I have been looking at the immunizations that I need for my trip to Kenya.....wow. There was alot of diseases that they suggest to get vaccinated for. I don't know if I really need to get all of them or not. I guess that with me not traveling anywhere really makes a differience in how much I know about these things. This is really going to be a new experience for me, traveling to Kenya.

I also am going to be applying for my passport soon. I need to do that in the next week or so because it takes six to eight weeks to actually get the passport. I went yesterday to get my passport picture taken and it turned out okay. I did not really like it, but Mom said no one really ever does. Haha..thanks Mom.

I learned a interesting fact about Eldoret today(Eldoret is where we will be staying while in Kenya).
It is a sister city to Indianapolis, the capital of my home state! Cool huh!

Blessings,
Sierra

Mungu ni nzuri na mimi!

Hi Y'all!

To prepare myself for my trip to Kenya in Febuary I have been learning a new language! I am learning Swahili! Or Kiswahili as it is in the language. It seems to be a simple language and easy to learn. I am really having fun with it as I love to learn new languages! Today I learned some basic words: to say hello you say Jambo or Habari, fine is nzuri and goodbye is kwa heri. I can't wait to learn more!

Kwa Heri!
Sierra

P.S- The title is "God is so good to me" in Kiswahili.

Kenya!

Hi All!

I just thought that you would like to know of a mission trip that I am hoping to go on. Some people from my church are joining with another church to go on a 14 day trip to Kenya and I decided that I would go along if I could. I do not know much about it other than a few details. I will post more whenever I hear of them. I know that we are going to fly to Europe and then to Nairobi which is a 10 hour flight both ways. Then to get to Eldoret (where we will be staying) is another 6 hour ride on the back of a flatbed truck. We should be able to see a bunch of the scenery of Kenya.
We will actually be working in the village of Soy which is a little while out of Eldoret. I think that we will be doing something that has to do with a medical clinic, maybe a Bible study or two and a few other things that I can't remember. =P

This is my first out of the country mission trip so I am very excited but also very nervous. I pray that all goes well and that I learn much while I am there.  I would love it if all of  you reading this would pray for me and for the rest of the people going on the trip. There are some obstacles that need to be crossed so I can go, mostly financial.

Thanks for the prayers!

Blessings,
Sierra

Right Now....

I have been thinking of my mission plans lately, and really I am not sure what I am going to be doing. With my full-time work schedule there is not much overseas missions I can do right now. I still do yearn to go someday to Africa, India and Romania. Alot of places, actually. I have decided now that for now, I am going to do my work here. There is much that I can do to spread the gospel and help people while I am working. I plan to be an example to my co-workers, voluteer with the Red Cross, continue to lead a Bright Lights group and be involved in other community projects.
I hope to perfect my spanish and learn basic Hindi, Arabic, Romanian and Sign Language. I guess it's a good thing to have a little extra time to learn about things I might need on the mission field. Also, I have realized that it is a good thing that I wait a while, so He can help me grow in faith and patience. That way I can be ready and know that I am mature enough to discern the way in this big ol' world.

God Bless,
Sierra

One of the Houses We Worked On

The Bus Ministry

One of the things that we did there was help with the weekly Bus Ministry on the reservation.

We went to a differient neighborhood on two differient days. The first time we helped was right after we got to Globe from Phoenix on our first day there. We literally did not even have time to unload our bags from the car before we had to get on the bus and go.

I met so many adorable kids and many of them likely would have a heartbreaking story to tell. Of alchoholism, rape and incest, and gang violence. I was so very glad that I was able to bring the stories of the Bible and a little bit of love into their lives along with the staff of ARM.

When we arrived into the neighborhoods we would go and pick up the kids and then go to a level place in the middle and park the bus. Then we would sing, have a lesson (which was puppets while we where there), pray, and then break for crafts, games, a snack and just getting to know the kids. It really was very cool and great to get to become their friend in the short time we where there.

I returned from Arizona a while ago now, but it seems that my time there was very short. Yet, also while i was there it seems that I was there for very long time. I met many new people and made many new friends. And I hope that in some way I was able to help the people there and make an impact in their lives.