My faith took-off!

Juli Renegar- UPENDO318 Team member

If I’m being honest, my first trip to Africa brought much fear and anxiety. Unsure of what God was up to when he placed that little nudge in my heart to go, I can now so clearly look back and see that taking such a big step of faith was the most important thing I could’ve ever done in my walk with God! 

My faith took off! 

It opened doors I could’ve never imagined. 

Sue Shook was our team leader on my first trip in 2011.  Her love for serving and loving others immediately put all my worries of traveling so far from home to rest. 

I remember Sue giving us one of those little stretchy smiley-face people and telling us to carry it on the trip and to be prepared to be stretched! Stretched as only God could do!  And boy was I!!!

The Kenyans I met were so kind! Despite their circumstances and very rugged living conditions, they had so much joy! And to make it more incredible was how generous they were to us. 

Sharing what little they had. 

Now that’s Jesus! 

My first trip in 2011 took us into a primary school. I remember the children sitting inside a cold cement building, with dirt floors, bundled up in tattered and very worn clothing…All smiling and eagerly listening to their teachers. I remember many children were shoeless. Some with only one shoe as a classmate was wearing the other. 

And the smiles and laughter! There was such a joy in the school.

I can still feel and smell the sweetness of that little school building today…it could have only been Jesus! 

I’m so excited to see all God does with Upendo 318! I’m so eager to go back to Africa and serve wherever God calls. I can’t wait to grab that little stretchy person that Sue gave us and be stretched again….. by the hands of God!