Do You Have Time to Read the Story of My Trip?

Wow, it takes a long time to get where you are going sometimes. It took nearly 3 days of travel to finally get to my starting point in Eldoret, Kenya. My main mission was dealing with famine victims, but I had a chance to drop in on the CRF school there. Francis Bii started it about four years ago for some AIDS orphans who lived in the Haruma slum. I picked a great day for a visit. They were having their big awards assembly.

When this school started, it was difficult to imagine that it would have any potential of survival. But when the zone of schools (around 50) devoted their awards today, our school was number two in the entire zone.  Three of our little children were awarded best scholastic achievement in a particular discipline. And one of our teachers was recognized as the best teacher in the zone. And another was number two. Not too shabby for a school that didn’t seem to have a chance other than the fact that the Lord does impossible things.

But my day was made when a widow came up in the assembly giving an impromptu talk. She spoke about the death of her husband and the total poverty that she lived in. With tears in her eyes, she shared the story of her desperation and desire to do anything to get her child in school. And then right when she was about to hit the streets, her daughter was invited to come to our school. And a CRF donor committed to sponsor her child. I wish you could have seen her joy. I wish you could have witnessed her faith. I don’t even know who the little girl’s sponsor is since I’m already in Africa. But I’m thanking God for whomever it is who gave a child a future and a mother a life.

Then I met with our relief workers who carry tons of food to refugees at Turkana and Dadaab. They told of the dangers of the road to Dadaab. Stories were shared of snipers and how the militant Muslims would try to blow up trucks. When they asked me to pray, they didn’t ask for a petition for their own safety. No, they asked me if I would pray that God would touch the militants’ heart in such a way that these terrorists would see Him and be saved. Instead of being fearful of their next trip, they hoped that someone might see the compassion and love of Christ.

Tomorrow I’m headed up a mountain trail in the middle of nowhere where things are truly changing for the better. There was no water there. They said you couldn’t get water there. But they were wrong. I will have the extreme privilege of dedicating a well tomorrow that is bringing not only water but also salvation to a place called Barwessa. It will be a grueling trip. But it will be worth the journey.

Earlier in the day, I didn’t think that I would ever get to my destination. I have to be honest that I was losing my patience. But the people here make my journey worth it. I’m told that Americans have watches, and Africans have time.