This past week was our last week in Kenya until we return in February for another semester. It was such a beautiful week and the Lord taught us so much. Two members from my church, Bobby and Page Johnson, started a non-profit ministry called Interlocking Ministries, through which they run Bible camps here in Kenya. We were so blessed to join them (and Caleb and Abby, who are some of our great friends from Raleigh) on Mfangano Island for a week of camp!
The camps are completely run by Kenyan pastors and teachers (who take on the role of directors and counselors), and we were able to spend time at each of the five camps on the island sharing our testimonies, speaking about the theme, and encouraging the teachers.
God used a summer camp ministry back home in Raleigh to completely change Emily and I's lives and draw us to Himself, so we were incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to participate in a similar ministry in Kenya as well.
We have now returned to Nairobi to rest up, do some shopping, and pack before the big travels that start tomorrow! We are absolutely beyond excited to see and hug our American people. However, we will also miss Kenya greatly, for we have found a home here as well. It helps a lot to know that we are coming back so soon. I don't even want to think about how I will feel when May rolls around.
"Like most high school seniors, I found myself faced with the question of 'What comes next?'. College seemed like the obvious choice, but it did not feel right to me. As I spent the summer after graduation praying about what God would have me do, a reoccuring theme began to emerge: give Jesus to others. He opened doors for an opportunity to serve Him in missions abroad on a full time basis through an internship with Bayleaf Baptist Church. The beauty of His provision and timing proved perfect. My first year after graduation was spent in training through various jobs, Bible studies, short term mission trips, and opportunities to share Christ with friends and campers while on Summer Staff at New Life Camp. I came to truly understand the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and the blessing in having a relationship with Him.
4 layers of a PB&J sandwich. Kenyans do it right.
Fast forward to today. Katie and I have been in Kenya, Africa for three months ministering in schools, orphanages, and the communities that we live in. It's funny that I'm in a country half way around the world where the people speak a different language, but the issues surrounding Christ are similar. Many people here know of the Bible and know Bible stories because they take a Bible class in school, or they know about Jesus and believe they are saved because their parents are saved. However, it is rare to meet someone with a personal relationship with Christ rather than a religion they know something about or work to deserve. I am thankful to have the opportunity to share the greatest gift ever given, Jesus. I choose to share that gift so that those who do not know of the love of Christ can have the salvation, freedom, security, love, and hope that I found in Christ. I also choose to share Christ because I realized that there are many people in this world who claim Christ but don't understand what it looks like to live out their faith, to fully trust in God for all things, and to be a follower of Jesus regardless of the cost. I want the world to understand the blessing and gift of a personal relationship with Jesus and not just rely on head knowledge of Him. But most importantly, I share this gift of Christ because it's too great to not give away and ultimately that is what God calls us to do.
An interesting thing I’ve realized on this journey is that children are children everywhere. They enjoy the same games, stories, and they desire a relationship with us. While they may live in difficult circumstances physically, they are happy. While they may need improved health care, clean food and water, and many things I have taken for granted, they, just like us in America, need Jesus the most. It is universal and, thankfully, free to anyone who asks. Most of us would not hesitate to give a hungry child something to eat. How much better is it though, to also give that child the gift of eternal life? In a time when life can be confusing in a world that can present danger, these past three months have shown me the simplicity of what is truly important. So as we say in Kenya, 'Mambo sawa sawa.' Everything is okay because God is on the throne.
I hope others are as encouraged by Em's words as I was. Over the past three months, we have met many beautiful people. Some of those people will continue to be a part of our lives next semester and hopefully for a very long time after that. Some of those people, like the campers we spent the past week with, we will never see again.
As a group of the girls we bonded with sang to us on our last day on the island, "We say goodbye, but not forever. We know that one day we shall meet once again." I'm so excited to go home to America tomorrow and I will be excited to return to Kenya in February. However, I am mostly excited for the day when all Christians of every age and every country are united forever to worship our Savior. I am excited for the day when I get to live with all my Kenyan AND American brothers and sisters in a perfect place in the presence of our Lord. I'm excited to look at these sweet Kenyan campers and say hello.