Well just a quick update from the midwest. I got here safely and had a really calm and wonderful Christmas with my family and friends. Plus, it was a white Christmas (I can never get used to CA Christmas because no snow), so it made the cold worth it. It hasnt really stopped snowing much since I got here actually (this picture is from my parents porch after the small blizzard last night). Its beautiful though!
Now for the real reason for this update (thank for humoring my snow talk).... new Africa trip details. Since getting back to IL I have been able to meet a few times with Jill and Scott Hayward who run Oasis for Orphans and learn more about their organization and the culture on "the hill" where the orphanage is. Plus they are helping me with my Swahili. So far I just know how to say hello... but baby steps. They are doing such amazing work up there although they never know whats coming. Currently, they are trying to finish the well so that they will always have clean water on the hill (please pray this is complete before we get there) since they have to boil the water to clean it right now. Also, 2 of the girls in the orphanage just had babies which is a blessing but also an unexpected challenge. Both of the girls are 13 years old and they did not know that they were pregnant when they entered the orphanage. Of course they are very happy to be able to help these girls and have those beautiful babies, but it shows that life on the hill is always unpredictable. Being able to be near Jill and Scott has really helped to calm alot of my nerves about the trip and both Katie and I feel 100% confident about the work we will be able to do on the hill. It looks like we will be doing some financial updates for them, updating all of the information we have on the orphans, and finally creating a short film to tell the story of the orphanage.
Now as far as logistics go here is an update on support and trip details:
1) Currently Katie and I leave Chicago the week of February 15th to head to Nairobi, Kenya and then take a bus ride to the hill to begin work with Oasis for Orphans
2) We leave Kenya March 29th to go to Arusha, Tanzania where we will begin our work with Wild Hope, and we will remain there until May 10th
3) SUPPORT: I have begun to receive responses from my friends and family from my letter and so far I have been unbelievably blessed and humbled by peoples support. So far I have received $2,350 towards my trip. YAY!!!! The goal is $5500 so I'm a little under half-way there. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
