Posted in Ireland by Kathryn Gironimi on 8/29/2010
Every year on my
birthday, I sit down to write a letter to someone who has come into my life and
changed it for the better. I’ve written to teachers, friends, and mentors…
…But, even though I am not able to send a letter this year, I want
to post this blog as a tribute to someone, my
mother.
If I was to sit down and write to Kathy Gironimi, I would tell her that I
know God put a special calling in her life to raise me. I have not always made
it easy, or fun. We’ve had fights, we’ve had tears, and she has dealt with my
sarcasm and battle of the will-through it all she never stopped believing in me.
When I was graduating high school, in all of my 18 year old wisdom, I was convinced that I was going to move to Boston,
work at Hooters, and put myself through Berklee College of Music to become a studio guitarist. (I realize,
I had lofty dreams…) When I told my mother my plan, she didn’t yell, she didn’t
tell me how stupid it was (even though it was really stupid), she picked up a
pad of paper, threw it down in front of me and said, “You write down how you
can make this financially work, prove it to me on paper, and you can go.”
Wisdom.
Needless to say, when I couldn’t make it work, Mom responded with,
“How about Bible College for a year?”
One story, from my childhood, that captures my
mother’s character comes to my mind as I write this.
A family
at our church was struggling for groceries and couldn’t afford much. They had
kids that were my age at the time and we knew them pretty well. My sisters and I were watching
television while my mom was in the kitchen, when she called us in to see her;
“Go into the cupboard and pick out all of your
favorite food items, the things you’d like to eat the most and then we’re going
to bag them up and bring them to that family.”
So, we tore through the
pantry, gathering our favorite food items and when they were all bagged up, my
mom drove to the house, put them on the doorstep, rang the bell, and ran back
to the car.
Humble
Generosity.
My mother never does
anything for show….
My mother loves
patiently more than anyone other person I know…
My mother gives without
expecting back…
Hey Ma-
I sit here in Ireland,
at 25 years old, and I’m chasing after Jesus hard with big dreams in my heart
from the Lord- and I’m doing it, partly, and largely, because of the role you
have played in my life. Thank you for praying,
thank you for not letting me settle,
thank you for teaching me what it means to love
people and serve them without doing it for outward credit, thank you for holding me when I had
nightmares, for putting up with my attitude and loving enough to fight
through all those rebellious years with me.
I love you mom.
You have changed my
life Kathy Gironimi… and you continue to do so. I can’t wait to hug you.
I walked outside to have alone time with the Lord.
I had a lot of things personally on my heart and I
wanted to spend time praying and talking to God in the midst of the beautiful
Ugandan valleys.
As I was praying, I
heard “HEY MZUNGU!”
I looked to see four dirty children vying for my
attention.
“Please
God, make them go away…”
I wanted them to leave, I was
dealing with my own issues and didn’t want to invest in anyone else…
Then I heard… “Let the little children come to me…”
I argued with God for a
moment, in my heart I wanted to ignore them- I spent so much time with kids, I
just wanted a moment for my own.
But God answered… Your time is my time, love and serve.
So I surrendered and it
stopped being about “I”.
We
danced, sang, played games, sat and talked about Jesus, and I gave them a photo
shoot which left them smiling and giggling.
It was “my” off time…
It was “my” alone time with God…
It was “my” personal reflection
time…
But God said, “No… it’s MINE”
And the ironic thing about it is, that after time spent with these
kids, my heart was restored- my own issues seemed to pail in comparison to the
joy of being apart of the kingdom of God.
Love and serve, and
see how God rewards your heart… I’m finding He is faithful over and over again.
Her husband has to
work 7 hours away because there isn’t enough work
here for him.
She sees him every 6 months.
He makes 7000 Uganda shillings a month, which is
roughly a little more than $3.00 U.S.
The numbers just don’t add up to me.
Meet Leonard
I watched Leonard
eat trash.
And I don’t mean
food trash, but I watched Leonard eat a piece
of garbage- I watched him eat cardboard.
Meet Kathryn
I have no clue how to fix the issues of
poverty and justice. My heart gets overwhelmed when I think of how much I’ve
seen this year that is out
of my control.
I shared a can of
Pringles with nine
hungry, poverty stricken children… and it did nothing to fix
any issue…but it was a way to love
and serve in the moment.
