Maybe I'm ready to say something...

...then again maybe not!


I know, I know, I don't say much here. I get blog shy. Please be patient as I try to stutter through this... So much has gone on in the last month, I don't know where to begin. For now, I'm in Nairobi starting a month of vacation. Our whole team is scattered around, enjoying a time away and (hopefully) a time of rest. Before I go on, take a look into my Kalacha world. :)

Atho (my language helper) and her little sister whose nickname means "likes sweet things." :)



Ah, someone to play with my hair!



We busted out the watercolors!



The nice people at Olla Boji who gave Charmyn her puppy, Guchi!



Playing Duck Duck MOOSE!



Hampton boys enjoying the Photo Booth feature on the Mac!



On Easter, it rained! It was a miracle. Please pray, though, because the big rain never came and we're in the midst of a drought. The next big rain comes in October. Everyone is affected.



Numbers 6:24-26
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace.”


Many of you have been with me through this year and have encouraged me, prayed for me, written to me, skyped me, sent me care packages, had your FRIENDS (!) write to me, supported me financially, and found such creative ways to show me you care for both me and the Gabra. I KNOW I could not have survived this long long long long long long long long long year without you. I pray this Numbers 6 blessing over YOU.

Yes, it's been a long year for me.
A very long year for me.

My friends and family have gotten engaged, married, had babies, been baptized, celebrated birthdays, gone through 4 seasons, graduated to the next level in school, had reunions, and had a Bandera sister weekend!

(My beautiful sisters)



( [Some of] my beautiful family)



It's been awesome to live with the Gabra and be in Kenya...but I never realized how empty 'awesome' experiences can seem without the ones you know and love nearby. If I stand back and take myself out of the picture of this last year, it's been a very rich year of blessing and seeing the faithfulness of God. But as soon as I look at myself, I'm a complete mess. I never knew how wimpy, weak, frail, and wavering I was until now. I've been put under the fire and over and over I feel I've failed the test.

There have been more good days than bad, but when the homesickness, fears, doubts, guilt, loneliness, and sadness hit, they hit hard. On those days, the desire to fly away on that flashing airplane in the night sky becomes acute. I really miss my family.

Anyway, I wanted you all to know that I'm not a superwoman.
I'm not always doing so well.
I'm pretty broken.

This is me.
Hi.

Another thing...
I love music. You know that. Music speaks to me. All kinds of all genres. I'm going to share two songs with you that probably will never be sung in church, but they're God songs to me. I won't interpret them for you, but those of you who know these songs will get it.


"Fall Back Down"
by: Rancid

Don't worry about me, I'm gonna make it alright
Got my enemies crossed out in my sight
I take a bad situation gonna make it right
In the shadows of darkness I stand in the light

You see it's our style to keep it true
I had a bad year, a lot I've gone through
I've been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She's not the one coming back for you
She's not the one coming back for you

If I fall back down, you're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you're gonna be my friend

It takes disaster to learn a lesson
You're gonna make it through the darkest night
Some people betray one and cause treason
We're gonna make everything alright

Well the worst of times, now, they don't phase me
Even if I look and act really crazy
I went way down, she betrayed me
Now my vision is no longer hazy

I'm very lucky to have my crew
They stood by me when she flew
I've been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She's not the one coming back for you
She's not the one coming back for you

If I fall back down, you're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you're gonna be my friend



"ROLL TO ME"
by: Del Amitri

Look around your world, pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it'd be?
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me.

Look into your heart, pretty baby
Is it aching with some nameless need?
Is there something wrong and you can't put your finger on it?
Right then, roll to me.

And I don't think I have ever seen a soul so in despair
So if you want to talk the night through
Guess who will be there?

So don't try to deny it, pretty baby,
You've been down so long you can hardly see.
When the engine's stalled and it won't stop raining
It's the right time to roll to me.