Manual labor takes on an entirely new meaning in Africa. We began our first day of ministry in Kitale, Kenya standing in an earthen ‘room,’ knee high in rocks and dirt. In America, some sort of fancy tool would be utilized for clearing such fragments. Here in Africa, they do things slightly different. We spent the morning clearing the dirt and rocks out of the room that is to be made into a new classroom at Growthways Academy. The tools available: three buckets, a burlap sack and our bare hands.
Somewhere between passing rocks to my teammates through the window as we assembly lined our task and carrying a burlap sack of rubble one of our new friends asked me to remind him of my name. After the gentle reminder he smiled and informed me Nicole meant ‘I am here’ in Swahili. It became our joke of the morning. Every time I returned to top up my empty sack with particles I’d stand next to him and we’d laugh as I declared ‘I am here.’
Halfway through our morning of working and laughing about me being ‘here,’ God spoke to me.
“You really don’t get it do you?” “Get what?”
“You are here!” “Uh…yeah. I’m here”
“No you are HERE. Here carrying dirt. Here in Kitale, Kenya. Here on the World Race. Here walking free. Here on the earth. Here being loved. Here serving. Here being redeemed. Here being transformed…”
You could say it was an a-ha moment. After last month and all the feelings of hopelessness I’d felt, here I was. Stepping out in confidence in the midst of uncertainty. He placed a new song in my mouth yesterday morning.
‘I am here’ in Kitale, Kenya. A place I’ve fallen in love with in three short days.
‘I am here,’ declaring God’s faithfulness despite circumstance.
‘I am here,’ working among 6 totally different people than I began the Race with yet my team technically has never been altered.
‘I am here,’ a new creation in Christ.
‘I am here,’ facing struggles I never imagined and being refined through the flames.
‘I am here,’ because the Lord has called me here.
‘I am here,’ because I love Jesus more than I could ever love anyone else.
The friend who asked me my name, his name is Meshach. As in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The biblical story of Meshach is one of valiant faith. Refusing to bow to a golden idol, defying King Nebuchadnezzar’s commands. When they were thrown into the furnace God saved them because of their faith and they were untainted by the flames.
Both of our names have similar themes. Faith. That’s exactly how I landed myself halfway across the world carrying dirt. I think somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten that. Maybe I lost sight of why ‘I am here.’ It can difficult in times of tribulation. But perhaps I just needed a little reminder
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
So for now, ‘I am here,’ in Kitale, Kenya, seeking His face more each day. And maybe falling in love with Africa more than I thought I would…