This blog has no answers.
I know that the
problems of the world are too large
for me to fix- fortunately I serve aGod who never expected me to fix
anything in the first place… but He does expect me to walk in the moments
He has given me to love and serve.
I want to run from
some of the people I encounter, and retreat into a world where I don’t have to
face that people are being treated unjustly, unable to work for enough money to
give them the bare necessities of life. I want to run from children who are
eating trash…
More than that
though….
I want to run towards justice.
This means more
than breaking out my wallet, because even though money and generosity in that
is important- justice doesn’t have a monetary value…
Justice
is a lifestyle.
So here is to no answers, but a willingness… no
solutions, but a heart
for the problem…
I have been
absolutely ruined for
the rest of my life… and I couldn’t be more thankful.
Last month my heart had a difficult time fighting to see what God wanted
to show me, and what He wanted from me in Africa.
This month I asked God to give me a theme that I could filter each
action through.
“Serve Enthusiastically”
Simple words, but also a challenge.
Establish Dominance is partnered with Juna Amagara Ministries Uganda.
They have their
hand in a few things, pursuing medical help, giving housing and education to
orphans, and teaching vocational skills.
Juna Amagara roughly translated means ”saving lives”…
or to save life.
The heart of the
ministry is keeping Christ at the center,
instilling within students that Jesus is
the one who gives life.
I wanted to give you a pictorial look at
things here, as we work with the institute.
Last monthI was ready to give up. So thank you for
those who wouldn’t let me; who encouraged me to keep going- who inspired me to
chase after what God had for me in this season. One friend wrote something very
simple to me, “I hope you never get tired of waking up in places like that no
matter how hard or how annoying.”
This
month I want to serveenthusiastically, willing to pour out, trusting that God will fill
me just to do it again the next day. It doesn’t happen in my own strength… only
His.
At home my
sisters and I joke about my life being like the movie 27 Dresses.
It’s true;
I have my fair share of bridesmaid dresses sitting in my closet at home. I’ve
made my way down a few isles, remembering to walk slowly to Cannon in D,
Being on
the World Race is
one of the greatest experiences of my life…
and I
wouldn’t trade it…
…but there
are times when it is difficult; my heart feels a little torn, because of special events and life circumstances that go on at home with the people
I love.
Katie and Miguel are two people that have been a
part of my life separately… and somehow God brought them together while I’ve
been out here on the field.
My prayer for Miguel has been that God would put in his
path a woman that loved Jesus wholeheartedly and would support him, speak to
the godly man he was, and be willing to challenge him in life.
My prayer for Katie has been that God would give her a
man that was following Christ, a man that would love and understand her, that
would support her passions and also challenge her, helping her strive for
holiness.
God answered my prayers for my friends by
bringing them together.
So… congratulations on your
engagement, Katie and Miguel.
I will gladly add to
my closet of bridesmaid dresses to walk down an isle in support of a couple
that I believe has the capacity to show the world God’s love stronger together
than they could apart.
I wish I was around to celebrate,
but you both have been huge supporters of this trip that I’m on, and I know
that you wouldn’t want me anywhere else but here.
So from halfway around the world, I
want you to know you are thought of and loved.
Also… here is a bit of
advice from an African secondary school sign…
Well… at least until
you’re married anyway… then you can say yes.
Even though
our team only changed by 1 person-
the entire dynamic shifts, and the atmosphere gets different…
Thus a new
name- attacking change with a fresh
vision
Team Establish Dominance is cool for a couple of reasons…
1) I love to
use the phrase establish dominance
2) Amy, my
teammate, heard a sermon once that talked about how God’s love establishes dominance whenever it
enters a room… and we are ambassadors of that love, and that it isn’t our
power, but God’s that makes a
difference- and He will triumph
With
the change, and this new team, has come a second wind for me here in Africa…
Daniel Stinson is COURAGE
Nate Evans is VULNERABILITY
Amy Book is INTENTIONAL
Kristi Kaeli is KNOWLEDGE
Katie Cartwright is LIGHT
Liz Norris is FIRE (and
not just because she’s a red head!)
