The True Source of Happiness: Megan Berry's African Adventure

Sleeping under the stars in the African desert wasn’t on HR Supervisor Megan Berry’s bucket list—but it turned out to be the unforgettable experience she never knew she needed.

Growing up in rural Missouri, Megan never really dreamed of going to Africa, let alone making it her first international trip.

Megan says the whole experience started more than 10 years ago, when her cousin Nathan met a man from the Kenyan desert.

Nathan is pastor at the Radiant Church in Wichita.

“For several years, Nathan has worked with Pastor John, a man who grew up in a remote part of the Kenyan desert, in Turkana County,” Megan explained.

“He helped Pastor John establish a church in Kenya, but there was a dire need to find water for a well.”

Pastor John reached out to Nathan telling them how desperately they needed a well since they were in a severe drought.

“After years of fundraising and failed attempts, they were finally able to find water and establish a well for the local people.”

Next, the team set up a school, which has been open for just over a year with 60-65 children from kindergarten to eighth grade attending free of charge. The school also provides living quarters for staff and 20 students. “My opportunity came about a year ago when my cousin asked if I was going to Africa next year with them, and I just said ‘yes’!”

Before she knew it, Megan was getting vaccines and taking her first international trip. After three plane rides and an hour-long drive into the desert, they finally made it to the school.

Megan and the nine people with her mission joined the school staff for three days and provided a Vacation Bible school program for the children.

They also just spent time playing.

“We played soccer, jump rope, one of their favorite things, Duck, Duck, Goose,” Megan said. “They will say ‘circle’, and just play Duck, Duck, Goose forever!” laughing and smiling the whole time!

One of the projects they were able to accomplish during their stay was building the children a new soccer field.

“There are little thorn shrubs all over the ground, and the kids would run through and hurt their feet,” she said.

The group dug out a big area for a soccer field, dug out all those thorns, buried some tires for the boundaries, and put up metal poles for the goals.”

The same week it was built, they had their first soccer tournament with a visiting school that brought new equipment to go along with the new cleats and jerseys from Megan’s group.

Another project they tackled was preparing bags of food and delivering them to the people around the school.

“We filled bags up with rice, corn, tea, salt, sugar, beans, and just basic necessities,” Megan said.

“We delivered them to the families in the area. They don't have like one set place where all the houses are. There’s a hut, you walk half a mile, then there's another hut, you walk another mile, there's another hut. They're all just very spread out in this huge region.”

Megan says the trip was a life-changing experience.

“What struck me most about the kids is their incredible joy, even in the face heartbreaking circumstances. As they carry water or gather firewood, they sing with genuine happiness. It’s humbling—many of them have little to eat and own almost nothing. Yet their gratitude and cheerfulness shine through,” she said.

“It’s a powerful reminder that joy doesn’t come from what we have, but from how we live. We think our lives are stressful, but these children show us what true resilience and appreciation look like."

Megan was so moved by the connections she made she now sponsors one of the children at the school, helping to cover essential needs like food and housing.

The church continues to support the community and is raising funds to build a high school, ensuring the children can take their education beyond eighth grade.

Megan plans to return on another mission two years from now.