Sometimes the tiniest things remind you of your family, your friends, and your home, and you don't even realize it. A day seems so normal, and then something happens that just opens the floodgates to allow so many thoughts and emotions take over. Well, something like that hit me today, I can't figure out what it was, but I just got really homesick. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss the little things that I always seem to take for granted while I'm at home. I miss the convenience of texting someone just to say hi. I miss the option of skyping my friends just so I can see them and talk with them. I just miss being at home, whether that means in Lubbock or Midland; I miss both. I miss so many things right now. Despite all of this, I love the people I am with every day here in Kenya. I love the kids at MITS. I love the staff that I have gotten to know. I love being a part of something so special and being constantly reminded of God's power, grace, and love. Everything about this place is inspiring, encouraging and just perfect in its own way. I love where God has me right now. Everything here is great. Nothing has happened that has made me want to come home, not even today as I sit here unbelievably homesick. I have loved every minute of being here. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here. The Life Bread group that is here is absolutely wonderful. Being here at the same time as them has been an unbelievable blessing. It doesn't feel like I just met them a few days ago. In fact, one neat thing that Cecily (the bride) said the other day was, "It's so awesome because in the Body of Christ it never feels like there is someone you don't know! Some of us just met for the first time here, but it feels like we've already known each other forever!" That is so true. That's true concerning my relationships with the Life Bread group as well as all of our relationships with the people here in Kenya. We are all from different parts of the country and even different parts of the world. We have different likes and dislikes. We look different. We sound different. We are all unique in our own way. However, we do all share a part of our lives because we are all a part of the Body. We all have that in common. And having that as the common ground in a relationship is the best thing to have. Something that God has continually been showing me lately is that we can do so many things and help in so many ways, but in everything we do we must do it in love. He has brought me verse after verse reiterating this. Last night I read 2nd John. Beginning in verse 5: …I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. That pretty much lays it out there how it is… LOVE = FOLLOWING GOD'S COMMAND and GOD'S COMMAND = LOVE. It really doesn't need any more explanation. There have been a few days where I have been wondering if I am doing anything of importance here, if I am even leaving an impact, if I am truly showing God to these kids. I was reminded that the best way to do these things is by just loving them. That's it. Well, I'm going to get my hair cut now. Yes, I just cut 9 inches off right before I came, but I'm getting it cut again. One of the girls with the Life Bread group is a hairdresser and she is teaching a few hair dressing classes for the girls learning that skill here, so she needs a few volunteers so she can show the girls how to cut hair. I'm not sure what we are going to do with my hair since there isn't much left of it anyway… maybe just more layers and do something else with my bangs… we'll see! -SG