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I have had several people remind me that we needed "one last post" so here it is. Perhaps it won't be the last, but I guess it could serve as one if need be. The team is home safe and sound... all 16 of us. Tina and I (Rose) got home exactly one month ago today.
Our trip was amazing to say the least. We experienced incredible things in the wonderful country of Kenya. The people of God there are amazing. They are challenging, encouraging and inspiring. The way of life and place itself is so different, yet actually really refreshing compared to the fast-paced, different life of the States. I miss it so much some days.
Thank you to all who have prayed for us, supported us and taught us so much through this experience. Our time in Africa was well-spent and something I think I can safely say none of us will ever forget. Each time I see a team member of mine, I remember so much and have such an incredible connection with them.
The incredible summer we have had makes every difficulty of adjusting back to "life as usual" worth it. And hopefully "life as usual" will never be the case. I hope we can take what we have learned this summer and apply it to ministry here and wherever life may take us each in the future.
Please continue to pray for our adjustment back and all that we are trying to process and apply to our lives. Even though the fundraising, the updates from country and all of it seems to be over to those who supported us, to us it is not the end. There is still much to think thru and to process and I ask for your patience and prayer as we continue to try to adjust and figure out exactly what it is that God may have for each of us to continue to learn thru our experiences this summer.
Thanks again! We have felt the prayers of each person who held us up and it has been a great experience!!!

Flight Update: Parents Please Read!!

This is just a quick note to let you know all is well. I’m writing this in the Mombasa airport after just arriving from a diverted flight. The Huruma team was on our way to Nairobi this evening and we were five minutes from landing when the flight ahead of us crashed. Due to the debris on the runway, we were unable to land and after circling the airport we were diverted back to Mombasa due to lack of fuel. We are now awaiting our next flight itinerary. We had planned to be in Nairobi tonight and spend the next two days up-country until the team leaves on Wednesday for the USA. The team is all doing very well and they have a great attitude about all this. We are praising God for His provision in safety. I’ll update you from Nairobi once we get up there.
Tina

last update( from me anyways)

Hi everybody!!!!
So this will be my last update letter before I get back. Today is the last full day of camp. So basically is the last day of our mission’s trip. Tomorrow we leave to go on Safari, then we head to Nairobi to leave for home. This week has been awesome. I’m glad it is over but I am sad for it to be over. There are so many different kinds of kids here, from being extremely poor to kids who travel all the time. It’s amazing seeing God work through these kids and seeing how thirsty they are to know about him. We all got to play with a chameleon, it was soooo cool. There are so many strange bugs here, today we saw a sausage bug it’s a fly that’s body looks like a sausage. There are village kids that hang with us at the camp they are extremely cute and we have all joked about taking them home as carry-on’s. I’ll talk to y’all later, please pray for our safety traveling to safari place and traveling home.
God Bless,
Nicole

Teddy Bears: Thank you TBC kids!!

Our home church, Trinity Baptist in Arizona had a VBS last month and the kids made teddy bears for us to give to the Kenyan children at the feeding centers we have been visiting. Let me just tell you right off, they were a HUGE hit! Kids: I wish you could have been here to see the faces of the children receiving your bears! As soon as we started handing the bears out, all the children would squeal and laugh and hug their new bear! And they would NOT let their bear go! When meal time came, no one wanted to set their bear down in order to wash their hands. So what we wound up doing was washing their hands for them- one hand at a time so they could transfer the bear into their other hand!!! It was adorable! So we just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE TRINITY KIDS WHO SENT A BEAR!!!

