Real Life Kenya: 5/29/09 - 7/29/09 - Making Disciples; Reaching Our World

Back in the States

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just a quick update to say that the Kenya team made it back. Those that are staying over night and flying out in the morning are at the hotel and the few that are flying home today should be on their way.

Blessings,

Chad M.

Leaving Home

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am just a few hours away from getting on a plane to return to my family. I am super excited to go back to them: to see my 3-year-old sister, to hear about my other sister's journey to Europe, to know that my dad is recovering well from his surgery, and to see how my mom dealt with all the chaos of the summer. I can't wait to discover how God has been working in my community while I was away... But in so many ways I feel like I'm leaving home, not going back.

I've only been here for two months this time around, but the very first day I arrived in Kenya will be a year ago tomorrow... which is my birthday. I started and ended my nineteenth year of life arriving in and leaving this wonderful country. God has given me such a love for His people here and home is not a place, but as the saying goes, "Home is where the heart is." My heart is in Kenya. While I know that God has prepared a place for me in America to abundantly receive His blessings, I also know that He is preparing a place for me in Kenya to return to.

The most wonderful thing is that it is not in my hands. I do not have to worry about anything, because God's plan is so much bigger than my own. As long as I am listening to His calling and following His leading, I will always be exactly where I am meant to be. God's plan is absolutely nothing short of an adventure.

CHAI WALA FROM MUMBAI ( By Rivers and Jess)

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Where do we begin? Kibera has been an experience that none of us could have expected...its been a trip of a lifetime. Our days are filled with ministry and our nights are filled with fellowship. In the short time of being here we have built so many relationships that it is going to be bittersweet to leave.

Today was our last day with the preschoolers and some of them have faced more hardships than any one person could imagine. Monica is the woman who started the preschool because of the calling to reach children in need. As a single mother, she has five biological children, five children under her immediate care that were left to fend for themselves, and then also meets the needs of 60 more children from Kibera. One of the children that Monica has taken in is a five year old boy named Davis. Davis is an orphan that has been left in her care because both of his parents died from aids. He himself has aids and Monica has done what she can to get him on medication to suppress the side effects. Monica wakes up every morning at five to start cooking mindazi's to sell on the streets so that she can have enough money to feed the children. She lives day by day trusting in the Lord to sustain her ministry because she doesn't know where the money will come from most of the time. Monica is one of the many new friends we have made that have touched our lives here in Nairobi.

Another ministry mentioned in the previous blog is the boys detention center. It's hard to articulate how much these boys mean to us in just a short span of time. There are 31 boys and they each have their own story of how they ended up on the streets. We have divided into groups and Rivers and I are leaders for the youngest boys. Most of them left because their parents saw that they were starving and sent them to find food by begging on the streets. On a positive note, one of the younger boys, Mansur, was picked up by his grandmother last week to return home. Mansur was leaving right as we arrived and we were able to pray over him before we said good bye. These boys radiate joy but the man in charge of them, Martin, said that two months ago they were unbearable to be around. Martin brought the Gospel when he came to help out at the detention center and half of the boys accepted Christ as their personal Savior. So much of our love and prayers go out to these boys because if they can't have an earthly father, our prayer is that they see their Father in us.

Please continue to pray diligently for our team as we wrap up our ministry here in Kenya. Pray that we remain in the moment and that we love these children as Christ love us. Pray that we hunger and thirst for him spiritually and that we can be responsive to His calling for us. We love and miss you all. See You soon.

Sweet Chili Pepper Doritos

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hello everyone! (this blog is being brought to you by amber and sara healy )

We are excited to say that we have moved to our second location...Kibera! Wrapping things up in Kijabe was really hard but we had an awesome last week and an even better last night saying goodbye to all the amazing people we met. Our first two days in Kibera were spent getting adjusted to the disperities between Kijabe and Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa, there are roughly 1 million people in a mile radius. For most of us this was our first time seeing real poverty on the streets. Houses are on top of eachoter and made of sticks, mud, and manure. The streets are made of trash and there is one river that runs through the slum that is the only water source and is cantaminated with human waste and things you could not even imagine. The first day, we had to hold our breath many times because the smell is so horrific. Despite all of these circumstances the people are INCREDIBLE. They have pure joy and live simply. Community here is much like what we experienced in Kijabe.

We are staying at a bed and breakfast outside Kibera, it is about a 15 minute walk into the slum everyday. We only have 2 weeks of ministry here so we dove in right away. OUr days are a lot longer here than in Kijabe going from 9-5 but it has been amazing thus far. OUr first day of ministry was open air evangelism on the streets of Kibera. Pastor Timothy has a passion for evengelism so he pushed us out of our comfort zone. As opposed to door to door evangelism in Kijabe, Pastor Timothy saw 20 men sitting on a wall and said lets start here! The fruit that came from that day was amazing. Through the Lord's grace 15 of those men came to know Him and profess thier lives to Him that day. 1 day a week we work at a preschool where we sing and play with the children. It is a one room school house with 70 kids and 4 teahers. Another day is spent at the primary school where we teach Christian education for grades 1-7. 3 days a week we are at a detention center for kids who have run away from home, become street boys, and then are collected by the police and brought here. The boys are ages 9-16 and there are 33 of them. This has been our (Amber & Sara) favorite ministry. We really have a heart for these boys. WE came in with the idea that they would be really tough and hard to reach but we have been amazed at what the power of love can do.

