Lessons from Kenya

Having had a chance to reflect a little on the many lessons learnt during those 2 weeks, these are some of what i've learnt:

• To count my blessings and give thanks for the little things. It's so easy to overlook the reasons to give thanks, like for most of our stomachs being well throughout the trip. David had some stomach trouble but none of us had constipation! and no diarrhoea either ;) and i even give thanks for my comfortable brown Hush Puppies shoes which i bought specially for the trip. Stan knows how hard it is for me to find comfortable shoes somehow ;P



• To have complete dependence on God. All too often in Singapore, it is just too easy to take what we have for granted - electricity at the flick of a finger, and hot running water rank high on the list of luxuries we so easily take for granted! And that gives rise to the illusion of self-dependency and thinking we don't need God. To me, Pastor Richard's car not breaking down in the middle of nowhere or being able to start in the cold morning air were miracles of some sort!



• The importance of prayer. It was quite something to start each journey with a prayer as Pastor Richard would invite someone to pray for the journey and day ahead, no matter how short the ride.



• To be prepared in every season. How wonderful it was that the team members would take the opportunity to share about Jesus Christ to anyone who approached them in the Ngoleni marketplace. And how willing the locals were to interpret. Was encouraged by their readiness and proactivity! Even how Charissa decided to share her story when the crowd was there ready to hear :)



• Additionally, over the trip and through the past week, i've had the different lesson of learning more about my personality flaws. It has not been an easy lesson, but i'm truly humbled by the fact that God still loves me in spite of who i am, and i'm so thankful for the reminder that the Holy Spirit is indeed doing His work in my life, little by little, day by day, if i let Him. Still not an easy lesson to learn. But truly, we need His Amazing Grace every day!

Thanksgiving after Kenya

Praise God - we arrived safely back from Kenya on Thursday. Really appreciate the many who were praying for us, and even for Nam, Pauline and Auntie Jo who supplied the long skirts for me to wear and then leave behind for the ladies there =) Even though there were some bumps along the way, the Lord was watching over us all the way.
- Although we missed our connecting flight due to a delay in the departure of our flight from Singapore to Doha, the airline took good care to put us directly on a plane to Dubai, and then we could connect to Nairobi.
- We managed to bring in the spare parts for Auntie Yeen Lan's car without any difficulty.
- Despite the bumpy roads and Pastor Richard's car which often had trouble starting, we had journey mercies throughout our travels from Nairobi to Kavingoni, from village to village, in the safari, and then back to Nairobi.
- I was able to adapt to the living conditions, which i had been slightly apprehensive about prior to the trip. Must be God's grace that saw me through because i didn't really complain (much ;)!
Many more things to give thanks to God for, especially that we were able to share the Gospel alongside the local church, and conduct the Bible classes to our respective age-groups. It was a blessing to be part of the Galilee team which saw each member serving one another, whether to cook, help prepare food, fill water-bottles, or prepare hot water for bathing. I was very well looked after throughout the trip, which contributes to the suspicion that not only did i not lose any weight, i think i put on some ;P Still reflecting on the many lessons learnt during this trip, which i will share more about soon. (and add photos soon!)

We leave for Kenya in the early hours of tomorrow morning.. Will be back on the 21st. Appreciate your prayer for the last-minute preparations and packing tonight (after a full day of work!), and also for:

• unity amongst the team, and extra patience and grace as we adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings
• wisdom and the Holy Spirit's leading as we teach the children there
• God to use us to encourage the brothers and sisters there with our testimonies
• boldness to share the Gospel as we go house-to-house and farm-to-farm, and in whatever other opportunity that arises
• the health of the team and safety there and back, as well as in our travels in Kenya
• our own minds and hearts to be open to God's teaching as we see the work He is doing there

And above all else, for God to receive all glory from this mission trip. Look forward to sharing the many lessons i have learned and will learn in these 2 weeks.