Stories from the Field

July 2003

A Heart for Kenya Becomes Ministry in the United States

Recently, I traveled with International World Changers as an Individual Participant to Kenya. This was my first mission trip and was excited to finally heed the call that God has place upon my life, serving others.

I learned that the first week of the trip would be spent Prayer Walking. We met with students from Parklands Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya that prayer walked with us on the college campuses in Nairobi. One of the days we took public transportation to Kikuyu College. All I remember about getting to the campus was the 23 and 1/2 people on the little pick up that served as a bus (one person was halfway in and halfway out), the smell, the American music blaring, and looking at my partner's uncomfortable face as he squatted between two seats. Once we arrived, we toured the campus, talked to people and prayed for the people, administrators and anyone around the campus that they would be open to hearing about the life, love, and salvation through Christ.

Behind the college buildings, I could hear children playing and singing. I had to go and meet them. There was just something about their faces that captivated me even to this day. We ended up seeing the children but could not get to them because their school yard had a fence around it. When the children saw us approaching, they ran up to the fence. Did this make my day? You bet!

I asked them about the cow that was in the playground. They told me that it was where they got their milk from during school hours. I remember their blue uniforms, smiles, and their beautiful faces like it was yesterday. In fact, I have a reminder of this everyday in my life. Earlier this year, a Social Studies class in the school where I teach Math was learning about Kenya and the teacher asked me to share stories of my experience. The teacher and students told me that there was a student in their grade that was from Kenya. The next day the teacher brought the Kenyan student to meet me. She said, "Ms. Bowie, this is Edward and he is from Kenya. Edward is in one of your photos you showed us yesterday." I was awe struck. I asked Edward if I could hug him. I looked at the picture again and, sure enough, it was him. He was the only one with out a uniform. He always had stuck out in my mind but I did not know why.

We were both together in Africa two years ago and now we were together in America two years later. He visits my room often and I have even spoken with his mother. This whole experience has shown me how awesome a God that we serve and that God's timing is just that, it is His. As much as my heart is for people overseas and my passion for being overseas has not faded, now is not the right time. God has proven that to me. I may not be able to go now but He is bringing the nations to me right here in Georgia. I am an honored servant of an Almighty God.