EP 33: Interview with Bernard Kabaru (Kenya) - Part 2

As we have been loyal and pursuing his calling, God has

been so faithful and I have no reason to doubt.

And part of this partnership is is God's answer.

I mean the fact that I'm sitting here.

Welcome back this week on our members podcast.

We will conclude our conversation with Bernard

Cabarro and Ryan Burns. Bernard will take us inside the

Kenyan church and explain how mission trips strategically

support the church's work. And stay tuned because after we

finish our interview, Chris Stonecker, a member of our

Pelham campus, will give us some thoughts from the most recent

medical trip. This trip saw 30 Kenyan pastors,

served 700 members of the community and witnessed a dozen

confessions of faith. I think you were going to enjoy

her first hand experience. Thank you for listening.

Tell us just a little bit about life in the local church and how

these like medical trips can then bring some additional help

and credibility to the local church.

Just talk about that for a bit. Good The Kenya at large is a

young nation and the Christian faith growing.

One of the challenges that we face is and part of it is a good

problem We we are seeing more church plans, so people coming

to faith but there's a challenge of of of leadership development

the the, the, the challenge of maturing the local church and

and So what this partnership has continues to be able to do is to

be able to empower the local church through training the

pastors but also having training seminars for the leadership.

And then some of the programs that we have like the OVC and

the medical camp come to strengthen them in the outreach.

The medical camp in particular is a critical step where we come

alongside the local church, which is part of a convention

called the Baptist Convention, and that particular local

church. We come alongside them to be

able to give them a voice, a voice to tell the community that

we care because we have a Jesus who cares and loves you, but

also a voice to the administration as that local

pastor, for example, the upcoming medical camp.

Moser just wrote me today. And one of the things he has to

do is he has to knock on the door of the administrative

office to say we are going to hold a medical camp.

Then he has to knock on the door of the County Medical office to

say we would like to have a whole medical camp.

Would you give us permission? So this is the this is the

pastor of the local church. His name is Moses, and he has to

go through these steps. That's right.

In order for us to be able to come, that's right, to be able

to offer medical services. That's right.

And then he has to go to the Superintendent of health within

the hospital and say we are coming, would you provide us

with medical personnel? So as they do that, the

administration, the community, feels the presence and the

voice. They take notice.

Of the church, but also the pastors feel there's a

breakthrough to be able to influence the next level even

within the government. So they feel like they're

significant. They're definitely, they feel

their significance and they they take the challenge and it gives

them pride as they do that. And of course within that the

gospel is proclaimed. So yeah, definitely.

And then the other thing that is beautiful is, is then we have

the connection. So with the team from here we'll

come serve together, complement each other.

So our pastors are helping the logistics but also making sure

that everybody who comes in, he has the gospel three times.

He has the gospel of the tent of the assembly, he has the gospel

as he attends comes through the doctors and the medical

personnel and then as they wait for their meds in the pharmacy,

then pastors are praying with them and sharing the gospel.

So it's it's it's a great opportunity and in instances

where we have been that has been instrumental not only in having

some of the personnel serving the local clinic joining the

church, but even other people within the village being able to

come and join the church. Yeah.

And this is so important for us to remember and why partnership

is important because it doesn't matter how many dozens or

hundreds of medical personnel you can take from the staff,

with however many pounds of supplies you can load up on

those airplanes, you are only bringing a limited amount of

medical care to a limited amount of people.

That's right. That's right.

There's only so much you can do and it's beautiful to show

compassion and it's beautiful to show care.

But what we are really doing is we are working alongside that

local church and the Pastor Moses of the world and the all

the work that you just described to say we are here, the local

church, we are a a major player in this community and we aren't

going anywhere. These folks are here for a few

days, but we're not going anywhere.

And we will be here, Lord willing, generation after

generation to see to see change. And we just need to remember

that when we think about what role we think we're gonna play,

small or great. But really we need to remember

that when we are praying for the local churches in Kenya because

that is that is the work that they are that they are doing.

And it's a blessing to be a part of that.

It it really is. Tell us a little bit more just

to kind of breakdown some of the cultural differences through the

OVC program you're providing goats.

And sometimes. Yeah, tell us about the goat

program. I love this story.

