Well, it's that time again. Tomorrow I leave for Africa for the fourth time in 15 months, this time to Kenya. While you might think this is getting to be routine, preparing for this trip has been very different and more challenging because my destination, my role, and our partner are all new. Doing the homework to serve as both Lead Trainer and Team Leader has been fun, but I have felt more of a burden of responsibility.
That's where yesterday's church service comes in. First Christian Assembly celebrated its "Family Day" with an international flavor. This is a very diverse congregation, and that diversity was well represented in the worship team and the music. I think that there were at least six countries represented among the singers, and we sang worship songs in English, Hebrew, Malaysian - and Amharic (Ethiopia) and Swahili (Kenya) as well! I was wearing one of my traditional Ethiopian shirts and felt very much at home. The worship really brought home the universality of God's Kingdom, and was a foretaste of what we can expect in heaven when all peoples gather together to worship the King. Also, several of the songs used the theme of yielding ourselves to God and allowing Him to work and love others through us. That message is really the theme of my preparation for this trip. I have a sense that God has prepared me my whole life for what I am doing now. Yet, I am just an instrument. I can accomplish nothing without the master playing his music through me. Please pray that I won't be a foolish flute that futilely frets to fashion its own fugue! (How's that for alliteration?)
My flight leaves Cincinnati at 226 PM, and I arrive in Nairobi at 1025 PM Wednesday night (325 PM EDT). The rest of my team arrives on Friday, and we travel to the training site on Saturday. I am not taking my laptop this time, and internet interaction will be intermittent (sorry, couldn't resist!) But please check back in case I'm able to post, or to have Cindy post for me like the last trip. Your prayers are VERY much appreciated, because this is not about what our team is doing - it's about what God is doing through us in those communities. Thank you, and may God bless you all for your support and faithfulness!
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