Call my 7 year-old-self naïve, but I never associated the famous Lion King song with an actual African language. This phrase out of the airport security guard’s mouth was literally my favorite Disney movie coming to life! If that didn’t have me swooning over Kenya, the family of giraffes we passed within moments of leaving the airport did. This is Africa.
I love this place. It’s true, in nearly every country I’ve been to, I’ve noted how welcoming and friendly the people are. But there is something altogether different about Kenyans. After four months in the quiet, reserved, honorable culture of Asia, I stepped off my redeye flight and into the robust, expressive, animated nation of Kenya. The personalities are as colorful as the incredible sunrise I watched from my bed on my first morning here, and I love it!
Our host, Milka Kyoko, or “Mama,” is a recently widowed member of the church we are working with. Mama takes wonderful care of us in her Langata home just outside the center of Nairobi. It’s a wonderful opportunity to minister to her during this time of healing from her husband’s death. She literally welcomed us with open arms, and always has wisdom, hot Kenyan tea, or some sassy African dancing to share with us! She is a beautiful picture of a motherly spirit!
Three of Mama's friends, Mama (far right) and I!
A young church member named Anderson is cooking for us (yes, a hot home-cooked meal three times a day- and people said I’d starve in Africa!). I haven’t eaten a lot of chapatti in my life, but I will say with confidence he makes the best in the WORLD! Did I mention he’s a trained chef? I’m spoiled.
Our church, Deliverance Church Southlands, is a daughter church plant of a bigger church just down the road, and the demographic is largely under 30. We’ve loved joining the daily prayer meetings in the slum nearby, where each day from 1-2 p.m. you can hear the boisterous and passionate prayers of these convicted church members. We've spent time in the market area outside our home talking with people and inviting them to church, and it's amazing how receptive they are... we've made so many friends. We’re looking forward to a month of involvement in church worship, children’s ministries, and building relationships in and out of church!
It’s been three days and I already feel like a part of Pastor Joseph’s family. I’ve been humbled and honored to be involved in the miracle of the birth of his second child! Brittney and I spent the evening with his beautiful wife, Mercy, the night before she gave birth, and I just returned from visiting precious baby Prudence at the hospital. We’ve all become best friends with 5 year old Patience, who is an excellent Swahili teacher and happens to be the cutest African babe I’ve ever laid eyes on!
Pastor Joseph and his daughter Patience right after her baby sister was born!
Almost forgot, Wichita State Track is about to blow up with Kenyans… I’m doubling as a scout for my dad while I’m here! I’ve identified the tribe that I need to hunt down (the Kalingin tribe, those are the marathoners), and I've already got a date with one of them to go for a run! You know, to check out her skills.
Lucky reader, I have this gem to leave you with. Please enjoy this Sunday School poem by sweet Patience, as a taste of life in Kenya! Love you all!!
I’m afraid I’m making a habit of delayed updates upon arriving in a country. My apologies, loyal followers! You’ll be glad to know that we are alive and well despite the recent earthquake- as mild as it was, I flew down those stairs and out into the streets barefoot. Classic crazy American-style!
Greetings from Penang, Malaysia, otherwise known as the Pearl of the Orient!
Here’s a quick summary of our journey here:
April 1st
A beautiful, rooftop, candlelit, Vietnamse dinner prepared by our squad leaders to conclude a refreshing and much needed leaders retreat! We are loved.
April 2nd
8:00 am- Said our final goodbyes at the Ho Chi Minh airport, rushed to find Wifi and watched KU beat Ohio State in the Final Four.
Evening- Arrived in Kuala Lumpur, by far the most advanced/developed city we’ve been to since Bangkok!
April 3rd
Got my roller coaster fix! Visited Malaysia’s biggest indoor theme park with some of my besties and enjoyed an entire day of screaming laughter… followed by a good hour of slight dizziness and nausea (worth it).
April 4th
Took a bus to the coast with 14 other B Squad women while Kentucky defeated my Jayhawks in the national championship. Got the news via text and cried on Chrissy’s shoulder.
Donned our packs and hiked to the ferry!
After landing on the island of Penang, we excitedly navigated the streets of quaint Georgetown until we found our living quarters, perfectly nestled in Little India.
And thus officially began Month 7! While the men are in the jungle growing beards, killing their food and doing “man-istry,” we are enjoying a month FULL of estrogen... a beautiful thing! :)
Malaysia consists of a wonderful blend of 3 cultures: Malay, Chinese and Indian. It’s truly a melting pot, much like the U.S., and the common language is (hallelujah) ENGLISH! We’re encountering a variety of culture this month as a result, and my stomach is encountering a lot of curry and naan.
