Mission Trip Turned Calling
It was our last day in Kenya. I sat on the patio of the Easy Hotel on the outskirts of Nairobi enjoying the cool breeze of the morning and a cup of tea- a local custom I had grown to appreciate in just a few days’ time. I was finally reading a book I had ordered over a year ago entitled “Another Gospel” by Alisa Childers. (More musings about it later, perhaps).
It was the perfect end to a trip that two months earlier I had no idea I would be on. A friend who makes international mission trips on a regular basis had asked me if I would be interested in accompanying him on his next trip to Kenya. My immediate response was, “I don’t know!” He told me to pray about it and then get back with him. Honestly, I don’t remember spending much time in specific prayer asking God to show me His will regarding the trip. At the same time, I did not really feel any discouragement from the Holy Spirit during preparation. I do remember numerous times meditating on what it would mean for me to experience His work on the other side of the globe and feeling peace about making the trip. And besides, I already had my passport since traveling months before to Scotland to play golf at The Old Course in St. Andrews!
On the Ground
The previous six days had been a whirlwind of late nights and early enough mornings. We had exhausting, yet exhilarating and beautiful eight-hour road trips through central Kenya. We went to Great Rift Valley, drove by roadside markets in every small community, and had occasional sightings of wildlife. All throughout, we saw countless massive trucks that probably would not pass a safety inspection and seemed ten times larger than most other vehicles and don’t get me started on the bone-rattling rumble strips and speed bumps that had to be traversed what felt like every half mile or .805 kilometers!
One of the days we celebrated and worshipped alongside the community of Lukanji as they dedicated their new church. Between them and others we encountered, I witnessed the unbridled joy of people who, despite the extreme poverty endured on a daily basis, chose to give thanks and praise to the One who had delivered them out of spiritual darkness and into His marvelous light! They opened their arms, hearts, and homes (most simply mud-bricked, tin-roofed, one or two room shacks with no electricity or running water) with genuine love and gratitude to the “mizungu” who came all the way from America to be with them.
The Calling
The Holy Spirit has been and still is working in my heart. He continues to reveal how best to support the work He is doing in Kenya and around the world. Please continue to pray for the leaders of OLCAP (Organizing Local Communities Against Poverty) and the 4:12 Ministries to be able to continue the work God has called them to do. Also pray that others will be compelled to join with them financially. Seeing personally the results of their efforts through the strength of the Holy Spirit was a perspective-changing experience. Even now, I feel Him calling me back at some point to join with and encourage again the beautiful people of Kenya.
