VBS in Nandi!

The team is healing.  Regina still has no voice and a sore throat.  Continue to pray for her.  

She did manage to have a talk with Pastor Beatrice and here is a brief report on what is happening in the VBS they are having.  Please pray that they close on Friday strong in how they have shared Jesus with these children!  It is so great that the training that they received is being used!  

Don't miss this Sunday at FCBC when the team shares their stories.  

"She is in the midst of DVBS.  This is the third day and the enrollment has reached 545!  She wants us to know they are using the training techniques that we presented to them and will never forget them.  They have had to bring in some "untrained" help and are doing the best they can to show them how to work with the children.  Their trained teachers are happy though Pastor Beatrice says!  Pastor Beatrice is teaching too, although she says she has to sometimes sit down to teach.  She says though that the naproxen is still helping her to be pain free, Carolyn.

What a wonderful partner Pastor Beatrice is to us and NGCI and what a timely mission our team was able to carry out in Nandi.  Please continue to pray Pastor Beatrice and her team through the rest of DVBS, which will end on Friday.  They are truly following in Christ's footsteps."

 

Team Members are Sick

Re-entry for a mission trip can be difficult for a lot of reasons.  For this particular team there is a lot of post trip illness.  Please pray for each member as they heal.  The three members that have specific symptoms are:

Melissa:  high fever and dehydration.

Jeff: aches and chills

Regina: VERY sore throat

Pray for Carolyn and Virgil, that they stay well!

The Team is Coming Home!

THE TEAM IS COMING HOME! 

Below is the last blog entry from the field.  As I write this, the team is two hours from landing, Tuesday at 3:30.   Their work is done.  Our work is not.  The team needs our prayers as they transition back to their every day lives.  Pray that they will adjust quickly to time differences.  Pray that they will be able to process their experience.  Pray that their work will continue in their absence.  

Our wonderful morning started with a wonderful walk past the sea of green tea fields and serene hills to our first service at Nandi Pentecostal Church. We got there early to visit the Sunday School classes. The children’s voices were echoing throughout the sanctuary and the team enjoyed listening to them in the classroom. Martin and Jackie, two of our Kenyan teammates, added their Nairobi Gospel flair to the singing and taught the children two new songs. The children separated into their age groups. Carolyn and Jeff followed Class C to their room while our teammates headed to different classrooms. We really enjoyed Teacher Alice’s class and to our great surprise, she told the story of Jesus feeding the masses from John 6:11-13 by using two of the storytelling techniques we had taught them during our training (showing signs and basket story). Teacher Alice also used a great visual technique with pictures and words to help the children learn the memory
verse of John 6:35 – I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall never hunger and he that believes in me shall never thirst. It was awesome seeing them put the training to good use! 

After Sunday School, we headed down to the sanctuary and joined the whole congregation for some praise. After several beautiful songs, Carolyn introduced the team and it was time for the sermon. At NPC, the children go outside with their teachers during the sermon. Earlier, the team had decided that the young ones would go outside and play, while the old fogies would stay inside and listen to Pastor David preach the gospel. Melissa and Jeff followed the Sunday School teachers outside and played some of the games the teachers had learned during their training. It was fantastic! 

After church, we drove down the road and paid a visit to Pastor Beatrice at her house. She enjoyed hearing the message from Kay Blocher’s Wednesday morning Bible study group. Afterwards, we talked and laughed and enjoyed learning about Pastor Beatrice’s family. Pastor Beatrice’s son, Ben, took us to his tea farm, which was a short walk from Pastor’s house. We learned the ends and outs of growing tea and the tea business. We had a great day! 

We begin our journey home on Monday morning and will arrive in the US on Tuesday afternoon. It will be bittersweet to leave our Kenyan friends – they are so dear to us! Please pray for traveling mercies for us! Pray for smooth flights, energy when we need it and rest when we can get it. We will see you soon!

