This past spring break I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa for a missions trip. This trip was offered to me through my school with the ministry of 410 Bridge.
From November of last semester to a few weeks before having to go on the trip I needed to raise money to be able to go to Kenya. This was the first tool God used in growing my faith. It was hard to trust God in providing all the funds needed for this trip. It was also a humbling experience for me to reach out to people for money. I learned through this that we are the “body of Christ” and that we need to allow others to bless us because it is equally a blessing to them in giving. It also helped me grow in trusting when I wasn’t sure the funds were gonna show up. I was short several hundred dollars toward the end of fundraising and I did not know what to do! So I worried…but I was reminded by Philippians 4 to “be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer & supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord.” I kid you not, it was that week when I went to my mailbox and there were three different envelopes with extremely generous donations that covered above and beyond what I needed!
While in Kenya there were two things I took away from the trip, and here’s a summary of both: people are just people, and to do things in a different way is not necessarily wrong just different.
I tried to empty my mind of all expectations while preparing to leave for Kenya. But, there are just some expectations you have and even stereotypes that society has placed in your mind without even recognizing they are there. This is until you see things and experience things differently than anticipated. I first felt this on our second day in Kenya while at the Scout Camp for young adults but then it hit me even more while on the “day in the life” with some members of my team. This was on the Wednesday of our trip and it would basically consist of us going and spending the day with one of the people in Tumutumu at their home. Katherine was the owner, along with her brother, of this little homestead out in the country. My first encounter with her was getting off the bus and receiving a big, warm hug followed by, “my granddaughter!” I am so not used to this as a girl born and raised in northeast PA where getting a “good morning” from someone is rare! The kindness and love didn’t stop there but as I spent the day with Katherine and a few of her other lady friends at the house I saw something in them. They were no different than the women back home who love like Jesus. Yes, their culture is vastly different, but at the core, they were just people. They were women who had a heart for the Lord and wanted to serve Him in all they did. Their love and generosity challenged my faith but what was encouraging was that they did not make Jesus’ love unattainable. If they can allow Jesus to pour out of their lives like that, so can I!
The second thing that was challenging for me was church. We had church on Sunday then on Thursday we had an interdenominational service! This was very interesting to me and even a little bizarre at first. I realized that as a Believer I had gotten so used to the “I’m right you’re wrong” concept most American Christians have. This chip was lightly resting on my shoulder and I didn’t even realize it till this time. The way people worship God, what doctrine they follow, and what denomination they’re affiliated with are not the center of our faith. And not only that but these should not be the bases on which we judge if someone is a “true follower” of Jesus. It challenged me and is still challenging me to embrace the differences among other believers and also recognize Who this is all about, Jesus. It may look different to other people but as long as the center is Jesus that is what is most important.
All in all, Kenya was so growing for me. I am so thankful God has blessed me with the time I had overseas! I am also eternally thankful for those who supported me in prayer and finances all along the way, may you be blessed! I am forever thankful.
Dr. Paul McGuinness 