I'm back

I'm back, and though my journey to Africa seems like it has come to a close, I can't help but think of how this journey has really only begun. For those of you who have been following my blog posts (and if you'd like to publicly follow me you can do so by clicking follow to the right of this post, subscribing, or choose to receive these posts via email) you know that I have been preparing to venture off to Africa for months. Well, the two week trip flew by faster than I could blink, and I am already looking forward to the time that I can return.
This post is just going to be a brief overview of my thoughts about the trip. I'm sure I will have many posts to come surrounding all the mini adventures and lessons that were met along the way.
Back in February, I prepared myself to leave a part of me in Africa. Having never been to a foreign country, I knew that things would be different than it is here in America, and I knew that there would be a large difference between the poor in America and the poor in Kenya. I knew that I would see children much thinner than children here. I knew that I would encounter people who shared a one room house with five other people. I knew that I would gaze upon the faces of inquisitive children and not be able to truly help them (or so I thought). I knew that I would run into language barriers, and I knew that beginning conversations with people of another country might pose to be a bit difficult for me. I knew that my comfort levels concerning food and living arrangements would be altered, but, like I said before, I was prepared for that.
I wasn't, on the other hand, prepared to have my heart completely lost forever in a tiny village so small it doesn't appear on any maps. I didn't expect to tear up when I saw the living conditions of the orphan kids, and I certainly did not expect to see them as happy as they were. I certainly did not expect those of another country and language to teach me about true love, nor did I expect them to receive me as quickly as they did. I didn't expect to encounter so much joy in conditions we consider to be quite terrible.
Despite the amount of times we went out to minister to different schools surrounding the village, I did not expect myself to learn from them. Their love for life and each other is so pure and vibrant.Their voices are almost angelic in sound, and they are so willing to share their talents with others.
All I can say is that I truly fell in love with the people of Choimim, and I miss them dearly. They are such a special people and have taught me more than I had ever expected.