Preparing to Say Farewell to Kenya

Today we have spent the day getting ready for our long travels home. There are many mixed emotions, but all of us would say that we are ready. Our time in Kenya has been filled with adventure, wonderful learning opportunities, new found friendships, and continue recognition of God's faithfulness. Here are some of our favorite trip highlights:

-getting attacked by a swarm of biting fire ants while our entire team was crammed in a van.
-watching countless deliveries in a Kenyan labor and delivery unit
-getting stuck in the mud and having to get out of our safari jeep in the middle of the wild.
-being encouraged by so many hardworking and dedicated staff members at all the places we visited
-trying to buy things at the Masai market while getting pulled in every direction
-feeling humbled by watching so many people follow God's call in their life which many times results in many orphans getting taken care of.
-all the many hours we spent in the van with Francis, our driver.
-being able to worship Christ with Kenyans in various church services
-seeing the different ways that Americans were coming together to serve Christ with Kenyans
-getting to see Tenwek Hospital
-being able to serve the mothers of special needs children at Heshima by painting their nails.

We just want to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support as we embarked on this journey. Please keep your eyes peeled for the countless pictures that will be posted on facebook within the next few weeks. Please continue to pray for all the places we have mentioned and their ministries and also for safe travels as we all take different flights home. Pray that we will be able to effectively share all that God has done in our hearts while in Kenya. Pray that we can process well and that God will show us how we can continue to serve Him here in Kenya in unique ways. Thanks again and God bless!

-The WGM Kenya Team 2012

last night in KENYA!

Happy Memorial Day from our last night in KENYA!

First of all, we thank all our military men and women who serve our country and make it such a great place to live!

So this morning was an early morning. 7 am at the crack of dawn we hit the road and headed to a new orphanage Robyn hadn’t been to yet. It was a children’s home called Hawa. It is a refuge place for young boys who have been living on the street. Once it has been determined the boys don’t have any family, they are able to be cared for at this home. These children cannot be adopted, but the children seem to be loved on and thriving. We watched as they kicked a rubber ball in the dust, chased each other around playing football (Soccer) while their flip flops occasionally fell off, caught grasshoppers, and in the end it turned out to be quite an event! They eagerly set up chairs as one by one each of the 24 boys were weighed and given an index card on which all their medical information would be written. After waiting patiently they were seen for a check up and given the oh so tasty deworming pills. Fortunately, we were able to assure them that their multivitamin given afterwards was much sweeter. However, others were given additional medications which were not quite as popular. I feel like we really did help the boys and addressed some pertinent medical issues. I think one of the coolest things about this children’s home is that it includes a few acres that they use as farmland to sustain themselves. We got a tour of the farm where we saw the growing onions, watermelons, and the green houses where they grow more vegetables. They boys help in the gardens and they are able to use the food they grow to feed themselves and pay for the continuation of this organization! So great! The director has plans to expand and farm more of the land as well. So far, this place is off to a promising start where so many boys can find a home.

After we left we headed to the Bells! We all love going there to just be encouraged by their ministry and get the opportunity to love on these abandoned babies! Dave and Jen Bell made us a spectacular American Memorial Day lunch, which consisted of hamburgers and mac and cheese! It was quite relaxing just being able to hold the precious babies one last time before we made our way back to Nairobi. Dave and Jen Bell have an incredible ministry where you can just feel Jesus’ love overflowing onto the children around them.

While we were at the Bells, we heard news of an explosion that occurred in Nairobi. Nairobi is where we are staying with Robyn but none of us were affected by it! We are all safe, and we continue to feel safe here. So please do not worry! J

Thank you for your prayers and support! We are eager to see our families again and share all our stories! Please continue to pray for safe travels as we leave late tomorrow night.

We love and miss you guys!

Page

PS: I’m getting married in 12 days!! Ahh!   

