Well our first official day of Kenya is over! It's about 9:00 PM as I begin writing tonight's blog and it's embarrassing how exhausted I am this early! But hey...that's jetlag!
Anywho! We had a pretty wonderful day today. We headed up to Kwalengare(sp?) for church at the Hope Center and right when we pulled up we were greeted by a group of young boys with big smiles on their faces for us. As we walked into church, the walls were already shaking! This church LOVED to dance! Once we got into the second song, the voices got louder and the dancing even wilder! Definitely right up me and megans alley! :) the worship was absolutely wonderful. We got to sing some Kenyan songs and while we didn't understand the words, we could sense God's presence just as much as everyone else in the church. It was pretty beautiful. Our pastor was literally the funniest human ever, while also being extremely charismatic. He was challenging and convicting without being condemning, it was pretty phenomenal to witness that type of passion. The church was so hungry for His word and their love for our Jesus was very apparent.
After church we had a little photo session with some mischevious boys outside the church and then headed to the slum that was behind the church. It's pretty crazy to go back into a slum expecting and knowing what it will be like. At the same time, I don't ever want to become numb to the devastation that lives in these slums. We had two awesome tour guides, Kish amd Giant(aka Isaac) who gave us the 411 on every part of the slum. What is hard to grasp is that this is a place we were visiting for a week...but to them, well this is their life. Being thankful doesn't even do what were feeling justice. But something that the pastor said, is that through all this pain and poverty, there is a God of this city. Bigger things have yet to come for Nairobi and all of Kenya. While speaking of this place will never give you a real picture, I hope it draws you to action. It sure does make me want to make a difference. It's easy to feel small or get overwhelmed by a slum with upwards of a million people...I just have to cling to the fact that God is bigger. And that He's got every precious person living in these slums on His heart. But that will also make me draw even close to their beautiful faces and hearts.
That's all for tonight, we have an early morning!
In His overflowing grace,
Crissy
WE MADE IT!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
So after one 10 hour flight, a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam, another 8 hour flight and being in airport traffic for an hour...we finally made it to our wonderful guesthouse!!
We all probably slept a little too long on the plane so tomorrow is going to come quickly but were all so excited that its gonna be hard to sleep!
It's pretty phenomenal how quick the brain remembers, the sights, sounds and smells are all so familiar to me. It's so weird amd crazy to be back here again! My heart just seems to be at rest when I'm here. Our guesthouse is literally right across the street from Kibera and seeing it again...even in the nighttime was absolutely mind-blowing. It almost brought me to tears just because I have such fond memories of that place. I know the people sleeping in that slum tonight are probably scared for their lives and are praying for a miracle. But I also know that they have some of the greatest joy in the entire world because they even have someone like our Father in Heaven to pray to...it's so encouraging to be so close to people that I've been so far away from for an entire year!
Anyways, we have church in the morning then some bargaining at the Maasai market :) we are so pumped to have our first full day in Kenya!
Keep us all in your prayers, Me, Morgan, Megan, Michael, Kendon and Josh!
In His great love,
Crissy
We all probably slept a little too long on the plane so tomorrow is going to come quickly but were all so excited that its gonna be hard to sleep!
It's pretty phenomenal how quick the brain remembers, the sights, sounds and smells are all so familiar to me. It's so weird amd crazy to be back here again! My heart just seems to be at rest when I'm here. Our guesthouse is literally right across the street from Kibera and seeing it again...even in the nighttime was absolutely mind-blowing. It almost brought me to tears just because I have such fond memories of that place. I know the people sleeping in that slum tonight are probably scared for their lives and are praying for a miracle. But I also know that they have some of the greatest joy in the entire world because they even have someone like our Father in Heaven to pray to...it's so encouraging to be so close to people that I've been so far away from for an entire year!
Anyways, we have church in the morning then some bargaining at the Maasai market :) we are so pumped to have our first full day in Kenya!
Keep us all in your prayers, Me, Morgan, Megan, Michael, Kendon and Josh!
In His great love,
Crissy
Though I'm not worthy.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
In about 30 minutes we will be 1 day and 15 hours from departure! I absolutely GIDDY about going back to Africa! This blog was originally started for the first time that I traveled to Kenya and Uganda...never in a million years did I think that I would have the opportunity to go back! But of course our Faithful Savior always has bigger and better plans than we even have for ourselves.
