Never Say Never

When Janet Toornstra told people why she would be traveling from her home in Edmonton, Alberta,  all the way to Kenya, they often had a similar response: “You're going all that way just to pray? But what else are you going to do?”

But Toornstra would answer, “I’m not going there just to pray; I’m going there to pray.”

She was a member of the initial Prayer Safari, a 10-day trip held in February and hosted by Mwaya Wa Kitavi, Christian Reformed World Missions’ Eastern and Southern Africa regional leader. Another Prayer Safari is planned for February 2015.

When Toornstra first read about the opportunity to go on  the trip, she was excited about the idea of praying with and for the people of Kenya. But her excitement quickly turned to worry. Worry about being alone. Worry about Kenya’s political situation. Worry about her own praying abilities.

“I secretly hoped the trip would be cancelled,” Toornstra confessed. But it wasn’t.

Cracked Pots in Kenya

After meeting other members of the Prayer Safari and the local people who would be joining them in their prayer walk in Kenya, her feeling of anxiousness grew. The other participants’ free-flowing and enthusiastic prayers didn’t match the quick, calm prayers she was used to saying herself.

But then she saw something that encouraged her—a cracked pot.

Toornstra spotted the giant potted plant outside of her hotel room. What stuck out most to her about this pot was not the array of leaves growing out of the top, but the small stem of green growing out of the pot’s wide crack that ran halfway up the side.

“The pot reminded me how God uses our imperfections and makes them perfect, whole, and effective through his grace,” said Toornstra. “We cracked pots can be used by God to make a difference.”

Remembering her own cracks, she saw people in homes, slums, and offices that were filled with cracks as well. But more importantly, she saw how these people were trusting God.

Toornstra was still out of her comfort zone for much of the trip. Even so, she found a way to use her strengths.

“Children are my niche,” she said. “So when we prayed at the local schools, I really enjoyed singing and praying with the children there.”

The Power of Prayer—The Lasting Effects

On another day of the safari, Toornstra found herself praying over the city of Nairobi as she stood on the roof of the office of Kenya’s president. The team was there to offer prayers for wisdom for those who were in government positions and working in the various buildings they were overlooking in the nation’s capital.

Time spent with the government officials even inspired some of the officials to begin an office Bible study for about 50 staff members. One participant is the police officer in charge of a major county in Kenya.

“Today marks a great day for me,” the officer said at the Bible study’s launch. “To know that staff will be meeting and praying for me and the security of this county and country is a great blessing.”

Toornstra is now considering starting her own prayer group at Maranatha CRC, her home church.  She hopes to physically pray with the people who are in the group’s prayers,  like she and others did in the Prayer Safari.

“Never say never when you are thinking about going on a trip like this,”Toornstra said. “God put me there.”

If you are interested in attending the upcoming Prayer Safari from February 5-16, 2015, visit this page.