Walking into the Atlanta airport, I was greeted by a scene that you don’t easily forget. Not because of what it looks like, but more because the feeling you get the second you step foot into the group. The only word that could properly describe that feeling would be awkward.
I approached a group of around 60 – 80 college age students strewn on the floor of the atrium beneath a hovering dinosaur statue as they all did their best to give a good first impression. I was instantly surrounded by awkward giggles, and side glances every which way of people looking to see if anyone else felt as nervous as they were in that moment.
This time I walked in with a very different perspective. I had done this all before. Felt the awkwardness of meeting people for the first time and could see the path which they are about to step on. A path of them having no clue what they signed up for. A path full of ups and downs. A path that would walk them alongside each other as they ventured into unknown territory, which would show them how to live life together. The path that would take us from awkward strangers to a rag tag bunch by the end.
Here we are. Three months later. As raggedy as you can get. Our team went through the motions, of trying to figure out where they fit in this giant puzzle of a group. Awkward silences at team times when no one wanted to be the first to speak up. Each person avoiding eye contact when doing door to door, as they tried to be invisible so they didn’t have to be the one to share something with the family standing in front of us.
To now where team times are full of laughter and stories from the day. When dinner is an extension of family time, where we tell embarrassing stories, clean the kitchen together and laugh uncontrollably at the accents people attempt to make. Ministry days full of knowing who works best how, and allowing them the platform to shine when the time comes. Stepping out of comfort zones and knowing the rest of the team will stand behind them no matter what happens. Morning wake up calls from our lovely resident drama major which sometimes involves a song, which urkes us out of bed.
Our nights are filled with girls in the kitchen helping our contact cook. As they take lessons and end up with anything but circular shaped chapatti. Our guys have nightly bible studies while another group of girls sweats and screams out upstairs as they work out to insanity. Life is chaotic and beautiful. Each day we jump into ministry having no idea what it holds. Ready for whatever challenge comes our way. It is never what we expect but God always shows up.
As I sit and write this three of my students are sitting in the front of the hall learning Swahili from a church member (which they do every night). While another group of my girls are sitting on two beds pretty much intertwined, staring at a computer screen and laughing at videos they made three months ago.
The awkwardness has faded and in it’s place life has come. Life in Kenya is messy and beautiful and I love sitting here seeing how absolutely sporadically this has all evolved over time. We have a little less then four weeks left and I am excited to see how God moves through our little family here.
I approached a group of around 60 – 80 college age students strewn on the floor of the atrium beneath a hovering dinosaur statue as they all did their best to give a good first impression. I was instantly surrounded by awkward giggles, and side glances every which way of people looking to see if anyone else felt as nervous as they were in that moment.
This time I walked in with a very different perspective. I had done this all before. Felt the awkwardness of meeting people for the first time and could see the path which they are about to step on. A path of them having no clue what they signed up for. A path full of ups and downs. A path that would walk them alongside each other as they ventured into unknown territory, which would show them how to live life together. The path that would take us from awkward strangers to a rag tag bunch by the end.
Here we are. Three months later. As raggedy as you can get. Our team went through the motions, of trying to figure out where they fit in this giant puzzle of a group. Awkward silences at team times when no one wanted to be the first to speak up. Each person avoiding eye contact when doing door to door, as they tried to be invisible so they didn’t have to be the one to share something with the family standing in front of us.
To now where team times are full of laughter and stories from the day. When dinner is an extension of family time, where we tell embarrassing stories, clean the kitchen together and laugh uncontrollably at the accents people attempt to make. Ministry days full of knowing who works best how, and allowing them the platform to shine when the time comes. Stepping out of comfort zones and knowing the rest of the team will stand behind them no matter what happens. Morning wake up calls from our lovely resident drama major which sometimes involves a song, which urkes us out of bed.
Our nights are filled with girls in the kitchen helping our contact cook. As they take lessons and end up with anything but circular shaped chapatti. Our guys have nightly bible studies while another group of girls sweats and screams out upstairs as they work out to insanity. Life is chaotic and beautiful. Each day we jump into ministry having no idea what it holds. Ready for whatever challenge comes our way. It is never what we expect but God always shows up.
As I sit and write this three of my students are sitting in the front of the hall learning Swahili from a church member (which they do every night). While another group of my girls are sitting on two beds pretty much intertwined, staring at a computer screen and laughing at videos they made three months ago.
The awkwardness has faded and in it’s place life has come. Life in Kenya is messy and beautiful and I love sitting here seeing how absolutely sporadically this has all evolved over time. We have a little less then four weeks left and I am excited to see how God moves through our little family here.