Nakuru

     We just returned to Nairobi from the last two days spent in Nakuru at the Africa Gospel Church Baby Centre.  It was an incredible and challenging experience for all of us.  As many of us processed together in the van on the way back, we acknowledged that it may take quite a while for us to fully process everything we have encountered on this trip.  The Baby Centre is a temporary home to 70 children under the age of 4 in Nakuru, working to find them their "forever home" while providing hope, health care, and most importantly the love of Christ to the children who have been abandoned, abused and neglected.  Please feel free to 'like' their page on Facebook AGC Baby Centre to see pictures of the children and read about each of their stories, as we are not allowed to share pictures or information on the children.  During our time there, each of us had the opportunity to hold countless infants and toddlers, and bring smiles and laughter to their faces.  We were overwhelmed when we walked into the toddler room as children swarmed us begging to be held and loved.  We came to the Baby Centre with posters and information to teach the workers about normal and abnormal growth and development for different age groups, and had the opportunity to teach many of the staff members who were eager to learn.  We were also blessed by the caregivers of the children who truly show love and compassion for the children.  Their job is incredibly draining and challenging, and it was eye-opening to all of us as we helped them take care of the children the last two days.  We also had the opportunity to observe as Robyn assessed several children from the community and the new babies at the Baby Centre.  We learned a lot as she examined them and took the time to explain and teach us about different disease processes.  After our time in Nakuru, we met Jim and Alice Vanderhoof, the World Gospel Mission Field Directors for Kenya, for lunch and spent time getting to know them.
     We are eager to come home and share the stories of the children and adults we have met through our time in Kenya, as they have quickly found a place in our hearts.  Their stories are captivating and inspiring to each of us, and we know you will be inspired as well.  Thanks again for all of your prayers and support as we finish strong these last few days in Kenya!

-Lindsay

Trip Day 10!

For the past two days our group has been split in half and have gone to the same places but at different times. I will give you a brief synopsis of each place!

Heshima Children's Center is a school for special needs children in Nairobi. Here in Kenya, children with special needs are looked down upon and are often seen as possessed. Parents often hide their children from society and mothers are often ridiculed for having such different children. Heshima is one of only a few schools that these kids can go to. It also provides a jewelry business for the mothers to work at while their children are at school because they often do not have jobs. All the proceeds from this cute shoppe go straight to Heshima. While at the school, we played with the kids, sang songs, helped with feedings, and observed different areas of the school.

Then we spent the night at Mahali pa Maisha infant rescue center. We worked with Dave and Jen Bell who are an amazing couple from Indiana who have been called to come work with orphans. They are contacted when an abandoned baby is found, and then they take the infant into their home if they are between the ages of birth and 2 years. Often times, they have the children for long periods of time until a suitable home is found for the babies. Currently, they have nine babies (two of which are their own) living in their house. Even with the help of hired caregivers, it is still pretty hectic over there; however, it was so encouraging to see their love for Christ and children displayed in all their hard work. We spent the night at their home and helped love and care for the babies. Some of us even assisted in measuring the babies and recording the information on growth and development charts.

Lea Toto Kibera is a pediatric HIV clinic in Kibera slum which is the second largest slum in eastern Africa. 20% of Kenya is HIV infected, and just like children with special needs, children with HIV are also looked down upon in this society. They are often made fun of or talked about and not socially accepted. Lea Toto is a place where kids anywhere from birth to 18 years come once a month to receive a check up and receive free USAID medication. They are educated on the disease and the importance of drug compliance and proper nutrition and are even often work with social workers to help with the psychosocial aspect of the disease. At Lea Toto, we spent a lot of time observing the staff of the clinic. We were given soooo much information on HIV, and we were able to compare what HIV is in the States and what it is in Kenya with the workers. We helped with making and organizing new files. We helped with assessments and worked in the pharmacy.

Today, we were all reunited, and we got the opportunity to feed some giraffes and see some orphan baby elephants. We also went out to lunch and got to do some shopping! Then we returned to Heshima as a group to give the kids and their mothers cupcakes and paint the girls' nails as ways to show that we care for them.

Tomorrow, we are departing early for Nakuru where we will be spending the night at a baby center that is home to over 70 orphan infants. Tonight, we have prepared posters for the staff of the center to educate them on growth and development of kids ranging in age from birth to three years!

Please pray for our team as we continue in our travels. Pray for safety and a good night's rest tonight! Also that we will be able to love well and begin to think about how we can end this trip well! Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

Emily =]

And here are the pictures... :)

Hey guys! It is currently after 9 PM here in Nairobi at Robyn's apartment. We left the safari this morning and drove the 6 hours back here. It's hard to believe that it has already been a week since we left home! So much has happened and yet it's also gone very fast. We have been very blessed to meet so many wonderful people and have such great experiences already. Here are some pictures to highlight what we've been up to, some of which we've already posted about. :)

On Friday we helped with the health fair at the Tenwek 75th Nursing Celebration. We mostly helped with dispensing medications into smaller containers which the doctors then gave to the patients, and taking blood pressures. 

Hard at work counting pills and pouring some medicine into containers.

The crowds here were amazing. It seemed that everyone in the nearby village wanted to come see us! This is just a small portion of the long lines of people we were able to help.

On Saturday we drove out to the Masai Mara to go on safari. It was the most amazing experience that most of us have ever had. We were very privileged to see the well known animals like zebras and giraffes, and also some that are a bit more rare, like lions and cheetahs. 

