Jerusa and Christina Shusho

 I’ve been in Kenya for a week now and
I’ve picked up my computer many times in hopes that an idea for a
blog would spring to life. I’ve mostly contemplated writing about a
friend I’ve made here: Jerusa. So, that’s what the basis of my blog
will be about! Jerusa is one of the women serving us while we stay in
Kenya. She has been cooking us meals, grocery shopping and staying in
the room next to our house.

Jerusa is twenty four years old and
committed her life to the Lord at age seventeen. Since then, she has
finished school in Busia and taken some college courses and then
moved to Bungoma with the hope that she would find work here and earn
more money for school. When she gets the money, she will be finishing
her degree to be an IT.

Being an IT doesn’t consume Jersua’s
mind though, what she longs to be even more than that is a faithful
servant of God. This woman literally stays up all night to pray, sing
and be on her knees before the Lord. When that ends at three a.m. –
she takes a nap until 5 a.m. – when she then wakes up for ‘morning
glory’ and praises the Lord until 6:30 a.m and commits her day to His
plan.

While I will admit that I often wish
the praise and worship wouldn’t interrupt my precious hours of sleep,
I do admire these Kenyans for devoting every minute of their day to
what God has. They approach Him first with their requests and will do
anything to bring His name glory, to serve Him and love on His
people. I aspire to be like that, to find joy in serving people even
when it just looks like cleaning up after them or making them meals.
I want to find just as much joy and working for others as these
Africans have in the past month of being in Uganda/Kenya.

I don’t want to be a woman who thinks
“How much do I have to give?” or “How long do I have to work?”
Rather, I want to say “How much time can I have with you? Or “What
can I give?!” I’m praying the Lord gives me a servant’s heart and
shows me how to find joy in serving others in ways I don’t think I
would normally enjoy.

Spending quality time with Jerusa has definitely made an impact on my stay in Kenya and pushed me to examine self. I am looking forward to the next ten days with her and I plan on cherishing every moment. Not to mention, every time she see’s me she yells Christina Shusho (my new nick name after a famous Tanzanian singer)

On a completely side note, we did
hospital ministry on Wednesday- this isn’t typically my favorite kind
of ministry but God was so faithful during our time of prayer. I was
first in the men’s ward praying for a half hour, moving around
different rooms. After that, a group of us go to go to the maternity
ward. NEWBORN BABES! I had the privilege of praying over babes that
were just hours short of being a day old. Committing them to the Lord
and praying a blessing over them was something that really touched my
heart. I’m committing baby Chanel, Tyler, Claire, David and ‘baby
girl’ to memory so I can continue fighting for them in prayer.
Consider partnering with me in that 🙂

Another prayer request for my health:
I’ve been dealing with stomach issues and shortness of breath. I did
get an ultra sound and Praise God- everything looks normal! They are
thinking it’s a stomach ulcer, I’m doing my best to eat right and
walk in healing. Keep that in your prayers as well as my team mate
Haley Marin Thigpen who is raising money to go to the Philippines at
the end of August and Leigha Braaten my team mate from team Nicaragua
is raising 9,000 for immersion. I know our God is faithful and always
provides, I’m sure He has huge things for these two women and I know
they will get all of their money in. Thanks for keeping them in your
prayers. Love to all!