God is working and we are excited to see what can happen in the next week! Continue to be praying for our team unity, for good health, and strength. A prayer that we can surrender our will to the Lord's daily and continue to seek His face in everything we do. We all love you and miss you all so much. OUr team is getting excited to come back and share stories with all of our loved ones but pray that we can stay focused and be fully present for the rest of our stay.

IN christ, sara and amber :)

From Amber- MOM I WISH YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I LOVE YOU!

Paul's Story

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bwana Asifiwe! Praise the Lord!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's now our fourth week to ministry and God has been doing so many incredible things. We are so blessed to be His vessels and to bring Him all the glory and I want this blog to do just that, bring glory to His name because He did it all. This is the Lord's story of a man named Mwongi who was lost but now is found. Every Friday our team has traveled to a near town to do door to door ministry. The first Friday, June 12^th, every home we visited was a home of believers until the last one. Lee, Joelle, two translators and myself made up our group for this ministry. We walked into the house of a man names Mwongi and were immediately greeted with joy. Mwongi is in his 70's (we never received the actually age) and he lives mostly by himself with occasional visits from one of his daughters with grandchildren. He had two wives (which is very common in Kenya for none believers) but the last one passed away 15 years ago. He shared with us his loneliness and how not many people ever come around. Two of us shared our testimonies and we asked if he knew the Lord. He said that he thinks there is a God but he doesn't have a relationship with Him and does not know who Jesus Christ is. We asked if we could pray for him and he said yes. He asked us to pray for his ears and eyes because he has a hard time seeing and hearing. After we prayed he was so happy, his smile was so bright and he was so thankful that people even cared to come talk to him. We encouraged him to go to church on Sunday and said goodbye. Our group knew that the Lord was doing something in this man and we needed to come back.

The following Friday we were looking forward to going back but the Pastor who we were working with had to go to a funeral so he cancelled on us to come back. However, that morning when Lee, Joelle, and myself woke up we felt the Lord was still calling us to go back to the town where Mwongi lives. In order for us to go back we needed a ride and a translator, so we prayed for God's will to be done. After lunch that day, God opened the door for Lee, Joelle and myself to go back to this town to visit Mwongi again. As we were in the taxi on the way over, we just kept praying that he would be at his house when we got there. We also decided to bring him some flour and rice not really sure if he needed it or not. We walked into his gate and we initially did not see him so we kept praying and we heard a noise from behind the shed and we walked around and sure enough, Mwongi was there! His face lit up in joy and he welcomed us. He said he remembered us from the week before and he was so happy we came again. We gave him the food and he said that he was so thankful because he didn't have any and didn't know what he was going to eat for dinner. Praise Jesus! After some small talk we asked him if he attended church on Sunday and he said "it is better not to lie than to lie so no I did not go". He is a very honest man and we really appreciate that. As we were talking to him, we were filled with the spirit and filled with words to say. God was having a conversation with Mwongi through us. When one of us didn't have words, the other did and it was truly amazing. Lee looked down into a chicken who was near us and he looked into the chicken's eye. He saw a silhouette of the cross in the chicken's eye and it was a confirmation from the Lord. Mwongi welcomed the good news because he said "I will listen because you came back. People come to tell me about this God and leave and I never see them again"which meant so much to us. As the Gospel was being shared he would stop and think before he would respond. You could see the Lord moving in his eyes. By the end of the conversation he came to the revelation that we were sent by God. He was so thankful for us, just to have a conversation with other people made his week. The glory of God fell upon us. It was ALL Him. We prayed again for Mwongi's hearing and sight and told him, if the Lord wills we will be back next week.

All week we prayed for Mwongi and Friday we had the door opened for us to go back to the town where he lives. We walked into his gate and he was standing there farming and when he saw us he was so happy and so joyful. He could not stop smiling. We asked him how his ears and eyes were. He said that the pain from his ears is gone but he is still struggling to hear and see. We asked if he went to church on Sunday and he said no because if he went he would not be able to see and hear. He said he prayed to God all week but did not feel anything. We then felt God telling us to show him the "bridge illustration" which illustrates Romans 6:23 in picture form so that he could understand more of who Jesus is. When we were done, we watched him as he was thinking and it suddenly clicked for him. You could again see the Lord working inside him. He began to say things such as " even thieves and satan know who God and I will no longer be confused, God is real and so is Jesus". We were blown away and we asked him if he wanted to be in relationship with Jesus Christ his savior and he said YES! We prayed with him and he began to cry. The Holy Spirit was moving through him and us. We also prayed for his hearing and sight again. Afterwards he said "its okay if I die now" and we were almost speechless if it wasn't for God being there. We encouraged him to continue praying and to go to church on Sunday. He said, "I will tell everyone about God and Jesus!" We bought him a Bible in his language and plan on bringing it to him this week. Praise the Lord for His love and grace for all of His children! Pray for Mwongi that the Lord will continue to captivate his heart and if it is in the Lord's will for him to be healed.

- sara healy

Colossians 1:17

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is not going to be a long update, I just wanted to share about what God is doing in my heart.

This trip is halfway over, and the most important thing I have learned is that God's plan is so much bigger than anything I could ever formulate.

