Field Story: My Residency in East Africa

Stretching, beautiful, challenging, and sanctifying. These are a few of the words that come to the forefront of my mind when I reflect on my time in East Africa. Over a period of eight months, I was pushed out of my comfort zone more times than I could count, saw the Lord work in ways I have often underestimated, tried new foods, learned some of a new language, and ultimately fell deeper in love with my Savior. I am so grateful for stepping into the Year 1 Residency and would encourage anyone who is considering it to do the same. The ways the Lord showed up for me and deepened my faith is something I will never forget.

The Year 1 Residency is a beautiful program for those interested in potentially pursuing global ministry. It is curated to allow oneself to have a season dedicated to learning and exploring ministry in a global context. Something I love about this program is the fact that each person’s experience looks vastly different. We are all wired in unique ways with various giftings, and that is something worth celebrating! The residency encourages one to step into ministry opportunities based on unique spiritual giftings and interests. My time in East Africa was spent volunteering at a baby rescue center, a pregnancy crisis center for teen moms, teaching Bible stories at an elementary school, attending weekly Bible study, investing in a prayer ministry for my city, teaching Sunday school, coordinating for short-term mission teams, and more. I loved that my time consisted of a variety of service opportunities and through that being able to see the ins and outs of ministry. I didn’t desire to limit myself to one ministry—although that is an option as well—but, instead, I wanted to see numerous ministries. Because of this, I feel as if I learned different ways in which one can serve or equip others to do so.

Reflecting on this year, I have seen the beauty in learning and taking a backseat role. Stepping into a completely new culture with new people, places, and things can be difficult. It is challenging, and you have to allow yourself to walk with humility and grace. I never stopped learning during my Year 1 Residency—how to treat people in a culturally appropriate way, how to dress respectfully to those around me, how to greet those younger or older than me, how to organize transport for myself, how to make new friends, and so much more. The Lord graciously met me time and time again, and when I was so overwhelmed with inconsistency, I took so much comfort in His consistency. Whether it is in America or Africa, our God is still the same and truly cares about the details of our lives. I have learned how beautiful it can be to pray specifically for certain desires while in Africa. He cares that we flourish and is a God of such provision.

Something else that I loved about my Year 1 Residency was living alongside my host family. The family I lived with has become my family. They are hospitable and loving and taught me everything I could have wanted to know about East Africa. Living with a local family was a huge gift to me and taught me about the culture more than anything else. I got a front row seat to their ministry, marriage, children’s lives, friendships, and relationships with the Lord. They had faith in me and believed in me when I was feeling my worst, encouraged me when I felt I was lacking, and continually interceded on my behalf in prayer. If I am walking away with anything, it is definitely a greater knowledge on how to love well, and I owe it to them.

The season of my Year 1 Residency was sweeter than anything I’ve known. I will forever cherish the beautiful memories I have made. It was a year unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I am so thankful for the opportunity. If you have a desire to grow deeper with the Lord, be pushed into new situations, and grow in knowledge of cross-cultural ministry, the Year 1 Residency is for you. I have absolutely zero regrets about my time spent in East Africa. The Lord is extremely kind, and the Year 1 Residency was a prime example of that!