Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I was reading this today and thinking about it. To be honest I am not sure how I can relate this to my work here in Kenya, but I can relate it to a work God is doing in my heart. For a short time (a month or so) I have really struggled with the lack of God's presence, and a general lack of being able to feel him, or have warm and fuzzy feelings towards him. It has bothered me so much, that it even brought some condemnation before I left for my trip to Kenya. I thought to myself, "how am I good enough for this work" I have so much weakness. I don't even feel God...how do I show God to others when I can not feel him. This.... combined with a real lack in the word (b/c of how busy I was with kids as a young mom, and my condemnation with not being able to feel GOD, made me feel completely unworthy. After I read this verse today it was encouraging to hear the apostle Paul, someone that I wrongfully idolize.....saying that he has not been already made perfect. He had not taken hold of what Christ took hold of for him.....YET. What encouraging words. That we are striving for the prize, not yet made perfect, but Christ is making us more perfect day by day. I am still completely unworthy of this work and I have a long ways to go. But, thanks be to God.....that he is still working on me, and that one day my body will be made like his.

The Kuwindo slum children.

These are my little cuties from the Kuwinda Slum. Their name for us whities is muzungu......

This boy wanted his picture taken quite a bit. This little girl to his left was the most adorable little girl I've seen at the slums.

The precious school boys in the slum. I love that they were all so posey for me :)

This was by far the most wanted to be photographed child, but this one was my favorite!

The kids from the Mitumba Slum.

To give you a proper visual, when we exited the truck there was excrement everywhere. The field was their bathroom. It was a really heart wrenching experience. You know that feeling when you want to sell all you have and give to the poor....well I had that there.

"The CMA team minus Chad....photo of Hoffman fam coming soon"