[ Classtime! ]

The classroom has been very busy for my students and I. It seems like we are working on a billion different fun projects at one time. In writing, we are doing a poetry unit where they are writing a poem about their favourite color. In Social Studies, they are learning about the Native Americans in groups. And of course we are learning about Abraham and his issue with fully trusting God!

I began coaching soccer with one of my co-workers (who happens to be my housemate too!) this week. It is quite hilarious how we choose to coach a support that neither of us has never played nor really watched. It has been quite interesting, but a load of fun to watch our students interact outside of school times!

The power has been going out a lot the past couple of days. Today alone the power has gone out five times in the classroom. In fact, it has gone out twice since I have begun typing this blog to you! It used to suprise us when it happened, but now when the lights go out we just keep on teaching and working! :) We have learned that power is not a necessity unlike how I have lived my life in America. When the power goes out in America, the world is coming to an end! Here, its just the way of life! It has really made me realize my priorities and what is truly important!

Hope all is well where you are living. Be praying about what priorities should be or shouldn't be priorities in your life!

Many blessings! P.S. Pictures coming soon!

[ Settling In ]

I can hardly believe that it has been a month since I have left the States to work at Rosslyn as a missionary teacher. The road to Africa has not been easy, but it was the best decision that I have ever made. Without a doubt the LORD is working here in east Africa. He has been molding me, preparing me, teaching me so many things about myself and about ministry work. I can hardly wake up in the mornings to service our God.

Teaching here at Rosslyn has been nothing but an amazing experience thus far. The people are great. The children are wonderful. And I have been blessed to be here. Not only am I learning so much about my children, about God, and about Kenya, but teaching. As a first year teacher I have so much to learn! Even though my days are at least 10 hours every day, it is what I was made to do.

Please be praying for my classroom and for the Lord to keep moving at Rosslyn!

Many blessings to you all!

[ TRANSITIONING ]

Transitioning can usually be a very difficult time. It is hard to literally move to another continent that has totally different rules, cultures, languages, and other things. Fortunately, my transition overall has been very positive. Especially since I have been to Africa before it made things much, much easier. I am still transitioning now, but I believe it is the fun part! :)

Today, I had a driving lesson with a friend here at Rosslyn. Kerry took upon herself to help me not only how to drive manual, but how to drive with the shifter on the left side and me sitting on the right. Luckily this came easy for me since I am left handed. The problem will be when I go back to the states and try to drive! I only spent an hour out there till she trusted me to begin driving by myself on the rosslyn camps. Soon, she will take me out on the roads for some real driving!

The second fun thing in transitioning is language! I absolutely love learning Swahili. Yes, for an american it is difficult to learn it. But once you begin speaking to kenyans in their language a whole new level of respect comes in. I am already having a positive response with kenyans since I am trying to learn and speak to them, even if its the basic stuff right now.

Well, keep checking back! God is moving here in east AFRICA!

[ SALVATION]

I have been praying about sharing the gospel with my students for a weeks now. I have been praying very hard the past couple days as I learn to let God move in my new classroom. Today, I shared the Gospel with my students. I told them how each of them were special. I explained the ABC's of the gospel, and I guess I underestimate the Lord because I thought when I asked for those who wanted to learn more about Him to go to back I thought only two or three would go back. Well, almost my whole class went to the back of the room. And today, by the grace and glory of our Jesus Christ, 12 of my students received Christ into their hearts today! Some were re dedications, but most were first time decisions! TWELVE. TWELVE MORE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WILL BE PRAISING GOD IN HEAVEN!

May all the praise and glory to our great God! ALL of the glory.


In His Service,
Melissa A. Brown

[ AND THE YEAR BEGINS ]

Tomorrow, over 500 students will be swarming the campus as they get introduced to Rosslyn Academy. I can still hardly believe that a few weeks ago I moved half-way across the world to where God has destined me to be. destined. Even though I feel immensely overwhelmed with all that I have to do here as a first year educator, I feel overwhelmingly blessed. I just don't know why God would pick ME to do this. I feel so very blessed to have this purpose and very honoured to be doing this world in Kenya.