Anywho, I got to have a really sweet time with Jesus this evening where I just sat on my back porch and hung out, read His Word and just soaked Him in. And Ive been so caught up in being in awe of how big God is(which He is ever so big) that I forgot how small I was! I forgot to be thankful. I mean I've absolutely been incredibly overjoyed the way that God has provided literally EVERY SINGLE PENNY for this trip but I forgot that I am not worthy. I'm not worthy of His beautiful, encompassing love -- much less His blessing to get to send His gospel to the world. YET, He is choosing me, equipping me and blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. I don't even know how to explain a moment like that. A moment when you really understand how unworthy we really are, yet how deserving God treat us. The way He blesses my life, you would think I am so faithful always and am constantly intentionally pursuing every single thing that it means to be a follower of Christ. I mean I definitely do my best, but my best falls so incredibly short of what it would mean to receive very small blessing from our Father. But for some unimaginable reason, He chooses to treat me in a way that 1) I will never be able to earn(thank God i don't need to) and 2) in a way I'll never understand(good think I don't need to do that either). I just really had such a moment of awe tonight....I'm so incredibly overjoyed that my Daddy loves me but I'm even more thankful that He loves me greater than any person on the planet when I dont deserve an ounce of it.
In the end...I know God thinks I'm worth it. And that's so encouraging to me when I really dwell on it. I am so so so so PSYCHED for this trip and I know that our magnificent Savior is going to literally rock the world of everyone going...I. Can't. Wait.
I just wanted to share my heart with y'all tonight!
In His infinite mercy,
Crissy
Anywho, I got to have a really sweet time with Jesus this evening where I just sat on my back porch and hung out, read His Word and just soaked Him in. And Ive been so caught up in being in awe of how big God is(which He is ever so big) that I forgot how small I was! I forgot to be thankful. I mean I've absolutely been incredibly overjoyed the way that God has provided literally EVERY SINGLE PENNY for this trip but I forgot that I am not worthy. I'm not worthy of His beautiful, encompassing love -- much less His blessing to get to send His gospel to the world. YET, He is choosing me, equipping me and blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. I don't even know how to explain a moment like that. A moment when you really understand how unworthy we really are, yet how deserving God treat us. The way He blesses my life, you would think I am so faithful always and am constantly intentionally pursuing every single thing that it means to be a follower of Christ. I mean I definitely do my best, but my best falls so incredibly short of what it would mean to receive very small blessing from our Father. But for some unimaginable reason, He chooses to treat me in a way that 1) I will never be able to earn(thank God i don't need to) and 2) in a way I'll never understand(good think I don't need to do that either). I just really had such a moment of awe tonight....I'm so incredibly overjoyed that my Daddy loves me but I'm even more thankful that He loves me greater than any person on the planet when I dont deserve an ounce of it.
In the end...I know God thinks I'm worth it. And that's so encouraging to me when I really dwell on it. I am so so so so PSYCHED for this trip and I know that our magnificent Savior is going to literally rock the world of everyone going...I. Can't. Wait.
I just wanted to share my heart with y'all tonight!
In His infinite mercy,
Crissy
2 WEEKS!
Friday, May 20, 2011
I cannot believe I'm here again! I am leaving for Africa in less than 2 weeks.
Excited literally does not even begin to put what I'm feeling into words. This place that I love so much, that always weighs so heavily on my heart...I get to go there again? It doesn't make sense that I should be so lucky.
I just got off the phone with Shawn Koonce who is the founder of the Tin Roof Society, the organization that were going with and he just got me FREAKING OUT with excitement. This trip is going to be a mostly educational trip, we are going in schools and orphanages and slums to really be a light where there is none. A lot of these kids will have no future without a school system and we are so blessed that God is going to use us in that.
I am honestly standing in awe of God when I think about this trip because I am so incredibly blessed that I get to go to Kenya...again. God has absolutely provided for this trip and I know that He is going to keep doing so. He has taken care of EVERY single step and it has made my faith grow so much. I encourage you to consider coming to this beautiful place one day, it is absolutely impossible to come here and not leave changed.
