Kenya Update II.0: Time to Fly
Denise Poon
Good afternoon (NY time), friends,
Hello from JFK airport! Before I get carried away, let me explain the subject title. The "II" represents Round II. Or, Volume II, if you prefer. Then each number corresponds to the update. So there you go.
Anyway, here is a real update, "real" being a relative term since I'm not in Kenya quite yet (hence the two-point-zero in the subject line. Sorry, I'm getting too detailed with all of this). I left early May 31st (my dad's birthday! Happy __th birthday, Dad! I won't tell everyone how old you really are) and actually DID NOT miss my flight this year-so we're off to a better start already! The staff team met together for first time, along with the husband-and-wife directors, Brian and Deb (aka "Mama Hannah" in Kenya-speak). I'll be frank-I was worried out of my wits (but not my wit...ha ha...) that I wouldn't like the rest of the staff but we started bonding right away and I love them all already (and when does that ever happen, at least in my case?). So that was a huge relief, and God's provision, too.
The team all arrived yesterday and boy was I in high E (extrovert, for those you non-Myers-Brigg enthusiasts) mode! So much so that one of the staff members, when trying to figure out my personality type, thought I was an extrovert (ha! Ha! Ha! I've got them fooled!) Okay, the point is not that I am not being my true (introverted) self to the rest of the team, but that again, God is being so good in keeping my energy up so I can interact well with the team. I know last year I mostly felt a bit dazed and out of place when I first met the team. The other part about yesterday is when we broke into smaller groups to share. The girls I was with were all shockingly vulnerable, and none of us knew each other from before. It was so encouraging to me-as a GP staff person, my job is to be there for the students, and it has been already been so wonderful.
God has been providing in huge ways already, and I see Him knitting the team's hearts together as one. I am so excited for this year, even though a few days ago I was getting cold feet. Almost like I was about to get married and knew it was the right thing to do, but I was freaking out, thinking there must be some sort of mistake. Well, this is all hypothetical of course...I've never been anywhere close to getting married...but we'll just say it was like my marriage to Jesus or something like that. I'm not sure how "prepared" I am for these next seven weeks, but the Lord has promised me His presence, and His healing for very deep hurts I have been carrying-and that is more than enough for me, as I learned last summer in Kenya.
So, some prayer requests:
1. Continued energy, especially to reach out and build relationships with the team. I am feeling a bit worn around the edges right now.
2. Safety as we travel, first to London, and then on to Nairobi. Also that all luggage (and people, too, for that matter) would arrive, all present and accounted for in Kenya (heaven forbid I lose all my missionary chic skirts).
3. Good health. The end.
That's all for now. Thank you all for your support and prayers, they are priceless.
Shalom,
Denise
P.S. I fly out at 6:00 NY time, so if you anyone would like to call me maybe...that would be nice.
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Denise Poon
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. English and Media Studies, expected May 2012
626-320-2182
denis...@berkeley.edu