Changes

When I arrived in Atlanta, I could not wait for the training to get over and get to Kenya.  I just wanted to get there and begin the journey God had in store for me.  I felt prepared to do what God was asking of me and was ready to see how God was going to change me through the experience.  Therefore, I looked at training as a means to an end. 

At first I was not thrilled about it.  We did things that got me out of my comfort zone and I did not see the exact point of it.  Yes, they were teaching us things we might see in Kenya, told us all the great things that God has done in Kenya, how we were going to make a difference in Kenya, and how we will change.  I felt these were things I knew going into this journey.  However, the second day into training, God started to reveal the purpose of training to me. 

First, He was telling me to slow down and see what work he was doing right here with our team.  I was going to be in Africa soon enough but right now my focus needs to be here with my team.  I could see God was changing my team and myself right now.  For example, we all started to open up around each other, being honest and sharing struggles in our life that were trying to hold us back from accomplishing God’s work in Kenya.  Through these changes I could see members of my team and myself becoming the people God intended us to be.  Even more exciting is that with everyday of training God changes us more and more.  Now through these changes in my team and myself, I am even more excited to get to Kenya because I know our team is more prepared and ready to bring God to Kenya. 

Sam (2 Cor. 4:5)