By Chad Lofing '97
When most people hear "unforgettable family vacation," they think of Hawaii, Disney World or Colorado. All are amazing destinations that my family and I have been blessed to travel to, however, the family vacation that stands out most in our minds is the one to Nairobi, Kenya.
In spring 2010, my wife and I made the decision to go on a mission trip to Africa. This would have been a challenge in itself, but we decided to take our two oldest children, who were 10 and 9 at the time. There was a lot of apprehension on my part, but I knew, with strength from God, we could handle any challenge.
The coordination of this trip was made easier because of my amazing wife, Crissy. She had participated in two mission trips to Kenya with our church in previous years. The biggest difference in this trip was the additional circumstances that made planning more complicated. These circumstances included a mission trip just for the family, two children who have never been out of the country, and relying only on the resources that God has provided through our own personal finances.
The main goal for this trip was to help a group of amazing individuals who live in an area of Nairobi named Kibera. We were responsible for the assistance in running a vacation Bible school targeting hundreds of kids at many different schools in one of the largest slums in the world. In Kibera, residents live with multiple family members in tin shacks without running water. They are able to eat small amounts of food only every couple of days. They must walk long distances for water and receive little assistance from the government.
You might assume many of these people are unhappy and do not have many reasons to praise God for how he has provided. This was the assumption I made - and I was wrong. Many of these individuals are some of the happiest I have ever met. This made me realize how much importance my family and I have put in material items. I tried to teach my children that we should not feel guilty about our circumstances, but thank God daily and look for ways to help those around us.
During our mission trip, we had the blessing to teach many children about God's love and how he gave us the greatest gift ever, his son. We also experienced our children embracing the kids of Kibera, prayers being answered and, most important, children giving their lives to Jesus. This was an experience my family will never forget, and it has kindled their desire to experience it again.
I am not writing this to tell you about an amazing family vacation, but to encourage each of you to make your own memories. I encourage you to look at the possibilities in a mission opportunity, not its limitations. And you do not need to go half way around the world for a mission trip. You can do it in the United States, even in your state or your own neighborhood. God wants us to serve those people around us and pass that onto the next generation, our children.
God bless.
