My Heroes

Hello All,
I know lately I've been a blogging fool! I'm really starting to enjoy it. I don't know how people actually read this because I have a total of 1 follower but I'm gonna keep on writing and sharing.

Okay, so in my previous blog I talked about how I have been so inspired by those in Kenya I have met and become friends with who have disabilities. Their love for Jesus and their enduring spirits have encouraged and inspired me. I would like to introduce 3 such people in my blog here.

Richard, my Kenyan father - I have known Richard since I first came to Kenya in 2005. He was a neighbor in our culdesac and worked a phone booth that we frequented often. We'd share hellos and small talk back then but I did not have a real chance to get to know him. It wasn't until I returned to Kenya and February and then again this summer, that we got to know each other on a deeper level. He truly is a hero of mine.

Richard is in a wheelchair due to a road accident that happened almost a decade ago. At first, he struggled with depression and did not understand why God would make such a thing happen to him and his young family. But he allowed the Lord to teach him and reach him during his suffering. He knew that God could use him to reach others with disabilities so he decided to take classes in psychology so he could become a counselor! He is one of the most caring and loving individuals that I have met. He is a wonderful father, a wonderful husband (who loves his wife soo much), and a wonderful friend. I could write a lot more about him but i will leave it to a paragraph for now.

Daniella-Daniella is a woman I met this summer when I attended an outreach with Richard. She has a vibrant personality and was so friendly to me right off the bat. I could tell that she loved Jesus and others so much and that sharing Jesus and caring for others was her life mission. Although she suffers from CP, she never let it stand in her way. She has a good job (where she oftens faces people thinking she can't do something but she shows the differently), spends her free time visiting homes and schools for the disabled to encourage them, and helps out at the church as well. If i would have to pick three words to describe her I would say: she is fiesty, friendly, and on fire for Jesus. She has allowed Jesus to use her disability to bring Him glory!! What an amazing woman of God.

Tom- Tom is also someone I met at an outreach I attended with Richard. Tom was born healthy but when he became sick as a toddler, he lost his hearing. Although there are many challenges he faces as a deaf person in Kenya, he has a jubilant personality and untiring spirit. Honestly, he is one of the most sincere people I have met in my life. He works so hard is and is a teacher at a college. The Lord has opened doors for him to visit different places and meet deaf people from all over the world. I am glad that the Lord continues to encourage him as he has been such an encouragment to others. He exhibits the joy of the Lord whereever he goes.

So there you have it, three of my heroes from Kenya. I am blessed to call them my friends. Please, if you think about it, pray for these 3 individuals. Thank you for allowing me to introduce them to you.

Joni

It wasn't until recently that I started to read more about Joni Eareckson Tada. She has an amazing testimony and an amazing spirit. Her story really spoke to my heart; reading about her ups and downs with dealing with her disability and then how God brought her through and used what happened to her for His glory. I was so captivated reading her book and her honesty was greatly appreciated.

Over the summer, working with so many disabled people it made me appreciate my ability and helped me to realize that He gave me ability not to use it selfishly but to use it to reach out. For Joni, she questioned why God allowed her to have an accident to make her disabled but God had His purposes. She has been such light, encouragement, and inspiration to both those with abilities and disabilities. She states herself that it was very likely that without the disability, her life would have taken a totally different path. Her disability brought her to the end of herself and thats where she truly found and experienced God.

I am in awe of Jesus and how He gives people that capacity to endure and therefore lead others to Him through their testimony. Being able to met and talk to so many people with disabilities has given me the utmost respect for them.

I want to share one story that relates to some of what I've been talking about. While in Kenya this summer, I was able to take part in Challenger's meetings, a group that was composed mainly of people with disabilities but also with families of the disabled and those who worked with the disabled. Sometimes that Challengers would go to different places to encourage other with disabilities. I went on one such mission with them to a school for the physically handicapped. It is the case, because I am American, that when I go somewhere I get a lot of attention whether I want it or not. What I loved about going with the Challenger's to this school is that all the kids paid attention and wanted to know all about them...they were even willing to stand in line for a chance to talk to them. It warmed my heart and made me realize how powerfully the Lord was using the disabled to speak truth into other disabled people. They can reach them in a way I cannot.

And that is why I know that I must continue to have those with disabilities be a big part of the future home. Plus, I know that I have a tremendous amount to learn from them and so I want to surround myself with such fellowship. What a honor and a blessing to be able to get to know so many wonderful, strong individuals.

I had a dream....

Yes, I had a dream. I went to sleep on Tuesday and had a lovely dream that carried me into Wednesday morning. But then, I WOKE UP. I was annoyed because it was not reality and a funk started to develop in my soul in those waking moments. I should have given it to the Lord right there but I didn't. The funk turned into incredible discouragement from morning to mid-afternoon. Then my Mighty Warrior intervened and showed me His great love for me was the true message of the dream.

I was in the midst of texting a friend, still in funk, and I wrote "He delights in me...that is the truth that is getting me through this day." I've read in the bible He delights in me...I've even blogged in May about how He delights in me but I had forgotten. Yet the Lord implanted that truth in my head and then in the following hours taught my heart what it meant.

Using my dream, He made it crystal clear how He feels about me and who He wants to be to me. He taught me so much and brought the Truth so alive to me...that I could not help but share it. I downloaded on the girls last night at bible study and it was amazing! We focused on the verse in Zephaniah 3:17....it was really cool.