Our first two weeks were difficult. We prayed for God to multiply food at the IDP camp and there still wasn't enough. We visited the hospital and met people who knew the gospel inside and out, yet still rejected it. We struggled as a team learning to communicate with each other and the people around us, and also with physical health and ability to be out in ministry. We prayed a lot and suffered a lot and saw a lot that we didn't understand or like. But God has a way of turning things around in His own time, and the past week has been a healing experience for almost everyone. We were able to distribute food at the IDP camp and return with an excess, and we were encouraged by the joyful attitude at the hospital the second time around. My teammates were able to plant a seed for Christ in a man outside of Kijabe who barely knew about the gospel before.

I am constantly reminded of God's timing and the paths he will take you down that you never would have expected. I have nothing deep to say and no fascinating story to tell. I am just encouraged by the growth God has forced me to make in my trust in his providence.

Sarah

PS- Congratulations from Africa, Josh Evans :) :) :)

Yo, A Blog Update!

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Person Reading This!!

So this is just a quick update for all those interested in the doings of the Kenya team in Kijabe.

I don't know where the last person left off so I'll just wing it.

We landed in Nairobi after a long day (or short two days, I'm not sure) of travel . Three or so hours of Matatu action and we are in Kijabe, Kenya. The town in primarily a missionary town and there are a ton of believers here. It's cool to see God working all the way around the world, but still proving me wrong daily. Turns out Africa is not just a giant desert, who knew...

For ministry, we have had a WIDE variety of opportunities. From teaching, playing, laboring, praying and worshipping, to just chillaxing in the forest, it seems like we've done so much.

Do not be alarmed!!

Most of team has been sick at some point or another but God knows what He's doing =)

Everyone is now well and kickin it old school with a few beats to spare.

The last week has been awesome. Though we are doing a lot of the same things each day, God brings up new opportunities to develop relationships and glorify Him. Thanks Big Man.

Anyway, here are few things we need prayer for:

1) COMMUNICATION! This is huge. With 17 people on the team there have been a lot of miscommunications that Satan likes to use to divide us.

2) Patience. With each other and with the people here. Different lifestyles and leadership styles make it difficult to wait on people and, much more importantly, God.

3) Love. Pray that God's love shines through us and that we wouldn't try to use anything in ourselves to help these people.

Thanks for reading =)

-This has been a blog post by Dan Power. Hope you enjoyed it.

el clamor de mi ser

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here we walk the earth, through the jungle, miles in the morning to get to church. Here we lay down our selfish pride, cast aside mirrors, and let Christ define our beauty. Here we have no house, but make a tent full of friends our home. Here we have come, forsaking our families to follow God, only to find family, communion with our Father and brothers and sisters. Here we came because we worship God. Here we came to worship God and so we do.

We have not forsaken all. Far from it, we are finding out All in All the Great I AM. Laying under the stars we meditate on our insignificance. Standing in the Greatt Rift Valley we praise God for our usefulness. A child hangs from every limb, and ten more press in from every side, just to touch us, only to talk. We are not significant because of who we are, or what we are doing here, but because God allows us to be his living love to the people here.

Life in this close community is not simple, but Christ's love covers over a multitude of wrongs. We are weak but He is strong it as simple as that. In the valley there is extreme poverty among the people of the IDP (internally displaced people) Camps. Water is a scarcity, and clean water nearly impossible to come by. Children run around hungry but glad for the distraction we bring. Parents talk about the homes they left with longing, longing for the farms that feed them and the people that were killed in the political uprising. The first night as a team we questioned God. Why? Why God? Why do I have much and they have little? Why couldn't you have done this to me in their place? Why don't you multiple the simple amount of food we brought so there could be enough for everyone. WHY LORD ARE YOU SILENT WHILE THEY SUFFER?

God answered us. "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place?"

So we fall on our face in worship Which is why we are here in the first place. God is Holy and we are not. He is the savior and I am not. I will praise Him all my days for He is faithful.

Faithful. Promise keeper. We petition Him, simply cry out to Him to remember His promises to His people and relieve their suffering, to provide for their needs.

If only pictures and words could fully convey all that I see, taste, hear, feel, experience, and learn. Then I would spend every free moment writing to you that you may be blessed as much as I by what is going on here. Sadly, I cannot do God's work here justice. However, know this.

Here I find peace because I am where I belong, following hard after God, for the fist time in years. Here my life is being changed daily. Here I am returning to the joy of my childhood. Here I learn the simple truth of children's songs. Here I am finding I am weak but He is strong, Yes, Jesus loves me' Amen

6/20/2009

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By Stephen Lepke written on 6/20/2009

Well we've been here almost 2.5 weeks now and I can't believe just how much God has been doing. We've been very busy helping build a 3^rd and 4^th grade school, leading a 1^st and 2^nd grade school, playing with kids during P.E. (physical education), and also going to the hospital. I think in every instance, God has been moving and working in ways we couldn't imagine.

For example, one of my favorite moments thus far has been spending time with the workers who have been building the 3^rd and 4^th grade school. We've spent two full days with them, digging ditches and laying the foundation to the building. During our days work, we've been engaging the workers in conversation and talking to them about God. They open up a lot since we are doing manual labor along side of them and have earned their trust and respect. During our second visit, one of the older boys named Samuel invited us to eat dinner with him at his house. At first I thought he was just being nice, but not going to follow through with the invite. But God knocked me in the face and the next day Samuel came up and said, "So you are coming tomorrow, right?" So he came by and picked us up the next afternoon and we had an amazing Kenya dinner. We had Chapatay (like a tortilla), fried cabbages, potatoes, shredded carrots, and a fruit bowl. They fed us so much food and were very hospitable. We talked about the differences of culture, school, football (soccer) and God.

