On Saturday we left the backpackers hostel at 5:30 am to catch our bus at 7. As we were finding our seats I noticed that my seat was next to a African man and Zack ( a team mate) was going to sit by a African woman. I asked him to switch seats before I thought about it, he agreed so I sat down next to the woman. About a minute later Zack had to jump up because I had misread the sign and he was in the wrong seat. I still do not understand how I read 5b where it really said 4b but it turns out that my assigned seat was actually next to one of our team mates. I felt badly for messing up the seats. As the trip started I was talking with some of my team mates across the aisle and enjoying the sights. After a little while I had an “Aha!” moment or maybe a “duh” moment, either way I realized something important, I needed to talk to the woman next to me, I mean, isn’t that why I was in Africa?! God had given me 9 hours with this woman for a reason. We started talking and the conversation flowed so naturally. I could truly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as he gave me the words to say. The moment was so powerful.
Carol was a very sweet woman who had lived in Nairobi her whole life with her mother and siblings while they shared there polygamist father with other families. Recently she was transferred out to the “bush” a.k.a Busia. She works at the hospital as a dentist. As we were talking she asked me what we were doing in Kenya, which opened up the conversation to religion. I got a chance to share about the reason for the hope we have and that we are here because we wanted to share the amazing news of God’s love and salvation for mankind. As we talked more about God and Christ she said, “I have been saved but am not currently saved.” She is trying to be saved again. I am so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to plant seeds of faith, and offer her the hope of God’s love.
It turns out God had something to do with my seat mix up. I have never been more thankful for a messing up. I had no intention to reach out but God kicked me out of my box, I went with it and he was faithful and helped me along the way. It was awesome and left me hungry for more! I can’t wait to see what else God does.
