From Lawyer To Missionary: Carrie, Kenya and You

WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON?   LOTS, FIND OUT BELOW!   Things are really falling into place fast over here.  After writing the book this summer I have such clarity and direction.  I have been doing a ton of craft sales, selling the book, From Lawyer to Missionary( fromlawyertomissionary.com),  and we did a run/walk in October in an effort to raise money to purchase a plot of land in a very rundown area of Kenya with a lot of sex trafficking going on.     Friend us on FB - Operation Give Hope - orphans/adoption to get all the updates on our events.  Also check out my new website KenyaGiveHope.com. We will be building a pregnancy crises/adoption center and whatever else might come with that.   I have met with a pregancy crises center here in the US and have connections to 2 in Africa. One in Ghana.  I will be meeting the missionaries that started that one in December here in Waukesha!!!  How crazy is that.  They usually live around the world but happen to be in my backyard right now.   Ve

My blog has been a little empty this summer as I was writing a book.   Here's a chance for you to make a difference.  All proceeds will go directly to the benefit of the kids. I am personally covering all the expenses of the book so the kids can enjoy the benefits of the book.    From Lawyer to Missionary: A Journey to Kenya and Back Again WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE? *Travel along with Carrie as she travels to and from Kenya numerous times.  Meet the people she met and join in her struggles and triumphs. *Find guidance and direction on finding your purpose and ways you can make a difference.  *Discover how a trip to Kenya can change someone from lawyer to missionary Proceeds from this book will go to the following:  “Hope Empowered Adoption Resources” is the latest burden that God laid on Carrie’s heart when she was in Kenya in 2011. She returned in early 2012 and visited numerous children’s homes in Mombasa and Nairobi to see how they

Carries life in Kenya: Now What? : Sorry it’s been so long for the “last”, I have been doing a lot of soul searching and praying trying to get more focus on what God wants m...

Sorry it’s been so long for the “last”, I have been doing a lot of soul searching and praying trying to get more focus on what God wants me to do and how He wants me to do it.   More on that later, for now, here is what I wrote right after my return.  I will post a more in the next few weeks.  I’m leaving again on June 13 to work with Fox River Christian Church on reaching out to Bomani and Vipingo.  I am hoping to get back to Kenya in November 2012 for International Adoption month, if I can raise the funds that quickly as I am still raising the funds for the summer trip.  Hopefully I can find someone to come with me too.   Someone that has done a lot to make things happen in Kenya is getting married in Kenya in November which is another reason I hope to come back then.  That visit we will visit orphanages further up in Northern Kenya and also get into the hospitals to get at some of that corruption of withholding babies for bribes, visit Nairobi and Kibera again, and do a few ad

April 6, 2012 We were up at 1 am to get ready for airport ride and now it ’ s about 4am and we are in the airplane about to take off.  This is the first flight Sue and I are separated on.  We are heading to Turkey for a short lay over and even shorter now because we took off late.  Sue and I are both very excited about the work to do at home and knowing that I am returning with Fox River trip in June so not too hard to leave this time.  I remember the times when I first came to Kenya and I would be so upset leaving.  I would be so upset crying when we got to the airport knowing I had to leave, not knowing why or what I was to do in Kenya and also not knowing if I would ever be back.  The trips are not cheap to get there and I have to fund raise, collect cans, sacrifice things like haircuts and other things to save what I can to get here every time.   And I never knew if I was coming back or not.  I remember a time after the second trip here leaving rather donate the $3500 eve

April 5, 2012 Our room was nice, a little warm and muggy.  We were on the first floor and it sounded like someone was trying to get in through our window in the middle of the night so we did not sleep great.   We had a great breakfast with omelets and fruit and just about anything we could want at the Grace House Hotel. Then we headed off to Kibera.  Kibera is the second largest slum in Africa or maybe the world.  It is 1 square mile and over 1.5 million people live within that mile.  Small tin roof and side shacks comprise the housing.  Walking around, all the kids yell - “ Hello, how are you? ” - like it is a song or something.  But most of them don ’ t even know what they are saying.   But you hear it everywhere.   It was very muddy as it has been very rainy here for the last few days, but you don ’ t know if the mud is from the run or something else.  There is not adequate sanitation and it is not disposed of properly so there is waste in the streets.  Lots of street “ store

Wednesday April 4, 2012 Well we started the day off early as we had to get to the airport by 6:40am for our 7:40am flight so we thought.   George ran in to the house at 5:50 am much to our surprise as we don't see him until later in the morning usually and we had said our goodbyes yesterday.   “ You have to sign the guest book he says. ”   I said you could have called and he said no no I did try but Rashid had your phone for charging and I didn't know where the book was so Rashid picked me up and here we are.   We signed the guest book and off to the airport we went.  That shows George ’ s dedication.   It was sad to leave Rashid, he helped us so much during this trip.   He was still talking about the orphanage that we visited yesterday and how we could improve upon it slightly but that it was such a great concept.  He was still so excited.  I will take Alan today he says.  It was so great to see his passion for this idea, even though he lives there and grew up ther

Tuesday April 3, 2012 We got up at 7 to run, our last run to the beach for this trip at least.   It was so, so nice to have found that spot.   It was the perfect distance for me at least and the nice relaxing walk on the beach and there were stairs and a hill to come back up from the beach.   Rashid, our amazing driver, body guard, banker, secretary, and so many other jobs, organized our day today.  We had our list from Grace of Little Angel ’ s.  Our goal: to hit as many on the list as possible.  He studied it the night before so we could hit as many as possible. The first one we went too was Upeindo and we didn't want to leave.  We found the largest baby orphanage right now in Mombasa.  There were13 babies in this orphanage.  It is run by Patrick and Tammy.  Tammy is an Austrailian and I think Patrick is Kenyan.  They just opened in October 2011. Their place is small but it does work for the number they have right now.  They are paying a lot for rent and on formula.