PUSH

                                         

                                     A picture of Pheobe from another trip 

On Friday, we led an extra session in the morning that we had not planned to lead (we are flexible!). A few teachers came and we were able to talk to them in more depth about their Sunday School programs and the challenges they face. Many are in churches where the leadership does not value Sunday School or children’s programs. These teachers have a deep passion for children, even leading Bible clubs with 60 children in their homes (because there is no space at church) or caring for children coming from difficult situations. Their heart for children inspired us and we were able to encourage and pray for them, as well as work together to come up with some practical ways to help.  Pastor Kamar from Nandi Pentacostal Church was especially encouraging and has committed to speaking to pastors about the value of children and Sunday School. 





Before our training, Phoebe led our group in a wonderful devotion that turned out to be so timely. We wanted to share it with you: 

Dealing With the “Nothing Phase” of Your Prayer 
1 Kings 18:42-44: Ahab got up to eat and drink. Elijah went to the top of Carmel and bowed down on the ground to pray. He said to his servant, Please go back to Mount Carmel, and look toward the sea.” He went up, looked, came back, and said, “There’s 
 through six seasons of prayer until finally “a little cloud like a man’s hand” appeared. We are not told how long it took this warrior of prayer to bring down rain after three and a half years of drought and famine but I can tell you, it did not take less than six hours of continuous prayer even after God had promised to send down rain. Elijah knew how to deal with delay in his prayer
life. 

Please PUSH in prayer for these teachers – that they will not lose heart and will put into practice what they have learned. Pray for the pastors and elders of their churches to understand how valuable children are and how important it is to teach them. Pray for the children in these churches to know that God loves them. Pray that God will give even us a passion for children that will match these beautiful teachers. 

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ADVENTURES!  

On Friday afternoon and Saturday, we were treated to some wonderful sites and people! After the additional teachers’ training on Friday morning, we headed out to the Yala River, just a short ride from where we are staying. The Yala River feeds Lake Victoria, which feeds the Nile River. Giant rocks formed some beautiful rapids and falls surrounded by lush green trees and plants. Jeff wanted to swim but we convinced him not to take the plunge since at least two members of our team would have probably had heart attacks if he did!

Next, we drove down a long, dirt road through the second largest rainforest in Africa to Rondo Retreat in Kakamega Forest. This is a former English estate built in the 1800’s. A large English-style house and several cottages are surrounded by giant trees, lush green vines, vivid flowers and serene grounds. We wandered through the estate, watched some monkeys playing high up in the trees and took tea (with chocolate cake!). It was a beautiful and calming place.

On Saturday, we had the honor of visiting with Jackie’s family in nearby Busweta. We shucked maize; met the hens, chicks, cows, rabbits and goats; had an amazing meal (mandazi and chapatti) and saw Jackie’s childhood home. Best of all, we got to meet Jackie’s mom, Esther, and some of her sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. They received us with such joy and generosity and we all left feeling so grateful to have been there. 

GRADUATION DAY! 

We have been blessed to be here in Nandi to lead this fantastic teacher training. The teachers from Kenya have shown great promise and have a great passion for teaching kids. They can’t wait to take our training back to their churches and put it into action! Our morning was spent playing and teaching games like Catch the Lion’s Tail, Cat and Mouse, Guess Who, Ships and Sailors, Blob Tag, Trust Walk and Protect Me. We ended the training with a planning session of “What Do Sundays Look Like.” The teachers used all the knowledge they had gained from the 12 sessions of our training to plan out two complete Sunday School lessons. 

The highlight of the day was the group graduation where each teacher received a graduation certificate and a bag of supplies to bring back and use to teach the children at the church. The team is blessed with great support from home and from Kenya. God has allowed us to train these wonderful teacher to help spread the Word across Kenya. 

Please pray that the teachers will be able to share their new learned skills with others, changing discipleship for children all over Kenya!  

Amazing Work!