The the goat, the goat project is is part of an an economic

empowerment but also an emotional empowerment and of

course an empowerment in their stewardship.

So we goats are significant particularly amongst the coques

in the central area but across across Kenya important for

various things. One of course owning, owning,

owning livestock you have you own something and then secondly

go to help with milk but also manure that is needed for crop

but also it has an economic also part of it whereby you can be

able to sell a goat. So what we do what we realized

is if we and milk is important because Chai yeah, Chai tell.

Us a little bit. About Chai Chai.

Chai is black. Good Kenyan tea, black tea

boiled together with milk and water and yeah, nothing.

Like that. So just a little fun tidbit

here. You know, early on in met

Bernard and he just had lots of negative things to say about

Starbucks, right, Which was fine.

And there's many of us in in in the states that say no.

But things about Starbucks? Right.

But, but recently, again, having having gotten to go to Rwanda

and realizing that it's not just against the West that he gets

against RT. Like anybody?

He takes his own tea to other African nations and then makes

it for people, tells them how to make it and shares it with them.

Well, and and people may not realize that tea is a is a major

economic factor. Absolutely beautiful tea fields

all through central Kenya, but black tea is how we make Chai.

Is that right? Yeah.

Yeah, and our tea, because of it grows up in the Highlands and

volcanic soil is smooth, is not bitter.

So anyway so milk therefore is critical, right?

If you go to a family in amongst the Kikuyu or even in any family

and they don't have milk to serve you, black tea is is not

hospitable and they will go to the extent of even buying milk

from anywhere to make sure you have tea with milk.

So anyway, that goat therefore provides milk.

Generally, the kind of goats that we're talking about, if

they can be able to provide a liter of milk a day, that will

be sufficient for a family even of eight.

OK. And so we'll have a team of the

oversee families. Then we'll provide each family

with a goat, and there's a back goat.

The idea is to be able to progressively raise these goats

to be a pedigree, to be a pure daily goat.

OK, A pure data goat is difficult to manage.

So we don't start with a pure, but the back is going to be a

pure pedigree and so we give every household that in the OBC

a goat, female goat and they they they do take care of the

back. Now the family is responsible to

build the shed. So with that course is covered

by them. The church also organizes

training for them so that a livestock personnel can come to

train them how to take care of the goat and also how to build

the shed because one that have a special right.

This is not to graze out there right?

So they will take care of it. The the great thing is the first

kid comes from that goat, the first female kid they raise it

up to a time that is wind. So it's they cannot continue

being fed on the milk. That will be about 3 months and

then they bring it back to the church.

And the church by then would have identified another needed

family. So they bring it back to the

church and there's a service, special service where they thank

God for that and the in the vulnerable family presents that

female goat to another vulnerable family.

So that's that's a great thing, that's a great empowerment for

them, a great celebration. So then any kids that come

after, they can either choose to raise them or sell them.

Right now a goat will cost between 150 a hundred 150 U.S.

dollars, but they can be able to sell.

After six months. They can be able to sell that

kid. If they want to raise money they

can be able to sell for about 50 to 100 so that will be an income

for for them the manure that they will get so they will can

use that to work on the for maize or beans or green

vegetables and we encourage every family to have a kitchen

garden so so it's a it's a great way great testimony right now at

Pondo Baptist Church they have they are on the 3rd, 4th season

of that So we're not putting any more money in that right can

undo Baptist Church we're not putting any more money but

they're still progressing right So they have now it can undo

they have 33 families that have benefited from from the initial

one. Right.

So these churches that have started these programs, we

invested resources into and now they're self-sustaining.

Yeah, self-sustaining. Which is that.

I mean that. Is that's that's a small picture

of a of the most important goal that we're after.

That's right, right. It went both with the local

church at the the center of it, leading it and then working out

through those those partnerships.

Right, Yeah. And one of the joys that has

been if I mean of course sometimes they they will try to

organize the hand over services to to wait for one of us to be

present. And I've said no, no, no, we

don't have to be there. But the opportunity that I've

been there is, has been just the joy because they'll bring even

the kids just to to see the kids giving over.

The children, not the goats. Yeah, they're giving over.