Lindsey Eaton is COMPASSION
… and as for me…. I’m crazy… but my team can attest to that…
Please
pray for…
*Wisdom in safety
*Relationships with our contacts, that we
would encourage them and pour into them what they need
*We are working mostly with youth this
month, pray for God to use us to instill His vision for them into their lives
*Pray for our bonding, openness, and that we
would fight to refine one another as a team
Posted in Tanzania by Kathryn Gironimi on 7/29/2010
7 months…
During Launch back in
January, and even during training camp for the World Race, we were told always be ready for change.
“Change is a form of loss,whether good or bad.”
Our team sat down the other night to be informed that a change would be happening…
Carl would be leaving us and joining another
team.
I didn’t realize that
information would affect me the way it did, but I had an instant sadness.
I’ve spent almost every
day with Carl for the past 7 months, and you don’t really grasp, until moments
like this, that people have become like
family to you.
Carl makes me laugh- with a witty sense of humor, and his use of
various accents, I will miss the ways he imitates the various versions of
Lindsey’s laugh.
Carl makes me think- It’s amazing to watch Carl read Scripture. The
way his mind works, so creative and so questioning, he pulls me into a deeper
relationship with God’s Word. No matter what questions he wrestles through
though, at the end of the day he simply stands in awe inspired worship of who
God is, and invites others to do the same.
Carl has been there to embrace me in a brotherly hug when I’ve
broken down crying, and he’s been there to express he was proud during moments
of ministry when I stepped out to be used by God.
To Kathy Wilson- you
raised one great boy, who has become a godly man, so thank you for sharing your
son with us.
Carl is one of the first men in my life whom I’ve been vulnerable with in
discussing hurts of the past, and the sins that have brought me to where I am.
He listened, and encouraged, and loved me without judgment.
God has used him to redeem the role of men in my
life.
So this
week we will say goodbye to Carl as far as being apart of our team, and
while I feel a little sadness in my own personal loss…
I
am excited to see him as he transitions onto team Powerhouse and enters into a new season of the World Race.
I believe in how great Carl is, and see the
value he has in community. I’m excited to share him.
God
is also blessing us…
Meet
Daniel Stinson
Danny is joining our
team this coming week.
I had the honor of
working with Danny’s team in Kenya, and after seeing Danny’s heart in action-
I’m eager to work and serve alongside of him.
The first thing I
noticed when I met Danny was that the
world seemed to melt away when he
was in the presence of God. He is
unafraid to pour his heart out and be vulnerable- encouraging a “no fear of man” mentality in those around him.
He is also a dancin’
fool- a testament to his enjoyment of life and exceptionally fun spirit.
I ask for your prayers as this
transition happens- for both Carl and Danny.
I feel so privileged to be
learning from men that are chasing after Jesus with their whole lives.
7 months…
…and I am now used to the World Race throwing change my
way…
So here is to embracing and engaging, the beginning of a new adventure.
Posted in Tanzania by Kathryn Gironimi on 7/29/2010
…The men have to hunt and kill a lion before they can get married…
That was the FIRST thing I heard about the Massai
people… needless to say I was intrigued.
The Massai are in the midst
of losing some of their traditional ways due to government regulation and rule.
Obviously with extinction issues, the whole “lion hunting” thing isn’t allowed
anymore- and there are other things changing.
Even in the midst of a
world that is becoming increasingly westernized, there is something beautiful
about a culture that is clinging to its roots.
The village we visited slaughtered a goat for us for
lunch- talk about hospitality.
In the small mud hut church
with wooden benches…
We sang. We danced. We worshipped. Unifed by the gospel.
I stood in front of the
small congregation of villagers and I poured my heart out about the amazing
power of the gospel.
As I scanned a people
group, the one that I saw being a world of difference from me, the people that
were most unlike me- my heart was hit with the incredible truth that the gospel is what united us.
We were so different, but so much the
same.
I could not hold back the
tears that came in an overwhelming flood of emotion of how big and incredible
God’s own love for us was.
Rich or poor… young or old…
white or black…
The fact remains that the gospel unites us with the simple
message that nothing satisfies our souls except for the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
I
expressed to them that at times my heart wanted to hold back in talking about
our “need” in this world because I was afraid people would look at me and want
to know what the “white girl from America” knew about “need”, when I have not
faced poverty the way they have.
