Hello one last time from Kenya!
We are winding down, preparing to come home soon! This time in Kenya has been great; I have LOVED having the opportunity to lead. I’ve also discovered that God has given me a gift and a passion for discipleship. I have so many stories about opportunities that the Lord gave me to challenge this team to ask difficult questions and face uncertain answers. It has encouraged me greatly!
I’ve posted the most recent team blog below. And for those of you that wanted to know, the ambiguous building that I used as a toilet, I discovered, was a kitchen. Embarrassing? Yes. The end of the world? Probably not. I hope, at least, it made you laugh!
Thank you for being part of my adventure. You are special to me!
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Feasting. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Something
significant happens when people share a meal together…in any
culture. We recently found out, however, that Kenyan feasting has some
things that rarely happen in the US.
significant happens when people share a meal together…in any
culture. We recently found out, however, that Kenyan feasting has some
things that rarely happen in the US.
Last Friday, we had one of our translators purchase 3
lambs for us. They were tied up to our fencing for a few days, grazing
on the grass and at night, they ransacked our kitchen to eat all the
bananas we could find. Then, on Monday, they met their demise. With
the help of some Kenyans, they were slaughtered, skinned, gutted and
cooked. There is another AIM team in Kenya. They came to visit, along
with many of our new Kenyan family, and we feasted until we were
stuffed. Spontaneously, everyone broke out in song and dance. The
feast was about more than fresh lamb; it was about fellowship and
celebration of what God has been doing.
lambs for us. They were tied up to our fencing for a few days, grazing
on the grass and at night, they ransacked our kitchen to eat all the
bananas we could find. Then, on Monday, they met their demise. With
the help of some Kenyans, they were slaughtered, skinned, gutted and
cooked. There is another AIM team in Kenya. They came to visit, along
with many of our new Kenyan family, and we feasted until we were
stuffed. Spontaneously, everyone broke out in song and dance. The
feast was about more than fresh lamb; it was about fellowship and
celebration of what God has been doing.
What has God been doing, you ask? Great
question! He has been showing up in incredible ways. We have seen the
sick healed and the lost found. We have built some incredible
relationships with the Kenyans we have been serving alongside; many
have shared with us that they have been encouraged and renewed in their
faith because of our team’s faithfulness to God. Even our host pastor
told me that in 10 years of hosting teams, ours is the most incredible
and top notch team he’s ever seen. What a compliment! So your son or
daughter or sibling or friend…they have made an impact for Jesus
Christ on this trip. The stories we all have will last for hours.
Some will make you laugh; some will make you cry. If we are lucky,
some of our stories will help you to see how your financial and prayer
support has changed the world. Thank you for being part of this.
question! He has been showing up in incredible ways. We have seen the
sick healed and the lost found. We have built some incredible
relationships with the Kenyans we have been serving alongside; many
have shared with us that they have been encouraged and renewed in their
faith because of our team’s faithfulness to God. Even our host pastor
told me that in 10 years of hosting teams, ours is the most incredible
and top notch team he’s ever seen. What a compliment! So your son or
daughter or sibling or friend…they have made an impact for Jesus
Christ on this trip. The stories we all have will last for hours.
Some will make you laugh; some will make you cry. If we are lucky,
some of our stories will help you to see how your financial and prayer
support has changed the world. Thank you for being part of this.
So,
this afternoon, we are on our way to Nairobi (the capitol) to spend a
few days as a team debriefing our trip. Then, late Sunday night, we
will begin our long journey home! This will be the last blog…Soon
you’ll get the real thing! Below, I have a few final thoughts from
some of the team. Please continue to pray for us, as our adventure
isn’t over yet! God Bless!