The kids giving the kids. Yes, yes, yeah they yeah they

will bring the the family the obviously kids giving over their

baby goat, the kid goat to another needed family and just

the joy that comes from that and and just this in the church

service. So.

So they will tie them out out there.

So bring them in. Yeah.

So one family brought to the main and then the next family

you will see them walking home with a goat.

This is one of the best. What a beautiful picture.

On that note, I think and as we were talking through this, I'm

reminded of having been at church services there in Kenya

where a family doesn't have finances to bring to give as a

tithe. So they bring it to the point

burners making of kitchen gardens right.

They bring vegetables. They bring what they have in

produce and the church body auctions it off and the money

that is received for that doesn't go to the family that's

the families ties. So to be there and be able to

say, oh, we're we're selling avocados today, those are 8

times as big as any avocado I've.

Ever seen? I'll take that avocado back to

our hotel and we get to participate in that is is just

an amazing way to think differently and realize that you

know that we talk about this a lot on our trips and our teams

that we go is to be careful that the context of the culture just

because it's different doesn't make it wrong.

And that's true. That goes both ways, right.

So, so that goes, that's true for.

For if we are doing something in in Kenya that may be different

than the way they perceive it. We want to work with the pastor

to make sure we're not offensive but also make sure we're not

judging each other right unless it is truly wrong.

And then we want to address that too.

But, but the the idea that we're able to kind of see tithing is

different. But you have these families in

generosity who are ready to give with whatever they have.

Yeah. I know that was so impressive to

to me during our church service and it became time for the

offering and there was no passing of the plate.

People walked forward and there was.

There was an eagerness, there was a pride.

There was a pride in the best sense and there was a joy in

being able to take what what God had given them and give it back

to him and for the good of the local church.

It it really was a a beautiful, beautiful picture.

Well Bernard, as we wrap up, tell us what you are excited

about What what do you wake up and gives you energy and gives

you purpose as you think about where Lefty is and the next few

years of of of ministry? As I see somebody like Stephen

Monkey who is one of oversea graduates that have been able to

come through our program. Stephen graduated with college

with a diploma in construction building and gets an internship

with the county government to be able to be an instructor in a

vocational institute. In that institute we have about

20. We had about 20 of our kids and

Steven has sessions every once every week to meet with those

kids and decipher them. He's now done completed that so

he's moved now to Neri where in the neighborhood we also have a

vocational school and we have some students and Stephen

mentoring other of we sees to see that and knowing that

Stephen did not have a father. If this intervention did not

happen, Stephen would not have been what he yesterday.

As I see Stephen leading worship and playing keyboard with a

colonia or at near the Baptist Church now and leading in the

youth ministry at nearly Baptist Church making a difference that

that that excites me. As I think also of Stephen

Watertuma another pastor who is a part of Pastoral Institute.

And I've seen his church grow from 60 membership to now

running over 200 and daring enough to apply what he has

learnt in the 15 years of our partnership and what is learning

today, apply it in his church and see that happening.

So within Kenya where the fellowship of about 18 churches

there is already a movement of discipling men.

They have adopted men's routable.

So we are calling it brotherhood and adopted the logo that you

guys used to do over the authentic man the route table

and seeing that and seeing a rally of men.

And the other day I was invited to address the subject on, you

know, being a Christian and addressing the issues of

traditional Kikuyu culture and they are leading that that that

excites me. When I think about 5 hour drive

away in Marra where we have ASAP Trevor, the Maasai and currently

out South of the Baptist Mission work started outreach there.

They're no longer there. But we have done training and in

the last five years we have had a motive, a doubling of the

number of churches. But they're taking their

leadership that that excites me. But even what more excites me is

God's faithfulness and that God in our obedience as we have been

loyal and pursuing his calling. God has been so faithful and I

have no reason to doubt. And part of this partnership is

is God's answer. I mean, the fact that I'm

sitting here and recovering and experience and overwhelming love

and I don't have my family. My wife is not here.

My children are not here. But Grace family has just behold

me with their love that that excites me.

Yeah. So I have every reason, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. We may we just want to mention

that you've you had some recent surgery.

That's right. And God has provided some some

specialized care here in the US. Absolutely.

