Trip of a Lifetime

Jambo from Africa!!! That means Hi in Kswahili

Our Kenya team returned Wednesday afternoon safe and sound. Stace and I want to thank everyone for praying throughout this entire journey process. For those of you who don't know, we went to Kenya in co-operation with a fabulous non-profit organization called World Orphans. This group believes in the local church: both here and around the world. Thy believe that churches working in partnership are the most strategic and long-term way to accomplish (ec)3: strengthening churches, rescuing children, and reaching communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our team served with three Nairobi churches: Fountain of Life Nairobi, Fountain of Hope Church, and Fountain of Life Juja. Stace and I visited Mathare slum in the heart of Nairobi. During this morning we visited 6 homes that Fountain of Life ministers to on a weekly basis; either with prayer, money for daily living, or medicine. Through the Home Based Care program, these churches are keeping children vulnerable to orphaning under the care of their mother, father or extended family. We were able to bless the HBC families with our presence and listening ears, praying for them and giving each family a Bible.
On Thursday Stace and I traveled with some of our team to the outskirts of Nairobi to Fountain of Hope church and girls home. While there we visited widows who are part of a Micro Finance program designed to give these women small ($20-40 US dollars), interest-free loans, to start or strengthen their small businesses, empowering their capacity to care for themselves and their children. With minimal capital investments, this church is truly making a difference in the lives of these widows and children.
In addition, our Journey team split into three sub-teams to help provide two community outreach events at three different church locations: church-based children's sports outreach events and free church-based medical camps. Between the three churches, there were 175 children who got to participate in an afternoon of fun and games. I had a great time seeing all the kids show up from miles around!
The free medical camps held on-site at the three churches were a major success! In 3 ½ days, over 1500 women and children came to the three churches to receive free medical care and 150 people took advantage of free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. I was involved in two of these medical camps; one at Fountain of Hope on Friday and one with Fountain of Life in Nairobi on Saturday where almost 600 people were seen by the doctors! Most of the ailments seen were: malaria, dysentery, cough, flu-like respiratory problems (most likely because this is the coldest part of the year for Kenya). I also got to help out in the pharmacy actually filling prescriptions!
These church-based outreach events are a great way to heighten the visibility of the local church. Connecting the HIV issue to the local church sends a wonderful message of acceptance and grace. The most important ministry that occurred during these events was the sharing of the Gospel through one on one prayer. All three churches experienced people coming to faith in Christ. The tangible love showed through these outreach events provided an opportunity for the church to reach the community with the Gospel. Praise God! The impact of church based outreach within communities was evident on Sunday at the first ever service held at the new Fountain of Life church in Nairobi when, in addition to the existing 70 members, 200 new adults attended the service.Stace and I could tell many, many stories of how children were blessed by the presence and love of our team members. The team ministered to orphaned and vulnerable children by spending time with them; praying with them; playing with them; holding their hands and listening to their stories. Perhaps the biggest blessing to the kids was simply our presence with them. They loved seeing their picture in our cameras and touching our 'hairy' arms! The children within the different communities really enjoyed the sports outreach events. These kids are soccer (football) fanatics!!! And they are good! It was amazing to see them playing barefoot on rough ground playing all day long! Many children were provided with much needed medical attention as well. The junior high kids at our church were able to raise money to provide the boys at Fountain of Life new shoes and another youth group provided each boy a new toothbrush and toothpaste. It was a real blessing to watch children be ministered to in so many different ways.
The three communities in proximity to the local churches were truly blessed throughout the week. All churches experienced new attendees this past Sunday and as I stated above, Fountain of Life had 200 new adult visitors to their service. Our teams truly blessed some of the most impoverished communities through the home visits into the Mathare, Kyole, and other slums. Throughout the week many people came to faith in Christ whether on a home visit into the slums, visiting widows, at a medical camp or at the Sunday worship services. The Spirit of God was redeeming people from all tongues, tribes, and nations. What a blessing to see the hand of God at work and, to be a part of it. There is nothing more encouraging then seeing a local church making a difference in the communities they serve.
This short wrap-up doesn't even begin to tell all our stories; there were many more amazing things that God did during our Journey to Kenya. It was a true blessing to see God work in and through the lives of our team and we pray that the Journey in our hearts will continue as we passionately pursue Christ and his Kingdom. I will never be the same.