Why go to Kenya?

Dear Friends and Family,

As most of you know, I will be moving to Nairobi, Kenya in July 2017. I hope to use this blog as a way to share prayer request, praise reports, as well as general updates (Hopefully including some fun photo as well!) 

Many people have asked me "Why Kenya?" - Well if this process has made anything clear to me, it's that the Lord has such a sense of humour. For the past 4 years I've known that after graduation, I wanted to serve over seas . Whenever I'd share this with someone, many times the response would be something along the lines of "Oh really? Neat! Like Africa?" I'd always say "Oh no no no... not Africa. Africa is hot, it has a ton of bugs and I just really feel like I'm called to South America". I genuinely now look back on those times and see God sitting there and saying "Oh really? Well well, just you wait!". So. He found one of the rare places in Africa that isn't as humid (Nairobi is away from the ocean and at a high elevation), doesn't have as many bugs and even sells really good coffee (Just a nice bonus I thought I'd add in there ;) . Then, he orchestrated it so that ALL the other schools that I applied to in South America either weren't hiring or had decided they no longer needed another elementary teacher. To top it all off, as Kenya became more and more a possibility, I had this insane peace about it. It was as though I began to feel that there was no where else I could imagine myself for the next two years. 

In Nairobi I will be serving/teaching alongside the other educators at West Nairobi School.  West Nairobi School was established in 1996 to provide a North American Christian school education for missionary families in East Africa.  The school is an International private co-ed (mixed) day school from Kindergarten to 12th grade. The mission of WNS is to partner with parents to provide an education of excellence from a Biblical worldview based on North American curriculum.  West Nairobi School strives to nurture the academic, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual development of the whole child.

 At the moment, I'm reading through the book "Reckless Abandon", a biography on David Sitton who was a missionary in New Guinea during the 1900's. He says in the forward of his book

"Here is my rational for regularly sending missionaries with the gospel into hostile surroundings: Risk assumes the possibility of loss and is always determined by the value of the mission. The Gospel is so valuable that no risk is unreasonable. Life is gained by laying it down for the gospel. If I live, I win and get to keep on preaching Christ. If I die, I win bigger by going directly to be with Christ and I get to take a few tribes with me. 

I conclude that "loosing my life" for the gospel is literally impossible because my years on this earth are worth far less than the value of the eternal gospel. This is what Paul means when he declares: "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." 

As I consider the upcoming move to Nairobi, this quote is what I find myself reflecting on. I have had a great whirlwind of emotions and anxiety as I anticipate moving across the world, learning to drive/live/adult in an area SO different from my own, being entrusted a class of grade 5 students, and moving away from everything I consider familiar. And yet, even in the tough times and the hard decisions I remember my Christ and His worthiness. I remember that it is for Him and for his kingdom that I am choosing to move. This gives me peace in the seemingly endless chaos around me. He is so worthy of our everything.

Now- I've also had some questions about support.  Since this school is a privately funded school, aiding students of missionary families, my salary doesn't cover all of my expenses. I will need to raise $920/month, as well, I will need money for setup in the city of Nairobi ($13,331 for things such as car, insurance, home setup etc ). 

If you do feel led to give financially to support my ministry here are your options:
1. You can give the money to me personally (this will go towards up-front costs)
2. Or you may sponsor online at https://crossworld.org/give/ (My project number is 45329 )

However, PLEASE do not give a cent to me without praying about it first. Money is beneficial but prayers are necessary.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you. If you'd like to follow along, there is a subscribe button below that you can sign up to get updates!

Blessings,

-Breanna