July 31 2009

We had a little issue with connectivity last night, so this is for two nights. Yesterday, was a great day, like most days around here. We headed far away to Perani and Tiwi. Tiwi was the first school we visited. It was about 2 hours away. It was a nice school, with lots of property and lots buildings. The children were very well behaved and they had a cool performance for us. Singing. We each had to introduce ourselves, and Chris told them it was my b-day the day before, so the entire school sang happy birthday to me. It was great! We all played various games with the kids. Duck duck goose, soccer, football, basketball, singing, red rover and more soccer.

Then we were off to Perani; another gorgeous drive and well worth it! We arrived there during a parent-teacher conference and you would not believe how many babies were there! It was awesome! We snuck in the back of the biggest building, the church I think, and the kids sang some songs, and performed some competitions. Like who could get their uniform on the fastest, blow up a ballon the fastest, etc. It was great. Chris had a lot of fun messing with the kids as they competed. He took their clothes and threw them. The people loved it. Afterwards, we went outside and set up our stations. Ballon blowing, medical and soccer. It was great! I started with ballons, but it was crazy. Sometimes, they didn't even want us to shape them into creatures; took to long. haha. Then I helped with the doctor's cleaning heads and putting ointment on their infected bumps. I'm not sure what they are called, but they all have it. Then I played soccer and some more! The kids loved it. They were all so sweet and good. If you told them to do something, they would do it right away. To the best of their ability..example "Go get a goal!" They would try, but Dave made a really good one man defense!

Today was another wonderful day. We went to Vipingo. I passed out on the way there, but I'm sure it was a beautiful drive. When we got there, we were pleasantly entertained by some more singing. It was great. Then the entire team was assigned to classes where we would do a craft with the kids. (Thanks to Medina who organized all of the crafts!) My class was first grade, but they were smarter than most 3rd graders in America. It was a fun craft, drawing on popsicale sticks, and then taking them apart and trying to piece them back together again. We had lots of fun. We all went to play volley ball. It didn't work too well, they were way to short for the net. Then they got their faces painted and I climbed a huge tree. Afterwards, we cuddled with the littlest kids and took great pictures.

Then we went back to Mtepani. We played with the kids, sorted rice with the mamas, and played soccer. We also distributed toothpaste, toothbrushes, candy, and toys. Some of us even got to tie babies to our backs and tried to balance gallons of water on our heads. We failed, but the mamas got a great laugh out of us. :) And last, but not least, the gates for the school finally arrived! So did the cow for killing. We will be eating him at the Celebration Service on Sunday.

Alright, well hope all is well at home. Mungu akubayiki. God is so good!!
Love,
Ann

Wednesday July 29

Today was our third and final day at the Mbewau Academy. During these three days, the teams walking the trails have been blessed with the opportunity to lead so many people to Jesus. If only one person had been saved this trip, it would have been more than worthwhile. However, over 50 people have chosen to follow the Lord in the past 3 days. It is truly amazing how God works through each of us.

We have also been able to serve the people here by providing medical care. Several local Kenyan nurses have assisted us with translation and helped us see patients. We have diagnosed patients with a wide range of conditions, from minor to life-threatening. The most serious was a child with a infection that had spread to his brain. Although we urged the mother to take the child to hospital, she chose to take him to her village shaman instead. Lisa prayed over the boy before he left, but we ask everyone to remember him in your prayers, that he will survive despite being untreated.

Today, the group had to say their goodbyes to the children at the Academy, but we will be going back at the end of the week, so it was not a true "Goodbye." I am certain there will be more tears and emotion when we leave the village for the last time. Everyone has grown to love these children. We are even more blessed by knowing these children than they are by knowing us. They shine love through their smiles and hugs, all freely given.

God has blessed each of us on the trip, ad I know that even more blessings are in store. Thank you all for praying for our team. Please continue t0 remember us all in your prayers.

