Making connections

Greetings from Chuka! We arrived here late Friday evening after a busy morning in Nairobi, visiting with some Tumaini alums, buying supplies and beginning a 4 hour ride north. Emily's bag made it thanks to our terrific driver Geoffrey who fought Nairobi traffic to get it at the airport early Friday morning.

Our travel has been uneventful except for a flat tire in the rice mill town of Mwea, halfway between Nairobi and Chuka.  Once again, Geoffrey and David (our other driver) took excellent care of us and we were back on our way.

 We pulled through the gates of Kenya Connection Children's Home to the smiling faces of the 28 kids who live here, along with their amazing caregivers. It was a short but sweet reunion before we headed on to Thuchi Lodge, which is our home away from home until Tuesday.

Yesterday (Saturday) was our first full ministry day, which included a Connection Day program for 70 children and their guardians in Kirubia. Leanne led a terrific lesson on the Fruits of the Spirit and we helped the kids create decorated tote bags to give as a gift to their guardians. It was touching to see the kids get to experience the joy of giving for themselves, and even better to see how much the guardians loved it. We delivered gifts from many of you here, took pictures of your kids receiving them, and chatted with the kids about you and your families.  It's an incredible honor to be this bridge between you and your sponsored child.

In the afternoon we held the same program with the kids at the home and delivered gifts to them as well.  We ate dinner outside with everyone under the moon (and a few swooping bats) and headed home to Thuchi bone-tired but hearts full.

We worshipped this morning at Kiereni Church PCEA, where Humphrey is an elder, and where we've worshipped before. The four elders on our team helped plan worship and serve communion.   It's a joy to be introduced to the congregation not as visitors anymore but as friends. Leslie and Emily were liturgists and we heard an excellent sermon by Pastor Wilfred on "Arise and Rebuild" based on Nehemiah 2.  I'm pretty sure they cut short the service for our benefit -- it was only three hours this time (after an hour of worship planning in the vestry of course).

Right now the rest of the team is helping the kids in the home write notes to their sponsors (many of you!).

Tomorrow we head to Tharaka -- a very dry rural region east of here -- where we will hold another Connection Day for the field kids there. 

Thank you for your many prayers, which we've felt every step of the way. We have seen God's graces and interventions, and are being knit together as a team and with our ministry and church partners here in a tangible way. Mungo ni mwema (God is good).

In Christ,
Abigail

Good morning from Kenya!

We are here safe and sound after a smooth flight yesterday through Amsterdam. Emily's bag didn't make it all the way to Nairobi, but should be delivered today (you can pray!).
We're headed now to meet Grace, a Tumaini alum who is studying Community Development here in Nairobi. It'll be great to share breakfast with her here at the hotel along with two other Tumaini grads -- Peris and Peter (from Huruma). What a privilege to get to see how God has worked in their lives over the years. More on that later.

Thanks for a warm send off and all the prayers. We are grateful for each one of you!

In Christ,
Abigail

Kwaheri!

We’ve all had those times in our lives when we can look back and see exactly how God has been working in our lives to get us to this moment. Through the lens of hindsight, we can see with almost absolute clarity the path He set for us. It’s amazing and humbling all at once.

For me, just hours from our departure for Kenya, I can clearly see the path God laid down to get us to this moment. There were so many reasons why a mission trip to Kenya wasn’t going to happen in 2015.

Too close to the last trip to undertake the lengthy preparation process, not enough people on the team, no men on the team, Ebola.

But God stepped in and said, “I got this.”

He showed us how six (and later, seven) women could be an effective mission team, that it will make deeper personal connections with the children and our partners possible. We watched as the Ebola tragedy ran its course in West Africa without ever coming near Kenya. Most importantly, we’ve watched our church pour out their support for the 2015 Kenya Mission Team.

Eastminster, you put coins in the buckets of Sonflower Sisters. You came out in droves to cook and eat chili, and give generously to the team’s fund for supplies. You brought us laptops, cameras and tablets to take with us. You’ve loaded us up with gifts for the children so many of you sponsor through KCK. And we know that every minute we’re in Kenya, you will be praying for us. It’s so encouraging to know that the love and prayers of our sending church surrounds us every step of the way. And we pray that our time there will be an encouragement to all of you, as well.

Rest easy that it's our merciful, mighty, and gracious Father that goes before us, goes with us, and stands behind us. Kwaheri! See you in two weeks!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

We're headed back!

It's been two years already? 

There are seven very excited missionaries counting down the days to our next trip back to Kenya, to serve at Tumaini, Huruma and Kenya Connection Kids children's homes.

16 days. That's the count.

We hope you'll go with us again through this blog.  These trips don't happen without a whole slew of senders and pray-ers backing us up.  Please pray for safe travel, smooth logistics, open hearts and eyes -- for the team and for those we're going to serve.  We know Jesus goes ahead of us. 


Abigail