If I had to choose one word that describes this trip for me I would choose JOY. I have always been a pretty happy girl, but here I have experience JOY in abundance! While in Kenya, I have learned the powerful difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is a good feeling… And it is simply a temporary emotion, while joy is a good place in your heart that never fades. I have also learned that joy can only be found one way: through the Lord. Until now I thought that I was experiencing joy through circumstances and relationships, which I have realized is actually temporary happiness. The Lord has allowed me to see His joy here in Kenya, and He has shown me that I can only access it through Him.
I have seen this joy from the Lord in the faces of His children, in my teammates who love and worship Him, in the face of our cook who is literally always on joy overload, in holding hands with and making relationships with His children, especially my little friend Rosalyn, in depending fully on Him, and in so many other ways.
My one prayer for this trip was that God would be present. I was scared that He would send me all this way just for a great trip but that He wouldn’t show up in a big way. But He has answered my prayer. God is present in more ways than I can count here and I am so incredibly grateful. I have grown and matured in Him so much in the past month. I truly believe that He is molding me into the woman that I was created to be in His image, and because of that I am experiencing joy in abundance. Here in Africa my heart is full. But I’ve learned that no matter where I go, my heart will always have joy!
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and love as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
