New Friends Chapter 5 - Impact?

Usually I would get up in the morning, fix some food and have a cup of Kenyan coffee. However, not this morning. Since the boys were going to church at New Life with the church groupie friends, I slept in. I had instructed for them to be back at 5 for dinner with my parents. However, mom was tired, so I decided to have them over to my house. I had not yet told dad about Ben and James knowing each other, and I was strangely anxious of how the night would go. Would dad see the importance of going to Kenya? Would he WANT to go instead of being pressured to go? I felt like the weight of the world was bearing down on me as I prepared to be what seemed like a whole bag of mashed potatoes (yum). Sammy got home right on the 5 o’clock dot, and my parents were there at 6. There was only one problem… Ben was nowhere to be seen. A friend had taken him up Pikes Peak. I figured they would drive… they took the Cog. Now, those of you that are local know that the Cog is a great thing, but it takes forever. They waltzed through the door at 7 pm. I tried to be cordial. It was not Ben’s fault - he had no idea. But that guy shoulda! Didn’t he know what big of a night it was for us?! Not only did the dropper-offer-offender break my only rule, but then he didn’t leave. He talked with Sammy and played his guitar. I was livid. But I had to remember that it was not about me. God would work it how He planned it. I couldn’t force my dad to feel needed in Africa. I couldn’t convince a fire to start in his heart for Kenya and his student there. It was God’s work to do. I had cooked the food and opened my home. The rest was up to Him.
We talked about James and Ben and where they lived. We talked about Africa and what there is to do and see. We talked about culture. We talked about wealth. We looked at photos. I wish I could tell you that my dad had tears in his eyes. I wish I could type right now that my dad is excited about going to Africa. I wish I could tell you that he has written another letter despite not getting the recognization that he is coming to visit. All these wonderful things I cannot say. The only tid-bit that I got was when I asked mom and she said she didn’t think he was dreading going as much now. I didn’t know what to feel… you know, when someone doesn’t share the same interests it sucks, right? Well, when someone doesn’t share the same passion it is 100 times worse. Through the disappointment I was feeling at that moment, I had to step back and come to realize this was not the end of God’s ideas. Heck, it might even be the beginning. Maybe, just maybe, since he was not dreading the trip as much, he wouldn’t let other obstacles get in his way of going. Perhaps the most pivotal point of the dinner with Ben and the ordained appointment was far deeper than anything I could have possible been able to comprehend. With that, I will end this post. Feeling defeated yet a glimmer of hope at the same time.