Friends, I can't thank you enough for the initial support and prayer on this most recent mission trip to Kenya. I also thank you for being curious enough to read these updates about the trip. The idea was that I could fit more stories along with pictures from the trip for you to have a better understanding of the trip and what we did there.
Last year in Kenya I took every opportunity I had to journal what was going on around me in hopes that I would remember more but this year I did the complete opposite. Having gone before, I knew what to expect..or at least I thought I did. I can't even begin to explain how much I love it there. I do plan to move there after graduating to further serve the Lord in 'short-term' missions (be-it His will..).
This year's mission trip was much more difficult than last year's and naturally, at first I found that to be discouraging but God was there and that's all that needs to be. It was great being back in M'berikani Kenya. I want to give you a little background on the site that we call home for the month. It's beautiful to say the least. While we are there throughout July and August, it is their winter season, which causes the temperatures to be very chilling at times. We stay on the grounds of an all girls’ secondary boarding school (while the girls are on holiday). This school was built recently by a man from Dallas, Texas who happens to also be on the board for Sky Ranch (this is why for the past 4 years, we have been able to go). The school is nestled on flat land between Mount Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills so that every morning, you can't help but be reminded of God's immaculate creation. The trouble comes through drought that has withheld rain from the lands for nearly two years now, causing the grass to vanish. Naturally, as the grass disappears so does the life. This year we noticed right away the insane amounts of carcasses lying about as common as American fire hydrants. The Maasai people that we live with and serve find their income and livelihood in the animals. They are shepards and cattleman. Every family depends on their cows, sheep, and goats, however many of them are simply keeling over from starvation and in return so are many humans. Sadly, some men are even taking their own lives due to the loss of their herds without a way to provide for their families. The people of M'berikani are not just people I happen to know; they are people and families that I love. Even though this was only my second summer to meet them, I was invited in by families as if I were their own. It hurts to know that they are suffering, so I plead, please pray that rain will come to their lands soon and that they would not lose hope in the meantime. Even though they are suffering, they are faithful that God is with them and will provide soon. Many of the families we worship along side in church, believe that even though the men have for the time being, led their herds to land far off (many to Nairobi or Mombasa which in a car would take at least 4 hours, so I can't even imagine how long it would take to get there while pushing 40 some-odd goats the whole way)..
This is how your money was directly used this year, which I hope you will find joy in.. Through your contributions, we were able to provide for the families in great need. As you know, we serve there for a total of four weeks. The first week is a time to prepare while the children finish the final week of school. We use that time to visit the families within the community, connect as a team, plan bible studies and games, set up camp, and spend time with the school girls after their tests each day.. This year however, the children were required to spend one extra week in classes (something that was quite the surprise to us). What this means though is that the money we would have used in markets to buy enough food for the 100+ children to eat three meals a day, was put towards their entire family and others that were in need within the community. We filled a room with the food we were able to get; bag/boxed them up and hand delivered them to homes. The families received the essential needs to cook with for up to 2 or 3 weeks depending on the family size. A sample of things they were given are bags of flour, cooking fat, oils, tea, biscuits, grain, rice, beans, etc. The families were all BEYOND grateful, but we also shared with them God's love simply in doing so. Along with the supplies, we prayed with the families and shared verses from the bible that were applicable. I was lucky enough to lead one of the teams and it was easily one of my favorite days spent in Kenya this year. Your money was able to provide a great need for these people, and as they thanked us, they were equally thanking each of you whom provided.
Here are a few pictures from that day. I'll be adding more pictures and stories from the month in Kenya over the next few days which, I hope you will find great joy in. Please come back to read more about the amazing things that I witnessed God do..
