I Have Recieved

Derek, who everyone loves so much! 

5/21

            Monday the team took the morning to rest since we had been going non stop since Wednesday. Most of us took the opportunity to go to a coffee shop and have some quiet time to read or journal or just talk with each other. We then all met for lunch at a pizza place in the mall. Two of Jake’s friends from America are living about an hour away from the city. They are down here for two years, living at an orphanage. They came to eat with us and shared what they were doing in Africa.

            One of the girls, Laura, shared a story with me about their fundraising. She told me that her and Dana, the other girl, decided to open a joint checking account for their fundraising. They calculated their basic expenses for two years and came up with a total of $36,000 they needed to raise for the whole trip.They had a goal to at least raise 25% of their money by the time they left.The lady at the bank asked the girls to come speak about what they were doing at her church. At that point, they still needed $25,000. The church was receptive and a few people donated, but not much beyond that. A few months later Laura received an e-mail from a man from that church asking if they still needed $25,000. Laura explained to him they still needed $22,000 and she would appreciate his prayers. She then recognized that his name looked familiar, and thought that she may have helped with his wedding at the hotel she had worked at, in 2004. She e-mailed him back and asked if that was true. He responded that yes, it was him, and remembering that was confirmation for what he had been feeling he needed to do. He then wrote the girls a check for $25,000. He had actually been a professional athlete, which probably helped in the sum he was able to give, but even so, he had his own organization that he ran, and $25,000 is a lot of money! As soon as they check came in, the girls were so surprised by his generosity and so relived they would not have to worry about funds at all while they were in Africa! They praised the goodness of God for how He had worked. One of my favorite things about being down here is meeting so many people and hearing stories of God’s goodness! (also you can follow her blog at laurakinafrica.blogspot.com )

            Monday afternoon we went back to Bukesa and had another great day with the boys. There was so much going on! From basketball, soccer, volleyball, and an African version of hide-and-go-seek. At the end of the night, one of the older boys, David, sat down beside me. David doesn’t live at Bukesa, but he is there most of the time with the boys. We started talking about favorite movies and he told me he liked Twilight! Which was so funny to me, but sweet. We even agreed on Team Jacob. He then told me about his other favorites, then a little about his life. He said he does get to go home to his family, but his mom never has time to sit and talk to him. He said that he loves coming back to Bukesa because there is always someone to sit and talk to and in his words, “I am always smiling!” I asked if there were all his best friends, he replied, “No, they are all my bothers!” Soon after we had to leave, so I shook his hand and said, “team Jacob?” He replied, “team Kristen.” Which made me laugh, but also was so sweet. He found me a few moments later and told me that in case he didn’t see me on Thursday when we came back, he wanted to give me something. He gave me a little African basket ornament. It was cute, but it was so special because I’m fairly confident he doesn’t have much excess “stuff” that he calls his own. The fact that he had that and wanted to give it to me was so special.

            I came here to give, but from ornaments to notes to stories to love, I have received so much! I am confident that I will not come back empty and exhausted, but fulll. So very full and joyful! 

Haley and Ibra!