And things are going well. Praise God and.

Just another Just another reminder of just God's goodness

and God's intimacy and all those details.

And yeah, that is part of the reason why we get to have you

here 8000 miles from home. Praise God, man.

Yeah. And then Ryan, I did want you to

share, You've mentioned Rwanda a couple of times, but you, you

saw a picture of what Bernard just said as a group of Kenyans

was even kind of transferring some of this local church

knowledge to Rwanda. What was, what was that like?

What was that about? Oh yeah.

Oh man, it was so we had such a great trip.

It was first week of December last year.

We we took five Grace team members over.

So it was myself and another layperson at the David Miller

from the the Taylor's campus. We had Shannon Foster and Taylor

Sorenson from Spartanburg and then Derek.

Nelson went with us as. Well, so you know you look at

that team and and so that we went over we had about 20

Kenyans that came took a a harrowing bus ride to get there

to join us we had is. There any other kind, right?

I think it was a lot better trip on the way back than it was on

the way there was. There was yeah so.

So that was a rough one, right. And then a gentleman from Uganda

came and then we had about 20 or so Rwandans and this was pastors

and wives and we had a few that were just pastors that were

their wives weren't able to come for various reasons.

But so we we gather and and the focus of our conversation is

around biblical manhood and womanhood what it looks like to

to lead a family parenting and then a little bit of a session

on marriage. And so we covered covered a a

very kind of wide range, very high level I would say of of

those topics, right, not over 2 days of teaching.

There's not tons of time to get into the weeds of all of that.

So these are these are local church leaders who are going to

a a neighboring country to love and serve the local church

there. And so it was great because we

had the five of us kind of took a lot of that sort of topical

teaching and then our our Kenyan brothers and sisters LED they

were they were teaching and preaching in the churches there

in Rwanda they would give testimony they would lead

morning Chapel at the group. And so at that point now we have

brothers and sisters from different countries and

different cultures coming together to to teach together,

to learn together and to worship together And so it it was

amazing right. And then you got to see as we

close that that teaching session out or that institute out we saw

some really amazing worship happen and and kind of each

culture showing how they might do it with hopefully us non

dancing Americans able to get out of it a little bit.

But but it was just a great time to be partnered with our

brothers and sisters from Kenya and working towards helping now

replicate A partnership there in Rwanda.

That's beautiful. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, one thing we want for

anyone listening is for your vision of God and what it means

to be a global Christian to really grow.

That's right. And to see these men and women

that are serving around the world and we have a number of

partnerships. But to see them as family, to be

able to to hear their voice when that when we have the

opportunity to be able to follow and and see pictures and and

hear stories. So that we would know.

So that we would know. So that we would care.

So that we would pray, most importantly, so that we would be

partners in prayer and and celebrate and grieve just like

we would our own personal family.

This is the family of faith. And Bernard, I'm so glad, so, so

glad to see you. This has been a wonderful

conversation. We could, we could sit here and

we probably will sit here a little bit longer and just tell

stories And and you know, I've had a chance this summer to walk

and literally to walk in Bernard's footsteps as I'm

following him down some very steep hills in the central

Highlands, going from house to house where he just most

intimately knows the families and their situations and the the

children. And we're celebrating the growth

that he's seen over years. And it's it's it's real, it's

tangible, it's encouraging. And so I just want to thank you

personally as one who's seen life transformation from the

hospitality that you and your team has provided for us.

We're going to commit to to praying for a number of the

things that we've talked about and our church is going to

commit to praying. But would you end our time by

praying for us? Sure.

And and just bless us with that, please.

Sure. God our Father, you are so

awesome and we rejoice just so. The privilege that God in your

sovereign power you have chosen us as your vessels at such a

time as this. God, you have enabled us to

relate together as their children our particular thank

you for the Grace family. We want to thank you for the

leadership and every person that is part of this family.

We pray a very special blessing upon them.

Thank you, God, for the connection that you established

and they've continued to keep. And we give you praise even for

the fruit that continues to come out of that partnership.

I want to thank you for everyone that continues to give their

time and money and resources, oh God, towards this very great

engagement. And, Father, I pray that Lord,

you will pray, bless every family, that you bless every

individual, that they will continue to grow in you, that

you favorably your favor will be upon them, and that God you

grant them the blessings that come from above.