In Him,

Joy Anne

Tuesday July 28 2009

Words cannot describe today but if I had to say one word I would say "upendo" which is the Swahili word for Love. Today was filled with so much of Gods love, it was simply amazing. This morning I gave the testimony for our group when we were all on the bus and I told them all about what I wrote in my journal on Saturday. I asked myself two questions. One: Am I really ready for this trip? My answer was No. I explained that I don't think there is really anyway to prepare for any type of mission trip because you really do not know what to expect. But then I asked myself the second question which was: But Am I willing to lay my heart on the line and serve the Lord? and my answer was yes. We are all here to serve the Lord and simply Live for the Lord. Our mission was to come to Kenya and shine the light of the Lord among these Kenyan people and I believe that we have been doing very well in our mission if not even better.

So today we went back to Mtepani and we went back on the trail in the morning which is one of my favorite things to do. I was very nervous yesterday to go out and just speak the word of God to everyone but as I trusted in the Lord more and really followed my faith, I became stronger as did everyone else on the team. I think in just this short week together we have all grown to become a family and to have another family is an amazing feeling. I love each and everyone of them just as much as I do my family at home.

So far, in the past two days, over 30 people have asked Christ to be their Savior. It is such a joyous moment when you look into someones eyes and know they understand and when you look unto someones eyes and just see them shine with happiness.

After walking several miles on the trail, we came back to the school and played with the beautiful children. I love them all so much. Yesterday I had the joy to play sports (which is exhausting but oh so fun) and today I got to facepaint and although I am not much of an artist, the children still liked my artwork!
After another long day in Mtepani, we went back on the bus to go back home. (and i always seem to fall asleep on the way home which is about 30minutes. God has blessed me with being a hard sleeper...nothing can wake me up :) it is awesome)

As soon as we got back, we showered and went to crossroads church where we were going to have our bible study with everyone. And let me tell you, many people were touched and blessed by this night. 4 of us had the privelege of giving our testimonies and then Craig gave a short devotion after which awesome. Emily was the first to give her testimony and although she was nervous, she was very profound and the Lord spoke right through her. After Joyanne got up and spoke about her story and I was so touched to hear about how she is so happy now even after all the struggles she has endured in the past. (her nickname is "smiles" by the way and she is deff. full of them) and then little laura went to the podium and talked. She is a blessing to have on this trip and I was so proud of her as well. And then the fourth person to talk was me which after hearing all there testimonies, it was a hard thing to follow but I have never felt the Lord give me so much strength. I have told my testimony in the past many times but giving my testimony in crossroads church in Mombasa Kenya is a different experience and it was awesome.
I could go on and on about all that we have learned and how many people we have touched but I just want to leave you all with a verse.

"I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do" -John 17:4

We are here in Kenya to tell everyone about his salvation and to spread the good news. We are finishing the work that he told us to do.

We miss all of you back home and love you all.
mimi nakupenda (i love you)

Kwhari (goodbye)


-Jenny.