Stay tuned for more... We're experiencing technical difficulties.

Update from Kenya

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Family and Friends-

My name is Heather Mustain and I work here at the AIM office. I spoke with both the Kenya leaders yesterday and they wanted me to post a quick update on the team's activities since it will be a week until they are able to make it to the internet.

They are all doing well and are safe. There are a few that are slightly sick so they would appreciate your prayers for the health of the team.

Ministry has been going great. They are going to the schools and working with the children, completing tasks that have desperately needed to be done and working in a local refugee camp.

They held a feeding at the camp this past week where people ate for the first time in days.

Continue to pray for them as they do the Lord's work in Kenya. And as they serve the Kingdom.

Blessings,

Heather Mustain

"Oh, we'll take you places."

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Habari from Kenya!

We are here, and it is cold.

We've only been here since Friday, but we are settled in and it's starting to feel like home. Two women, Margaret and Vicky, have been cooking the most delicious Kenyan meals for us, so I've definitely packed on a few pounds since we got here. And by "here," I specifically mean Kijabe, a rural community outside of Nairobi where they house a lot of missionaries. We're staying in a roped-off section of a community center where they set up tents and mattresses for us (it's inside, but the tents are really cool anyway).

On Saturday, we spent the morning with a man named John, taking a tour of Kijabe. He's an elder in the local church and we went and saw the hospital, the schools, the scenery, and met his family. Afterwards, we went back to the community center and got to sit in on a Masai wedding. Like, a legit ceremony where the people all wear their tribal clothes and do traditional dances and everything. It was surreal. They cooked a lot of food that we had helped prepare on Friday night, and it was wonderful.

On Sunday, we went to church, and stayed for both the English and Swahili service, which was really interesting. Church here is absolutely nothing like church back in the states. It was really long, but I enjoyed it a lot. Pastor Simon talked about Hosea and Gomer, and how God will continue taking us back no matter how many times we choose to run away. It was encouraging.

Monday, I worked in a primary school with a few of my teammates. When we got there, the woman in charge literally said to us "The kids are yours for the day. Teach them." So that was a challenge, because we hadn't really prepared anything, but the Spirit moved and worked and the day ended up being very successful. The kids refer to us as mzungos (white people), so you can always tell when they're talking about you. These kids are amazing. All they want is to hold your hand and play with your hair and ask you questions about Obama. They are so sweet-natured and intelligent. I loved working with them.

Yesterday, my entire team taught P.E. in an elementary school, and that was a trip. Seriously. We played soccer and Frisbee and ran around a LOT. I was pooped afterward, but then we got to grade some papers and go into the classrooms, so we taught them how to play heads up seven up. Fun.

I don't have much else to say, but I'd appreciate it if you all would keep my team's health in your prayers. One of my leaders and two of my teammates have already gotten physically ill, and my throat has been hurting pretty badly on and off since we got here. Satan is really trying to attack my team with illness and injury, and if you could pray for our protection from that, it would mean a lot. Thanks.

I love you all! I miss you! Talk to you again in 2 weeks J

Sarah

Quick Update

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey there, I just wanted to give a quick update. I spoke with the leaders and they gave me an update on the team and life in Kenya. Overall, everyone is doing well and are getting adjusted to life, the food, the living conditions etc. They have been involved with lots of ministries like teaching in primary schools, helping in the churches, light construction, and painting. And of course, they are spending LOTS of time playing with and interacting with the kids.

On Wednesday some of the team will be in Nairobi and should have internet access. Look for another blog update on Wednesday from either the leaders or students. As the leaders continue to sort out the schedule for the team, they should have a "communication day" set up soon. I know you are anxious to hear from your students so we ask for your patience as regular and consistent internet access is not always available in Africa.

Blessings,

Chad Mustain

Team Arrived Safely

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hello family, friends, and blog readers-

I just wanted to give a very quick update that the team has arrived safely in Kenya and that they are with their local hosts. We will post additional updates in the next few days.

Blessings,

Chad M.

This is Sarah Sikes!

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just to let you all know, this isn't actually Stephen. It's Sarah and I couldn't remember my password :)

Training camp is over and we leave for Kenya in 9 1/2 hours, and let me tell you, it has been a week of struggles. When my family got here on Friday, I was almost immediately separated from them while they went on a tour of the facilities and I went to drop my stuff in my cabin and check in. I didn't see them again until they left, at which point a long 4 days of emotional ups and downs began.

Every evening, we met as a team after worship to get to know each other, and the first night I'm pretty sure I cried through the entire thing. I felt like there was companionship among everyone in my team except for me, and I felt young and unprepared when stacked against this group of college kids who seemed to have it all together. We played the basic game of Get To Know You (where are you from, what are you studying, what's your favorite ice cream, etc), and prayed. I was still a little lonely, but encouraged by all the laughter shared with my team.

After that first night, we settled into a routine. 6:30 wakeup, 7:00 prayer, 7:30 breakfast, 8:00 quiet time, 9:00 morning session, 12:30 lunch, 1:15 teambuilders, 5:00 free time, 6:00 dinner, 7:00 evening session, 9:00 team time. I know the schedule isn't of much consequence to any of you, but it was a comfort to me and God really worked through the banality of routine to take away the anxiety I felt after that first night. Saturday we did an activity for teambuilders that eliminated most of the awkwardness left on our team, and it revealed our strengths (encouragement and a laid-back attitude) as well as our weaknesses (communication). That night, a few of us got to share our testimonies and I was incredibly encouraged to find out that one of my teammates was just coming out of a very similar struggle to some of mine. Hearing her speak honestly and frankly about the things that God was bringing her out of made it easier for me to be vulnerable and open with my team about where I come from and what God has done.

