Mercy Souder Last summer, my husband, Mike and I along with our two boys (then 4 and 1), lived at Shimba Hills, a children's home outside of Mombasa on the Kenyan Coast. When asked to share a few thoughts about that experience, this is what came to mind...
Looking back through our pictures and rereading my journal I was never so acutely aware of my own insecurities, lack of faith and narcissism. However, it was also unexpectedly a time of unprecedented resourcefulness, unwavering commitment to staying in God's presence and quite literally, minute-by-minute trust in Jesus. I learned to live just a little bit more outside of myself, with humility and the certain belief that we are but a small part of the kingdom of God which is far more diverse, varied and expansive than we can really imagine. Personally, it was probably one of the richest experiences of my life and certainly some of the sweetest times as a young family. We laughed, cried and sweated it out together! We opened our hearts to love others in practical ways and were changed by the love that was reciprocated. Small tasks often took an inordinate amount of time, our daily schedule was rarely the same twice and our reliance on Western comforts was seriously stretched! I can recall often feeling frustrated with cultural differences when working with a staff of Kenyans (why does everything take SOOOOO LOOONNNGGG? Why can't we pick a plan and stick with it? Why does no one ever disagree? Why are you making these kids work so hard?) and the answers found that deepened my appreciation for other cultures, people groups and ultimately, a God who transcends them all.
So why did I agree to pack up my small children and go live in the bush were bucket showers, hand washing every-single-item-of-clothes and pit latrines would be a everyday part of life? I longed for adventure, to really live in the moment and to feel as if I was making a very real and tangible difference for Jesus. So was God's will accomplished? The hungry were fed, children clothed and the motherless shown love, all in Jesus' name. However, the real and lasting richness, beauty and adventure lay in my own transformation. I became much less about "myself" and God became more in every way. What I learned and experienced I have taken with me into the everydayness of life here....to do well with what we're given, love extravagantly, live humbly and really, to live less for myself and in living for Jesus, I am learning to lay my own life down for my friends. (“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that s/he lay down her life for her friends.") John 15:12-13
Want to know more? Ray of Hope is an organization that John & Habona Kisamwa began in 2005 with a desire to see the Kingdom of God established on the Kenyan Coast. With a staff of 12 and various other short-term volunteers, Ray of Hope provides a home to 27 orphans and disadvantaged children runs a year-round preschool of 80+ children and operates a newly-constructed medical clinic/outreach in Northeast Kenya. Additionally, John is beginning construction on a pastoral/missionary training center just a few miles from the Indian Ocean on land GCC helped purchase in 2007. GCC has supported John & Habona Kisamwa since 1987 when they served with YWAM for 20+ years. The focus scripture for Ray of Hope is Isaiah 58:6-7: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and unite the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
For more information on Ray of Hope or to make a financial gift, visit http://www.kenyarayofhope.com/ or contact Mike Souder at msouder@gcch.org.
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