"Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”"  John 6:5-9

Jesus and his disciples have hiked up the mountain to relax and have some time away from the crowd. Some of the people in the village get word that Jesus is in the mountains. This news spreads like wildfire and 5,000 of them head out to find him. As Jesus looks up and sees them coming, He could have said to Philip, "I'm tired, please tell the crowd to wait for me at the bottom and I'll talk to them then." But Jesus doesn't say this, His first response was concern for the people. He was concerned for their physical needs, but more importantly He was concerned about their spiritual needs. The man in Jesus wondered how so many people would be fed with the conditions they found themselves in, so He asks Philip a practical question. A practical question with a profound answer, because the God in Jesus knew what He would do. Philip looks around and within himself for the answer. He assesses the current situation by what he can physical see and with the data he has collected answers Jesus. "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little." This was a nice way to say, "Sorry Jesus, but it's just not possible."

Before Jesus has a chance to answer Philip, Andrew walks up just tell Jesus that there is a little boy here with several loaves of bread and a couple fish, "but what are they for so many?".  Can't you just see Andrew's face a bit twisted as he breathes out these words of unbelief? He has underestimated that power of the One who he is talking too. Jesus does not rebuke Andrew, he simply says, "Make the people sit down." Jesus' actions are about to speak louder than His words ever could.

Often Jesus asks us questions not because He doesn't know the answer but because He wants us to know the answer. Whenever Jesus looks at me and asks a question, I have two options. I can either try and come up with the answer myself or I can look to Him and admit that I don't have an answer but He does. Because Jesus is never puzzled by any situation that comes to us unexpectedly. You see Jesus wants to show Himself mighty in ever situation of life but often we hinder Him because we simply don't believe. I am like Andrew and wonder what good can a few loaves of bread and a couple fish do for 5,000 hungry people. And it would be quite crazy to think of such a thing happening, but when you have Jesus as the host this changes everything.

So let's watch Jesus take the messy and impossible in our lives and make it into something beautiful. Let's answer each question that He asks us with, "Jesus I only have five, or four, or two loaves and a fish or two, but do whatever You can with them, they are yours." May we never underestimate what Jesus will do when we give what we have to Him. Size doesn't matter, it's our faith that matters!

I realized the other day that I haven't shared many pictures with you since I have arrived. I had a few minutes so I wanted to share some with you. There really isn't any order to these but I've added a caption under each one so you will know what's going on in the picture.

These children are teaching me so many things, from a new depth of love to not letting the past invade the present or dictate the future. Each one of the 64 children that call Naomi's home plus the 40 other children that attend school here during the day have climb right up into my heart and each have grasped a piece of it. I think you will partly understand why whenever you see these pictures. So without farther ado, here's you some sweet smiles.

All the kids got new tennis shoes and were much pleased!

"LOOK AT MY NEW SHOES!!"

"The trees are green." -Julia :)

Writing is so much fun, and concentration is imperative.

Selfie times! Cheese!!!

This smile is the sweetest. Baby Noelle is about a month old.

A rare moment shared by Julia and Robbie! :)

This is the my little girl Tabitha. <3

Toddlers Sunday School class. These kids are so much fun!

The view I wake up to every morning. God is good!

More beauty!

Thank you to those of you that have left such thoughtful comments! Your kindness and prayer are so encouraging to me. I will try to post as often as I can. :)

God is good all the time, all the time God is good because that is His nature. Wow!

There were children everywhere! School had just gotten out. Some were playing soccer, some were swinging, some were just enjoying not having to sit still. I looked around and spotted a line of children waiting for their turn on the monkey bars. I watched them one after another go across, some making it all the way but some dropping halfway because they couldn't quite hang on long enough. I walked over to where they were and asked if they wanted me to help them go all the way across. This was followed by... Auntie, Auntie help me! Auntie me next! The high fives, smiles, and giggles that trailed were simply adorable. :)

As I stood there helping one after another swing across and grab ahold of the next bar, one of them ran up to me and said,"Auntie, me me!!" I told him to get in line and I would help him across too. When his turn came he was a bit reluctant to go. He wasn't quite sure if he could reach the bars and the ground was a little bit too far down there. I reassured him that I had him and I wouldn't let him fall. So he placed one shaky hand in front of the other and was delighted when he made it to the other side.

After a few minutes of seeing the pleasure these children were having as they made it all the way across, I thought about the monkey bars of life. You see, I'm a lot like the little boy that ran up and wanted me to help him across. I get in line and climb the ladder to cross the bars. As I'm about to reach out for the first bar, I look down and the what if's flood my mind. Like what if I fall?, or what if I get to the other side and it's not like I thought it was? I begin to want to climb down, because somehow I think it's safer on the ground. It takes courage to grab ahold of the first bar and swing out in faith trusting God's unfailing grace. And with each bar that I stretch and grab on to my faith becomes strong, because that is the way God designed it. So as I swing from one bar to the next and they get farther and farther apart causing me have to stretch more, I begin to realize just how much I need Jesus.

