Mtepeni Day 1

Jambo Jamboooo! Today was such a great day, it was just awesome to be reunited with everyone! 

My baby Lauren remembered me and when she saw me she was the first to scream "Torrrri" with my r in the middle rolled.
The kids are all so precious. It's quite hard though when there is only 7 of us on the team and only 3 girls to play with 100 kids.
Where as the past trips there has been 20 of us to play with about 70 kids. So it gets crazy when kids are pushing each other to hold our hand. At one point I had the kids in a line and I would pick them up and throw them in the air and put them down and then they would run to the back of the line. This was a good method until my arms started dying after the like 25th kid. So after that I decided to sit down, and then I literally had at least 12 kids sitting on me starting at my feet all the way to my stomach and then 2 on each arm holding my arm and then kids behind me playing with my hair. It was stressful but I loved every minute of it! Hearing them say my name and remember me was just so awesome. I can't wait to start doing the medical clinics tomorrow!
Oh and my parents and my close friends know this but Gladys wasn't here today at school but I talked to the teacher and she said she should be here tomorrow, so YAY! okay well guys I am super tired and hopefully I will have more things to blog about tomorrow!

Lala Salama ( good night!)

Tori

Shoes have arrived!

San Antonio Team

After an extended stay in London, the shoes have arrived. PTL!

Tonight we had an opportunity to enjoy dinner with the host missionaries Chris and Lisa Moore at the Milele Beach Hotel. At dinner, Chris told us that he had received a phone call from Kenyan Airlines saying the lost baggage had arrived.

So Chris, Lisa and Josh braved the roads of Kenya at night. Nearly dying twice in traffic (literally) we made it to Moi International Airport so I could be harassed and extorted by the local customs official. After his repeated requirement that I pay duty on the shoes brought over for the less fortunate, I informed him that he could either have me detained or tell me good evening; either way, he was not going to get any coin from me.

22 seconds later, I took my bag and walked out of the customs office (still with a full wallet) and met Chris to try the streets of Kenya for a second time.

Tomorrow, we will be leaving at 0745 for the village of Mtepeni so Kevin, Tim, Paul and Josh may begin construction of their new feeding center. Stay tuned for more details and to find out what Teasha, Brittany and Tori did with the kids.

Kenya Mission: day one - starts tomorrow.

We have Arrived

San Antonio team has arrived!

Last night after about 24 hours of straight flying, we arrived in Mombasa and met Chris and Lisa Moore. Teasha will tell you about everything in between:

Teasha: Fine. OK, we flew from SA to Chicago. I didn't know there was a Garrett's in the O'Hare airport. Chicago to London, we all wanted to leave the London airport and sight see but we only had 3 hours and it wasn't worth going throught customs. Finally, we flew 10 hours and 20 minutes from London to Nairobi, Kenya. (hey you know those shoes, we stuffed into 2 large carry on's, well 1 was too large and was checked in Chicago and was left in London.) We then flew from Nairobi to Mombasa.

Today we are all recovering from our 2 day travels. So, today is now Monday, around noon and Tori, Brittany, Josh and I are all sitting in the outdoor reception area communicating with the world electronically. We are all waiting for the restaurant to open to eat...and we're off. Talk to everyone in a few.

J and T

The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS present (even at Wal Mart)

San Antonio, Missions Team

So here we are, the night before we all leave. Teasha and I are doing some last minute shopping and gathering when my flip flops break and fall off my feet. Seeing this as a sign, we head to Wal-Mart (281@1604 for all the locals.)

As we are walking through the aisles, I comment to Teasha about a Facebook post that I read from Chris Moore (Pastor/Missionary - REAL 4 Christ Ministries) today about shoes. As we round the corner, we find an entire wall of shoes for $3.00 per pair - and they were all kids shoes. After just a look at each other, we begin emptying the shelves of 100 pairs.

But it gets better...

The managers had just closed all but three of the registers and there were about 40-50 people standing in line waiting to check out. Did I mention that all of the registers were right next to each other? Couples and shoppers started staring at this cart mounded with shoes. One woman finally garnered the courage to ask the question that everyone was wanting to ask: "What are the shoes for?"

We told her that we were heading to Africa in the morning and the shoes were for a large group of children. It was a brief overview of the mission trip ahead; she replied, "I just got the chills." She thanked us for what we were doing and went back to her husband in the checkout line.

As I went to hunt for a large box, the woman's husband came over and handed Teasha $40.00 without a word. The woman (Dina) said, "We want to help." After hugs were exchanged, with a large group of bystanders watching, another woman silently came forward and handed Teasha a twenty dollar bill saying, "I think this is great what you are doing."

That was when Teasha lost it and started crying in the middle of the store.

So, for all of the naysayers, for anyone who thinks that the Lord is not always watching, always guiding...this is a story for you. God is always present...even in Wal-Mart at 11:30 at night.

God is Awesome!

Josh Perkins

Special Prayer Request

From Chris

Please pray for the team flying into Kenya tomorrow night. Pray for safety, rest, no lost luggage and excitement as they embark upon the greatest 2 weeks of their lives. Lisa and I are so happy to have this team come and be a blessing to the people of the village of Mtepeni and MBEWAU Academy & Church.

Continue to pray that the "$25 per child sponsorships" would come in for feeding the 107 children we now have at the school. Pray that the project funds would come in for us to be able to complete the Feeding Center and begin building the 2nd floor to the school which we will need next year. Pray that we can build Pastor Nzaro a nice home to live in and that we can get him some transportation to travel through the villages he ministers to each week.

God has answered so many prayers and we are excited about what the next weeks, months and years will bring here in Kenya. Lisa and I say it as often as we can, THANK YOU for everything. Please keep up the support each month, keep those prayers coming and let us hear from you from time to time.

All our love,
Chris & Lisa

San Antonio Team

7 Days and counting...

The team has been assembled, we have packed the goods, Visas are squared away, passports are in hand. We leave in seven days for Mombasa, Kenya.

Since this is the first post, I will keep it short. We will be traveling to Mtepeni Village just outside of Mombasa to assist with the building of the village, help with feeding and cleaning, witness and evangelize and continue to practice being good Christians. Will keep everyone posted as we get closer to the airplanes and closer to Africa.

Blessings,

Josh Perkins

Outside These Walls

Outside the walls of every school and feeding center there are children that can not come in. The schools are full or lacking funds to bring more children in. The following poem was written by one of our team members that was really touched by seeing this.

Outside These Walls
By: Steve Kelley

There is hope within these walls, The children laugh and play.
From the heart, the Spirit calls, “Joy and Peace here today!”
All the smiles are very bright, The eyes are filled with trust.
Workers toil into the night, The lives are made robust.
Christians come from near and far, to minister and pray.
Once inside, God fills their jars, Such an ironic way!
Music fills the air inside, Praise and worship ring true.
God is worthy, let’s abide, together me and you.
Inside there is light- A life with Jesus brings peace.
We were blind, but now have sight. The joy of his grace won’t cease!

But outside these walls it’s dark. People must know our Lord.
The hope that faith brings to hearts, The strength that comes from His Word.
Ye soldiers you must press on- Christ’s high calling in you.
Till all God’s children are won, ‘Tis the least that we can do.
Don’t rest, don’t weary, don’t quit. The Lord is coming soon.
We must find lost souls to fit, With a crown that cannot be removed!