Haha..to be honest with you, I have a cold and I wanted to take nyquil last night before I went to bed. But I didn't because I figured that might stop me from having another dream about the amazing love of Christ. Regretfully, I do not remember my dream from last night but today He has me encouraged and enthralled with Him. In addition, He has helped me to have a productive day and to get things done that I've been aching to get done since I've been back. Woohoo...Hallelujah!

Growing Pains

Have you ever experienced growing pains?? For some of us, its been a long time since we have had physical growing pains but its when your legs or sometimes your arms would hurt when you were a child because you were growing. I recently had a conversation with a parent who said their daughter was not sleeping well and waking up crying from what she thought might be growing pains. It was after a conversation I had with a dear friend the other day about things I've been going through, that I realize that I am having spiritual growing pains. Like physical growing pains, spiritual pains hurt...I am being stretched... I feel uncomfortable...I feel sensitive...but the outcome is worth the pain.

Often times when we have great struggles, what comes is that we experience great amounts of growth. We grow in trust, faith, love, confidence, peace, etc. True, i don't like the pain now but I am excited to see the outcome when God creates a much more confident and bold woman of God. You might be going through spiritual growing pains too. Don't get frustrated or give up, just ask God what He might be trying to do in you.

Similarly, I think of the refiner's fire. A fire that hot cannot be pleasant...its gonna hurt. But when you go through the fire and the dross is removed, you are so radiant & beautiful and you reflect Christ even more than before.

So praise God for growing pains and His refiner's fire.

Decisions...Decisions

So, I am being very prayerful about this next set of decisions I must make. I have been thinking about how the Lord would have me move forward and I feel its been narrowed down to two avenues: join an organization that supports independent missionaries or partner with an exisiting NGO/NPO that is already working in Kenya. I have been thinking lately that the Lord might want me to go to Kenya for a length of time to shadow the directors and activities of one organization. This way I can find out the ins and outs of such an endeavor...with people who will be more willing to give me details because I won't be visiting different places but rather focusing on one. At the end of that time, I will be able to make a wise decision on whether I am suppose to do the NPO/NGO process myself or if the Lord is going to connect me with something already established (and not necessarily the same organization i shadow)...like a branch or satellite ministry. As the Lord unveils His plan, of course I might be led differently but as for now I am moving forward seeing if it will pan out with the Lord's help. If it doesn't, I am flexible because I don't want to do it MY way.

In the meantime, lately I have been hearing about different disabled ministries in the states through different media like television, magazines, word of mouth, etc. Since I figure it can't hurt to contact them, I've been sending e-mails out seeing if we can connect and encourage each other. I am inspired by the stories of these ministries...a summer camp for disabled children, a church for the mentally challenged, a group that reaches out to parents of disabled, a home for the disabled and abandoned...etc. It is almost unreal how much lately i've heard about different groups like this so I know the Lord has His hand in it.

In addition, there is an organization right in my hometown that works with special needs and disabled children that wants to chat with me and have me visit their place. God is amazing on how He connects people.

So join me in praying over what God has for The SKY Mission and what the next step is. Thanks and God Bless!!

Rejoice Always

Two words but so powerful....Rejoice Always. Its a wonder what implementing this into your everyday life can do for your soul and your attitude. Actually, Philippians 4 has been such an encouragement to me lately.... rejoicing, being gentle, not worrying, being prayerful, getting peace, fixing mind on Jesus, and being content with any situation (thats a quick summary of sorts). I am clinging to this chapter because it has really helped me to press on despite obstacles, discouragement, etc. All of the things mentioned in Phil. 4 cannot be done by Alysha (or you) alone...she needs Jesus to give her the strength and power because rejoicing, gentleness, not worrying, peace and contentment are not of this world...they are actually fruit of God's spirit.

We need to let the spirit invade our lives and other lives more. We need to let Him freely work as He'd like. And truth is that if we implement Phil. 4 into our lives...it will touch and change others lives as well. We will set an example of Jesus' character and it will be contagious. Wouldn't it be great if our Jesus-like character spread quicker than the swine flu?? Wish that could be the headline of the day... "Widespread Rejoicing and Prayer leading to Peace that passes Understanding happening all over the World."

Processing

Hello Everyone,
I am now home...i have been for two weeks. There hasn't been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought of Kenya. I am trying to process my time there but find myself overwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, my time there was wonderful and I received a lot of information. The trouble is that now is the time for big decisions. The decisions I make now will be pivotal in what happens from here on out. I know that I am not making these decisions alone but pray that He allows me to hear Him clearly.

So basically, I must decide what missions organization I am coming under. This is a hard task....they all seem to be different and have different advantages and disadvantages. Pray that I can find one that is a perfect fit. I also must plan another trip to pinpoint the province the Lord wants me to start in and then look for available land. I am trusting the Lord has set apart a location and He will lead me to it. In addition, right now I am in the process of making short-term and long-term plans. It is exciting that the Lord is revealing more and more but now I must package it in a way that I can present well to others. Lastly, a big thing is that I must make decisions here about the job i'm doing and how I am going to use my time. The ball is rolling and I do not what to stop the ball. Pray for endurance, boldness and for me to know God's timing.

A newsletter is forthcoming...i've been working on it but again the trouble is there is so much to say!!! I look forward to you all hearing about what happened and what's next. Also, the website will be updated.....this summer proved to be a time of guidance from the Lord and so I want the website to convey the new direction. Thanks all for your patience and continued prayer as I try to get over my reverse culture shock and move forward. God Bless!!!