SACRIFICE AND GRATITUDE Sacrifice and Gratitude are coupled in the lives of so many Kenyans. I’ve never encountered such gratitude as I have with the people of this land. No matter how small or great the gift was they expressed such thankfulness. As far as sacrifice goes, do you realize how humbling it is to come to a land where … Read More
Unnoticed Color in the Gray Areas
Driving home from work on this dreary evening, I had an epiphany. It was quite difficult to see because everything seemed to blended in varying colors of gray- from the road to the sky with the mask of the steady heavy rain-it looked to be a desaturated moving picture. My mind wandered to some of the PhotoShop tricks I have … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 9: Conclusion
CONCLUSION I recently was talking with one of the pastors of our church. We were discussing the desperate needs of many people in Africa. He reminded me that while you can’t change the world, you can change a village. What truth. We have the opportunity to change our world through the power of Christ one village at a time. When … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 8: Worship
WORSHIP I have always been moved by the lyrics of The Newsboys’ song, “He Reigns.” It’s been an honor to travel to some of the global spots they refer to in this song. Check out the anthem that they sing… It’s the song of the redeemed Rising from the African plain It’s the song of the forgiven Drowning out the … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 7: Faith
FAITH Faith. I was severely lacking in it. We have been through such a roller coaster this past year with David losing his job, various sicknesses, and a wreck that totaled David’s car to top it off, that I was truly wondering HOW we were going to make it financially. I needed to go to Kenya so that I could … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 6: Discipleship
DISCIPLESHIP I was very impressed with the men I met at the first church building site in Chavakali. They were dressed their best in suits and had come to check out the new construction. They were both key leaders in the regional Baptist convention. I got into a conversation with them about how people from home could help the most. … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 5: Family
FAMILY I have always believed that God is colorblind. I had never seen it more beautifully displayed than in the welcome hearts of the Kenyan pastors with whom we worked. Never will I forget the message of thanks Pastor Washington shared in the first church building that was completed on our trip. He said that he wanted no confusion to … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 4: Listening to the Locals
LISTENING TO THE LOCALS While staying with the Muttais in Kitale, we had an awesome cross-cultural experience. It wasn’t an earth shattering experience like participating in some tribal ritual or something. It was just a conversation on the graduate bench at Legacy Service Station with a local man named Joe. We sat there for a few minutes sipping on our … Read More
Upside Down Worlds – Part 3: The Importance of Education
It’s a shame that I graduated from college nearly five years ago, yet I took the fact that it was a right for me to be educated for granted. I think a lot of western students do the same. I had heard the statistics before that if you were in college, you were part of the 1% or 2% of … Read More
Upside Down Worlds- Part 1: Joy in the Midst of Suffering
As I sit in the comfort of my own home on this snowy January evening, I am reminded that my world here is completely upside down from the land beyond the equator that I have just returned from- Kenya. I’ve travelled a good chunk of the globe- been to 3 continents prior to this trip. Yet, I have never experienced … Read More