                                               Storytelling and Puppets
                                                      Sample Puppet by Jamie Hughes


Jeff continued Session 7 from Tuesday on helping children pray. The activity he taught was how to create and use a prayer cube to make it easier for children to get started praying. During the rest of the morning of our second day of teacher training, we 
focused on creative story telling techniques. Melissa kicked off creative story telling with a revival of Jesus calming the storm. The Kenyan teachers and Melissa stomped, clapped and rubbed their way to an Oscar winning performance in an audience participation story. Virgil led the group through the story of Noah using a fill in the blank technique. CNN would have loved to produce Regina’s interview with an eyewitness (Martin) to the battle between David and Goliath in her interview story, which the teachers loved and learned how to create. Next, Phoebe and Jackie instructed the teachers on how to tell a basket story which included a teammates’ pair of smelly socks and almost drowned a Kenyan
teacher. She survived and the group loved the techniques that Phoebe and Jackie taught them. Last but not least, Jeff showed off his best teaching style (according to his teammates) – being silent! He showed signs to tell the story of David and Goliath. At the end, he got a rousing round of applause but he was not sure if it was for his story or his silence! 

After lunch, the team and Kenyan teachers got our hands dirty making puppets. What a great success! For two hours, we cut, sewed, folded and colored puppets. Each teacher got to make one felt puppet and as many paper puppets as they could make. Carolyn showed off her Freudian side by teaching the class how to talk to a puppet and use it to teach the Bible. We had a wonderful day!

First day in Nandi

What a whirlwind it has been, filled with friends and fellowship! On Monday, we flew from Nairobi to Kisumu. The flight was Hope and Wise’s first time on an airplane. Hope and Wise are Jackie and Enock Matte’s two children. Jackie, Hope, Wise, Martin and Phoebe from Nairobi Gospel Centre have accompanied our team to Kisumu to help put on our training. After a short flight, we were greeted at the Kisumu airport by Pastor Beatrice. We all hopped into a matatu for the bumpy journey to Nandi and our training site. We were all tired and some of us more jetlagged than other, but we got to the beautiful village of Nandi and our wonderful accommodations. After a short rest, we got to work, preparing for our training!

FROM JEFF 

It’s Jeff Bechtle here. I was looking forward to a good night’s sleep because the training was starting on the next day. I had worked hard to put the finishing touches on my presentation on learning styles and hit the rack. I was extremely nervous because my expertise is children, not Kenyans! And after a restless night of zero sleep, my confidence was low. But a voice echoed in my head that sounded a lot like my wife, Ellie. It said, “Jeff, pray about it.” I grabbed my 365 day devotional and picked a random page. But God must have had His hand on the page and it went like this: 

Come to me, and rest in My loving Presence. You know that this day will bring difficulties, and you are trying to think your way through those trials. As you anticipate what is ahead of you, you forget that I am with you – now and always. Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur. Do not multiply your suffering in this way! Instead, come to Me, and relax in My Peace. I will strengthen you and prepare you for the day, transforming your fear into confident trust.

It’s nice to know I have God and my wife to ease my difficulties! Please continue to pray for us; we feel your prayers!

ONE MORE REPORT

Our first day of training was fantastic! Knowing we needed to get to the church early to set up, we started the trek down the orange clay road, past the tea farm and beautiful hills to our destination, Nandi Pentacostal Church. For Virgil, Carolyn, Regina and Jeff, memories flooded back of UW sports camp, teacher training and 600+ children, while Melissa absorbed Nandi’s beautiful countryside. Training started at 9:00 and, in true African form, everyone showed up at 9:30. The Swiss may have invented the watch but the Africans have the time! 

The addition of our Kenyan team members, Martin, Jackie, Phoebe, Hope and Wise, have allowed us to connect and impact our Kenyan students greater than we could have imagined. This verse came to mind: There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – by one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

The whole training was great but here are a few highlights - Melissa introducing icebreakers, Regina teaching about how Jesus taught, Jeff bringing the knowledge on learning styles and Virgil getting kicked out of every group he tried to join! Carolyn led an exercise on making up songs to memorize verses. Every group absolutely blew us away! It was like listening to sunshine. We can’t wait to share some of them with you! 

Thank you for your prayers and support! Please continue to pray for the team, our students and the impact they will have on the many, many children they will teach!

