Our Journey to Kenya started yesterday, kind of...
I have not flown off to Kenya like many people assume, instead I am in the beautiful state of Georgia awaiting the beginning of leader training which starts tomorrow. Then after leader training ends, our students arrive for their training camp and then finally a few days later we will leave for Kenya.
Finally all packed and ready to leave
My day of travel went wonderfully well, it started at the airport where they did not weigh my luggage which I will admit was horribly close to the 50lb limit (so embarrassing I know). Then all my flights went smoothly and arrived early. It was relaxed and I am so thankful for the blessing yesterday was, Thank Lord.
I am currently staying with my wonderful co-leader Jessica and her grandma. They are wonderful people who have welcomed me into their home. I am so thankful that they have welcomed me into their home because I couldn't think of a more restful place to spend a day before the madness starts.
Breakfast of Champions
A support raising update is that I still need to raise $695 so if you want to be apart of this journey that my team is on in Kenya please give. Also I would love to hear who is praying (which is equally if not more important support tool) so that I can also be praying for you, So please don't hide let me know. If you want to give financially you can click on this link and it will take you to instructions.
I read this the other day and I just had to share it, its from a book called Breaking all the Rules by Fil Anderson
"My highest hope is for all of us to stop trying to fool others by appearing to have our act together. As people living in intimate union with God, we need to become better known for what and who we actually are. Perhaps a good place to begin would be telling the world-- before the world does its own investigation--that we're not as bad as they think. we're worse. At least I know that I 'm worse.
Let's get real. For every mean-spirited, judgemental thing some preacher has said, I've though something nastier, more hateful and more cutting about one of my neighbors. For ever alleged act of homophobia by my fellow Christians, I've done something stupid to demonstrate my manliness. For every brother or sister whose moral failure has been exposed, I've failed privately. No matter how boring followers of Jesus may appear to be to the outside, they don't know the half of it; trust me... If we really believe the gospel we proclaim, we'll be honest about our own beauty and brokenness, and the beautiful broken One will make himself known to our neighbors through the chinks in our armor--and in theirs"
Today I worked my last shift at Starbucks, I honestly am a mix of emotions. On one hand I am very excited to be done and moving on to other things (what those other things are I am not totally sure). I do feel a little sad though, Starbucks was good to me, it afforded me a flexible schedule so that I could work and go to school with very little inconvenience. It introduced me to many new friends, it was just a great job. I am thankful today for the last two years that I spend working at Sundance Starbucks.
Goodbye Starbucks!
Ps. This just proves how awesome my store is/was they donated over $150.00 to my trip to Kenya, they rock!
Ps. I am still in need of funds at last count I still needed $700, so if you feel led to give and join this journey please do. You will find instructions on how to give here
Alright so in my last post I blogged about how I am going to Kenya but I missed a few things, first I am going with Adventures in Missions. This is a organization that I have worked with in the past and I am really excited to do so again. Next I need to raise a min of $1000 but ideally to help cover flights I would like to raise $1800.
Now for more exciting information, I found out yesterday that we will be going back to the same location that I was at last year. We will be working with Davids Hope in Eburru Kenya. This is an amazing place that I am truly excited to go back to, I loved working with Pastor Steve and all of the people on staff in Eburru, they were patient and kind to us as well as being a bundle of fun to work with.
Well that is all for today but I will post again soon.
Well its official I am going back to Kenya this summer, this is something both surprising and exciting. Many of you may not know this but I did not want to go to Kenya last summer and I even came home thinking that although it was a good country I wasn't sure I would ever be back. Well the Lord's plans are always good and sometimes surprising, the Lord prepared my heart all year and I can happily say I am really excited to go back to Kenya.
This summer I will be working with a new group of high school students and new co-leaders. I do not yet know where we are going within the country but I promise you there be amazing opportunities for God to move in us and around us.
I am going to be updating this blog as I receive more information, as well we will have a team blog for you to follow along so that you can join us on this journey.
Prayer Requests...
That we would experience supernatural unity, that we would all meet and have instant chemistry needed for us to bond quickly.
That we would be humble in our expectations so that we can be fully prepared and amazed that the things the Lord has in store for us in Kenya
That the entire team (myself included) would be fully funded ASAP
That this trip would be life changing for the team, leaders, and supporters
I am not currently fully funded if you would like to join me on this journey there are instructions here on the different methods you can give.
Thanks for checking in with me and I am excited to start this journey with you.
I have invited you to join my team and I on our journey to Kenya this summer, one of the ways that you can do this is to give financially. There are many ways that this can be done, you can give in person, through email bank transfer to (ashley.emery43@gmail.com), and through the adventures in missions website. If you choose to give to the website the steps are as follows,
www.adventures.org - Under the "Choose Program" drop down button select: Ambassador - Type my name into "Full Participants Name" section: Ashley Emery - Type in the amount you've chosen to give. - Click "Continue" to proceed with the donation.
Thank you for joining us on this journey, please continue to check this blog for updates on the trip. If you have more questions please email me or comment on the blog and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
1-2 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."
3-10Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.
11-13But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid. They said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?"
13-14"They took my Master," she said, "and I don't know where they put him." After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't recognize him.
15Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?"
She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him."
16Jesus said, "Mary."
Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" meaning "Teacher!"
17Jesus said, "Don't cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.'"
18Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: "I saw the Master!" And she told them everything he said to her.
To Believe
19-20Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."
22-23Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"
24-25But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master."
But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it."
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
28Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"
29Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
30-31Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.
Jesus died on a cross but he also rose from the dead. Resurrection Sunday is a day to party, rejoice and celebrate.