Sunday and Monday were pretty routine and not too exciting. I mean, they were exciting, but I can't recall a specific story from either day to share, except that Monday night, God broke me down. Completely. Tag, the man who has been teaching for us every night, spoke about surrender and how once we leave this camp, we effectively relinquish our expectations and rights. Rights to communication, comfort, privacy, food, everything. And it scared me. It scared me almost to the point of deciding to go home, even though they were all things that I had considered before. But it opened a door for me to communicate my needs with the team, and God surrounded me with comfort using their hands and words and prayers, and in one case, a really warm jacket. Because it is cold and we were outside and I was crying and shivering and I was pathetic enough to the point where one of my teammates was willing to let me wear his jacket.

As depressing as this all probably sounds, God and my team built me up. They prayed over me and encouraged me not to think of myself as young or ignorant, but to be open to the changes and advancements God is going to make in my life through this trip. They all had a kind word to say and I can't find a way to explain what it all meant to me, other than today I have been all smiles. I can't wait to leave tomorrow and see where God is going to take our team. Sorry this isn't so incredibly detailed, God has just done so much in the past few days and I don't have words to put with everything I've learned. I've prayed more than I ever have before and I can feel the Spirit preparing me for tomorrow morning.

Grace and peace to all of you! I miss you all and can't wait to see you at the end of the summer. Keep my team and me in your prayers.

Sarah

PS - Theme scripture for the summer - Psalm 51:10-12. I've written it in my journal about 6 times.

Dress for Both COLD & HOT Weather

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Team,

We are going to Kenya! As many of you have probably thought, Kenya is a hot place. However, it can also be a very COLD place (40-50*F in buildings with no insulation) if you are staying on top of a mountain!!! So please bring clothing for both hot and cold climates while also keeping in mind the dress code. Also bring warm clothes to sleep in at night. Thanks and see you Friday :)

Stephen & Beth

Expectations

Sun, 24 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Great question. I have no idea what to expect. I know God is going to work in me and in all of us during the trip and the only thing I expect is to get rocked by Him over and over again. My job is to hold on and let God do His thing. Ballin'

Update: Visas-now $50

Sun, 24 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone,

Originally I think we posted that the visas to Kenya were $25. They are in fact $50. So please bring $50 in bills printed later than 2001 when we leave for Kenya. Thanks.

Stephen and Beth

Expectations of My Mission Trip

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting...

What am I expecting... What am I expecting? I'm expecting God to work in us and through us, to make changes in how we think, feel, and act, to reach into the hearts of the people we are ministering to. Half of me trembles with excitement and anticipation of what God is going to do and the other half is wanting to run and hide out of fear that I will not be prepared. This is so unlike anything that I've ever done that I'm really not completely sure what to expect. I've never really been out of the country and the only mission trip I've been on was geared towards reaching out to college students here in the states. I know God is going to move and we're going to be amazed and awed by him. I know that our team is going to become close over these next two months and we're going to store up a ton of memories with each other. We're going to make mistakes, we're going to make kids smile, and we're going to share the gospel.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Ephesians 6:10

As I take a deep breath and look over this passage, I know that we will be facing spiritual warfare while we are in Kenya. I expect that we will stand bravely, armor ready, and that with strength from God and encouragement from each other we will be able to stand firm and fight against the schemes of the devil. Regardless of what I may be afraid of, whether it be the physical hardships, the utter newness of being in a new culture, or any number of unthought of possibilities, I know that God will be with us every step of the way.

Details on Training Camp

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One Week to Training Camp!

Can you believe that? Here are a few details that you will want to know.

Sleeping:

You will be sleeping in either Cabins or Tents. The Cabins have mattresses but the tents do not. So if you are assigned to a tent you will want to bring a pad to sleep on. If you do not want to take the pad to country, you can leave it at AIM and we will let the next group use it.

Here is how we divided the sleeping arrangements:

For the Girls the breakdown looks like this:

Tents:

Nicaragua

Swaziland-One Month

Kenya-One Month

Central American Expedition Team

Cabins:

Amazon Jungle

India

Kenya-Two Month

Swaziland-Two Month

Philippines

For the Boys you will all be in a cabin together.

Everyone will want to bring a sleeping bag and a great idea is to bring a sheet as it does get hot in GA and for some, it gets hot in country. Most of you will want to sleep on top of your sleeping bag.

Food:

You will not be able to take food in the cabins or the tents. The ants are horrible here in GA and they will get
in your sleeping bags and they will bite. So no Food! There will be a place to put food inside so make sure it is marked well with your name.

Cell Phones:

A friendly reminder that you are not to have cell phones while at Training Camp. You will be able to call your parents upon arrival if you would like to.

Laundry:

This is the largest Training Camp ever! Count on not having your laundry done while at Training Camp.

Extra Luggage:

You can only have one suitcase in the cabin or tent. All your other items will be put inside in one room. Count on not getting to that luggage as your may be on the bottom of the stack.

Items you will DEFINETLY want:

The two most common items that individuals do not bring are a flashlight and a toothbrush holder. It is dark on our property with very limited outside lighting.

Your toothbrush and toothpaste will not be kept in your cabin; you will want to put your toothbrush in something to protect it from germs.

