Exceeding Expectations

I can't say that I was really looking forward to this trip.  Perhaps it was because I was going to a new country with very little information about the logistics, or maybe it was just too soon after a wonderful trip to Ethiopia this spring.  I looked at it as sort of a business trip - travel, do the job, travel back.  Once again, I underestimated a great God!

First of all, I fell in love with Kenya!  At the great risk of generalizing after such a short trip to a single area, I found it to be a beautiful country full of outgoing, welcoming people.  The staff at the Kambua Guest House in Kibwezi, where we stayed for 10 days, was like a family to us.  In the photo with me is my new "sister", Kasti, who waited on us hand and foot, including making breakfast for us at 430 AM before our safari on our one day off.  (More about that in a future post!)  When we left for Nairobi last Tuesday, the entire staff, includings cooks, busboys, and housekeepers, came outside to say goodbye.

More importantly, God showed his hand in amazing ways.  For example, the World Vision project office just added a new intern on June 6 and a new water engineer on June 13 - the first day of the training.  Those two young men, Kioko and Methusela - pictured at right in Lifewater's famous "River Crossing" drama - were major reasons for the success of the training.  (More about that later as well!)  What's more, they became our very dear friends and brothers in Christ.

I think that God was teaching me a valuable lesson.  His Kingdom isn't limited to Ethiopia or any other nation.  It includes men, women and children from all peoples, and can be found wherever He is honored, and whenever His people share His love with everyone they meet.  So the next time He nudges me towards an unfamiliar destination on an inconvenient schedule, I'll (hopefully) recognize that as an opportunity for a new adventure with new friends and many new blessings!