April 23, 2012 (Torrance, CA): Prior to Easter break, Bishop Montgomery sophomore Kelley Henderson ’14 had, in many ways, never really left the South Bay. When she heard about an opportunity to take a mission trip with her church, Rolling Hills Covenant, she knew she had to jump at the chance. Growing up in Redondo Beach, Henderson has always enjoyed a life of comfort and safety. “God was calling me to go out of my comfort zone this year,” she explained. As it turned out, God sent her a world away from the South Bay.
Henderson spent her entire two week Easter break working in children’s ministry in the town of Franschhoek, South Africa, about an hour outside of Cape Town. Along with fourteen other young men and women from Rolling Hills Covenant, Henderson embarked on a 28-hour flight from Los Angeles to South Africa, with stops in Turkey and Johannesburg. After settling in Franschhoek, Henderson spent the first week of her mission working with orphans as a counselor at a Bible study camp. “Our mission,” explained Henderson “was to bring them to Christ.” Working with the young kids was an eye-opening experience for Henderson, who, admittedly, did not have much patience for children prior to the trip. “Seeing these kids happy with nothing-- no shoes, no toothbrushes-- was amazing to see. God changed my heart about kids.”
During her second week, Henderson and the group from Rolling Hills Covenant worked with teenagers from nearby Bridges Academy in their after-school program. The academy provides a safe environment for the orphans and is dedicated to equipping leaders who will strengthen their communities and bring about positive change in their nation. “The most important thing we could do for them,” explained Henderson, “is to show them how much Christ loves them.” In all, Henderson estimates that her group worked with 130 kids.
When asked about the best lesson she learned during her mission to South Africa, Henderson spoke about the love the young people she worked with have in their hearts. “Watching people suffer never really processed in my head until I saw it firsthand,” explained Henderson. “Yet, these kids were so happy and so happy to see us. They clung to us as soon as we got there. It is just amazing how much people can love.”
The trip was truly a life-changing experience for Henderson, who not only plans on taking more mission trips, but also plans on being an elementary school teacher someday. She is already looking into studying education and child development at either Biola University or Texas Christian University. “Next summer,” she commented, “I am already planning on taking a trip to the Dominican Republic.”