To describe the love that God has for this place is impossible, His heart is so big for His children in Kenya. I know this because He has purposefully made a way for people to go and has prepared BEAUTIFUL things to happen there. My heart is literally about to jump out of my chest with excitement because it truly feels whole when I am there.
Lastly, since we will be dealing so heavily with schools there are a lot of supplies that we would love to get donated! Please let me know if you would be willing to donate and I will come pick it up! :)
SUGGESTED THINGS TO BRING FOR THE SCHOOL:
• Compasses
• Protractors
• Pencils (please no mechanical)
• Math Flashcards (try the Target $1 Section)
• Stickers
• Posters:
o Addition/ Subtraction
o Human body
o Positive Quotes
o Cells
o Bible Verses
*If possible, have them laminated so they will last longer, VERY colorful; doesn’t
have to be big- what ever can fit in luggage.
For the Teachers: 2011 Day Planners
Thank you SO much!
Blessings,
Crissy
Excited literally does not even begin to put what I'm feeling into words. This place that I love so much, that always weighs so heavily on my heart...I get to go there again? It doesn't make sense that I should be so lucky.
I just got off the phone with Shawn Koonce who is the founder of the Tin Roof Society, the organization that were going with and he just got me FREAKING OUT with excitement. This trip is going to be a mostly educational trip, we are going in schools and orphanages and slums to really be a light where there is none. A lot of these kids will have no future without a school system and we are so blessed that God is going to use us in that.
I am honestly standing in awe of God when I think about this trip because I am so incredibly blessed that I get to go to Kenya...again. God has absolutely provided for this trip and I know that He is going to keep doing so. He has taken care of EVERY single step and it has made my faith grow so much. I encourage you to consider coming to this beautiful place one day, it is absolutely impossible to come here and not leave changed.
To describe the love that God has for this place is impossible, His heart is so big for His children in Kenya. I know this because He has purposefully made a way for people to go and has prepared BEAUTIFUL things to happen there. My heart is literally about to jump out of my chest with excitement because it truly feels whole when I am there.
Lastly, since we will be dealing so heavily with schools there are a lot of supplies that we would love to get donated! Please let me know if you would be willing to donate and I will come pick it up! :)
SUGGESTED THINGS TO BRING FOR THE SCHOOL:
• Compasses
• Protractors
• Pencils (please no mechanical)
• Math Flashcards (try the Target $1 Section)
• Stickers
• Posters:
o Addition/ Subtraction
o Human body
o Positive Quotes
o Cells
o Bible Verses
*If possible, have them laminated so they will last longer, VERY colorful; doesn’t
have to be big- what ever can fit in luggage.
For the Teachers: 2011 Day Planners
Thank you SO much!
Blessings,
Crissy
Sweet Surrender.
Friday, May 6, 2011
In these final moments of school, I'm starting to get out of my school train of thought and onto my Kenya train of thought. I would obviously much rather think about Kenya all the time but I need to glorify God in this place where God has put me.
This past month has been....hard. My relationship with God this semester was transformed, renewed and absolutely redeemed. I got to a place with Jesus that I had never been to before and it was beautiful. In that time of intimacy with my Father, the enemy came at his strongest. So this month has been weird too. My relationships are struggling, my schoolwork is struggling and my thoughts are getting distracted with things of this world. I know that Jesus is better and that there's more, but I got lost in things that didn't matter.
So now I'm here. Upset with people close to me, angry with myself. Feeling like I am in some sort of funk, and then there's this marvelous light at the end of my tunnel. A light called Kenya that is ulimately a reflection of my Jesus. He's showing me that there's more and that Kenya is only a small picture of it. I know that I will spend my life serving Jesus all over the world and these valleys are a sign of what's to come. That if I don't absolutely, wholeheartedly pursue Jesus in moments where EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is telling me not to, then I won't pursue Him when everything is going perfectly. So today I surrender, and it's sweet. My yoke is heavy and burden is not light but that's what my Christ is there. He loves me in a way that no one has and no one will and He will carry me. I'm sorry it's so long but it's my heart. I'm ready for Kenya and I'm ready for Him.
