A Witness to His Goodness | 成为祂美善的见证

This summer, I traveled to Kenya, Africa, for my first mission trip. At first, I was hesitant to come. Selfishly, I was slightly disappointed that I would be missing my VBS, church camp, and sports commitments that I attend every year. I was also unsure of what the conditions would be like and came in knowing only one family on the team. Nevertheless, I was excited to join this mission trip because it was something I had always wanted to do. I have always had a strong passion for serving, especially when it involves working with children. When I was younger, I looked up to my counselors and youth leaders because of how much they loved and cared for me. Now that I am older and have become a youth leader myself, I strive to carry that same dedication and impact to those around me.

I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived in Kenya, but I came with the mindset that I was going to help the children. By God’s grace, that idea was completely backwards. Throughout those eight days, I experienced God’s love in a way I never had before. I realized that this trip was never about me or what I was able to do for these children. It wasn’t about coming home with some amazing story to tell people or proving that I had made a difference. Instead, my perspective shifted. I began to see how God was using these children to change my heart and soften it. I witnessed a deep and steadfast faith in God that was present in so many of the children. Their devotion, discipline, and joy inspired me and grounded me in where true joy comes from. So many of the things I had once valued suddenly seemed insignificant.

When I spoke with many of the older teens, I saw their responsibility toward the younger children, their curiosity, and their commitment to their studies and goals. Working alongside some of them, I found myself enjoying things that I normally wouldn’t, like scrubbing floors. Seeing the children run up to me and become excited just by my presence made me feel incredibly valued. I began to understand that experiencing God’s love does not always require something extraordinary. It can be found in the simplest moments. Playing hand games, doing silly dances, or messing up phrases in Swahili (one of the major languages spoken in Kenya) just to make the children laugh were moments that seemed so small at the time, yet they became the moments I missed the most when I returned home.

Throughout the trip, I felt God transforming not only my heart but the hearts of those around me as well. I saw how God meets people exactly where they are and places them in situations that draw them closer to Him. It was incredibly meaningful to watch God slowly open the hearts of the people I traveled with and see their perspectives and intentions shift throughout the trip. By the end, I could see how Jesus had awakened something in them that had not been there before.

This trip allowed me to experience the power of prayer, God’s grace, and His purpose, even when circumstances were difficult. His presence was evident in so many moments and in ways I never could have expected. The trip was far from perfect, but every unexpected event, twist, and turn reminded me that God’s timing is greater than my own. Looking back, I can see how He provided for us every step of the way.

I think that’s what I carry from Kenya. Not that everything was perfect, or that I came back with everything figured out, but just a greater awareness of God’s presence in my life. I thought I was going to teach them about God’s love, but instead, they showed me what it looks like to live in it. This trip changed the way I see the world, the things I value, and I can confidently say that my relationship with God is much stronger. And I am so thankful that I can be a witness of God’s goodness. 

I also discovered that this is something that I enjoy doing a lot, and I really hope that God will instill more opportunities for me to do more missionary work in the future.

今年夏天，我前往非洲肯尼亚，展开了我人生中第一次宣教旅程。一开始，我其实有些犹豫要不要去。说实话，我心里有点自私地感到失落，因为我将因此错过每年都会参加的暑期圣经学校（VBS）、教会营会和体育活动。我也不确定那里的生活条件会是什么样子，而且出发前，团队里我只认识一个家庭。尽管如此，我仍然对参加这趟宣教旅程感到兴奋，因为这一直是我很想做的一件事。我一直以来都对服事有很强烈的热情，尤其是和孩子们一起工作的时候。小时候，我很仰慕我的辅导员和青年团契的领袖们，因为他们对我付出了那么多的爱与关怀。如今我长大了，自己也成了一名青年团契的领袖，我努力想要把同样的委身和影响力，带给我身边的人。

抵达肯尼亚的时候，我并不知道会遇见什么，但我带着"我是来帮助这些孩子"的心态而来。感谢神的恩典，这个想法完全被颠倒了。在那八天里，我以前所未有的方式经历了神的爱。我意识到，这趟旅程从来都不是关于我，也不是关于我能为这些孩子做些什么。它也不是为了带着一个精彩的故事回去和别人分享，或是证明自己带来了什么改变。相反，我的眼光转变了。我开始看到，神正是藉着这些孩子来改变我的心、软化我的心。我在许多孩子身上，见证了一种深沉而坚定不移的对神的信心。他们的委身、自律和喜乐激励了我，也让我更加清楚，真正的喜乐究竟从何而来。我曾经看重的许多事情，突然间显得微不足道。

当我和许多年龄较大的青少年交谈时，我看到他们对年幼孩子所承担的责任感、他们的好奇心，以及他们对学业和目标的委身。和他们当中一些人一起工作的时候，我发现自己竟然喜欢上了一些平常不会喜欢的事，比如刷地板。看到孩子们跑向我，仅仅因为我的出现就兴奋不已，让我感到自己被极大地珍视。我开始明白，经历神的爱，并不总是需要什么惊天动地的事情，它其实可以在最简单的时刻中被找到——玩拍手游戏、跳些傻乎乎的舞蹈，或是故意把斯瓦希里语（注：肯尼亚的一种主要语言）说错，只为逗孩子们发笑，这些在当时看来微不足道的时刻，却成了我回家后最想念的时刻。

整趟旅程中，我感受到神不仅在改变我的心，也在改变我身边同行之人的心。我看到神如何照人们的本相与他们相遇，并安置他们在能与祂有更加亲近的环境中。看着神一点一点地打开我同行伙伴们的心，并看见他们的眼光和心意在这一路上逐渐转变，真的特别有意义。到了旅程结束的时候，我能够清楚看见，耶稣在他们心里唤醒了一些从未有过的东西。

这趟旅程让我经历了祷告的能力、神的恩典，以及祂的旨意，即使在处境艰难的时候也是如此。祂的同在在许多时刻都清晰可见，也以我从未预料到的方式彰显出来。这趟旅程远远算不上完美，但每一个意料之外的事件、每一次转折，都提醒我，神的时间安排远远超过我自己的安排。回顾这一切，我能看见祂是如何在每一步都供应我们的。

我想，这就是我从肯尼亚带回来的东西。不是因为一切都很完美，也不是因为我带着把一切都想明白了的答案回来，而是对神在我生命中的同在，有了更深的感知。我原以为自己是要去教导他们神的爱，结果却是他们向我展示了活在这份爱里是什么样子。这趟旅程改变了我看世界的眼光，改变了我所看重的东西；我可以很有把握地说，我与神的关系变得更加坚固了。我也非常感恩，自己能够成为神美善的见证人。

我也发现，这是一件我非常享受去做的事，我真心盼望，神未来能赐给我更多的机会，让我能够参与更多的宣教事工。