I think that the sunrises and sunsets added so much to the adventure. The "winter" weather here is gorgeous and balmy 60-70ish degrees! Here's part of our group enjoying the landscape while watching for deadly animals...haha. :)

We were also privileged to attend a staff church service on Sunday at the safari lodge where we stayed. It was a big blessing to see so many passionate Christians at work there and encouraging us. Robyn shared some about our group and from Psalm 139, which talks about the Lord always knowing our steps and being ever faithful.

The safari was a much needed rest and re-charge time as we are looking forward to next week, when we will be working with some special needs children, abandoned infants, and some sick babies. Thank you again for all of your prayers and support, they are much needed and appreciated! Continue to pray for our health as well, that we would all be in the best condition to take care of the children here.

We miss you all! 

~Jaki

P.S. Happy 16th Birthday to my sister Ginny yesterday!! :) They won't let me bring you a lion cub but I'll try to find something just as good. Love you!

From Massai Mara Safari

Jambo!


We have internet here! We wanted to take a few minutes to update everyone. It's been an eventful few days. Yesterday and the day before, we visted Tenwek Hospital. It was eye opening and inspiring at the same time... definitely a learning experience. Several of us were able to see births, which was absolutely crazy compared to what we've witnessed in American hospitals. Kenyan women are tough, let's just say that. I think I learned more about OB last night than I did my entire OB clinical rotation. A few of us are very interested in returning to Tenwek someday as nurses. We'll see. Yesterday we celebrated 75 years since the first missionary nurse arrived at Tenwek Hospital. There was a health fair going on at the same time, so we helped with blood pressures and medication adminstration. Hundereds of people from the community came to the fair, and it really opened our eyes to the overwhelming need there. It was heart breaking to have to turn people away at the end of the day. Our leader, Robyn, spoke at the celebration because she has served Tenwek Hospital for 31 years.

Today we drove to Massai Mara for our safari adventure. We were literally within 10 ft of 5 or 6 lions. They were surprising calm, so that was exciting. Our trusty driver, Wilson, kept us safe and taught us all about the animals we saw.

Tomorrow is our last full day of Safari, and we are hoping to see elephants and maybe cheetas if we're lucky. We will return to Nairobi Monday morning, and embark on a week full of jam packed activities. Stay tuned!

Lauren and Emily

P.S. Along with previous prayers mentioned, please pray for the health of some of our team members who are not feeling their best.

Thoughts from 4 am...

Hellooo jet lag! Greetings from Page, Lindsay and Lauren.  We totally should have taken the missionary's advice and medicated ourselves so we could sleep.  Unfortunately, we are not that bright.

"being immobile for 24 hours from flying can make you a little gassy"--anonymous

"at least it doesn't smell..."

"i feel like there's an animal in my stomach desperately trying to get out.  Good thing I took my malaria pill at 1 am."

We leave in three and a half hours to go to Tenwek Hospital.

We are trying to listen for monkeys right now, but all we can hear is our angry stomachs.

we are singing ourselves to sleep to the tune of "5 o'clock--T-Pain", it's not really helping, but it's alright.

Baby girl, good night.

Jambo! Day 1

Before we woke up this morning Robyn went to get our temporary student nursing licenses.  We are officially Kenyan student nurses!  After a good nights rest, we were all ready and out the door by ten o’clock this morning.  Robyn’s friend Dawn came with us to have tea time with missionaries, Joy Phillips and Terry and Karen Duncan.  They were very welcoming hosts and had a wide variety of cookies and other snacks.  We all enjoyed coffee or chai while they shared their story with us.  Joy is currently overseeing all nursing direction in South Sudan and the Duncans are regional directors for World Gospel Mission here in Kenya.  These three people have such a heart for the people they serve and are so faithful to God’s calling in their life.

After tea time, we drove to Dream children’s home.  On the way, we were able to see the beautiful land of Nairobi.  There were also many humbly scenes along the way.  When we arrived, Robyn checked up on a 10 year old HIV+ boy.  We gave the Mama, the lady in charge of the home, jars of peanut butter for the HIV+ kids.  She was such an amazing woman and invited us for dinner if we have time to go back within the next two weeks because she wants to cook for us.  We prayed over them before we left.  It was such a moving experience.  We all got back in the vans and headed to the second children’s home for the day.  It was called Huruma.  Again we delivered peanut butter and met many of the orphans and school kids.  Peanut butter is given to the children who are HIV+ to increase their protein intake.  We met some of the kids Robyn sees including a deaf boy and other AIDS children.  These kids have such a zest for life and are always smiling from ear to ear.  We were able to spend time with them playing on the playground and making funny faces for the camera.  They loved the camera so we got a lot of great pictures!  Once it was lunch time, we went inside and each child had a plate with rice and beans.  We toured the rooms they stay in as well.  Again another humbling experience as most kids sleep 2 if not 3 to a single bed.  

