Greetings from Kenya!

 

It is 2:13pm in Naivasha, Kenya and I was able to come into the city for a few minutes to send you an update!  First, I thought you'd like to hear a small story.  Hope you laugh.

 

Yesterday, our team went to a wonderful church service.  Being in Swahili, we understood very little, but had a great time.  About 1/2 way through the service, I realized that the abundance of water I've been drinking had caught up to me and I had to find a bathroom.  (In Kenya, we don't have Western toilets, only holes in the ground.)  Someone directed me to a small building outside, which I promptly went to, only to find a large room with an open door frame.  Confused, I walked around the building and resigned myself to the fact that this must be their bathroom.  Dasha came up to me and we decided we'd brave it together.  Taking our respective corners, we squatted.  She did fine; I had some performance anxiety.  After Dasha left, some kids came and stood in the doorway, watching me.  Figuring they were just wondering if I was white all over, I shooed them away and I finally succeeded.  It was mildly embarrassing.  It wasn't until later that the real humor came.

 

I was telling Shirley, the other leader, about our adventure.  She said, "Wait.  Why didn't you shut the door?"  "What door?" I answered.  I realized then that whatever room Dasha and I used wasn't the bathroom.  The mission field is truly adventurous.

 

As a team, we are learning so much here.  We've spent several days getting to know the Kenyans and sharing life with them: laughing, eating, playing and story telling.  This next week is going to be filled with some Bible studies and VBS for over 200 kids and we are serving some very real needs here, from physical labor to providing food for alot of people.  The team is doing well; we are all growing and connecting and learning to love one another.  Even our health is good!  Some have hearts that are breaking for the brokenness they see around them.  And as their leader, I am blessed to see that they are serving God with passion out of their brokenness. Perhaps one monumental moment was when in the middle of the night, Dasha helped deliver a healthy Kenyan baby boy!

 

Below, I've posted a few "mini-blogs" from some of our teammates. Thank you for sharing your beloved child or friend with us.  Each one here is truly a blessing for the Lord.  I hope you enjoy!  (Also, the next blog will not be posted until next Monday.  Each participant will post something once!) Please keep praying for us!

 

Shaye

 

Stephanie:

 

Hey, y'all!

I'm surrounded by Southerners trying to get me to conform =)

Africa is AMAZING and so is the Lord, He has already done mighty things and it's only been a few days.  Kids are so adorable here in Kenya and the weather is beautiful.

Anyway - here is one funny fact!  I offically know how to use a squatty pottie as a bathroom!  (A squatty is a hole in the ground...you definitely cannot sit!)

P.S. Melissa, I love you!

 

Emma:

 

Hey everyone!  Wow, I don't even know where to start.  Well, we made it!  We arrived at Eburru friday afternoon and settled into our cozy little huts.  Ever since then we've been drowning in kids.  They're so loving and eager to interact with you, it melts my heart!  The viedw from our hut is absolutely breathtaking.  I can't even put it into words.  I'm completely flattered and overwhelmed with joy at the fact that God chose me to share this romantic, beautiful scene with Him.  The past couple of days I've really been dwelling on the concept of falling in love with God, I mean head over heels, heart-racing, sweaty palm kind of love.  I'm so stoked to go deeper with Him and see what other intimate moments He has for us to share. 

 

I love you all!  ~Emma, Psalm 143:8

 

Ashley:

 

It's amazing what two and a half days in Eburru, Kenya will do for you.  When you see a small child with hard eyes, suddenly it just doesn't matter that you've been using a hold in the ground as a toilet.  Asa you walk through the center of town and see children covered in dirt, with clothes full of holes and no shoes, suddenly it doesn't really matter if you showered today or not.  (Or within the past 5 days.)  When you see where these children live and realize how often they acutally eat, suddenly your small hut and warm 3 meals a day feel like paradise.  Over these past few days, the Lord ahs really been showing me that there is something bigger than my wants, my desires, and even my needs.  I have found a joy in selflessness that i never knew was possible.  But isn't that what our God is about?

 

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." ~2 Corinthians 2:9

 

PS - Chelsea G says "Thanks for the birthday note, Brandon."