Small Steps
Several months ago Living Hope celebrated God’s work among the nations through our church. During that evening of Missions Celebration Sloan German shared with us how God had moved in her heart and propelled her to Kenya. In light of the upcoming trip to Kenya that is being organized by elder Alan May, I wanted to repost her comments from that night. I hope these comments are both an encouragement and a challenge to consider joining this team.
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My name is Sloan Germann and I am married to Luke. We have three girls ages 21, 19, and 15. Several years ago when our oldest was going through her middle school years, I began searching for a spiritual mentor for her: someone who could pour into her life, love on her, and encourage her in her walk with Christ. As a middle school teacher for 25 years, I knew that this person was not me. As I prayed for God to answer, a wise friend suggested that if I wanted God to provide a mentor for my daughter, I should be willing to be a mentor for a younger woman. I was stubborn and a slow learner. It took almost 18 months AND the loss of my job for me to obey the Lord. Fearing rejection, I approached four young women in our neighborhood, asking if they wanted to meet at our house on Friday mornings for Bible study. They all said yes!
What does this have to do with missions? What does this have to do with Kenya? I believe God used this small step of obedience, to prepare my heart for Kenya. There are 10-12 adults and over 60 orphan children at the Haven who desire someone to love on them, encourage them in their faith, and pour into their lives. It is my great joy and privilege to do so as often as I possibly can. If I can do it for 4 young Germantown moms, I can do it for our friends in Jua Kali, KENYA.
Through The Advent Conspiracy the last three years, sending school supplies, backpacks, clothing, crocs, and through the recent “Adopt An Orphan” drive conducted at Living Hope, many of you have been obedient to God’s call on your lives to invest in these precious believers in Kenya. Could God be calling you to even greater involvement in this ministry? Have you been tossing around in your head the idea of sponsoring a child at the Haven? Most of the children are NOT fully sponsored. If you feel the Lord leading you to sponsor a child, please contact Vicki Windam. If you are a mother with small children or a teenager, would you like to encourage an orphan by being a pen pal? All of the Kenyan children need to be able to communicate in English and pass a difficult national exam to qualify for high school. Writing letters and receiving letters in return would serve a great need.
Or maybe, just maybe, God is calling you to go. Alan May takes 2-4 trips a year to Kenya. Do you need to participate by going? A trip like this may be what you need to discover your own gifts and passions as you taste the joy and feel the excitement of serving the Lord half a world away. Developing relationships with our Kenyan brothers and sisters impacts us at the deepest level, at the very core of our being. Not only do we see what God is doing through His people, but we learn and bring it into who we are as a community of faith. We are challenged and changed by the Gospel in very real ways. We forgo comfort temporarily in order to glorify and honor Him and to make Him known.
I don’t speak Swahili; therefore I am grateful that our Kenyan friends speak English. But even if they didn’t, we can communicate the Gospel by loving each other well. Thankfully, in spite of our differences culturally, monetarily, and racially, we have a lot of common ground. We struggle with the same sin, and are in need of the Savior’s grace, love, and mercy. My question for Living Hope Church is: are we doing ALL we can as individuals and as a body to partner with The Haven? Are we loving them well? Currently, there is a trip scheduled for December. If God is nudging you to go, please see Alan May. If not, could you provide support so that someone else can go? God loves our Kenyan friends and I am confident that He will continue to provide for them. How wonderful that He allows us to be eyewitnesses and a small part of His marvelous work! To Him be the glory!
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