Mission Trips Change Lives Part 2!

Before my first trip to Kenya, my life was preoccupied with the worries of this world and a constant state of concern about having enough money to pay for the everyday expenses that we all have.  My youngest daughter, who was three years old at that time, had severe food allergies and there was always that concern about her health and the pediatric and specialist bills that came along with them.  My concerns were no different than most people, but they were my worries. 

It was around that time, that I had run into an old friend at work who had just returned from a mission trip to Kenya.  He was sharing photos and stories about the trip and as we were discussing it, I thought to myself, “Wow, what a trip of a lifetime.”  I knew in my head that the possibilities of going on a trip was next to impossible due to my current financial situation.  But, David walked me through the process of raising the funds by using support letters and fund raisers in order to get the finances for the trip.  Only one problem…I hate asking for money!  But, after talking to some mentors that were older in the faith, and much wiser, they said that I should allow others to bless me by providing for me.  This was a completely foreign concept to me.  I thought, “Who would provide?  They would just send me money and not get anything in return?”  Well, I trusted the much wiser individuals and had a little “mustard seed” of faith.  I sent out support letters and ended up having enough left over to help others with their funds.  It was amazing! 

                  

So, skip forward several months.  I’m on my way to Kenya with a group of individuals that I did not know except through various training sessions that we had prior to leaving.  It was a very awkward situation, but little did I know that these people would become some of the best friends that I could ever have.  I got to know each one of them on a personal level through the next two weeks. 

         

     

I could not wait to get into Kenya to bless the people of Kenya and “change their world.”  I was quickly humbled of those thoughts once I arrived at the schools.  I guess that I expected to see children with sad faces because of poor living conditions.  Just the opposite happened.  I arrived to see smiling children and joy that cannot be described.   Their living conditions were very bad at home, but they were happy and content with what they had.  They realized their need for help, but were grateful to God for what they did have.  I was extremely ashamed of myself and my actions leading up to that moment.  I witnessed women traveling from miles away to get clean water from a well, just to turn around and carry it back to their homes to wash clothes, clean, cook and drink.  While I witnessed this, I was comfortably sipping on my bottled water.  I witnessed children wearing the same clothes every day, while I got to go back to the hotel, shower, and put on fresh clothes.  I witnessed children that had been burned by falling into a fire that was used for cooking.  Their heads, legs, and arms still had the scars from severe burns.  The medical attention was very limited, while my daughter had access to any doctor or specialist with one phone call.  I could go on for hours and days of the things that I witnessed.  Admittedly, I felt guilty for how God had blessed me and my family.  But, now I realize that that feeling was not what God wants.  Just like the children at that school, I should be content.   I heard a quote once that stated, “I was crying because I had no shoes, until I saw a man with no feet.”  The experience of going to Kenya and seeing their contentment rocked my world.  I no longer am discontent with what I have or don’t have.  I consider what I do have to be a blessing.  As I am blessed, I have learned to use that time or money to bless others.  There is a huge blessing in knowing that the funds are being used to further God’s kingdom and provide for those that are going without.  Like I said earlier, the concept of giving money and not getting anything in return, was illogical too me.  But, the blessings that have come from that and the contentment and gratitude that I now have are far more rewarding than anything that I can achieve materially.  This trip and the following four trips back to Kenya have changed the way I live EVERYDAY.   There is literally not an hour that goes by, that I don’t think about the trips or people in Kenya and I can’t wait to get back again.