But God’s Word says, “blessed are the poor in spirit…”
It’s not about your status-
it’s about seeing the need… that you are poor in spirit. The truth is we all are poor in
spirit until we are filled with the Holy Spirit- and understand that our
satisfaction comes from a relationship with the Father.
The “Amens” that resonated through the Massai people,
echoed the sentiments of my heart…
The more
I talk about the gospel, the more amazing I find the whole thing.
Posted in Tanzania by Kathryn Gironimi on 7/24/2010
I looked across from the table up at the woman who had just served me tea and bread in her grass hut restaurant… she was picking her nose.
Welcome to Africa.
I spent three hours in a van meant to fit 15 passengers and it was packed with 25 people, 2 chickens, and 3 children… one of which threw up in the middle of the ride.
Welcome to Africa.
Beans and rice has become my favorite food dish… because it’s the only one I’ve eaten.
Welcome to Africa.
It is truly easy for me to grow weary of life in Africa.
The customs, the culture, and the food… its adventure wears off shortly and it becomes depressing at times. It’s uncomfortable for me to always have my feet dirty, for my clothes to serve multi-purposefully as a napkin, for roosters to wake me at an hour I didn’t realize existed…
And if I allow my mind to wander too much… it is easy to become complacent- to dream of the day that I get to leave Africa.
In order to clear my head I jog…
The other day while jogging around the YWAM base, two young African girls came in through the fence and began to run with me.
For the last four laps of my run, they kept my pace, giggling as they sprinted barefoot in their dirty, tattered dresses.
When I finished the run they imitated the cool down stretching I did, mimicking the noises I made as I twisted my body.
And it’s in these simple “off ministry” moments that God reminds me He has…
…welcomed me to Africa.
I have this incredible opportunity and though at moments I grow weary, I wish not to waste it… the people here are beautiful, inviting, and I can see God teaching me every day- asking if I am willing to be used every day.
I have found month 7 a challenge to overcome…
Someone from southeastern Connecticut should enjoy a little Pizza Palace in my honor this week… or anyone could get an iced caramel macchiato with extra caramel and whip cream from Starbucks for me… because those sound wicked good right now.
In all seriousness… Africa is a place filled with witchcraft, false doctrine, cultural disparity, a focus on condoms to help curb the problem with aids, lack of medical care, and depression.
Pizza and Starbucks will be things that I have at my disposal soon enough, but I will not always have African soil underneath my feet…
I am humbly asking for your prayers, as I know I need them- for endurance, contentment, and for wisdom in speaking to the people of Africa and sharing the gospel.
Thank you to all my supporters- financially, prayerfully, and through encouragement. I feel very much loved and spurred on by you. This journey does not happen without you.
Posted in Tanzania by Kathryn Gironimi on 7/23/2010
(this blog is sparked by a sermon given by my teammate Carl)
“Brothers… what we do in this life, echoes in eternity.”
-Maximus in “Gladiator”
An echo: to repeat… to resonate.
There is a similar stream of thought that pervades most of the people around the world- they do believe that their time on this earth will determine their afterlife.
Words are a very tricky thing, and I have come to find the terms “life” and “afterlife” very interesting.
When sin entered the world, so did death.
Ephesians 2:1 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…”
Even in our time on this world, our life is actually dead…
We are all dead men walking.
People operate under theillusion that what they are living in is life, but without being hidden in Christ, they are living in death.
It is Christ’s conquering of death that enables life.
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”
It’s not so much what we do in this life that echoes in eternity… it’s what we choose…
Through God’s grace we can choose life, which brings us life into eternity… but the reality is that people are choosing to remain in death, and that echoes into eternal death…
You either repeat life from this world into the next, or you repeat death.
Colossians 2:12 “…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
For those of us who believe, our eternal life is already active, dying in this world only leads to life.
Our ministry here in Tanzania has largely been door-to-door evangelism. We engage people in conversation, answer questions about Christianity, and share the gospel of Jesus…
I realized that I have been talking with a bunch of dead people… people who think they are living life, but are blind to the truth of their own decaying, rotting souls.
Look into the faces of those who are dead… and pray that the message of hope of life in Christ penetrates their hearts- that the words we have shared with these people-with these families would take root and flourish into life.