So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:7
Our God is faithful, and we thank him for journey mercies. It’s been a week since Jill S. and I landed in Nairobi, Kenya. Upon our arrival, we teamed up with Rahab, our Program Manager, and Kevin, our dedicated and extremely patient driver and budding photographer, and gradually made our way through the awe-inspiring Great Rift Valley to Narok. Narok is a little town west of Nairobi with a population of about 40,000 people, mostly Maasai.
Narok is prone to flash flooding and in recent months many businesses have suffered losses in the millions. It’s been raining heavily since we arrived, and water has been rushing nonstop through the ditches and ravines along the roadside.
Our first stop is Ole Tipis Girls’ Secondary School. As always, the girls have been waiting excitedly for our visit. As our interviews begin, I am once again reminded that these are God’s precious daughters and he wants the best for them. The girls walk into the interview room one by one; some desperate, some nervous, others sad. The Esther’s Hope scholarship has become a lifeline for these young women, but sadly there are more girls in financial need, than scholarships available. Rahab, Jill and I offer up silent prayers for discernment and wisdom. We know that we will have to reject some applicants and a day that started with intense hope, will end in disappointment for those who fail to receive a scholarship.
As we wrap up our day, the new scholarship recipients file in, and immediately we notice a change in their demeanor. There are more smiles and expressions of deep gratitude. These girls now have a chance to graduate from high school, pursue the profession of their choice, and change outcomes for their families and communities. We look upon their grateful faces and we are overwhelmed and humbled. Now the journey begins; we will get to witness God’s unfolding miracle in their lives over the next three years. What a privilege!