I hope this video brings you well, it's my lifesong at the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1nHz-kSiNw
In His ridiculous grace,
Crissy
This past month has been....hard. My relationship with God this semester was transformed, renewed and absolutely redeemed. I got to a place with Jesus that I had never been to before and it was beautiful. In that time of intimacy with my Father, the enemy came at his strongest. So this month has been weird too. My relationships are struggling, my schoolwork is struggling and my thoughts are getting distracted with things of this world. I know that Jesus is better and that there's more, but I got lost in things that didn't matter.
So now I'm here. Upset with people close to me, angry with myself. Feeling like I am in some sort of funk, and then there's this marvelous light at the end of my tunnel. A light called Kenya that is ulimately a reflection of my Jesus. He's showing me that there's more and that Kenya is only a small picture of it. I know that I will spend my life serving Jesus all over the world and these valleys are a sign of what's to come. That if I don't absolutely, wholeheartedly pursue Jesus in moments where EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is telling me not to, then I won't pursue Him when everything is going perfectly. So today I surrender, and it's sweet. My yoke is heavy and burden is not light but that's what my Christ is there. He loves me in a way that no one has and no one will and He will carry me. I'm sorry it's so long but it's my heart. I'm ready for Kenya and I'm ready for Him.
I hope this video brings you well, it's my lifesong at the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1nHz-kSiNw
In His ridiculous grace,
Crissy
EXACTLY ONE MONTH FROM THE TRIP!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Today is May 3rd which means we leave a month from today for Kenya!!
I am obviously freaking out to go back to such a beautiful face. The Lord is seriously ALL over this trip. Every moment that I have wanted to stress about money or something not being provided, God seriously ROCKS my world and provides to the max. If there was any question on whether I should go this year, it's thrown out the window because the Lord keeps confirming it in my life and everyone else's. I am so excited about experiencing this with all new people and going all new places.
Although I am pretty close to my goal, I am not there yet and I know that Morgan, Megan and Michael haven't made it to their goals either so if you would like to join with us in prayer or financially, we would be SO thankful!
To help us monetarily you can send a check, email me for the address; renee22000@hotmail.com
Or you can buy a t-shirt for $20!
They have this verse on them "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Romans 10:15
Thank you for reading, please keep us in your prayers!
Crissy
I am obviously freaking out to go back to such a beautiful face. The Lord is seriously ALL over this trip. Every moment that I have wanted to stress about money or something not being provided, God seriously ROCKS my world and provides to the max. If there was any question on whether I should go this year, it's thrown out the window because the Lord keeps confirming it in my life and everyone else's. I am so excited about experiencing this with all new people and going all new places.
Although I am pretty close to my goal, I am not there yet and I know that Morgan, Megan and Michael haven't made it to their goals either so if you would like to join with us in prayer or financially, we would be SO thankful!
To help us monetarily you can send a check, email me for the address; renee22000@hotmail.com
Or you can buy a t-shirt for $20!
They have this verse on them "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Romans 10:15
Thank you for reading, please keep us in your prayers!
Crissy
The ball is ROLLING!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Well we are 4 months out and it is CRAZY how fast this trip is going to come! With the challenges of school, my dance team, LIFE, and everything, this trip planning can get SO stressful! But thank God(literally) because He is so faitful and taking care of us every day! This blog is going to be a prayer list/list of needs so feel free to read and pray or read and donate! Thank you ALL for your thoughts and support!
-Prayer for trip!
-Donations of clothes and toys for people there!
-Financial support for the missionaries going on this trip.
-We will be having a Benefit Concert at Muldoons, a coffee shop in College Station and to make this happen we will need; donated artwork, donated craft baskets, donated items to be auctioned off, anything that could be made or put together to be sold in an auction!
-We definitely need prayer for this event as well!
-Any and all fundraising ideas would be wonderful :)
I will present an updated list of prayer requests and needs whenever they come up!
Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Blessings,
Crissy Cano && the rest of the Kenya Team
-Prayer for trip!
-Donations of clothes and toys for people there!
-Financial support for the missionaries going on this trip.
-We will be having a Benefit Concert at Muldoons, a coffee shop in College Station and to make this happen we will need; donated artwork, donated craft baskets, donated items to be auctioned off, anything that could be made or put together to be sold in an auction!
-We definitely need prayer for this event as well!
-Any and all fundraising ideas would be wonderful :)
I will present an updated list of prayer requests and needs whenever they come up!
Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Blessings,
Crissy Cano && the rest of the Kenya Team
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