Welcome to My Blog

Welcome Friends, so glad you want to be a part of my trip to Kenya!

First I would like to say THANK YOU for your prayers, support, and love that you have shown to me as I prepare to leave for Kenya. Not only have you shown your love, prayers, and support to me as I go to Kenya, but you have helped shape me, in one way or another, into the person I am today. I thank God for each and every one of you and count it a blessing to know you and have you as a part of my life.

You might have wondered how did it come about that I'm going to Kenya, or how did I find out about Naomi's Village!? Or maybe you already know how God has lead me to where I am today, but please bear with me for a bit as I share my heart for those of you that may not know.

For sometime I have felt God was leading me to serve abroad and really began to feel a love for Africa. But Africa is a very large continent. So I began asking God to show me His will as to 'if, when, and where'. Also around the same time I really wanted to start sponsoring a child with a one-on-one relationship. I began prayerfully looking for a ministry/organization to sponsor through but hadn't fully decided on one. Then last summer (2014), mom came across an article in a Baylor Line Magazine about a family that had started an orphanage in Maai Mahui, Kenya named Naomi's Village . (My Mom and Dad both attend Baylor University in Waco, TX.) Mom said “ You should look it up, they have such an interesting story.” Mom was right, the Mendonsa's do have an amazing story of how God called them to the mission field in Kenya. The children were adorable of course, but I didn't immediately think, “ Oh, I want to sponsor one of those children!” I definitely didn't imagine I would serve there on a short-term trip. But God's ways aren't our ways and after much prayer and asking God for His direction, it became very clear that God was opening the way for me to go to Naomi's Village for a short-term trip. I'm overwhelmed at how God has faithfully given His clear direction. I don't know what the future holds and God doesn't ask me to know or try and figure it out. He just asks me to be faithful with what He has given me today and He will take care of the rest. Oh, and by the way I am sponsoring two children at Naomi's Village. I think they are precious, don't you?

Robbie is 1 1/2

Tabitha is 6

I will be serving along side a team of 17 people, who are mostly from the Dallas area. Some of the ways we will serve the Kenyan people will include helping a local pastor in the Lunga Lunga Slums of Nairobi, ministering in a near by IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camp, and doing other outreaching in the area. Our days will also be filled interacting with the 59 children that call Naomi's Village home. Our schedule is full of many fun activities, doing outreach with the older children, and nightly devotionals with everyone. Plus loving on all those sweet kids! :)

I will try my best to keep this blog updated and also share pictures and prayer request. Right now please began to pray for our team and the many details involved with the trip. Also please pray that God will settle all of our emotions so that we can be used most effectively for His glory.

Praising Him that He allows me to be a part of His story!

Hannah