servant leader

photoOur 410 Bridge guide in Kenya was a wonderful man named David. David’s home was in the northern part of the country, where he lived with his wife, his twelve-year-old son, and his seven-year-old daughter.

Not only did David get us from place to place and help us communicate where English was not spoken, he exemplified a servant leader. Our high school students loved him and he had a special way of relating to each individual.

David especially reached out to John, our eleven-year-old who was able to go with me on the trip. Maybe it was because he had a son of similar age, but there seemed to be no limit to his patience and love for the youngest member of our mission team.

Somehow the conversation of beautiful women came up in our travels and David explained the culture and practices of his nation. All men have to pay a dowry for their wives. David told us he was still paying to the parents of his lovely wife twelve years after their wedding day.

These are the attributes most cherished in Kenya that lead to a woman being worth a few more cows or goats:

  1. a strong, wide woman who can lift heavy things and bear many children
  2. a gap between the two front teeth that helps with fire-building
  3. a dimple on a cheek, or even better, a dimple on each cheek.

David taught us some of the local language and seemed to enjoy bragging about his country. He had a great sense of humor and was tireless in serving his American visitors. Most of all, David reflected Jesus.

These are the things I saw in our guide that reminded me of Christ:

  • humility
  • love for children
  • putting others’ needs and comforts ahead of his own
  • appreciation for the Father’s creation
  • willingness to go the ‘second mile’ in serving others

Praise God for his Son and for those who walk in His steps!

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in human appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’” Philippians 2:4-11

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