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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