Missionary from Kenya

Charlie and I visited a different church this past Sunday. Unfortunately, there was a guest speaker...but also fortunately. We have been thinking a lot lately about doing some mission work in 2011, and we know it wasn't coincidence that the one day we happened to visit this church there was a guest speaker from Kenya.

I really enjoyed listening to him speak even if his accent was difficult to follow. He was one of those people that has the light of Jesus shinging from him. He spoke out of Revelation and how in it, John is telling of a conversation he had with Jesus, and in it Jesus says he is returning to earth one day. John's response..."Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." However, this man from Kenya said he struggles with that prayer. One side of him says, "Yes, come quickly Lord Jesus and save us from this earth, this affliction." Just a side note, most Kenyans are extremely poor. He told of how they will work for a whole day and make about 3 dollars for their family and how the meat at the market, just 2kg costs about 3 dollars. So basically, they don't get to eat meat...beef, chicken, whatever, very often because they don't have the money to. So yes, Come Lord and save us from starvation, from pain of poverty, from death that is abundant, from the corruption of the government.

But, he said the other side of him says, "Please wait, Lord. Just a little while longer. Give us a chance." Because he wants his countrymen to have the chance to know Jesus. He wants them to have a chance to live in His presence eternally.

So what does that mean for us? For us who grew up in Christian homes? For us who had the opportunity to know Jesus from birth? It means that if we believe in and truly understand the truthfulness of Jesus's claim that he is coming...then we must be authentically engaged...realizing that Jesus IS coming and LIVING our lives that way...letting that belief in his return motivate our mission.

My prayer is that God motivates Charlie and I this upcoming year. Past just the desire to go. And into the process of making it happen. Into the act of taking action. Into more than just talking about being his hands and feet, but really and truly, becoming the hands and feet of Jesus by going and serving others in His name. So, come quickly Lord Jesus, but use us in the meantime, according to your will.

All for You and for Your glory!