I cannot believe that I will be in Kenya in less than a
month. Everything is coming up so quickly!! I am beyond excited! I just got
home from Walmart getting the essentials: bug spray, sunscreen, toothpaste,
etc. This morning I called to get my script for my malaria medications and
those dog-gone vaccines are ALL done. (Hallelujah!!) And let me tell you, God has been absolutely
MAGNIFICIENT in this whole process. (I mean, as He is always!)
I originally was afraid to sign up for the trip because of
the price tag. Yes, I know God is bigger than a price tag. But it was scary
putting it on the line. I was also scared because, although I was going with my
church, I knew NO ONE on the trip when I signed up. Since I’ve been in Erie for
school the past 5 years and started going to Grace my sophomore year of college
I hadn’t really connected much with the church. But back to the point…God
continually has been laying Africa and Kenya in particular on my heart and I
knew I had to go there and as time went on I knew, more than anything I’ve ever
known in my entire life, that God wants me in Kenya.
So all rainbows and butterflies now, right? NO. I still had
that HUGE price tag to fill and was not sure how to do it. As a new grad school
graduate there isn’t much room in the bank for a trip to Africa, so support
raising it was. I knew God has a plan for me during my time there. Not exactly
sure how He’ll use me but I know He is going to use me, so I asked family and
friends to support the trip through prayers (which have been helping my nerves
and preparation tremendously!!!!) and/or monetary donations. I’ll admit I was
nervous sending letters out and putting myself out there, but the responses
were amazing. I can’t even tell you how many times I cried of pure joy from God’s
faithfulness. I am so blessed to be surrounded and to know such wonderful and
amazing people that, because of them I will be on my way to Kandaria, Kenya in
25 days! I have also been amazed at how many times and how easily this trip has
been a bridge to talking to people (sometimes even strangers) about Jesus.
I was stressed at times about this trip and how everything
will fall into place. This past week in
particular has been very stressful. Our
funds are due on Sunday and last Sunday I still had a little over $1,000 to go.
I kept calculating in my head how I was going to make it work. I kept praying,
wondering why God would bring me this far if it wasn’t going to work out! (Silly
me! God already had it figured out!) Tuesday on my drive home from work I got a
phone call from our mission team leader. The trip costs had miraculously gone
down tremendously in price and I now owed less than $500. WHAT!? I seriously
could have fainted when she told me! THANK YOU JESUS! I got home and couldn’t wait to tell my mom.
As we were talking she told me how there was a check that came for me in the
mail while I was away the past weekend. Slowly but surely more money keeps
showing up in the strangest of places. Why would I ever doubt my God? He’s got
this covered and I am privileged enough to be a vessel of HIS love and compassion
to the Kenyan people.
I am constantly amazed at God’s faithfulness. We, as humans,
cannot even fathom such loyalty and grace. We serve a God that is much bigger
than any circumstance before us. Don’t let worry or doubt get in your way this
week. God has His hand in the situation you face. (Deuteronomy 31:6) Be the
seed that has a noble and good heart, hear God’s word and hold it close. (Luke 8:11-15)
He doesn’t waste experiences, so take in every moment. Use every moment to grow
closer to Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment