Just outside of a small mud hut in a Turkana village sat a woman and her two girls. After a short conversation with her, I realized that though she was a Christian, she did not know any bible stories. By this time a small crowd of children had gathered around. So I decided to share with all of them the story of David and Goliath.
I asked the kids if they would help me act out the story as I told it. I picked the smallest kid in the bunch to play the role of David and I asked my dad to play Goliath. As I told the story my dad and the little boy acted out their roles. But as the story unfolded both of them started to get more involved. By the end of the story when David kills Goliath; my dad had fallen on the ground, and all the children were cheering.
From that point on I knew ministry with my parents would look differently than any other time that we had served together. Over then next few days I watched my parents play with children, visit strangers homes, pray with patients, embrace the African style of worship, and lead people to Christ.
I have served alongside my parents on several mission trips prior to this one, but there was something different about this trip. I had been looking at this race as a time for God to grow and use me in the ways that he desires. I did not take into account that God had been shaping and growing my parents over the last 8 months as well.
Over the few days that we had together we our relationship grew in ways that I was not expecting. I have always had a close relationship with them, but during that trip I developed a greater love and respect for both of my parents.