Shaye
Tim
Well, its been
a pretty crazy time in Kenya. God has been stretching me pretty much
every day! Being on a team with 14 girls has been interesting, but God
has been more than faithful in meeting all of my needs. And my team
rocks the house. I have gotten to become “a real man”, as our Kenyan
driver, friend and good brother in Christ, Ben, told me after I killed
one of the 3 lamb we had for supper on Tuesday night. It was pretty
intense; look forward to pictures! I am truly thankful for all God has
done to use me to love on my brothers and sisters here in Kenya. Thank
you for all your prayers. We’ll see you soon!
a pretty crazy time in Kenya. God has been stretching me pretty much
every day! Being on a team with 14 girls has been interesting, but God
has been more than faithful in meeting all of my needs. And my team
rocks the house. I have gotten to become “a real man”, as our Kenyan
driver, friend and good brother in Christ, Ben, told me after I killed
one of the 3 lamb we had for supper on Tuesday night. It was pretty
intense; look forward to pictures! I am truly thankful for all God has
done to use me to love on my brothers and sisters here in Kenya. Thank
you for all your prayers. We’ll see you soon!
Mary Grace
So today we are leaving Eburru. We are heading to Nairobi
for the weekend before we fly back to America. This has been the most
amazing trip I have ever taken. I have learned so much about myself
and the Lord through this journey. While we were in Eburru we had our
little Kenyan family, made up of our translators and people we have met
in the community. The people here are filled with the joy and strength
of the Lord. Everywhere we go we hear the people greeting us, saying
“habari” (or “hello! how are you?) and little kids flocking to us,
yelling and wanting to walk with us everywhere. This goodbye is
probably the hardest one I have ever had to do, but I am such at peace
knowing that the Lord is moving in Eburru and that those people are
going to spread the love of Christ even after we are gone. The next
couple of days is going to be all about processing the trip and
spending some time with the team. See everyone soon!
for the weekend before we fly back to America. This has been the most
amazing trip I have ever taken. I have learned so much about myself
and the Lord through this journey. While we were in Eburru we had our
little Kenyan family, made up of our translators and people we have met
in the community. The people here are filled with the joy and strength
of the Lord. Everywhere we go we hear the people greeting us, saying
“habari” (or “hello! how are you?) and little kids flocking to us,
yelling and wanting to walk with us everywhere. This goodbye is
probably the hardest one I have ever had to do, but I am such at peace
knowing that the Lord is moving in Eburru and that those people are
going to spread the love of Christ even after we are gone. The next
couple of days is going to be all about processing the trip and
spending some time with the team. See everyone soon!
Dasha
As I write this blog, we
are pulling away from the huts that have been our home for the last
month. I am caught up in a bunch of emotions – I am glad to be going
home, but I am mostly sad to be leaving our new friends and family.
God has done so many things in Eburru since we have been here. I am
amazed at all the different ways He can work through people. The
people of Eburru are so genuine, open and friendly. I will most them
profoundly. I will miss the community of direct, honest conversation
and smiling, encouraging faces looking back at me. I have come to
realize that these people do not need us – really, we need them. God
has done great thigns in Eburru before we arrived and He will continue
to do so after we have left. He has so blessed our team by letting us
witness his awesome ability while we are here. I will never forget His
mightly love after being here.
are pulling away from the huts that have been our home for the last
month. I am caught up in a bunch of emotions – I am glad to be going
home, but I am mostly sad to be leaving our new friends and family.
God has done so many things in Eburru since we have been here. I am
amazed at all the different ways He can work through people. The
people of Eburru are so genuine, open and friendly. I will most them
profoundly. I will miss the community of direct, honest conversation
and smiling, encouraging faces looking back at me. I have come to
realize that these people do not need us – really, we need them. God
has done great thigns in Eburru before we arrived and He will continue
to do so after we have left. He has so blessed our team by letting us
witness his awesome ability while we are here. I will never forget His
mightly love after being here.
To God be the glory, great thing He has done!
Hey Shaye, sounds like you’ve had quite the adventure. I like the “kitchen” story.
It makes me a little “home” sick reading your stories. I miss Kenya so much.
I can’t wait to have you back here again. I miss you, and I know you are going to have more awesome stories to share.
See you soon.
Dear Shaye
It sounds like you had a really good time and learned a lot about yourself and what God might have in store for you.Take Care!