Written by Kaila DeBuhr
You know that feeling when you’re wrapping up holiday shopping and you’ve got a mountain of packages to ship? It’s a familiar routine, right? A quick trip to the post office, a few clicks online, and boom - your gifts are on their way. But what if shipping a package wasn’t as simple as a few clicks and a stamp?
As many of you know, we've been building relationships with pastors in Kenya. These amazing leaders have been faithfully studying God's Word and teaching others, but most of their church members don't have their own Bibles. So, we dreamed of sending Bibles to these precious souls.
Gathering God's Word
The first step was gathering the Bibles. We reached out to the incredible YJJ family, and the response was overwhelming. People from all over began shipping Bibles, dropping them off, and encouraging others to join the effort. A special shoutout to our friends at Faith Church in Onaway, Idaho, who generously purchased hundreds of Bibles to include in our shipment.
Thanks to the amazing support of the YJJ family, we had a mountain of Bibles ready to go. Now came the hard part: figuring out how to ship them to Kenya.
I dove headfirst into the world of international shipping, a world I quickly discovered was far more complex than I'd imagined. Websites, articles, and blogs talked about the challenges of shipping Bibles overseas: rising costs, logistical nightmares, and ever-changing regulations. Most people recommended finding someone with shipping containers, but those are few and far between, and they typically only go to major port cities. From there, you’d still need to figure out how to get the Bibles to their final destination, a process that involves mountains of paperwork and little to no tracking.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I reached out to Jerry, a seasoned Bible-shipping veteran. He shared his wisdom and encouraged me to keep searching. I spent hours scouring the internet, trying different search terms, and chasing down every lead. I experimented with different shipping companies, explored discounted rates, and even dabbled in last-minute shipping options. I was getting pretty discouraged when every shipping quote I received was ranging from $5,000 and up!
One particular day, I spent over 8 hours navigating the FedEx website, entering countless details, and speaking with patient customer service representatives. At one point, I thought I'd hit a dead end, but God had other plans. A miracle happened, and the shipping cost dropped from thousands of dollars to a few hundred.
After what felt like an eternity, the Bibles were packed, labeled, and ready to go. The pickup arrived, and I watched as the truck pulled away, carrying a precious cargo of God's Word.
This experience was a true test of faith and perseverance. It taught me that God is always working, even when it seems like things are impossible. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve and to be a part of this incredible ministry.
We can't wait to see the pictures and videos of the happy recipients opening those boxes up and laying hands on their very own copy of God's Word!
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