JESUS SAID "Let the Children Come To Me"

I took this picture at Pastor Beatrice's church back in 2011.  There were tire swings throughout the property and that spoke so loudly to my children's pastors heart.  It is evidence that children are important at Pastor Beatrice's church.  The point of this years conference is to help church  leaders throughout Nandi develop the same commitment to the discipleship of children.  

I received a text from Melissa yesterday because they have not had success with internet yet, now that they are in Nandi.  They got to Nandi safely and they are ready to teach!   We can still pray, and I know what they would appreciate us praying for.  Please join me!  

1.  Pray that their adult students in Nandi have open hearts to the material that is being presented to them, that will change how they disciple children.  

2.  Pray that the churches represented will be willing to make the changes necessary to effectively disciple children.  

3.  Pray that the team will be energized to give their very best for their students.  

Your prayers make a difference.  Thanks for being a part of the team!  

A GREAT SUNDAY IN NAIROBI!  

Keep praying!! 

What a busy and amazing day! This might be a long post so get ready! 

The team attended part of the NGCI service and were introduced together. The service was energetic and wonderful, as always, and Pastor Charles brought a great message on the power of words. Jeff, Regina and Virgil stayed for the entire service and were treated to a tour of the school and the Sunday School classes. NGCI has about 600 kids in attendance each Sunday!

Carolyn and Melissa got to attend a service at one of the four satellite churches that NGCI has started – Gospel Center International Kitengela, east of Nairobi. Pastor Henick and Pastor Steve (who works with Side by Sidde) are the pastors of this six month old congregation. Carolyn brought the message about faith of our mothers, fathers and others. Melissa attended Sunday School with the children and taught one class (surprise!). It was so encouraging to see what a strong emphasis this church has on children. They are valued members of the church and have some wonderful Sunday School teachers! The children even led a song in worship and performed a Scripture verse and song. Our visit was timely as the church is doing a VBS later this week and will be reaching out into the community to invite more children. Please pray for GCI Kitengela, their VBS program and the children who will attend. 

After church, Enock had arranged for a couple of the children from the Royal Diadem project to visit NGCI. Royal Diadem is the group Side by Side works with to sponsor children who have lost one or both parents. We got to meet with Lillian and Kelvin. It was wonderful to see them! 

Regina, Carolyn and Melissa were also able to go to our friend Pamela’s house. Pamela is Pastor Charles’ sister and the Children’s Pastor at NGCI. We had the privilege of meeting Pastor Charles and Pamela’s mother and sister, who were visiting Nairobi. We also got to visit with Beulah, Pamela’s daughter, and Emmanuel, Pamela’s nephew. 

Tomorrow we head out to Kapsebet very early in the morning. Pray that we have travelling mercies and arrive at the airport on time. Pray for the team as we work out the final details for the training and prepare everything. Thank you so much for all your support!

First Prayer Needs from Kenya!!

NOTE THE NEED TO PRAY FOR CAROLYN AS SHE PREACHES TOMORROW AND FOR THE TEAM AS THEY CONTINUE TO PREPARE! 

Greetings from Kenya!

We have made it safely and smoothly to Nairobi! Our journey was long but uneventful and everyone (and their luggage) arrived in one piece. We have had a wonderful night and day greeting our friends and catching up with them. Today we were able to attend part of a leadership conference for East Africa that Nairobi Gospel Centre International (NGCI) was hosting. They had 700 people from 80 churches attend! 

The team also got to meet all together for the first time - our team is not only from FCBC but also from NGCI. We met today to discuss logistics, review the curriculum and make plans for the upcoming week. We are so very grateful for our team members in Kenya, without whom this training would be impossible. Three team members from NGCI are accompanying us to Kapsabet - Martin, Phoebe and Jackie (plus two very important team members, Hope, 10, and Wise, 5, Jackie's children). Martin is the Ministry Leader for the children's ministry at NGCI, Phoebe is a Sunday School teacher and Jackie is the Women's Ministry Leader. We are also working closely with Pamela, the Children's Pastor, and Enock, the Youth Pastor. 

