The Night Before

Well, here it is finally. The night before our departure to Kenya, we {my dad and I} are headed back to Tumaini Children's Home. As you might imagine, I'm experiencing every emotion possible. Let's start with the panic I experienced this morning.

I've been in contact with Bishop David, the man in charge of Glory Outreach Assembly, since June when I first booked the tickets. Through our communications, we decided that he or his son would pick us up from the airport, take us to their house where we would spend the night, head to the market for some shopping the next morning and then make our way to Tumaini. That was the plan, short and sweet (was is key word there). About 2am, I started tossing and turning and wasn't sure why. Finally after getting out of bed, I realize that Bishop David had sent me an email. The time stamp on it was 2:15am.

Jordan,

My son Timothy have had to travel North Western Kenya to train young leaders who we call History Makers. The need for training there has been overwhelming so he was forced to extend his stay. I'm extremly exhaused after a series of trainings and minisrty opportunities that I have had in the last several weeks. If I regain my strength, I would still pick you up at the airport. If I continue feelng as weak as I'm now I may not be able to. So I have asked Pauline to be the back up plan. If I'm unable to come, Pauline will send you a driver by the name Hanniel Njeru. He will bring you to my house for accomodation. In the morning of Dec.17th, I know you would like to do shopping as you had indicated, before heading out to Tumaini. I'm extending an invitation to you if you would like to join us to Ruiru maximum prison where we will be sharing the Gospel, food and Christmas gifts with 450 prison inmates . If you joined us for this prison ministry, then you would leave for Tumaini after shopping and prison ministry to get there in the evening. If you choose to keep your original plans, then we shall leave our house together in the morning as we go for prison ministry and you go for shopping.

A question for you. If we had our friends in Atlanta sending you to bring Christmas gifts for the prison ministry, would you have room to bring them with you? What the prisoners needs are things like washing soap, tooth brushes, tooth pastes, tissue papers, coca colas and bread.

Regards,
Bishop David

So....as you can see, the plans have completely changed and that's why I was tossing and turning. If we didn't want to go to the prison, he offered, we would be dropped off in the market to shop by ourselves, just me and my dad...as white as can be. Mzungu's as they call us.

I scrambled. I didn't know what to do. I do not feel comfortable in a prison here in the US, much less in a foreign country. I sure as heck don't feel comfortable shopping in a market by ourselves. After 2 calls to Kenya and a short stint of panic to find a hotel, we thanked Bishop David for his help and services, but have changed our plans. Well, changed them back to the original plan.

As I sit here on my couch, with the air conditioner on {imagine that in the middle of December} I'm thinking about how excited I am to see the children. How antsy I am to hurry up and get there. How nervous I am because it's just my dad and I and I planned this all on my own. How much anxiety I have, because as I type this, we do not "officially" have a place to stay our first night in Nairobi. And I'm sad. I'm sad because I know leaving this time around will be even harder than it was the first time. Sometimes, I find myself letting that sadness set in and overtake the happiness that I'm supposed to feel first.

I don't know how I'll react when it comes time to come home. I know there will be tears, there will be smiles, there will be runny noses, and I definitely will leave even more of my heart there than I did the first time. I'm not going back to get the piece I left there, I'm going to give more of my heart to the children of Tumaini. I feel like they are my children.

THANK{ful}Sgiving

Traditionally, the month of November is the time when you reflect on things that you are most thankful for. Everyday this month, Lord willin', I'll list another blessing!

Today I'm thankful for:
1. A family who has never let me down
2. The awesome family and friends that I surround myself with
3. For Opry's and the love of country music
4. The opportunity to put a "Sock Drive" Box up in our church to collect socks for Africa
5. My German heritage, cold beer, and sausage
6. My Church family and their generosity in giving socks
7. the convenience of air travel
8. Friends in the Tampa area
9. the innocence of a child
10. Goodbye's, they make you realize a lot
11. Days off

By the Numbers...

To date we have:

7 generous, helping, god-fearing people who've helped us raise

$560 in the fundraising account,

4 small children working on decorating

91 gift bags,

23 pairs of funky colored socks that'll fit in perfectly in Africa,

40 paint by number booklets,

100 colors of faith necklaces ordered for a bible study,

3 spools of yarn to make "God's Eye's,"

40 wooden model tractor kits,

4 weeks left in our church "Sock Drive" project,

7 days until I see Carla in Tampa and stand in awe of the amount of work she's done to help us,

7.5 weeks until we are on our way to share your gifts with these children!

