A Family Day...

This past Saturday was an awesome day.

First we went to Hope Center about 9 am because we thought that some of the Saint Boys had some Vapor Soccer games, (vapor is similar to Upward). But turns out that this saturday was only registration for Vapor and that the games didn’t start until next saturday. Which sucks because we wont be here for that, since we are leaving wednesday, I would have really enjoyed getting to watch some of the Boys play in an environment with other regular boys. But luckily some of the boys were there anyways to register, so we were able to see them.

There was actually a women’s soccer tournament going on at the Hope Academy field. Teams from all over Nairobi, and all over Kenya, and there was a women’s college team from the US there, ONU from around chicago, Illinois. So we watched some of those games of this tournament. Later on more of the boys began to arrive.

I was able to watch the games most of the time with James & Dan. James sat in my lap & in between my legs, as well as leaned up against me almost the entire time we were there. I absolutely LOVED just sitting there watching football, (soccer) with that amazing little boy. He just laid there, leaning against me, holding my arms around him. Every now and then, when something happened in the game, or just randomly he would turn around and look up at me and smile. That just made me as happy as I could be! To just see the comfort & love & peace he has with me is absolutely AMAZING!

I absolutely LOVE that boy. I am really really going to miss him! As well as all of the boys for that matter. They are some amazing boys. It has really been amazing to see the growth, there willingness to open up to me, how they love on me, and how they just love having me around, over the last 8 and 1/2 weeks. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to be around them so much this summer! I love every moment that I get to be around them. I love there with everything I have!

Later that night Thomas, Zippy, and Dinah invited us five over to their house to eat and fellowship with them. It was an absolutely amazing night!

Dinah and Zippy made dinner. They made an Kenyan meal, which I love!

Then after dinner we just sat around their living room, and talked. We shared stories from our past, as well as things from our cultures. They Zippy shared with us her story of how she came to know Christ. It was a great story. She was very honest with us. It was very encouraging.

Afterwards Thomas began to tell us his story as well. He has a great story. Full of encouragement. He had it rough but His mom helped to encourage him and he raised him up the way she should.

After his story he began to thank us and show his appreciation for what we have done, for being a part of their lives. Then it was a sad & emotional time for us all, even though we didn’t all cry. Because we have all realized that we have become a family. We, although from very different cultures, and from very far places, have came together and become a family. A family that cares and loves for each other.

We have become a family that shares, cares, loves, comforts, and helps each other. We have had meals together, laughed together, worked together, served together, played volleyball together, shared together; we have done everything a family does together.

I really love our Kenyan family!

I am really going to miss the time we have spent together. I am going to miss helping Zippy clean, or driving her home, or talking and laughing together. I am really going to miss all the time I have been able to spend with Thomas. The time that we have spent talking, helping him with work in the yard, helping him with the chickens, riding to go places with him, playing volleyball with him. I am really going to miss the time we have been able to have together.

I am really going to miss my Kenyan Family!

Although this is a sad time because I am leaving them, I know God has helped to use this time to strengthen me and has used this time for HIS GLORY. So I know that God is strengthening me through this.

~The Joy Is Rising