By the end of this trip, I will have been on three full summer internships—and I even completed half of one back in 2021. So I’ve had a lot of experiences on bus rides with teammates, leaders, and the native people of whatever country we’re in. But some of the experiences stand out as particularly special.
I thoroughly enjoy those moments on the bus when we’re getting back on after some kind of team effort—maybe it was a service project, a ton of worship, a full week of SLAM, a celebration, or even just a sport played together. There always seems to be a move of the Holy Spirit once we all gather again on those buses—after playing the parts we were each given to bring about something that glorifies His reputation and makes Him proud.
I don’t know exactly what it is about those moments. I just know I have a few very specific memories—memories of when God gave the teams I’ve been on a tangible JOY that often overflows into song.
That happened again this trip, just two days ago, on our team’s way back from the beach celebration we had at the end of SLAM week in Mombasa, Kenya. Sandy, hot, on the bumpiest ride of our lives, sitting three to a seat, windows down, the villages of Mombasa passing by as people looked up and heard us singing songs in Swahili and English—songs that came from deep within us. Songs that shout out how good God is, and how loved His kids are.
From our resounding voices came words with power—power that came from the *testimonies* behind them.
We’ve seen the power of God.
We’ve been a part of His kingdom work.
We’ve felt His touch.
We’ve been moved by Him… and we’re moving with Him.
So the singing turns into laughter, the volume rises, and you can hear the freedom—freedom to be exactly who we are, after giving everything we had.
That moment stuck with me because of the joy I felt leaving that beach.
There was a time, back in 2021, when I left a beach after a SLAM service camp just like this one—except I left that time as a completely different person. I left traumatized. I left broken. I left in despair. I left with a heavy cloud of darkness.
The stark contrast between then and now?? I mean come on! Lord, help me not take this too lightly!
Only God could do this for me! Only God could want this for me and my brothers and sisters
Only God could orchestrate it all together for my good—
And only God could give me the joyful experience I just had in the sun and water of Mombasa. I had so much fun. I had no fear. I just surrendered to the peaceful promise of Gods presence with me and then had the best time.
I’m so thankful.
It was such a precious time. The testimonies wrecked me.
I felt so close to the SLAM participants, to my team, to my best friends, to my family—and closer than ever to my God.
The one who is faithful to us… and makes sure to bring us on to the other side of the sea, together, with him.