When pens are an answer to prayer

God answers prayer in amazing ways, and He did so in Kenya with just a few pens and pencils, as Robbie Toop of Mission Africa revealed.

The organisation has been sending mission teams to the African nation for ten years and sent Kathryn Lindsay, its first long-term worker, in 2023.

Robbie, who has worked with Mission Africa with his wife Margaret since 2012, revealed that they now have 40 people involved in work in Kenya, spread across various sectors, and spoke about their partnership with Karai Academy and Home, a school situated near slums in Kenya which works to provide shelter and education to young people in the area, but has a very limited budget.

Robbie spoke about his recent first trip to Kenya, which saw the Lord answer prayer for the needs of Karai Academy: ‘In the lead up to our visit, one of Margaret’s nieces wanted to make a contribution so asked what was needed and asked if we could use pens and pencils. We consulted Kathryn and were able to take out quite a few things including stationery, a full team of football strips, and various knitted items.

‘Once there we let Kathryn see what we had brought and asked where she thought each would be most useful. She suggested we give the stationery to Karai Academy and Home.

‘Unknown to us, on Saturday Juliette [manager of Karai] sent a message to Kathryn asking for prayer since, on looking at the budget for the new academic year, there wasn’t enough money to buy stationery.

‘On Sunday we met up with Juliette. When we gave her the stationery we had brought she was so excited, and thanked God for this amazing answer to prayer. She was overjoyed to receive a few pens, pencils, stickers and colouring books for the children. God had truly answered her prayer.’

Robbie also spoke about the aims Mission Africa has for the future: ‘We pray that the youth would continue to develop in their faith and desire to reach out to those who don’t yet know the Lord. We pray that they would be encouraged, challenged and further equipped to serve God as a result of the Evangelism and Discipleship Team visit this summer, which will include an element of training in evangelism and discipleship.’