K E N YA
HAVE I
Failed YOU?
I
’d always said that I’d never go to Africa, that it wasn’t my thing. But that didn’t mean that it wasn’t God’s thing for me. In fact, as I settled into my new job as assistant girls’ dean at Maxwell Adventist Academy in Kenya, I strongly suspected it was His thing because it seemed that everything was conspiring to make me grow! One unpleasant experience in particular taught me several meaningful lessons. It happened one evening as I walked down the dormitory hall to make sure the girls had quieted down for the night. As I passed one room, I heard loud voices coming from inside. I paused to listen. I could hear every word as the gi rls
vehemently criticized someone. Then, to my horror, I realized they were talking about me! Few things are as painful to me as being criticized behind my back. I was so upset that before thinking the situation over, I flung open the door and just stared at the girls. They sat in silence, staring icily at the floor. They may have felt ashamed for being busted, but they were definitely not sorry. At least not enough to apologize. I don’t remember much of the conversation I had with the angry girls that night, but I clearly remember the talk I had with God. He’s the best listener I’ve ever known. It was hard to be far away from family and friends who shared my culture and mind-set, 1
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