As promised I am now writing about how God made this Miles of Smiles Adventure possible. It is the ultimate story of God's faithfulness and a testament of His provision when we are simply obedient to His calling. The best way to share this story is to give you a glimpse into my heart as God was/is shaping this vision by sharing with you portions of my journal entries. So here it goes:

The Stirring of my Heart:

Friday August 7th, Nairobi Airport post 2 weeks in Kenya

Ahh.... this trip is coming to an end and there's so very much to process. This morning I woke up early because I could not sleep for dreaming of orphans climbing up in my bed. I love the people and country of Kenya. Thinking about it keeps me up at night. God I know I have much to discuss with you and much to process over the coming weeks. It just seems as if you continue to confirm my coming to Kenya for a longer period of time. When I'm here I feel as if I have purpose and direction. My heart is at peace. My fear of not knowing your calling has turned to fearing that now I know and I'm just scared to give up the security and comfort of home. I know I am struggling with you God and I just need time to sort through all the possibilities. I know I want to serve you with my whole heart, soul, and mind. I trust you will lead, guide, and protect me. Lord I am trusting you to provide the wisdom and knowledge to seek you first. May you take my heart and shape it to be like yours. The next few months will be interesting as God tugs on my heart more and more regarding his passionate plan for seeing His kingdom come.

This is my prayer: Father God, creator, sustainer,deliverer, God provider, God of peace, God ever present. Lord I praise you that you are all things wonderful. I'm thankful for you counselor and defender of the weak and helpless. Father of the fatherless draw near to me. Lord I come before you with a humble heart rocked by the vision of tin roofs of poverty as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of thousands of your children starving and living in less than a 1/2 mile area. Astonished that these beautiful people are helpless and hungry. In them I see a vision of you, even a glimmer of hope in their eyes because of YOU. Lord I know you are doing so much in the lives of your people in Kenya. The Hope Center and Tumaini are proof of your activity there. I'm not sure why you've given me a heart for Kenya. Many ask, "why not just serve the people in the US..." for this question I really don't have an answer. I trust that you know Lord and that you will give me the words to speak, and an understanding as I come to terms with it myself. Above all else, I know you are faithful and just and you will prove faithful even in the scary uncertainties of life. I'm beginning to understand that you call those who are serious about you to do radical things (at least by the world's standards) There's really no better place to be than at the center of where you want me, even if it's scary,doesn't make sense to the world, unorthodox, unstable, and lacking all security. My hope is in You and I can think of no better place to be. I have resolved that I will never be rich by earthly standards, just able to sustain life. My salary comes from you. I have resolved that I may be uncomfortable, but I will find comfort in you oh God. I have resolved that my life is to lose only for You to find me and redeem my heart. i love you Lord and I aim to seek you first. Forgive me when I worry, doubt, and cling to the comforts of this world. Continue to break my heart for what breaks yours and reveal to me how you choose for me to serve you best! I bow at your feet Lord... I surrender ALL!

Continued Confirmation:

August 20, 2009 Williamsburg, KY

Today was a pivital day in my understanding of God's plan and His timing. For several years I've been praying to discern the direction I should take in pursuing missions. It was as if today God chose to answer two years worth of prayer in a few short hours. Over the last few weeks God has began to unfold a future before me with confirmation big and small. It all began with a conversation with Rose about her need for me at Tumaini. This was confirmed by several of my teammates as they observed me at Tumaini. Again God began to speak to me once I was home through timely emails from friends and mission organizations to facebook messages suggesting my time at Tumaini may come sooner than later. Then God answers my prayer that my parents would understand and be supportive. God seems to be on the move and I am so thankful. No matter what happens at this point I feel my time in the burg is short and I'm excited about all that lies ahead. Thank you Lord for meeting me where I'm at and revealing yourself to me. I am forever thankful and You are forever worthy.

