We're home!

The team made it home safe and sound.  We can't wait to share all our experiences soon!

Homeward Bound

The team survived their safari and airport security (all three checkpoints).

Currently waiting on their flight which is on-time. They should be home in 24 hours.

Group Shot from Tumaini!

Cheatin' Death Day 2

By: Drew

So we all survived the drive back to Nairobi.  That may seem like a mundane thing, but in Kenya they do not close down roads they are doing construction on.  They just drive around the people working on the road.  I think some pictures were taken of this, which will help those at home understand the fear and triumph of arriving safely.  We are recovering in the Methodist Guest House before testing God's providence again tomorrow with bush planes into the Mosai Mera.

Leaving Tuminani is a tough task.  Lucky we were able to walk the kids to school and that kept the emotions down slightly.  Its sad to see the Home disappear in the rear-view mirror.  We know as a team that the reason it hurts so much to leave is that our work mattered.  The connections made with them were real.   They are in our prayers, we know we are in theirs.  

Its good to be back together as a group.  The two teams have taken to each other, and honestly it makes for more targets for the lions, which increases the livelihood of survival for any single member.  From here on out its fellowship, game drives, and bush planes.  Wish you all at home could be here with us, but trust me when I say you will be sick of our 3000 pictures and 10 hours of video in no time.   

A Quick Hello

Jambo!

We've had a very busy Saturday so far as everyone back home is just waking up.  We enjoyed lots of time with the children of Tumaini and Huruma today.  Tonight, we will be staying at the homes of members of the parish.  It is so kind of them to welcome so many of us into their homes.  We'll send a longer update soon.  Thanks for all our your thoughts and prayers.  We can feel them here on the other side of the world!

The Eastminster Team goes to Chuka

-From Chuka with Love,
Written by:  Drew Scholtens

For those of you who don't know the Eastminster Team broke off and headed to Chuka to visit the Kenyan Connection Kids Ministry.  We left early Wednesday and headed thru Karatina on our way to Chuka.  Naturally the first two ATM's didn't work, so we walked the 2nd largest open air market in all of Africa looking for a working ATM.  We found an ATM and a few other "necessary" items.  I was the only man in all off Karatina in shorts...Thanks Tim for pointing that out.

We eventually made it to Thutci Lodge which we were going to use as our base camp for a  day.  We met up with Humphrey Kanga and headed to his house, then the Kids home. 

The Kenyan Connection Home is an awesome place.  It is a totally different model than Tumaini, and while we try not to compare the two, it is difficult not too.  Both do what they are designed to do in the God's Plan.  They focus on the Family element in the Kenyan Connection model.  The kids live in a house, each house has a "mama" who is for all intensive purposes...the mama...  There is also a full-time helper who does not live on the property who is an "auntie" and a Social Worker who is an Uncle.  In conjunction with the 17 kids in the home there is also 100+ kids living out in the community who are "sponsor" children. 

The Kenyan Connection is also a much newer ministry which is still trying to get roots down, and has a lot of building ahead of it.  A second house has been completed and soon a second mama will be hired and another batch of children will move in.  They operate at capacity since their numbers are so low. 

The Team is well.  Mark's beard is filling in nicely.  Soon we will not be able to distinquish him from the safari animials.  Leslie is totally going with the flow.  Several times today her response was "We'll just go with it".  Planning is for people who are worried, not Leslie.  Dick DuBose  has reviewed 50% of water refining operations in East Africa, and gave a rousing talk today on greenhouse gases to Humphrey.  Kathy DuBose and Jan Conkright did a great job on the crafts with the kids today.  Imagine explaining to kids whose primary language is Tribal, whose second language is Swaheli, and whose third language is English how to make a box out of paper and glue stuff to it...its not as easy as it sounds.  Tim is good, though without Abigale sometimes he looks lost.  He has been trying hard to get something named after himself that would rival his toilets in Kokuyu.  So far he has failed.  But tomorrow is a new day, and Tim is a persistent man.  Tom and I are great. Just sittin back, sipping on Tea, playing with children...you know the heavy lifting and what not. 

Tomorrow we do some work in the morning before heading North to drive back to Nyeri.  Tonight we are on home visits and loving it.  We are however looking forward to re-uniting with the Meadows group.  Its odd how quickly you begin to miss team-mates, and cheeseburgers buts that for another blog entry... 

God calls us out of our ‘neighborhood’

It feels as if overnight my little world expanded.  God has called me out of my comfortable living to teach me, in part, how to better be the person he intended.

Yesterday most of the team went to Thunguma Church to paint interior walls and a gate.  Two team members went to Sugarbaker Clinic to assist with patients, deliver medical supplies, and meet with staff to learn more about their work.

