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

What do we do now?

It's a question we've all been asking ourselves, in different ways, since we arrived back on US soil.  What do we do now?  

What do we do with our thousands of uploaded pictures?

What do we do with the sweet voices in our heads, songs we heard sung to the Lord in dawnlit stairwells?

What do we do with the memory of the smell of a slum?

What do we do with our redefinitions?:  Poor isn't what we thought poor was.  And neither is rich. 

What do we do with handwritten notes from an orphan, who tells you she loves you and asks, please come back?  (Mine are still on my kitchen counter, in a little pile, competing for attention with school papers, and bills, and Liam's latest fingerpainting, and unread books).

And then there's the other question ... from all of you.  How was Kenya?  How do we answer that?

Please forgive us if we're doing a poor job.  If we can only stutter something paltry and short like, "Amazing" or  "Powerful."  Or even, "I'm not ready to talk about it." God bless you all for wanting the details.  And man, do we have details!  But they're just too many to choke through a five-second funnel, and trying to seems like an injustice.  But we will want to share — need to share — so please keep asking.  It's just that the stories may bubble up unexpectedly as we readjust.  We may suddenly need to tell you all about little Valentine and her hilarious telephone song, or the way to tell the difference between the 6 Marys at Tumaini.  And we may cry doing it. 

And then, one last thing.  I have a question for you:  Would you join us? 

Most, if not all, of our team now either sponsors a child through Kenya Connection or are monthly donors to Tumaini and Huruma Children's Homes.  Some were already sponsors before the trip.  Others committed to becoming monthly supporters upon seeing the power of these ministries in person — and meeting face to face the souls who have been rescued forever because of them.  Would you join us?

Would you join us in helping Grace and the other amazing kids at Tumaini? 

(That's Grace there with Lillian, who lost her parents just a few months back.  Grace has taken Lillian under her wing and they are nearly always together...)

Or would you join us in being a Kenya Connection sponsor to support one of the kids like these, who receive schooling and monthly support through the field program in Kirubia:

If your answer is 'Yes,' please post your name in the comment section and we promise to set you up. 

And we also promise it will be the best $40 a month you could ever spend.  You will never, ever regret it.

Yours in Christ,
Abigail

Some final thoughts

Here are a couple of post-mission trip observations from one or the more experienced members of the team.

In several cases, the ladies on our team were moved to tears by what they saw, heard and experienced on the trip (ok, a couple of guys got sort of choked up a couple of times too).  My prayer is that everyone at Eastminster would shed a tear for the poor, defenseless and needy in our world.  There is so much suffering and so many people who need our help.  We can never be insensitive to these needs.

The children who live in the orphanages we visited are truly blessed and happy.  They have been removed from the tragic environments they were in and now have a safe, supportive and Christian setting in which to grow.  I was privileged one Sunday afternoon to be invited (they begged) by some of the young ladies from Tumaini to go to the secondary school to hear them sing.  I was not sure what I was going to experience, but it turned out to be a 48 voice, a capella choir lead by a coach with an operatic voice.  When they started to sing, I thought I was in a magnificent European cathedral.  But the point is that the singers came from all the school area and the Tumaini kids fit right in.  They were not second class members of the school or the choir.  Because of Tumaini, they are living “normal” lives.  Thanks to the support of Eastminster and many other congregations, the Riamukurwe Presbytery has been able to provide a place for these children.  Praise God for the actions of the Presbytery and for the love and support they have received.  The money and supplies we are able to provide them is vital, and the love we are able to bring them every couple of years confirms the love of Jesus to the leaders and to the children.  

Babu Tom

Post Mission Trip Ponderings

This blog post written by Beth Hartt

“But Mary treasured up these things, pondering them in her heart.” – Luke 2:19

Upon hearing what the shepherds were saying, Mary gathered their words in her heart to save and reflect upon.  I’m feeling a lot like Mary these days, treasuring up my memories from the mission trip like precious gems, so I can hold on tight and ponder them as time moves forward.  I don’t want to forget a single thing about Kenya.  I don’t want to forget one face, one name, one walk to school, one hug, one song, one tear, one laugh, one study hall, one team meal, one team meeting, one road trip, one prayer – I want to treasure it all.

Now the mission work begins at home.  Please don’t stop praying for the team as we work through everything we’ve seen and heard and experienced, and try to communicate it to everyone here at home.  Pray that the light and love of Jesus Christ shines through us as we adjust back to life at home.  Pray that God gives us adequate words to tell you about Kenya, about the children, and about the orphanages.  Pray that we can convey to you the hope that Christ brings those kids through the work of Humphrey at Chuka, and the board at Tumaini and Huruma.  Pray that we can stoke the fires of your heart, like ours have been, to help in whatever way you can to continue the work of God’s kingdom that is being done in Kenya.  And pray for the children; pray for those precious gifts from God that are thriving in the orphanages at Chuka, Tumaini, and Huruma, having been saved from circumstances that we can’t even begin to fathom.  Pray that they never take their eyes off the hope and light of the world, Jesus Christ.  Mungu Akubariki!

Opening Huruma's new irrigation lines

A video glimpse of the inaugural filling of the new irrigation tanks at Huruma Children's Home. The new irrigation system will allow the home to grow its own vegetables and even sell some for profit. Isaiah 43:19

Kwaheri Kenya

Just returned to bustling Nairobi from a peaceful, two-night safari in Masai Mara, aka Eden! We now are repacking and tonight will board a red-eye to London, followed by an afternoon flight back to ATL. Our bodies are tired, hearts are full and we are ready to hug our loved ones. God is good, all the time ... All the time, God us good.

Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise the Lord!)