Now that I’ve been home for a few days, including a great weekend at Community, I’ve had a chance to reflect more on our mission trip to Kenya. By the way, if you had to miss this weekend, you can catch the Kenya trip recap and my message about why we do what we do with our missions right here: WEEKEND MESSAGE.

To go from Hemet to the Mathare Valley slums it takes time, money, energy and an open heart to walk into that situation and make a difference. Every bit of those resources were thoroughly and lovingly invested in the staff and students of Area 2.

A few take-a-ways from this experience remind me of the power of personal touch and attention that can make a difference anywhere…including right here in our Valley.

1-Learn people’s names—It makes them feel special and valued. This trip we gave the entire staff at the school name tags. They wore them proudly all week. It really helped us to call them by name and encourage them in a real and personal way.

2-We can learn from everyone. We might be more educated or have more life experience…but then God uses a child or a teacher or a person living in the slums to open your eyes and minds to a new way of looking at life. I learned more about genuine joy this trip. Joy, real joy, not based on the circumstances or the stuff, but based on an authentic relationship with Jesus. I learned in a fresh way, “JESUS is ALL I NEED.”

3-Mission is not a program, it’s a way of life for EVERY Christ follower. Every day I woke up in Africa I was very aware of the fact that we were on a MISSION trip. To be honest, I don’t always think that way here at home. But the truth is, I’m on a mission every single day. And so are you!