Mission Accomplished

Mission Mombasa 2014 was an amazing trip to Kenya.  18 team members from several different churches came together as one team and shared the love of Christ with hundreds of people around the Mombasa area.

Here are a few stats from the trip:
17 Souls accepted Christ as personal Savior.
Over 100 villagers received medical attention.
50 students in the schools received medical care.
400 students pictures were taken to update the R4C child sponsorship program.
Funds given to medical and building funds.
18 team members lives changed.
18 bags of medical and school supplies donated.

God is working in Kenya.  If you would like to personally see what God is doing there please contact Real4Christ about 2015 trip dates @  missiontrips@real4christ.com.

Thank you to everyone that donated funds, bought a t-shirt and donated medical and school supplies. Lives have been forever changed with your help.

God Bless!
David Hayes

Mombasa has a place in my heart that I can't describe

Since being back in the states I immediately crave a mandazi and chai tea which tastes undoubtedly better in Kenya than in America. I miss the sounds of kids laughing and singing with me. I long for the feel of a child holding my hand and being all in my personal space because that's how they express their love. I want other opportunities to share the Gospel in the pouring rain on mud roads, slipping and sliding. I won't ever forget the welcome songs and kids chasing after a bus full of missionaries, awaiting for us to get off and screaming, "I want that one, I want that one!" Beyond the disorder of what's going in Kenya, despite that people are struggling to survive, even though there are Muslim attacks, the Lord is among the people of Kenya, especially in Mombasa. 

I asked God to put me in situations that will allow me to get out my comfort zone. Knowing that Jesus intercedes on my behalf, I wanted to have a dependence on the Holy Spirit in a place that was unlike America. God fulfilled all that as He is faithful to do when we ask. I've been arounds bugs and slept with a mosquito net that was as tangible as I could get to God's covering at night lol. With God's guidance, He gave me the words to share when speaking to people about Jesus and the free gift of salvation if they believe Jesus is God and with a repented heart they too could be saved, and have a life forever changed by God. I have an even more enthusiastic heart for teaching one day, and one day to sponsor about five kids through Real 4 Christ Ministries. I've had my eyes opened to how the majority of the world actually lives and what a humbling experience that was. People live in mud huts, no plumbing, no air conditioning. No t.v., no stove, no fridge, no clean water without traveling to the nearest well if there is one. No mattress (or if so, not a new one), no vehicle,  access to the store being 10 minutes away, but God…

I've processed a lot for being in Mombasa for almost two weeks, and something so beautiful to witness was a people who believed in Jesus, that He is their provider, with their whole hearts, they worship and love God, they thank Him for who He is, what He's given them, and they have nothing but joy in their souls. Because when God is literally all you have, He's all you need. Kids and adults alike dance for God without being concerned with who is watching, their mind isn't focused on anyone else. They live out the words they sing, that they are victorious, that God is higher, that satan is the loser, and God is in control. In America, we worship how we feel, not necessarily because we must because that's what we are created to do "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into Hid wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). 

In such a short time I've had the time of my life and have learned a lot. From marriage interests (which can even happen as you're in a moving vehicle, trust me) to laying in my bed weeping, Mombasa has a place in my heart that I can't describe. The people who I've come to know from the kids, the teachers, to the women I've come to call my friends from the hotels I stayed in have shown me how to love more, care more, to have fun without limits, to just keep it moving whatever is going on. Hakuna Matata: it means no worries. And with God you really don't have any.  

