[ 2010 and Beyond ]

When I think about how this year has gone, what has happened, and changes that have been it can become overwhelming. I have been utterly blessed with the places I have been able to see, people I have been able to meet, and things that I have been able to experienced. I enjoy reflecting the past because it shows how far someone has come. And every year I am astonished on what has happened and the reasoning for those happenings. Even the items I thought was bad turned out to be a very, good thing.

Even as I type this note, I am astonished of where I am. I look passed my computer and I am sitting in such a beautiful classroom that I have been teaching in the past five months. Seeing all the empty desks and attempting to remember what my students were like when they first walked into my classroom and to see how much they have changed even till now is overwhelming. I still can't believe after all these months that I am not just sitting in a my classroom, but I am sitting in the middle of Nairobi, Kenya! Like whoa, how far I have come. How far God has taken me to show me His plan for my life. Amazing.

Anyways, below is a few more reflections of year 2010. Enjoy.

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A Person, Place, Thing, or Idea

NOUNS in 2010

PERSONS: Over this past year I have been able to meet so many inspiring and amazing people. The most important person I have met would have to be Sarah. Sarah is a beautiful baby that was born to my best friends Brittany and Peter Heindel. It was amazing to be part watching her grow and be born to beautiful parents. Even though she can not talk right now, I have learned a lot from her. Sometimes I make life way too complicated. And seeing Sarah reminds me how simple life is and how beautiful God made life to be. More people that I have met over the year would have to be people at Rosslyn Academy. I have learned a lot from people of all ages here, many of who inspire me to be a better teacher and Christian woman.

PLACES: I have traveled so much over the past year. And it is only the beginning! I have been blessed to be able to go to Washington D.C. and learn the importance and freedoms that come with being an American. Visiting New York City and places such as the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and 9/11 Site reminded me how far America has come and how much more I need to be grateful for where I come from. Visiting my beloved, Basil, in Philadelphia numerous times and to see a real Monet painting and the Liberty Bell help me learn how strong love can be and how people like Monet has left a legacy that will last for years to come. Moving to Kenya is an adventure in itself. Being here has helped open so many doors and windows to what God has planned for me with ministry in the future, as well as helped me mold myself into a more beautiful being.

THINGS: Many things have happened this year. Here are a few: Sarah being born. Riding a camel on the beaches of the Indian ocean. Fitting my life into four suitcases.Standing on the equator. Learning how to drive manual on the opposite side of the rode. Celebrating a year with the man that I love. Learning what Christmas is truly about without snow. Graduating college with my masters. Dear friend Wade Biss passing away. Buying a hot pink mosquito net.Starting my first year of teaching in a place where the power goes out frequently. Beginning to write a book for women.Reading over 75 books.Praying off some school loans.

IDEAS: With 2010 ending, I have learned many things this year. I have learned that it is better to listen than to speak (still working on that though!). I have learned that having electricity and power is not all that important. Living a simple life is the way to go. Materials are really not that important. Long-lasting relationships are the key to a happier life. Bugs aren't really that scary. Reading your Bible important is one of the most vital things Christians should do. Talking to people about Christ is not as hard as I thought. Skype is the best technological invention ever made. Facebook still takes up too much of my time.

NOUNS in 2011...future predictions...

PERSONS: I hope in 2011 that I meet even more new people. One thing I hope to find are really strong Christian women that I can rely on and call on in time of need. I hope to find more long-lasting relationships that I can give and also receive. I really want to be able to have more christian friends.

PLACES: Definitely would love to go visit my sisters who live across the United States. Montana, Arizona, Colorado, and California are on my list.

THINGS: I would like to keep working on my bucket list: keep writing my book, go sky diving, and a few others. I also would like to find a good bible believe church that has great bible studies to go to wherever I may live.

IDEAS: Not quite sure what exactly I learn. :)

(Rosslyn Academy's elementry christmas concert drama team)

(The Navity Scene)

(Hills of green tea)

It is hard to believe that I have finally made it to our Christmas break (no snow required), let alone having my first half of the year teaching done! Graduate school scared me to death of my first year of teaching. It is much easier and not as much work as I thought it would be. Granted, it is a lot of work to be a teacher. But it isn’t near as bad as I thought.

I decided to spend the first five days of my break in Limuru, an area about a half hour from Nairobi filled with vegetation, tea fields, and hills. At first I saw short trip as a way to get out of the city of Nairobi and away from my work for a while. And it was that, but it turned into a needed awakening and transformation.

I see it as somewhat humorous when you ask God to change you. Someone once said, “Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.” Change means work. If you ask God to change you, it can be rough for a little while but in the end you come out so much stronger and in focus on who you really are and what you need to work on.

