Providential Pain is Purposeful- The sharing of Nolan's story in Kenya

**see the update at the end of the post** 

After taking yesterday off I went back to the school today for Jennie’s last day. As we made the almost 4km trek to the school I fought off discouragement.  My thoughts waivered from “why did I really stay another month…I won’t be able to go to the funeral…” to…”you stayed for another month because it was clear you were supposed to…it came together faster than you could have expected so you would know you are meant to be here…it is purposeful for you to have two more weeks here”. Upon arriving to the school I was greeted by the staff and children warmly and with encouragement that they were “pole sana” (very sorry) for the loss of my friend. The morning was passed playing with the preschool aged kids and greeting the kids from Kibera who hang around the school. After a couple of hours I had to take a break. I couldn’t give anymore. I was emotionally and physically exhausted from the last few days and I couldn’t stop the fatigued tears. God, why am I here today? What can I give? I am spent…I am supposed to teach in an hour and I have no idea what I can do. You have to give me strength for the next minute, not to mention the next 4 hours here. After I dried my tears and took a deep breath, my heart was nudged…you can share Nolan’s story. You can share the hope of heaven, of Jesus, the truth that only He, not being a “rich American” can save you.

An hour later I entered class 7. I took a deep breath and announced that I was going to tell them a story about a boy. For the next five minutes or so I told the uncharacteristically silent and attentive class the story of a boy who loved his family, football (soccer), and Jesus. I told them how he was a good student and cared about helping others because he loved Jesus. As I stated that this boy got sick, the classroom tensed, the children sat up straighter and some began to cry when I told them that because he was sick he couldn’t play football anymore, wasn’t able to keep going to school, and that He died this week. I articulated to them that all those good things in his life couldn’t save him, only Jesus did. Jesus and his promises in the Bible are the only things that stay true to what they say when it comes to death. I told them that Nolan would have wanted them to know that you can trust and have faith in Jesus even when you are sick and even when you die. After I told his story each class was still. One class didn’t speak for several minutes and some children had tears in their eyes.

 I shared his story with around 150 kids today. After leaving the oldest class Jennie looked at me and said, “Elise, if these kids get nothing else out of our time here, they’ll get this. Seriously, I’m proud of you. They aren’t going to forget that. It’s why we’re here”.

As we left the school I was again exhausted but no longer discouraged. I was humbly amazed, yet again, that everything in this trip has been perfectly timed. I was supposed to stay this extra month so I could share Nolan’s story that proclaims Jesus’ ultimate hope to the children in the largest slum in East Africa who all too often look to America as the example of hope and a good life. Jesus wanted me to be here to tell Nolan’s story which proclaims his faithfulness, steadfastness, and hope.

UPDATE--I'm not sure why I never thought to post this before, but as today would have been Nolan's birthday, I thought it was as good as time as any.

About a year after this post, Nolan's family hosted a bbq on his birthday in his memory for family and friends. We ate and laughed and remembered together. Towards the end, Nolan's mom asked if we all wanted to see a video of him. We all piled into their livingroom and smiled as Nolan's voice filled the room. It was a recording of him speaking at King's Christian school. In the time he had, Nolan talked about how he was sick with cancer. How even  though he was good at sports, a great student, and had great doctors around him--he was still facing the reality that he didn't have much time, and that none of those things could ultimately save him, only Jesus could. As we watched-I got goosebumps and was amazed- here was Nolan, way before I was in Kenya, saying almost exactly what I had said to the students in Kibera. I had literally shared his story. Even now, years later, I'm amazed. I had never seen that video or known he did that talk. But God knew-and I did share Nolan's story.