Headed Home

Friday, July 1, 2011

Trip to Kenya

This May, our organization, Global Teams, organized a Member Care Retreat in Kenya. Each Global Team has a volunteer assigned to them to pray, encourage and share with, via email. We met with leaders and care givers from the U.S., 2 other North American missionaries and about 40 African missionaries from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, Uganda and Kenya. It was a difficult journey to travel with 2 families and a bit of chaos--Osama Bin Laden had just been captured and in Kampala there was political unrest. We arrived in Kampala on Mother's Day :). In Kampala, we met another colleague, Dr. Katie and left for Kenya the next day. We got to the Kenyan border and realized we had forgotten the tiny detail of the hotel name, number or directions and had 3 different spellings for the town where it was located. Turns out, it was very close to Obama's birth place! God truly has and had mercy on us and we made it by piecing together information and a good driver and a load of GRACE. Totally becoming addicted to grace--it's the only way to live!!

Needless to say, it was a powerful encouragement. We had a wonderful time learning and praying and hearing stories--so, so amazing! God is busy, for sure. The kids were encouraged, had a lot of fun and great adventures.

The pictures are not clear--had a smudge, we realized when we got home :(.

Chocolate covered donuts from Kampala!!!!

Lucy turns 5 in Kenya.

I love this girl!

Our friend brought Micah smores, so we cranked up a charcoal stove and had smores!!

Micah and Liz, our member care angel!

Kids singing this little light of mine with finger flashlights.

The boys playing with a friend on the hotel field.

Accidentially caught a barn owl going out for the night.

View from my window.

Where we met for meetings and eating.

The kitchen and beyond you can see traditional Kenyan shambas.

Travis and Aaron with some of our colleagues on a village and church visit. Below is a group of school kids performing for the guests.

Our Kenyan teammate!

Praying together.

One of Aaron's small groups.

Singing together.

Mallory with Jane, who worked with the children. She is Kenyan and actually had stayed in Kabale for an internship!

Studying together.

Setting up for communion.

The Bishop serves us. He prayed for courage for me--thank you, God!

April 29th

For whatever reason, today was a big day. Aaron turned 40, we met Precious' mom who came special from their village and one of Aaron's co-workers had a pre-wedding party called a Give Away. It was a fun day! I wish I could tell you more of what goes on at a Give Away, but we have only been to 2 and there is some variety in the program, depending on the wealth of the family. Also, it is hosted in Rukiga and it is like 6-8 hours long, so we have yet to come at the beginning or stay until the end. We do LOVE the little bit we have seen! So, enjoy the pictures and maybe one day we will post more information :)