Kenya Believe It?

It's hard to believe we've been in Kenya close to one week now. So much has taken place, but in Masii we had no internet connection, so we were unable to post. Today (Monday) we arrived in Mombasa for four days and we do have a connection, so we'll try to catch you up, at least a little bit.

Since Tumaini International Ministries works primarily with AIDS orphans, we spent much our our first few days making home visits, or spendingtime with kids at the Tumaini compound. These home visits are especially meaningful when sponsors are able to meet their child and the caregivers. And that's what happened when we went to the hoes of kids sponsored by Mark and Cyndi Wald, and Bryan and Shelly Payne. As the pictures reveal, there's a lot of love being passed around by all involved, and I believe God is very happy with this.

Tumaini brings hope (the meaning of the word in Swahili) to thosewho would otherwise have little or no hope. From educational to vocational training, Tumaini makes an eternal difference in the lives of kids, families, communities, and ultimately throughout Kenya and beyond. That's why it means so much to be part of their work.

Because it works.

Ready, Set, GO Kenya!

The day has come and we're ready to roll! The team left the Brookhurst Community Center via shuttle this morning before 10:00, complete with Hany, our young Egyptian Christian driver. We had lunch together inside LAX, and now we're waiting for our boarding announcement.

It's exciting to think that by this time tomorrow we'll be in Nairobi! We believe God is going to use us in some special ways. We don't believe we're the ones who get the greater blessing, or that this trip is mostly for our benefit, for what we can learn. We will, indeed, learn much, and we will be blessed. But make no mistake, we're not making this trip for our own enrichment! We believe with all our hearts that God can and will use us across cultural, language and ethnic barriers at a point in time to impact others for eternity. And we want to be ready for those opportunities, so please pray that we will be aware of them and will be willing to step up and meet the challenges.

Shelly watching our plane get ready

And pray that we will see God's hand working in ways that we may not have known to this point. We want to be stretched and used by Him in work and in fun, when we're anticipating and when we're not, when we're charged and when we're beat. In season and out, as the Apostle Paul put it.

Let's do this!
Update: our flight to Amsterdam arrived with no problem! We're now waiting for our connection to Nairobi. Everyone made the first leg like champs and we can't wait to get where we're going!

The Hope of Africa

I told a friend recently about our upcoming trip to Africa.
"Anywhere but Kenya, right?" he replied, noting that the East African country might have more missionaries and Christian organizations than anywhere else in that part of the continent.

I told him I had once felt the same, but have learned things aren't always as they seem. There is indeed a mighty Christian influence in Kenya, with many local and foreign workers there. It's said that more than 40% of the population is Christian, a high percentage in any country. But there is still contention and strife among those from different tribal groups, especially when politics are involved. The two largest slums in Africa, Kibera and Mathare, are both found in Nairobi. There are more than 2 million AIDS orphans found throughout the country. And people still need the hope that only a relationship with Jesus brings.

Tumaini International Ministries offers just that. Tumaini is

a Kiswahili word that means hope, and was established by Stanley and Rose Mutunga. Their focus is to come alongside AIDS orphans through sponsorship, education and encouragement, and walk with them in their journeys toward adulthood.  These kids have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and usually live with grandparents, other relatives or friends.  Life is hard at best, and sponsorship ($35 monthly) is the difference between failure and success for hundreds of children, both young and old alike. 

Tumaini has grown to include not only AIDS orphan sponsorship, but micro-economic partnerships, vocational training, academic education, church planting and work with the severely impoverished. And the investment they're making in adults and children alike is changing the face of East Africa. Bringing hope. One life at a time.

So now if someone asks me, "Why Kenya?" I simply say to  them, "Because there is still a need for tumaini in that great place."

Oasis Global Outreach (GO!) Team Ready

Jambo! Our first short-term missions team from Oasis Community is preparing for a trip to Kenya, June 16-30. We'll partner with Tumaini International Ministries, an organization built around AIDS orphan sponsorship, and founded by Stanley and Rose Mutunga.

The team of eight will land in Nairobi next Wednesday evening (the 17th), spend the night, then head out the next morning to Machakos and Masii, where Tumaini centers its base of operation. We'll get to know the local team, meet many of the children (some of whom our team members sponsor) and interact with the churches in these two towns. Following that first weekend, we'll return to Nairobi (2-3 hours) and take a short flight to the coastal city of Mombasa. Here we'll meet a team of two couples working to open ministries in two impoverished areas outside the city. We'll spend four days there visiting these new works, getting to know the people and meeting more children sponsored by Oasis. From there we'll return to Machakos and Masii for one more weekend of ministry opportunities.

Please keep our team in your prayers as we prepare, travel, and become connected with the Kenyan people and culture. Pray that we'll see what God has planned for us, that we'll learn lessons that will impact us for life, and (most importantly) that we'll be used to share the good news of life in Jesus to those with whom we have contact. Your prayers are critical as we go, providing you a place of partnership alongside us as we serve. Thank you.

And check back here as we'll try to update our adventure as often as we have connectivity!

Oasis Kenya GO! Team 2015

Front row: Mary Flores, Dani Duquette

Back row: Mark and Cyndi Wald, Mike Carman, RJ Barela, Bryan and Shelly Payne