In June, April Schoor, accounts payable and receivable manager, traveled to Kenya with her husband, Chad, and son, Ryan, on a vision trip. The family set out for an adventure, but God had far more in store than they expected.
For Chad and Ryan, this trip marked several firsts, including their first time on an airplane. And they didn’t start small: a ten-hour flight across the world! Yet the real surprise came after they landed.
“It was very eye-opening,” Chad recalls. “The traffic got my attention right away. There are no stop lights or street signs — everyone just figures it out! But even with all the differences, it didn’t take long before we fell in love with the people, the culture, and especially the kids.”
Chad admits that Kenya wasn’t what he expected. “It’s hilly, green, and so beautiful,” he says with a smile. But the real beauty of the trip was in the people they met.
April knew at the Vision Trip Premiere that she wanted to go to Kenya. Chad agreed to join, but he wondered how he and Ryan would connect with the children. “I just didn’t know if we’d ‘gel’ with them,” he says.
He needn’t have worried. Within hours, they were laughing, playing, and bonding deeply with the children at the CMIA orphanage. Each child’s story left a mark on their hearts. Now, Chad and April have a whole list of children who they speak of like family: Jordan, who lives with cerebral palsy; Sheila, a former student, who remains at the school to work due to ongoing illness; Esmee, who needs a heart transplant; Steven, found passed out drunk at just three years old; and Samuel, who became Ryan’s close friend.
The Schoors now sponsor four children through CMIA. “With employee matching,” April explains, “when you sponsor one child, Betenbough doubles it, so that’s two children cared for instead of one! Everyone should take advantage of this amazing benefit.”
While their time with the children was the highlight of the trip, the Schoors also experienced God’s creativity through Kenya’s incredible wildlife. During the team’s safari, they spotted a whole list of animals, including the “big Five”: black rhino, lion, leopard, African elephant, and cape buffalo.
When Juma, their safari guide, invited Chad to ride in the front seat, a friendship began that continues today. The two still text and FaceTime regularly, a reminder of the connection that began halfway across the world.
Vision Trips are a cherished part of Betenbough’s culture, but their ripple effects often extend far beyond what we can see. Chad works for All State Fence and Supply, and when his employer learned about the purpose behind Betenbough’s vision trips, he was inspired to give Chad the time off without using PTO — a beautiful example of how generosity multiplies.
The trip didn’t just broaden the Schoor’s worldview; it deepened their faith.
“We think we need a whole list of things to be happy,” Chad says. “But those kids have almost nothing — and they’re filled with joy. It made us so much more thankful for what we have. And honestly, we wouldn’t have done this without Betenbough.”
April adds, “Their reliance on the Lord for health and healing is beyond what we can imagine. They depend on Him in ways we don’t fully understand.”
By the end of their time in Africa, the Schoors had been forever changed. The experience strengthened their family’s bond, renewed their sense of purpose, and deepened their faith.
“We went to see what God was doing in another part of the world,” April reflects, “but He ended up doing something just as powerful in us.” The Schoors brought home inspiration, humility, friendships, and gratitude — a whole list of spiritual souvenirs.
