We had an incredible day worshiping at Segera Mission and Endana today. Our team divided into two groups. Most of the team walked an hour from the Mission to the Endana Faith Chapel. Our team members introduced themselves and many of them shared a favorite scripture. I preached from the book of Nehemiah and we all enjoyed singing and dancing with the congregation. The team members from last year recognized lots of familiar faces. It was a sweet reunion.
The rest of the team attended church at Segera Mission. Crispo invited Tony to share a message and other team members were able to play with the nursery school children. We all really enjoyed worshiping with our Kenyan brothers and sisters this morning.
After lunch, Phoebe, a staff member from Brightpoint for Children, introduced many of the sponsored children to our team. I can't describe how meaningful it was to meet the kids we have been praying for, writing to, and supporting. I am so thankful for the ministry of Brightpoint.
Later, we traveled with Crispo to a "preaching point." Preaching points are evangelistic, open air meetings with tribal people in remote locations. We were warmly greeted and joined the people in dancing and singing praises to God. Despite the language barriers, we worshiped together as one. I gave a brief message based on the parable of the lost sheep and Dedee and Tori led us all in Amazing Grace. After a brief invitation, about 10 people walked forward to step over the line of faith. It was a powerful moment.
Tonight, the team is relaxing back at the Sportsman's Arms. The teenage boys have been trading away clothes and hats in exchange for souvenirs. Hopefully, they'll come back with a few clothes left. Thank you for your prayers. We're having a great trip! Tomorrow will be the first day at the Endana Primary School. We're looking forward to working alongside our friends to build the library.
Aaron
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Saturday in Nanyuki
A few travel details first.
The trip went well. No lost luggage. Jet lag is not bad. Tony began feeling a little under the weather before they left Houston so please pray for him. A few of the 1st timers mentioned that Nairobi was more gorgeous than they expected. They have been told that Segera is much different, though, in terms of landscape.
They took a group picture at Havilla and tha will get posted as soon as they get a strong enough internet connection. Now, here's a message from Aaron.
This morning, after a restful night and breakfast at the hotel in Nairobi, we made our way to the Havilla orphanage. It was so good to see the kids from last year's Daraja Choir. They are precious. As soon as we pulled up, they greeted us with big hugs and bright smiles. Some of them have really grown since October. They asked about our families and even remembered Kathy Peter's dog. We were also able to tour their brand new home. They just moved in this week! It is a 3 story building on a 1/2 acre lot. The first floor has rooms, bathrooms, and storage space for the boys. The 2nd floor has the same for the girls and the 3rd floor is for Joseph and Solamae and their birth kids. I was very impressed with the quality of construction. It is such a huge blessing for them.
After our initial greetings, we spent time helping them with their daily chores. The guys carried wheelbarrow loads of manure up the hill to the garden and the girls chopped up cabbage. They also have a new stereo system and we had a blast doing the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide with the kids. At the end of the morning, we pulled up some benches and all the kids performed a few songs for us.
I am so grateful that God has given our church the opportunity to build friendships with people here. The same kids that carved Halloween pumpkins at my house last Fall were introducing me to their favorite cow today. These beautiful children are more than just great performers in a traveling choir. They are dearly loved children of God and I get to call them friends. What a blessing!
Tonight, we're looking forward to dinner and resting at the Sportsman's Arms. In the morning, we'll split up and go to church at the Segera Mission and a church in Endana. I can't wait to worship with our Kenyan friends.
The trip went well. No lost luggage. Jet lag is not bad. Tony began feeling a little under the weather before they left Houston so please pray for him. A few of the 1st timers mentioned that Nairobi was more gorgeous than they expected. They have been told that Segera is much different, though, in terms of landscape.
They took a group picture at Havilla and tha will get posted as soon as they get a strong enough internet connection. Now, here's a message from Aaron.
