[ Finally Making Sense ]

I did have a much longer post, but the power went out while I was typing. Such a bummer when that happens! Although, I have come so used to the power going out that I don't even noticed it when I am teaching or working. Anyways, here it goes...

What a crazy past couple months it has been here in Kenya! It surely has been an experience so far. And I believe that the last two months has been more change and experiences since I have come here! As many of you may or may not know, I will be coming back to the States this summer to stay.

There are numerous reasons for this sudden and unexpected changed in "my plans," (note: "my plans" and not "God's plans") but in the end I know coming back to the States is exactly where God wants me. Kenya is most definitely in my plans for long-term for the future, but every day I see that God wants me back in the States for a while. I guess that is one thing I am at fault for as a human. I always think I KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS. And to an extent, I do, but in the end his plans are nothing like my plans. :) WHICH, I am glad about. So leaving earlier than what I expected was NOT in my plans, but are in God's. And ... I am okay with that. :)

Being here is such a blessing. I am so glad that I am where I am right now. I am learning so much about Kenya, east Africa, and the needs that they have. The ministry plans I had for Kenya before I came here were FANTASTIC plans. Fabulous plans. But being here as showed me that even though these plans are very well thought-out and would work here, that they are not the most beneficial for this area and that other plans would be more effective. And that was the purpose for this trip anyways: to teach and preach Jesus Christ, and to research and survey the area. There is so much need here, much more towards finding food for starving children, taking care of orphans, and getting adults jobs. I am so glad that I am able to see the "real" need so that I can focus more on those aspects than what I was focusing on before.

In addition, being back in the States will give me an opportunity to be near family, pay off my debt (which definitely needs to be done before I do anything else overseas), get my teachign license issues in order, prepare for a better ministry now that I know what the real needs are, and just do a few natural things that come after graduating college. I keep forgetting that I am only 22 and even though time is but a flash, that I do have my entire life in front of me. Now is the time for me to set up a foundation for myself. Over the past 22 years I have been in years of transition ... childhood, high school, college, graduate school, I have never had a close knit group of friends, a consistent job to pay off debt, or had time to invest in people so that when I do go overseas one day I have a good foundation leaving with!

It took me a while to learn that coming back is not a failure. I kept telling myself, "What is everyone going to think when I come back earlier? People will think I am a failure and I am not doing what I was designed to do ... " But i realized through reading the Bible in the year that I AM doing EXACTLY what I was DESIGNED to DO! Africa is a place that I am designed to help. But God has in store for me even MORE than that. :) I just can't wait to watch God work in friendships, my jobs, my family, relationships, ministry plans, and everything else in the next few days, months, years, whatever God wants!

Kenya is such a very interested country. It has a large amount of missionaries already here, its the second most developed country in Africa, and yet there are children just starving ... orphans eating from trash cans ... adults dying from AIDS ... and parents giving away their children because they just cant feed them without a job ... there are so many problems that need to be accomplished before even education can come into the mix. .. ohhhh so much is on my heart right now with these issues!

So this is NOT goodbye. This is just the start of a wonderful plan God has for me and Kenya in the future. Oh how I can't wait to get back to the States to do cater my current ministry plan to better help Kenya!

In the meantime, I am going to spend the next few months traveling the area, teaching these amazing children, preaching and evangelizing to those around me, and living the life God has designed for me to live.

I am His to use, no matter where I am.

Blessings,
Melisah...