Robyn mentioned that some of the children’s homes in Nairobi are corrupt and sadly sex traffic kids.  It was refreshing to see how well these kids were taken care of at this home.

We drove back to Robyn’s nest for sandwiches and then went to exchange our dollars for shillings.  While there we found a coffee shop and all fueled up on caffeine.  Robyn had planned for us to go to her friend’s son’s rugby game however this is Africa (TIA) and it was getting late and started to downpour rain so we headed home instead.  We had a great spaghetti dinner Robyn prepared for us.  We just finished devos and are packing up for our next adventure.  Tomorrow we are headed to Tenwek which is a hospital in the bush.  We will be there for the next couple of days and will be going to Safari afterwards.  With that being said, we will not be updating until at least Monday, May 21.  Thanks again for following our journey!

Specific prayer requests:

• Safe travels to Tenwek and safari; a 4 hour drive
• Rest and energy as we are all starting to feel the effects of jet lag
• For the orphans and that all their needs will be met
• That their will be people to take care of them
• They will get the medicine they need
• Helping us to find ways we can be impacting the people we meet.  Even though today was a lot of on the go activities and not much doing, spending time with people is just as important.  Also realizing that God is bigger than any of us and has everything under control
• For Robyn as she serves and works with the people and children of Kenya and her ministry here

Written by: Ashley Holmes

We Have Landed!

After over 24 hours of planes, airports, and airplane food, we have made it to Robyn's house in Nairobi! I think we would all say we are definitely feeling a little jet lagged and would be okay not seeing another plane for a little while. It is around midnight right now in Africa but really it's between 2-5PM at our home towns where we left from which makes our bodies confused and our minds are consistently converting time zones back and forth between the U.S. and Africa.

Robyn was at the airport ready to greet us, and she took us to her home which is so cozy! She has three rooms and each of us got a bed to sleep on. She told us that since she just returned to Kenya from furlow she has only been living in this apartment for six weeks and only three of those nights she has had her home to herself otherwise she is consistently letting guests stay. Her hospitable attitude is already so encouraging and calming.

Tomorrow :: we are going to have tea with some of Robyn's missionary friends, getting our temporary nursing council license, exchanging money, watching a little boy's rugby game, and then having a spaghetti dinner before we go to bed early because we leave for Tenwek Hospital early Thursday morning!

If you could please continue to pray for safety, that our bodies will adjust quickly, and that we would be open to how God wants to use us in our short time here. We will also need all the energy we can get so we can love on these people here!

Watch for more updates!

It is finally here!

Hi Everyone! My name is Jessalyn Smith and I am also a senior nursing student from Indiana Wesleyan University. Time is just flying by and here we are the day before we fly out! I never expected to have the opportunity to go to Kenya when considering options for this nursing practicum but I am excited for the chance to adventure here with all of you. When I was little, I aspired to be a pediatrician so that I could help sick children in third world countries. Hearing my Grandma’s stories about her missionary days in Kenya inspired me to think about options outside the United States. As I explored career options, I decided that nursing would be a better fit for me because I like the hands-on interaction with people, but I am still interested in working with children. As I am now preparing for my senior year of nursing school, I am thinking about the opportunities that may be available in the future. I am looking forward to this trip because this is my first experience with medical missions and we get to play with kids for two weeks! I am going on this trip to see nursing in another way; the rest is in God’s hands…

Since the theme seems to be sharing some favorites or fun facts, here are some of mine…

Hometown:  Wixom, MI

Things I like: spending time with family and friends, the color pink, the movie Mulan, biology, being outside, traveling, helping people, peppermint tea, peanut butter and chocolate

Random Facts: my right eye is half blue and half green, I would like to visit every continent in my lifetime and I am unfortunately a procrastinator!

Looking forward to meeting you all in Amsterdam! 

AHH! We leave tomorrow!! :D

Hey Y’all! AHHH we leave tomorrow!! Ok ok I must contain myself….anywho my name is Page Victoria Prokop and I have also survived to be a senior nursing student! YAY!  I’m a pretty big nerd so let me break this thing down for you in SBAR style.

nursing:  it kicks my butt..but i really do love it! 

S (Situation): The situation is that tomorrow, yess…tomorrow morning the other two nursing girls and I from George Fox are leaving out of Portland and flying to Amsterdam, meeting up with the IWU girls and then going to KENYA!!!  My bags are packed and most of the time I find myself screaming with excitement! However, I will miss my fiancé and family dearly! When I come back I’ll be single for another 9 days and then getting married to this handsome military man who makes me the happiest girl in the world..(Christopher) on June 9^th, 2012! So this is my last trip as Page Prokop!

