Fact : the Lion King is based out of South Africa, not Kenya.
Fail!
But, there is actually swahili in it.
Hakuna Matata does actually mean No Worries. and Rafiki means friend. Lol
Jambo!
I hope this blog finds all my friends, family, and readers well (:
Let me begin by telling you just how much this little Mzungo misses America.
But my heart just BLEEDS umpendo (love) in Kenya.
We are currently in Bungoma, Kenya which is relatively close to the Uganda border, however, Kenya and Uganda are NOTHING alike. Kenyans are a lot taller. And they speak much better English. And the men aren’t nearly as “forward”. Haha. But, that is not the point. Basically, the church that we are in is AMAZING. It probably has 150+ people in it (which is HUGE compared to our last church) and the atmosphere is so of God. He just radiates in this place. The people are so kind and loving and they just long to teach us their language and culture. I have learned a pretty decent amount of Swahili already and I LOVE it. The church is actually letting us use the pastor’s old house, so we have a home just for ourselves! How amazing is that? And even though the honeymoon period between our group is over, everyday we grow closer as a family. We are meant to be here with one another. I LOVE living in a community that just fills me up and opens my heart to God’s plans for me. God is SO good.
Right now we are spending most of our time doing door-to-door evangelism, which scared me to death at first, but I am learning to walk in. It is an amazing feeling to tell my story and share God’s love. Plus, we have brought many people to Christ. UNBELIEVABLE. Oh, and! I preached! ME! I sat down, read my bible, and wrote a sermon. and then I delivered it in front of the Church! Ahhh. It was crazy scary and nerve-wrecking (especially since I was throwing up the whole day before – thank you Ugandian Flu!), but I did it. God used me as the vessel that I am and I truly believe that at least one person in that room heard or felt that. It was awesome. I am turning into such a missionary. Hahaha.
I would like to ask for you to lift me up in encouragement and prayer as I seek God further and really let him decide my footsteps for me. I feel that He is really going to call me into some serious greatness here pretty quick and there will be decisions that must be made and faith that must be maintained. So, as I go through this journey and season of change, I appreciate the love and prayer that you fill me up with. God has taught me so much and I am learning to truly listen and be still. I want to be obedient. I want to have an open mind and a open heart. I want to be a beautiful woman of God. I want to know His love…Asante Babba (thank you father) for your grace, glory, and patience.
In the meantime, I will try to keep everyone updated on life in Africa.
I’ll do my best not to get eaten by a hippo or stampeded (verb?) by an elephant.
No promises.
Mungu akubariki (God Bless!)
umpendo, HaleyMarin<3
“He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all” <3
“Commit to your Lord, whatever you do and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 31:25
