What did God teach me?
Africa – the continent many on my squad have dreamed of since January. I anticipated the possibility of difficult living conditions and a heightened awareness of spiritual warfare. I also knew that Africa would be a struggle for me in a way that is slightly different from many Western Christians. I recognize that most areas of Africa face a serious poverty problem. There is no disputing the existence of desperate poverty – both spiritual and physical. Something is wrong. I want to see the “crooked places made straight” and that which is wrong made right. I am passionate about truth and justice. But, I don’t see the solution. Western aid has poured into Africa for decades, but the root issue has not been rectified. I do not understand what needs to be done, but I want to see something different happen. My struggle in coming to Africa is my hesitance to be a part of the problem – just another well-meaning white-person who comes to Africa for a few weeks and propagates dependency. I don’t have a great conclusion to this struggle, but I do have a prayer.
Since the beginning of the Race I have been asking God to humble my pride. I recognize pride as one of my greatest struggles. My team has been keeping me accountable to relinquishing my pride each day. Over the last few months I have received quite a bit of positive feedback on my humility. However, this month God convicted me again on my pride. He showed me that outwardly I had conquered pride, but I still had an inward struggle. While I might have changed, I have not overcome. It is still a daily choice to lay down my pride, both externally and internally. God is pricking my heart each time I chose to elevate myself internally.
Who will I remember?
Annette – My 16 year-old friend with whom Elissa and I shared a room for a month. Together we peeled potatoes, washed clothes, washed dishes, learned to solve for x in algebra, danced in church, and laughed a lot. The sadness and pain in her past ought to overwhelm her. Instead, God overwhelms her. Her future shines with great potential. I look forward to seeing how God will provide for her.
Jeremy – This little boy always laughed. At 6 o’clock in the morning, his shrieks of laughter echoed through the house. His shrieks of anger and terror at the prospect of non-optional bath time also echoed at about that same hour. We bonded while watching Tom and Jerry (my favorite cartoon) and coloring pictures.
My boys (Jeremiah, Boneface, Phillip, Gilbert, and Dennis) – When we are attacked every afternoon upon walking into the school-yard, each of us would break off into various groups. We each had a group of kids that became “ours.” My boys played soccer or Red Rover every day. Despite the chaos of 50+ kids fighting for a chance to take a swing at the soccer ball, Phillip, Jeremiah, and Boneface obviously possessed skills slightly above the rest of their school-mates. Apart from soccer and Red Rover, they decided that I am a well-renowned artist. I don’t know where they got that idea – *cough, cough* Rayna. As a result, around 20 deplorable depictions of horses and Mufasa (Simba’s father from the Lion King) are floating around Little Roses Academy in Kenya. Shannon’s pictures became a hot commodity.
What is my prayer for Kenya?
At many of the homes in which we stopped this month, the families requested that we pray for peace and unity in their country. Thus, I will continue to pray that God will maintain peace in the country, especially as there have been many conflicts between Muslims and Christians throughout East Africa.
For Releasing Destiny, the ministry we worked with this month, I pray for provision. Patrick and Ammy have great visions for an orphanage, a clinic, and much more. I pray that Patrick and Ammy will have strength and rest.
My prayer in relation to my aforementioned struggle is three-fold. First, I pray that God will raise up Kenyans to support their people remove the need for Western aid. Second, I pray that lives will change and poverty will be eradicated in Kenya (and Africa as a whole). Third, I pray that God will reveal precisely the problem that needs to be solved and the method that will lead to a solution.
