Lessons from the Mission Field:

Greetings from Kenya, everyone! I’m excited to bring you another update. For those who are new here, I’ve been serving with missionaries in Kenya for the past month and a half, with about that same amount of time left before I return home in December. The Lord has been faithful throughout this journey, and I’ve prayed over many things along the way—one of which has been for personal transformation. The Lord has been gracious in working on me, and for those who know me best, you know I can be rather hard-headed. But the Lord’s grace knows no bounds.

This week has been slower, like one of those I mentioned in my last update. Being on the field doesn’t mean it’s all gas and no brakes. Missionaries live normal lives, just like the rest of us. Have they made sacrifices? Absolutely! But there are still days when they need rest. One aspect of missionary life we don’t often consider is the logistical side. Just because we don’t go out every day doesn’t mean work isn’t being done. There’s a lot of administrative work that goes on behind the scenes.

On Sunday, we attended Kechire Bible Baptist Church, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary. It was an awesome time, even though the service lasted around 5 1/2 hours. That may sound long—and yes, it was—but for me, it was an excellent reminder of how the more I understand the significance of all that makes up the story of Scripture, the more I should want to celebrate it and be in fellowship with those who share that realization. On Thursday, we attended a pastor’s fellowship, which was another great experience. One of the things I’ve been doing while I’m here is spending time with pastors, hearing their stories, learning about how they do ministry, and seeing the ways the Lord has been faithful to them. It’s been incredibly humbling.

Even though it was a slow week, I did a lot of learning. For those who don’t know, I’m actively praying for clarity about a potential call to vocational ministry. Right now, I’m still in college finishing my degree, but I’ve learned so much about ministry while being here. To be clear, I’m not claiming to have “arrived.” Not even close. I fall far short of God’s design, and I believe anyone who thinks they’ve "made it" in ministry is missing the mark. What should fuel my desire to do ministry? I think my own daily need for God’s saving grace should drive how I minister to others, in any capacity. It would be hard to relate to a fellow brother or sister in Christ if I viewed myself as already "having made it." When we forget who we are, and what we truly need, we will see ourselves as more mature and righteous than we are. It is the blood of Christ alone that washes me clean and sets me free.

At times, I fear we see ministry as something that happens only on Sunday mornings, at camps, at mission conferences, or at other events, and we develop a desire to be part of those big moments. I’ll admit that when I first felt the desire for ministry, I fell into this category. But in reality, those events make up a small part of what ministry is all about. There are challenges I can’t even begin to explain as a young twenty-year-old who is trying desperately to learn and grow.

I’ve been blessed with many people in my life who have guided me along the right path. I’m lucky to call many of them mentors, and they know who they are! God has been good to me, and the question I’m asking myself now is, "What am I going to do with it?"

Lastly, I’m excited to share an announcement! On November 7th, I will be sitting down on Zoom with Dr. Paul Chitwood, the President of the International Mission Board. He has contributed to the blog once already. In this interview, we’ll be discussing global evangelism, the challenges of missions, the role of young people, and his personal journey. The interview will be available on YouTube on November 7th, or a few days later if there are any delays.