In Her Element: How Calling and Purpose Intersected on a Mission Trip to Kenya
At Mt. Bethel Church, we want to connect believers to the unique calling God has placed on their lives by helping them realize where their passions, gifts, and experiences intersect with His work in the world.
For Shelley Ray, Mt. Bethel’s partnership with Project 82 (P82) in Kenya has become a powerful way to live out her personal calling and contribute to fulfilling the Great Commission.
“I am a nurse midwife here in the United States and I have a soft spot for mamas,” Shelley shared.
Abortion is illegal in Kenya, and while this has saved many children from being killed before their lives even begin, it doesn’t guarantee security for mothers or dignity for infants. Sadly, the reality in Kenya is that the alternative to abortion isn’t motherhood–it’s abandonment.
The reality in Kenya is that the alternative to abortion isn’t motherhood–it’s abandonment.
Project 82 “exists in response to God’s call to love and care for orphans and vulnerable children by nurturing them holistically to achieve sustainable family solutions.” Through a four-pronged, comprehensive approach, they break down barriers vulnerable Kenyan women and families face that may keep them from keeping and raising a child.
“The model of P82 has never been to institutionalize children or develop orphanages, but to give [abandoned] children the love of a family,” explained Shelley. “They have identified and vetted families within the community who serve as foster parents or guardians for the children until they can be reunified with their immediate family or adopted into a stable family if reunification is not possible.”
Answering the Call
Shelley and her husband, Jody, have been involved with Project 82 since its inception fifteen years ago. She went on her first mission trip to serve alongside them in 2010. This November (2024), she traveled with Jody and seven others from Mt. Bethel Church to serve alongside Project 82 again.
Mt. Bethel Church’s November 2024 Kenya Mission Trip Team Members. Shelley ray is pictured third from left.
In step with P82’s mission, most of the trip activities revolved around sharing the love and hope of Christ with children and families in their care.
“In Molo [the location of P82’s House of Hope], we had the opportunity to serve the children in their Saturday program,” Shelley recalled. “We danced, worshipped, fed them, played games, and just loved on these precious children.”
House of Hope partners with local authorities and churches to respond to the needs of vulnerable children by rescuing, stabilizing, and equipping them accordingly. Through this program, they provide for the children’s basic needs by assisting with school fees, counseling, mentorship, and more.
While in Molo, Shelley and the team also participated in home visits to encourage adults in Project 82’s guardian program, which focuses on microenterprise training to equip those caring for children with job and life skills so they can have an income and provide for their families.
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The team then traveled to Nanyuki to serve with Project82’s rescue center, Neema House. This is where God used Shelley’s unique skills and gifts as a nurse midwife for His glory.
Neema House has a program called “Tulee Mwana,” meaning “Let’s Raise a Child.” The goal of this ministry is to ensure the health of both the child and family in order to prevent the abandonment of babies.
“The Tulee Mwana program’s strategy is to get ahead of abandonment by identifying moms who may be at-risk before they deliver,” Shelley explained. After identification, the staff at Neema House help these women form and implement a personal empowerment plan, which includes maternal health care, education, economic opportunity, and community support.
This program includes a monthly Q & A session where women are able to ask any question they may have about pregnancy, motherhood, and reproductive and women’s health. As a nurse midwife, Shelley was able to lead one of these sessions.
“It was maybe the most fun I’ve had in a really long time,” she reflected. “To be able to serve these women and help them understand more about this time in their lives was such a blessing to me. I’m blown away by the efforts of this ministry to love the most vulnerable!”
Be Blessed by Being a Blessing
If you’ve never thought about going on a mission trip or are uncertain about God’s calling for your life, Shelley hopes her testimony will inspire you.
“I believe God is calling all of us to serve others. The profound effect it has on my own heart far outweighs anything I could ever do in my service,” she said. “There is nothing quite like walking the same paths, visiting homes, sharing stories and laughter, and sharing your heart with someone in need. I urge you to get out of your comfort zone and do something to help those around you. You will never regret it!”
Thank you for supporting Project82 and Mt. Bethel Church’s other Missions Partners through your tithes and offerings. To discover how your unique gifts and experiences can be used to share the love of Christ, reach out to John Williams, Mt. Bethel Church’s Director of Missions, at john.williams@mtbethel.org.