About
New International exists to proclaim Christ and make disciples globally. Let us join with God as He continues to make all things new; He gives us new vision of new ways to reach new communities with the Good News of Christ, bringing new light to hearts that have previously been lost.
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- 08/05/2014
- new international
Lifelong impact
For many of the interns this is a life changing experience. As they study Scriptures in a new setting with a new audience, the Holy Spirit c
The last couple of years AfricaHope has desired to show our interns exactly what it is like to minister cross-culturally in Kenya. The most effective way of doing this while still continuing the work that goes on even when guests are not present is to invite the interns to join us in everything we do. This means that when our Church ministry would go out for a discipleship meeting, the interns not only go along, but are expected to participate. For this to happen they must prepare just as the missionary does. If there is a meeting with one of the schools, then the interns would also join us for that meeting. If we have the chance to share the Gospel, then we bring the interns to watch then participate in this as well.
For many of the interns this is a life changing experience. As they study Scriptures in a new setting with a new audience, the Holy Spirit can bring out new growth. Sometimes it is just the removal of distractions that allow the participant to listen more intentionally to what God may be telling them. Often it is the connection to their teammates as they form a Christian community together. Whatever it is that God uses, we regularly see a lot of growth from these times that we hope is carried back home with them. Below are some of intern Stacy's thoughts during her summer:
“While being in Kenya, I have learned a lot about Maasai culture and the Kenyan culture as well. A person is important; a relationship with a person is even more important.
Every Thursday, the health team (Kierra, Amanda, and I) go out to a village in the bush and take chai in a home, listen to a national teach mammas in a village a Bible/Health lesson, take lunch in the home. Then we leave or teach in the school of the village.
At first, when visiting, we all struggled with the situation of not understanding the language. Then, we struggled with taking food from them during a drought season. We have come to realize though as our last visit just happened, that our presence was more impactful than we will ever know.
These mamas have a mundane schedule of collecting water and firewood, cooking, watching kids, farming, and on Wednesdays they travel to the market. When we come on Thursdays, after two hours of not having a paved road, just to sit and be present in their homes and study lessons is a huge blessing. We are a blessing because of our presence.
The relationships we have built through the past 2 months will stay within our hearts and theirs as well for a long while. Presence has a lot to do in any relationship. God's presence is all over the Bible and it was definitely with us every Thursday this summer as we sat with these mammas and experienced God together.â€
We look forward to each summer knowing that this is a time of ministry that is focused on the ongoing ministry, but also on the Westerners who have come to join us in the active ministry of spreading the Gospel. Please pray for each of the groups and participants that we hosted this summer, that in whichever way God chooses, each person would return to their home forever changed.
