Africa came like a whirlwind and parted like a best friend leaving for a trip, only to come back and visit in the future – fully clad with a monstrous bear hug and a smile stretching ear to ear. I’m still trying to absorb all I learned in a place so similar to yet so different from “home.”

I saw missionaries opening their home to community by the way they hugged me in hello. My heart was warmed by their welcoming embrace and the way they opened up their lives to someone just passing through.

I saw new friends choosing to serve others with their God-given gifts of joy, positivity, comfort, sacrifice, and woo. My heart was inspired by the way God was working through their mouths and through their hands.

• Emily has a heart for Kenyans and inspired young women to seek more. More education. More learning. More joy. More Jesus.
• Johanna has a heart for adventure and bringing along others to experience the challenge.
• Shana and Nate have a heart for youth and opening their home to groups of people.
• Hollye and Larry have hearts for fostering the international community and seeing missionaries from Kenya equipped and launched to proclaim God’s glory and love for all people.
• Andrew has a heart for hospitality and respect as he guides adventure seekers to see God’s beautiful design.
• Brett has a heart for stepping up to lead and inspiring children to laugh while pointing to the glory and majesty of our God.

I saw the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, and was affirmed in many convictions I’ve felt over the past years. Living simply. Serving selflessly. Giving freely. Encouraging greatly. My heart wanted to give everything I had to the cyclist who has a dream to come to the US because buying a ticket to race professionally without a sponsor isn’t a reality. He served us chai tea and bread sandwiches in his home, selflessly overlooking the fact he was fasting until sundown for Ramadan.

I saw the way Kenyan gatekeepers said hello in English as we would pull up to a gated home. They acted as door-holders, giving us entry and blessing us on our way.

I saw patchwork quilts of land created by gifted farmers planting and harvesting tea. Their life’s work – picking the top three tea leaves and shoving them in a basket to get paid at the end of the day.

Why Africa?

What did I learn there?

What am I continuing to learn because of my experiences?

I am inspired and invested in unpacking my trip over these next few weeks – mentally, physically, and spiritually. God is a big God. And, what he is teaching me about the global Church is inspiring, but also leaves me wandering in a place of uncertainty. Where do I fit?

Putting words behind the pictures I took in Africa is easy: “See, now, that’s when Michelle got sick and we left her on the mountain as we kept hiking for the day. Don’t worry, she was safe. We made sure she was covered with sunscreen, had water, and wanted us to continue… Oh, ya, the cows did come pretty close and our guide, Ossman – with the gun – came with us. He didn’t stay with her… But, it’s Michelle – she’s fine. No one would mess with her.”

Learning from what I experienced takes me time.

What did two adventurous weeks in a foreign culture have to say to my soul? Why did I jump up and say “YES! I’ll go with you!”? What’s going on in my head and my heart that has propelled me to buy a world map and to pray for the nations?

I’ve learned some really neat things about myself in the last month – and I believe God is calling me to so much more than what I thought was planned for me. I feel so small in this vast world. Such a small voice in the crowded arena.

Enjoy reading as I struggle with my thoughts as I sit alone, and as God teaches me more day by day.