We pray, Father, at this Church, the family that will continue to

be one, that will continue to be focused, being loyal to you and

being engaged in that which you've called them to be.

And, Father, we look forward to the day when we shall all gather

together and a place that will never depart again, a place

where we will not have to suffer again.

We don't have to care, oh God, for the issues and the

challenges that fallenness has caused.

But we pray that Lord, you keep us faithful and you keep us

strong to the glory and honor of your name.

And in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you.

We're here with Chris Stonecker. And Chris, you have been members

here along with your husband Bob, for 24 years at Grace

Church. But this was your first mission

trip, so tell us a little bit about that.

Yes, this was the first time that I've ever felt called to go

on a mission trip. I've always felt that there was

a lot to do in the community and church, to serve locally and I

have in various roles. But this is the first time that

I felt the nudge or the call to go, and I just stepped out in

obedience. And it was a blessing, for sure.

That's awesome. And so I know that as the team

comes together, there are different responsibilities that

happened before the trip, and then different responsibilities

that happen while the trip is going on.

So tell us kind of what roles you played with this specific

team that just returned? OK, yes, our leaders on the trip

were John Childress and Jeff Osborne and they did an amazing

job. They were wonderful leaders and

they did a good job of keeping us Christ centered throughout

the whole before, during and after the trip.

And one of the things that they had asked me to do to take some

weight off of them was to send out a daily reminder.

We were all asked to sign up for one day where we would fast and

pray for our team, for Pastor Moses and Bernard and Kenya team

and the pastors that we would be working with.

And while we were praying, the other team members on our team

would be praying for us. And so they asked if I would

send out the daily reminder and then if I would send out some

devotions. And I was saying to John, oh,

and you'll send me something and I can send it out.

And he's like, yes, but you can write them, you know.

And so when I get off the phone and I look at the things that he

sent, I realized I just signed up to write 21 Days of

Devotions, which I panicked at first because I'm not a writer

and I don't feel like that's really my gifting.

But after I just really prayed about it, talked to my husband,

I realized God's just asking me to be a willing instrument that

he could use. And Jeff was and John were

really big on the whole time us abiding in Christ.

And that's one of my favorite verses as well as John 15-5 that

he's the vine, we're the branches and we are to remain in

him and we'll bear fruit. And that dependence on Him was

what we all were learning throughout the process of

preparing to go and while we were there.

But that definitely came true for me with the devotions.

But I see God's hand in it because I was doing reading

through the scriptures, and a lot of the material that I used

or that God gave me for the devotions were coming from the

reading of the scriptures that we were reading.

And I would just spend time praying and seeking the Lord,

what He would want me to say, what verse, what message.

And he was faithful to give that to me.

And then I have a supportive husband that would do some

editing for him too. So.

But. Anyway, I think that's an

important part. As these teams come together,

they really spent a lot of time preparing for one, praying for

one another and praying for the mission field.

And so this is a medical trip and are you medical, Chris?

I am not medical and so I was just a support person and I

wasn't sure what my role would be, but I was excited.

The other responsibility that I had was I was on a triage team

with Sydney and Sharon and myself, Sydney being the only

medical person on the team and Sharon and I were just there and

she trained us how to do blood pressure and temperature and

weight and pulse. But then we also, with the

assistance of one of the pastors, we each were assigned a

pastor that interpreted for us the top one or two medical needs

that the people had. And so it was really neat to be

able to interact with them. And I love that.

Meet all of them, Yeah. So when Bernard was here, as we

just heard from him, he talked about the importance of of these

trips and how partnering with the local church, how these

trips really give voice and give witness in a specific way to the

gospel to these communities. Can you talk a little bit about

how you saw that play out between the community members

and the church members? Yes, I really feel like I got to

see the body of Christ in action.

I really saw how we were partnering with the pastors who

were coming also for medical care, about 30 of them.

