Update from Kenya

            God continues to move in and around us here in Kenya.  I continue to be blown away by how much it feels like home here.  I absolutely love it here and am enjoying the opportunity to serve.  We

Marurui Primary School

have had many opportunities to serve as well as learn from the people here in Kenya.  We have been teaching at Marurui Primary School (located in Marurui slums), we have ministered in Loruko Village and the Shaba Community in Isiolo, Kenya and we helped to facilitate Kamp Kenya in which the youth from our church came for a short-term mission trip.

            The Shaba Community in Isiolo continues to be one of the places that touches my heart deeply.  It is a small community in a desert-like climate with little to no access to food and clean

Baby from Shaba

water.  The people are some of the most marginalized people that I have come into contact with, but they are so full of life, joy, and love.  The beautiful people that make up this community truly demonstrate that one’s value is not in material wealth.  God truly has the ability to keep and sustain people even in the midst of challenging life-circumstances and societal injustices.

 

            There continues to be important lessons that I am learning through this experience.  One lesson that I have learned and continue to be learning is that His grace is truly sufficient.  I am continually blown away at how He works and moves when I get out of the way and surrender to His will.  I have been in many situations that should and previously have made me uncomfortable and at times even fearful, yet some of those same situations I have felt His peace and presence in a way that truly does surpass all understanding.   One of the situations that continues to stand out in my mind is when we went with Pastor Ezekiel to the university as he preached on loss and bereavement.  There were over 1,000 people at this engagement and even more in an over-flow room.  We prepared to speak and share our testimonies during this occasion.  I normally do not like to speak in front of groups of people (even small groups), yet as I prayed, planned, and prepared to submit to His will and the assignment at hand I had a peace that is indescribable.  This was a lesson that did not need to be learned during the assignment, but took place during the quiet time spent with God in preparation for what He was going to do. 

            God's grace can best be experienced when we are willing to submit to His will and trust in His grace, peace and love to prevail regardless of the situation.  God is moving in miraculous ways and I am grateful to be a part of what He is already doing.