Feeding Centers

Of the many cultural experiences the Huruma team has had here in Kenya, one of them has been to visit several feeding centers set up as a ministry branch through Crossroads Fellowship Church in conjunction with Manna Worldwide. Essentually, Crossroads finds areas where the poverty is so great that children are going without food. They build a church, kindergarten and feeding hall and then Manna helps pay for food, clothing and education for the children. Manna, similar to Compassion, gets different churches and sponsors to catch the vision and understand that children are dying unless something is done. But the great thing is that not only do these children get a meal, they get spiritually fed as well and they take what they have learned back to their families. Most of the feeding centers we have been to have had 150 to 200 children which is wonderful but there is still much work to be done. It’s heartbreaking to go to the centers and know that while you are helping 200 kids there are 4,000 more outside the compound starving. I think for me, that is the hardest part about ministry out here: you can never do enough! I just keep holding onto the knowledge that I am simply a vessel. The team is starting to understand that as well. We have been to five feeding centers across the Kenyan coast: 1) Gospel FC in an area called Shanzu where the surrounding community is very animistic. 2) Vipingo FC, the newest center built, was just a plot of land when I was here last year and now has a kindergarten, church and feeding hall thanks to a church in Florida who has sponsored 200 kids! 3) New Life FC is also in a very animistic area and the actual plot of land where the church now stands was used for human sacrifices up until a few years ago. 4) Tiwi FC, on the same compound as the youth camp we are leading, is in a predominantly Muslim area amongst the Digo tribe. 5) Pirani FC (pictured) was the last feeding center we visited. I purposely scheduled it last because the area is so incredibly poor. Kenya is a 3rd world country and poverty is all around but Pirani is so far into the bush (rural area) that the people are living in mud huts that wash away with each heavy rain and drinking from the same river their cows use. Visiting that center was hard for the team but very eye opening. It’s incredible to see people who have so little and yet are so generous and hospitable, so full of joy! Listening to these tiny kids sing songs about Jesus’ love, forgetting your sorrows and being a light really puts everything into perspective. God’s love is simple and it simply is.

Rose, Nate and Mama Kenya

Our Huruma team has been teaming up with the band at Crossroads Fellowship to lead worship on Sundays. Here is a picture of Nate and Rose as they lead the congregations in "Blessed Be Your Name." We have all enjoyed having Aunt Barb along with us this summer. Her sense of humor puts us all in stitches. Last week we were way down south in an area called Pirani walking in a village and meeting people. A baby goat was grazing nearby and before we knew it, Aunt Barb, or Mama Kenya as we now call her, scooped it up and began carrying it! It was so random that we all just laughed! I'm sure her grandkids will get a kick out of this picture!

Brittnie

Brittnie with one of the little ones at Tiwi Feeding Center.

Peter, Amanda, Alyssa

Peter at Vipingo Feeding Center, Amanda at New Life Feeding Center, and Alyssa also at Vipingo sharing her "style".

Pictures taken at Vipingo Feeding Center

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!!

Greetings from Tiwi Youth Camp!!

I can't believe I actually have internet signal out here!! We are currently WAYYYY out in the middle of nowhere at the youth camp we have been preparing for. It is day two and so far I am please to annouce all leaders are running strong... Saturday might be a different story! We have 126 people on campus and the Huruma team has joined up with leaders from Crossroads Fellowship to facilitate and run the camp this week. Please be praying for the team as they learn to lead in a different culture and language. And pray for the kids at camp that the Lord would work in their hearts this week. I'll try to continue posting pictures- Rose wasn't kidding about the internet being slow here.... but have no fear, between her and I we've got about 5,000 pictures of your kids to bring back with us!!

The Provision of the Lord

To read more details about the last week, read Angela's post below, but I just wanted to praise God publically. We have seen His provision in many ways, but a few stick out. A couple weeks ago, we were on our way to church (some of us were playing and singing before church) and our bus stopped working. We decided to pray while our driver was looking at the bus. All that was said was "Lord Jesus..." and the bus started up again....before we had even really prayed anything specific. Then we were out one day painting one of the feeding centers. We were close to being done and had worked hard all day. Dark clouds began to come our way and Tina said it most definitely was going to rain. We decided to pray and simply asked God to move... and He did. Almost immediately, we literally saw the clouds begin to move another direction. Then today, our bus broke down quite a way from where we were going. We prayed again and simply asked God to provide. About 20 minutes later, an empty matatu (van) pulled up and we were able to get where we needed to be. For the time of day, it was very unusual to see an empty matatu, let alone that we were in the middle of close to no where and its not like there's a public transportation schedule. God is providing for us right before our eyes. Praise Him with us and when you go to pray, know that God is big enough to move mountains... and deliver matatus. :)
- Rose

