In Kisumu!

Just a quick note to let you know that we are safe and sound in Kenya!
Atlanta to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Nairobi, then Nairobi to Kisumu.
A mere 29 hours since we left Friday night so happy to say that part of the journey is over.
We were met at the airport by the sweetest, cutest kids from Ring Road which made every bit of the journey and the anxiety, worth it : )
I've already made a friend with a sweet girl, Teri who is 10 years old and loves pink!
More to come but thank you all for the love, encouragement and support - feeling blessed beyond measure!

xo
Mandy

A heart for Africa

In three days I will be traveling to Kenya. 

Yes.

It is true, the same Kenya you've been hearing about the past four days in the news here in the US and all over the world.

There was a horrific terrorist attack in Nairobi (the capital city) at an upscale mall, Westgate. Dozens of innocent people were killed, hundreds more severely injured and sadly this atrocious event is still not over.

The "attackers" are still inside that mall - holding hostages and standing their "ground" after four days. 

A midst the ongoing turmoil, fear and stress of such a situation (7,500 miles away now, yet I’m flying into Nairobi in roughly 96 hours) many people have asked me "Are you still going?" Some have flat out said "You're not going!" and one person said they would "kidnap" me if I tried to go... (Uh hmm, Dad).

I would be lying to you if I said there were not some doubts and anxiety leading up to a trip like this, regardless of the recent circumstances we’ve all witnessed. Many people have said “why Africa, there are people to help in South Atlanta…” – I encountered this before when I hopped on a plane to Tanzania by myself nearly 4 years ago and again, as I prepare to return to a place full of such heartbreak, poverty and illness yet it is equally full of hope, joy and love beyond understanding.

Africa speaks to my heart, people. I don’t know what else to say other than that.

I’ve done a lot of personal work the past few years on embracing my compassionate heart – I’ve finally learned that it is a gift. As much as I feel and search and hope and trust and fight and grieve and wish for easy – God gave me this gift of loving others beyond comprehension, especially those in need, often the weakest and most vulnerable which is what draws me to Africa and orphans in particular. It isn’t easy, but we were not promised easy.

The people, children and adults alike encompass a beauty that I truly cannot comprehend nor put into words and my heart was meant to experience it – I cannot begin to fathom what the coming weeks will bring – what I will encounter, who’s stories will become a part of mine, the blessing of being able to love the abandoned and forgotten, nor how the light and dark parts of this world will continue to take shape.

It is my purest intention to remain faithful to what I feel called to experience and to also be wise as I continue to prepare for this exciting life journey I've been working towards and praying about for so many months.

Thank you for being a part of this with me – Your prayers, thoughts and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

We are continuing to take each day as it comes and as of now, I’ll be leaving on a jet plane come Friday evening.

Xo,

Mandy

p.s. to melt your hearts and hopefully bring a smile – our friends the Nolan’s have been in Nairobi this past week on a mission trip – Ashley’s daily posts have warmed my heart! (borrowed from Ashley's Instagram)

“I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everthing, 

but still I can do something; 

I will not refuse to do something I can do.”  -~ Helen Keller

Reviving ... journey with me

Revisiting the blog after almost, oh let's see ... 3 years?!

I thought this would be the best way for me to stay in touch & share my journey over the coming weeks as I make my way back to Africa.

Kisumu, Kenya is the destination and after almost 4 years since my journey to Arusha, Tanzania I am beyond excited to be going back.

This time I will be joined by two friends Cassi & Vince (one old / one new) who introduced this volunteer opportunity to me several months ago. We will be visiting missionaries Sarah & Chris Nicholson who are from their home church, here in Atlanta. 

(interested in Sarah & Chris' journey -check out Facebook  or Blog )

Ringroad Ministries is one of the organizations in Kisumu that we will be serving with in the heart of a slum kwown as Nyalenda, which encompass a clinic, a voluntary counseling and testing center for HIV (VCT), an orphans day school, and Ring road Church of Christ.

"78% of Kisumu is under the age of 30, and 70% of the population live in the slums.  It has the highest incidence of food poverty in the country.  Only 35% of Kisumu has piped water.  Approximately 20% of the population is infected with AIDS, resulting in a staggering 70,000 children orphaned to AIDS alone."

I personally am looking forward to spending time within this community to learn their stories, experience their way of life, love on some precious babies and kiddos and to experience again the beauty and blessing of Africa. 

I know that God has so many things in store for this upcoming trip and my only hope is to fully embrace this opportunity & to experience each step with an open heart and mind. 

Journey with me...  Date of Departure ~ September 27th, 2013 

xo

Mandy

How do you measure a year...

Happy 1st Birthday to my nephew Emory &
Happy 30th Birthday to my sis Christina!

Meeting Em for the first time ~ November 18, 2009



Seasons of Love
by Jonathan Larson

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear
 ...

how do you measure... measure a year

In Daylights, in Sunsets, in Midnights, in Cups of coffee,
In Inches, in Miles, in Laughter, in Strife
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
how do you measure a year in a life?

how about love? measure in love... seasons of love...

