Day 18 #40daysofblogging

Hey guys,
Can you believe it's already day 18! Crazy  praise God he kept me on this blogging journey and had reminded me everyday to blog and given me something to share each time.....and today am praying the same.

Literally as am writing this am asking God what do I write about , what should my blog content involve and if  am honest a few things are running through my mind.
However today hasn't been particularly eventful.  I went to church this morning  (couldn't go to my normal one coz wasn't able to get transport it's like 40 mins from where I am driving.  Yes I don't have my license yet lol but usually there's away). Anyway back to my Sunday visited a friends church which okay the worship was good the word was good but gotta say I drifted in and out lol . It happens sometimes (*gasps* Christian drifting in a sermon , it's happens sometimes welcome to normal lol)

Every Sunday we do our grocery shopping coz it's the only time of the week I can get transport out. So we did that came home ate lunch watched shows on my laptop then just kinda hang out waiting for the team(p.s am hosting a mission team for the next week or so :)).  But in the midst of all that very normal not so exciting stuff I seemed to drift a bit in my thoughts starting thinking about home , my friends , what relationships I've built here some very great ones and some I'm still figuring out. And that put a downer on my afternoon I realised my emotions were taking me on a path I didn't  like.  Anyway whilst in that state I searched out the net for some missionary stories etc and guess what it happens to lots of people. Some days are really  great and some days are really tough. This afternoon was one of them for me.
It got me feeling disillusioned for a hour or so and I really spent time crying out to God to reaffirms me to get hold  of me once again.  And many of those who are from family church will recognise freedom in christ. I went back to my book I read out loud the who am I in christ chapter. And guess what as I read it out Scripture changed something in me in the atmosphere.  It evened out my emotions my irrational thinking.  I needed that I still need that..Sometimes we lose focus on what makes significant, secure and accepted.  But truth is only God can restore that reaffirms that deep in your spirit. But we must ask we must fall back on our knees and as ask the Lord to subdue our flesh. 

But sometimes we need a push a sign to get started on that journey back to God and for  me today it was opening my cupboard to a plate of cookies signed from the Rebros my American family :). A little assurance that God's got you,  he's surrounded you with love and people who love you now come to me (God) and let me overshadow you with my love and peace. And that's exactly what I did. Does it end there nope! I have to hold firm to God's truth and keep speaking it over myself everyday and asking God to continue shifting it from my head to my heart.

I choose to write this post as it is and hope it's an encouragement but most of all an honest write up of what life in Africa can look like. 

Thanks guys I always appreciate you prayers and your support.

Lots of love

Grace 

Day 4 #40daysofblogging

Day 3 #40days of blogging

#DAY 3

Hi guys,

As some of you may know I have decided for lent this year instead of giving up something I'll take up something.  So my something for lent is 40days of blogging.  Why because I would love to share my everyday journey with my friends and family  and strangers alike.

So how is it going. Video blogging is not easy got to think about lighting, what to say what app to use oh my lots. Definitely taking me longer than expected lol. I'm not techy haha. But that said I'm loving it. I'm loving being able to communicate in person.  Sometimes writing doesn't cut it.

Somethings I've learnt along the way
1 . vision is caught not taught!

What I mean is for someone to understand your vision and action it they need to understand the heart behind the vision. So I would love for you to understand the heart behind what I do so video is the next best thing as I can't  physically be there with you.

2. Second thing am learning is that being out here is a unique privilege but one that comes with a responsibility to advocate for those in need. And more so to help us (family and friends) have an avenue to do your bit whether that's supporting  me or sponsoring a child.  This is our world and we've been blessed to be a blessing. 

3. Third thing is God gives but we must be willing to receive.  Our watch word this year as Hands At Work  is Romans 15.5 says may the God who gives endurance and encourage give us a spirit of unity among ourselves as we follow Christ.
It is God who gives me endurance to be out here  news flash it's tough! I love it don't get me wrong and I have a deep peace being here but it costs my family and friends are forced to leave a life without me and I without them. It is God who encourages me when all I want is to be at home in my living and hearing our home full with family and friends. It is God who keeps me United with  my church my family my friends even when am far away  and it's God alone who keeps me from falling away  from  my faith. 

So in conclusion I pray to God give me those things but give me a strength to receive  them and in turn share with others how you share with me.

Love you all. Keep going deeper with Christ. It's worth it!

If you'd love to financially support me you can do so via my account.
Miss Grace w Kariuki
Account :81388438
Sort code :60-09-50

The penny dropped

So last Friday  was what we call community  prayer in Siathathuka (This is a community that is close to my heart. I'll soon share  why in a different post :)). What this means is that us as Hands family  everyone  who volunteers here at the hub we go and join  hands with our family in the a specific community for a prayer morning.  We share the word ,worship and prayer together then do holy home visits  to Carewokers, primary  caregivers  and kids  homes. There is nothing  more beautiful than seeing so many different nationalities  come together  to worship God in different languages.  For me it's a piece of what heaven  will look like.  Scripture  talks about this in Revelation.

This week the word shared was that we should  not live in fear.  What fear  does is that it holds you in captivity  and can make you live like your biggest  fear is happening.  In a community like there are many people practicing witchcraft and worshipping ancestors and rape and alcohol abuse is common.  Many people here are unemployed and rely on growing crops which don't always grow well. It's a dry area and sandy in some parts. It's easy to see why a community like this could leave in fear but it's also in this community that having a care point for vulnerable orphans is essential.  It's at this care point where the kids can learn about God and how much he loves them and it's here they are provided with opportunity to go to school  and basic health care.

This can only happen by our volunteers from our local church who cook and visit the children.  However it's not always that easy. It is here that I got the opportunity to visit some caregivers  who had shown interest in being part of the CBO caring for their own children and their friends. However fear was holding them back. Fear of commitment,  fear of potential struggle and fear of working with others. Although there was more to this and I could completely relate It's hear I realised that it's difficult to overcome your fears if you don't have encouragement and support throughout the journey.  It's here I saw the absolute necessity for our Service center members who visit the community regularly and build these relationship.  It's here I saw the necessity for us hands at work being here to support the service center and the CBO.  As I sat in this home visits  I realised  you can give all the money and resources and children could still go hungry and not cared for because their is no one to provide this.  As  I sat there I remember having to ask ourselves if the kids came home that day and asked mum why didn't I eat why didn't I go to school  and she responded I was afraid to receive the gift of those things  the child would struggle to understand that.

So what am I saying Fear is real, fear can hold out on our very blessing.  But encouragement and support can help us out of fear. God's truth that he has not given us a spirt of fear but that of power love and a sound mind 2 Timothy 1.7 is our only defence against fear.

During that home visit we were able to bring hope and support and praise be to God they caregivers are now part of the CBO caring for their kids. We can overcome all things through Christ who strengthens us.

If you fear anything draw closer to God and sorround yourself with people who can encourage you and support you and defeat fear!

Lots of love

Grace

If you'd love to financially support me you can do so via my account.
Miss Grace w Kariuki
Account :81388438
Sort code :60-09-50