I guess it’s fitting that my 1st 410 blog post is about my 1st 410 trip – Christmas in Kenya ’08. As I get ready to lead the upcoming Open Christmas in Kenya trip, my mind can’t help but wander back. Back to all the nervousness and fear that comes with going to Africa for the 1st time. Back to lost luggage, “picture of the day” and dust storms. Back to how completely God changed my worldview. Now I wasn’t exactly what you would call an inexperienced traveler, but this is Africa after all – the stakes just seem higher here. Lessons learned on this continent seem to be carved a little deeper. Images we see are etched forever on our brain and conversations can be repeated verbatim long after we forget what our itinerary was supposed to look like.
I can still clearly remember Moses’ face when he told me most of our team’s luggage was “delayed” (by 3 days it turned out). Who would have guessed that it was the best way we could have started the trip. We had to split the supplies of 2 people among our team of 19 – which quickly lead to the realization that we didn’t “need” nearly as much as we thought we did, and unified our team literally overnight.
Now don’t get me wrong, I really hope our team lands in Nairobi with all our luggage in a few weeks, but I absolutely can’t wait to see what God has in-store for each and every member. I have seen God teach most people that go (including me!) some version of the same basic lesson. “I need Africa more than Africa needs me”. This particular phrase, which I borrowed from a coffee company, sums it up perfectly. I can be an extremely self-centered individual who needs to be reminded how very big our God is. When I start to worry about all the “problems” I have to deal with in my life, I remember the joy in the orphan’s eyes, or the concern for my well-being from the widowed mother who can’t feed her children. I see how greatly God is working there and it changes my perspective here.
I have truly seen what absolute faith looks like. It’s a sight I pray I never forget; and I cannot wait to watch my team experience it in a few weeks. “I need Africa more than Africa needs me.” – Truer words my friend, truer words.
To learn more about our Christmas in Kenya program, click here.
To learn more about our open trips or to sign up for our Christmas in Kenya 2010 trip, click here.
