Almost everyone who knows me well at all knows that I have a particular favoritism for Kenya. This started while I was in high school at youth group one day. While praying I heard several things from God, one of which was "Kenya." For that particular subject I was told nothing more than a single word. At this time I knew little more about Kenya than its vague location (Africa), but I wrote it down believing that God wouldn't tell me something that was unimportant. I later researched Kenya on the internet (oh the wonders of the in-tar-net!) and developed a more personal interest. Since then I have done quite a bit of research, especially about the current situation with AIDS, orphans, starvation, and lack of education. This is a matter very close to my heart. I had accepted that I would be doing volunteer work in Kenya, but I did not know 4 of the 5 W's (when I would be going and for how long, where specifically I would be, who I would be working with and through, and what I would be doing; the why is obvious). How I could fund my efforts is also something that has been of question.
I trust God to provide for me and to tell me what exactly He wants from me. If I am doing God's will I do not have to worry about the details. All I want to do is help people; that is my life's dream. I want to bring about as much good as possible and help the people who need love. I guess you could say that helping folks is my metier. I genuinely care about people as individuals.

Enough of the back story and on to the more recent: I don't want to go into too much detail because I want make sure that I am not jumping the gun on anything and that I allow God to reveal things according to His timing, but (as is generally the case) God's plans for me are proving to be much greater than what I would plan for myself. It always amazes me how perfectly God times things. If He had told me every detail from the beginning, it would have been too much for me to take in. If He hadn't let me find out about the situation in Kenya I wouldn't have developed a yearning to help the people there. If He had told me everything I might have felt like I didn't need His help as much. It would have all been figured out and I would have tried to depend on myself. I might have been too afraid and concerned that it was more than I could handle. If God didn't keep me informed periodically I would become discouraged and feel in need or direction. Thank goodness God knows what He's doing!

I am an overly independent person who isn't always fond of asking for help. I also do not enjoy feeling as though I am imposing on people, especially if it is to ask for money. This becomes a problem when you need to ask others for funding. I actually had a friend tell me to make sure I talk to her when I began seeking sponsorship. That, especially coming from a person in a financially successful field, was an excellent reminder that God will provide for our needs if we have faith. I was also given some helpful and encouraging advice from a mentor who has done ministry work for a while now and has had to ask people for funding. As much as I hate asking people for money (and I know that I will have to), I love those kids and feel very passionately about helping them. I am perfectly OK with humbling myself for their sake. My pride and fear of imposing are miniscule when compared to my love for the people of Kenya.
I am currently double-majoring in religious studies and history education (on a high school level) with the intention of teaching. Although I have done more work with elementary school children, there are reasons why I am getting certified in secondary education. Education is something that I feel strongly about (it heavily ties into the helping people bit). Giving kids a chance where they might not have had one is important to me. There are currently quite a few children in Kenya who are not being given anywhere near the chances that they deserve due to a plethora of circumstances. It would be my utter delight to help start a school and orphanage in Kenya to help give those kids (of a wide age range) a chance. It isn't just the kids who need education, however, many adults would benefit from educational opportunities. Saying that someone needs to help them isn’t good enough; I have to be willing to be that someone. The cost scares me a little; I do not want to shatter my comfort zone and everything I used to think my life would be like.

There is so much more I want to say; I feel like I haven’t actually conveyed much despite the great length of this post. I do not wish to get so excited about what God has told me that I can’t hear Him when He tries to tell me more. I am also concerned about acting in haste as I previously mentioned. I’m sorry if you have read everything to this point and are disappointed by how much I have left out, but I hope that you still find delight in everything that God has been doing and understand my hesitancy to spill the beans before the water’s boiling. I have only shared with you a fraction of what God shared with me, but rest assured that God is moving and He has big plans.
Oh man, Christ is awesome; I love that guy.