So whatever monkey bars you may be facing, don't be afraid to swing out trusting in God's amazing grace to carry you to the other side. God never allows anything in our life that isn't for His glory and our good. So..."Don't worry about all of the steps. Begin."

As I'm getting ready this morning, I hear what sounds like children singing drift through the room. I stop and listen, it was kids singing! This is what I heard..."My God is so great, so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God cannot do..."  Truly our God is so great and His is so strong and there is absolutely nothing that He cannot do, but let me give you the backdrop of why this brought tears to my eyes.

You see the voices that were loudly singing this somewhat catchy little song were once silenced by what seemed hopeless and impossible. These voices endured the worst of circumstances. These voices have known a much harsher life in their few short years than you or I will ever know. But these voices each have a name, these voices are children that now belong. These children can now sing with joy about the greatness of our God because they have experienced it. They have felt His strong arms reach down and lift them out of hopelessness and despair. Where they once were and where they are today proves the almightiness of God. They are living examples that there is nothing too hard for God.

And because Jesus likes to take messy and make it magnificent, He is doing just that in the lives of each of these 64 children that call Namoi's Village home and those that are now attending CPA. Jesus loves to get down in the mud and dirt of our lives and bring beauty from ashes. Jesus delights to bring joy were there was once misery. He is just that kind of Savior and Friend! And he invites you and I to join Him on this adventure. The adventure of being the means by which the hopeless, helpless, and despairing can lift their voices to sing of His greatness, strength, and might.

Naomi's Village has accepted this invitation and I am so thankful that they have allowed me this opportunity to be a part of what Jesus is doing in the lives of these children.

May we all sing with loud voices of God greatness and might because there is nothing that He cannot do!   

It happened like this. We meet, Allison and I, and were so happy to finally be friends in person. After talking for a bit we decided to go find our departure gate. As we were headed that way Allison said something about sitting by an military personnel on the flight to Chicago. I looked at her like, What! and she said you too!? You have to understand this wasn't the first time something seemingly crazy like this happened.

As if God wanted to let us know just how into details He is, we looked at our boarding passes as we got to our gate and we were sitting on the same row. We had tried to select our seats together the day before but it wouldn't work so we gave up. I know you may be think, "What's the big deal about that!?" Well, I just love how our Father delights to care for us even in the smallest, and what we would call insignificant ways. If He will take care of me in the smallest ways surely I can trust Him in the 'big' ones too.

The rest of the trip was uneventful, and l o n g! We got to Nairobi Tuesday evening and spend the night at a hotel. Thankfully didn't have any issues with visas or customs.

We arrived at Naomi's around noon yesterday, noon our time that is. The next few days we will be getting settled in and adjusting to life here. Two months is a bit different than 10 days. :) I have loved seeing all the kids again! They have grown up so much! It's fun to see their expression when I call their names (those that I remember). It's like, how do you know MY name??

It's quite busy around here since school started this past Monday, which means that 40 extra kids from the community have started attending CPA. The original plan was to have the new school building finished when school started but because of some unexpected issues it will now open in May. To learn more about how CPA will impact the surrounding community go to namoisvillage.org and look under the Cornerstone tab.

I'm just a bit tired but before I say bye, I cannot express to you how much I appreciate your prayers! Just to know that there are those whose love and support what God has called me into for these two months is such an encouragement. Can I say please don't stop! I know these next few weeks are going to eject me from my comfort zone and I want to be okay with that. I read Psalms 144 this morning and loved how God trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle and that through it all His steadfast love is there. Often times it's the learning what God is trying to teach me that's the hardest.

I will leave you with a few cute faces! :)

Hugs from Hannah

Taking Flight

On July 11, 2015 I left for Kenya for the first time. Little did I know that exactly six months later I would be headed back to the place and people that slipped into my heart. How could I have estimated that the things I was about to experience would change my life completely? How could I have gauged the love that would fill my heart for this beautiful land and people?

I couldn't have known exactly how those 11 days in Kenya would reshape my life, but Someone bigger than me knew. That Someone was working in big, invisible ways. That Someone is our Father and He is working all things for His glory and our good.

Right now I am sitting in the airport waiting to board the flight that will take me on this next adventure with Jesus. I'm overwhelmed by God's goodness and His leading that has brought me to this point. As I reflect over the past several months I can honestly say, 'Jesus lead me all the way.'

Many of you have expressed that you will be praying for me as I go and while I'm there in Kenya. I cannot thank you enough for these! You do not know how this has blessed and strengthen me. Your prayers are very vital to all that God wishes to do in these next couple of months. As you pray on my behalf and for those that God has called me to serve, you are shooting arrows that God will guide right where they need to go. Never think for a moment that your prayers don't matter! True, God doesn't need us to accomplish His plans but He will use each one of us if we love and serve Him.

Hope each of you has a great week!

Hugs from Hannah!