Most Interesting Day Yet

I am officially writing this after our most “exciting” day so far this trip. After a 3 hour drive to the last feeding center we will visit, we arrived to find a lack of children. The teacher had canceled today of school because they hadn’t gotten the message we would be there. But we got the opportunity to wander around the surrounding villages. This feeding center was by far the poorest of them all. They had two smaller sized buildings, one made of mud and rock. The villages were full of children clothed in clothes literally falling apart and families with so many kids and not enough to feed them. The more I see of these places the more and more I completely admire the pastors who are working in these places. Well, onto the day…on the way home our bus broke down. After twenty minutes a matatu (van they use as public transportation) pulls up. We cram 20, yes 20, people into a van with a limit of 14 for a two hour ride. We then took the ferry back across and met our new driver with a van. The Lord was good to us JYesterday (Wednesday) the girls had an adventure getting our hair done – be ready for a surprise when I get home (or look forward to pictures…haha) And that evening we had dinner with the missionary pastor and Bruce O’Neil, the director of Manna international (they group that helps set up feeding centers). It was a really great evening of hearing how God works. Tuesday we went to another feeding center called Tiwi. It was absolutely incredible. The Pastor started it with him teaching 5 kids in preschool and has blossomed into 8 grades up to our 6th grade equivalent with 230 kids! The facility is really great, and in fact it is where we will be having our youth camp. I had the opportunity to meet several 15 and 16 year olds who will be at camp and I am pretty excited to be able to minister to them and get to know them even more. Monday was a day full of culture. We went to an Akamba (a tribe that has set up this system for wood carving and selling their goods) we also went to an area of stores (tin shacks) for soapstone. Bartering with the shop owners got to be really fun. Sunday half the group went to Duruma (bush land) for church where several of them killed chickens for dinner and were even given a live chicken as a parting gift. We went to church and heard the director of Manna International speak. We also got free time in the afternoon that was much needed. Thank the Lord I am feeling better, and thanks for all your prayers for that. You can keep several things in your prayers – tomorrow we head to an AIDS orphanage and that will be really hard, so just pray that we are sensitive to the needs and affected in a positive way. Also, for camp, it starts on Monday, so this may be my last post. Just pray that the kids are open and that we say the right things.
- Angela

A couple more...

It's almost 12:30 now - yes, that is indeed how slow the connection can be - and it was pretty fast tonight. I need to get up at 6am to be ready for tomorrow. Soooo, more pictures later - I have pictures of every individual on the team - the goal is to get everyone up soon. I apologize for not getting more up - I would keep trying, but I need rest in order to continue leading and ministering and learning. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!!!

More Pictures!!!

Yay, more pictures!

One picture at a time

Sorry we haven't posted pictures - for some reason, its not enough that internet access is sparatic, but when we finally have it, we cannot attach pictures to our blogs or emails. It's midnight here and I think its finally working. I know one picture is not much, but its something. The team is alive and well. Half the group went out to a village far away with Tim Okken today and had an incredible experience. The rest of us enjoyed service at Crossroads again. The founder of Manna Worldwide is here and spoke today - his sermon was quite challenging. It has been a wonderful day!

Udate 7-28

Hey everyone!!! (I really hope someone is reading this)
So this is one of my updates!!! We are now half way through our trip and it has been amazing!!!!! Today Saturday the 28th we went and saw one of Mombassa’s cultural centers that is ran by handicap people. Then we went out to Vipingo where there is a feeding center that we had previously visited 2 weeks ago. The children remembered us and started grabbing our hands to hold. It was a futbol tournament so all the girls were not very interested so we just walked around and ended up dancing to the load gospel music that was in Swahili. Yesterday we visited the hospital for the first time. It was amazing walking into it because it was like walking into a hospital from the 40’s or even before that just one big room for every body. The hospital was gigantic with its different wards, it was just amazing. We then visited the local orphanage. That was really cool too. The children were extremely happy, and I considered them lucky compared to how the children in the bush who had less then the orphans. This orphanage was government funded and supported by UNICEF. Its just amazing seeing the Work God has done here and with the children and their family. The feeding center we went to on Wednesday used to be where the town held human sacrifices, no it is a church and a school/ feeding center and they have had over 150 conversions. It was just amazing. On and extremely happy note …. Y’all would be surprised at how entertained these kids can be with a balloon, but they say it as bAlOOn! I hope y’all are doing find I will try to update again soon.
God Bless,
Nicole

Another Day

Today we visited another feeding center. This one has 150 children. It has only been up about 6 months and school has only been in session for about 3 I believe. There is a school and church just like at all the others. The church already has 250 attenders. There have been 150 salvations in the last 6 months. They recently baptized over 100 people. What is unique about this feeding center (as though the above is not enough), is that the land it occupies was used for human sacrifices not long ago. The people of the tribes surrounding the feeding center are very animistic and in order to keep their gods happy and in hopes for rain, they would offer up a child. Pastor Alan pointed out a large mango tree and stated that years ago, in that exact spot, is where some of the sacrifices took place. 60 km up the road, this is still going on. BUT God is obviously working and it was amazing to be part of bringing God's power to such a dark, oppressed place. It is pastor Alan's hope that one day soon, they can take the love of Jesus to the people 60km away and build another church there.
I tried to post some pictures, but it is not working right now. Hopefully soon. Going to get some rest now - more later! - Rose:)