(at this particular breakfast, it was roti)
My team is working with a few different ministries through YWAM. We’ve joined with Kawan (meaning “friends” in Malay), a kitchen/day retreat for homeless people. We’re helping in the kitchen, cleaning and making friends with the people that come in. The drug dealers and street workers in this neighborhood are regulars, and we’re getting opportunities to share with them an alternative to their empty lifestyles that they are desperate to leave behind.
Chopping those veggies!
We’re also partnering with a Christian hospital in Penang. The hospital has a fund to pay for heart operations for families that can’t afford them. For years now, the World Race has partnered with this hospital to help fundraise for this cause. To some, fundraising might not sound like fun, but I somewhere between Girl Scouts, Student Council and Student Athlete Advisory Committee, fundraising was engrained in me and I’m excited by the challenge of coming up with new ways to ask people for money! Or maybe I’m just excited by the opportunity to sing songs on a microphone in a hospital waiting room. Either way, it’s an awesome cause and I’m honored to partner with such a great organization!
Ministry isn’t so relational this month, and it’s sometimes humorous to find ourselves stickering medical files on a mission trip. But a lesson I’m continuing to learn on this race is the true meaning of servant hood. In assuming servant hood, we are willing to serve Christ in the big tasks and the small, menial, dusting/chopping vegetables/mopping floors tasks. But not only that- we are called to serve with JOY! And every day, we're learning to do just that.
I love Penang. Please pray for our team, that the relationships we’re building in our neighborhood and in ministry would go beyond the surface and have eternal impact. Pray that in every place and through every act of service, that the love of Christ would flow from us!
I'll leave you to admire the photography of my teammate, Brittney Jennings. I give you Penang!
“Jesus, bring me to a deeper realization of the cross tonight. Lead me deeper into the treasures of your wisdom and understanding, that I might know more of you.”
This was the prayer of my heart tonight at PenHOP, Penang, Malaysia’s House of Prayer. Good Friday collided with their weekly Friday night worship service, and tonight was an incredible night of remembering the cross through intimiate worship. The Lord answered my prayer with the following scripture:
Isaiah 52 13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness— 15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand. Isaiah 53 1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppressionand judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makeshis life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of lifeand be satisfied;
by his knowledgemy righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
And the following song:
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.
As you remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us today, I hope the Holy Spirit meets you the way he did me tonight.
But this I know with all my heart. His wounds have paid my ransom!
Whoa- never heard that one before. But, my friend Hyunh is a smart girl. I’m sure my question sounded a lot like, “why was Jesus being punished?” It’s the logical, practical conclusion.
It’s also further proof for how radical the Gospel is. It doesn’t make sense. Jesus wasn’t a bad person; in fact, he was perfect. He lived a life in complete accordance with the law. It doesn’t make sense that the creator of the universe would come to earth and make himself nothing for his creation, who betrayed him. It doesn’t make sense that he would then be punished on the cross. It doesn’t make sense that he would relentlessly pursue us as we run in the other direction.
But he did, and he does, and I get to tell people about it. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in Hyunh’s discovery of the Gospel. That it would be more than words to her, but love and freedom and hope for her and her family.
“Only God understand me.”
Our weekly visit to the drug rehab home was coming to a close, and our small group discussion had concluded without a word from the frail man in the corner. He very quietly asked my teammate and I a question in English after everyone else had dispersed. “Oh, you know English!” I exclaimed. One of the younger men approached me and clearly communicated without words that the man had mental problems. I turned back to the man, and that’s when I heard these words. He then sang me a worship song in English. He told me that his mom lives in Washington, but when I asked if he missed her, he was clearly overcome with emotion. “Too hard to talk about her.” He has a wife and a two year old son. He lives in a drug rehab home and dreams that he dies when he goes to sleep.
I don’t know this man’s story, but I know he came from a dark place, and I know that God is in him now. I know that the only place he rests his hope is in Heaven. I got a glimpse today of what it looks like to have nothing but hope. And it’s more than enough. He smiled when he talked about love, about God, and about Heaven. He had sadness, but he also had joy. When I left, he told me he would see me in Heaven. And he gently touched my arm and repeated my words back to me: “you will pray for me!”
Yes, I will pray for him. Take a moment and join me in praying for Yung.