This morning, after a restful night and breakfast at the hotel in Nairobi, we made our way to the Havilla orphanage. It was so good to see the kids from last year's Daraja Choir. They are precious. As soon as we pulled up, they greeted us with big hugs and bright smiles. Some of them have really grown since October. They asked about our families and even remembered Kathy Peter's dog. We were also able to tour their brand new home. They just moved in this week! It is a 3 story building on a 1/2 acre lot. The first floor has rooms, bathrooms, and storage space for the boys. The 2nd floor has the same for the girls and the 3rd floor is for Joseph and Solamae and their birth kids. I was very impressed with the quality of construction. It is such a huge blessing for them.
After our initial greetings, we spent time helping them with their daily chores. The guys carried wheelbarrow loads of manure up the hill to the garden and the girls chopped up cabbage. They also have a new stereo system and we had a blast doing the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide with the kids. At the end of the morning, we pulled up some benches and all the kids performed a few songs for us.
I am so grateful that God has given our church the opportunity to build friendships with people here. The same kids that carved Halloween pumpkins at my house last Fall were introducing me to their favorite cow today. These beautiful children are more than just great performers in a traveling choir. They are dearly loved children of God and I get to call them friends. What a blessing!
Tonight, we're looking forward to dinner and resting at the Sportsman's Arms. In the morning, we'll split up and go to church at the Segera Mission and a church in Endana. I can't wait to worship with our Kenyan friends.
No news is good news, right?
Last year it was a few days into the trip before we started really getting some good updates. So hang in there, I'm sure we'll have something for you soon! This is one of those "no news is good news" moments. On that note, if anyone hears anything from a team member, feel free to email Andrea.
This is what is on the devotional schedule for today. Pray for the team as they study this passage and search to answer the questions. Be praying for Josephine as she prepares to share her story with the team on Monday.
1. Why did Jesus care that his disciples were unified?
2. With whom did Jesus want the disciples to be unified?
3. What are some ways we can seek to be unified as a team this week during our trip?
God, we thank you for creating us to be in relationship with one another. We confess we often do our own thing, seek our own interests, and miss the blessing of sharing in unity with one another. Help us depend on you and offer ourselves to one another. Unify this team, oh Lord, and make us a witness to your love for the world. Show us your heart, your desires, and your ways, that we may find union with you through your Son, Jesus Christ. And let your Spirit work in us through us as we serve. Amen
This is what is on the devotional schedule for today. Pray for the team as they study this passage and search to answer the questions. Be praying for Josephine as she prepares to share her story with the team on Monday.
Unity of the Body
John 17:20-23 (The Message)
20-23I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are— I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me.
John 17:20-23 (The Message)
20-23I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are— I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me.
1. Why did Jesus care that his disciples were unified?
2. With whom did Jesus want the disciples to be unified?
3. What are some ways we can seek to be unified as a team this week during our trip?
God, we thank you for creating us to be in relationship with one another. We confess we often do our own thing, seek our own interests, and miss the blessing of sharing in unity with one another. Help us depend on you and offer ourselves to one another. Unify this team, oh Lord, and make us a witness to your love for the world. Show us your heart, your desires, and your ways, that we may find union with you through your Son, Jesus Christ. And let your Spirit work in us through us as we serve. Amen
Friday, July 3, 2009
They're in Nairobi
Somehow, I missed their call and I slept with my phone turned up and right beside me. But since they called, I will assume the entire team is settled in for a good night's sleep in Nairobi right about now. It's currently about 1:45am on Saturday, July 4th, in Nairobi.
The call shows it came through at 3:25am Saturday Singapore time so it would have been 2:25pm Friday Texas time which would have been 10:25pm Friday in Nairobi. Confused? ME too... Blogging from a different time zone may take some tweaking. We'll have to find a good time to communicate via phone when everyone is awake. :)
Tori & Jakeb did arrive safely from Singapore and got there about 7 or 8 hours earlier. Moses picked them up from the airport and took them to the hotel and they were getting to visit with Josephine. Tori's suitcase was smashed up and sorted through but other than that, they arrived safe and sound. Tori & Jakeb got to go back to the airport with Moses to pick up the team. What a fun reunion that probably was if the BPF team was awake enough to smile.
