to our relationship with HIM.(I will share more about it after I get a chance to read my BIBLE and write some things down.) But this will surely be a new one for me to share!

We are all very tired, but very happy. None of us have gotten sick, so thanks for praying for that. (But please keep those prayers up! The dinner we ate tonight might have been a bit of a mistake... it didn't taste quite right.)

I will do my best to keep everyone updated! I cannot wait to see what GOD is going to do on this trip.
Keep up those prayers!! We appreciate it. :)

Hannah Wilson

(I thought I would share a picture of where we are currently staying... This is the "Mennonite House" in Nairobi, Kenya.)

Counting Down the Days... And Finding Our Theme.

I am counting down the days until our two week trip to Kenya!! (15 more days...) My mom and I have been running around and trying to prepare.
Two weeks is a long time to be away from your family. (I can barely last one week at camp!) So, needless to say, I am both nervous and excited.
Yet amid all of the craziness of last-minute preparation, there is already a theme at play... All of the people going on the trip have met together and discussed what we would be teaching about at the conferences and children's home. Strangely, all of us had similar topics! Everyone's lessons have something to do with identity.

I will be teaching the teens about their identity. Just because we are young, does not mean we cannot be a part of kingdom work. (This works the other way around, too!) Your age does not define your worth.

(Jeremiah 1:4-10

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

But theLord said to me, 

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, 

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”)

GOD has a plan for all of us. HIS plan for you is different than mine. We are all going to be used in different ways. You will reach people that no one else will reach. 

Your identity in CHRIST is not defined by your age, gender, or experience. GOD makes you who you are for a reason. 

Embrace who GOD is making you. Accept the gifts HE has placed in you. Operate in the anointing HE has placed over you. Stand firm on what the BIBLE says. Speak the TRUTH. 

New Update! Sorry for the wait...

Well, long time, no see!!
Hey, everyone in the Blog-World! I have totally neglected to post for almost a year. (*slapping myself*) So sorry to anyone who was wondering how things have been. But I am BACK!! Posts should be a little more regular from here on out.
WoW! So much has been happening to our family, lately. Kenya is coming nearer and nearer to being a reality for us. My dad went on a week-long trip, back in April, in diligent search of a house for our family. Much was accomplished on the trip, and we finally have a house picked out!! (Pictures at the bottom of the post...)
Securing a home in Kenya has made things become much more real. It isn't just some abstract idea for the future anymore. We have begun to look for monthly supporters, as we will be working as full-time missionaries. (If you are interested in helping us, please let us know!!)
People have truly shown love and kindness by helping us as they have, whether by sending money or giving a word of encouragement. It blesses us to know there are caring people back here at home who will pray for us and miss us.

I'm sure everyone has heard the saying, "timing is everything." Well, GOD's timing is even better than that; it's perfect! Although HIS timing can be a little too fast or even a little too slow for my human tastes, I have had to learn that HIS timing truly is perfect. No sooner than when we had left the airport, Dad received a phone-call saying that our first payment for the house had been taken care of by an anonymous donor.

I have experienced both joy and sorrow in this whole situation. I am excited about the prospects of seeing new things, meeting new people, and being able to serve rather than receive my whole life. But I am sad because we are leaving the familiar behind; we will have to change our old lifestyles to fit our new circumstances. I'm like everyone else, I'm not fond of change.
Let's be honest, change is uncomfortable. I would be totally content to stay in my "bubble" and rarely change anything. But... GOD told us to do things differently. We are supposed to be the "light of the world" and a "city on a hill." We were called to stand out, and standing out is uncomfortable. (And sometimes it even hurts...) But when it hurts the most, that is the time we have to remember that this world is not our home. This isn't forever. It is all temporary.
On the days when I feel like I really don't want to do what GOD has called us to (yes, I have felt like that a lot,) I have to remember something my parents told me on the subject.
"We would rather be a little uncomfortable for a few years of our life, than to have to explain to GOD on Judgment Day why we were not obedient when HE made it clear and possible for us."
Almost anything seems bearable with this thought in mind.

My goal right now is to learn to remain joyful, no matter the circumstance. No matter where we live, no matter who I am around, no matter what is happening around me. The poetic side of me makes this simile, "A life without joy is like a night without stars." (You can apply that how you want to. It makes sense to me...)

We still do not have everything in order for our departure yet. Our house is not sold, we do not have enough monthly supporters, etc. But we are preparing as much as we can, and hoping GOD does the rest.

My mother and I will be going on a twelve-day mission-trip at the end of the month, to visit our little Elizabeth and begin to get connected with where we are going to be living. (Pricing items at the market, checking out the house, meeting the people, etc.) I will also have the opportunity to teach at a youth conference in Nairobi. We are planning on spending time at the orphanage and feeding station. (I will be Blogging throughout that time, so be on lookout for updates!) I feel excitement welling up as our trip grows closer.

We covet your prayers! Thank you for those who take the time to read. :)

                      Hannah Wilson

(The future "Hospitality House.")