Maddie Key Jasper

August 14, 2024

While preparing to move to Kenya, I eagerly anticipated witnessing the Lord move in big ways once I arrived. Little did I know, I would get to see him move in countless ways before even leaving Nairobi Airport. To prevent this blog from becoming a book, I’ll mention only a few of the many examples that highlight His faithfulness during my travel and arrival. 

The day before my departure, I misplaced one of my favorite necklaces. It was one my mom had gotten me for my birthday with the inscription “828” referencing Romans 8:28 and as trivial as it may seem, I was sick thinking about having to leave it behind. That evening, at my parents’ church, in between sweet prayers and tearful goodbyes, a dear friend came up to me, removed her necklace, and placed it around my neck. I wanted to tell her I could not accept her own necklace, but I had no doubt this was a gift from God. Her necklace was the same as the one I had misplaced, with one difference: instead of “828”, it had the numbers “356” inscribed, referencing Proverbs 3:5-6. Immediately after, another dear friend approached, removed her own 356 necklace and placed it around my mom’s neck. This moment was sweeter than I can put into words, and my mom and I will cherish our necklaces forever. What made it even sweeter is Proverbs 3:5-6 was the passage that was taught from that very night. In addition, on my first morning in Kenya, I was having breakfast with three young ladies I had never met when one told of a struggle she was currently facing. The lady across from her simply said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” to which the third young lady replied, “We just have to live by ‘3, 5 and 6’, don’t we?” I showed them my necklace and shared the story from two nights earlier, and we all sat together with joyful tears in our eyes. 

The morning of my departure, my family and I arrived at the airport to be greeted by the kindest airline service agent we could have asked for. Saying goodbye is always difficult, but the Lord placed people like her and so many others along my path to make it a little bit easier. She was a joy to work with – which you know is not to be taken for granted if you have ever traveled through an airport. She let us (the staff//family from my sending church and my immediate family) pray with her, she gave us a generous discount on bag check charges, and she even gave my mom a TSA pass so she was able to walk me all the way to my gate. What a blessing! 

When I arrived at my gate, a dear friend (pilot) and church member, Shawn Jewell, surprised me by being there to wait with me until my flight boarded. This was an unexpected blessing that put both mine and my family’s minds at ease during what could have been a tense time. 

Upon arriving at the Atlanta airport, I opened my backpack to find multiple envelopes filled with encouraging letters from family, friends, and church members. Again, during a time that could have been emotional and lonely, I sat in awe of God’s goodness as I read through nearly one hundred messages and prayers from the people I love most in life. 

My next flight was to Paris, and when I first learned my layover would be there during the Olympic games, I was more than excited about the potential of seeing an Olympian. I did not only get to see an Olympian, I got to sit by one for my entire nine hour flight!  Even better than sitting by an Olympian was having an empty seat next to me on my other nine hour flight. God is not only faithful to provide for my needs, He also provides so many of my desires as well (I am only slightly kidding about the empty seat being better haha)! 

One of my mom’s biggest concerns about my going through customs in Nairobi was that I would “stick out like a highlighter” with my blonde hair. My first message to my mom upon landing was to tell her I was standing in line next to an entire group of people with blonde hair! After hitting send, I met two pastors from St. Louis who were standing directly behind me. We talked until we got to the front of the line and they gave me their church card to contact them if I ever needed anything. God’s hand on me as I traveled was so neat to see from start to finish, even in the smallest details like these.

By His grace I made it through customs and immigration in mere minutes, easier than anyone else I witnessed – even the Kenyan citizens! I entered the baggage claim area where a man immediately asked me what my luggage looked like. He waited on my storage bins in one area while I scouted out my suitcases in another. He then quickly loaded all of my luggage onto two carts, handed me one to push while he grabbed the other and ordered:  “Stay behind me!”. I then found myself dodging an incredibly long line and luggage-search by following this complete stranger. With ease, I was directed out of the airport and directly to the driver who took me to the guest house where I stayed that night. In other words, a process that was expected to take multiple hours, took several minutes! A long-term missionary here in Kenya was even shocked at how quickly I was able to get out of Nairobi airport. 

The next morning I woke up in Kenya for the very first time and headed to breakfast, obviously not expecting to see anyone I knew. I walk in and immediately spot a familiar face. I made a comment to him about looking familiar and before I even finished my sentence he said, “Maddie Jasper!”. The Southeast U.S. mobilizer, who was the first person from AIM I ever spoke to, was leaving town the day I arrived. At this point, I was not even surprised. A few days later I Went to my first church service in Kijabe which was attended by a missionary team from Pennsylvania. one of the lead team members came up to me after the service and explained that his in-laws live in Tupelo, MS – my hometown across the world! … Don’t even get me started on the gym and coffee shop within walking distance from my house!

In addition to all oF this, I had a specific desire to grow in relationships not only with the staff and students of RVA but ALSO with nationals in the surrounding community. I did not know how to go about this in any other way but through prayer, SO pray is WHAT i DID. Walking home one afternoon I saw a few people playing volleyball in an open field and asked if I could jump in. Before I knew it, I had made roughly a dozen new friends, and they have invited me back to play with them every day since! God cares about even my simplest of requests, and I am so thankful. 

I could continue writing for days about the ways Christ has been so present as I have unpacked, settled in, prepared to teach, and begun to form relationships here. Throughout my life, the times I have had to take the biggest ‘leap of faith’ or felt like I was having to surrender the most, are the times I look back on as the most joyful and peace-filled times of my life, and I know serving in Kenya is no exception to that. I look forward to updating with more concise monthly-newsletters, and the occasional blog when I have more words than can fit on one page.

Thank you for your fervent prayers during my travel to Kijabe, Kenya – they have been answered tenfold.  

Joining the work of the Lord here at Rift Valley ACADEMY has truly been such an exciting adventure already, and I am only one week in! Praise the Lord! 

– Maddie jASPER

Stay tuned for many more pictures in my August Newsletter 🙂

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23
“THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES;
HIS MERCIES NEVER COME TO AN END;
THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING;
GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS.”