This is him! :)

B (Background): I’ve lived my entire 21 years of  life basically broiling in the desert of Phoenix, Arizona! So naturally I found the place with the most drastic weather change to go to college- George Fox University in Oregon!

•         Even though I have a mother who is a nurse, I believed that I definitely did not want to be a nurse growing up!  All the stress at a hospital setting just didn’t seem that appealing as a child. However I’ve learned a lot! I don’t have to be a nurse in a hospital. Sure I probably will just to gain some experience, but ultimately I can travel and me a nurse in Africa and other third world countries!  My dream is to be a nurse in the US but be able to take time off and travel the world as a nurse missionary! I can’t wait!
•         Part of the reason I LOVE AFRICA so much is because I actually went on a missions trip with my mom and a few people from my church to Uganda about 6 years ago. It was AMAZING! I love the people there. I’ve also been to Mexico and Amsterdam. Getting to travel the world and serve others through nursing is my ideal dream.
•        One of the main reasons I chose George Fox University was because of their nursing missions trip to Ethiopia, Africa! I thought that if there was one reason I go to this University it is so that I can go on this trip! I was naturally devastated when the Ethiopia trip was canceled unexpectedly.  Nevertheless, God never fails!  He found this awesome group of IWU girls to go to Kenya with to do this nursing focused missions trip! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!
•         Random:  I have a huge sweet tooth, no need to ask me if I am hungry because I almost always am, I love horses, chickens, and going country dancing is the best (Although I’ll dance to just about anything), I also love volleyball and being on the George Fox Soccer team this past fall was soo fun!

A (Assessment): My relationship with Jesus is a day-to-day relationship that continues to surprise me and pull me through circumstances.

-       One of my favorite things in the world is when it seems like I’m taking the most difficult route in life where I know I cannot accomplish on my own and then BAM! Things pull through and I know that it was God who got me through it all! I love choosing the hard way.  I love change. Even though it is one of the scariest things ever, I think it is the coolest thing to just take a leap and trust that God will always provide my needs.  I like the unexpected circumstances that make for great stories. While I do love all these things, I really really like to plan and pretend like I have things under control. So every once in a while Jesus reminds me that He is the one in control NOT ME! It is a learning process. 

-       While I have been raised a Christian, one of the biggest things that has brought me closer to Christ is my parent’s divorce right before I came to college. It was like a smack in face that I indeed was not in control ha. Life has just been crazy since and I am blessed to have my brother, sisters, and Christopher, a man of God, to be with me through it all. Basically now I have this enormous family (10 immediate siblings) whom I love and I know that I will never be homeless because of haha. I love life and how crazy it is!

I love my family <3

R (Recommendation): My recommendation to you is the hope that this awesome team of girls (whom I have not yet met but I know is awesome!) has lots of prayer support.  That is all I ask! Also, if nothing could go drastically wrong with the wedding while I am gone, that would be good too!

Lots and lots of Love! ~ Page 

I should probably do this before we get to Kenya...

Hello! My name is Lindsay Britton and I am going to be a senior nursing student at Indiana Wesleyan University.  I am still in the process of unpacking my room from coming home from school, so I have yet to begin the process of packing for Kenya.  There's a lot on my to-do list for tomorrow.  I am from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and my family is made up of my parents and my older sister, Andrea, who is getting married this August.

I am so excited to go to Kenya!  I signed up for this trip almost immediately, and for a while I was the only student lined up to go with Kandi, but I still felt like it was what I was supposed to do.  I went on several missions trips around the world through my youth group, and they shaped my life more than I could have ever imagined.  This will be my first time going to Africa, and I am not quite sure what to expect, but I find it kind of exciting to not know much! The only thing that was holding me back from this trip was the fact that I will be missing my boyfriend's graduation which is a week from tomorrow.  Luckily, he is incredibly supportive and understanding and was ok with me being in Africa.  I tried to get him to pose for pictures with me the other day in his cap and gown, but he didn't seem to think that was a great idea.  I like pictures, so I will throw in another for you: 

So...some of my favorite things, because everyone else has done that:  I love coffee and loose leaf tea, cardigans and warm scarves, Coldplay and Bon Iver and really all music except country, sushi, peanut butter, laughing, Modern Family and The Office, dancing (but I'm a terrible dancer), piano, learning, and time spent with the people I love.  

Oh, another important fact:  I cry, sometimes a lot.  I am not a basketcase or an emotional wreck, I just have a lot of empathy and so when other people cry or are hurting, I can't help but cry.  And I am really bad at holding in my emotions, so when I am sad or feel like crying, I just let it out.  Emily knows this very well and she says she knows my "pre-crying face"...you will probably all get a chance to see it :) But I smile much more than I cry, so no worries!

