We were searching for an opportunity to serve..... I asked the missions department leader at a church we attended if we could get involved. I was now in a position to travel to the many countries with which the church claimed a connection due to my work schedule with long holidays and summers off in my new job..... now was the time, or so I felt in so many ways! Needham was also in a much better position to get time off without a hassle in his newer job as well. It was perfect timing! When I asked the missions director, I received a yes, but never heard more. I asked again, and was told "I'll get back to you" and then we never heard anything. I continued to ask and was told that something was coming up, sure. Well, that opportunity came up and I was never given information. Instead, I learned that a team of himself just left for Kenya and Uganda, the very places I had always wanted to serve. I asked again and kept getting told I would get back with you. Seeing that it was going nowhere and there was no opportunity nor room for one more to participate (and left confused about how one person can do it all), I still felt that I needed to go and do something and this one person couldn't be the gatekeeper as to who gets to serve in the world. It just wasn't possible although the individual was clearly promoting his belief that there was no room to serve, no room for one more!Later that week, a friend was visiting from out of town and as we were hanging out in the kitchen and I was sharing this story of frustration, she informed me that her friend was in Kenya right as we spoke through an organization that does volunteer work placements. She showed me the website and I registered both Needham and I that night. By the next day, I had news! We were going to Kenya with this organization! A date was offered and set! Christmas break for three weeks starting December 13th! Flights booked! It was finally happening and we would be working in an orphanage, a school and visiting a refugee camp classroom! How exciting!!
As time moved forward, we decided to fund-raise for a project. We had been told a group was at the orphanage now and they were going to be planting an acre of various veggies and food in October to feed the 120 children , but it would be a few months before it was ready, probably January and they would be in need of some food before then. We decided that maybe we can help bridge the gap between now and harvest time so we wanted to raise money for the food sacks to help cover that time in need. We know the story of teaching a man to fish.... so we were only interested in bridging the gap since they were being taught by the group there now. So many folks helped to make this happen in the end but when we took it to the missions department leader (with letters from the agency verifying the agency and work we would be doing with contact information), we were told no, they would not be giving to anything we did as we did not have their permission to go to Kenya and we weren't to go. After explaining this was through a third party agency, on our own, we just hoped that they would be interested in sponsoring a food sack or two for the orphanage (since it is an extremely large congregation, we figured that among 2000 people, three food sacks could get sponsored totaling $90 or so), it was met with an unfortunate response by the missions director and he never allowed us to share it with any of those 2000 people. With that said, we left the church at the same time (after 10 years of membership, tithing and Needham being a head usher)...... but ya know what, it's okay, because in the end, we raised enough for 5000 pounds of food from family and friends, this would now serve multiple orphanages that we would find along the way too! We ended up surpassing our original goal of 1000 pounds of rice and beans for the orphanage (the Kenyan staple foods) and we reached 5000 pounds and another 1000 for various orphanages! Amazing. It was definitely clear that the missions director was NOT the gatekeeper as to who gets to serve others and we didn't need his permission when we already had His permission!
In the midst of all of this, we needed to find another church, one that was missions oriented. One that had room for everyone to participate and serve in various capacities. Or... at least one that wouldn't discourage any service work. We really wanted to find a place that had room for one more and one that appreciated involvement. We had always driven by another church and always said, hey, we need to stop there sometime.... check it out. Before all of this happened, and week after week, we attended our home church due to Needham having Head Usher duties, it was difficult to break away to visit. Well, now we have the time, right? So, we went! As I walked in and sat down, the service was getting ready to start and the Pastor told the congregation that today's message was about there always being room for one more in what they do there.... Really? Are my ears clogged, did I just hear that? There is room for one more here? Really? He then discussed the several projects and areas where they need more hands, including missions locally and abroad, even told everyone where the sign up sheet for the next service trip was located! You mean, members get to be involved in missions? it isn't just a one person show where only one person does any traveling? You mean the church members actually get to go too? Really? COOL! Throughout the service, "there is room for one more" kept being noted and that there always should be room for one more if you want to serve. Really, there should be? Are they sure they mean that?
It wasn't until after returning from Kenya, we decided we wanted to join as members at this particular church.... after such an unfortunate experience at the previous church of 10 years and my new ties to an exchange family and agency, I was concerned I would hear the same thing here.... well, you don't have our permission to be in Kenya, blah, blah,..... so, I noted on the membership card in the area left blank, "any comments or concerns"..... "I have every intention of staying put in Kenya to serve in the refugee camp and orphanage"...... I can laugh about it now because nobody here has ever tried to discourage any service work, period! I now wonder what they even thought when they read it... maybe one day I will ask..... I actually saw that what I heard on my first visit there, they actually live by it.... there really is room for one more in serving and ROOM TO GROW!