Rain:

It is forecasted to rain most the week. Plan accordingly! The dirt in GA is red clay and will ruin your shoes and clothes to the point that you will want to throw most of the them away at the end of Training Camp.

Final Paper Work Past Due 1 Week:

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Your final paperwork is past due!
This was expected to be in the office. If your Account Page does not show that all is in; you need to get that done today, NO EXCEPTIONS!

You need to mail ALL the documents to:

Adventures In Missions
Admissions Department

6000 Wellspring Trl

Gainesville, GA 30506

How I was called...

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Prior to my sophomore year at college, I never believed that I could give up a 'whole summer' for a service project or mission. I constantly made up excuses in my head as to why I shouldn't serve. The excuses I created in my head were not of God and I was being blinded to what the Lord wanted for me. During my sophomore year, God really challenged me to drop all of the worldly excuses that I constructed and serve His people for the summer. I decided to devote my summer to serving people with disabilities through PUSH America, the national philanthropy of my fraternity. I was chosen to be a cyclist on the Journey of Hope, a 65 day bike ride from San Francisco to Washington D.C. to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Last year, the other cyclists and I raised over $500,000 dollars for organizations that support people with disabilities which we gave out across 32 different states. I truly believe that God used my experience on the Journey of Hope to exhibit how selflessness and loving on people transcends any other desire that I could ever have. Nothing has ever brought me more life or happiness than building relationships and serving people with disabilities. I could see God in the eyes of everyone that I met across the United States and I believe that God used the quiet time on my bike each day to listen to what He has in store for me.

Each day we spent between 6 and 8 hours on our bikes riding to our destinations and needless to say, we had a lot of time alone to think (or pray). As I was on the bike I would reflect on the previous days experiences and be open to listening to what God had to tell me. It was my understanding that God was telling me to continue following and serving Him, but in a community of Christians. Being one of 2 Christians out of 20 guys on my team, often times it was hard to have fellowship and keep all of my thoughts on God. Although I know God was with me during the whole trip, I really believe that He wanted me to experience the Christian community aspect of mission work and service. So, I guess I made the decision to serve last summer on my bike and chose to sign up for the 'Messenger' program through our college ministry that Caroline, Sarah, and Dan explained. I had no idea where the committee was going to send me, but I liked putting the decision fully in God's hands and I couldn't be happier with where I was placed!

So, I will meet all of you in 9 days. =-) That is neat.

How I was Called to the Mission Field

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I was interested in missions since I started high school, but I first felt God leading me when I was sixteen. I knew he wanted me in Kenya, but as a junior in high school my parents were apprehensive for me to go. Still apprehensive, they finally granted me permission to go on another mission trip to New Orleans. I was so pumped to follow God's leading, so I took a week off high school and work to go with a group of adults from my church and ended up staying in a beautiful house in the garden district which is where I met Elizabeth, an AIM missionary.

Despite telling my parents of my experiences, they still were not ready for their oldest daughter to be a missionary on the other side of the world, so I let God's calling stay dormant until he powerfully spoke to me and led me to be an ambassador. He allowed me to speak on the behalf of the suffering people in Africa, while I was still unable to travel there. By the time I was seventeen I had already been the first high school intern at Michigan's largest regional theatre for over a year, and was auditioning like crazy! I was considered for many local films and theatrical roles and was signed to a management company as a high fashion model and actress. I felt so successful.

This tidbit seems totally random and thrown in there just to brag, but it certainly isn't. It really isn't anything special, even though at the time I thought it was and my point is coming up, I promise. When I was seventeen, I also had the opportunity to attend a leadership conference put on across the world by Willow Creek. There I heard Bono speak about his involvement in Africa. Bono, who has had all the success in the world, spoke so humbly as a servant of God. I felt like I had so much success as a teen in Michigan's tiny theatre/film industry and seeing Bono speak humbly, but with conviction, humbled me in so many ways. In that moment, I knew God wanted me to do something, but I definitely had no idea what He had in store for me.

That night in August 2006, I went on MySpace (oh yes, back in the day I was an avid MySpace-er) and contacted about seven local bands to see if they would be interested in doing a benefit. All seven replied almost within 24 hours to say that they would love to do it. Long story short, I needed a team to fundraise and organize for this event, that ultimately was more trouble and money than it was worth. The team became an organization called The Save Africa Project and we are currently providing scholarships for five boys in Kenya, investigating dehydration solutions, and have collected 2000 pairs of shoes for those in need.

Last year, I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya where God has placed specifically in my heart for whatever reason. God taught me so much about what you really need and what you don't and placed so many wonderful people in my heart. I was so blessed to meet one of the boys that The Save Africa Project has ended up providing a scholarship for. After returning, I spent this year fighting harder than ever to bring awareness to suffering and be a voice for the voiceless. God has also allowed me to be active in other organizations other than my own. This year I put on an event for TOMS One Day Without Shoes, and demonstrated in Chicago for Invisible Children's The Rescue (if you watched Oprah's Friday Live May 1st with Ellen and Hugh Jackman, you probably saw me in the first 10 minutes of the show!!), and when I return I will become a child ambassador for World Vision.

This pretty much what God has done in my heart over the last 4 years. I didn't have a near death experience or anything. I just asked God to use me and He has done so more than I would ever have expected in a way I didn't know was possible. I am so thrilled that He is sending me back to Kenya again for 2 months. I can't wait to see what He has in store for all of us this time.