I also work as an RA in a freshmen hall at IWU, and it will be my third year as an RA there.  I love my job!

No one in my family is a nurse, and I basically decided on this major because I knew I love people and I love to learn.  As I have gone through the nursing program, I have grown to love nursing and I am so excited to see where God leads me in the field...I have no idea what I want to do with nursing yet, but I am not worrying about that yet.

I can't wait to see you all in Amsterdam and to meet the George Fox girls--we are so excited to get to work with you on this trip!  See you in 3 days!

A time for Joy

I was born here in Oregon, but spent 4-5 years in Mexico as a kid because my parents were missionaries there. I knew I would never be a missionary.

Clearly I'm Mary.

My sister was always the responsible one, my brother the smart one, and I - I was the creative one and the baby of the family. I would be the kid setting up my stuffed animals so I could draw them, making tiny paper stars, painting fake wounds onto myself, writing truly awful stories, or sculpting tiny versions of things out of clay.

When I was 16 I went on my first missions trip alone. I spent the summer camping and staying on church floors across Europe. I had been a Christian for as long as I could remember, but as much as I wanted to know God, I had always had a difficult time really believing. Then, on Royal Servants I tasted the relationship that today I cannot live without. It was this same summer that I felt God calling me into missions. Where though? I asked, but the only thing I really knew was that it would not be to Africa.

With this background, my plan developed into an Art major at George Fox. I figured I would focus on photography and use that overseas… somehow.

My family - I'm on the left

I’ll take a break from my story to tell you a little more about myself. I find it my personal mission in life to entertain anyone who happens to be close enough to hear me (and, to the dismay of some, that is quite a large radius). This comes out in my nursing too – I feel like my day is going well if I get my patients laughing. I once had a schizophrenic patient look at me like I was crazy and ask what “this” was as he imitated me dancing next to the dynomap. It’s not my fault the O2 takes so long to read. I laugh easily and feel rude if I don’t smile at everyone I see. I love dancing. I love driving with my window down. I love having a whole afternoon to read.

Oh, and you know that feeling – when your heart speeds up and you almost feel sick from giddiness and the whole world is suddenly put right – essentially the feeling of being in love…

That’s how I feel in airports. But back to the story.

During my second semester of my freshman year, there was a missions conference at my school. I decided to go in and walk around the booths. A man I spoke to told me that people overseas will respect you more if you are actually working in their country. Discouraged, I kept walking and met another person who told me about a labor and delivery nurse in Indonesia. My heart beat faster, and I knew I wanted to do something like that. I was upset for a second when I realized that I would have no medical training at the end of my four years. Then it hit me. I could. Within a few days the change was official.

But we still have the problem of where I would end up. I dated a guy for a while who was interested in missions in Africa, and it was probably during that time I first allowed the idea to enter my heart.

Not my cat... but I love cats

I completed the prerequisites for our nursing program and after applying was accepted. During the welcome ceremony I heard about a trip our nursing program does every two years. It was to Africa. Again, my heart beat a little faster and I knew that was what I would be doing. I was going to Ethiopia. But, as you may guess, my plans never go according to themselves. The trip was cancelled, but I felt an assurance that one way or another I was going to Africa. Our professors are amazing, and they arranged for three of us girls from the original trip to be a part of this trip – this adventure to Kenya.

So this is me, and this is my story. I’m about to have my first taste of what I hope will be my life work after five years of asking God where and what and three years of nursing school. I read this verse the other morning:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”

I felt strongly that God was telling me the verse is being fulfilled in this adventure to Kenya. This wait is finally over, and this is a time for joy.

On the countdown!

Hey everyone!  My name is Ashley Holmes.  I will be a senior nursing student at Indiana Wesleyan University this coming fall (Wow! where did the time go?).  I am very excited about this trip but to be completely honest at the same time nervous because this is way out of my comfort zone.  I never been on a mission’s trip so why not start off with oh ya know Africa. ha!  However I know God’s hand is completely covering over this trip and our team.  He has taught me in preparation for Kenya that I just need to trust him and he will take care of the rest!  Why is this so hard sometimes?!?  I like Emily was planning on going to Sierra Leone but plans changed and now headed to Kenya and I am so super eager to get there to meet everyone and most importantly share the gospel with the people we will be serving!  Here are just a few things about me personally…

Hometown: Holland, MI (yes, I am smitten with the mitten…for you Oregon girls I will have to show you on my hand where I live :))

Family: Dad, Mom, and younger brother, Bryan who is a junior in high school

Pet: a cute little mutt named Sydney

Nursing: My mom and grandma are both nurses.  When I was younger I wanted nothing to do with it and always planned on being a teacher.  Not until my senior year of high school did I decide to pursue nursing and so glad I changed my mind!  As for after I graduate, I do not know what is in store but I do love kids and senior citizens.  (Odd combo I know).  So we’ll see what happens!