Another Perspective

Several random thoughts….
First of all, I second Nicole. These feeding centers have been more than a blessing to us so far, and from what everyone here tells us, I think we really have no idea how much we are having an impact on the people.
This morning I sat down by the water where we have breakfast every morning and had my quiet time. It’s so beautiful. I didn’t have a conversation, but I was greeted by a man that Nate has talked to several times. He is Muslim and has several wives. He is a business man and well-off, intelligent and probably quite powerful in whatever area of expertise he has. I can only imagine what he was thinking seeing me, a woman, in my pants and sweatshirt reading my Bible intently and praying. It hit me, a gentle reminder, of how big God is… hard to explain that one. But my goodness His love stretches wide and long and high and deep. He can turn the hearts of anyone. I love that.
The pastors of the churches we have met are so passionate about the Lord. They have incredible stories and perseverance. It is not hard to see Jesus in them without even talking to them. I hope people see me that way.
I love that God is so big that we can come here and serve and be passionate about the people of Kenya, be fully engaged here, and yet have God tell us things about our own lives, character and hearts. We leave behind, in some ways, another life, to come here – but God doesn’t forget where we come from or what we are facing and He is fully engaged in all the affairs of my life.
Those are reasons to praise!!

News from Mombasa!!!!!!!

Hey you guys!!!!
This is an update!!!!! We just got back from another feeding center. These kids were amazing!!! They were so much fun to play with. These children only eat one meal a day and it is the meal that is provided at school. Today the feeding center we went to only had 92 children, but that is out of 300 children who wanted to come to the school. Sunday we are going to go to that church’s first baptismal. Our first week is half over and it seems so long. For any of you who think we are enjoying the hot dry sandy pictures of Africa, you are wrong!!!!!!!!! It is very humid with it being hot in the sun and cool in the breeze and shade.
Nicole

Day 1

Today we spent most of the day rejuvinating from jet-lag and our travels here. However, tonight we did go to bible study at Crossroads, the church we are working with here. The women were together studying Phil.3 while the men were outside studying.... something else?? I guess they'll have to post about that. In any case, our bible study was great. What fun to be with women from different parts of the world. Our teacher was a woman from Zimbabwae. It was also neat studying that passage because it includes are verses for camp - the focus of the camp we will run in a few weeks.
We have been having a great time so far - lots of laughs with one another. And today we were worshipping outside under a patio and it started to rain - it was a pretty neat moment. It was beautiful being where we were and doing what we were doing. Also, today I looked down from my window and saw 4 of our guys sitting at the same table, not speaking to each other, but digging into God's word. Pretty cool sight. Can't wait to see what else God has in store for us.
Tomorrow we will visit a feeding center where we will play with the kids and feed them and then go into the community where they live and interact with their families while they are in school. Should be amazing! More later!

They're here!!

13…14…15 tired but smiling faces arrived in Nairobi this morning! Safe and sound and in one piece- the Huruma team is in KENYA!!! Although there was a two hour delay in London, the team arrived with all their bags and we were all able to make our connecting flight down to Mombasa this afternoon. We dropped off our bags at the flats where we will call home for the next three weeks and then went into town for supplies and groceries. At dinner, half the team nearly fell asleep at the table but with the ten hour time difference that’s to be expected. It’s 8pm right now and I’m the only one awake! But tomorrow I’m taking everyone into town to an internet café so they can write home. I’m sure the team will have exciting stories of their first impressions of Africa. It’s really fun for me to see Kenya through their eyes- things I take for granted because I see on a daily basis are completely dazzling to them! Thank you for your prayers for safety while we traveled. Praise the Lord and here we go…!

Thought I'd try the picture thing before we leave!

He Gives and Takes Away

There is a song that says "Blessed be the name of the Lord" and it says "He gives and takes away, my heart will choose to say, Blessed be Your name." I have always thought of the part about giving and taking to mean that He gives us good things and can surely take them when he wants. And that we just need to trust Him. And sure, its true and the song is partially talking about this very thing. But lately I have been reminded of another way that God takes away. In our case, for example, He has given us the finances we need, the support we need, the passports we need :), the team we need, and on and on. And He has taken away (or is in the process of) our fear, anxiety, worries, etc. God takes these things from us as we trust Him. I am soooo excited to see what is in store for this team. I can't believe we leave in 3 days!! We're coming, Tina!! We'll see you soon!

