Five years ago, my girls and I stepped foot on the soil of Africa for the first time, and discovered something beautiful. Since that trip, my daughters have never let go of the dream of going back.

I have been back to the continent of Africa 13 times since that trip, which was unexpected five years ago. I would never had dreamed I would be working in the tours department at Compassion at that time. What a gift God gave me.

There is something about Africa that you can’t shake off.  A visit to Africa changes people.

This weekend, my family is preparing to leave for Kenya on Tuesday. This trip is a celebration trip of 20 years with Compassion for Stephen. It’s a celebration of 20 years for me as an advocate. For my kids, it’s a celebration of too, recognizing something changed in us all five years ago, when we touched down on the red soil of Kenya.

Now we get to head back. Possibly this trip will just be another time to visit beautiful children, and see our sponsored kids. Maybe this trip, is just another adventure.

Or…maybe this trip will serve as another life changing adventure to set the vision for our family for the next 20 year.

I expect that God has an amazing plan and look forward to seeing how this trip impacts us all.

I will post pictures and blog here, but I also want to point you to this new amazing blog by Julia. She will be sharing her stories in the eyes of a 19 year old. I hope you follow along. www.thecolorsofjulia.com.