Beauty in the dirt.

      The thing I love about travel is getting to experience different cultures and stepping into the world of the locals and seeing their everyday lives. To them, it's probably not that exciting because it's just the way it is for them; the market is just where they work and the fact that their roads have holes isn't new to them and probably won't change for a long time but, to me, it's beautiful and simple and it has moved my heart. How did life get so complicated for me? Why do I get so disatisfied with life back in Colorado? People here are so joyful and they have so little. The kids are orphans and have been neglected and rejected and yet they love so much and so well. Life is just so simple here and no one complains. The kids are so happy playing in the dirt or with a tire and the adults never complain about their feet hurting after walking for miles to get to their jobs or to even get water from the river but I complain about my hour drive to work everyday. So I've been asking myself and The Lord, how can I be more like them? How can I live being content?

    Another experience that really moved me was church. We went to an awesome church service in a village where we were joyfully greeted and escorted to sit in really comfy chairs in the front of the church. The building was made out of mud with a tin roof and yet it was so beautiful! Once we got there, worship started and it was full of life and joy and dancing. They sang a capella and played drums and a metal ring and clapped. It was so precious to see them worship with all of their hearts as well as with all of their bodies and to see them seek the Lord with great hunger. They didn't care that they were in a mud hut or that they were sweating. They didn't care that the Mzungu's  (white people) were there or watching them. They just whole heartedly worshiped God and it really blessed my heart! I also loved the fact that they would just worship and keep worshiping. A song would end and everyone would sit down and then someone would bust out with a song and then everyone would join in and then the dancing would start all over again!! It was so fun! Then somewhere in the middle, all of the leaders in the church came up to the front, one by one, and introduced themselves to us and blessed us. But the end was the best part when the church gave each one of us an African name! They gave me Nyota (which means star) and they gave David Zawadi (which means gift because he plays guitar). I felt so honored and blessed by this and was overwhelmed with love from them. They don't know me but they welcome me and love me so willingly. And just a side note, I love the fact that the Gospel can relate to everyone! From someone like me, in Colorado, with a house and a car and a well paying job to someone in the bush in a mud hut who only has a few pieces of clothing to their name. But God is so good! He is teaching me a lot while I'm here. It's been so good for me!

More to come!!

Alicia

P.S. Here are some more photos to enjoy!

Here are some photos of Joe and Megan's house:

Prisca Joy is soooo cute!!

Here is the kid we sponsor! His name is Victor.

We got to see a fun Kenyan soccer game.

 David and Joe are in the process of building a playground for the kids! It's going to be awesome!

David with the kid we sponsor.

 Sweet Camama

 I love Alvin!!

 My sister in law Megan with Kennedy (aka Speaka)

 Megan with Speaka and Faith.

 Joe working on the playground.

 Cutsie Alvin and Fanise

 Megan's sweet brother Josh is an intern at the orphanage.

Maddie is from Colorado too and is an intern at the orphanage as well.

They dry the kids clothes on the fence.

 
Thanks for reading! More to come soon!