A joyful conclusion…

Well, after several disheartening letters, I am overjoyed to share the final chapter of the Crossroads burglary story. As you know, the church was robbed last week and all the sound equipment was stolen. Because of this, they had to rent equipment from a local DJ for the Sunday service. The DJ, Tony, is a close friend of several families within the church and he gave a significant discount on renting the equipment and running the sound board. Sunday came and the message was on having faith during harsh times. After the message, there was an alter call… and Tony went forward, tears streaming down his face, as he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior!!! God definitely works in inexplicable ways. Satan thought he had won but God definitely had bigger plans.
One of the songs we sang last week was Blessed Be the Name of the Lord. It’s a song I’ve sung many times in many different churches but this past week God really spoke to me as I was singing the words:
Blessed be Your name, when the sun’s shining down on me,
When the world’s all as it should be.
Blessed be Your name.
And blessed be Your name, on the road marked with suffering,
Though there’s pain in the offering.
Blessed be Your name!
Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise. And when the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say:
BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!!
It’s easy for us to simply sing pretty words to pretty songs but not really grasp what we’re saying. Do we bless His name during suffering? I must confess that far too often my reaction is to question God in frustration when things go wrong. But it’s so amazing to know that while He is teaching and growing me through trials, He is also changing lives and building His kingdom! Blessed be the name of my Lord!
Tina

In Total Darkness

July 3, 2007

Well, after ten days of being completely cut off from my team I finally have access to email! Praise the Lord and keep your fingers crossed that nothing else happens to disrupt the internet signal. It’s been a frustrating fight this past week. I spent six hours waiting in line on Friday to get a wi-fi signal loaded into my laptop so that I (and the team once they get here) can email back to the States. The signal was working when I left the shop but as soon as I got it home, the connection was lost. No email. So I went to plan B and caught a ride down to the cyber café to use their internet. The power went down. No email. Okay, plan C. I went to ANOTHER cyber café all the way across town where there was power and got online. But the connection was so slow that it was taking 15 minutes to load one page. So after an hour and a half I had only gotten to my main Yahoo page and the cyber café was closing. No email! Since all my contact information for people had been in a notebook that was lost when the car got stolen I was completely sunk. No email and no phone numbers for people!! It’s funny how the little things, like communication, are conveniences that I take for granted. I spent another three hours this morning back at the internet shop and finally got a wi-fi signal put on my laptop. It’s slow, but it’s working!

These past ten days in Kenya have been extremely frustrating and emotionally exhausting. Three nights ago we awoke to the sound of someone banging on our front gate. That is never a good sign. It was the night watchman from Crossroads who had come to tell us that the church had been robbed and everything was gone. Sound equipment, microphones, musical instruments, computers… everything. Everyone of course was upset. It just seemed so unfair- here is a church that has struggled to build itself up and just when it seemed like things were starting to go well, Satan attacked! The mood that day was heavy. Between the break in and the hijacking I have become more and more paranoid, constantly looking over my shoulder for an attack. I’m sure that’s what Satan wants- to distract me from the excitement of having the team out here.

Last night we went out to celebrate Nathan’s parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. We had dinner on a boat and went sailing out into the Indian Ocean to enjoy the quiet, calm sea. About halfway through the meal, Nathan’s father realized his mouth was feeling tingly and he was having trouble breathing. Apparently there had been shell fish in the rice mixture we were eating and he is terribly allergic to this. So there we sat, miles out to see, no medicine, and he was getting worse by the minute! All we could do was pray. We got a bit closer to the shore when one of the other patrons came over and told us he was a doctor. He had enough medicine on him to get things under control until we could get back on land and get to a pharmacy. What a night!

Please keep us in your prayers. It seems like each new day brings a new trial. We have a saying here in Kenya, “Hapana meneno,” which means “No problem.” Everywhere I go I hear this. I went into town to pay for the vans we will have when the team arrives. The driver I had hired told me, “Sorry, my company has gone bankrupt and I am no longer in the transport business. Hapana meneno.” I went to pay a deposit at the apartments the team and I will be staying at and the lady behind the desk said, “Sorry, our computer is down and we cannot take payment. Come back next week. Hapana meneno.” Every time someone says this to me I feel like screaming, “It IS a problem!!” But this is Kenya and in Kenya there are no problems. I have to stop and wonder if God ever looks at us and simply says, “Hapana meneno.” Everything is in His control and although sometimes I fight it, I have to stop and realize I cannot do anything in my own strength. Alone I am weak. I make mistakes, I fall, I fail. But I do not have to fight alone and with Christ, I hang on to the promise that I can do all things.