Last week in Vietnam... pray for last conversations with my new friends here and that they would be filled with truth and love!!
** A blog written by our AWESOME squad leaders... please watch/read!!!
Disclaimer: If you choose to watch the video above, you are making the choice to open your heart and ask yourself, "What can I do to help?" This may require a little sacrifice and we have no way of keeping you accountable but we ask that you give generously.. Thank-you and Enjoy!
Half way has come and gone...
Adventures have been lived...
Relationships have given us purpose...
The Spirit has sent us for whirlwinds...
The Father has prepared the way for us...
Worship has left us undignified before God...
BUT...
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!
This is a cry out for support!!!
B-Squad has stood together through so much and we know that we are to finish this journey together. Every member serves as a piece to the Kingdom Bringing, Life Altering, Spirit Breathing, Love Giving and Good News Preaching that this journey and our squad have to offer.
We have had the opportunity to play with toothless kids, witness miracles, see people come to know Jesus, help each other become closer in our own walks, offer our bodies to grueling physical labor, laugh with people we have come to love but the following people need your help to continue and finish the Race...
Read their blogs and choose to support and fight for them! The amount is how much they have left to raise.
...the schedule for the month is a very, very rough draft.
...you make the sweetest of friends by bumping into each other at the park.
...you can’t stop thinking about the next time you get to visit the smoothie cart down the street.
...you find yourself in a pointy hat floating down the Mekong Delta.
...you are standing on a barstool at a sports bar in a foreign city at 9 a.m. yelling at a TV screen with minutes left in the KU game. By yourself.
...a night at the skateing rink ends in tragedy.
It’s been a roller coaster of a month! Dare I say that makes it nearly my favorite month yet (I was breakdancing in Thailand… first place is taken). My team has been through some ups and downs, surprises and turns, and we’re seeking and finding unity in the Spirit and it’s so GOOD. God is moving and answering prayers in our relationships with each other and he is teaching me every day what it looks like to lead for Him alone, and with honor! Those can be some tough lessons, but I’m so grateful for the position I’m in and the growth I’m experiencing.
A popular street near our hostel! Backpackers galore.
We are smack dab in the middle of bustling Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon (which I find far more romantic and fashionable). Our hostel is tucked into an adorable alley, and across the street sits the park I run in every day. In that park, and in the streets, and everywhere, we run into countless university aged students desperate to speak English with someone. Ever since the government opened up the country to allow Westerners in, the city’s economy has boomed; thus, speaking English is the first step to a good job here. It’s a hot commodity, and my white skin reads “I’ve got it.” This happens to be a lot of our work this month, and it has opened up a lot of opportunities to build relationships with people; sweet adorable itty bitty Vietnamese gems at that!
Sweet Phoung introducing me to banana cakes!
Some Ho Chi Minh highlights thus far:
The smoothie lady. For $1, she whips me up any combination of fresh fruit I point to, combines it with ice (she knows I take mine sans milk and sugar), and pours that perfectly blended nectar into a huge cup, about 4.5 minutes of intensified happiness to follow. My favorite flavor so far is carrot avocado banana.
Here we are on a tour of the Mekong Delta, pointy hats and all. We fit right in!
We’ve become friends with a Christian group of recovered drug addicts. Watching these men surrender their hearts in worship, knowing the tough places they’ve come from, has left us completely humbled and full of joy each time. They are bold to step forward and ask for prayer for inner healing and we are humbled and grateful to faithfully lay hands on them. We’ve had the opportunity to teach, share testimonies, and worship and dance like fools with these awesome men of God!
Ah, March Madness. Talk about a long distance relationship. It’s bittersweet to experience it from so far away. I will say there’s nothing like a 3 point win in round 2 of the tournament to start my day off! I do love waking up to Vietnamese coffee (lives up to its reputation), my new friends at the 24 hour sports bar, a skype date with my Mom and Adam Glick, and KU basketball. While part of the romance is missing when I’m the only one standing on my barstool yelling at the TV screen and it’s 9 a.m., it makes me appreciate Allen Fieldhouse, Chopper’s, and watch parties all the more.
I’ll conclude with what started out as a celebration: we’re halfway through the race!! What better way to celebrate than teasing our hair and donning our leotards (clearly inspired by the all-girls team). Thus, the 80’s themed roller skating party. You can imagine my excitement (I love leotards) as my friend Leanna and I strapped on those roller blades and immediately took our first awkward slow motion spill together (at one point I think we did the Dirty Dancing move-except I was Patrick Swayze and I had fallen on my back), followed by intense rolling-on-the-ground laughter. The spill was followed by many more of the same in the ten shining minutes before disaster struck. I’ll start a new paragraph for dramatic effect, it’s warranted.
