My Trip to Kenya

“Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1. When I first decided to take a year off college to be a student missionary, I thought that everything would flow easy as ABC. I thought that I did not have to do any hard work because God was going to take care of it all. As time went by, I realized that I was partially right but mostly wrong.  It was not that easy for me going through the process of being in Kenya. I realized that I had to work hard in order for me to be there. I had to do a bunch of paperwork to get accepted and of course because I’m not a US citizen I had to do extra paperwork. I had to work with La Sierra and the airlines to find the right timing for my plane ticket that would allow me to return to the US legally. You know how paperwork can get frustrating sometimes. At some points of this process, I questioned if it was a wise decision to even go to Kenya! However, when those moments came, I always remembered something one of my best friends, Deirdre, told me when I first told her that I want to be a student missionary. She said, “God is not asking us to wait until everything is easy and all the doors are open smoothly ahead of us to go and serve Him. He’s asking us to step out in faith”. Remembering those words gave me comfort and courage to step out in Faith. Yes, I had to put effort, but God was sill there ready to help me make it everything possible.

            Unlike most people, I was not worried about being in a different culture away from the place where I am comfortable. I guess it’s because I already experience that when I moved to California. I was actually worried about the flight and arriving to Kenya. Besides that it was my first time flying alone, I was worried about having some difficulties in dealing with visa issues and getting in the country. You know, having a Middle Eastern passport can put you in some interesting situations sometimes ; ). My flight was from LA to Denver to London (7 hours transit) then from London to Kenya. Flying from LA to Denver was very short. It seemed like I fastened my seat belt to take off and 15 minutes latter I had to fasten it for landing. On the other hand, flying from Denver to London was long. Of course I was not excited about arriving to London. All that I could do was sitting in the airport for 7 hours babysitting my suitcases (not fun). However, I was not alone and God was there ready to make things easier for me. I meet a really nice guy from Holland who watched my suitcases while I went to get food and used the restroom, and he even let me borrow his computer and use his Skype account to call mom in Egypt, which made time go by much faster.  

            When it was time for me to get out of the airport I was a bit nervous about being in a different country where I knew no one. Once I got out of the airport, I was not in a country where I knew no one. I meet my first 3 friends, Thomas, Tomiko, and Robert; beautiful people who gave me a worm welcome and made me feel like home. Once I got to Maxwell Academy I meet the rest of the family I became a part of. “Do not fear, for I am with you” Isaiah 43: 5. I knew that I was not alone. I am sure that God has been working in y life every for 20 years.  Sometimes it’s hard to realize it. Life’s busyness can hinder a person from seeing our amazing God work in our lives. Once pastor Rich Carlson told me that all I need to do is to be attentive to how God is working in my life. That is what I want to do this year. I want to be able to see how God is working in my life and in the lives of all the students here at Maxwell Academy. I also want God to use me to help them realize the great planes He has for them and how much they are valuable and precious in His sight.