saying goodbye

There's never an easy goodbye when you leave a place after 3 months of investing in it. It is never easy to leave behind what you've worked towards or the relationships that have formed in the midst of it. It is not easy, but it is necessary and a part of life.

When I arrived in Kenya I thought it seemed like such a long time to stay. I would say to myself, "wow, 3 1/2 months is quite a while, are you sure you can do this?" Well, today I can say that 3 1/2 months is no time at all and that I could only do it with Christ lighting the way. There have been times of brokenness, joy, fruit, struggle, pain, happiness, and restoration...but most of all there has been God, moving, working and providing every step of the way.

I don't yet know how it is that God will choose to use what I've learned here or when it is that I'll find out, if ever. What I do know is that I've never been in a place where I have felt more at home, at peace and fully where I was supposed to be. I'm not sure if Kenya for me will be a place just for a season or will end up being for a lifetime, but I rest knowing that God will lead me wherever it is I should be.

One of the hard parts of leaving a place are the things that you'll miss when you're gone. Here are a few things I will miss: the kids faces, the tears, my house and the community that has been cultivating there, our friends and fellow missionaries, the yummy Kenyan food, laughter and late nights with card games and jokes, nights in prayer by the fire, God moving in abundant ways every day, answers to prayer on a more than consistent basis and the way that love can be pored out here on all that you meet, without anyone assuming you have other motives. Luckily many of these things can translate into my community in Dallas. Here are some things I am looking forward to in the States: seeing my family and friends, eating Mexican food as often as possible, having a church body that I feel a part of and that I buy into, hearing live sermons on a weekly basis (instead of podcasts), having people around you speak your language, and my bed...oh how I love my bed!

I'm blessed. God has given me great peace about the next step for me. I will begin a new job in January in Dallas and am looking forward to the new challenge. I'm excited about what God has for me at home and for where He will take me in the future. Transition times are good...and full of growth. I pray that mine is one that is God centered and full of grace.

Today I said goodbye to the kids in Kiminini. I held it together enough to say goodbye, but my bus ride to Nairobi alone tomorrow will be a very different story. Maybe then, with strangers all around, I'll take time to grieve what I'm leaving behind. I will be spending two days in Nairobi visiting Lindsey and Ryan before flying out on Dec. 18th and returning home Dec. 19th! I look forward to seeing all of you who have prayed for me so diligently. I can honestly say that I couldn't have done any of these things without your prayers.

Thank you so much for going on this journey with me. You are a blessing to me more than you can ever know!

Please pray that God continues to move in me, protect me, provide for me and guide me on the journey home.