Leanna and I had taken on the challenge of doing the between-the-legs stunt with over-gauged confidence from our experience on skis. The first try ended with us on the ground, once again in laughter. Moments later, Leanna was ready to try again, and I told her to gain speed. Once again I forgot we weren’t on skis, but wheels. Skating ahead of her, I widened my stance, and she ducked under my legs- but she didn’t make it out. She was stuck under my legs for a solid five seconds, propelling me along at her increased speed, what I imagine was a hysterical sight. Naturally, I went wobbly with a human between my legs, and she went down face first, my entire body following only to smash the back of her head into the ground. I thought I killed her.
Praise the Lord, Leanna only has a chipped tooth and a banged up nose! Shanna, Ryan, Leanna and I had quite the adventure navigating all the possible health care options open at night in Ho Chi Minh City… I will never forget that night! That girl is such a trooper.
As promised, here’s my closing post for Cambodia… two weeks late. Woops! Hello from Vietnam!
As previously mentioned, the organization we partnered with was Cambodia Rock Foundation. The founder and director, Brett Meitdlin, has an awesome heart for missions. He’s very relationship-based, and places high value on meeting the physical as well as spiritual needs of the people he’s ministering to. We were honored to assist Brett in sparking and building deeper relationships in the villages he is invested in with Bible studies, teaching/playing with the children, and sitting down and getting to know the people.
This woman in particular, “Mama,” made an impact on my heart. She has an amazing story, full of loss and sorrow, but her smile was huge and joyful every time we walked up to her little hut. It was a huge blessing to get to sit in her home with her, hear her stories, sing worship songs and pray with her... and so bittersweet to watch her cry while hugging us goodbye. All we did was show her that she was worthy of being loved and gave her our time. It's humbling to see what that can do.
These young gentlemen are my brothers! Thyvenn, right, works for Brett and also pastors a small church outside of Phnom Penh. Dom is his friend who is currently in Bible school, and these guys took care of us all month! They cooked for us and stayed with us, and we shared a LOT of laughs during our time with them. Not only are the hilarious and fun to be around, they both have HUGE testimonies and are tirelessly serving the Lord in their community. I feel incredibly lucky to know them. Also, I'm sporting a scarve given to me by our contacts this month... we each got one as a parting gift!
Here are some more photos of my time. I got really good at VBS songs this month!!
Both teams at the 'dump' village, where people dig through the dump to salvage anything possible to sell/eat.
My teammate and I had a moment on Sunday after church... we looked at each other and laughed at how different we look going to church on the WR compared to home. Chacos, dirty skirt, tee shirt, headband, and a bag of sugarcane juice (once I'm done, I'll put the bag of leftover ice in the back of my sports bra as a cooling mechanism). That's World Race attire for ya!
Termites were taking over our bathroom (which consisted of a manul flush toilet and a big tub of mosquito infested water for bucket showers), we never knew when the electricity would go out and we'd lose our air conditioning (fans), I was constantly covered in a blanket of sweat, and I wouldn't trade this month for anything!
Pray for the villages that we visited in Cambodia, that Brett and Thyvenn's ministry would continue to draw people to Jesus! I love and miss you all!!
Vietnam update soon... I promise this time
It’s funny what being in intense community can bring out of you. Had I not taken this journey, I would have continued my life completely unaware of the depths of my brokenness. At home, my sin is blanketed in my security and comfort. I’m able to retreat. I can pick and choose who I surround myself with. If you bring out an ugly side of me, I can avoid you. If you make me uncomfortable, I can avoid you. If you just straight up annoy the crap out of me, I can and will avoid you. And if I don’t want to feel obligated to share my snacks with you, I can eat them by myself. In air conditioning.
Well, I said goodbye to those luxuries five months ago.
Especially after being raised up to team leader, God has been lovingly convicting me of my deep “need” for human approval, acceptance and affirmation. I operate out of it. I fear rejection. I make decisions to please others. It’s exhausting.
I bring myself to the end of me each time before I realize that my lens is once again completely out of focus. In trying to please others, I’m trying to build myself up. I’m trying to earn acceptance. I’m trying to win approval. And I’m learning every day that this constant striving won’t get me anywhere but exhaustion. In fact, my striving is counterintuitive to the faith that I claim to live by.