Question!

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Which I think I probably already know the answer to, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I know most of our energy is going to be dedicated to working, and that's fine. But given the right circumstance, would we be allowed to get a group together to go running?

Baggage Regulations

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many of you have been asking about luggage regulations for travel. For your flight to Kenya from Atlanta, the regulations are 2 checked bags, not weighing more than 50 pounds each. If you go over the limit, you will be responsible for the excess charges. Make sure you weigh your bag before you come to make sure it's not over the weight limit.

Also, you need to check with your airline for your domestic flight to Atlanta when you come for training camp. Many airlines only allow 1 bag for their domestic flights. The excess charges can sometimes be a little steep. Those charges are not reimbursable

HOW I WAS CALLED INTO THE MISSION FILED

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I WAS CALLED INTO THE MISSION FILED WHEN i went on my first mission trip to jamica that has helped me become closer to god.and relize that there other people out there that needs to know more about him and they just need some to love them.thats why i want to become nurse is to help people and share the gospel with them.i am so gald god is giving me this time to go to africa i am so excited. to help other people over there god is so good he has made a big impacted in my life i am so thankful for that.

How I was called to the Missions Field

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During high school, I went to Tijuana for a mission trip to build a school for an orphanage. This was the first time I had a cross cultural experience and I loved it. It opened my eyes so much for how big the world is and how much life there is outside of suburban America. During my freshman year at CU I was presented with the opportunity to travel to Thailand for a 2 week mission trip. I wish I could describe the trip on this blog, but lets just say it ROCKED me. I never thought that in 2 weeks I could gain such a new picture of the Lord. I learned He is SO big yet so intimate. On that trip, God showed me that I have a heart for nations. He showed me that it is so important to serve in the place I live but also that we are called to serve in other nations. A verse that the Lord has given me is "Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matthew 4:19

So this brings me to Kenya! Just like Caroline, Dan and Lee, we all went through the process called Messenger that caroline explained in her post of how she was called to missions. When I committed to serving the Lord this summer, I had no idea I was going to Kenya. I have always had a passion for Africa and I have always been curious about the place. I knew I would go there some day but I didn't know if it was this summer and apparently it is the time! I have no idea why I am going to Kenya, my prayer is that the Lord will reveal that to me while we are all there. I have so much peace about this place and that this is where God is calling me to go and be his hands and feet for whatever His plan is. With that, I am so excited to serve and minister to God's people in Kenya. Taking a leap of faith being scared to leave my family, friends and everything familiar but I know that God will take care of all of us and has brought us all together for something big and so much greater than ourselves!!

Reimbursements General Facts

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Once your entire trip and airfare is paid for, you may submit your additional trip
expenses to us for reimbursement from your account. The allowable reimbursements
are those expenses which you incur as a direct result of your participation on this trip.
The IRS limits us on what can be reimbursed - things they consider direct expenses for
this trip.

The items you can submit for reimbursement are:
Airfare tickets
Medical insurance
Shots needed only for this trip
Passport and Visa expenses for this trip only

To be reimbursed for these expenses, you MUST submit your receipts to us prior to
training camp. The original receipt is the only form we can accept. WE CANNOT
ACCEPT CHARGE CARD STATEMENTS OR A COPY OF A CHECK.

We will process those receipts and reimburse you only if you have the amount to cover
the cost in your support account. We will provide a partial reimbursement if the funds
left in your support account do not cover the entire receipt after your trip is complete. We process reimbursements:
After you leave on your trip
Mid-Way through the trip
Upon completion of the trip

Sometimes in the summer months it is difficult to keep up with the demand of
reimbursements. Plan on your reimbursement check taking about a month to process
from leaving on your trip to a month after the completion of your trip.

Any additional money which comes in after your trip is complete will go toward covering
any trip deficit you may have, but cannot be used for reimbursement of expenses.

When submitting receipts to us, please fill out the reimbursement form that you can find
from your Account page.

Again, ALL REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO US PRIOR TO YOU GOING OUT.

Directions to Airport and Gainesville

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Directions to the Atlanta Airport :
MEETING AT THE AIRPORT: When you fly into the airport you are to meet in the Atrium, located right outside security. It is a huge gathering room with lots of sofas, food court etc. We will be there to meet you . Look for us in our Aim t-shirts and big smiles :) .

Directions to Adventures In Missions Gainesville, Georgia

From Atlanta, Hartsfield Atlanta Airport and the South:

Take the Connector (I-75/I-85) northbound until the two interstates split just north of Midtown. Though I-85 heads northeast and would appear to split off to the right, be cautioned: I-85 is a left exit and only the left three lanes will take you there safely! Stay northbound on I-85. You willl pass under the Perimeter (I-285) at Spaghetti Junction. Continue northward on I-85 until you reach exit 113, which is the beginning of I-985. Take I-985 (also a left exit) northbound for 24 miles until you reach exit 24. Exit there. Take a left at the end of the exit ramp, towards downtown Gainesville. You are on U.S. Hwy 129. It takes just under an hour from downtown to get to this point.

Continue north on Hwy 129 (you will turn right about a mile from the interstate and another right at a T in the road). You will cross over Lake Lanier at two points: the Chattahoochee River fork and the Little River fork. A few miles beyond the second bridge you will come to a traffic light. You will take a right at the light onto Nopone Road . Follow Nopone for 1 mile to Bogus Road ; turn left onto Bogus. You will see our sign about a mile in on the left hand side (but you won't see a building). Turn left into our driveway and you will come to our building.