Tomorrow we leave for Tsavo and from there back to Nairobi. My two weeks down in Mombasa have been less than productive. I feel like I am leaving with more things on my to-do list then when I arrived. But… hapana meneno!!

Hopefully more later,

Tina

A Week on a Battlefield

June 30, 2007

I’ve been in Kenya for a week now and it has been a rollercoaster time. God is doing some amazing things but we are definitely on Satan’s radar. Nathan and I spent our first day in Kenya up north in the town of Kijabe on the Rift Valley. We had a wonderful time of visiting family and catching up with old friends. Saturday evening we flew down to Mombasa and sent our luggage down to the coast in Smiddy’s (my future in-laws) car. Since the driver, Denis, was a close friend and a member of Crossroads church we thought our car and luggage would be safe with him. However, halfway into the 8 hour drive, Denis was hijacked and the car was stolen along with all our luggage. Clothes, camera equipment, and all the toys and materials we had brought with us for the orphanage kids... all gone. We got word on Saturday night about the incident and started praying. God was gracious. Although he was shook up, Denis had not been injured. And although it is an inconvenience to now be in Africa for three months without our possessions, it’s only material. Danger is all around us is this world; it’s found in Africa, the Middle East, Los Angeles, and even Mesa, Arizona! It is not safe to drive on the Nairobi-Mombasa road at night but unfortunately Denis drove anyway. Some things are just not worth the risk and safety is one of them. Rest assured the Huruma team will NOT be doing any travel at night. But it is still a good reminder that our every moment belongs to the Lord’s will.

The next day was Sunday and not just any Sunday but the 5th anniversary for Crossroads Fellowship Church. This is a church that was started with only 4 people meeting in a storefront. After a year they grew to 200 people and moved to a hotel to meet. This past Sunday they had 605 people and are putting the final touches on their own church building. Sunday’s service was an incredible time of looking back and reflecting on all the blessings God has given to the church, the congregation, and the outreach ministries they have started!

Monday I received call from a good friend of mine here in Mombasa. Some plans she and I had been arranging had fallen through and she was publically blaming me. Because she is a youth leader at Crossroads the situation went before the deacon board and she was reprimanded by not being allowed to do youth ministry this term. The entire situation was wounding to me since she is a friend and I trusted her. To top it off, she was my main contact here and was supposed to be the representative from Crossroads to take the Huruma team around to the feeding centers and orphanages. So I have suddenly found myself alone to make all the arrangements and preparations for the team. But things are progressing and coming together. I’m so excited for the team to see my Africa and every time I visit the orphanage I think of how it will be for them to see these precious children for the first time! God is good and He is in control!!!

We are right in the middle of helping Smiddy’s pack up and move. They will be returning to Indiana for home assignment on July 15th so Nathan and I have been busy packing and boxing up a lifetime of ministry. In addition to that, we are newly engaged and in Africa, that translates to extremely booked. We have not had a single day since arriving where we didn’t have a lunch and/or dinner date at someone’s home. It is customary to invite the betrothed couple over for a big celebration meal and because Nathan is the pastor’s son at Crossroads and I’m the pastor’s daughter within my parents’ ministry, we have a LOT of people who want to have us over. It is wonderful and such a blessing to be surrounded by people who love us so dearly… but I was not planning on 4 hour meals at people’s homes every day. I’m fighting the line between spending time with people to build relationships and getting “work” done for the team.

Wednesday morning I got some heartbreaking news from the States that a dear friend of mine had been killed in a car accident. She and I worked together last year at the same Tiwi camp that the team will be leading this summer and just before I left she told me how much she had wanted to return to Kenya again this year but God was calling her to remain in Tennessee to work with a children’s outreach. Her name was Jessica, she was 20 year old, and she loved the Lord with all her life.

The devil is definitely out to steal our joy. For every amazing event God has shaped there has been a calamity to heavy the mood. It is a fantastic predicament to be on Satan’s hit list because it means God is being glorified and His work is being accomplished. I am trying to keep that in the forefront of my mind. My quiet time has been getting longer and longer everyday as I count up all blessings I have been given. I am so thankful for your prayers- it is the greatest weapon we have. Please remember the people here involved in ministry. Although the battle continues, we know who the victory belongs to!

