Love Changes the World and I’m Going Back to Kenya (& Link-Up)

Me: Lounge pants: Sudara Goods c/o | People are not property tee: Sudara Goods c/o | Earrings: Nickel and Suede
Lilly: Tee: Sudara Goods c/o | Lounge Pants: Sudara Goods c/o
Other Punjammie Options: Here, Here, Here

I’m going to just cut right to the chase. You may or may not have seen my post on Instagram sharing this news… but I wanted to share with you here, too…

A week from today, I’m going to be on a plane headed back to Kenya.

If you think I’m crazy, you’re probably right. This is one of those things that can only be categorized as a “God thing” and it was an opportunity that came about that everyone who knows me told me I was nuts if I didn’t go.

If you’ve been around this blog awhile, you know that Kenya is my second home. I served there twice (once in 2011 and once in 2012… you can see old blog posts here…) and my life was truly changed after I went the first time. Very few things have impacted my life like Kenya and I’ve been praying for years that God would open a door for me to return. I even wrote it in a blog post three years ago praying that I would get to go back!

Anyway… a few months ago, through a series of sort of crazy events, I felt as though I could truly feel and hear God as He was bringing together so many things in my life that I’m so passionate about… and when the opportunity to go back to Kenya came up, I was excited, nervous, anxious and all the things.

The big thing hanging over my head was… well, my family. You know that we’ve had some challenges with Amos and his eating and I thought that there would be no way that he would ever be okay or ready for me to be away from him for any length of time.

Through A LOT of prayer, A LOT of work, A LOT of support… he has made strides that are truly miraculous. This trip is still going to be a huge sacrifice, not only for me, but also for my husband and family and friends who are going to step in and help while I’m gone… but we are confident that he’s going to do awesome and that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.

I have been battling mom guilt big time. Should I go? Should I leave my family? Should I leave my babies? Is this REALLY what I should be doing?

Trust me. I’ve considered it all. I’ve agonized over it all.

But through many hours of prayer and counsel and conversations with people in my life who I really respect and admire, I know that this trip and the work I’m going to be doing is not only God-honoring, it is something that is important for me, and it’s also important for my kids.

I want them to know that I love them, with every fiber of my being, but I’m not just their mom. I’m first and foremost a daughter of the King and I have a passion that burns deep within me to serve others. And I want my kids to learn that and to see that modeled.

Trust me. It’s not going to be easy. I’m already a wreck thinking about leaving.

But I know that it is going to be worth it.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”” -Isaiah 6:8

So often we see these awful things happening in the world. We read these stories about injustice and modern day slavery and poverty and we think, “Gosh, that is awful. Why would God let that happen? Someone should really do something about that.” 

Well, God didn’t let that happen. WE did. And that someone that should do something… many times that someone is us.

That someone is me. 

Again, I will be sharing more about the trip in the coming days and weeks. I mean, I leave in a week. AHHHHHHHH!

But I know you have a few questions so I’ll try to answer them here…

What will I be doing there? A lot. But, in short, I’ll be working on a few key projects with my church’s Kenya campus, a project with Mercy House Global, and lastly, working with Street Hope, a ministry that is helping create income generating opportunities for men and women caught in the sex trade industry in Kenya.

How long will I be gone? A total of about 7-8 days. It’s a pretty quick trip… only on the ground 6 days and travel is about 24 hours each way with flights and layovers.

Will I be updating while I’m there? My goal right now will be to blog / post while I’m there. Obviously wi-fi is spotty and a bit unreliable, so who knows? But I’m going to try.

What about Amos? Amos will be fine… in fact, he’s going to do great. I have some amazing family and friends stepping in to help John while I’m gone. Amos has come SO FAR in the past few months and even the past two weeks that I know he’s going to do great. The trip is honestly going to be harder on me than on him. I’m sure of it…

Yeah, I’m going to be a mess leaving my husband and kids for that long (even though it’s not really that long…), but this really is one of those things where I so deeply feel that this is the answer to a call on my life.

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, everyone! It means more than you know!

Love changes the world. We can change the world. We have to just get up and do it.

Now, one more thing.  Carly and I are teaming up to do more than host our link up.  We are teaming up to share brands that we love… brands that give back.  Each week we’ll be collaborating with one of our favorite brands to share the cause they support, and their amazing products.

This week we are teaming up to tell y’all about Sudara.  Founded in 2005, Sudara began when their founder Shannon took a trip to India.  Her time in India’s Red Light Districts opened her eyes to the stories of women and children being sold into the sex trade.  Many were held against their will, trapped by poverty, and stigmatized when they did escape.  When Shannon returned home, she knew these women had little chance of surviving outside the brothels without safe employment.  In 2006, along with a team of like-minded partners, Sudara hired their first 6 employees in their sewing center.  These women created the first pair of PUNJAMMIES® loungewear.  Today? Sudara has multiple sewing centers and employees hundreds of women to make their stunning (and crazy comfortable) loungewear.

You guys a probably very familiar with Sudara because I absolutely ADORE them. I have shared them with you guys a few times and really, truly love this company.

Now, on to you guys… our favorites last week?

/ sweater weather / red stripes /