A Bittersweet Farewell:

Hello from Decatur, Alabama! I made it back home on Sunday, December 8th, and shortly after arriving, I realized I hadn’t written an update about my last two weeks in Kenya. Those two weeks were absolutely amazing, so here’s a reflection on them.

The final weeks of my time in Kenya were both awesome and bittersweet. The reality of returning home was becoming more and more apparent, but there was still plenty to do. During those weeks, we attended Bible institute graduations, prepared for Christmas, celebrated Thanksgiving, and I had the opportunity to speak at a student camp.

Let’s start with the Bible school graduations. Shaun and I traveled to West Pokot for a graduation, which is a two-day event: a banquet on Friday followed by the ceremony on Saturday. The banquet is primarily for the graduates’ families, and it was a wonderful time to connect and celebrate. After the banquet, we hung out at the Bible school for the rest of the evening, enjoying fellowship and conversation.

The next morning was the graduation ceremony itself, and it was a special, albeit long, event—it lasted around four hours! Witnessing the graduates’ joy and accomplishments made it an incredible experience to be part of.

After the graduation, we traveled about an hour to attend an ordination ceremony. Unfortunately, we missed the questioning portion as we arrived at the church later in the evening, but we still had a meaningful time. We enjoyed dinner and relaxed before heading to a guest house with several other ministers to spend the night—a memorable experience for me.

The following morning, we attended the ordination service, which was absolutely inspiring. After church, we shared lunch with everyone before heading home, completely exhausted but deeply fulfilled.

Thanksgiving this year looked a bit different for me, but it was special in its own way. I celebrated with the Vance family, and I’m so grateful for them and their ministry. They have truly become family to me, and I thank God for placing them in my life. We shared Thanksgiving lunch with other missionaries in Eldoret, which was a wonderful time of fellowship.

As the days passed, my departure loomed closer, and I wasn’t ready to leave. I made a point to soak in every moment of my remaining time in Kenya.

My final day in Eldoret was unforgettable. I had the honor of preaching at a student camp, and after the service, ten students made the decision to accept Christ! What an incredible work by the Lord!

Coming to Kenya was the second-best thing that has ever happened to me—only behind my decision to accept Christ. Over these last three months, the Lord has worked miraculously in my life. He has shaped me, revealing the true realities of the world and showing me that many of my problems are merely inconveniences. Most importantly, He reminded me that a relationship with Him is all I truly need.

I am deeply thankful to the Vance family for welcoming me into their home and their lives. Please continue to pray for them as they faithfully serve the Lord.

As always, below are some pictures, feel free to click through them!