Because of His Grace,

Tina

Kenya At Last

June 23, 2007

Well, after 20 hours on a plane I arrived in Nairobi, Kenya!! It is so good to be back on African soil. My head is foggy but I’m not sure if it’s from the jetlag or because I got engaged 15 hours ago and am floating on a cloud! Nathan proposed during our layover in London so sitting still through the second flight from London to Nairobi was a very difficult task! I didn’t think the other people on the plane would appreciate me jumping up and down the aisles or doing back flips over the seats… but that’s what I felt like doing!
Nathan and I will be here in Nairobi for a day. Tomorrow we will be driving up-country to Rift Valley Academy to visit his sister at the same boarding school both he and I went for high school. Then tomorrow evening we will catch a domestic flight down to Mombasa. I have no idea when I will find an internet café so for now I’m just writing down the news and will try to post this as soon as I can.
Praise God for our safe journey…. 1 Huruma member down, 15 to go!!

Engaged!!!

June 24, 2007

As many of you know, Nathan Smiddy and I are spending this summer out in Kenya to do ministry and visit with his family. We had a day layover in London and decided to take advantage of our time by playing tourists and going all over the city sightseeing. We went to the theater to see Les Miserables and had a wonderful romantic dinner at a little bistro… it was a perfect day. After dinner we had a few more hours to kill before we needed to head back to the airport and Nate suggested we walk back to Big Ben and Westminster to see everything lit up at night. It was a typical London night, complete with fog and light rain when we finally arrived in front of Westminster Abby. As we were gazing up at the clock tower in the distance Nathan started talking about time- the time we’ve shared in our lives and how God’s timing is so perfect. I was so wrapped up in his words and gazing up at the clock that I didn’t even realize he had gotten a ring box out of his pocket and was holding it in front of me!! It wasn’t until he got down on one knee right there in the middle of the square and asked me to marry him that it finally dawned on me what was going on!! It might have taken me a while to catch on but it only took me a second to say yes!!



It's so amazing how God works. Two missionary kids from Africa living half our lives next door to each other and never knowing that God would join our futures together. Who could ask for more than to marry their best friend...

Tina is officially on her way!

Well, Tina left today - as I type, she is probably in London... or close to. She heads to Kenya tomorrow... today? With all the time changes who knows. We are doing well on finances. The team is working so hard and I am so proud of all of them.
I can't believe we leave in less than 4 weeks - its hard to believe I will be in Africa soon! I cannot wait to go back!
There is still so much to do and think about. On top of spiritually continuing to prepare, there is just all the logistics. Finances (as mentioned), packing supplies, immunizations (still haven't gotten mine - don't worry), all the little things for the trip like shampoo and baby wipes and a good book for the plane ride. There is also saying goodbye and spending time with the family before I leave...which reminds me, I have postcards to make for our family send-off night (more details coming...in the postcard). Adios for now! :)

Prayer Meeting

Rose, Justin and myself met Tuesday night to pray and share. As we were praying for each team member, it hit me. I love you guys! ROCK ON!

Posts

I've been looking back at some of the posts... I don't remember saying most of that stuff.

Luggage

i got a rolling duffel bag for the trip. It's big, but I am also big. As a result, my clothes are big. I'm pretty sue it will work. We only need one bag right? The other bag we have will be supplies and stuff, huh? I forgot if I need to buy two bags... I'm rambling. Anyway, the day is ever closer.

It's Getting Closer!!

Before we know it, we will be in Africa! How crazy! I just want to encourage you, team! You have been working so hard - and we are so proud of you! I know its a difficult, busy time of year right now, but press through - we have so much to look forward to and so much to be thankful for! Finals will be over soon. All of our fundraising and hard work will pay off! We're going to Africa!...in how many days Angela? (love the count down idea, by the way)
In all your busy-ness :) don't forget to stop and rest and spend time with God and thank Him for all that is going on right now.

countdown

101 days until we leave guys :) i put a countdown on my computer!

Journal(s)

I know we're supposed to be keeping a journal, documenting what God is doing in our lives, and I am, but I have about three different journals I'm writing in. I can't limit myself to one. Does anyone have this problem too? Just wondering. It's making me crazy... I can't have just one journal.

Passport

I got my passport. It looks really cool. I feel really cool having it. It's hidden in... Never going to tell you. HaHaHa. (There, I blogged.)

Website!

I know this blog links to our website, and vice versa, but just wanted to say I added more stuff to our site! I'm still working on a few things too! So, go check it out!

Thank you Trinity!

Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. (Philippians 1:28, The Message)

The church body of TBC continues to astound me. Here is a church that truly takes the command to “stand united” to heart. Our team has not had a single event in which we were not wrapped in support and encouragement by Trinity. Whether it be a meal, a race, a bag of kisses or a missions festival, TBC has continually surpassed our expectations. I am proud to be a member of such an outreach-oriented church; to be a part of a Body that not only talks about missions but actively takes a role in supporting it.