I do not know why, but I signed up for 7:55AM playground duty for the year. I do believe that my days will begin early and end late this year. I know that I will be doing much work, lots of work, but at the end of the day I know it will be worth it. One of my goals for this year is to make sure that I make God the priority in my classroom. My plans are to make sure that I am in my classroom at 7:30 Am to pray over my room and student desks day. I encourage you to also pray for not just my students, but all the students who are attending Rosslyn Academy. Also pray that souls will be won in this place!

I ask for special prayer this Friday, as I share the Gospel with my students. Pray that those in my room who do not know Jesus come to know Him on that day! Without prayer, the Holy Spirit can not work. PLEASE BE PRAYING!

Thank you for reading this blog and for praying. I know these next three years is going to be an awesome, crazy, overwhelming, fabulous experience as God uses me here as His hands and feet!

[ lots to do ]

I finally was able to get into my classroom last week. It did not come to a big surprise that it was covered in a layer or dirt and had at least 25 dead insects on the ground, after all, it is Africa! Finally got it cleaned and organized. After many, many, many hours of hard work the classroom looks just amazing especially after I put up all of my posters that I brought from the States.

This coming week is going to be very, very busy. I will be doing lesson plan for all of the subjects I am teaching as well as new and full staff orientation. I feel as if some late nights are ahead! I am so very excited to be here and to be teaching! I know that my classroom is a true melting pot of so many people from all over the world. I know that we will be having such a great time!

On a side note, I am excited to be able to spend my birthday here in my beloved continent. My housemate and I tried to turn on the oven but had no luck. We soon learned that you have to light it with a match and then watch the heat very carefully. There isn't any degrees on the oven like American ones. You just have to watch the fire! Either way, I we will soon attempt to make a birthday cake for me (and a few others that share my exact birthday!)

[ overflowing blessings ]

I am officially settled in and the apartment feels so much like home now. In just a short amount of time my housemates, Emily Rice and Bethany Mast, and I have made this empty place to a place we can call home. My housemates and I were able to put together a list, a long list, of items we need for our home. Yesterday morning we left our apartment virtually empty besides a few hospitality items. We sincerely had nothing of our own. And then, God blessed US!

Besides buying a few smaller items,sets of plates, and food... the Lord gave us EVERYTHING we needed. Every single item on our list was given to us some way or another! Many people from Rosslyn left last school year and left items designated to my housemate! Down to "cooking spray" and "clothes pins." In a 12 hour span we went from nothing to having too many items! The LORD is GOOD. House appliances are very expensive here and we were blessed to get a microwave, toaster, mixer, and a hot water warmer. I could not help but tear up and thank God for every item that I pulled out of tubs that were given to us. Now, I am able to begin to save up to pay off my school loans!

We are blessed. You are blessed. I dont believe we realize how blessed we are! I too, need to put even more faith in Jesus Christ into our lives. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ FULLY, amazing things happen! All honour and glory to God!

[ what a life. ]

what a life. its unreal to think that just a few days ago i was on the other side of the world. and now, i am here. in AFRICA. its definitely a crazy, quick change. the transition has been good. besides a few mishaps, missing friends, and family ive been blessed with a transition with absolutely no jet lag. i slept 9 hours the first night and 12 hours the second night. many of the other missionary teachers coming still can not sleep the whole night. please be praying for all of us and a smooth transition and SLEEP!

the scenery here is just beautiful. even though its winter there are flowers everywhere. i am still trying to grasp how it can be WINTER and there can be flowers, green grass, and absolutely no frost or snow. its truly unreal. it really makes me think how it is to have summer at Christmas time! not to mention my door and window is opened!

nothing really happening at the school besides moving in, transitioning, getting use to everything, etc...many people coming back from furlough and unpacking! workers are cleaning out the school and preparing for school to start in a week and half!


i can already tell that i am in a whole different world here. life is much, much slower. there is not any pressure on hurrying up and rushing. its all about enjoying life and taking your time. which of course, has its disadvantages. but for now, its really nice for new people like me!


i just finished finally putting away and unpacking all my suitcases. it took for a few days, but my room feels more like a home now! i am about to go boil water to put into the filter. you can not drink the water from the tap. and when you buy any fruit, veggie or egg you have to let it set in bleach water for 20minutes. its no biggie though, its just life here!

later today ill finally be able to get into my classroom. i went a few days ago but i was asked to come back so they could clean my room again. i did not dispute especially since i saw at least 25 dead grasshoppers and insects everywhere. :) i guess its better than spiders!

well, i better get working! blessing to you all!