That is their medical care, and they come twice a year to serve

in the medical clinics, but then they spend the night in the

church and they serve and partner with us and they are our

interpreters for the week. And many of them are farmers and

they've left their farms to come and serve for the week, which is

really humbling to see. You know that let me pause right

here because that I don't know that that came up in our

conversation with Bernard. But we have have seen that A, A,

a major, a major component to the health of the spiritual

community is the health of the leaders and medical care is

something that is sparse. And so as you mentioned, 30

different pastors came and they they are seen twice a year by

the teams that go from grace, which keeps them healthy, which

keeps them living longer, which keeps them serving and leading

their congregations longer. That is just a unique aspect of

what we've been able to do, you know, obviously by God's grace

and because we have so many wonderful medical personnel in

our church. And so I didn't actually had not

really thought about that part until you just said it.

So then that becomes a Co labor base for you as they are

interpreting and connecting the dots.

OK. So continue on, yeah.

It was surprising to learn that the people in the community,

they do not even have access to Advil.

And just how spoiled we are that we can just run down to CVS and

get Advil or go to the doctor if we need to and they just don't

have access. In fact, while we were there,

many of the doctors are on strike in Kenya right now.

Oh wow, because they're wanting better pay.

And so it even limits them more how they do not have medical

care. But so it was really neat to

partner with them. And also the women in the church

with we're spending the night and they were cooking for us.

And it was just neat to see how the whole body of Christ was

working together. We came to serve them, but they

were blessing us and serving us as well.

And just how we had an instant bond with them in Christ.

Our team had already been bonding through the praying and

our meetings together. But how we had this instant bond

with the people there. Because of Christ.

Yeah. And just seeing the body of

Christ at work was neat. Tell us a couple of the

challenges that you had and then didn't.

Tell us a few of the most memorable stories that you have.

OK. What were some of the tougher

parts? The challenge, the biggest

challenge for me was we were able to go to a lot of the OVC

homes because a lot of our members were sponsoring OVC

children and we got to actually go to their homes and it was

very humbling to see the dirt floors, to see that they live in

metal roofs with three rooms. Traditionally the main living

area maybe have plastic chairs would be their living area with

maybe a coffee type table and then a room on the right would

be where the parents bedroom would be in the room on the left

for the children. We did not really get to see

their rooms. I'm not sure their conditions,

but they do not have running water.

Many of them have to walk to a well to get the water.

They don't have a kitchen outside that cook on a fire.

And their sustenance is really what they can.

Grow a lot of. It's what they grow.

One of the pastors, that was my interpreter, Peter, he was

sharing that the way they make a little extra money is whatever

extra produce they have and also milking a cow and a goat.

His wife and children will go sell at the little local store

and then he's farming and they all farm as well.

The lady that we visited, her form of income was selling

chicken intestines. Wow, yeah.

Yeah, literally pennies. But but that's that's what she

did. And so very industrious folks.

Very industrious folks. And taking what they have and

and so think about the story that Bernard shared earlier

about the the The Goat project and why that is such a blessing

to have for these for these families.

So that's the challenge just to get to see used to that type of

of poverty and living conditions.

Seeing the poverty really made me realize how I've taken, you

know, a car for granted. Most people walk.

In fact, I met a lady at the church that walks 2 hours to get

to Panda Baptist Church on a Sunday and I was thinking, well,

if we all had to walk to church 2 hours, how many people would

come, you know? And just how?

I've taken electricity and plumbing and fresh tap water and

furniture and floors because most of their homes are dirt

floors and metal roofs. And it was just humbling and a

good reminder how I've taken a lot of those things for granted

and how blessed we truly are here.

Yeah, when we were there. Passages like First Timothy 6.

You know godliness with contentment is great gain.

You know you brought nothing in the world.

You can take nothing with you if you have food and clothing.

Let us be content with that. And you would see these living

examples of folks that would have food and clothing, and it

might be daily bread, might be day by day, but the level of joy

and contentment they had it was it was corrective for me as

well. Yes, that was very inspirational

to see the joy and contentment that they truly are depending on

the Lord for their daily bread and they depend on him as

farmers for rain, for their crops and everything.

It was really neat to see and I was feeling a little bit spoiled

or guilty and Bernard just said now don't feel guilty because

God does ordain where we're all to be born.

But what can you do? And so it made me really want to

pray for them for for one thing, but sponsor an OBC child because

I realized I would love to help them all, but I could do for one

what I wish I could do for all. And so those.

