Kenya.

'And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.'

– Galatians 6:9 - 

Dear Friends,

I am super excited to be sharing with you an incredible update on what I/we have been doing behind the scenes of this little space. A few months ago we were told about a trip our church would be taking in the Fall to a rural part of western Kenya. Both the hubby and I discussed what this would look like for us to go in terms of vacation time, finances and health aspects. 

After prayer & consideration we both felt the Lord was leading us to take a leap of faith and participate on this trip with a group from our local church here in the Midwest. 

Since then we have just continued to see the Lord swing open door after door, international travel is never a small decision, even though we are both no strangers to it with our immediate families living in 4 time zones. 

So we both agreed to explore vacation time with our employers and see where we were at. 

Unexpectedly to both of us, as Andrew had just started a new job at the beginning of the summer, we both received an enthusiastic go-ahead to participate. 

This stunned us both as it was totally the opposite of what we had expected. Thinking for sure the timing would just never work.

So we agreed to faithfully commit to the team following that go-ahead and trust the Lord with the financial aspects of both of us travelling together. We are trusting Him completely and thought this would be an amazing opportunity to both go and serve together overseas, something we have never done before. And something which we both have a passion for and hope to pursue in the future as a family. 

We are not going alone as a team, but going to be a part of what the Lord is already accomplishing in Kenya. The organisation we are partnered with is a local Kenya ministry called Build The Village. During our short trip we hope to encourage and support their ongoing ministry. 

A few areas we expect to be involved with are the prison ministries which have been newly established by the organisation, hoping to share the gospel and share the love of Jesus through conversation, sports and serving. Orphan Care as we will be staying on site next to an orphanage run by Build The Village, we are both so excited by this aspect. Marketplace Evangelism, something which will put both Andrew & I out of our comfort zones as we learn to boldly share our faith in public like never before. Finally, VBS style programs which we hope to do in several local schools. 

Sound like a lot? We think so too. But we are excited as we know this is going to grow us tremendously and take us both outside what we are comfortable with. Our prayer is that it would grow our love for Jesus & the Kenyan people as well as light a fire within us to share with others this amazingly good news which can tend to take a back seat in the daily grind of life. 


We would really appreciate your prayer as we prepare as a team, that we would grow in team unity. That our hearts would be ready to be an encouragement to each other as well as those we come into contact with. We realise that without Him, none of this would be possible and we certainly don't wish to go on our own effort which would be entirely in vain. 


We also need to raise the financial commitment for the trip, will deadlines in September and October. Should you chose to partner with us financially, we just want to say thank you for your generosity.

I am so thankful for this precious community which has supported me in so many ways and have been bursting to share this exciting journey with you all. 

Much Love, 

Lisa & Andrew

P.S. If you would like more information or have questions, email me: LoveLisaElle@gmail.com

'To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations with Him.' 

-John Piper- 

Africa Part 2: Where my Heart is.

{Via} {Via}

Side note: I am raising funds for Influence through Paypal on my sidebar & through my Etsy store. 

Please prayerfully consider supporting me on this journey.

When I arrived in Africa, our group had a briefing on safety while in Kenya and Tanzania.

I remember feeling as though I wanted to turn around and go right back home to my comfortable house, AC and lack of snakes. Right there and then I was completely out of my comfort zone.

God was already at work though.

He had provided a way for me to come on this trip and blown my mind and how He had orchestrated those events. Read HERE.

So despite feeling incredibly nervous, I knew the Lord had wanted me there for some reason and felt super excited about what He was going to do while we were there.

I wrote a lot in my journal while on this trip, the first night I wrote about Psalm 121 and turning to the Lord when storms hit in life. A lot about knowing God can do impossible things after seeing Him provide a way for me to be in Africa.

I learned a lot over the next few days about relying on God and not myself in a variety of different situations.

As much as I had gone to Africa to serve God's people, I felt like it was actually me who was changed the most on this trip. 

He brought me to be a part of a bunch of work which was already going on in a village nested on the shores of Lake Victoria. 

We freshened up after arriving at our 'home' and headed off into the bush where we met the community we would be serving and spending our time with. 

My love for children has grown immensely since that trip.

I always had a joy whenever I spent time teaching Sunday school at my church or babysat for family friends. But my love and passion for children grew after I went away for college.

Looking back at the photos from this trip, I was not the one in the group who immediately felt comfortable around these kids. Honestly, I think I was afraid they wouldn't like me.

Then after we had been working on a project at a widow's home all day, we arrived back at the church in the village where all the kids were waiting for us.

I didn't need to approach them, because as soon as I smiled and tried to talk to one of them, I found myself surrounded by smiles. Children wanting to be held, hugged and even though I couldn't speak their language, they didn't mind one big.

A smile crosses every language barrier.

Before I knew what was happening, several girls had me sitting on the ground and were braiding my hair.

I can't even describe how much joy was passed between myself and these girls.

I remembering feeling at the end of our trip that I could live in that village forever, that I wanted to know those girls and those kids. To play with them and love on them. 

I never knew most of their names, but I remember them. 

After these sweet girls had braided my hair, we sat around together laughing and playing on the church steps. One of the younger girls in the group came up to me and sat in my lap.

I was so happy that she felt comfortable enough to just sit there.

Then she fell asleep.

Oh my goodness, I think my heart could not have been fuller.

I remember going to Tanzania to build a water tank for a widow in the village and to share Christ with the people there.

But now looking back, my heart is totally in the little time we spent with the children there.

I remember feeling confused that I didn't know why the Lord had called me to Africa.

I stood overlooking the beautiful scenery one day and prayed asking the Lord why I was there.

I felt less useful as a leader on that trip than I had while in India a few weeks before.

One of the leaders who runs a center in the village talked to me about this and told me that perhaps the Lord had taken me there for a specific purpose, but I wouldn't know what it was until I was older.

Now I feel he was perhaps right on.

The past month or so I have felt such a heart for Africa.

Is it even possible to feel that way about a place I have been to once?

To be praying about adopting a child from there?

To feel myself literally breaking because I want so badly to go to a country and love the children there who are hungry and dying?

I have yet to understand where this is all going...

But I'm excited.

I can't wait to see what the Lord's plans are.

'For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

{Matthew 25:42-45}

There were so many other things I could have shared with you guys about this trip.

But I focused on where my heart is currently.

With the kids I met in Tanzania.

Much Love,

L

P.S. Look out for a new African bag in my Etsy store...coming soon.