Grace extended its hand globally with its “touch the one” theme recently as a group of members traveled to Kenya to minister to the needs of two missionary families and a group of at-risk inner city youths from Baltimore. The Rocho and Kroll families are short-term missionaries who serve as counselors, educators and administrators at the Laikipia Baraka School near Nanyuki.
Members of the Grace team included Tom and Jeanne Gould, Ray Lang, Carmen Gonino, Debbie Babcock, and Denny and Maureen Chabot. The team leader was Carol Burton. The trip was part of a long-term effort by the church to visit all of its supported missionaries to provide encouragement, support and fellowship.
The members of the team described their total dependence on God throughout the trip, beginning with its purpose, which was not revealed until their arrival in Kenya. While many thought they would be helping the Rocho and Kroll families serve the youth of the school, it was the missionaries themselves the group was sent to minister to. Due to the demands of missionary work, isolation and cultural differences, the Grace team discovered the two families had developed relational issues that kept them from “living in community.” With prayer, much discussion and the clear guidance of the Holy Spirit, the team was able to help the two families begin the process of reconciliation.
While helping the two missionary families mediate some differences was a clear intent of God’s purpose for the trip, each of the participants was deeply touched in other ways by the experience. For some, the magnitude of poverty that exists was most striking. Carmen Gonino and Tom Gould were particularly struck by the profound poverty they witnessed. Tom, whose daughter is a member of the Rocho missionary family, was “expecting to hang out with my family and the Krolls. I was not prepared for the way in which the Lord broke my heart for the homeless street kids there,” he said. Carmen said he was moved by the experience to lead an effort to sponsor some of the children of the area. “I want to work with some existing organizations and members of Grace to see if we can’t support some of the basic needs of these children, such as clothing, food and education,” he said.
Carol Burton was most impacted by the realizing the importance of caring for our missionaries throughout the world. She has participated in two other mission trips and helps train participants prior to their departure. “I hope that others will see how God put it all together despite some obstacles and misgivings of the team members. I learned we need to let the walls down and let God work through us,” she said.
Ray Lang, who like Carol has participated on other mission trips, encouraged others to participate. “If you’ve never been on a mission trip, it opens your eyes to how big God really is and how much we need and depend on Him for guidance and protection. It makes you profoundly thankful for so much,” he said. “In Kenya, God spoke to me softly and constantly. Without the clutter of our cultural lifestyle, it is easier to focus on God and our walk with Him,” Lang concluded.
Denny and Maureen Chabot were also moved by the experience. “The trip helped us understand we are all a part of the body of Christ and that living in community is needed, real and true,” Maureen said. “We were taken completely out of our comfort zone and forced to be totally dependent on God. This provided for us a great sense of peace,” she said. Denny called the trip “a life changing experience for me. Even before we left for the trip, I had already received blessings over and above my expectations. God is not looking for Bible scholars to serve on these mission trips, just people with a willing heart to follow Him and be guided by the Holy Spirit, ” he said. Team members attributed Denny’s powerful presentation of his testimony for leading first one and later three more of the youths of the school to Christ.
Debbie Babcock summed up the experience as “awesome”. “We were able to serve as intercessors but also were reminded of our total dependence on God in every aspect of in our life and for every minute detail. The experience has opened up doors for me to witness to others in my workplace and the opportunity to bring others to Him,” she said.
The whole community of Grace can learn from the experience of the Kenya mission team. Demonstrating a desire to follow Him, team members remind us how acting in faith can change hearts and lives. When we, like Jabez, desire an expanded territory of influence and invovement, God will provide.
