WOW! I am half way into my internship in Africa. To recap: I spent week one in Nairobi, week two in Kisumu, and week three in Narok; each region completely different from the last. Today we are headed into week four of the overall trip, but week one in the country of Ethiopia. These past three weeks in Kenya have been incredible. During debrief I was reminded by my team leader supervising our journey from the States that the information we have been learning and will continue to learn in the Ethiopian communities will be impacting us 20 years down the road. He can recall several incidences that happened during his mission experience that God is just now fully leading him to process and unpack. I trust that God is making an African hand print on my heart knowing that the work done in His name throughout Kenya and Ethiopia will not be done in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” I am reassured his work here will have an EVERLASTING not just a lasting impact on the type of person I am to my country, to the people in my life, and to my God. I’m reminded in Psalm 139: 5,16 “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head....You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” The Lord has truly blessed me. It is amazing that this internship has been a part of his plan for me before he knit me in my mother’s womb. I’m thankful to serve a God who goes before me and follows me and has good plans in store for those who love him.
This past week in Narok my team and I have been taking time each morning to “Focus” on something. Each day we had a different focus. A few examples include: focus on being understanding, focus on forgiving someone (or yourself), focus on supporting one another, focus on your dreams, focus on family etc. Through this exercise I was able to more clearly see the Lord and really practice my faith within my team and the community. Narok is a rural community so the pace of the week was a little more laid back. We just went where the wind blew us. In the midst of a slower schedule, the Lord was very intentional and active. At the beginning of the week we went on a surprise safari. While this activity was meant to give our team time to rest, God was so excited to reveal himself to us. I have never experienced him so much in His creation. I believe his intention was to make sure that His relationship with us was receiving the proper nurturing and made time for me to FOCUS on him. My prayer for the next three weeks is that we continue to be intentional with our focuses so that we may not get distracted from the mission the Lord has called us to.
Throughout the week we had the opportunity to see the LIA model of wholistic ministry in a whole new light. During home visits, business visits and school visits we were able to see the fruit of empowering local church leaders. The goal of LIA is to focus on giving the whole person the tools they need to do ministry within their community so that when the program phases out they can continue to do so on their own. Within the next year LIA will be completing it’s last leg of the program in Narok. It is my prayer request that you partner with me in prayer for this community during this process. Our hope is that the work that LIA has done has inspired the leaders to continue ministry in a wholistic manner and that those without Christ continue to come to know him.
Overall, Kenya has been unbelievable. I have felt very welcome. I’m so thankful to the LIA staff for every last detail planned in preparation for our trip. We feel so blessed by each of them and are more than appreciative for their hospitality.
I hope to keep you updated as much as possible while in Ethiopia. Thank you so much again for all the prayers and support. This journey would not have been possible without you.
God is good; All the time.
All the time; God is good,
With much love,
-Win
This past week in Narok my team and I have been taking time each morning to “Focus” on something. Each day we had a different focus. A few examples include: focus on being understanding, focus on forgiving someone (or yourself), focus on supporting one another, focus on your dreams, focus on family etc. Through this exercise I was able to more clearly see the Lord and really practice my faith within my team and the community. Narok is a rural community so the pace of the week was a little more laid back. We just went where the wind blew us. In the midst of a slower schedule, the Lord was very intentional and active. At the beginning of the week we went on a surprise safari. While this activity was meant to give our team time to rest, God was so excited to reveal himself to us. I have never experienced him so much in His creation. I believe his intention was to make sure that His relationship with us was receiving the proper nurturing and made time for me to FOCUS on him. My prayer for the next three weeks is that we continue to be intentional with our focuses so that we may not get distracted from the mission the Lord has called us to.
Throughout the week we had the opportunity to see the LIA model of wholistic ministry in a whole new light. During home visits, business visits and school visits we were able to see the fruit of empowering local church leaders. The goal of LIA is to focus on giving the whole person the tools they need to do ministry within their community so that when the program phases out they can continue to do so on their own. Within the next year LIA will be completing it’s last leg of the program in Narok. It is my prayer request that you partner with me in prayer for this community during this process. Our hope is that the work that LIA has done has inspired the leaders to continue ministry in a wholistic manner and that those without Christ continue to come to know him.
Overall, Kenya has been unbelievable. I have felt very welcome. I’m so thankful to the LIA staff for every last detail planned in preparation for our trip. We feel so blessed by each of them and are more than appreciative for their hospitality.
I hope to keep you updated as much as possible while in Ethiopia. Thank you so much again for all the prayers and support. This journey would not have been possible without you.
God is good; All the time.
All the time; God is good,
With much love,
-Win