One of the big calls as a Christian is to "go and make disciples" and often this brings up the image of a person talking about Jesus. When I have reflected on doing Christianity, the thing I often felt I had to work on was courage to share my faith with those around me. While I still believe that there are times when we need to share about Jesus, I learned a lesson while I was in Kenya that taught me another important truth about myself as a follower of Christ.
Are you ready for it? As the name of this blog indicated, I learned that it's okay NOT to preach sometimes. Actually, what I've found is that shutting up can sometimes have much more impact. Let me set the stage a bit, so you get what I'm talking about. The group I went to Kenya with was not a "missionary group" but a teaching placement associated with my university. Actually, in my group, as a practicing Christian, I was definitely in the minority, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. The people I travelled to Kenya with are some of the most amazing people I've ever met. I learned so much from them. Along with everything I learned from my colleagues, God also had plans to teach me important lessons while I was away. Without the structure of a Christian missions trip, I had to rely on my own relationship with God, and be looking for opportunities to experience his presence in everyday moments, without the prompting of others. And God didn't leave me disappointed. He broke through many different experiences I had on the trip, often to teach me an important lesson about Him, or about who He says I am.
I had two very significant moments while on my trip, that didn't involve me talking at all, but rather, God broke through with truth that I was desperately needing in that moment. The first, occurred while we were on safari in the Maasai Mara. I was sitting quietly, still half a sleep, looking out at the incredible African landscape watching the beauty of the sunrise unfold in front of me, and in the moment God broke through and said, "The way you're looking in awe at this beauty is exactly the way I look at you & the way you deserve to be viewed by your future husband." What an amazing thing to hear from my Creator, about how He views me and loves me. The second, and potentially most important lesson I learned on my trip to Kenya happened while I was walking around the school yard with about six of my grade 3 students pulling me in different directions. In that moment God broke through and said, "You're bringing Jesus to these children, just by being here." It wasn't about anything I had said, or anything I had done, it was simply that as a child of Christ, I am a carrier of His presence, and that means that just by walking into a situation, I am bringing Jesus and His glory into that situation. This was one of the most powerful moments I've had in a very long time, and God has continued to remind me, since returning to Canada that as His child, I am a carrier of His presence, and it can change atmospheres.
Kenya was life changing. It has not only made me into a better teacher, but has transformed who I am as an individual in a very positive way. I WILL return one day, but until that is possible, I will cling to the amazing life lessons I learned there and continue to apply them to my life.
I had two very significant moments while on my trip, that didn't involve me talking at all, but rather, God broke through with truth that I was desperately needing in that moment. The first, occurred while we were on safari in the Maasai Mara. I was sitting quietly, still half a sleep, looking out at the incredible African landscape watching the beauty of the sunrise unfold in front of me, and in the moment God broke through and said, "The way you're looking in awe at this beauty is exactly the way I look at you & the way you deserve to be viewed by your future husband." What an amazing thing to hear from my Creator, about how He views me and loves me. The second, and potentially most important lesson I learned on my trip to Kenya happened while I was walking around the school yard with about six of my grade 3 students pulling me in different directions. In that moment God broke through and said, "You're bringing Jesus to these children, just by being here." It wasn't about anything I had said, or anything I had done, it was simply that as a child of Christ, I am a carrier of His presence, and that means that just by walking into a situation, I am bringing Jesus and His glory into that situation. This was one of the most powerful moments I've had in a very long time, and God has continued to remind me, since returning to Canada that as His child, I am a carrier of His presence, and it can change atmospheres.
Kenya was life changing. It has not only made me into a better teacher, but has transformed who I am as an individual in a very positive way. I WILL return one day, but until that is possible, I will cling to the amazing life lessons I learned there and continue to apply them to my life.
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