Arriving.

I can't believe I can actually say I've been to Africa now. It was my dream for so many years it seems so unrealistic that I have already went and come back. One thing is for sure though, I don't think my heart will ever leave. I will admit I have been putting off writing this for a while. I really want everyone to be able to read about my trip. It was really hard to start writing it all down though. It's so much to process. But anyways I am ready now so here goes: Africa was....amazing to say the least. After crazy restless flights we finally arrived and once I set foot on the Iris Ministries Base I felt like I was home. I remember my first thought being "This feels so right." It felt like nothing I have ever felt before in my life. Just the initial sights and smells felt absolutely perfect. After we got settled in we took a tour around the base and I was in love, head over heels. You walk out of the visitor center and kids run over to your side and instantly hold your hands and wrap their arms around your waist. Everyone says hello to everyone and you never hear one complaint. It all smiles, pure and genuine smiles. If you look around you can see the gorgeous Indian Ocean sparkling outside the base and little rainbow colored lizards crawling around through the children's footprints in the dirt. I don't think I could ever be sad in that place. When we took our tour we had a chance to stop and pray a blessing over the head cook in the cafeteria. He immediately got onto his knees and started crying and praising the Lord for being so blessed. It was such a humbling moment to see someone so grateful and in love with Jesus. He had almost nothing but he was so unbelievable happy with what he did have. I came to see that each and every one of the Mozambiquans on the base felt that way. We arrived in the late afternoon so after our tour we went and ate dinner with all of the children. Sitting around with all these kids laughing and shoveling rice in our mouths with our hands was so much fun. Many of the older boys spoke some English and they would laugh and joke and smile all through out dinner. Happiness just flowed out of that cafeteria. That first night we sat for hours laughing with the kids and just soaking up everything we could. I went to sleep that night so full of life and ridiculously excited for everything to come.