“It is finished.” Christ’s words on the cross spell it out perfectly. Jesus earned my approval for me. Because Jesus lived a perfect life, fulfilled the law, died on the cross bearing my sin and brokenness, and rose from the grave defeating death, I am blameless and perfect in God’s sight. Even if I don’t accomplish another thing until I die, God’s love for me will remain infinite.
As my good friend (and by friend, I mean I read his blog religiously and listen to his sermons) Tullian Tchividjian preaches, we as Christians so easily fall into the belief that after salvation, we need to earn our sanctification. I may not consciously say this to myself, but I truly do fall into a self-salvation mode where I have to work to keep God’s favor. And I end up thinking more about what I’ve done and how I’m doing than what Jesus did for me. I love his words in his sermon, Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Everything:
“The Gospel doesn’t take us deeper into ourselves; the Gospel causes us to wash our hands of ourselves. There is nothing about the Gospel which encourages us to think about us.”
But Do I believe that? Does my life echo that all the acceptance and approval I’ll ever need has already been earned for me? If I’m honest with myself, the answer is no. But I’m getting there. And you know what gets me really excited? The hope of the freedom that will come from complete and total awareness and contentment in my acceptance in the Lord. That is what freedom looks like to me, and I'm chasing it!!
Phew. That felt good. Thanks for reading. A final update on my ministry in Cambodia to come! It's been a great month; I can't believe it's almost over. Love you all!
Greetings from Phnom Penh! It's been a lovely day off, filled with a stroll through the market, a $1.50 pedicure with girlfriends, and a milkshake from the pleasantly air conditioned riverfront coffee shop I write to you from. But, not all days off are this relaxing...
This trip to the Cambodian Wildlife Rescue Center turned ugly quick when a monkey tried to steal my bananas.
I think we have a winner.
And now for the feature presentation. We had the opportunity to visit Angkor Wat, the world renown structure that towers over the remains of the ancient city of Angkor, capitol of the Khmer Empire over 1,000 years ago. I give you, OK Go's A Million Ways, performed atop the highest tower of Angkor Wat's 12th century temple:
Thank you Jesus for fans, sleeping pads, and bucket showers.
Yes, after two months of the luxuries of beds and showers, I’m back to sleeping on the floor, classic World Race style! But I’m reminded of month one in Guatemala when we were crammed into a tiny, uncomfortable living situation, and I rejoice that I have the opportunity to experience community this way again. Plus, I kinda love being in a place of deep, sincere, gratitude for a fan. It really sheds light on the abundance I live in!
Our ministry this month is called Cambodia Rock Foundation, named for Psalm 18:2: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." It's a perfect illustration of the hope that they spread to these people: when you have nothing, you still have everything in the Lord. He is our refuge!
The 'rock village' where people smash rocks into gravel for a dollar a day.
Brett Medlin, an American, and his Khmer wife founded the organization, and they exist to serve three squatter communities surrounding Phnom Penh. They’ve built about 24 homes for the families who would otherwise have to sleep on the ground with no protection during the flood season, and for others’ who work for a dollar a day smashing rock to make gravel. We’ve had the chance to visit all three villages this week, and we’ve loved getting to know the people, cook with them, pray for them and play with their kids. And let me tell you, these kids melt my heart. I want a Cambodian baby. I’m looking forward to leading a Bible study in one of the villages, and we’re enjoying building relationships with the people!
We’re working with a pastor who works with Brett and his friend, both of whom are in their twenties, and they’re already part of the team. Ty Von, the pastor, lives two houses down from where we’re staying, so I’ve enjoyed spending time with his family and playing with his nieces and nephews (who have completely stolen my heart) while helping Ty Von cook us some delicious Khmer food. Ty Von has also arranged for us to teach English at his church three nights a week starting next week. The Khmer people LOVE learning English, so I’m really looking forward to that!
Dan (from the team we're paired with this month) and my teammates Vivi and Andrew. Who wouldn't want to take a class from these people??
So as you can see, it’s stacking up to be a pretty rad month. Khmer is easier to learn than Thai, so it’s not rare for me to yell “Knyom aro-li nya!” from our tuk tuk, which means I love you, obvi.
P.S. When a Khmer woman sticks something in my face, I'm learning to eat it without asking what it is. The first instance was on the bus to Phnom Penh, and I got a round of applause from the bus for eating a massive fried cricket; and today at the village I ate "honeycomb" which turned out to be baby bees! Larvae, if you will. Yum!!
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