Kenya is a beautifully diverse country, with more than 100 distinct people groups and millions of people living among communities that remain unreached with the Gospel. Everywhere you go, you notice differences in food, accents, appearances, traditions, and landscapes.

On Friday, September 11, my team of four other racers and one squad leader arrived in Butere, Kenya. We had traveled for more than 12 hours by bus from Nairobi to Butere, and along the way I began to see the diversity of this country. Once we left the city and entered the rural areas, I noticed the simplicity of life here. But more than anything, I noticed the joy.

My host lives in what Kenyans would consider “the bush”—out in the middle of nowhere with limited resources. There is no running water or electricity. Food is cooked over a live fire. Our bathroom is an outhouse, and we take bucket showers using water from the river. We hand-wash our clothes and dishes, too. Below is a picture of the house where we are staying.

As I list all the things that are different from the way of life many of us are accustomed to, I am struck by how much gratitude exists here. There is a beautiful sense of family as parents, children, and grandchildren often live in close proximity to one another. There is a richness in community that is easy to overlook when we are constantly focused on what we think we need.

After only a week here, I have been reminded of the way Jesus sent His disciples out. He told them to travel with very little, trusting God to provide and receiving the hospitality of those who welcomed them. In many ways, that has been our experience here.

My host has welcomed four groups of racers into his home, inviting them to serve alongside him in the surrounding community. Through these visits, teams have been able to encourage local families, pray over homes, and come alongside the work God is already doing here.

On our first Sunday, we attended the church where our host serves as pastor. He shared a powerful word about the presence of God, and our team had the opportunity to sing, share a testimony, and present the Gospel. It was one of the most beautiful services I have been part of—not because of the building or production, but because of the way the Kenyan church worshiped with their whole hearts and bodies.

Throughout the rest of the week, we have walked to nearby communities to encourage and pray with families who welcome us into their homes. We visited a potential church plant location and took part in a house church where we shared fellowship—and “swallowship,” as our host called it one day, meaning we shared a meal together.

Every time we enter a new area or home, our team has been learning to listen for the Spirit and follow His leading in what we say and do. We don't always know what the day will hold, but we are learning to walk with the Lord one step at a time.

And I think that is one of the biggest things the Lord has been teaching me here: to find joy in slowing down and recognizing what I already have.

At training camp, one of the pastors gave a demonstration about being filled. He held up a cup that was only partially full and then began walking quickly around the room. Then he filled the cup to the brim, and his walk changed. He became slower, more intentional, and more aware of each step.

That picture has stayed with me.

Our days in Kenya have felt a lot like that. We are not tied down by the same sense of urgency that often fills our lives. We walk to communities. We sit with families. We share meals. We pray. We listen. We wait. We move intentionally with the Lord as He leads us.

And in the process, I am realizing how much I already have.

I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food each day, water to clean with, and a family surrounding me. What might initially feel like a lack of resources has become a reminder that I have been given so much.

Jesus Himself modeled a life that was deeply dependent on the Father. Throughout His ministry, He withdrew to quiet places to pray, making space to be with His Father even in the midst of ministry.

That has made me ask myself: Am I walking with the Lord, or am I simply walking for Him?

Because when we are filled with Him, our walk changes.

We don't have to rush ahead of Him.

We don't have to manufacture what He wants to do.

We don't have to carry what He never asked us to carry.

We can slow down enough to hear His voice, receive what He provides, and follow where He leads.

Kenya is such a beautiful country, with so much to offer and such a hunger for the Lord. I am truly excited to see what else He will reveal to my team and me during our time here.

Thank you for partnering with me by praying over this region, our team, the people we encounter, and the Lord's will as we seek to walk closely with Him.

And as they say in Kenya:

Bwana Asifiwe! — Praise the Lord!

Prayer Requests

• That the Lord would give those we interact with eyes to see Him, rather than seeing us as the ones who have come to save or bless them.

• That our words would be respectful, intentional, and led by the Holy Spirit.

• For the four other teams from my squad serving in different regions of Kenya.

• For spiritual protection as we step into places where there is darkness and opposition.

• That we would desire to get away with the Lord during our time here, allowing Him to continually fill us before we minister to others.

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