AIM.
AIM
Africa Inland Mission.
We are a part of this sending agency. They have brought us so much joy, wisdom, and direction as we've worked through this process of moving our little family to East Africa. The process has been and is long. It has been tedious. It has been hard work. It has also been filled with joy and peace.
Our journey to Africa started long ago, we didn't understand that the process of prayer and readying our hearts would take so long, but man, are we grateful for the time. Prior to Friday and I knowing each other, our hearts were both already intertwined in prayer for different people groups in East Africa. We were learning, growing, and praying in our understanding of "Missions" and how we individually fit into that picture.
(Peace and Reconciliation Training in Gog village in Ethiopia)
I was pursuing Teaching English As a Second Language degree, traveling in the summers, teaching in a small town of many languages, and exploring and praying about new cultures. Friday started a degree in Biology in order to pursue medicine, (A tool to give back in his home country), was discipled, mentored, trained in Peace and Reconciliation Training, and eventually pursued his Masters of Arts in Biblical ________________, working as Pastor of Family Discipleship, loving and guiding a youth group of students from different backgrounds, and married into a different race/culture and world. We both didn't think that our fit would include a partner, marriage, and kids. But here we are. Karen with 8 years teaching experience in a public school setting, having taught English in 5 countries, working with over 20 different languages, and getting to marry into a very special culture.
(Some of my students in Kenya 2014)
We tried to go right after marriage. We wanted to go right away. The Lord slowed us down. He was continuing to equip us, to grow us together and into Him. We were encouraged by a couple different missionaries on the field, about how time and maturity in the US, in our marriage, wouldn't hurt us, but only make us more equipped to serve Him in a different country. We waited. We prayed for our future time overseas. We waited. I cried a lot. We prayed for the Unreached People the Lord would use our abilities and gifts to serve. We waited. We grew our family. We grew our understanding of marriage and each other. We waited. It seemed like forever, but it was perfect.
(Currently in stage 5!!)
August 2020 was when we started the Application process with AIM. Boy, was it a long process: the papers, the interviews, the references. Ending 8 months later with appointment weekend in Georgia. Although long, I wouldn't want it any other way. We chose them and they chose us. This special agency that has been around serving Africans for 126 years.
In all we have seen of this organization, they remain true to their passion to see Christ centered churches established among all African peoples. They heart is to mobilize and raise up leaders from within Unreached People Groups (UPG's) to lead and sustain the local churches. Our small part is to listen to Him, to use our skills, strengths, marriage, education, and hearts to help mobilize and raise up leaders to grow the Kenyan Church. To be able to proclaim Him who has worked in us, called us, created us, sanctified us, and oh the list goes on.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians how He chose the lowly... despised.. foolish... of this world. He chose us in that state (1 Corinthians 1:27) and called us sanctified, called, and together with all everywhere who call on His name (1 Cor 1:2). We are honored to live out who He made us to be with all those who will call on His name from Worthington to the US to Marsabit, Kenya.
Prayer Needs
+ wisdom in scheduling, school, work, new baby
+ strength and communication in our marriage
+ Partnership Development (Prayer and Financial)
+ Continued gift of being present in our community we are a part of here in Worthington
Comments
Post a Comment