A Great Adventure...

So, today is the day that I leave for my journey abroad to the sweet city of Mombasa, Kenya. I am mixed with so many emotions right now as I prepare to leave in less than 12 hours. Excitement, thrill, fear, eagerness, sadness, and loneliness, and hope fill my mind right now. I am excited and hopeful that God will use me and bless my trip these next 6 weeks. As some of you know, I am going to Kenya, Africa, with an organization called Yellow House Children Services to volunteer as a speech-language pathologist in some of their clinics, schools, and hospitals. I will be living with a family there in Mombasa, who just so happen to have children living in Houston, TX. I was blessed to have them invite me over and cook me dinner--a full Kenyan meal. They are some of the most friendly and hospitable people I've ever met. I can't wait to meet more of their family and friends in their home country. I am INCREDIBLY blessed with such gracious co-workers who have allowed me to have this opportunity this summer, and who have donated tons of materials for me to take the schools and clinics I will be serving. I cannot repay these people for the support they have shown me throughout this process! 

I have been planning this trip over the last 8 months, and now it is finally here! I wanted to share with you my concerns and prayers I have, and ask you to please join me in calling out to God to bless this trip...

The things I am praying FOR:

• Safety & Protection 
• Isaiah 43:1-3 "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God..." 
• Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name's sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me... Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life." 
• Trust
• Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
• Peace
• For me as I travel, for my family back home, and for my best friends.  
• Philippians 4:7 "For the PEACE of God which surpasses ALL understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
• Knowledge
• I pray that God will provide me with the knowledge and skills to be able to help these precious children heal and cope, and that I may use everything I have been taught over the last several years. 
• Philippians 1:6 "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
• Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His creation--created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them."
• Ephesians 4:1 "Live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
• Strength
• Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength."
• Nehemiah 8:10 "Do not grieve, because the JOY of the Lord is your strength."

The things I am praying AGAINST:

• Fear
• 1 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
• Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
• Sickness
• 7 shots? check! Anti-Malaria meds? check! Allergy meds? check! Mosquito net? check! Benadryl and tons of bug spray? check! I am praying that I remember to take my meds daily and consistently, and I am protected from any illness, so that I may be effective and strong while I am there. 

Thank you all in advance for your caring hearts and for your constant prayers for me. I am so thrilled with all the miracles God has put in place for this journey to take place. My final prayer is that God will somehow use me to shine His light on the people I meet while I'm in Mombasa, because without Him, I am NOTHING. There is no way this would be happening without HIS divine knowledge and grace and loving guidance in my life. 

I love you all---Mom, dad, Michael, Kristy, my precious neice and nephew, Alex (Tom and Mads), Vanessa, my wonderful small group girls, my coworkers (Mer, especially), and friends who have loved me and supported me so far. We will keep in touch!!!

-Sarah