Having a heart for Africa

Youth and adults from Christ The King recently went on a “Heart for Africa” short-term mission trip to Kenya. “Heart for Africa” is a faith-based humanitarian aid organization that is working to provide real solutions to the issues plaguing Africa, including hunger, orphans, poverty and education. Following is a brief account of our experience there, an experience we believe God will continue to use in our lives and in the lives of those we met in Africa.

On July 9 fifty-two Christians from different states, different countries and different churches came together as one body under the name of Jesus Christ and together boarded a plane and flew halfway across the world. We left all means of comfort, security and luxury behind, trusting all things to the Lord. Instead of iPods, portable DVD players and video games, we relied on books, bibles, journals and simple conversation to pass time on the long flight. Finally, after 18 hours confined in the small space of the plane, our American feet landed on African soil.

Every morning, we woke up at 5:45. Back home, we would have jumped into a hot shower to start our day, but in Africa the water was cold and the prospect of working in mud and getting dirty made a shower seem pointless. We had breakfast consisting of bad coffee, hard-boiled eggs, strange sausage and tasteless cereal covered with warm milk just squeezed from a cow and boiled. After breakfast, we had devotions, and then off we went to the Tumiani Orphanage (founded and directed by Bishop David) and to the surrounding community where thirty-three widows took in orphans. The ride there was extremely bumpy and uncomfortable. However, as we passed wild zebra and thousands of kids waving both hands high in the air, we forgot the discomfort. The children there run alongside your vehicle waving until you make eye contact with them and smile. When you see the joy in their eyes from that simple exchange, you sense their day will be a little brighter for it.

Once we arrived, we went to work. We planted gardens full of onions, cabbage, potatoes, peas and corn. We lugged 3,200-liter water tanks to the houses of widows. One good rain would supply each home with fresh water for six months. We worked on building a new home. We herded thirty-two cows five kilometers and delivered them to widows. The next day, one widow told us that after milking her cow, she had milk for her kids and was also able to sell what was left for 60 shillings ($1 US). The average income in Kenya is 90 shillings/day ($1.20 US). We taught kids to play the guitars, we had baptisms and we preached at four different churches.

A lot of work was done, but the hope given to this orphanage and community far outweighed the work. In a community burdened by disease, hunger, false teachings, false gospels and poverty, the life-giving light of hope remains there in the hearts of the Kenyan people. We thank those who supported this short-term mission through prayer and financial help, and we praise God for the protection and safety He provided us.