Make A Joyful Noise, All the Earth

As Taylor and I walked back to the bus tonight I turned to her and could only say "what an awesome day!"  She fully agreed and asked me if I was a little teary eyed.  I certainly was.  That was about the only way I could describe it.

In Psalm 98 David says:

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

This psalm has so much content to it today. God and His salvation are known throughout the world and  we make a joyful noise to Him.  He deserves all the honor, glory, and praise.  We had the opportunity to have chapel with the girls at the school today and it was one of the most amazing experiences.  I wish all of you could take part in this to feel their joy for singing and praising God.  I have videos but these will not compare to the experience.  It was even better than the first day when they taught us the song.  Today we were able to sing and clap and dance with them as one body.  They thought of us as friends.  I have no doubt it was a more than joyful noise to the Lord.

But to rewind to the beginning of the day--a very full day.  We began at the school to continue some of the work we started on Monday.  Some of the group continued to sledgehammer the big rocks from the rubble of the toilet demolition which are being used for the driveway.  My group worked more on the potholes in the driveway.  We mixed 3 more bags of cement and poured it.  The driveway has definitely improved some.  It may not be the best cement job but it looks a little more smooth.  Dwayne and Char came to help with our group today which was a lot of fun to have them with us.  (If they are reading this, you guys are great and truly an example of a Christ-centered marriage.  I have really enjoyed getting to know them over these past few days.)  We worked at the school for a couple hours and then headed back to Brackenhurst to change.

Next stop was going into the town of Limuru which isn't far from Brackenhurst.  This was one of the most cultural experiences of the trip.  We started our visit by going to Bata Shoe Outlet.  This is a shoe company based out of Switzerland that has factory outlets in many parts of the world, except the US.  Those of you that know me could probably guess that I had to buy a pair...and of course mine have laces.  Several of us actually bought similar shoes.  And they were super cheap...as in under 20 American Dollars.  It was awesome!

After leaving Bata we walked through the middle of the town where the markets are.  Here they have a fruit and vegetable market and on Wednesday they have a clothing market.  Both were eye-opening. Minority is probably an understatement....we were the only white people there.  Which was so cool. It was so interesting to see how they do life here.  There were so many stands with bananas, papayas, and all other kinds of fruit and other stands with all kinds of beans and tea leaves.  There was even a section with live chickens for sale.  And so, so many adorable children around.  I wanted to take pictures of them all but we were asked as we walked in to stop taking photos which was understandable.  Many of the vendors were very friendly.  We got many "oohh mzungus" (which for those of you that don't know means "white people")  Once we left the fruit and vegetable area we had a short walk over to the clothing market.  We stopped to talk to a man on a motorcycle.  He makes his living by driving people around on the motorcycle which is a common job here.  He wanted to know about where we are from and shake everyone's hand. The clothing market is full of used clothing.  Everything you can imagine--from just socks, to shoes, to all sorts of tops and bottoms, to underwear.  There was an area that had actual booths with tables set up where the vendors had a wide variety of items.  Many others though just had a blanket on the ground with their items laid out.  Again, we were the ONLY white people there so everyone noticed when we walked by.  Some asked us to buy but many simply smiled and said Hujambo.  The smiles on these Kenyans' faces can truly change your life. They have the most beautiful smiles and sweetest eyes.  I know I have written this several times but it can't be said enough.  The beauty of God's people has been on display.  A few people bought woven bags from one of the last stands we walked by and at the very last stand 2 women were on the ground weaving the bags.  For a few shillings they allowed us to take a picture and it was a beautiful one.  (I'll have to share it later as it was taken on my phone and that's dead.) At the end of the market we all stopped to snap some photos and give everyone time to catch up with the group.  Just behind the market there was what looked to be a primary school--tons of young kids running around playing.  They all came to the fence to look at us and again were so cute!  

After the markets we walked to the grocery store which is called Clean Shelf (although I'm not positive on the name but something close).  Here we purchased gifts for our resource families in Jikaze.  We each got our families two bags of flour and a large bag of rice.  I can't wait to take it to Sharon tomorrow!  This was a cool experience too to just see how they do daily living.  There was a bridge leading over one of the main roads that led to the shopping mall where the grocery store was.  We all stood there for a few minutes just observing before going to the store.  It was both a humbling experience and a culturally enriching experience.  The world we live in is so much bigger than what we live day-to-day.

Once we left Limuru we headed back to Tim and Jody's house to help with lettuce cleaning and packaging again.  We did the same thing as yesterday but it was great to see the girls again.  I got to talk to Doug and Lynn (a couple in our group) for quite a while about our families and life back home.  They too are an awesome couple and it's been fun to get to know them.