This evening we ate dinner with Jackie and Enock (who are married to each other), at Carnivore, a restaurant that serves a lot of meat and wild game. Luckily (for Melissa), they also have vegetarian options. We all ate our fill, Virgil got his crocodile meat and Jeff tried pretty much everything! 

Tomorrow (Sunday), we will be attending church at NGCI. Carolyn and Melissa will also be attending one of their satellite churches, where Pastor Steve is a leader. Carolyn will be bringing the message. 

Please pray for our entire team's continued health and energy. Pray for Carolyn as she delivers the message tomorrow and our team as we worship with our brother and sisters in Nairobi. Pray for a safe journey on Monday to Kapsabet. Thank you for praying for us! 

HERE THEY GO!!  

Thank you for praying for the Kenya Team as they prepare to go!  They leave Thursday the 6th at 5:30.  It is a 24 hour trip, so they will arrive in Kenya Friday night.  Here are the things that you can pray for as they go.  

1.  Pray for safety. 

2.  Pray for good health.  

3.  Pray that the children that are staying here will have peace.  Ross, Tyler, Miko and Kazu.  

4.  Pray that the hearts of their students will be prepared to receive all that they have planned.  

As they go, this blog will continue with news and updates from the field.  Please check it out on a daily basis to see how you can pray for them.  

Your prayers make a difference!  Thanks for being a part of the team!  

LAST BUT NEVER LEAST 

This is the last post featuring one of the members of the Kenya Team, and it is about Virgil.  Virgil is last, but he is NOT least.  Virgil is not a teacher, he is not a pastor.....so why he is an important part of the team??? Because he is willing.  He is willing to do anything that is needed of him.  He holds kids, he teaches sessions, he carries equipment, he loves our friends from Kenya.  

Isn't that what God really needs from all of us......willingness?? Willingness to serve him in whatever way we are asked?  Willingness to stand beside the least of these?  

The first lap to be filled up with kids that need to be held is Virgil's.  Virgil loves any child that needs to be loved and held.  He is willing, simply willing.  

Pray that each of the members of the team will be willing.  Willing to serve, willing to be flexible, willing to learn, willing to be stretched.  Pray for the willingness of their students to be stretched as they receive the training the team will bring them.  

Pray our team will be willing to realize that they are "poor in spirit" and they can not do this without God leading them.  

Are you willing to pray?  Your prayers will make a difference!  

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!! 

I would like to share the story of how a retired Human Resource Specialist took her first steps in changing Africa for Jesus.  

It started in 2009.  Carolyn Inman and I were committed to go to Kenya and do a discipleship training for church leaders.  We felt like we needed one more person on our team.  I felt God not just speak to me, but tap me on the shoulder........He had a plan!! CALL REGINA AND ASK HER.  I listened and life as Regina knew it.......as our church knew it......was never the same!  

Regina joined us on that trip and served as our administrator.  She was amazing.  What was truly amazing is what happened when she got back.  She started lighting little fires all over our church.  Fires of excitement for vulnerable children, for a partnership....she  turned our church upside down.  

So Regina will make her 5th trip to Kenya next month.   Some people would hesitate to go to a developing country in their retirement years.  Regina not only went, but she brought along other

retired members of our church!

Pray for Regina as she takes care of the administrative details of the trip.  Pray that all of the travel details go smoothly......flights would go smoothly, connections made, visas obtained.  It is a job with a lot of variables that need to be prayed over.  Please pray for all of those details, because they directly relate to the success of the mission the team has.  

If you are retired, or you are approaching retirement, I challenge you to think about what you might do to turn your community upside down for God's kingdom!  

What A Legacy!!

WHAT A LEGACY!! 

In 2013 the Inman family reached an interesting milestone.  That was the year that everyone in the family of 5 could say they had served in Africa.  Carolyn Inman is the leader of this years team to Kenya.  This will be Carolyn's 5th trip to Kenya.  Carolyn has been a brilliant teacher, and leader.  She has led in sports camp with hundreds on Kenya's soil.  She has gone without diet cokes with ice and has taken bucket baths with no complaint.  To me the most amazing fact about Carolyn is that over the years all three of her children and her husband have served in Kenya, following in her footsteps.  What a legacy!  