That was probably one of the more challenging.

And I also learned that 40% of Kenyans live below the poverty

line. So just seeing that along the

way, each step of the way was was humbling.

But yeah, like you said, the joy was there.

So they had a lot to teach us as well.

Tell us about some of the some of the folks that you met and

what you learned from them along the way.

Yes. So when we went to church, of

course Kenya time, they're very laid back with time.

I said what time is church? And there really is no set time

and church went for three plus hours.

But they really worshiped with their awe.

They were clapping and singing and dancing, and each age group

sang for us and quoted scripture and we worship together.

And that was also a neat glimpse of just seeing what heaven will

be like that one day there will be every tribe, nation and

tongue, and we're one church worshipping together.

So that was really neat. But I did meet a couple of

people, had some neat conversations.

One of them was Kevin. He was a OBC graduate.

He started the program when he was 10 years old and now he's 27

and his father was absent. And he commented how Bernard was

his spiritual father and just seeing how Grace and OBC has

impacted his life, he's been able to go on and get an

education and have now a lab technician degree.

And he actually worked a double shift the week before so that he

could travel by bus many miles to come and serve at our medical

camp in the lab. And that really inspired me and

it showed me the need and the impact that Grace and OBC is

having. And he's really the inspiration

of why I wanted to sponsor a child.

In fact, I talked to Bernard about it while we were there.

And then also Pastor Steven stood out to me, had an amazing

conversation with him and he was just saying how Grace Church has

impacted his marriage and him transformed his thinking through

Men's roundtable and his wife through his there and how now he

is passing that on to his congregation and his youth

pastors, passing it on to the youth.

And he was just really inspirational and very

passionate and saying that we are standing with Grace Church

on the word of God and we are one church and we are praying

and caring about the things that you care about as a church.

And he mentioned praying for Chuck Arnold and Lori Faye when

she was sick. And that really was

inspirational for me, to see that we are one church and in

God's Kingdom there are no boundaries or borders.

That's a beautiful picture and they do know us by name, we know

them by name. It has been as we mentioned

previously a 15 year partnership that we've been really blessed

to have and I'm so glad that you got to go, go see and going to

Kenya may not be for everyone. Obviously we have a number of

partnerships both internationally and here

locally. What would you say, Chris, as we

kind of summarize, what would you say as an encouragement to

someone who is thinking about should they go, where should

they go, how would, how, how would you encourage them based

on some of the ways that God has been teaching you?

I would encourage everybody to go.

It was an amazing experience. It exceeded my expectations all

around the food, everything, the people were amazing.

Our team was amazing. Just every aspect was amazing.

And I would just say step out of your comfort zone and go because

it is stretching you out of your comfort zone.

But it's also a neat adventure with God just depending on him

and going with him and. Seeing how he's at work all

around the world, yeah. It's really neat.

And it started with you just being willing to listen, right?

Create some space and being willing to listen and hear from

God. Yes, for sure.

I felt the nudge and got that confirmation and I just signed

up and was obedient to go. And it was.

It's definitely been a blessing and I'm so glad that I went on

the trip for sure. Well, and we're glad that you

took a little bit of time this afternoon to come in and share

some of your experiences. Anything else you want to share

before we go? I guess at the end of the day, I

feel like some of my takeaways are.

I'm definitely finding myself praying more for Kenya and the

people there. I know recently they had some

flooding and they lost a lot of their homes.

A lot of people are homeless. I've been keeping in touch

through WhatsApp with Kevin, and he was sharing some of that with

me. And then I would just encourage

people that they're, if you would like to do something to

help. OVC is a wonderful program and

there really is a need and there really is a great impact that

you can make sponsoring a child. And then it's made me more

grateful to the Lord for every physical and spiritual blessing,

just daily gratitude and then be a willing instrument that God

can use. I think that's all He's asking

us to do. But he is so faithful and then

just daily abiding in him. That is, what we're here for is

a relationship with him and to know him and to make him known.

It's a good word and we'll have some specific information and

links in the show notes. If you are interested in getting

more involved, we would love to help you along that journey.

So thank you, Chris. Thanks for being.

Here thanks for having me.