Members of Trinity: thank you for your prayers; thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for financially backing and supporting this team as we seek the Lord’s ministry in Kenya. I am filled with awe as I see God’s hand in all the details of this trip and humbled by your example of faith.

Because of Him,

Tina

Job Well Done...

Just wanted to tell everyone how excited I am for this team. Not only because of where we're going and what we're going to be doing but for who i'm going with. We all get along so well and work well together, which I think is very important. I'm excited to see what God has in store for all of us. Keep up the hard work guys!! GOOOO TEAM HURUMA!!! :)

Trevor's Reading...

I'm reading Bruchko right now. Well, not RIGHT now, but I'm in the middle of reading it. I was supposed to have read it a while ago for my small group, but that was more of a skim... I didn't do my homework, okay? I also bought God's Smuggler. It's not at the library, but I found it at Berean! We put the "hip" in "worship"...

Reading

So, just thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing on their reading... what biographies are you reading? Anything interesting or life-changing popping out at you? How about from the Word. I am reading Through The Gates of Splendor - the Jim Elliot story - its amazing! That man's faith was incredible. Something Jim Elliot says in the very beginning of Chapter 1 I love!

"All the thrill of boyhood dreams came on me just now outside, watching the sky die in the sea on every side. I wanted to sail when I was in grammar school, and well remember memorizing the names of the sails from the Merriam-Webster's ponderous dictionary in the library. Now I am actually at sea - as a passenger, of course, but at sea nevertheless - and bound for Ecuador. Strange - or is it? - that childish hopes should be answered in the will of God for this now?"

I have had these moments a couple times and its really refreshing to know that God does know our hearts, even the smallest childhood dreams and hopes we have.

No turning back...

Hey, who wants to go to Kenya? I have 18 plane tickets! EXCITING!! The team leaves Phoenix on July 14th at 7:25PM on British Airways.

166 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes and 43 seconds... but who's counting

Kenya Time... literally

By the way, if you notice the times in which you post, you will notice they don't match the time you actually posted... at least here. Our blog is in Kenya time!!!! That way, when we post while we are gone, those back home reading, can truly know when we posted. Plus its just more fun!!!

More Prayer

I just would like to ask that people be praying for us... spiritually speaking... not just when we are in Kenya, but now. This time before we leave is vital for our being ready when we are there. Please pray that we are able to really connect with God now in these months before we go to Kenya, that we are protected from and/or aware of the spiritual battles we will face before we leave.
And for the team, I just want to encourage you not to get discouraged. I don't know about anyone else, but I find it can be difficult to balance everything - school, work, family, friends, and now this trip as well. In the midst preparations for this trip, know that God is using you and growing you even before we leave. These preparations are not in vain, and your time spent seeking God... well, that NEVER is. Press on. If you haven't seen in yet, you will see how God changes you and others thru this trip - both here in Mesa, AZ and in Kenya. And I have seen growth in many of you already, and that encourages me. :)

I Love It

This is such a cool idea! I love that we can do this! I love this team and I am excited to work with everyone!

Prayer

I've been doing a lot of studying/praying about prayer lately and this morning the pastor at the church I go to preached about it! One cool verse he gave was Ephesians 6:18. Read it!

He also gave us some good websites on prayer and things to pray for missionaries. I think these are cool, not only to pray for other missionaries, but to start praying for our team.

http://www.wycliffe.org/pray/7ways.htm
http://www.ccsb.ca/missions/prayerguide.htm

God Bless,
Angela

Fundraising

Hey Everyone!!!!
So i have been put in charge of the Date Night. I NEED HELP!!! SO the date in Febuary 10th. It is the Saturday before Valentine's day. If you guys can help that night or have ideas for activities, please contact me, please!! Thank you!!!
:),
Nicole

It's Alive!

Hello to all. You have unleashed a monster upon your blogsite. Me. I will try to be witty and resourcful throught out the blogging experience, but no promises. This first one is to see if I really can blog. Here goes. God Bless.

Howdy

This is awsome. I promise I won't use this blog for ill purposes, I am just so stoked to be part of this group.

A Place To Converse

This blog was set up as a place for us as team Huruma to converse and share with our family and friends supporting us on this mission to Kenya. Here we will keep you updated about how preparations are coming along, and while we are in Kenya, we will report back through this blog about what we are up to and what is happening.