So how did we get to this place of being willing to sell it all and move across the globe?
It began years ago, in 2016. I was following up on some friends of ours that live and serve in Kenya via Facebook.
One day in 2016, I got a call to meet my father at the ER. My mom has another “mini stroke” called TIAs (Transient ischemic attack). She had been having them almost every other month for a while.
The neurosurgeon came into the room, did his assessment, and asked to speak to my dad and I in the hallway. I felt this heaviness in the pit of my stomach, hearing his words. In the hallway, the neurosurgeon said this: “Don’t put your dreams on hold. She won’t get better. Her condition will be her new way of life.”
Without missing a beat, my father turned to me, and asked, “What dreams have you put on hold to take care of your mother?”
I got all teary-eyed and knew that I needed to go home. He gave me a hug and then said that he would keep me updated on mom.
As I headed home, I kept thinking about how I had placed dreams and desires into an “eventually” pile because of fear and other people’s needs. When I got home, I sent out a message to a friend, Mrs. Darlene Honc. She and her husband, Mr. Billy Honc had been living in Kenya as missionaries for years. They founded a ministry called Advancing His Kingdom International. (AHKI). One aspect of their ministry is a private school that is located on a local coffee plantation.
I asked Mrs. Darlene what her greatest needs were. I knew that I could pray about God sending someone to fill that need. (Yep, I already had excuses lined up as to why it couldn’t be me.)
Her response was, “I need someone who can come sit down with the kids to help with math and reading in English”.
As I went to type out one of my excuses, I froze! I couldn’t do it! I was FULLY capable of filling this need! After all, I do homeschool my children and help with elementary kids at church. Literally, it was what I do daily! So, I didn’t reply.
My next step was to talk to my husband. I may have paced as I waited for him to get off work. But I still couldn’t get up the words to tell him.
The next morning, I finally told him that I feel that God was telling me to go to Africa. Also, that I would raise ALL the needed funds, as I didn’t want to financially strain my family. I was so nervous! Oh my stars, I was nervous.
He was quiet for a short time, then said, “Okay. You should have told me sooner and if you’re supposed to go God will provide the money.”
As we sat in the living room for a movie that evening, I started to plan out some fundraisers and got so excited! I ended up posting about it on Facebook. I started the fundraiser immediately, instead of beginning in two weeks like I had originally planned. My very first fundraiser was selling trays of lasagnas. I sold somewhere around FIFTY trays of lasagna! My house smelled divine! Ha Ha
God was so good, and His people were so gracious! Wouldn’t you know it, I had hit my financial goal (fully funded) in just seven weeks!! But God! He is so good! All the time and that is His nature!
I took my first trip to Kenya in 2017.
That next year, my husband and kids joined me in Kenya!
Beginning in 2018 and almost every year since, we have led teams or small groups on mission trips/experiences to take an active role in providing these opportunities. Yearly, Billy and Darlene Honc with Advancing His Kingdom International, our local missionaries in Kenya, gave us and those we brought the chance to minister to orphans, school children, teachers, and even widows. Sometimes we were able to bring clothes, one year Bibles, another 300+ shoes and we always tried to provide food staples for those we could. We have also had the opportunity to meet, share Jesus, and pray with those unreached by the Gospel with Aaron and Stephanie Domengeaux of Kufikia International, who minister to those in and around the Masai Mara. Each year, has created a yearning to return to Kenya with that same purpose.
The trust journey hasn’t always been easy, but we are super excited to say that we are ALL in!! We are moving to Kenya to be His hands and feet in ministry.
We sold our house last year and transitioned into the full-time RV living lifestyle. We are coming up on a year of living in the RV.
After this last trip experience in Kenya, we now have a moving timeline! We will be working towards being on the ground in Kenya early in 2024. While we don’t have all the answers, we are super excited and ready to continue to say yes to all that He is asking us to do.
Join us as the journey continues to unfold!