A vision beyond visa

A blog by Hillary Mayaka |tech space masters

Living Intentionally While Abroad: Staying True to Your Purpose and Faith

Living in a foreign country can be an exciting and life-changing experience. Whether you moved abroad for work, studies, or to support your family, the opportunities are endless—but so are the challenges. It’s easy to lose track of your values, goals, and spiritual walk when you’re far from familiar surroundings. That’s why intentional living is key. To live intentionally means making decisions that align with your purpose, faith, and long-term vision. Here’s how you can remain grounded and focused while navigating life in a new land.

1. Stay Connected to a Faith Community

When you move abroad, you often leave behind your home church and the support system it offered. One of the most powerful ways to stay rooted in your values is by joining a local or online church. If you’re Seventh-day Adventist (SDA), look for an SDA congregation or home fellowship near you, or connect to one online. Weekly Sabbath worship, midweek Bible studies, and prayer groups keep your spiritual life alive. For example, many Adventists working in the Gulf countries meet in homes every Sabbath for prayer and worship, creating a strong bond even in foreign cultures.

2. make your personal mission visible

Living abroad can sometimes make you forget your original goals. That’s why it’s important to regularly revisit your personal mission. Ask yourself: *Why am I here? What do I want to achieve?* Create a vision board and place it where you’ll see it daily. Include Bible verses, career goals, family dreams, or ministry objectives. You might write down something like: “I want to save enough to start a carpentry workshop back home,” or “I want to mentor young people through online platforms.” Let your vision inspire your daily actions.

3. Watch Out for Distractions and Moral Compromises

Foreign countries often come with exposure to different lifestyles, entertainment, and habits. If you’re not careful, you may adopt practices that go against your values. Limit entertainment that wastes time or encourages immorality. Avoid clubs, parties, or social scenes that pressure you into drinking, casual relationships, or materialism. For example, instead of binge-watching shows that don’t uplift you, spend time listening to Christian podcasts, reading, or learning a skill that aligns with your mission.

4. Choose Friends Who Uplift You

Your circle abroad can either make you or break you. The people you spend time with influence your mindset, choices, and spiritual health. Choose friends who support your dreams, encourage your faith, and challenge you to grow. Avoid peer groups that mock your beliefs or tempt you to lower your standards. For instance, find people who enjoy meaningful conversations, service opportunities, or worship nights. A strong, godly friendship can become your biggest source of strength in a lonely land.

5. Stay in Touch with Mentors and Accountability Partners

Distance shouldn’t break meaningful relationships. Stay connected to the people back home who helped shape your values. Whether it’s a parent, pastor, or mentor, check in with them regularly. Share your progress, challenges, and even failures. They can pray with you, encourage you, and hold you accountable. A simple phone call or message can keep your mind and heart grounded. For example, setting up a monthly virtual check-in with your church elder or youth leader can be a great way to stay spiritually connected.

6. Develop Daily Disciplines that Reinforce Your Purpose

Living intentionally requires daily habits that remind you of who you are and who you want to become. Start each day with prayer and Bible study. Journal your thoughts or list things you’re grateful for. Set small goals for personal growth—whether financial, spiritual, or educational. For example, if your dream is to start a digital business, schedule time each week to learn new skills online. Discipline doesn’t happen by accident—it grows through consistent action.

7. Serve Others, Even in Small Ways

Just because you’re abroad doesn’t mean you can’t be a blessing to others. Service strengthens your faith and gives your journey meaning. Look for ways to help your roommates, coworkers, or church members. Maybe it’s preparing meals for someone sick, leading song service during Sabbath worship, or helping someone adjust to a new job. Acts of kindness connect you to your mission and reflect Christ’s love, no matter where you are.

8. Keep Heaven in Sight

Ultimately, our real home is not just Kenya, Qatar, the U.S., or any earthly country—it’s heaven. As an Adventist, you believe in the soon return of Jesus. Let that hope guide your choices. Ask yourself, Will this decision bring me closer to God’s plan or take me away? Live like a traveler who knows this world is temporary. Whether you’re working, studying, or struggling, do it all with eternity in mind. Living intentionally abroad isn’t easy, but it is worth it—because your purpose is bigger than your passport.

let the   Vision Outlive the Visa, Living Intentionally Abroad as a Kenyan SDA

When you step into a new country as a Kenyan Seventh-day Adventist, you are not just traveling, you are entering into a calling. You carry with you the faith, culture, and values that shaped you. Staying connected to your faith community is not just helpful, it’s essential. Whether it’s a local SDA church, an online fellowship, or a small home group, make worship and fellowship a regular part of your schedule. This keeps your spiritual life alive in a foreign land and provides the support system needed to thrive. When church options are limited, create your own space of devotion with livestream services, SDA podcasts, or personal Sabbath worship. Don’t be a lone believer in a strange land, find or create your tribe.

To walk intentionally, your personal mission must remain visible and alive. Create a vision board that reflects your goals, dreams, and values, and place it somewhere you’ll see every day. Write out your life goals, both, spiritual and practical, and revisit them often. Living abroad comes with distractions, so you’ll need to be extra intentional. Limit entertainment that wastes time or threatens your moral standards. Social pressure is real; don’t follow crowds that lead you off track. Protect your purpose. Stay close to accountability partners people who remind you where you came from and what you believe in. Surround yourself with friends who fuel your faith, not drain it.

Always remember you are an ambassador. Your character, speech, and conduct reflect not just your country, but also your God. Represent Kenya with pride, be respectful, punctual, hardworking, and resilient. These traits will not only open doors but also help challenge stereotypes about Africans or Adventists. Speak knowledgeably about your culture, values, and faith. Let people see a new narrative about Kenya through how you live. And don’t just thrive alone mentor others. Offer help to new immigrants or students from back home. Share resources, offer guidance, and be the older sibling they never had in a foreign land. Join African student associations or volunteer in youth events you might be the encouragement someone else needs to stay grounded

Lastly, never be ashamed of your roots. Dress and carry yourself with dignity. Attend cultural events and wear traditional attire with confidence. Use your Kenyan name proudly it’s part of your identity and testimony. Let your presence abroad be a bridge, not a break, from your heritage and your calling. Let your story be proof that you can go abroad without losing yourself, your faith, or your purpose. Let the vision that brought you abroad outlive the visa that gave you entry.