Lab coats and whoopee cushions

This is my fourth time coming to Kenya. And as you can guess, some of the shock values have worn off by this time around. I know to expect the different culture, language, smells and driving laws. I have formed relationships with people here and get excited to hug their necks each year. And every time I have planned to return, I have been asked why - why go back? Why go back after I have already been here? My answer - the people. It's a simple answer, but it's one I could not give without an unconditional love through Christ that He first demonstrated. Romans 5:6 - 10 tells us that "while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would even dare to die - but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life." We started our journey to Kenya with the focus that this trip was all about God no matter what. It sounds cliche and you might wonder what it means since most 'mission trips' are usually about God in some way. Personally, I have seen it in the intentional relationships being built with the people here. I think of a conversation that Kim and I had with Jackson today as he gave us fresh mangos from a tree at Mbewau. With a sincere heart, he told us that they may not have much, but they love us deeply and want to share the blessings that God has given them. How many of us could genuinely say the same thing to someone we have only been around for a few days every year? Things we take for granted in America can be huge over here. A few days ago, I had the privilege of presenting embroidered lab coats to the new doctor and lab tech at Maasai Corner. In his delight, the doctor exclaimed "Now I can be a lifelong physician!" A few hours later, we introduced the staff of Maasai Corner to whoopee cushions. After their initial shock, each staff member took ther turn running out to grab the next person to prank. It is things like this - lab coats, whoopee cushions, medical clinic, hut-to-hut, or even simple games and songs with the children - that demonstrate to me that we are all created by God and because He loved us, we can emulate His love towards one another in everything that we do. The first few verses of Romans 5 tell us that "since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." There is hope here. I see it, hear it and feel it as I walk through the campuses of Maasai Corner and Mbewau Academy. I see it in the boldness of our translators as they go hut-to-hut with us. I hear it in the worship songs on Sunday and in the classrooms as the children are taught about God and His provision for us. I feel it in the impact that Chris and Lisa are having as they work to build up the ministry of both schools. The hope I see here is not an earthly hope, but an eternal hope that only comes through God's love for us. And through that love, we can share in the hope the people have here. 1 John 4:19 - We love because God first loved us....Karen Sandifer

Before going on this trip, I was concerned about becoming desensitized with the things that I had witnessed the past 4 years.  This was my 5th trip back and I had seen sick and hurting children, starvation, and all the things that go along with trips to Mombasa.  But, this country never fails to show new and interesting ways to bring me to tears.
Yesterday, we went to witness hut-to-hut.  The notion of doing this the first trip was terrifying, but it's a lot different now.  I look forward to it and enjoy it.  I went with a team of a translator, and 3 women, 2 of them had never done anything like this before.  I was so proud of them as they shared their hearts with the villagers.  After a couple of hours, we came to the home of a large family.  All of the women were home with their children.  There were roughly 10 women and children in all.  As one of the women shared Christ with the women, I was handing out gum to the children.  This proved to be very entertaining because while talking we could hear nothing but smacking coming from the kids.  We talked for a while and a women got up and left the conversation.  This was very frustrating to me and I said, "We spent two days, spent a lot of money, left our homes, and left our families, just to share this message with you.  We want to see you again in Heaven.  We believe this to be the most important message you will ever hear."  At that time I looked to one of my partners and she was in tears as was I.  I did notice that when the women saw our tears, they could tell our sincerity and they listened more intently.  Praise God!  The women said that they believed what we were sharing and said that they would be coming to church on Sunday.  Only God knows their hearts.  I hope to see them this Sunday and told them to come and sit next to me.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God....Keith Mathews

God is good

I said I would never go on a foreign mission trip. Well I am in Kenya now on a ten day mission trip and I have changed. I do not know what impact I had on the people but I do know what impact the trip had on me so far. I have spent three days at the Maasai Corner site and I can see that the people experience real joy. On Sunday, I had a wonderful opportunity to worship with the Kenya people. Even though I did not understand the worship song or the sermon because it was in Swahili, but I can see joy. I also saw joy in the kids at school on Monday. The joy in there welcome song as they sang to us when we showed up. The joy in their faces when I colored with them or played games with them. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18....17 Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I well exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the GOD of my salvation.  

This is my favorite verse. Being on this trip has made me understand these verses even more. Never say never because God will change your mind and heart. I am blessed He did...Aaron Birks

