One day in August 2008, my oldest son told me blankly “Papa, I would like to go on the mission trip to Kenya.”

I looked at him with a confused face and uttered “Excuse-me?”

“This has been on my heart for a long time and the church is planning a trip where I can make a difference.”

“A difference?” I started to blank out and felt tremors shaking me left and right. I started to grasp one of the posts of my bed to steady myself, but the flour felt literally as if it was moving in waves. Had we been hit by an earthquake? I felt like the floor caved in and found myself falling through the ceiling. The ground floor was approaching me with accelerating speed. I was about to crash… when someone shook me while saying “Papa, Are you all right?”

Snapping out of my self-imposed nightmare, I uttered “Were you talking about Kenya?”

He looked at me strangely and answered “Yeah! I really would like to join the mission team and help build that kitchen for the orphanage next February.”

“February? You said February?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

This time I got him “You can’t go!”

“Why not?”

“You cannot skip school and that’s all there is to it!”

“But I am the top student of my class and I promise I will catch up all missed work. I promise you my grades won’t go down!”

“There is no way you can go son. I am so sorry. Also have you ever built a kitchen?”

“No, but…”

“Are you aware that you will probably be the only youth amidst this team?”

“Yeah. So what? I want to pursue what God wants from me. Will you at least pray about it?”

I start to feel earth tremors again, but they quickly passed when I decided I sure could pray about it and I was certain I could convince God to see it my way.

“Sure son!”

A month later, he joined the team. I had no idea that the director of that orphanage in Kenya had been praying already for a whole year on behalf of this upcoming mission team. They were desperate and they needed help. They had laid all of their troubles in the Lord’s hands and knew He would provide. I had lost my battle before I even had made up my mind.

If God opens a window, no one (No matter how opinionated they can be, like me) will be able to close it! Nothing is impossible to God! Luke 18:27 “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” NIV My son did go on that mission trip and he came back a changed man!

Facing troubles? Don’t worry!

In despair? Lift up your eyes to heaven!

Alone and abandoned? Take courage!

God will see you through! He loves you! You can trust Him! And He is the only one who can make the impossible possible!

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” NIV

“Papa I joined the mission’s team to Iran next February. Is this fine with you?”

I heard it and turned around and I ran!

Rob Chaffart

(To view the entire “Nairobi, Here I Come!” devotional series, please click here.)