Pictures of Mtepani

Monday July 27

Jumbo! (Hello)
Today was a great day. First off, we boarded a bus and left the voyager hotel around 8:15 am. Of course that was after we packed our backpacks with lots of water, toliet paper, bandaids, tracts, color packets (candy,crayons,paper for kids), and some kind of rain protectent. Then we picked up the translators (who are Christians too) and drove to Mtepani; about a 45 minutes drive with about half of it on a dirt road. When we arrived at the church/school we meet the kids (about 55, ages 3-5); they are so cute! But it was a quick visit because we needed to be on our way to tell people about Jesus! I was in a group of 6; four of us, and two translators whose names are Titus and Justin. Justin is married and has three beautiful children, titus was a younger man. Then we prayed and left; walked about two miles (in the pouring rain) down a dirt road surround my beautiful scernery. Many palms tree, flowers, grass and corn. The village was small, and you couldn't see any of the houses, just lots of trails. The first man we visted knew about Jesus, but refused to invite Jesus into his heart until sunday at church. He said we could pray for him then. So we will! When then meet a muslim family with a lot of kids! They didn't accept Jesus into their lives, but they were very interested in what we had to say and the tracts we handed out. They even let us pray for them. We then moved onto a large family, but the grandparents wanted nothing to do with us so we had to leave, even though their daughter wanted to hear. That was heartbreaking and I cried. Then we walked to another hut, and there we found a believer whose daughter and son were not yet saved. After sharing the gospel, the daughter and the son were both saved! It was great! We then meet a mother and her baby on the trail, she wanted to know Jesus, but would not invited Jesus into her heart today. We are keeping her in our prayers. Then we meet Margarita whom we talked to for a long time, but didn't want to trust Jesus. However, while we were talking to her, a large crowd gathered, and three woman accepted Jesus into their hearts! But then we had to leave, and just to give you a taste about how sweet the Kenyans are, Gladice one of the girls we meet on the trail, held my hand all the way back to where she had to leave (about 15 minutes) it was really sweet. When we made it back to the school, we had boxed lunches on the bus. They were good! Lots of fruit and yogurt. Then we made three stations for the kids. The doctor, crafts and face painting, and sports. They loved it, and we loved them! We got back to the Hotel around 5:30pm, showered, ate, had a great team meeting, and prayed together. Now we are relaxing, and i'm going to go look at the stars... I hear they are amazing! Mungu akubayiki! (God Bless you)
Love,
Ann

Sunday July 26 2009

Lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ,
We are called to celebrate the good news that is our redeemer and savior. Today we joined Crossroads Church in the celebration of their seventh year. They have a wonderful praise band and lead the congregation in several contemporary praise and worship songs. Jim Horne the pastor shared about taking risks for the cause of Christ and used Pauls letter to Philemon as the basis for his message. It was a great sermon and celebration for the church. It is the evidence of what can grow from the obedience of the chosen to act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Our hope is in the Lord and our prayer is that we will be able to have congregations as alive in Christ in Mtepani and all over Kenya. We spent the remainder of the day preparing for ministry in Mtepani tomorrow. The fence we had anticipated building has been finished already so we will be installing the pillars for the gate which was procured today. Tomorrow we will begin with feild evangelism going in groups of two or three joined by translators and local believers from home to home sharing the Gospel and inviting everyone to Sunday service. After lunch we will return to the school to work with the children providing medical attention, preforming crafts with them and playing games outside. Pray that we reflect the Lord who sends us.

David

Kenya July 2009

Good Day All,

We are here in Kenya at the Voyager Hotel in Mombasa eagerly awaiting our first day of ministry. It was a long day and a half of travel and we experienced God's hand upon us in many ways. While we initially did not get all of our luggage we did get three of the four misplaced bags and are hopeful for the last bag getting here. Please pray for team unity and for the Holy Spirit to fill us all with a fresh annointing. We walk in the knowledge that the Lord goes before us and is our rear guard. Tomorrow morning will will walk to church about half a mile away. Our accommodations are very nice and our rooms cool down rather quickly when we go to our room and insert our key to get the a/c operating. We have secured a few cell phones for emergency calls. I am carrying one and Chris has the other.
Chris 254-712293743
David 254-715819973

Love to you all,

David

We are Here!!!

After many long hours of flying we have made it to Mombasa. We are missing three ministry bags and Lisa's personal bag. Please pray that those will arrive quickly. We will blog more in the days to come.

Here are a few things to pray for over the week:

Health

Safety

Open hearts as we present the Gospel

We have water!

Real 4 Christ Ministries wants to say THANK YOU to Crossway International Ministries and the churches in Alamo Heights, Tx for providing the funds for Mtepeni's new water well. Mbewau Church and Academy has fresh safe water for the very first time. This new well will allow Pastor Nzaro and other church members to share the Living Water of Christ with local villagers as they come to get safe fresh drinking water.

The smiles on these faces say it all! Thank You!