It is hard to choose one particular favorite part of each day because every moment of every day has been such a blessing.  Today though, the time we spent at the school that I briefly mentioned above was one of the biggest blessings I think I've experienced.  Between those few hours and my time with Sharon and her family yesterday, God has truly answered prayers in a way I never imagined.  We did crafts with the girls first thing.  There were three rooms with three different crafts which we all split up into to help.  I was in the room making paper ballerinas.  (For my friends and family reading this--go ahead and laugh.)  This was our time to really get to spend some quality time with the girls.  These girls are beautiful people inside and out.  The first girl I worked with was Gladys.  Gladys had the best laugh and was so easy to talk to.  We hit it off instantly and in fact made a fantastic ballerina.  But our conversation and laughs were so good that it took us a little longer than everyone else.  Gladys is from about 1.5 hours from here.  She told me she loves school and soccer.  She wanted to know about me and where I'm from and what I do.  I showed her a picture of Pilot Mountain and she just laughed.  She asked if I was married or had a boyfriend so I showed her a picture of some guy Korey that I sometimes hang out with :) ....she squealed and said "ohhh he's so cute." We laughed for a while over that.  (Korey, don't let it go to your head.) I later found out Gladys's mom has HIV or AIDS but it's looking more like AIDS and has very little.  Her family lives in an IDP camp and still in a tent.  Again, my heart was broken.  She is such a beautiful soul and from what Caitlin said she is very bright. God is certainly at work in her and I pray that His promise is made true in her life--that every good work He has started He will bring to completion ....I also worked with Mary.  Mary was a Form 1 so a little younger but just as awesome.  Mary and I bonded over sports.  She said she LOVES sports and LOVES to compete.  My kind of girl.  She plays volleyball, soccer, and basketball.  She told me she would teach me to play soccer when I come back.  Mary's family lives in Limuru now where we went to the market today....but before that her family too was in a displacement camp.  Both my girls came from so little but are so full of life.  They in fact have filled my life...through them God has put a new joy in my spirit.

After crafts we went to chapel with the girls.  Chapel started with a time of praise and worship.  These girls can worship like I have never experienced.  You looked around the room and none of us mzungus could help but have a huge smile and join in with them.  We sang and clapped and danced.  Again, bringing a joyful noise to the Father.  One body, worshipping our Savior.  What a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God.  Caitlin then brought the message.  They are learning about the life of David and today it was on 1 Samuel 17--the story of Goliath.  She did a fantastic job--God has truly blessed her with a gift to share His word with these girls.  Several of the girls were so knowledgable, it was amazing.  The message was on trusting in God's plan and how we often are like the Israelites--fearful of what is to come rather than relying on the promise God has made to us and trusting in His plans.  Gladys (a different Gladys than the one I worked with earlier) closed us in prayer.  Never have I been more blown away by a prayer.  It was so heartfelt and full of the gospel.  She prayed for us, the volunteers, that God may bless us--what an impactful moment.  Here we are coming to serve them and wanting to do all we can for them thinking they're the ones that need us--and she prays for us a very strong, bold, and heartfelt prayer.  The Kingdom of God on display again.

Leaving was the hardest part.  We all shared some more laughter and took lots of pictures.  A few of the girls asked to be friends on Facebook.  They're getting wireless at the school soon so hopefully we can stay in touch often.  After many, many photos....including several with my girls Gladys and Teresia with Andrew (they LOVED him!) ....and many hugs and smiles it was time to go.  Several asked me if we would be back tomorrow and if not how about Friday....sadly I had to tell them no, this was goodbye for now until I come back.  It was very tough to leave them.  Even after only a few short hours they already felt like good friends and girls I want to mentor and watch grow up and most importantly walk beside them with Christ.  Their spirits are incredible.  One thing that really impressed me and made me smile was the dreams they have for their future.  Mary wants to be an accountant (so I told her about my mom) and Rochelle wants to be a lawyer.  Rochelle and I talked for a while about law school and her plans for university and then law school.  She was very interested in my life and my experience.  But how awesome is that--they are planning for their future and dreaming big and I have no doubt God is going to use them in mighty ways if they trust in Him.  So I ask you to join me in bold prayers for these girls.  That they will trust in His plans, that God will guide their paths, and that He will use them For His Kingdom's Cause.  God has certainly already used them for His Kingdom's cause in impacting my life in an unbelievable way.  And I continue to pray that through my inadequate words you all back home may see a glimpse of His great works here in Kenya and be blessed.  He alone deserves all the honor, glory, and praise---and the joyful noise we made for him today as we experienced the goodness of God with 21 beautiful Kenyan girls.  

And one last thing I definitely can't forget....Freeman has painted a mural on the wall in the dining hall at the school.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  And the girls LOVE it!!  He spent so much time on it and definitely deserves to be applauded for it.  As with most things here, the picture does not do it justice.  So our hats off to Freeman--he has certainly provided a blessing to these girls!