kenya blog #1: credit

coming home from this trip i realized something that has never hit me before. going on a trip means there's photos with me in them. photos that i love and want to show you all. i realized the photos give credit. they give credit to me for holding a girls hand, another teammate for feeding a baby, and yet another for hugging a child. none of us did this for credit, but credit is being given. i do the same thing when i see a picture that captures someone doing something, i attribute credit for good works and charitable actions.

i've been getting emails at work from colleagues all over the world that knew i was out of the office on a mission of sorts. some are from believers, some are not. they have given me credit calling me a "worthy" person and one even said the world would be better with "more people like me". the latter was from a dear friend who has dialogued with me much about religion and faith and i quickly told him that the world is not better because of people who hold babies for a week but because of lives surrendered to Christ.

this realization of credit being attributed has solidified a strong and true conviction in my heart- to God be the Glory
(great things he hath done, so loved he the world that he gave us his son.. and so says the song)

first and foremost, God gets the credit. He has made each of us-specifically the 10 team members in this case- new creations. He has given us His Holy Spirit as teacher, guide, comforter, intercessor. it is because of Him alone that we have anything to offer, any strength to work, any desire to serve. He is the giver of all good gifts and His love compels us to do this work. with Him all things are possible. it is God who loves the poor and loves justice, and Him who knows every hair on every head.

second, when we are rejoicing (not crediting) for those who God has chosen to work through in this trip it should not be limited to the 10 in the photos. there are hundreds who served with us in ways that souvenir photos cannot express. over 100 people financially supported our team. at least double that many prayed for us in the months prior to our trip, the days we were gone, and the days since we have returned. half a dozen people helped train this team- teaching about missions, poverty, culture, etc. dozens of friends and family members wrote emails and letters encouraging us as we prepared and traveled. friends and family drove us to the airport, helped pack our suitcases, sent donations with us. dozens of kenyans serve in nairobi day in and day out doing things we only did for a few short hours or days.

God is at work calling some to mobilize, some to pray, some to send (financially), some to GO.

i find myself shrinking a bit with each bit of credit or pat on the back, which is exciting to me because it tells me God is at work in my heart that is often prone to pride. to God be all glory and honor and praise.

so when you look at our pictures and say "what a great thing you did" please direct that praise to God. He alone worked in and through us.

and when you think "wow, they traveled across the world to serve" please thank God for the hundreds who served together in this mission even if they are not pictured in our hundreds of photos.

may God receive the glory forever and ever.