First Post in Kenya!!

Hello friends! Sorry it has been so long since I was able to blog. Once we landed in Nairobi, Kenya, and arrived at our little home, I haven’t been able to connect to the internet. I have to go to what is called The Java House, which is like the “starbucks”of Kenya. I have a lot to say, and I know there are plenty of people who need to know specific details of my trip so I’ll start with our weekly routine.
Mondays: On Mondays, we will stay on the property all day and do hard-core landscaping work on it. The men will be responsible for the bulk of the tough stuff: building a foundation for a future rescued women’s home, planting trees, and other really intense stuff. The women will be planting various gardens and flower beds, painting and helping with anything else really. We’ll start working at 9am and end working around 4pm, with a lunch break in between. Also, the guys will do a lunch break Bible study with other Kenyan workers who may not believe in the Lord. And that’s Monday!
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: On both of these days, we will be spend our day in the Kibera slum where half of the team will work and serve AIDS victims, and the other half of the team will teach students with materials given to us by the actual teacher. Basically be a substitute teacher for a day. We’ll be spending the entire day here as well.
Thursdays: On this day, we’ll spend half the day with a sister-church, serving them in what they need, and the other half of the day working with the rescued women at their home.
Fridays: Friday is our Free day! Which means, more than likely, I’ll be updating my blog, facebook, and answering emails on a Friday. It also means we clean, prepare a cooking/cleaning schedule for the week, and wash clothes. Or do something really awesome like go on a Safari!
Saturdays: Saturdays will be spent with the rescued women at their home. We’ll be simply encouraging them through sports or homework or anything really. Just having a fun day with them.
Sundays: Church in the slum, known as the Kiberan Reformed Presbyterian Church.

What God has been teaching me since arriving has been that fact that I don’t rely on Him. We have a really really great team, and we’re all really different and unique but the Lord has been showing my that my heart goes to other people before it goes to Him. I want the team to approve of me and love me before I even think of God. Now, I know I don’t need God’s approval but at the same time, I should want to go to Him first.

Today is Sunday, (May 29) and it was our first day in the slum, and walking through it was shocking. I knew what I was getting myself into because I’ve been to Kenya before. I knew I’d see trash and smell junk and have to watch my head and feet from falling into mush. And yet, the first thought that came into my head was how nothing had changed since I last was there. Everything still looked the same. Children without shoes or really old dirty clothes. Pigs or goats or dogs wandering throughout the sewage. The closeness of homes. The stares of people as I wander through their village. Judging me. But as soon as I entered that church, peace and safety overwhelmed me. I knew I was safe because the people there had hope. And everything they did pointed to Christ. From the way they prayed (which was out loud all at the same time), to the way they sang (which was with power and emotion), to the way Pastor Imbumi preached ( which was with compassion and urgency) every one was screaming out to their Father. This is a beautiful sight to see. These people have nothing, nothing to desire or to place root in. The only thing they have is Jesus. He is the only thing they can root themselves in. I think that some, not all, but some American Christians root themselves in so many other things, as well as Jesus, that He becomes least important to them. When one has so many roots, it’s hard to find the core. The Kenyans at this church know who their Savior is, and it is the most encouraging thing to watch.

Well, this is as much as I can say now. It’s late, and I’m still getting used to this new time. Tomorrow is Monday and we’ll begin working here on the land. The Lord is working here and it’s clear to me that there is change in the air. What I’m going to try to do is blog every other night or so on my computer and then Friday, just copy and paste them all onto my actual blog. What yall can be praying for is the church, the pastor, the rescued women and my heart.
Church: It’s in the heart of the slum and endures it through. It need prayer, and support.
Pastor Imbumi: He has such a compassionate and full heart for these street children. And yet, the fruits of his labor are slow and hard to tell. Pray for him and his wonderful family that they won’t be discouraged by small numbers or slow believers.
The rescued women: These women all have a powerful story and a voice to say it. But being bought out of sexual slavery is a powerful silent charm. Pray that they will find their voice and become strong healthy women.
My heart: This is a tough trip for me because all I want to do is fix everything and help everyone. And some problems just can’t be fixed. Pray that I will rely on the Lord for everything, and continue to trust His goodness and mercy for this slum.

In Christ alone,
Virginia

It's Game Time baby!

I'm sitting here, trying to write how I'm feeling the night before I leave. My nerves are getting shaky, and my stomach is getting all butterfly-y. Packing is coming together, and tonight I'll go pick up our friend Travis, from Nebraska.
I can't believe this is all happening. It seems like yesterday during Christmas break that I was officially accepted and started writing my support letters. Just as quickly as Christmas ended, spring break came and the three of us ELCC interns began our super crazy mess of a yard sale. And then May came, and here I am today. The Lord has done wonders just to get me here. There are so many people I want to say thank you too. It was through the generous support of wonderful friends and family that I am able to go.
Now, I'm ready to see how the Lord will be done. What a wonderful trip this will be. :)
Prayer Requests as I leave tomorrow: Pray that I will be totally dependent on the Lord; that I won't ever think that I can do anything on my own.
Pray that I will remember that I am not here to change the culture, but to show the culture Jesus as best I can.
Pray that I will remember that I can only do so much, and to remember that my small, and very sinful efforts can be used.
Lastly, pray that I will grow and bond with my team, and that we will be that. A Team.