It was an absolutely fabulous time meeting new people, worshipping and dancing at a Kenyan church, listening to Christmas music under a tent with just voices and drums, learning about Kenya’s past from Kenyan villagers and British tea farm owners, taking hikes through forests and fields, enjoying coffee with a visit from a few good friends, and soaking up the 90 degree weather! Although, I spent most of my time praying, listening to worship music, watching sermons, reading Christian literature, and enjoying God’s creation and nature. Watching the sunrise over a horizon of hills of bright, green tea fields really puts things into perspective! Little by little God directed me, showed me, and transformed me in these days. Although I believe God is always showing me and helping me grow, but I think this time it came in a larger portion that normal! J I would like to share some of the things I have learned in hopes that you as well will be able to take away something from what God has showed me:

(Fields of kenyan tea)

I was ordained by God who created the world and universe. I am not just another person on this Earth. I was created uniquely and specifically, and with a purpose. And even though we are little people in this colossal universe that was made by God himself, we are the most important things that God made. God’s purpose from the beginning was to live in you and you in Him (The Shack).Every single day of my life has already been ordained, been planned, by God. How special we are that God has chosen plan out our days and lives. And nothing, I mean nothing, is impossible for God. Here is a quote from “The Shack” that really hit me: “This is utterly ridiculous and impossible, you know.” he finally exclaimed [ to Jesus]. “Of course,” assented Jesus, grinning back at him.” If things didn’t seem impossible to us, then how would God be able to do great wonders in us and through us?

(Walking through tea fields)

I am a very, very special person. Did you know that there are 75,000,000,000,000 cells in your body? Did you know that every 5 seconds your body loses and reproduces 500,000 cells? Did you know that there are 200 billion stars in the galaxy and that there are 375 more cells in your body than stars? Did you know that there are 75,000 miles of arteries, capitularies, and other blood vessels in your body? 75,000 miles is the equivalent of going around the earth three times! We weren’t just another thing God made. We were fearfully and wonderfully made! God spent some major time making us!

I have spent more of my Christian life following the Bible, more than following God. Isn’t that what we do, we read the Bible and follow it. Yes, the Bible is important. It is how God communicates with us. But I have learned that I have spent so much time trying to obey the Bible and being obedient to the Bible that I have forgotten what is important is NOT the Bible, but the father/child relationship we have with our Maker. Yes, keep reading your Bible but remember that the relationship is more important.

(Children taking care of children..)

Love. Love. Love. This is what God has showed me the most of in my life. I am so very bad at showing love. I am selfish, greedy, and focused on me way too much. I worry about myself before others. I focus more about how a relationship, an event, or a person can benefit me rather than me benefiting them. I need to love my family more, my friends more, and others more. I need to love God more. I don’t want to be a BETTER Christian, I want to be a BETTER child of God. And I think by showing more love in all areas will help me do this. Showing love to others, shows love to God.

Live in the present, not the future nor the past. My mother has always told me this. And actually, for once in my life, I have really been listening to what she has said. But this weekend God showed me a few more things about this. The past: The past is done and over with. You can not change anything in your past whether it is good or bad. It is always good to reflect on the past, but never live in it. And remember that God does not bring bad in our lives to pay us back, but to bring us back to Him. The future: God has every second and every moment already planned out. So you can worry about what will happen tomorrow, next month, or next year, but it doesn’t change anything. In addition you are wasting the present. I do this the most. I am always thinking about my future, and what I could do. Yes, it is good to have some plans for the future but don’t dwell on it. Yes, harder said than done. Trust me, I know. I know for myself I always THINK I know where God wants me to go and then I realize that his plans and what I thought my plans are totally different. I have learned that I have wasted so much time focus on “the plans of the future” rather than living with the gift of the presented. The present: God’s gift to us is the present. It is our opportunity to live, to move, to breath. No matter where we are and no matter how long we are there, we should always invest in others. We need to show others love and we need to soak up everything around us.

(They thought it was SO COOL to see themselves in pictures!)

I can not help but smile so very big when I think of my first “God experience” when I was in high school at a winter youth group retreat up on a hill in these very cold cabins. I can still remember the simplistic worship time with a stereo in this large room and feeling the Holy Spirit move in my heart so greatly for the first time. Wow, God has really taken me far from that day and I am only 22. I can’t wait to see what else comes up! Until then, I will try to live out what I have learned and truly live in the future and love with all of my heart.

I leave you with my favourite poem. I read this poem every week to remind me what I need to do and where my focus is. I hope you enjoy:

I CHOOSE LOVE…

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.

I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE…

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE…

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complaining that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS…

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.

And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS…

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.

I will be overlooked before I will boast.

I will confess before I will accuse.

I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS…

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust.

My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love.

And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS…

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL…

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.

I choose self-control.

I will be drunk only by joy.

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL

To these I commit my day.

If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek God’s face.

And then when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

(A few kids I "ran into" while across tea fields)

I wish and pray that you and your family have a blessed CHRISTmas season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank God for His son, love your family wholeheartedly, and live each day as if it were your last.

In His Service,

melisah a. browne

(My housemates: Emily Reis (left) and Bethany Mast (right)