Our time in Kenya is drawing to a close. It’s been a good
time worshiping and serving people here for the last 3 weeks. I’ve been
inspired by the faith of the people we’ve met. Most of all, I’ve been
challenged by some of the youth.
I’ve gotten the opportunity to speak to the youth in Nakuru
4 or 5 times in the last few weeks. I’ve really enjoyed teaching and
encouraging them. But I think once again the table got turned on me. I met with
them to give them hope, and to tell them how special they are in the eyes of
God. As I got to know them I realized that they aren’t hopeless at all.
There is a club at the school we’ve been working with. I got
to sit in on one of their meetings and spend some time with the leaders. They
told me about their club and what it’s all about. It’s called “What We Canâ€�
(WWC). They chose that name because they know that they can’t fix every problem
in their community, but they will do what they can. They visit orphanages,
hospitals, and the surrounding communities. They serve people by cleaning or
just being present in the lives of those who don’t have anyone to show them
love. They show the love of Jesus to people who are in some of the most
hopeless situations you could imagine. They give their free time to serve the
poor and needy people around them.
Let me tell you a little bit about these youth.
They’re orphans. They don’t have money. They don’t have the
luxuries that most youth in America have. They eat beans and rice pretty much
every day. Yet they decided to start a club that serves the “poor� people who
live outside the walls of their own orphanage. They looked outside of
themselves and saw a need. They decided to do what they could.
These youth have dreams. When I asked them what they were,
the answers were awe-inspiring. They want to help fight rape and poverty. They
want to make Nakuru a better place to live. They are dreaming about a world
where there aren’t kids sleeping on the street. They aren’t sitting around
feeling sorry for themselves, instead they are being the hands and feet of
Jesus. It’s incredible!
As an American I feel ashamed. How often have I stepped back
from helping someone because I didn’t feel like it, or because I was too busy
with my own life? How often do we decide that we can’t help everyone, so we
just resolve to help ourselves as much as possible? I know I’m guilty.
My youth minister always wore a starfish necklace and one
day I asked her why. The story she told me changed my outlook on ministry. She
said there was a man walking down a beach. The sand was covered with starfish
that had been washed up onto land. As he walked he was amazed at the sight.
Then he saw a boy in the distance who was throwing some of the starfish back
into the water. He walked up to the boy and asked why he was throwing the
starfish back into the water. The man knew that the boy could never save all
the star fish. When he told the boy this the boy’s reply was that he may not be
able to save all the star fish, but he could save each one that he threw back
into the water. So, it may not help all the dying star fish, but it matters to
the ones that are touched by the boy.
The challenge that I’m leaving Kenya with is to remember
that I may not be able to change every person on the planet or solve world
hunger, but I can make a difference in the lives of the people I come in
contact with. I can give all that I have in order to make the world a little
better for the people that God puts in my path. So, that’s what I’m going to
live for. How about you?
