Overcoming Obsticles

God is good! We finally made it to Mombasa, Kenya!

As we left Thursday bright and early, everyone was really tired but super excited. We made it to the airport with no problems, but Satan was of course ready and waiting to slow us down. At check in, we had a slight issue with the airline promising us free baggage and then not getting it. However, God came through and we got past our first hurtle. First plane ride was short and sweet. We had some fun bonding time in the Miami airport doing handstands and playing catch phrase. Good times. Second plane was long but smooth. Then the fun began in London as we waited for our plane to Nairobi. First it was delayed as we waited in the airport, then we boarded and was in the plane for 2 hours before take off. I was lucky enough to sit next to a very nice Kenyan man named Ruben who works in Afghanistan as a humanitarian. He was so amazed at our purpose and journey to Africa. He had a ton of questions and was so supportive and excited for us. We finally arrived in Africa and was late for our connecting plane to Mombasa. We were directed to leave our luggage in the airport and run to our flight that had been waiting for 3 hours for us to arrive. Well, we finally made it to our host homes at 4 am Kenyan time. Our host family (Chris and Lisa Moore) are so warm and welcoming! Luckily our luggage came through today all safe and sound. I am so excited to be here in Mombasa and am ready and waiting to see what God does through our group and in my life!! 

Quick shout out to my family and friends! I miss and love you guys! Keep praying for our safety and for God to really move through our time here! 

I still can't believe I am in Africa! 

In Him, 

Elyse DeBuck

Landing in complete darkness and reluctantly leaving all of our bags in Nairobi, we finally made it to Mombasa.  Although it was not the preferred arrival time, and the airport literally re-opened to receive us, getting our first glimpse of this new world in the early morning hours was an amazing experience.  Cruising through half paved gravel roads only partially illuminated by street lamps and advertisements cast an eerie glow on the few citizens still out walking the streets.  Motorcycles rambled past and the team was silent in awe of the utter strangeness of this new place.  Arriving at the Moore residence exhausted we went to sleep to the sounds of Islamic prayers being pumped into the early morning air from the multiple Mosques surrounding the area.

That afternoon we woke to fresh fruit and the warmth and love of Chris and Lisa.  They treated us as if we were their own family, beckoning us to stir through cabinets and kitchen to find anything we like to eat.  Chris and a few of us then left for the airport to fetch our luggage that had hopefully all arrived at the Mombasa airport.  After a few cliffhanger moments, when only a few of our bags were visible, we found the rest in the lost and found luggage closet.  Seeing the city by daylight was a completely new and spectacular moment.  Crowded streets, bustling markets, roads without any real laws to abide by, yet Chris confidently navigated through the mad traffic.  Motorcycles weaving the opposite direction through traffic, while men, women, and children scrambled back and forth.  Never have I seen a such place so confusing and wild, yet totally alive.  There is a visible pulse here, but it is a pulse without God, and that is palpable.  

For the remainder of the evening we relaxed and enjoyed a delicious homemade meal, along with great team fellowship.  We are all getting closer every moment, and after dinner we met to organize our mission supplies to prepare for the rest of the mission.  While separating the contents of our bags the power went out, without falter we all grabbed our flashlights and headlamps, then continued in the dark.  We worked happily together through adversity.  Once the power came on we circled up and prayed for Gods presence in the the rest of the week, and Chris debriefed us on what to expect tomorrow.  

The journey has just begun and God is already working in our hearts in a big way.  Confident in Him we will do everything we can to proclaim his glory to the Kenyan people.  Of course regardless of what we do or do not accomplish, his Glory will be revealed.

Austin Lewis