Crazy Love—not an easy thing - July 7, 2012

These next two posts were written last week at our initial placement and I'm posting them after the fact to give a well-rounded picture of my first week of placement.

Tonight I am in a rural part of Kenya writing and trying to process this day of new experiences. Jennie and I left this morning with an encouraging send off. I was amazed how fast the scenery changed from city to country. A lot of it reminded me of the drive to Moyobamba from Tarapotto in Peru. There were lush green plants, trees, and many rich colors of soil. It was somewhere along the winding, ascending, cloud-touching road; as we passed coffee plantations and kiosks that it hit me, once again, that I’, HERE. God is so faithful, He does know the plans he has for me. They are to prosper and not to harm me—but that doesn’t mean they are easy or pain free. Crazy love is costly. This trip, however rural, hasn’t been a walk in the park. Ive been tired, emotional, uncomfortable by the change in culture (times two…from Nairobi to here is a HUGE change). Where we are is an hours drive from the city. The loudest things have been a downpour on a tin roof and a rooster who faithfully crows on the hour—our own “Big Ben”.

                Once arriving, I was a waterfall of tears…which seems to be my body’s coping mechanism in the midst of change. I wasn’t sad—just overwhelmed. After looking around our home, Jennie and I visited with the teachers and waved to children eagerly looking out their classroom windows. After a good lunch, we played cards while our bodies adjusted to the cool temperature, because of the altitude here. Later on, I had the opportunity to share my limited knowledge of picture communication with one of the teachers who will be our mentor here. It was a divine appointment as she has studied ECSE and was so eager to know what I can pass on. There is also a school not far from here for children with disabilities that I hope to be able to share the materials and info I have. I am so humbled to see God’s timing in this trip and in preparing me beforehand. I know I will never be able to look at verses that talk about His plans, desires, will, and timing the same way. A few days ago I was encouraged by the conviction that this is a “beautiful season of growing in dependence and trust…and that it will forever be a marker for me of God’s faithfulness and provision; but it will also be my ’40 years’”.

                Even today, I was amazed at how quickly I felt the pangs of not being connected and was almost embarrassed by how lonely I felt. I was also struck by how strong my love languages are—quality time and words of affirmation, because the absence of those usual connections via internet and phone were/are so difficult here. I had to cry out to God to be near, be my hope, my companion, my joy, and my encouragement. This short time will be my desert from social media, but I trust that it will also be a time of great growth. I definitely felt the prayers this week on my behalf. I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. This season seems crazy, I’ve wondered why I am here, but I’m becoming more and convinced of how crazy Christ’s love is because of the examples of people here who so quickly call me family, to the stories back home of adoption and grace. How can I resist God’s crazy love, and how crazy would I be to not embrace and obey the ways he wants me to demonstrate that? I know this will be a difficult 5 weeks in many ways; but I trust that it is purposeful and instrumental in my understanding and mirroring of Christ’s crazy love for me.