What Truly Matters to God: a Mission Trip Story
“Traveling throughout Kenya may not be the most luxurious experience, but it can be eye-opening in terms of re-examining what truly matters to God.” - Tonya Cheek, Mt. Bethel Church member
What truly matters to God — as Tonya and her husband Rodney saw affirmed on their recent mission trip to Kenya to serve with Project 82 Kenya — is compassion for people. Specifically, vulnerable people who have little-or-no means to care for or advocate for themselves, and even more specifically, babies and mothers without support.
“Project 82 is a faith-based organization jointly conceived by Kenyans and Americans to address the tremendous need to rescue orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya,” Rodney explained.
Abortion is illegal in Kenya. Unfortunately, the alternative for women in hopeless situations who find themselves expecting is just as heartbreaking. Often feeling like they have no other choice, they abandon their babies on the street.
Inspired by the call of Psalm 82:3, the staff of Project 82 Kenya works to find and support families for these babies.
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” (Psalm 82:3)
“Extensive efforts are made to find biological relatives; however, some children are adopted by Kenyan families,” Tonya shared. “Project 82 can also provide support for these families in ways that empower them to be self-sustaining. As the children grow older, they assist with higher-level education and training to transition them into becoming self-sufficient adults.”
In recent years, Project 82 has added another, preventative focus to their ministry called Tulee Mwana to provide support for expectant mothers. The program name translates to “Let’s have a baby” and aims to address the needs of these women so they don’t feel like they must abandon their child.
Rodney and Tonya first felt God calling them to support Project 82 Kenya’s life-saving mission after learning about the organization during Mt. Bethel Church’s annual missions dinner.
“After talking with the executive director, we began directing some of our donations to Project 82,” Tonya revealed.
“The more we learned,” Rodney added, “there was a pull to join the Kenya mission and see first-hand the work being done.”
Rodney and Tonya first traveled with a short-term mission team from Mt. Bethel Church to Kenya in 2024 and did so again more recently with the team of six the church sent in November 2025.
Upon arriving in Molo, Kenya, to begin their 2025 trip, they were greeted warmly by the Project 82 staff with singing, dancing, and a meal.
“I was so impressed by how they do everything with expressive, joyful love,” Tonya commented, speaking not only about the staff’s greeting but of what she observed as she served alongside them.
After the welcoming meal, Mt. Bethel Church’s team immediately jumped in to help with ministry. Rodney and Tonya helped lead a Bible study for pre-teens at the House of Hope, Project 82 Kenya’s headquarters in Molo.
Tonya counts this as one of her most memorable moments of the trip: “Meeting these young people, knowing how they came to be cared for by Project 82, and seeing their activities that Saturday gave me a great sense of hope for their futures and the futures of the babies at Neema House.”
Neema House – named after the Kiswahili word for grace – is Project 82’s Rescue Infant Home in Nanyuki, Kenya, where abandoned babies are first brought to receive medical care. Once any ailments or injuries are addressed, the babies are cared for until they can be placed with a forever family, either through reunification with a biological family member or through adoption.
During their trip, the Cheeks and the others from Mt. Bethel Church were blessed with the opportunity to hold and care for the infants at Neema House while giving the caretakers a respite break.
“Holding an abandoned child will have an impact on you,” reflected Rodney. “Sometimes you go [on mission] to serve and you end up being blessed. I keep going back to Psalm 82:3 –– defend the weak and fatherless...the poor and oppressed.”
On the way from Molo to Nanyuki, Rodney experienced one of his most memorable moments of the trip: “After church, we had a college student who was part of a Project 82 family ride with us. During our conversation, I ended up mentoring him on career choices and life in general. He even asked me how do you know when you find the right partner! I’m not a relationship expert, but after 40 years of marriage I was able to share a few things.”
For Rodney and Tonya, their most recent trip for Kenya was another way for God to affirm their decision to give in support of His kingdom work being done there.
“Project 82 is having a tremendous and positive impact on the lives of these children!” Tonya exclaimed. “It was a joy to see “graduates” like Simon, now college-educated and working with Project 82, and James, now married with two beautiful children, who spoke confidently during Bible study and serves as a lead singer in the choir at the church we attended. I could feel the Spirit of God in every aspect of our involvement [on this trip].”
The need is still great, and the Cheeks shared they hoped their experience with Project82 will inspire others to get involved.
“Pray for the weak and fatherless,” Tonya wrote. “Pray for the incredible staff, guardians, relatives, and adoptive parents who open their hearts and homes to these children. Pray for the women who feel so helpless about the children they’ve created. Pray they realize they are loved by God.”
“Keep Project 82 in your prayers,” Rodney added. “Learn more about the organization, give financially, and go and serve. Don’t hesitate. God is calling.”
Ready to take your next step in living On Mission 365? Learn more at mtbethel.org/missions or email john.williams@mtbethel.org.