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,
five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan ...
how do you measure a life of a woman or a man 

In truths that she learned or in times that she cried,
in bridges he burned or the way that she died
its time now to sing out though the story never ends ...
let's celebrate, remember a year in a life of friends

Emory ~ October 2010

How do we measure a year in a life? I borrow the meaningful words from one of my favorite musicals Rent to help capture the journey of life and love in a given year. Love has filled my heart beyond my imagination by having Emory Noah Lowry in my life this past year ~ big thanks to Tina & Cody for that one. Words cannot describe the joy that the little goose has brought into all of our lives each and every day. I am in awe at my sister for being such a wonderful mother to Em and for letting me share in this journey with their new family.

Even though I was a few days late arriving to the party last year & Em was a few weeks earlier than expected :)

(flashback - Out of Africa)

I am a very proud sister & aunt and I am grateful for the light and love you bring into my life!

Sisters... 2000 something :-)

Happy Birthday to you both and here's to celebrating you today and always!

xoxo,

Mandy
aka Aunt Panda

Seasons of change...

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." - Morrie (from Tuesday's With Morrie by Mitch Albom)

Hello from Georgia Girl... I am back from a long hiatus, treading water through a time of uncertain transition and my ongoing journey of figuring out where I belong, what I am meant to do and who I am ultimately supposed to be.

I left off with my final days and departure from Tanzania late November of 2009. I came back into a whirlwind of meeting my new nephew Emory... (instantly falling in love), spending time with my family and the holiday craze into 2010 and the ongoing search for a job, new beginning, etc. Needless to say my experiences in Africa were life changing, as well as the transition to life back in Georgia over this past year - I've come to a place were it is time to share some of my ongoing journey through this season of change ~

I am cheating a little to start things off by borrowing a recent blog post from my friend Jamie's amazing blog The Lovely Days that chronicled a wonderful weekend of friendship and living life as we gathered for a "retreat" in Nashville this past October.

"A Retreat of Sorts"

"Two weekends ago, I had the pleasure of reuniting with dear friends. Not just any dear friends, mind you. These ladies: (minus Ellie, who we spent Saturday with as well)

We all lived in New York together, and now we live in Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville and New York (well, someone's got to hold down the fort). And we converged upon one city for a glorious reunion.

We spent the weekend talking, laughing, eating, resting, crying, watching movies, shopping, did I mention eating? We also created a BlackBerry Messenger Group because WE ALL HAVE BLACKBERRIES - the BBM Group Chat started on Saturday and hasn't stopped since. But in real life, the conversation was rich. The tears were needed. The encouragement was real.

Someone (probably Elizabeth, she's the one who tends to say things in real life that could be movie quotes) said that the weekend felt like a retreat, but with only people you trust. I think that sums it up, well, perfectly. It was a retreat with people who know you and like you anyways. A retreat with people who have been where you've been but understand where you're going. A retreat with people who mean it when they say they'll pray for you. A retreat with people who don't think you're lame for dancing to Justin Bieber one minute and then conking out like a narcoleptic on the living room floor. (What?! Did I say that out loud? Yes...yes I did.)

Sometimes I think I wear the fact that I lived in New York like a battle scar. Maybe we all do. My friends and I fought through life together, we scraped through blood, sweat and tears - holidays away from family, monthly apartment rent that nearly broke us, days where the City just chews you up and spits you out - and we survived. Together.

And now many of us have defected, and we're attempting to reengage with our Southern roots and hometowns and cities that are much easier, yet much harder at the same time. I think we all needed this weekend to remind us that we're not alone, that there's someone else in our shoes, that there's no going backwards, and above all else, that the Lord is good. He is sovereign over all...even our heartbreaks, our oddities, our communities and our battle scars."
Her words captured so much of what many of us are going through and to be reminded that we're not alone gives me such hope and faith in what lies ahead. As I continue through this change in seasons, seeking out community and resolve... journey with me.

xoxo
Mandy

My Tanzanian family

My Tanzanian host family:

Mama Godi, me, Praygod and Given

Mama Godi, Praygod, Given, Steve-o (houseboy), Godi and Babba Godi

Me and Mama Wambura... founder of LOHADA

Heath and little Neema

Amy and Prey

I am so grateful to all of these people for making this time in Tanzania possible. My host family was so gracious and kind and I feel like I received a true Tanzanian experience. Mama and Baba Godi work so hard to provide for their family and give their children a good education and life opportunities.

My adoptive family Heath & Neema and Amy & Prey, Liza, Vincent and Jacob... thank you for your kindness, compassion and friendship. I am so grateful to have had this time with you all and don't know how I would have survived without you ~ You inspire me with your hearts and compassion for others.

xoxo,

Mandy

A day in the life

Living room... where we gather and eat our meals

Clothes line, walk way and gate

Entrance to the house... everyone takes off their shoes

The house directly outside of our gate...

Pathway to the main road from my house

Walking to Camp Moses

Hi everyone,

Hard to believe but it is one of my last few days in Tanzania and I wanted to share some photos from my daily life... "My house," walking to the main road, walking to Moses to volunteer, etc.

The last few days have gone really well... Saturday and Sunday we had a chance to go a little way outside town to enjoy the Arusha Christmas Fair. It was fun to walk through the different booths and see what people were buying and selling... the proceeds went to Arusha charities which was nice. It was weirdly like a little America in an African field :-) I had my Sunday visit with the kids at Camp Moses and brought along some candy treats which they loved. Little things go such a long way!

Out of time, but will share more of my final days!!

xoxo,

Mandy

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~ Howard Thurman