Loves: donuts, peanut butter, dark chocolate, laughing, jokes, sports, pintrest (addicted actually), all things wedding, fall, reading Karen Kingsbury books, headbands, and catching up with friends over a good cup of coffee.

Random fact for the day…just leaned what YOLO stands for.

Cannot wait to journey on this trip with you all!

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Hello there! I'm currently in an intense allergy haze, so forgive me if this gets a little crazy...

My name is Lauren McCleery, but most people call me Smalls. I'll answer to anything, though. :)
Let's see... I just finished my Senior year at IWU, and I graduate in December. I didn't start off with nursing, so I had a little catching up to do. I live in Gahanna, Ohio, which is about which is 15 minutes outside of Columbus. I have an 18 year old sister named Taylor, who will be graduating from high school 2 days after we return. I also have three ridiculous dogs, Tyler, Hattie, and Harper.

Class of 2012 Pinning Ceremony 

I have been an RA for three years now, and I love all things ResLife. I'm also a writer and actor for our university's production of Friday Night Live (just like Saturday Night Live). I love theatre, film, and comedy. My dream is to be a writer for SNL or a show like Modern Family. I don't know how that will work with nursing, but we'll see.
I have a big heart for the forgotten and underserved. I especially care for those who have been hurt by the church, and I hope to help create new bonds. When it comes to the type of nursing I would like to pursue, it involves community health, probably in a clinic setting. For the last two years, I haven't been able to get Los Angeles out of my head... I can't explain it. Oddly, it has nothing to do with my love for entertainment. I don't know if I'll end up there, but I'm so excited to see what the future holds. I love traveling, so I'm open to almost anything.

Random list of favorites, in no particular order...

Cake: vanilla
Coffee drink: Cubano
TV show: Modern Family... and Jeopardy
Dog: all three of mine
Town in Florida: St. Augustine
Foods: Salmon, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, green beans (not together)
Movie: Big Fish
Color: green
Hunger Games character: Peeta (go figure)
School subject: English
Marine creature: seahorse
Number: 14

Alright, that's all I have for now. This allergy headache is taking over. I'm so excited to experience this adventure with you!

I Hope This Blog Doesn't Make Me Sound Boring.

Hi! My name is Emily Larson, and I am a senior nursing major at Indiana Wesleyan University. I am from the Chicagoland area, and I am SO looking forward to Kenya! For the past two summers, I have gone to Brazil for missions work. Other than that, this will be my first time to Africa and my first nursing focused trip! I had originally intended on going to Sierra Leone through Indiana Wesleyan this summer, but the trip got cancelled. I was left feeling pretty discouraged, and I really was not looking to go on a different trip. However, once I returned to school after Christmas break, I was told that I should really look into Kenya since I am really wanting to pursue a career in pediatrics. The more I researched and talked to other people - the more my interest was peaked and now I will be going to Kenya in ten days! I have been feeling for a few months now that God really has wanted me to go to Africa next, and I know He was the one lying this opportunity in my lap!

Since other girls are putting some fun facts I can too -

That's me up there. ^
I love to be crazy and dance around wearing bright colored clothing. =]
I can say the alphabet faster backwards than I can say it forwards.
I love cities.
I love my family and friends more than anything.
I love kids.
I took the strengths quest this semester and discovered my strengths are arranger, positivity, input, empathy, and responsibility - just in case you were wondering!
I love trying new things, but I hate change.
I am a planner.
I'm dating a boy named Ben, and he makes me smile.
I work as an Assistant Resident Director in a freshmen dorm at IWU.
I, along with Lindsay, will be the first to live all four years of college in North Hall - which is comprised of all freshmen girls!
And I discovered this semester that one of my hobbies is sitting in coffee shoppes for hours on end either talking, surfing the web, studying, or reading.

Okay that's it! I hope no one is mad that I didn't write as much! I'm excited to meet the rest of the team and to get to share the Kenya experience with all of our blog readers!

Jambo Rafikis! (Hello friends!...man I'm loving Swahili already...)

Hey guys! Only 13 (and almost 12) days until we leave! I am so excited about getting to know all of you, some for the first time, some just better, and sharing this experience. So here's a little about me. :)

1. I am a nerd. I am currently listening to the Lion King soundtrack and earlier I was brushing up on my Swahili, trying to prepare for the trip. Lol. My two biggest discoveries: Rafiki means friend, and simba means lion! (Who knew?!) I have never been to Africa (Have any of us? Can't remember...), so I'm doing my best to be prepared, lol.