Happy Texas Independence Day! May those in Kenya be open to experience the Ultimate Independence and those whom He's sent be willing to share and may all be protected wherever their journey takes them today.
The call shows it came through at 3:25am Saturday Singapore time so it would have been 2:25pm Friday Texas time which would have been 10:25pm Friday in Nairobi. Confused? ME too... Blogging from a different time zone may take some tweaking. We'll have to find a good time to communicate via phone when everyone is awake. :)
Tori & Jakeb did arrive safely from Singapore and got there about 7 or 8 hours earlier. Moses picked them up from the airport and took them to the hotel and they were getting to visit with Josephine. Tori's suitcase was smashed up and sorted through but other than that, they arrived safe and sound. Tori & Jakeb got to go back to the airport with Moses to pick up the team. What a fun reunion that probably was if the BPF team was awake enough to smile.
Happy Texas Independence Day! May those in Kenya be open to experience the Ultimate Independence and those whom He's sent be willing to share and may all be protected wherever their journey takes them today.
Made It To London
The team are on the plane leaving London headed for Nairobi. They had a rushed change in London but everyone made it. He said everyone is doing well.
Tori & Jakeb have cleared Doha with ease and are well on their way to Nairobi. They should arrive there a couple of hours from now. A driver will be picking them up and taking them to the hotel where the rest of the team will be coming about 7 or 8 hours later.
Tori & Jakeb have cleared Doha with ease and are well on their way to Nairobi. They should arrive there a couple of hours from now. A driver will be picking them up and taking them to the hotel where the rest of the team will be coming about 7 or 8 hours later.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
I'm Going to Kenya!!!
The team is on their way and are scheduled to arrive in London at 7:40am London time. I'm sure some of them if not all of them were thinking, "I'm going to Kenya!!!"
If my calculations are correct, which is doubtful because I'm blogging from Singapore and trying to keep track of 5 different time zones, they should get to London in about 8 1/2 hours from now.
There are two team members, Tori & Jakeb, who have left from Singapore and are stopping off in Doha, Qatar before they arrive in Nairobi where they will join up with the rest of the team. They will arrive in Nairobi several hours ahead of the team and wait for them not so patiently. :) They are very anxious to see their Texas buddies!
I hope to hear from Kirk when the Texas team arrives in London. The Singapore stragglers will also let me know when they have arrived.
Pray that their flights are going well, no one gets sick, everyone rests well and their pilots are completely awake!
Note: In case you're wondering and perhaps confused, this blog administrator is a member of BPF who has recently moved to Singapore and who is the mom of Tori and Jakeb. It's pretty cool that a person can live in Singapore, blog about people from Texas who are headed to Kenya! What a big, small world we live in.
Doing Something
The team leaves today! Ready or not, here they go. Some have been packed and ready for days and others have probably been up all night and may have even made that midnight trip to Walmart. :) Continue to pray that their departure and journey all go without issues.
For everyone who believes in Christ, how we live out our faith will look different from day to day. But as the scripture says below, faith and works go hand in glove. Faith just doesn't work without doing something.
For this team, their "doing something" takes them to Segera. For some of us staying behind, our "something" was helping some of them get there and praying for them along the way. All of us can make a difference somehow, somewhere. It doesn't have to be in Kenya or even across the ocean. We must do something and then do something else after that.
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department."
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
James 2:14-18 (The Message)
BPF Kenya Team 2009 - We love you and are praying for you from several different time zones so we've got you covered! Now, go do something!
For everyone who believes in Christ, how we live out our faith will look different from day to day. But as the scripture says below, faith and works go hand in glove. Faith just doesn't work without doing something.
For this team, their "doing something" takes them to Segera. For some of us staying behind, our "something" was helping some of them get there and praying for them along the way. All of us can make a difference somehow, somewhere. It doesn't have to be in Kenya or even across the ocean. We must do something and then do something else after that.
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department."
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
James 2:14-18 (The Message)
BPF Kenya Team 2009 - We love you and are praying for you from several different time zones so we've got you covered! Now, go do something!
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