That is what we are trying to achieve in Kenya.  We are trying to raise leaders that will inspire their whole family to go out and make more disciples.   It does not matter where......down the street or across the world.  We want parents to lead children and children to lead parents to know, serve, and love Jesus in ways that turn Kenya upside down for Jesus!! 

Will you pray for that?  Will you pray that our team is so effective in their teaching that amazing things start happening for Jesus through the leaders that they train?  Will you pray that leaders will be transformed?  Will you pray that WHOLE families will love and serve God together as a result of this training?  

Why would you do this?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?? 

This week let me introduce you to one of the 2015 Kenya Team members, Melissa Bowhay.  

This is Melissa's second trip to Kenya.  Melissa has a career, a family and limited vacation.  WHY WOULD SHE WANT TO MAKE THIS TRIP AGAIN??? 

She wants to make this trip again because God has asked her to do this.  She desires obedience.  She desires a chance to make a difference.  Melissa desires to be a role model of service to her children.  

She does not have to go to Kenya to be a role model of service to Christ.  She also does that as she serves in OCC and HRW.  However, she did have to go to Kenya to be obedient.  I am picturing the bed time conversations that she has had with her kids.  "mommy why do you have to go to Africa"  "I am going because God has asked me to".   What an amazing conversation to have with a child.  As Melissa goes, she does not just shape the path of discipleship in Kenya, she shapes the path of discipleship in her own children.  THAT is why she would want to make this long trip again, leaving her family, using her vacation time.  It has eternal consequences in TWO countries!!  Will you pray for Melissa as she goes?  This may be an act of obedience, but it is not easy!  Pray for her and her family as they prepare for her absence.  If you have a minute during the trip, ask Brian if he needs any help.  "Mommy/Daddy why are you taking your time to (fill in the blank) for Brian and Kazu and Miko"? " Because God has asked me to" 

Our Friend, Pastor Beatrice

PASTOR BEATRICE 

As our team gets ready to go to Kenya is just a few weeks, there is excitement generating about seeing Pastor Beatrice.  Don't you feel that way when you see an old friend?  That is how we view Pastor Beatrice.  She is a not just someone that hosts our team, or someone we serve, but she is a friend.  She has visited our church, she has hosted us in her home.  She loves us and we love her.  She is an amazing sister in Christ.  She started out as one of our star students, and it did not take very long before we were learning from her.  She taught us about generosity as we learned that she and her husband fiananced and built their very large church, where they reach out to their neighbors, including orphans.  She stays true to the needs of the children each Sunday, and her expectations of her teachers are very high.  She does not let the fact that she is a woman in career field that is mostly men stop her.  She is amazing, she is a friend, and I understand why the team can't wait to see her.  

Would you pray for Pastor Beatrice?  Pray that her team feels prepared for our team.  Pray that what our teams would come together to do might things for God's kingdom and the children of Kenya. 

Saying Yes to God!!

BALLS AND BOOKS ACROSS AFRICA

saying yes to God  

As you continue to pray for the Kenya 2015 Team, I wanted to share a story of what can  happen AFTER a trip!  

On Jeff's second trip to Africa he had a chance to trade some kids a beautiful, brand new soccer ball for the homemade soccer ball they had put together from trash.  The boys were delighted and Jeff's ministry, Balls and Books Across Africa started!  Jeff, a second grade teacher and the father of two boys involved in sports,  gathers sports equipment and books during the year.  He sends the equipment to those who need it.....those that are serving some of the most vulnerable children of the world.  

How does this happen?  How does a 2nd Grade teacher go from living his normal suburban life, to having his own ministry to vulnerable children......his garage cluttered with equipment waiting to be used?  

It happens out of obedience.  Jeff said yes.....Ellie said yes.......you said yes.  Jeff said yes when God called him to go to Kenya for the first time in 2011, and then again in 2013.   Ellie said yes, when God called her to send Jeff off and manage two busy boys on her own.  You said yes when you sent Jeff.  Maybe you gave money, maybe you prayed.  Jeff went and he let God in.  He let God break his heart for the least of these, and out of obedience he acted.  

