There is power in a shared story. As I process what the Lord allowed me to be a part of in Kenya this month this phrase keeps coming back to me. Our team of 21 members split into 3 teams to serve in multiple areas during our 12-day trip. Part of our team went to serve at an occupational therapy clinic that serves children who have cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Part of this team spent time with the children, teaching them Bible stories, doing crafts and caring for them while their parents could have some time of respite. I had the opportunity to serve on the other part of the team that spent time encouraging these parents.
I was given the honor of sharing my story with these sweet parents. I was able to share my precious Lina with them, her life, her legacy, and her passing and how good God was through it all. Many of her diagnoses were shared by these sweet children represented in this group, and many of the shared challenges experienced by parents who would do anything to help their children. We are connected by this shared story, across the world from each other. As I shared what a precious gift our children are, how God knit them together on purpose for a purpose, He makes no mistakes; I looked around the room and saw tears streaming down the faces of these beautiful mothers.
Later that day one mom shared, “I didn’t know other people have experienced this.” God uses our shared story to demonstrate that we are not alone. God allowed me to share the pain and joys of raising a child who had special needs to encourage those walking through the same path. I’m reminded that every experience we have, the good, the bad, the ugly, are ALL opportunities to glorify the Lord.
We spent a day visiting a local school that recently opened to serve children with celebral palsy in a residential environment where children will not only receive education but also needed therapies and medical services. The school was a dream of a local mother who has a 6 year old with CP. This shared story that is changing lives in Kenya.
We visited a newly constructed home that will open by the end of the year, a God given dream of an amazing woman named Tina and her husband Victor. This home will be a refuge for unwed teenage mothers. This home will be a place of belonging and a place where these mothers will learn how to be mothers and learn skills to care for their families. A shared story God is using to change lives.
Later in the trip our entire team had the opportunity to join two local pastors to walk the areas around their churches and share the Gospel and invite the community to church. The service was beautiful, everything about it was just so beautiful. The building with no doors and the wind blowing through the open spaces, the worship led by a single church member standing in front leading the congregation with obvious adoration for the Lord, worshipping in Swahili and English. The truth taught by a local pastor who loves Jesus and loves his community, and then participating in the Lord’s supper with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ from different parts of the world worshipping the same, true God. This is an experience I will never forget.
We met amazing missionaries and local believers doing hard work, following the Lord and sharing the Gospel. May God bless them and give them strength to continue the good work He started!
I was given the honor of sharing my story with these sweet parents. I was able to share my precious Lina with them, her life, her legacy, and her passing and how good God was through it all. Many of her diagnoses were shared by these sweet children represented in this group, and many of the shared challenges experienced by parents who would do anything to help their children. We are connected by this shared story, across the world from each other. As I shared what a precious gift our children are, how God knit them together on purpose for a purpose, He makes no mistakes; I looked around the room and saw tears streaming down the faces of these beautiful mothers.
Later that day one mom shared, “I didn’t know other people have experienced this.” God uses our shared story to demonstrate that we are not alone. God allowed me to share the pain and joys of raising a child who had special needs to encourage those walking through the same path. I’m reminded that every experience we have, the good, the bad, the ugly, are ALL opportunities to glorify the Lord.
We spent a day visiting a local school that recently opened to serve children with celebral palsy in a residential environment where children will not only receive education but also needed therapies and medical services. The school was a dream of a local mother who has a 6 year old with CP. This shared story that is changing lives in Kenya.
We visited a newly constructed home that will open by the end of the year, a God given dream of an amazing woman named Tina and her husband Victor. This home will be a refuge for unwed teenage mothers. This home will be a place of belonging and a place where these mothers will learn how to be mothers and learn skills to care for their families. A shared story God is using to change lives.
Later in the trip our entire team had the opportunity to join two local pastors to walk the areas around their churches and share the Gospel and invite the community to church. The service was beautiful, everything about it was just so beautiful. The building with no doors and the wind blowing through the open spaces, the worship led by a single church member standing in front leading the congregation with obvious adoration for the Lord, worshipping in Swahili and English. The truth taught by a local pastor who loves Jesus and loves his community, and then participating in the Lord’s supper with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ from different parts of the world worshipping the same, true God. This is an experience I will never forget.
We met amazing missionaries and local believers doing hard work, following the Lord and sharing the Gospel. May God bless them and give them strength to continue the good work He started!