Because of the way the school system works in Kenya, all of the children are out of school for the month of April. We spent our first week out of school with Em’s parents who came to visit us (more on our adventures with them later!), and we’ll spend the rest of the month with our favorite Nairobi family and our favorite American missionaries in Kijabe. When school picks back up in May, we’ll spend about two weeks at I Can Fly High School in Machakos, the county where we lived in September.
We’re very excited for all that the Lord has in store for the last five weeks of our time here. However, we had to say goodbye to our Legacy babies on Tuesday night, and excited was the last word that could’ve described us.
It feels like it was just last week that Emily and I boarded a plane to come to Kenya for the first time. I can hardly believe that it’s been a whole seven months since we started this journey. On the day that we left for Africa and said goodbye to our favorite Americans, we cried. A lot. Not because we weren’t excited for a new country and a new experience, but because we weren’t quite ready to leave Raleigh and the people that defined the first 18 years of our lives. Our friends and family in Raleigh know us so well, love us unconditionally, and support us in so many ways.
And on Tuesday night when we said goodbye to a lot of our favorite Africans, we cried. A lot. Not because we’re not excited for all the adventures to come, but because we feel like a part of us is now missing.
We’re very excited for all that the Lord has in store for the last five weeks of our time here. However, we had to say goodbye to our Legacy babies on Tuesday night, and excited was the last word that could’ve described us.
It feels like it was just last week that Emily and I boarded a plane to come to Kenya for the first time. I can hardly believe that it’s been a whole seven months since we started this journey. On the day that we left for Africa and said goodbye to our favorite Americans, we cried. A lot. Not because we weren’t excited for a new country and a new experience, but because we weren’t quite ready to leave Raleigh and the people that defined the first 18 years of our lives. Our friends and family in Raleigh know us so well, love us unconditionally, and support us in so many ways.
And on Tuesday night when we said goodbye to a lot of our favorite Africans, we cried. A lot. Not because we’re not excited for all the adventures to come, but because we feel like a part of us is now missing.
We never expected to meet so many beautiful children and teachers that know us on such a personal level.
We never expected to meet so many people that love us and take care of us so well no matter what.
And we never expected to meet so many Kenyans at Legacy that will always support us, whether we’re living with them or very far away from them.
The people at Legacy are our family. God has used our time there to completely change our lives and our thoughts. Our time in Narok hasn't been all fun and games, but as I look back, I wouldn't change a thing. God so clearly taught us what it looks like to rely on Him alone and to value Him as our supreme treasure. He taught us how to love when we really don't want to love and how to have joy when we can't find happiness anywhere.
We sang and danced a lot.
We taught countless Bible classes.
We played hard.
We cried hard.
We laughed hard.
We loved hard.
We sang and danced a lot.
We taught countless Bible classes.
We played hard.
We cried hard.
We laughed hard.
We loved hard.
During our last week in Narok, we talked about what the Bible says about heaven every night in dorm devotions.
We talked about how we are from 2 different continents, 3 different countries, and 11 different cities/counties, but if we believe that Jesus has redeemed us from our life of sin, heaven is our eternal home.
We pray that we will see our girls again. We talked about how Emily and I want with every part of us to come back and visit soon. But we also talked about how it might be a few years before we can come back since we are going to college in August. We talked about how they might switch schools or go to high school before we come back. We talked about how, in all reality, we may never see some of our girls again in this life. However, we told them that if they have a personal relationship with Jesus, we can promise that we'll live with them for all eternity in heaven.
We talked about how we are from 2 different continents, 3 different countries, and 11 different cities/counties, but if we believe that Jesus has redeemed us from our life of sin, heaven is our eternal home.
We pray that we will see our girls again. We talked about how Emily and I want with every part of us to come back and visit soon. But we also talked about how it might be a few years before we can come back since we are going to college in August. We talked about how they might switch schools or go to high school before we come back. We talked about how, in all reality, we may never see some of our girls again in this life. However, we told them that if they have a personal relationship with Jesus, we can promise that we'll live with them for all eternity in heaven.
One night last week, we wrote "heaven" in large letters on a piece of paper and then had the girls yell out different things that are or aren't in heaven.
"No sickness!"
"Gold streets!"
"God!"
"Really huge houses!"
"No crying!"
Then one of our girls, Daisy, yelled out, "There are no goodbyes in heaven!"
You're right, sweet Daisy. No goodbyes in heaven. I find so much joy in that simple truth.
"No sickness!"
"Gold streets!"
"God!"
"Really huge houses!"
"No crying!"
Then one of our girls, Daisy, yelled out, "There are no goodbyes in heaven!"
You're right, sweet Daisy. No goodbyes in heaven. I find so much joy in that simple truth.