Blessed and Privileged

It may be an unusual way of working, but the pattern we follow as Mission Partners is two years in Kajiado and then four months in Ireland for Home Assignment. It takes about two months of preparation with all the staff in Kajiado to ensure that our various roles will continue while we’re away, Sometimes, only the promise of a phone call or an email will actually make it possible. All Mission Partners face the same issues when ‘leave’ finally comes around.

Of course, Home Assignment is an invaluable part of the Mission Partner role. There are many churches across Ireland that have invested considerable resources – both prayers and finances. It’s important for them to hear the stories of what is happening in Kajiado and how God is using and blessing the work that we do.

Our life and work in Kenya sees challenges and blessings in equal measure, with frustrations thrown in as well. But knowing that there are churches across Ireland praying for us on any given Sunday makes it much easier to cope with. Thank you to everyone who has participated in this partnership in any way.

We have really enjoyed meeting up with old friends and developing new friendships – with people who have a real interest in what is going on in Kajiado. It is humbling to hear how people support us in our work. It makes us realise that if it weren’t for people like these, we would not be able to live and work in Kajiado.

I have concluded that it is the fact that we are long-term Mission Partners that enables us to leave our work for four months and leave others to get on with it. There really is an important role for Mission Partners – in particular circumstances and with certain Global Partners – and we should continue to celebrate this aspect of mission involvement.

Long-term involvement in Kajiado has brought an incredible level of shared experience and respect for each other. Building up the necessary of trust with one another can take years of consistent involvement – but the results bring significant transformation and change to both partners.

We are blessed and privileged to be working as Mission Partners in Kajiado and are looking forward to getting back again in July to see what the Lord has in store for us for the next two years. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that ‘There is a time for everything’ and in verse 14, we read:

I know that everything God does will endure for ever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.

Thankfully our God knows best!