A Renewed Calling

November 23, 2009 Knoxville TN Rose and Vivian visit the Us

Ahh, how the adventure continues. I find myself rising early to meet you Lord, as if having a renewed purpose and vision for what you have in store for me. It's like a dream to have Rose and Vivian here in my home, my world. World's are coliding here. You oh Lord, have confirmed in my heart yet again a calling and direction on my life. it is not necessarily Kenya that I has my heart, it's the people there. I believe fully in the cry of James 1:27 and the heart you have given to me to look after the least of these.

So Long Home Sweet Home:

December 7th, 2009 62 Windy Hill Lane Williamsburg, KY

Well much has transpired since my pencil last touched this journal and my oh my how I wish I could recount all the details of this journey... all the small things that collided in my world to make today's events a reality. Truth is, half of me has been so busy living it and the other half is so numb to it effects that I just haven't taken the time to put this on paper. At this moment reality is staring me in the face. I'm leaving! Leaving the comforts of my cute little house with a carport and white picket fence. Leaving behind friends and family, leaving a job and community I love, all for following a calling I am quite certain of, no matter the cost. Some may say I'm crazy, and at times when I'm tired or scard I half way agree, no, but really I have total peace about packing up and moving on. God always has something bigger and better in store.

Reality Check:

January 4, 2010 Balltown Apt. 4 Williamsburg, KY

Ahhhh... A new year, a new beginning, or so it always seems. But, really it must be just a contginuation of something that was set into motion, even befoer time began. I often ask myself, what might God have in store for me this year and without fail, it's always full of opportunity, even the most bizzare of possibilities like "this year I want you to leave your dream of working in healthcare behind and return to school" or "how about you not teach, instead I want you to be a college coach", or "now I would like you to follow me into the world of public relations", and then my recent favorite command from God, which I like to say was inspired by Matt 16:24 and if I didn't get it loud and clear the first time Matt 19:21, " sell all I have so graciously given you and follow me to Africa... LOVE GOD

Now I'm not opposed to any of these things and in retrospect I'm quite fond of how God alone worked out all the nitty gritty circumstances surrounding this adventure one by one, right on time, but I sit here in an apartment that is not my own, on my bed because my couch is currently in my parents garage with all my earthly belongings piled on top, JUST WANDERING what next and why me? I don't think God "owes" me any explanation for I am His and He is mine and that should be more than enough in reason, I just can't help from wondering. What I do know is that his calling is real, He has something special going on in Kenya and I am somehow connected to that. Oh how I wish I could go back and recount from the beginning the journey I'm on. It pains me to think of all the amazing testiments of God's faithfullness I will soon forget as time slips away and my fresh memories gently fade into the past... all because I didn't take the time to record them. My confession: I've never been good at that!

I know this journey is real... too real at times. I know these next months of preparation will pass so quickly and it will be time to go. I'm excited, nervous,anxious,ready, wide-eyed, sad, scared, all in one. I again ask why me, why now, why alone, and then I ask... WHY NOT? I have no worthy answer so now with my whole heart I submit with wreckless abandon.... Running full speed into the arms of Jesus!

For HIS Glory Let the nations Hear:

January 26th, 2010

My prayer is that the overflow of my heart speaks tonight. This journey continues to test matters of my heart and challenges me to seek the truth from God's Word. I've been thinking about the rue motive for serving oversees and I've been checking my heart. Through Perspectives on the World Christian Movement( a class I've been attending in K-town each Tuesday night) God has opened my eyes to see that compassion for the broken is not enough. It's really not about the broken at all. It's about glory, about God's name, and sharing his redemptive plan thoroughout the nations. I think this is the 1st time I've stepped back to examine the purpose for this calling. I no longer see the broken. Instead I see hope and opportunity in reaching out and proclaiming Him whom we ALL should find our HOPE. So I must ask again, am I supose to go, and from God I hear a resounding YES. I am thankful for this time of preparation and time of growth.


All I can say is : How Great is Our God!