Julie and I were taken to Nyeri town to buy some food and supplies for the team.  In particular, we were buying groceries to prepare food for the team to take to a potluck at Baraka House…yes they call it a ‘potluck’ in Kenya, too.  The shopping went a lot like a scavenger hunt travelling from store to store through a bustling town, with the help of Gladys, Francis, and Elizabeth (all on staff here at Tumaini).

It’s quite humorous now to look back at our attempt to buy Mexican beef enchilada ingredients in an Indian market in Kenya.  We called it our Mexi-Kenyan dish.  Anyways, we had fun and unusual excitement in and among the unfamiliar.  In this place I cannot see or know what is next or what to expect, let alone plan for it. 

In Isaiah 40:31 we read “…but they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint. 

Leading up to his mission trip God, through Jesus Christ, brought me to the very edge of where my trust in Him lies.  However, I continue to learn that when I wait on His leading I can trust God’s good plan for me. 

Missing everyone at home!

Leaning on God’s grace,

-Kris

                       

p.s. The potluck went well, allowing us to fellowship with elders and leaders in the Tumaini parish this evening.

Tuesday at Tumaini

            This morning, many of us woke up early to give the kids a “push” to school. Some of us walked with children to the primary school which is right next to Tumaini and others made it to the secondary school—a short five minute walk. I was fortunate enough to join my prayer partner, Maureen on the walk to school and her friend Rubina. She had a mock exam in Biology for her Form 4 final which is at the end of the month, so we compared test taking strategies. After breakfast, the entire team was able to take a tour of both of the schools. I was fascinated to see the secondary school, the equivalent of high school back in the States. I graduated from high school a little over a month ago. The kids I saw studying were students just like me. They were learning many of the same things that I learned. I can only imagine the challenges of taking a final exam that covers everything that I learned in high school over the four years. At primary school, we were able to play with many of the students during their break.

            After our tours of the school, the team (minus the partners meeting attendants) headed to Gatitu Church where they are building a home for the aged. We received such hospitality from the women at the church. We were served tea as soon as we arrived, before we painted the home. Lunch followed which was an incredible feast. There were many delicious dishes and multiple fruits for dessert. The women that prepared the meals were so generous to us. As a team, we applied two layers of paint to the outside of the home as well as priming a few rooms inside.

            We came home to clean up before the kids arrived home. I had the pleasure of joining the children from both Huruma and Tumaini after school for a run. I ran with a girl named Caroline from Huruma and had other children around us. It was an incredible opportunity to see even more of Kenya on a 3.2 kilometer loop. Our group of runners returned back to Tumaini where we led stretches. The kids were so joyous throughout the entire run. I cannot even begin to explain how great of an opportunity it was to build even more relationships with the kids during their daily routine.

            School finished and the children eventually all made it back home. Sally showed off her hula hooping skills while teaching the children how to hula hoop. We passed out bubbles as well to the kids who were able to both blow the bubbles and then chase around to pop them. A few of the older girls even did it all at the same time: they blew their bubbles; they popped them; and they were hula hooping. That’s true talent. We had devotions after school. We praised the Lord with multiple songs. The students learned the song Days of Elijah (a Meadows favorite) with the dance moves. Imani Hall was filled with all of their beautiful voices as well as their fantastic dance moves. Drew acted out the parable of the Good Samaritan with the help of some of the older boys. Everyone watched attentively as the play became very animated and silly, while still continuing to learn more about what is commanded of us.

            We enjoyed yet another delicious feast for dinner. I can safely say I’ve been eating plenty while I’ve been here. The chefs here at Tumaini have continued to give us new meals to try and even introduced me to one of my favorite bread like dishes—chipati.

            I can not begin to explain the joy that has been shared with me while we have been here. I’m enjoying every second that I’ve been here. The Lord is very much at work in this place and in these children’s lives. I can see it through their interactions and their love for each other, truly inspiring.

            We miss you all back home. We hope that you are all very safe and healthy. Everything here is fine. We send lots of love to you from all the way across the ocean. Thank you so much for your support and prayers since we’ve been gone. They mean so much to us.

            Bwana asifiwe!

- Megan 

Monday at Tumaini

Tonight I learned how to dance. The steps I learned from a team of girls in their colorful dormitory room and the rhythm I tried my very best to follow. What a wonderful finish to a wonderful day!! Dancing is one of my favorite things to do and the children of Tumaini Childrens’ Home in Kenya very much enjoy dancing and singing together. I am thrilled to join them any time I can! They have such joy and grace in the way they interact with other people and I admire them for that.

