Dear Family & Friends,
For many of you, this may be the second letter you have received from me regarding my favorite country on the African continent; Kenya. Last year, I was completely humbled and extremely grateful with everyone’s support financially and spiritually; thank you. Jesus continued to put Kenya on my heart since my first mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya last July. I was able to learn some powerful things about God’s love for us and have continually shown them through my actions. I hope I have brought a little bit of Kenya back to Newport Beach!
Since then God has done some amazing things in my own life here at home. I was given the opportunity to serve on the High School Ministries leadership, work with Junior High Ministries every Sunday morning, help start a children’s ministry at a brand new church, and in the November of 2010 I was baptized at Mariners Church! In the fall of next year I will be attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. It has been quite the busy year!
In between AP classes, babysitting jobs and being the “in-home nanny” for my brother and sister, I have somehow found the opportunity to be invited back to Kenya. I have been asked, again, by Mariners Church to attend High School Ministries Faith Adventure from June 26 to July 18 as a Student leader. I was so positively affected by my last trip to Kenya that I am going as a servant of God in high hopes to be apart of the students growth with Jesus. For the first half of the trip, I will be serving in Nairobi, just as I did last year, with a group of Kenyan High School Students. We will be traveling to the slums of Kibera to run a Vacation Bible School, visiting internally displaced people’s camps, and traveling to a smaller village called Kitale, to work with an organization called Oasis of Hope. For the second half of the trip, I will return to Kitale, Kenya with just my bible study leader Allison Hibbard. For Allison, Kitale is her second home. We will be living with her friends working more intensely with Oasis of Hope. Ultimately, this will be a completely different experience then that of which I had last year.
I would love to have you be apart of this trip to Kenya with me. There are two opportunities for you to be apart of this journey with me. The first way is committing to keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I go through this journey. Positive thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated for the physical and spiritual safety of my team.
The second way is financially. If you want to help financially, you can contribute online by credit card, using the instructions on the enclosed envelope (we accept Visa, MasterCard and Amex). If you would like to write a check, please write your check to Mariners Church. On the memo line designate (trip Name) and fill out the envelope. We will take donations at any time but are hoping to see the support by (date). Please mail the gift to 5001 Newport Coast Drive. Irvine, CA. 92603. You can also give online by going to "http://www.marinersoutreach.org/fagiving" www.marinersoutreach.org/fagiving . I will see that you have donated but will not know what amount you have given.
I know and understand that these are difficult times, but please know that any amount helps and is greatly appreciated!
With lots of love and excitement,
Ryanne <3
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
3.15.11
Sunday, we met together as a team and shared our stories.
Of course (with my luck), I was the first to share, meaning I was the first to cry.
Stories are so important for a trip like this, it brings us closer together and most importantly we are capable of seeing God's work in the lives of our team mates and soon to be life long friends.
Today, I had a conversation with my Grandma, who most of you know I call my Nana. I love my Nana and my family so much. And it makes me so incredibly sad to hear that they do not support me on this journey.
First and foremost, I follow God. Then I listen to what I believe to be best for me. Then I listen to what others believe to be best for me.
God has told me to go on this trip, to serve the people and the country of Kenya, and to let him work on my heart in Kenya. I understand this is a crazy time in my life. I understand there are other things going on in my own life that I should be worried about, and I'm not pushing those aside in anyway to go on this trip.
But this is reality.
God has called me to Kenya and where he goes I shall follow.
I am his daughter with whom He is always well pleased.
Of course (with my luck), I was the first to share, meaning I was the first to cry.
Stories are so important for a trip like this, it brings us closer together and most importantly we are capable of seeing God's work in the lives of our team mates and soon to be life long friends.
Today, I had a conversation with my Grandma, who most of you know I call my Nana. I love my Nana and my family so much. And it makes me so incredibly sad to hear that they do not support me on this journey.
First and foremost, I follow God. Then I listen to what I believe to be best for me. Then I listen to what others believe to be best for me.
God has told me to go on this trip, to serve the people and the country of Kenya, and to let him work on my heart in Kenya. I understand this is a crazy time in my life. I understand there are other things going on in my own life that I should be worried about, and I'm not pushing those aside in anyway to go on this trip.
But this is reality.
God has called me to Kenya and where he goes I shall follow.
I am his daughter with whom He is always well pleased.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
3.6.11
Support Letter Day... Also referred to as, the Most Stressful Day leading up to Kenya.
Three long hours of addressing, signing, stuffing, and licking (bleh).
That's worth at least $100 dollars of labor right there...
Aside all the complaining, let me just say, that I am SO excited for my team this year. Sharing stories from last year with all of them just made me realize how excited I am to share new moments and new memories with them.
They. Are. Awesome.
There's 3 Tylers. 1 Grace. 1 Nikki. 1 Connor. 1 Da-Chen. 1 Colin. 1 Michelle.
And of course, 1 Ryanne.
I'm so looking forward to hearing their stories, which will be next week. Sharing my story is always nerve-wracking. Allowing other people to hear your struggles and where your pain lies is a pretty scary thing, no matter how strong you make yourself look on the outside.
He loves you. I love you.
Nakupenda Milele, my friends.
Three long hours of addressing, signing, stuffing, and licking (bleh).
That's worth at least $100 dollars of labor right there...
Aside all the complaining, let me just say, that I am SO excited for my team this year. Sharing stories from last year with all of them just made me realize how excited I am to share new moments and new memories with them.
They. Are. Awesome.
There's 3 Tylers. 1 Grace. 1 Nikki. 1 Connor. 1 Da-Chen. 1 Colin. 1 Michelle.
And of course, 1 Ryanne.
I'm so looking forward to hearing their stories, which will be next week. Sharing my story is always nerve-wracking. Allowing other people to hear your struggles and where your pain lies is a pretty scary thing, no matter how strong you make yourself look on the outside.
He loves you. I love you.
Nakupenda Milele, my friends.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
3.1.11
If you don't know me, you wouldn't know that I love Kenya.
Last year, I came home with two journals filled with thoughts and prayers, over 1000 pictures, a hungry stomach, and a heart full of love.
While surrounded by 18 people that loved me, half of whom I had just met, God taught me some life long lessons.
With love and excitement,
Ryanne
Last year, I came home with two journals filled with thoughts and prayers, over 1000 pictures, a hungry stomach, and a heart full of love.
While surrounded by 18 people that loved me, half of whom I had just met, God taught me some life long lessons.
- I am his daughter with whom he is well please. No one will love anyone as much as God loves me. No one will love anyone as much as God loves you.
- Follow, Love and Trust God. Surrender everything I am, everything I have, to him.
- The first step in my relationship with Him was to restore Shalom. In the bible, Shalom is a hebrew word meaning peace, completeness, with God, yourself and others.
- Irio is the best dang food I will ever eat. Seriously. Its a Kenyan dish with mashed potatoes, peas and corn. I could eat it all day, everyday. And yes, God did teach me that.
With love and excitement,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)