On September 9th, we finally arrived in Africa.

After months of preparation, fundraising, training, and anticipation, we were finally here. We spent a few days in Nairobi receiving some additional training on Kenyan culture, the language, and some of the things we might need to know about living in our host homes. We were also encouraged to take some time to explore Nairobi before being sent out to our host homes in different corners of Kenya.

So, we did just that.

We practiced our Swahili at a local mall, prayed for our server at a café, stopped to pray for a homeless man we passed on the side of the street, and ate like the locals, quite literally, with our hands.

But one of my favorite moments in Nairobi happened on our final night there.

We met a sweet girl on the rooftop of the apartments where we were staying. She was there with a group of friends, and after hearing a little about what we were doing in Kenya, she stepped away from the group to talk with us more. As our conversation unfolded, she shared that she felt like she wasn’t allowed to talk to God because she was drunk. She also told us that she believed, “In our highest self, aren’t we God a little bit?” We sat and talked with her for quite a while. One of the girls on our squad was able to share part of her testimony and what her relationship with Jesus had looked like. Eventually, the girl invited us to pray for her; for her identity, her relationship with Christ, and her relationship with her family. As we were getting ready to leave, she looked at us and said, “I don’t know how important this was in your journey, but know that it has impacted mine.”

I don’t think we could have asked for a better reminder that sometimes we may never fully know the impact of simply being willing to stop, listen, and make room for someone. We hope and pray that she continues to seek Jesus and discovers the true relationship with Him that she was searching for that night.

The next morning, we embarked on our twelve-hour journey to Butere, Kenya, where we’ll be spending the rest of our time here. And Butere is very different from Nairobi.

We are living in a rural area where almost all of the homes are built from mud, cow dung, and cement, and many have no electricity or running water. It is a very different way of life than what many of us are used to, and we are learning every day what it looks like to serve, adapt, and live in community here.

In our first week, we’ve already grown closer as a team while serving our hosts through chores around the house and farm work. We’ve met neighbors throughout the village, participated in a prayer walk where we were able to learn more about what is happening in the surrounding area, and spent time doing home evangelism.

For home evangelism, we walk into nearby villages, meet people in their homes, learn a little about their lives, share the Gospel, and pray with them.

One of the couples we met is pictured above.

When we entered their home, we could sense that something was different. We began asking them if they knew who Jesus was and whether they had a relationship with Him. We learned that they didn’t. So we shared the Gospel with them. We shared a small piece of our own testimonies and how God has transformed our lives, and we were able to pray the prayer of salvation with them. We are hoping to get a Bible to them soon. There isn’t a church nearby that they can easily walk to, and we want to make sure they have access to the Word of God and an opportunity to continue learning about Jesus and the kingdom of heaven.

Later that same day, we met a woman with a sick baby who was in a similar situation. She had heard of Jesus, but didn’t really know who He was. We prayed with her as well.

And now, we are praying that these prayers were more than just words spoken in a moment- that they truly become the beginning of a relationship with Jesus that continues for the rest of their lives.

There is something both beautiful and sobering about being here.

We came to Kenya knowing we would serve, but we are quickly learning that serving isn’t always about doing something big. Sometimes it looks like walking down a dirt road to knock on a stranger’s door. Sometimes it looks like sitting on a rooftop with someone who is searching for God. Sometimes it looks like praying over a sick child or working alongside the people who have welcomed us into their homes.

And sometimes, it simply looks like being willing to go where the Holy Spirit leads.

So, please continue praying for our team. Pray that we would meet the right people at the right times. Pray that we would have the wisdom to recognize what the Holy Spirit is doing and the courage to follow His lead. And pray that the people we encounter would not simply hear our words, but would encounter Jesus through them.

We’re only one week into Kenya, and already, God is reminding us that He was here long before we arrived. We’re just grateful that He has invited us to be a part of what He’s already doing.