From Greenville/Charlotte and the Eastern Seaboard:

Take I-85 southbound from Greenville/Spartanburg until you cross the Georgia state line at Hartwell Lake. Continue southward until you reach exit 137 ( Gainesville/ Jefferson). Exit there, turning right at the end of the ramp, towards Gainesville. You are on U.S. Hwy 129. Travel for about 17 miles until you cross over I-985, then follow the instructions in the second paragraph above.

From Chattanooga/Nashville and the Midwest or Appalachia:

Take I-75 (or I-24) southbound from Chattanooga until you cross the Georgia state line. Continue southward on I-75 until you reach exit 312, which is State Hwy 53. Go east on 53, being careful to stay on 53 as it goes through some small towns and makes a few turns. After going through the town of Dawsonville you will come to a major intersection with GA 400. Go north (left) on 400 to the very next traffic light and turn right on Harmony Church Rd. You will come to a stop sign a the jct. of 136 ( Price Rd. ). Turn right on 136. Travel on 136 for about 10 miles and it will end at Rt. 60. Make a right on 60 ( Thompson Br. Rd. ) and then a left at the very next light which is 283 ( Mt. Vernon Rd. ). Take 283 to the first stop sign and turn right on Jim Hood Rd. After a few miles you will come to a light - US 129. Go straight and the road becomes Nopone Rd. Go about a mile and turn left at the top of a hill on Bogus Rd. Go a mile on Bogus and you will see the sign for Adventures in Missions on the left. Turn there and follow the road to the end and you have arrived. Note: This is a 2 lane, windy road and is about 80 miles across, taking about 2 hours from the I-75 exit.

Alternate Route via interstate. Take I-75 south to I-285 and go east on I-285 to I-85. Go north on I-85 to exit 113, I-985. Take I-985 north to exit 24, US 129. You can then follow the directions above in coming from Atlanta. Note: This way is much longer mileage wise and sometimes much longer time wise, depending on the time of day and the Atlanta area traffic. But it's all interstate until you get to 129 (the last 10 miles).

Ministry Supplies!!!!!!!!

Sat, 9 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Team!

This is the start of our trip.... but before we get going we need to start collecting ministry supplies. DO NOT purchase any of these supplies, but rather go to local businesses in your community and have them donate these items to you. This is a great way to have people from your community support you in making a global impact for God's kingdom. If you are nervous about asking, pray to God for the strength and boldness to ask. You'll be surprised how He works!

Please sign up for at least one of these on the list and then post it on the blog. We want to get everything, so it's a first come, first serve basis for signing up on which items to bring. Please feel free to bring more than what you signed up for and even be creative and bring some other fun "craftsy" things not on the list, but we have to get all the items. Please post any extra supplies you are bringing so that we all don't end up bringing a gazillion (real number) of one kind of item J. These are our main ministry supplies for the trip, so make sure to bring plenty of them . Thanks and I'm praying for you all. See you at camp soon!

List of Ministry Supplies for the Amazing and Awesome Kenya Team!!!!

1. Household scissors-NOT to be packed in your carry-on! Lots and lots of stickers! Look for the sticker books in the educational section of Wal-mart or your local store - the kind teachers give out to students.

2. Elmer's glue, Craft glue

2. Craft stick

s (otherwise known as popsicle sticks)

3. Construction paper. Do not buy the kind you have to tear out of a book-no fun.

4. Paper plates, Sharpies (all colors).

5. Multi-colored or florescent typing paper.

6. Bucket Of Craft Foam. They sell this in craft stores like Michaels, but it is cheaper at Wal-mart (about$6). Sometimes you have to look on the lowest shelf, but it should be back in the craft, sewing material section. They have a new kind that has crosses and churches in it. Get this if you can.

7. Felt, ribbon, extra material, anything that can be glued onto paper or cardboard to make a collage.

8. Packs of craft floss. Get any color. Face Paint

9. Extra backpack, craft boxes or more ziplocs. These are so that we can combine and organize our supplies when we get to Georgia. You can put your stuff in some of these boxes/bags and then pack them in your extra suitcase or duffle bag.

10. Balls. We need balls of all types. Soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, nerf footballs, small bouncy balls. You can take the air out of them and smush them into your bag. Don't forget a needle and pump.

11. Small paper bags for making puppets or putting prizes in.

12. Lots and lots of stickers! Look for the sticker books in the educational section of Wal-mart or your local store - the kind teachers give out to students.

13. Packs of animal balloons. They have these for sure at Party City, but other places have them, too. Anyway, you need about three hundred of these. Your team will go through them like wildfire! If nothing else, you can stand on the corner and make balloon animals and draw a crowd! Don't know how to make balloon animals? Don't worry! Alli, maker of all deformed balloon animal dogs, will teach you at training camp if you want to learn!

14. Balloon animal pump. This is a plastic, cheap hand pump they sell beside the balloon animal balloons. If you go to party city, get the big yellow, red, and blue one. The little skinny ones do not work as well.

15. Regular balloons, for parties, for fun decorations, for water balloon fights, for water balloon toss games. People love balloons! They make us smile!

16. Duct tape (any color!), Masking tape, Scotch tape

17. Crayola markers. We've tried other brands, Crayola is the best.

Crayola stampers. These are markers with little stamps on the end.

18. Rolls of Yarn. Any color, used for making God's Eyes and bracelets

God Bless,

Stephen and Beth :D