Hello Everyone...yes i know its been a long long time since I've updated this blog...thanks Nicole for reminding me each day. Unfortunately the electricity here in Mombasa has been out almost everyday this week which means no internet, phone or email, putting a big delay in my coorespondence. Thank you everyone who have left such encouraging comments on my blog and sent me emails. Its hard to believe that I've already been in Kenya for a month now. Time really flies!!
Thank you to everyone who prayed for me and the team of college folks as we went to Busia. God was faithful and we saw the Lord working in mighty ways in the lives of the youth in that town! God not only worked in the lives of the youth but also in my life and the lives of my teammates as well. Thank you for praying for our safety as we traveled. The two day drive across the country and then back was tiresome, sometimes painful (potholes, bumps, swerves, etc.), and at times a little 'scary' but the Lord protected us and showed us much travel mercy. (we only hit and killed one chicken:) This is a picture of some of the muddy detour roads we traveled on close to Nakuru. (yes Kimbo the road has only gotten worse...but they are working on it!!...as usual:) I am thankful for the Loewer family for allowing us to stay overnight with them in Nairobi to help break the trip up a little.
Here's a picture of the Busia team
We were warmly welcomed at Dennis' Dad's house in Busia and were well taken care of. All 6 of us girls piled into one small room and the 4 guys into another, sharing beds and floor space. We had water problems the entire week but Dennis worked all day to be sure we had water. (thanks so much for being such a servant leader Babe!!) We all had good attitudes most of the time, and loved and served one another. Meal time singing and prayers was so much fun. Team unity is a blessing!
Ruth, and some other Kenyan ladies worked tirelessly to be sure we had plenty to eat at lunch and dinner but the breakfast times were up to us. We were paired up in teams and were assigned a morning to cook breakfast for the team using bread, jam, butter, eggs, milk, sugar and tea leaves. This is a picture of Dennis and I (insert pic) when we decided we were tired of the usual jam and butter on bread, scrambled eggs, and chai tea. We decided to be creative and cook French Toast. It was yummy and i think we took the prize for best breakfast that week. Was fun working together! (OK FOR SOME REASON THE INTERNET ISN'T LETTING ME POST ANYMORE PICTURES....I'LL JUST KEEP WRITING AND WILL HAVE TO ADD THE PICS LATER...SORRY BOUT THAT...won't be quite as much fun)
The entire week of ministry in the town went so well. But as we arrived in Busia we knew we would be learning a lot about flexiblity that week when we looked up and saw a banner over the street welcoming the town to the conference and saying we'd be teaching everyday from 9am til 6pm...but this is Kenya and so we had to change our plans a bit! Each morning we went about a mile and a half to the Busia Gospel Center church, most of us walking but some riding Busia's form of public transport, the
boda boda, (insert pic). These are bicycle taxis you sit on the back of and trust the driver to balance and get you there safely. The guys can straddle it but the right way for girls is to sit sideways..takes practice! Me, well i stuck to my own two feet greeting many ladies and kids along the way. (insert pic) We made this walk to and from twice a day.
In the mornings Drew taught on "the Big Picture of the Bible" from Genesis to Revelation, giving an excellent overview of the whole Bible. (insert picture) Then in the afternoons Dennis taught on "Sex, Dating and Marriage the Christian Way". (insert picture)It was neat to see that as the week progressed more and more people came. In this area it is considered taboo to talk about dating and sex, and even within the church these topics are not discussed. Many of the young people, and church members came to us and said they'd never been taught about what God says on these topics and were hungry to learn more and to change their lives and live according to God's Biblical standards. One girl stood up and said she was dating a non-believer and was convicted she needed to end this relationship and wanted advice on how best to do this. Others stood up confessing and repenting of premarital sexual relationships and were asking God to help them change. One day after teaching Dennis was approaced by a random man outside the church who told him that he needed to stop teaching these things or the men wouldn't get any women. Word definetely spread around town about the teachings on abstinence and saving yourself for your marriage partner. There were some who were pleased we were there teaching what so many don't want to talk about and yet others who didn't want the truth of God's Word shared. The conference had such an impact on the lives of the youth in the church that the pastor wants to continue doing this type of conference on a yearly basis there.
After each meeting we hung out with the youth building friendships and answering their questions. I made one particular friend in particular named Jackie. (insert pic) She's an 18 year old Believer who was in need of lots of encouragement and prayers. We spent a lot of time talking about our families and some of the similarities we have in growing up, and some of the struggles we both had. I was able to encourage her and share a lot of Scripture with her. We spent a lot of time in prayer together as well. She said that I was the friend and encourager she'd been praying for for a long time. What a joy it was to share with Jackie!!!
After the Busia trip Dennis and I and his little sister Nelly stayed behind an extra night with his Dad and then drove to Nairobi where we spent a couple of days visiting friends and staying with his other sister Mercy and her family. (I'll add pictures here too!!) We had a great time just hanging out in the big city together, doing some shopping, and spending time with his sister and two nieces.
Well as you can see God answered all of the prayers that i asked everyone to be praying for while we were gone!! He is so good and so faithful!! (I'LL ADD THE PICTURES AS SOON AS THE INTERNET COOPERATES!!)
Love you and couldn't be here without your prayers...so keep on praying!!! May His name be glorified!!
