New Things: Went to Kenya, went on a safari, got the name Nosime which means "one you sit with and not be bored", ate different things at the Carnivore (camel, bull's reproductive parts, ostrich, goat, ugali), went to the Masaai market, learned some Maa and Swahili, saw zebras giraffes monkeys donkeys cows sheep ostrich on the way to speak to the Masaai women, I saw a one year drought end.
There is way too much to say about my trip to Kenya. The only thing I can say is God is amazing in every small detail. The preparation, the experience, and the processing of the trip were all under God's sovereignty. I can't tell you everything because I don't think I've been able to fathom what God has done to me yet but I'd like to share the things I know.
Preparation:
I have been at BayLeaf Baptist Church for 4 years now. It is not new that BayLeaf goes on many mission trips a year and even makes it possible, financially and schedule wise, for students to go on trips. My college pastor every year has approached me and asked why I haven't signed up for a trip and challenged the fear of money or ability. Every time my response was I didn't feel called. I knew it would be a good experience, I knew God could provide, I knew I can tell others about Christ, and I knew I needed to do it, but not now. The church goes all over the world but for our ministry Asia and Poland have been the most convenient because they are during school breaks. I've prayed often about trips, careers, places, timing but it had never seemed right. Then last March I was driving to church on a Wednesday night and I knew God was telling me to prepare to say "yes" to wherever God led me. I remember at the age of 13 telling my parents I might one day go to Africa. My mom gets hysterical and my dad tells me to follow God. In college I tell my parents I want to go to seminary because I'd like to work in urban ministry, possibly Chicago with the gangs. My mom gets hysterical (about Chicago) and my dad says follow God. In seminary I tell my parents I want to go to New York or Chicago. Mom begs and pleads dad says follow God. Then March happens... so I get to church and Billy decides to challenge the group to put their "yes" on the table for one of the trips this year. He hands us a list of places the church is going. I look through it and without question my "yes" is for Kenya. Unfortunately, it was the least convenient trip I could have chosen. It was the most expensive trip in the middle of a semester of school, and both my mom's brother and mom's mother's health were fading fast. Some might see that as a sign that I shouldn't go but no one protested my choice, not even mom. It took me a couple of weeks to get my courage up to tell my mom that I signed up to go to Kenya for 2 weeks. She was my biggest supporter. Over the next few months I raised money by an art show. I'm not exactly an artist but I like to paint and I would say I'm decent. But God showed up and I raised more than half the money I needed by selling 8 pieces of art. People gave 2-3Xs more than I asked for and others just wanted to support me. This is called the Church! They were just as much a part of this mission as those that went. Time went on, my professors allowed me to go, prayer infilterated me, and then the day finally came.
The Mission:
I'm with 18 virtual strangers as I step out of the plane onto Niarobi territory. There was an instant recognition that although nothing seemed familiar, I belonged there. A new currency, language, smell, temperature, culture, taste, appreciation overwhelmed me. I'm trying to keep my excitement in as I wait in line for my visa. The first person I talked to in the new place was the woman handing me my visa, and yet not very polite. Great... what have I gotten myself into. I'm rushed down to the luggage. I don't know how to use the carts. My baggage is checked. I'm rushed to the out doors where hundreds of men and women are forced behind a line as they are yelling and screaming into the automatic doors to the airport. A strangers hand grabs my arm and leads me to the parking lot where the rest of my team are hurriedly shoving their luggage into white vans and getting in. The stranger announces his name is Martin and tells me to get in the van. As we drive off into the darkness all I can think is "I need sleep".
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