Called by the King

I landed here in Nairobi Kenya a week ago tonight.  I knew as a left home that I could not imagine what this journey would entail but nothing prepared me for silence it would bring to my soul.  I never imagined being at a loss for words.  For nearly a week I have struggled to put words to my thoughts and feelings.  Even the pages of my own personal journal remain blank. As I try to put words to my experience so far I can only begin with a declaration of praise to my LORD.  HE created a beautiful world indeed.  The beauty of Kenya will take your breath away.  The vibrant colours of purple, red, yellow and orange.  Everywhere I look is a picture I will long to remember. The Kenyan people are gentle, kind, sweet souls and they have stolen my heart! Especially the children!!

The truth is I have no words! I am at such a loss to describe what this day has been.  It's been a simple day, spent with a lovely Indian lady, eating an incredible lunch.  A day driving into the city (Nairobi) and back.  A late afternoon visiting a family the girls and I have prayed for, for many years. The best I can say is that there is nothing in my western life that I can relate to this place.  Kenya is a different world.  In Canada and the USA for that matter, we can easily get a sense of Europe.  Kenya is not like anything we know.  Yes you see British Colonialism but even that is different from the Europe we reflect in North America. It's simply another world here, beautiful - but even in its beauty it is so different.  I am sure the words will soon flow, for now I can simply say I am in awe.

I have always been rather artistically challenged.  But I can remember being 5 years old sitting at the Cut and Paste table in my kindergarten room trying to fashion a gurney out of construction paper and paper towel tubes.  One Christmas several years later my 'big' request was for a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a doctor.  I have no idea where this desire was birthed, I did not come from a line of medical professionals but it was all I wanted.  The great question in my life was what kind of doctor would I be?  A family practitioner, paediatrician, psychiatrist, cardiology or neurologist?  Every academic decision was based on me one day being Dr. Crystal Medland MD.  It was a huge dream and it fuelled me - more than I understood. My world was radically altered in my grade 12 year with the death of my Dad.  It was through those dark days that my faith was birthed.  You can read about if you like in my post The day the wor

In just over two weeks I with embark on an adventure of a lifetime.  I am packing my bags, kissing my family goodbye and heading to Nairobi Kenya.  Placing my feet on African soil has been a long time in the making. I had no idea a few years ago when I entitled this blog Called by the King that this adventure awaited me.  I have been a rather terrible blogger - unsure of myself, struggling to find reason why anyone would want to read my thoughts.  But I have this space, and a life changing journey awaits me, so why not document it here. So if you happen to join me on this adventure, subscribe to my blog, pray for me, pray for my family as I leave them to walk in obedience to our King.