Honduras in 10 Days

It was my 6th week (maybe 7) that I was temping at Cross Point Church, and there was momentum all around me. Different departments of ministry wrapping up summer camps, youth events, moving, missions, and a new series, new building, new offices, new, new, new.

The momentum was shifting constantly, and in the course of things I was praying about my own course.

What was next?

I have so much to be thankful for: a loving family, expanding my horizons in Sierra Leone, a music project fueled by an overwhelming dream, and so many other great ideas that come racing out of my brain for as many breaths as I take. 

What I hadn't done yet: Gain momentum, and listen for God's next calling to guide my steps.

I walked into the office the next morning, and over heard Jacob McGinnis talking to Laurie Stephens about the next Missions trip to Honduras. He was leading worship and wondered if anyone in the group sang since it was largely women going. And in two seconds flat, I blurted out..

"I'll GO!"

Laurie looked at me with pursed lips smiling and replied,

"Okay, you have 10 days."

Ten Days.

So this is what it's like to be my brother, an avid adventurer and Pro Surfer. Just throw everything in your bag, and Go.

Saying Yes, is EASY.

Believing what comes next, not so much. 

Oh, and I didn't have my Passport yet...

So, this is what followed.

In 3 days, after a few Facebook posts to a crowd funding platform for Missions called www.razoo.com, through the generous donations of family and friends... I raised all the funds necessary to go, and had more left over to buy chickens, sheep-goats, and a cow.

A random tweet returned the sweetest Direct Message from Manny Martinez at Hello-Somebody, he was sending some of their Hello Somebody watches (I Love Them!) to take to Honduras for the trip. Manny, you are amazing!

By the fifth day, I had four volunteers (Kristil Lyle, Megan Jakes, Lisa Sanford and Pamela Hemphill) to answer the phones in my absence at Cross Point! YOU LADIES ARE AMAZING!!! And a HUGE thank you to my Mom and Bella and Dalton's Dad who would take on the responsibility of taking care of the kids in my absence.

Day 6, No PASSPORT...

Is this going to happen?

Day 7, drove down to Atlanta to see if they could expedite my Passport for travel by Day 10.  The morning of Day 8, I got in for a 9 am appointment. Filed, and told to wait until 2:30 PM,  anxiously pacing to see if I was approved,  I  walked around the streets of downtown Atlanta where I used to visit my Dad. I had no idea that I'd see one of the last places I had spent time with him as a child. That kicked up a huge lump in my throat. 

So, I had a conversation with him in my head as if he was still there, as if January 18th never happened.  The scheme still sounded as crazy as it did coming out of my mouth 7 days before. If he were here, I could hear him laughing.. his head drawn back and his tenor voice pouring out laughter like a song. As the sun sprawled over me on Peach Tree Street, I could see him smiling in the squint of the light. It made me happy, and it made me cry.

15 minutes later, I walked in the Passport Office to hear my name called. The Passport felt like a Golden Ticket in my hand. I walked back out onto the street, wanting to dance, wanting to scream!

Day 9, I retrieved Manny's gift of watches from the Post Office, and I spent time with my kids. Bella and I ran errands to get a few last minute travel items, and ice cream. 

Day 10, I was at the airport before the Rooster crows with a backpack, a suitcase, and a PASSPORT!

Oh, and by the way... I also found out about the San Francisco plane crash just seconds before we would be taking off and after one stop in Miami, on to one of the most dangerous airports in the world in Tegucigalpa. Holy Cow, here we go!!

Post Number 2, will have pictures and accompanying stories...

This is just the introduction to many adventures, this being the first to give way to a thread woven through many people and many different experiences...

Friends who have gone on this journey, I'm asking you for a favor.

Please email me, at sckernahan@gmail.com with a picture, or two, or three and a piece of your story. 

I had such a great visual of these people by the last night, all of their faces making individual pixels that together became the face of Christ. These friends, were the hands and feet and light of the world for a week in a place of extreme poverty and endless faith. So little, and yet so much. My prayer is that they can share a collective on here, and that the thread woven between all of us keeps going and stretches into other places we may otherwise not travel. 

Parallel to what God was doing with me, my brother was getting ready to speak about saying "YES" at his church in Wilmington, NC www.lifepointnow.com with their Retro Series, I just watched it and am so proud of him and so thankful he has been praying for me to do this for 15 years. Man, you never gave up on me little brother and that is something I will always be thankful for and immensely blessed by! Here's the link to his own adventure Lifepoint Church - Wilmington, NC.

Stories, coming soon!

What's Next?

The Big Dreams: 

#1- Getting to Sierra Leone to see Mary Logan, and my newest little joy, Divine. Both have Cerebral Palsy and the caring hands at The Raining Season. Crazy Good Stuff!

#2- A music project that lends to linking music with Global and Local Missions

#3- Worship EP

And it's just begun... it's going to be a process, but I'm happy to say that I'm out of the proverbial boat, taking the waves one step at a time until Christ and I are face to face. 

