How Was Your Trip?...by John McMath

 

Returning from Kenya, I often heard, "How was your trip?" Immediately I'd be unable to speak. My mind seemed incapable of forming any word to describe just "how" our first mission trip had changed us! Sandy and I considered it an opportunity to witness and be used by God to bless some poor and less fortunate people in another part of the world. Boy, were we wrong! We never imagined the effect these people would have on us. We were the ones who received the Blessing!

 

How was your trip? What words can describe bringing food, supplies, toys, and gifts to an orphanage and realizing we are the few visitors they will see? How do I express the feeling of holding children who receive us with such a deep craving for love and attention? Of their cry when we put them down or clinging to us when it is time to depart?

 

How do we express...the sadness of children abandoned by parents and the difficulty in accepting that at least they are cared for and not living on the street? I remember their smiles playing dodge ball and laughing when they are "out". I still savor their sweet spirit of contentment and gratitude, holding great respect for the committed workers and sponsors who reach out to them.

 

How can we describe...worshiping on the edge of one of the largest slums in Nairobi, the church packed and loud with praise, singing, and true worship for Our God and Father. What words convey the total acceptance by a congregation though we neither looked nor sounded anything like them? A fellowship who sees no color or nation but seek to serve the One True God. We remember with tears the music of familiar hymns sung in two languages (never noticing the service lasting 4 hours) and the meal these sweet people gladly prepared for us out of the little they had to share.

 

How do we explain...spending 2 days in a slum and having a wonderful time playing games, doing crafts, and teaching schoolchildren Bible stories and songs? Or how they so wanted to touch us physically, while managing to touch our hearts? What is the word for the JOY they displayed---though next to the largest landfill imaginable, yet thankful to go to school and be fed a meal each day.

 

What do we tell...of helping a women's encouragement ministry in another slum to discuss health care and God's love? Or how we happily gave them the $3 a day they could have earned working or scavenging had they not come? How do we describe the sight of 30 children in an 8 x 10 foot daycare room---no window, toys, water, or bathroom and only one worker and one mattress? Our sadness fades recalling the smiles and contentment in the faces of these women and children.

 

How do we convey...our experience of providing most of the materials and tools as we worked alongside 10 church members for 2 days to build a much needed office? Were we proud? Humbled? What are the words that share the marvel of watching God meet the needs of these men of Faith?

 

"How was your trip?" For us, the best answer is simply this...

 

We left expecting to minister to people in Nairobi and see what we could offer to "fix" their world. Instead, we returned wanting to impact our own. We want to experience the joy of contentment in having what we need, not what we want. We want to see people honestly caring for one another. We want to worship again with the enthusiasm and freedom we witnessed while worshiping with these precious People of God!

 

We left to change their world, but their world changed us. May God continue to bless the Kenyans, and may He bless you.

 

And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9a