My wife died in May 2017 after a two year battle with Ovarian Cancer. Once we got near the end she started ensuring that I was equipped with the information and advice I needed for what would follow. She was a strong supporter of overseas missions, particularly ones that impacted children.

When I moved from Northern California to Phoenix I was led by God to CCV through a series of events. Once I got to CCV, the Kenya Medical Mission trip seemed to call my name as I looked for a trip to support as my wife had advised.

I ended up on a team where I didn't know anyone. This turned out to be the first of many blessings from the trip. Also, not being Medical, i had no idea what I would be called on to do, another blessing. God was dismantling strong holds I had built in my life to cope. Certainty and control were the biggest of these. This trip totally destroyed those crutches.

I was so amazed by God's size. Here we were thousands of miles from home and there were people praising His name. They treated me like we had been lifelong friends. As I watched this same impact on my fellow team mates I realized God was on the move in changing my ideas about who He was. In Turkana, in northern Kenya, I was asked to serve in the Prayer room. There I found my voice for praying for others and learned how much love I actually had in me that had never gotten out.

But the major thing I learned on this trip was that if it comes down to sending money to help or going, going has a bigger impact as it allows God to show those you visit how big He is and that His love exceeds all the other forces that are out there. The local pastor David in Turkana explained that those I prayed with would never forget that a man came thousands of miles to love on them.