Is it scary out here? Honestly, yeah.

But the boat was never the adventure, it was the catalyst.

So come on, Get OUT! 

The water feels great!

Sweet Mary

My Mother's Day is now complete! 

A few months ago, I was moved to begin a new journey in the midst of a lot of questions still hanging like strings in the air. 

For ten years, I've followed the tragic civil war in the region of Sierra Leone, Africa. The details of which are grisly, inhumane, terroristic. 

350,000 orphans.

Many, many orphans living in a city called Freetown, a place established by the British to provide refuge to formerly captive slaves in 1792.

These people would become slaves once more, in the proverbial iron gates of Diamond mines and the terroristic corruption of the trade. Ten years ago I read a book by Greg Campbell that would later be adapted into a movie called Blood Diamonds, it details the horrific scenes of the now defunct RUF soldiers, cutting off the arms of mine workers who may be caught with rough diamonds or coerced into becoming child soldiers often forced to murder their own families.

Diamonds can buy a lot of guns.

The RUF dominated the scene under a now criminally charged former Liberian President;

 Charles Taylor

Finally extradited from exile in Nigeria, he was found guilty of 11 charges, including murder, terror and rape.

These are the children that remain orphans from the civil war brought on by the greed and wicked intentions of power corrupted by the hands that were meant to govern in a town less than 200 years old that was destined to free them.

On March 20th, I asked God; what did he want from me?

He answered when I found a news story that night, about a family that adopted 8 children from Sierra Leone. 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/20/family-adopts-eight-sierra-leone-children/2001967/

After doing more searching on the Tennessean about the family's journey to adoption, I found The Raining Season

I bawled, and felt so compelled to get involved and just 'GO".

This year I've been blessed to have my kids healthy, happy and their Grammy that lives with us has granted me time to leave for a week on Missions with Cross Point Church, and volunteer there on Tuesdays. 

I've made some amazing friends from that journey whom I thank God for, I've had the privilege of serving on a worship team with amazing people, I've had fellowship and freedom to stretch myself out and be a whole version of myself and yet, something was missing.

This little girl...

Did I tell you that Sierra Leone has over 350,000 orphans?

I have been bursting at the seams for today, my first Skype with Mary Logan and this little girl is totally my child.

She does not enjoy talking on the phone, or at least Skyping.

Mary Logan has Cerebral Palsy, and perhaps even other issues that diminish her ability to hear. Having navigated the world of Special Needs my heart is in it for her.

Maybe when I get to visit, see her face to face we can have a better chance to hang out and let the sensory experience of the beach sounds, air and water in a natural environment enhance our time instead of a boxed screen and awkward communication

That's the next plan, VISIT.

Perhaps putting this out here is like casting my pearls before swine? 

Things I'm aware of; I'm a single mother, I have limited resources, I have two children and one of whom has a disability that requires fastidious care, I have a LOT of responsibilities on my own.

Things you may not be aware of; He's God, he knows my steps and the How, When and Where.

What I have to do to be ready: BE AVAILABLE

DONE.

Let's Go, I'm ready.... 

Go and Love

Stories are meant to be told in full, this one has just begun. I sat in my room one night, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the last 10 years. How fast and how swift God's grace and mercy can pick you up from where you call out and plead 'Rescue Me', and the years seem like mere minutes.

They're still years, and although I feel pretty young and in denial of my current age 'box', I can't help but think of what may be left in the hourglass.

I am only flesh and bone.

My spirit, she's infinite and she forgets that this body is a loaner. 

I sat and thought, 

"Whatever it is you want me to do, let's DO IT!' 

I didn't want to waste any more time, because while I was spending my minutes I couldn't help but feel I was putting God's blessings on HOLD.

It'd been over 10 years since I sang, and now I'm singing again!

Sweet baby Jesus how I love to sing, with kids and congregations, in the car and the shower, and my own home with my kids.

Have you ever had dreams where you're flying?

It feels like that!

I thought when I asked God to start whatever he wanted me to do last week it would have something to do with SINGING. It may still, but this was CRAZY.

It was obvious, and absolutely the worst timing, illogical, impractical, timing.

That usually means it's God's timing.

What is he thinking, doesn't he know where things are in my life right now like completely and terrifyingly UPSIDE DOWN?!

Yes, that is exactly where things are.

Yes, that is exactly where he's always been.

Although I can't fully explain the details right now, I can't wait to say..

"TA DAH!!!"

It's crazy.

It's trading a thousand tears, for 1001 Kisses.

It's that good..

No, it's better than anything I could have ever imagined or hoped for.

Bella grabbed this vase, and ran around the house finding any cash she could, in my purse, coat pockets, mini van, couch cushions. At the end of the day, any loose change or cash goes in here. 

This is our fund. 

Big Smooshy Smothering Kisses, and we will trade them for all Her Tears.

One Day.