I cannot wait!

Being Blessed

You hear people many times use the word "blessed" to describe themselves. I have even heard people use it in response to, "how are you?" I don't think I've ever used the word to describe myself or as a response, but I'm here to tell you today that I am MORE THAN BLESSED!


I've never done a fundraiser before, and to tell you the truth, I was hesitant about asking people for money. I find that ironic because I ask for the order in my everyday job, more than once a day. But this is different. I thought up the idea of the Tumaini Children's Home Christmas Project in order to raise funds to purchase socks for the 91 children in Kinagop, Kenya. I had no idea how successful we'd be, but thought we'd end up with more than what we started with which was $0.

I'm am extremely blessed and humbled to know that I surround myself with some of the most giving, selfless, God fearing people on this planet. My friends have given of themselves in more ways than I could imagine. I am beyond blessed! Thank you to those of you who have donated to us so far! I am excited to share my experiences with you!

Not Me Monday!

I did not wake up this morning thinking, "what the hell was I thinking?" as I could barely walk from my first Crossfit workout yesterday. Nope, not me!


After my continuing education course, I did not walk into Discount Tire to have my tires balanced, stand in line for 5 minutes and then turn around and walk out. Absolutely not. I have all the patience in the world and my tires need to be balanced in the worst way.

I would never consider eating a bean and cheese taco for lunch. That would not be very healthy and I'd never be a junk food eater- definitely not me!

And finally, I would never consider taking a nap instead of taking Niko to the vet to have his shots or gathering clothes for the garage sale that is going to be at my house on October 1st...not me!

Just Some Sentences

It's Wednesday and I did not go to work today. Why you might be wondering? Well, it's because of a couple of reasons...

I have a squirrel friend in my attic. Well he's not really a friend, he's very unwelcome in there. When I got back from traveling I had a lovely hand written note from my neighbors telling me that they've watched him...or her...sneak in and out of the attic all week long. So, since I'm a gal who lives by herself, and is very self sufficient/independent, I'm going to make the trek to Tractor's Supply to buy some hole patcher-upper. That pesky guy...or gal... has got to go.

I have an appointment with Dr. Bain, the ENT that I'm convinced I keep in business. If you have sinus problems, he's the man to see, but I'm getting tired of all of the "procedures" that have to be done to my poor sinuses. I'm sure I've had more things poked in my nose, than most people have had poked in their body over a lifetime. Today's "procedure" is no small task- he has scheduled 2 hours with me. We'll see if I can breathe out of my left nostril once he's done.

That leads me to my next thought. I've got a high tolerance for pain and when I'm in the middle of a procedure, I always go to my "happy place." But I always get anxiety thinking about the amount of pain that he's going to put me through and that's what drives me crazy. Here's to hoping that this goes smoothly with the least amount of pain possible....yea right!

I get to have lunch with Mrs. Tanya Flieller Bean today, yay! She's been my best friend forever and even though we don't talk every single day...or week, we still can pick right up like it was just yesterday. My dad calls her his other daughter. I love that woman to pieces and we'll be dining here at 11:30!

Now for the real reason why I did not go to work today. I'm sure you read this post and after my appointment with Dr. Bain, I'll be making the 5 hour drive up to Granbury for his memorial services. I don't know how to feel at this point. I'm actually fighting with the emotional cycle that I've experienced. Part of me is relieved and peaceful about his passing because I know that he is no longer suffering and that those who were around everyday until the end are no longer suffering. But on the flip side, I'm angry, saddened, confused, and hurt that a 25 year old man with a beautiful wife and daughter could be taken from us at such an early age. I guess God truly only takes the best. I don't know how well I'll be able to hold up for the next 2 days. If you find yourself thinking about me or my family, please say a prayer for us.

That is all I've got for now. Time to run to Tractor Supply.

Tyler Blake Riale

TYLER BLAKE RIALE

God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not meant to be.

So He put His arms around you and whispered come with me.

WIth tearful eyes we watched you, as we saw you pass away.

Although we love you deeply, we could not make you stay.

Your golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

May you rest in peace.