TODAY

My first trip to Kenya came at a time in my life where the last place I thought I should have been was on a mission trip to Kenya, Africa. I had just graduated high school and was not in a place where I was hearing the Lord’s voice; looking back, I don’t know if I have ever been farther from it.

But the Lord knew what He was doing when He took me to Kenya. I had wanted to go for such a long time, and my high school youth group was taking a group of seniors there to minister to the organization’s missionaries, along with visiting schools and helping to teach and tell Bible stories. Our group became really tight-knit and enjoyed the whole experience of serving and getting to know the people of Kenya.

One day during the trip, we spent a long time being alone and spending time with the Lord. I felt the Lord may be planting a seed in me to come back to Kenya. But the Lord had things to do inside me first. For the first time, I felt the Lord speak to me and turn my Bible to Hebrews 4. The verse I read was this:

“today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” vs. 4

This verse may not make much sense right now, but to me at the time, it spoke volumes. I hadn’t been living the life the Lord had called me to, and He had so much more in store for me. But He was calling me that day, to soften my heart and to turn back to Him.

It was a long journey back, back from Kenya (literally) and back to where the Lord wanted me to be. To this day, I see His hand of protection being with me all along.

So one of the reasons I am going back to Kenya this summer is because it was the place where I heard the Lord’s voice. He awakened a desire in my heart for freedom, for wholeness, and for the people of Kenya. The people have such a faith and joy in the Lord that it cannot be ignored. I am humbled that the Lord has called me back to such a place, where He is willing to use someone like to me to be a part of advancing His kingdom.