Hello friends and family,
Although I am still in the United States, and caught in the midst of finals and all the insanity it brings, I thought I might post my first blog post now, as an introduction (huh, just like a paper... only this will be more interesting). Essentially, this blog will be mostly dedicated to my semester abroad in Kenya, which is occurring from January to May of 2013.
Disclaimer: this post was not proofread. I don't have time for that.
If you don't know the story, or even if you do, of everything that led up to this point, let me share it with you. God had His hand in every step in ways that I look back at in awe.
Last spring I saw signs around campus for Semester in Kenya. I'd been hoping to go off-campus for a semester at some point and this opportunity in particular piqued my interest. Kenya has woven itself in and out of my life in a couple different ways since I was in elementary school. In elementary school, my school partnered with an elementary school in Kenya. We learned about Kenyan culture, even learned some songs in Swahili, and faculty members from each school visited one another in the two countries. Thus, my first encounter with Kenya and their culture developed in these early years. Later, in high school, there was an opportunity to go on a trip to Africa after the school year ended. I went to the first couple meetings, expressing interest, but then through a combination of factors decided not to go. It was one of my biggest regrets from high school.
So, we come back to me standing before one of these posters in the spring of my sophomore year of college, three years after I gave up the opportunity to visit the land I had connected with in elementary school. God was whispering to me that this was my second chance - I needed to at least check it out. So I talked with the coordinator, Professor Jeff DeKock, and learned some information. This semester was perfect in every way. In addition to being a place I had always felt called to go, this semester cost nothing more than my normal Trinity tuition bill; I would merely have to pay the bill, like always. Furthermore, the Kenyan semester would accept alternatives for all of my classes. This was a big feat, since several other semesters didn't offer English courses, requiring me to drop that part of my major for a semester (not good). However, Kenya offers English courses in addition to allowing me to gain school observation hours and a history course. Bam, every part of my majors and minors covered.
I decided I wanted to do this. There was no reason not to. So I applied at the end of the year. Come to find out, the competition was steep - over 20 students applied for the maximum of 7 spots. In July, sitting on a bed in the Retreat Center at Grace Adventures during my one hour break, I read the email congratulating me on being accepted into the Semester Abroad in Kenya program.
The journey since then hasn't been without difficulty. However, at each step, God has once again been there. Now, I am officially fully committed. My ticket is bought, my immunizations taken, and my classes are being figured out.
In a little over 6 weeks, seven Trinity students plus six Calvin and Cornerstone students will board a plane headed for Nairobi. There, we will be staying and studying at Daystar Christian University just outside of Nairobi. Besides studying and living the college life in a new culture, I also hope to be observing for twenty or so hours in a classroom. We also have plans for trips including to historic and political buildings in Nairobi, a trip to the coast, a weekend in a Kenyan village, a service project in the slums, and an African safari. Oh, and did I mention we're also going to the island of Zanzabar during spring break? Yup. That's happening too.
So, as I prepare to end this semester at Trinity, I look ahead to the next semester in a completely new culture. First of all, pray for me as I prepare my heart, mind, and my physical belongings. Secondly, if you want to see me before I'm MIA for three months, call, message, text, etc.... Get a hold of me!
I'm so ready for this big step. It's going to be life changing.