2. While this trip is primarily pediatric-focused, I am really not interested in peds nursing. The girls in our IWU group discovered this at the first meeting and have since been giving me a really hard time about hating children. So just to set the facts straight: I DON'T HATE CHILDREN!! In fact, I'm a long time babysitter and I love them. But when it comes to nursing, I prefer 85 year olds. :) Just saying. (and I'm not mad, I promise.)

3. I LOVE zebras. I can't wait to see them on our safari! :)

4. I have lived the last 15 years of my life in Anderson, IN, but I was born in St. Louis and lived a year in Kentucky. There are no nurses in my family (more teachers honestly), so I'm trying to break the mold. I am the third of four children and I adore my family. I currently have a brother who is living and doing mission work in Bahrain, while my older sister and brother in law live in Indianapolis, and my almost-16-year-old sister is living, dramatically, at home with my (apparently) terrible parents. Lol.

5. I'm very outgoing and I love to talk. This will be extremely evident once we meet (if not before then...). :) I also love to dance (like Emily and Lindsay) and am excited about all the fun we'll have alongside of our learning experiences.

6. My favorite color is teal, and I'm likely to be wearing some kind of blue every day. I rarely, if ever, wear pink or orange. Eek.

7. My favorite foods include peanut butter, mac 'n cheese, strawberries, mint chocolate, spinach, and pork steaks. Preferably not all together.

8. My favorite tv shows are The Office and Once Upon a Time. Favorite movies are Pride and Prejudice and The Incredibles. Favorite music--I primarily listen to Christian music but the style depends on my mood; pretty much anything but country is good. Maurice Ravel is my favorite classical composer. Favorite authors are C.S.Lewis and G.K.Chesterton.

I think this is enough to cover the basics and pique all of your interests about my eccentricities. :) See you all in Amsterdam if not before!

Never say Never...

Hello! My name is Megan Wiuff (it's pronounced, 'view', but as you can imagine I'm used to people getting it wrong).

I feel the best way to describe where God has taken me is to describe where I've come from. I've learned to never say never to God. My mother said that she would never marry a pastor, and she's been happily married to one for over 25 years. My parents were told they were never going to have children, and with some prayer, they had three (of which I am the youngest, and only girl - in the picture above my oldest brother Jeremy is in the middle and Mitchell on the right). Both of my parents grew up in Canada, and me and my brothers were all born in Alberta. Then, when my dad was looking for a full-time pastoral job (instead of church planting, which he had been doing in Canada) he said that he would never pastor in the states. Low and behold, we've been living in Southern Oregon for about 15 years (I attached a picture of me at the Oregon Coast, because it's the best!). Because of these experiences, I've learned to let God be in control of the doors and windows of my future (it usually turns out better that way, anyways ;).

In high school I was really involved in choir, theater, and my local Youth for Christ (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's kind of like Young Life). The summer after my Junior year I went on my first mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. The next summer, due to an overwhelming amount of support I received from my friends and family, I was able to go on another mission trip. This time I went to Kingston, Jamaica for two weeks (the picture to the right is from that trip). This trip really sparked the desire in my heart for missions, people of African heritage, experiencing and learning from different cultures, as well as opening my eyes to the many ways God has already prepared me to be successful in missions.

I came to George Fox right after graduating from high school and have loved every moment of it! I've been involved in a lot of different leadership roles here including being a Resident Assistant for two years, as well as being the president of our nursing club next year. Our school started doing a trip to Ethiopia with a couple of our nursing professors every other summer, and was really excited for the opportunity to dip my toes in medical missions. When the trip was canceled, I didn't feel right about doing anything besides medical missions, and that's when we found this trip :). I am very excited to see what God is going to do in our hearts, and through our hands and feet. Every moment i think about it, I feel God calling me more and more to medical missions. This is scary and exciting at the same time, and I'm doing my best to just trust that he will lead me with a steady hand.

For now, I am a nursing student, trying to keep my head above the sea of care plans and ATI tests that surround me.

Excited to serve with you all & bring glory to our Father!
Megan

Meet the Team

We are a group of students from Indiana Wesleyan and George Fox University that will be traveling to Kenya May 14-30, 2012. We are all nursing majors and are eagerly waiting to see what God has in store for us in Africa. While we are in Kenya we will be traveling to Nairobi, Tenwek, and Nakuru. We would like to use this blog as a way for us to communicate to our family and friends all that happens while we are in Kenya! Up until the time we leave, each of us will be posting about ourselves so that you can get a feel for who we are and why we are embarking on this journey!