This past Tuesday we hopped in our
van to visit the students of Nyamasaria Secondary School. Part of our ministry
in Kenya includes traveling to different schools to share our testimonies or
sermons with high school teenagers. Tuesday we arrived there a bit early and
had to wait for the 150 or so students to finish taking their tests. During the
down time we met the principal then sat down in the “library” to meet one of
the Christian Education teachers. We learned that the kids range in age from 15-20,
many walk miles to school due to the fact that they can’t afford the $0.12 bus
ride. The school day is long; starting around 7-8am and ending school around 6pm. All the students are
required to wear matching uniforms, many that are torn and tattered, unable to
afford another set.
Most school programs we lead run an
hour or more, but, today the teacher asked us if we could speak for 10 minutes,
then maybe come back another day.
That’s Africa for you. We organize and transport 10 people from two different
locations, making it to the school earlier than the agreed time, to find out
that the plans have changed…
We shared one testimony, Anna
explaining to the children a condensed version of her life story before one of
our local contacts asks if anyone would like to give their life to Christ.
About ten or so students raise their hands and meet me outside for prayer. (side
note: the power of God is amazing) We prayed, talked about practical next
steps, and offered encouragements before the students headed back home. One of
the students even stayed behind to chat a little longer than the others, his
name is Fidel Castro (yes like the Cuban
dictator). But unlike the dictator, he is an orphan and excited to live his
life reborn in Christ.
I had forgotten that God doesn’t mind when he
changes plans. He doesn’t mind working with only 10 minutes. The 2 Peter says
with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a
day.
That day our team was just called
to be there for Fidel Castro and his classmates, not to organize an hour long
program. We may never see the fruits of our efforts that day, or be able to
disciple him further, but we were able to plant the seed. Paul writes in 1
Corinthians, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So
neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes
things grow”. Pretty sweet.