There are times when we question why things happen to us, good and bad. We have fear in out hearts and doubt in our minds that keep us in chained from the freedom we have in Christ. Instead of trusting God we question Him. Instead of focusing on God we wonder. Since being in Kenya I've witnessed testimony that had touched my heart and convicted me that true and ultimate joy doesn't come from the things Kenyans have, the mud house they live in, or the clothes that's wearing down. Pure joy comes from praising God in the good and bad times. Struggling to feed a family but still giving God glory anyway by giving them their total heart and soul and mind. It's had me thinking not how much more fortunate am I, but asking God how can I trust Him with less? Going to Massai Corner and even the Mangro Hotel, I've talked to people that I will never forget all because they are always smiling. To reach out and ask about their lives and see how they believe about the God I read about, the great I Am, the strong tower I confide in, the Holiness of His character, my Kenyan family hold onto Jesus, In ways that have been hard for me to. Being here has opened the question to how can I give God glory in any situation in my life, so that someone else may reap that benefit, as I have seeing unlimited worship at Massai Corner. Not just in singing praises, but in the way I talk, the way act, etc. In Jesus we can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and be full of joy. We are free in Christ, and as a born again Christian and other people who say they are redeemed, let's start speaking in existence God's will for our lives. With spirit and in true, honestly say we trust God with our lives and for His glory, not our own be exalted. In my time here so far, it's been a blessing and eye opening. We are made to worship. Genisis 1:7 NIV says, "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." God breathed in us the breath of life, we are to breathe OUT worship. We stare where we steer and follow where we focus. When our praise and focus is on Chris, we can trust that we are covered, provided for, delivered from. And the beautiful people of Kenya have unconsciously showed me their testimony. Through it all, God is still good. Let's not just trust God with our eternal, but also with our earthly...Zuleika Peters

Worship

Worship. If you asked me several years ago what this mean I would reference cliché Christian music that pretty much sounded the same across the board, or what we do when we go to church. It is a word that holds many different meanings all over the world to many different people groups and religions. Humanity worships many things: idols, money, McDonalds, you name it people are worshipping it! Right now the world is "worshipping" their favorite international team represented at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil (which I am enjoying by the way). I have almost been a Christian for 10 years and I believe that our worship belongs to one God, one savior...Jesus Christ! Worship is more than a song, more than a band, more than what you wear, or more than what you earn. God has shown me worship ought to be our whole existence. All that we do in life ought to be done to bring God the glory he deserves. We sang "Oceans" by Hillsong United on the way to Maasai Corner this morning. It wasn't pretty, but God broke my heart for these people all over again. In our devotion time before we got out of the bus, we talked about everything that we do, whether it's giving a child a hug, attempting to sing a Swahili praise song, or getting schooled in soccer, it is imperative that we worship the Lord in all of that! God has created us for this purpose: to bring Him the glory. This is why Jesus was crucified for our sins, so that we can have a relationship with God and have a purpose for existence! Today, while I was playing soccer, doing rather poorly I might add, I was worshipping him for calling our family to Kenya as missionaries and allowing us to play some part in His great plan, to Reach East African Lives for Christ! These children have nothing, but with Christ they have everything. While I allow materialism to flood my heart and occupy my mind, malnourished children that I have held in my arms are worshipping Christ and content with nothing. I'm humbled and ashamed. God forgive us for our lack of perspective and gluttony. My hope is that we cast down our idols and worship the only one who deserves our entire being. God is working here in Kenya! You need to come and see what the Lord has done! Thank you for your prayers and support of this team. Rachel, Charlie, and Amelia, I love you and miss you so much!

A journey to Kenya

A journey to Kenya is more than 8000 miles and 3 flights.  It starts 6-8 months before the actual trip starts with team meetings, fundraising, many hours of prayer and learning to depend on God takes place during those months.  Then the day finally comes when you take flight.  Flight number 1 is 9 hours, flight number 2 is 8.5 hours and flight 3 is 45 minutes.  After that there is a 2 hour drive down the coast to the hotel.  This years journey included a flat tire waiting to get on the ferry.

This life is a long journey.  We must trust God for every aspect of it just  like going to Kenya.  The Denton/Connect team has arrived in Ukunda, Kenya safe and sound.  We will post more over the next couple of days.

Thank you so very much for love, prayers, support and encouraging words.

God Bless
David Hayes

New Brothers in Christ

Our first team of the summer has been great.  God allowed them to see souls added to the family of God. "Trail Share Time" with the DeQuincy Team was unforgettable! The two muslim men, on each end, believed in Jesus the Son of God. This is what it is all about.

 Dr. Moses, our new lab tech, was lead to Christ by Pastor Aultman.