What a summer. For those who are supporting me, keep following this blog. I'll update it as best I can while I'm there. Facebook and email will also be other options of communication. Folks, this is it. I'm a day from the trip of my life. I can't wait to get there, and I can't wait to see the Lord work.

1 week!

We're at a week people!! Just one little week till I leave for the trip of my life. Also, another important thing happens in a week: I turn 21! Unfortunately, I won't really be able to celebrate until after I come back. But that's ok. My birthday has always fallen on weird days. Last week of school, last day of school, the coolest was graduating on my birthday. Talk about twisted. In the rush and craziness of high school graduation, I almost forgot that that day I turned 19. So, next monday will be no different. I'll celebrate with those people with me. :) Everything is flexible in my life.
On the topic of Kenya, for those following this blog who are supporting me we have news of where we are staying officially. See, 4 years ago, I went to Kenya and stayed in this sweet little convent that was run by nuns and a priest. It was gorgeous. Here is a picture of the section where I stayed. If I ever woke up earlier than I needed to, you could hear the nuns singing early in the morning. It was the most beautiful sound to wake up to.



Now, this is where I assumed I would be living this summer. And I was so confident in this that I was not doubting anything or anywhere else. And of course, this is not where I will be staying for the summer. There is a new head nun, and she is changing the rules. So, this summer, me and the 8 other interns will be staying in cabins on a piece of land where we will be building a home for rescued women. It was consist of cabins, sorta, and one will be for the men and the other for the women. There will be a small kitchen, small bathroom, and a common area. In the first couple of weeks, Kenyan women will help teach us how to wash our clothes, and cook food for ourselves. Whew. This is completely and totally not what I was expecting. But that's ok. Because at the end of this trip, I'll know how to cook!
So that's what I know right now. Packing is slow, but coming together. I have all the little american snack that I can take and I probably need one more trip to walmart or target to get the rest of my things like bug-spray, sunscreen and socks. But we only ave 7 days left!!! The summer of my life is about to start!! Lord help me get there! :)

Failing and Glorfying God at the Same Time

Departure is now 12 days. 12!! I got my shots today, and I still can't really feel my right arm. And according to the travel-shot lady, I gotta wear my sunscreen while I'm there, and bring peto-bismol. These are the essentials for my health and wealth for me and everyone else. Still don't have a packing list or an i-ternary list or when I'm leaving for the pre-intern retreat. And you know what, God has been using this to show my little faith in him. I'm putting so much trust in my own packing idea. This idea consists of me, virginia jo foster, doing everything on my own. It's a terrible idea because what I don't seem to realize is that I can't. I can freak out, scream, get so irritated that my insides hurt but the truth is I don't have a clue as to what to do.
I simply don't trust the Lord with my life, with the small details and the big details. I can already feel the jealousy forming in my heart, and I'm not even in Kenya. What will happen to me once I am there, openly serving the Lord. I always think I can get to a point in my life where I can specifically say "Look! I'm trusting you NOW. With THIS issue. My WHOLE heart is there." I want to get there and be there all the time. There have been times when I've seen the effects of trusting the Lord. The problem is I just flirt away and trust myself. I don't want to ramble, but at the same time, I am realizing, once again, that I have a problem. It's a problem that I want to get control over. I want to be able to roll my shoulders, shrug it off, and walk away in peace. A problem in tickets? No Big Deal. A jealousy problem? Deal With It. A control issue? Start Praying Now.
I need you people to pray for me as much as you can. I know my weaknesses and I know that I'm going to be traveling to an area full of sin and people who are hopeless. I also know that I'm going to be doing something the devil is fully against, and he's going to do all that he can to make me doubt, or cause me to fail in some way. People, let this be known that I will fail. However, I want to fail in a way that I can glorify God. Pray, starting praying now. This is the start of a wild adventure, and I hope that when I come home I can say that I trust God in a more grace-filled way then ever before.

Awake My Soul

"How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
This weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free

Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
You were made to meet your maker"

-Mumford and Sons

How fickle my heart, and how woozy my eyes. I see the truth and I run away. I sense the trials and I coward myself into comfort. My heart desires one thing, my mind another. I can't get past my sin. I can't ever do enough. This weakness I've been trying to hide so well is starting to show. People notice, judge and whisper. Who am I to stop them? The world has this idea of me, and sometimes, they are right. My heart is fickle, and my eyes are woozy. My soul is thirsty for something perfect. Awake my Soul! Awake my Soul! You were made to meet your maker.