Kenya Believe It?

Some of the homework we were given after the Orientation House Party over the weekend was to read an information pack telling some of the details of the mission trip to Kenya, which take place for the last bit of June and most of July.

I have very mixed feelings about it. I'm excited, scared, interested and kind of overwhelmed all at the same time.

We'll get to do some pretty cool stuff, like do a gospel presentations in some schools, visit some orphanages, among many other things. Lots of opportunities to serve God and use our gifts he has given us in a completely different enviroment! We will also get to go to a youth group and some church services over there, it will be great to meet some people who believe the same thing we do who are on the opposite side of the world!

I've actually only ever been in NSW, the ACT, and Queensland when I was two. I've never been in a plane!


However despite all these cool things, I am quite scared and anxious about the whole thing. Being away from home for a month is more than double the length I've been away before (currently being the Katoomba Solid Rock Cafe mission coming in at 12 days).

And I will miss my church and all the people there very much - I feel so comfortable doing ministry there. Seeing everyone's smiles, talking and hanging out, doing music together, meeting with the purpose of hearing God's word together and encouraging one another. My church family.


But I guess that is even more of a reason to go - the challenge of trusting in God's strength alone, and not relying on my usual environment. The reality is that (unfortunately) I will need to leave Caringbah eventually in the future (though I'm hoping that its not for at least a few more years!). I guess this will be one step which will help when that day eventually comes.

Of course, I won't be going alone anyway - with all of Year 13 there I probably won't get too lonely! Probably just a bit homesick.


One of the things the info pack mentioned was the need to do a fundraiser event at church. Russell and I have had the idea of a fundraiser before, and after the new Gospel Chior meeting on Sunday (which from what I saw at the end, absolutely rocks!) a few of us were discussing the possibility of Youth Church holding a fundraiser in a form of a concert type thing using the gifts of people from YC. Maybe God has already been at work for this! Erin expressed some excitement for it tonight on MSN (happy birthday by the way!), so it seems like the idea has already picked up some momentum! Another info should be given out in a few weeks with more details about what the fundraiser should look like I think.


So yeah, those are some thoughts on Kenya floating in my head at the moment. For a look at another side of Kenya, check out this cartoon.