Monday, April 2, 2012 We went downtown this morning and traffic was horrible.  We met with Grace from Little Angel's.  Little Angel ’ s is the only adoption agency currently working in Mombasa at all, but they are not directly connected with any babies at this point.   Little Angel ’ s is probably moving back to Nairobi soon as they cannot warrant having the office there as not enough adoptions are happening.  She gave suggestions on how to educate the police and hospitals and gave feedback on the adoption event.  She also gave us a listing of the Children's Homes she has been working with and trying to get adoptions through.  It was a great meeting, we learned so much and got so much information.  Then we quickly met with Hellen at the bank to sign the card so I'm on the account after getting pass port photos in a small booth up the road which was interesting.   Then we went to the wood carver ’ s shop which is right by the airport.  It was hotter than ever in th

Sunday, April 1, 2012 Sue and I started our day out with another run to the beach.  Then it was off to Ingili, another school and church run by Bobby and Lisa Bechtel, close to Mombasa.  This is where Pastor Allan preaches every week.  We went out there because we missed Anne at Bomani and one cannot come to Kenya and not visit our precious hard working, great cooking Anne.  When we got there she was not there yet so we met with Alan.  First he showed Sue around the school.  Then just as an aside as we were talking in the dining hall, he said he was talking with a Christian friend of his about the adoption mission we are working on.  This friend just happens to have some property right off the road in Mtwapa which she was willing to sell significantly cheaper to help with the Christian mission. The property should sell for $160,000 or more but she is willing to sell for $48,000 or so.   That was another chilling God moment.  We were to meet up later to view the property though it is o

Saturday, March 31, 2012 Great start of the day with a run down to the beach.  I made good running time, and did it all by myself which is a miracle.  For those of you that don ’ t know, I HATE to run.  That is a whole different journey that God has me on, training for a half marathon.  I ’ ve always been a walking fan.  Walking is the same as running as long as you do it long enough was always my motto, but since I started running in December, I can honestly say that is definitely not true.  Running is so much more.  I hate it, but it is so much better for me than walking or any other type of exercise.  It is a great way to clear your head, tone your body, and increase your energy even if you are miserable even thinking about it!  When I got to the beach, looking out over the ocean there was a peace.  If God can take care of keeping the oceans where they need to be, He can take care of my small problems, even if they seem large to me to Him it is just another thing.  That brought me

Friday, March 30, 2012 Up early again to see Chris and Lisa Moore's school Mbewau in Mtepeni. It is a beautiful school with great landscaping.  The kids did a program as today was the last day of school for awhile for the first term.  We got a chance to say hello to the kids in the younger classrooms and watch their dramas and verses.   Chris and Lisa have worked so hard and this a beautiful center.  They have a full doctors office which looks great.  Then we headed to the property in Mtwapa with Bobby to view the property.  We were early so we decided to find the beach it definitely was not very far.  Coco Cabana was the name of the beach and it is constantly controlled by the police.  We had a Sprite to give them a little business.  Bobby liked the building but we asked him and Allen if they saw any draw backs and they both said it is easier to start from scratch with just land and then build who you would like with the help of an architect. Then we went for lunch which took f

Thursday, March 29, 2012 South Coast here we come.   I love, love, love south coast.   That is were I fell in love with Kenya for the first time.  In Tiwi in 2008 when I meet a young girl, at that time who was in KG-2 and was so quiet she would not even tell me her name without whispering.  I had to ask Pastor Vincent what her name was.  She was so cute.  She had brads in her hair and she was so so little.  I watched her from afar for a little while and then I moved closer and she came over to sit on my lap.  Now every time I come see here growing so so much.  She is very advanced in her class and is doing so well.   Even the next year, she was already on stage yelling out a poem as a presentation in English and that was when she was in KG-3 which is difficult for them to speak English still at that age. I have since learned that she is the youngest of the family and has three older brothers.   Her mother passed away in 2010 which is so sad.  My daughter's best friend's mom pa

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Wana Wa Mola just started, in January 2012, a second location for older boys that might not finish school as they are too old to go back and complete the grades but instead will do vocational training into a caterer or something like that so they will be able to find employment.  We met the music teacher and the day time Christian leader of the home.  They took us around and showed us the place.   It was small but nice.   They need a well right now.  We ran this one different than all the rest as everyone spoke and understood English very well.  They had 6 boys total at one time earlier this year.  2 were in high school so were gone for the day.  Two had left the home to pursue a career in music back in Tanzinia where one of the boys came from.  The two boys that were there during the day were twin brothers - Francis and Peter.   We did a worship session where they sang and played guitar for us - they needed a new guitar - they had like a $30 type guitar that