           

Today, the Tumaini Partners-including Abigail, Tim, my dad, Kathy, Julie and Wendell- met upstairs for what I think was an annual meeting while the rest of our team worked on various projects. We worked all day—touching up the red, bright blue, cream and black paint on the windows, railings and walls outside, delivering sewing materials to the Tailoring School here at Tumaini and sorting through tubs of supplies we’ve brought to give to Tumaini, Huruma Childrens’ Home and to send with the Eastminster group when they leave for Chuka. God brings us joy to serve Him as we serve and lift up our brothers and sisters here in Kenya!

           

We also spent time with the children when they returned home from school between 4:00 and 5:00 today. Megan and Denise directed the beginnings of work to put together a Tumaini “yearbook”. The Dierolf sisters took pictures of 50 children today, 80 more to go! We also wrote down answers to basic questions such as, “what’s your age?... favorite subject in school? … what do you want to do when you grow up?... etc” We will put each child’s answers in the book, next to their picture. It is a gift to spend some time talking with each of the children because each one of them has something special to offer. In knowing each child, I am blessed. By knowing them I know more of my Savior and my closest, dearest Friend—Jesus Christ, the Living God. He said, “Let the little children come unto me”, and I follow His example because it is true that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven!” I can see glimpses of it here in a different way then I see the kingdom in the USA.

            Devotions and music followed free time, chores and tea time. We had a delicious dinner and then some of us, myself included, spent time with the kids in the study room where they work every night—very diligently, I might add. And from the study room I ended up where this blog post started—led to a dormitory room by some of my new friends, Sarah and Monica and introduced to a piece of their lives through pictures, artwork and dancing! How privileged I am to be able to share this time with all of these friends: my team mates, the children, the staff and the members of Riamukurwe Parish!

To all our friends and family, asante sana (thank you very much) for your support and prayers! Bwana asifiwe! Praise the Lord! …. Can I get an AMEN?

--Lindsay

an update

Jambo!

We are finally connected to the internet.  Sorry for our slow start up with the blog.  We are going to try our best to get more online as soon as we can.  Our internet access is much better now that the computer teacher, Anne, has arrived.

We are truly having an incredible experience.  We all have made it safely to where we need to be including all of our luggage.  We are taking out some of the toys and games we brought to play with the children this afternoon.  We will share more stories soon!!

Hello from Kenya!

We are here and doing well!  I have only been in Kenya for a day and have already fallen in love with the people and our surroundings.  It is so beautiful here and all of the people are so welcoming and friendly.  We have been at the guest hostel for the rehabilitation hospital for the past two nights and then we left for Tumaini.  I really enjoyed the ride because we got to experience Kenyan driving.  Much, much different than American driving!  I also enjoyed talking with our driver Vinson.  I learned a lot about him in the couple hours we had to talk to each other.  We ended up having a very deep and meaningful conversation about his past and how God worked through his life to save him.  He was just a very friendly and interesting guy. Once we arrived at Tumaini, we immediately jumped in and began playing with them, talking to them, and just getting to know each other.  I already have girls whom I feel like I know really well already.  Most of the children are very open and like to talk to you about everything.  I have had a wonderful experience so far with the children and I know that I was placed in this trip in order to love these kids and give them attention that they seek.  I hope to blog again soon and I wanted to let you all know that everything is going great!

-Kirsten

A Warm Welcome

The team experienced a warm welcome when they arrived at the Tumaini Children's home in Nyrei yesterday afternoon. After a nice lunch they spent the afternoon with the children. It was a grand reunion for the returning team members and an opportunity to make new friends for all. Everyone is already feeling blessed by the experience.

Made It Safely

God is Good - All the Time

I just spoke with my daughters from Kenya. Their internet access is marginal so they asked me to make a a quick post to let everyone know that both the Meadows and Eastminster team members made it safely to Kenya with all their luggage and supplies. Today is a travel recovery day and they head to Nyeri tomorrow. -Dave Dierolf

All the Time - God is Good

Countdown to Kenya

This time tomorrow our team will be sitting in Dulles airport waiting to board our first flight.  It is so exciting to be embarking on a trip we have been planning for so long.  We are so thankful for all the support you have given that has made it possible for us to go on this trip.

We will be using this blog to keep in touch with everyone back home.  We will try to update it as much as possible.  Different team members will be sharing their thoughts so you'll get to hear lots of different perspectives.

Finally, we hope you'll join us in prayer for our trip.  We are including a prayer calendar with this post to give you an idea of our daily prayer requests.

Click here for the prayer calendar!