Mbewau Youth Camp

This month I was invited to speak at a youth camp, hosted by Mbewau Ministries and Pastor Rasto. Four different Churches were represented and over 40 attended from the villages of the surrounding areas. We were excited to have so many young men and women present and seeking to grow closer to God. Pastor Gladson from Dzombo Fellowship, one of the Church Plants God has allowed us to be a part of, attended and was also one of the speakers. He brought several youth from his church. They come from a very remote area (2-3 hrs away), so having them with us was awesome!

I had a great time connecting with the youth and the Pastors and hearing how God is working in each of their lives. Pregnancy and addiction is so prevalent here and so the youth (defined here in Kenya as ages 18 to around 30 year old unmarried) often leave school to find a job or work around their family’s village to simply survive. Unfortunately “idleness” sets in and these kids find their identity in whatever or whoever will accept them. Pray for us as we’re exploring new ways to reach those youth God has put in our path. 

God Bless
Brandon Adams

Love has no limits...Betty Coleman

Thomas followed the evangelism team hut to hut until he got the answers he needed about God.

The passion of the people of Masaai Corners and Mbewau is absolutely amazing. The passion in their worship the passion in their work and the passion of the children in their singing and love they show to others. And the one passion that touched my heart was the passion of a young man, Thomas, to know the Lord. This young man followed us from one of the homes to another, while we were doing hut to hut evangelism, to get his questions about God answered. And once his questions were answered, he gave his life to the Lord!

Maasai Corner Academy Student

As I return to the states, I pray that I would have that same passion in sharing my testimony with the people around me.

Love truly has No Limits!

I wish that everyone could come here at least once...Hayley Schraeder

Today is our last day in Kenya. This is a bittersweet realization not just for me, but for our whole team. There are so many stories to share, so many vivid memories to remember. I wish that everyone could come here at least once during their lifetime because God is so very real here. He is real at home too of course, but His presence is just so easy to feel here. Our theme for this trip is "Love Has No Limits", but I think that the Kenyan people showed us what that truly means more than we did. The people here genuinely care about each other and show that every day. They welcomed us into their homes, the churches, the schools, and their lives and never once did I feel like an outsider. We just became part of the family. I have a lot of things to process and understand still, but I want you all to know that my experience here in Kenya really has changed my life and I am so very grateful that God has allowed Nathan and I to be part of what He is doing here!

The love I have for the Kenyan people is beyond what I could have imagined....Mickey Dunigan

There is something about seeing a mission field that you have read about for years in person. We have read about R4C ministries for several years and have now gotten a small taste of what they do here in Kenya. Every trip that I take changes my life in significant ways and this one is no different. God tells us all through scripture to love one another, as He has loved us, it is the second greatest commandment. The love I have for my fellow team mates and now the love I have for the Kenyan people is beyond what I could have imagined. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of what you are doing in Kenya.

Joy by Amanda Rule

Sorry Amanda for missing your blog...This one is a few days late.

This morning arriving at the school with the kids lining the entrance of the gate was an amazing experience. There Was so much excitement and such an adrenaline rush to be caught up in! We got off the bus and went straight to the children's worship center where the kids and teachers were all signing and dancing joyfully, thanking God and us for being there. They were all dressed in similar will outfits but they were each decorated in glitter, face paint, beads and even some feathers. The environment of joy was, once again, extremely contagious. At the end of the welcoming ceremony there was one last song and dance that we all participated. In the middle of the circle danced 4 boys and 4 girls facing each other going through a series of motions. One by one staying with the couples we joined in beside them and followed their movements. It was awesome being bright together to sing and dance with no shame or embarrassment- only joy. I guess that is the theme I'm experiencing everyday here. Joy... real, unabashed joy. In every thing we do and they do - from worship to giving to playing to working- it's all done out of love and joy for our creator.

After that we broke into groups to play different games with each class. The kids were just do happy to spend this time being kids, enjoying us and playing the simple games we brought. After the games we walked the kids back to their classrooms and I had at least four kids come and grab into my hands. One little girl, Sheila, asked for my water. I gave it to her exciting she was thirsty but when we got to the classroom and i was about to head back she gave me a hug and my water back. It was so simple, yet so sweet. This little girl took my bottle to carry for me so she could hold onto my hand! Lunch was great, all the same food eaten together but still smiles and no complaining. Each class said a prayers once they were seated and that was cuteness overload. Later we had a skit, a waste balloon fight and closing songs.

To end our day with the kids we were able to "walk" home a few children that people from our team sponsor. The families were so happy and inviting to show us their home. To just an everyday American it would look like a home made from nothing but to me it was a home made from the love and joy, not conformed by our unrealistic expectations of a clean, presentable house full of the latest things we want. With each day, each experience, each memory being made I continue to grow and become more open. God's love and joy surrounds everything here. Our boundaries are being stretched and we are learning to be more flexible. God's love has no limits and I am reminded daily.

Making THE mission real:

If you have been on a mission team or the family or friend of a team member you know the planning begins months in advance. As the time draws closer to actually leave the anticipation grows and grows. When you get to the airport on departure day, when the international flight takes off, and when you land at your destination, the phrase "this just got real" gets thrown around.

This is my 3rd mission or discipleship trip and so the nerves of taking off from home and landing somewhere I've never been before weren't there this time for me. However, something else became very real for me today. Many in our church sponsor the children we've come to Africa share God's love with through Real4Christ and have been doing so for almost 2 years. I walk by the picture of my little girl Caroline everyday several times a day in my home in America and today I stood in HER home on the coast of Africa, and prayed for her and her family! In that moment the mission got real!

God has richly blessed me by allowing me and the rest of the team to join HIM in His mission.

Child Sponsorship...Krista Dawson

I have always wanted to sponsor a child from overseas somewhere. I just hadnt found the right origization I felt led to help support. We were in church one Sunday and they were talking about Real 4 Christ Child Sponsorship program in Kenya. I immediately felt something in my heart for these boys and girls there.  So we went to the website Real4christ.com and started reading about the school and looked thru all the pictures. We found the girl that melted our hearts Swabrina. When the church announced they were planning a mission trip to Kenya we both wanted to go. We prayed about going and sharing the gospel to the Kenyan people and also a chance to meet Swabrina.  

Well today we got to meet that precious little girl. The minute I saw her crooked smile I knew it was her. We were able to walk her home and meet her mom and sisters.  Actually being able to put hands on her today made it so real for me.

So if you would also like to sponsor a child go to their website and read bout the schools and their ministries.