Why is it important for kids to have sports equipment?  Because Jeff and others have taught Christian leaders in Kenya how to use sports for the purpose of evangelism.  They need equipment to do that, and God has used Jeff to make sure that happens.  

Each of us are called by God to act.....to do something for His kingdom.  Are you being obedient?  Are you listening?  You do not have to leave to act...to listen.  You can do that wherever you are.  

Pray that our team will be obedient as they prepare to serve.  Pray that their hearts will be open to what God wants them to do.  Pray that they will bring some of their work home with them.  Sometimes that is a good thing!! 

PRAY FOR BALLS AND BOOKS ACROSS AFRICA 

Bishop Charles and I teaching in Kenya, 2013. 

There has been a lot of talk about one our Ministry Partners, Bishop Charles this week.  Bishop Charles was involved in a Sports Camp that was attacked, and people were injured.  It has been hard for me to get my mind around that. How can we live in a world where children can not go to sports camp without threat of danger?  Of course, we see kids go to school here with a threat of danger.  It is in these cases of senseless violence that I find my self "poor in Spirit".  I have been thinking about that a lot the last two weeks.  What does it mean to be poor in Spirit?  It means that we are helpless to do anything else but cry out to God and ask for His healing, his strength.  We are powerless.  However,  He WANTS us to be part of His story.  He WANTS us to pray, to come to Him.  So, I do.  In the middle of tragic events it is all I can do.  But that is powerful!  It is everything.  Asking God to unleash His mighty power on behalf of those that are suffering.  I want to be a part of that.  It may be all I can do, but it is powerful.  Let me challenge you to do the same.  When you are poor in spirit, back up and let God be mighty! 

God's Amazing Provision

God's Love is Abundant 

So, as you have prayed for our Kenya team, I know there have been some questions about why I am not going on this trip.

Since our last trip in 2013 my life has changed quite a bit.  I have had two incidents with my implanted defibrillator since our last trip.  My doctor has assured me that I can make the trip.  I feel like that it is better for the team if I do not go.  I do not want to slow the team down if I have another incident.

Also, the date of the trip is the anniversary of my father's death.  It has been a rough year for me.....speaking of broken hearts.  However it has been very hard on my mother, and I am planning on being with her during the anniversary season.

Those are strong reasons not to go, but I have been sad to think about not doing training for the lovely people of Africa.  I LOVE teaching in Africa.......I LOVE the African people.  God knows our hearts, tired and broken and He  gave me a gift.  I was approached by a pastor from Ghana.  Could I please do a training for his Sunday School teachers?  YES!  I can not wait.  I don't look at this as one more thing to prepare for.  I don't look at it as a ministry opportunity.  I look at it as a love letter from God to remind me that he has a GREAT plan for my life.

Pray for me, and the members of the Kenya team that are going to serve this church alongside me.

Pray for our team as they prepare for how God is going to use them in Kenya. 

Kenya Team 2015 

Fairfax Circle Church has a team going to Kenya in August!  The team is made up of five members.  Carolyn Inman is the Team Leader.  Her team includes Melissa Bowhay, Regina Millard, Jeff Bechtle and Virgil LaBoard.  

The purpose of the trip is to train national leaders in Nandi Kenya in the area of children's discipleship.  They expect to have 60 students attend their training.  

The team would like you to partner with them.  You can do that in three ways.  

1.  Read the post and leave a comment.  As we start out we are going to make this fun.  The first person to go on line and research Nandi and then post one thing they learned about Nandi will win a prize from Elise.  

2.  Pray for the team.  You will be told how to pray for the team through this blog.  

3.  Attend the Kenya Event on June 28th.  During that event families will play games together, led by the team.   There will be chances to write notes of encouragement and have a time of prayer for the team.  

The blog will come out every week from now until the end of August.  Thanks ahead of time for being a part of it.