Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Never go to African church, but do pray in the bars.
Jesus is amazing; He loves us. The favor and open hearts we saw while in Mombasa (actually in Mtawmu) was incredible. And now in Watamu, the beauty we are experiencing and the love we are encountering is refreshing and life giving.
In Mtawmu, our contact, Pastor Chris has such love for the people and for God that we were encouraged to press in more and bring even more kingdom to the bars. First, we listened to several stories of salvation from former commercial sex workers (prostitutes). While rejoicing in their salvation, we were crying because of the hideous things they have experienced while selling themselves. For example, one girl was being held captive and had to escape out of a second story window while naked. She ran for help after punching him, even though he was holding a gun to her, and eventually she found help, then went back to where he was. There are more stories that I can share later, but I'm still processing and asking what we can do to bring justice.
Later that night we ventured into the clubs, which are mostly open air with music bumping and people dancing. The former commercial sex workers found some girls to come sit with us. We bought them a soda and just began conversation. The hunger for love and for healing is overwhelming. Holy Spirit has been working there, and we were so blessed to be apart of what He is doing. What I mean is that in the few nights we spent at the bars, three girls were saved. They were practically begging for us to pray with them and to tell them more about Jesus. We met with them the following morning at our hotel to continue building into their lives, but we are longing to show them more kingdom answers with money, jobs, and food. Jesus is alive and will provide for them to support their families in ways that aren't harmful and hurtful. Please continue to pray into this situation for answers, for jobs, and for true favor to fall on their lives.
Another place where the music blares is in the African church; however, it is painfully loud and excessively long. I had my first taste of African church where they yell their sermons, they cast Satan out of most of the congregation, and sing at the top of their lungs out of key. While I did not enjoy it and was praying for it to end, I am glad I got to experience it - now I am so thankful for the fact that we only have one sermon to listen to per service and that we focus on Jesus, instead of kicking Satan out.
Finally, the last couple of days we have been recovering and processing all the prostitute stuff and pressing in for our next step into Congo while at the beach. At this site there are so many Italians that the Kenyans speak Italian to us, we had some authentic gelato, and in fact, it feels like a sort of "Little Italy". In addition to those favors, we have enjoyed being with Jesus in the beautiful ocean scenery that surrounds us. This rest was really needed to help sort through the heartbreak of talking to girls who literally have no money and will go days without eating or feeding their children. This rest has also been working to fill us up again so that we can go hard into one of the hardest places on earth right now. Every time you think of me, please pray for our trip.
We need more Jesus. We want more provision and love to pour out wherever we tread. Pray that we walk with such authority of His kingdom that people will encounter Him and his extravagance in a tangible way as they talk to us. We want His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. We want to love Him more. We want freedom to reign, for love and honor to lavish the people we meet.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Let the little children come
A week in Kitale consists of babies, begging children, piki-pikis and boda-bodas, and smores!
Let me explain:
First, the begging children. That's simple. We are white, we stand out. The children come up to us, say "mzyungo" which means white person, "give me money." We say, "No, sorry." Then keep walking. Actually, one time a kid literally tired to grap my ice cream cone out of my hand! (We were having a special treat. ) Ha. I guess he was hungry.
We visited a few baby houses; one had about 12 babies and the other, which we stayed at for a few days, had 62! I'll let you imagine the poop smell coming from behind me as we did a dump run from the larger baby house. =) Apparently they use over 200 diapers a day. No, I didn't personally change a single one, but I did get peed on.
At the larger baby house, we had a wonderful time. We played with children, painted a room for the missionaries there, and were actually spoiled with popcorn and snickers. Cass and I had to ride a "piki-piki" or motorcycle while holding two babies in our arms and someone else drove us to a medical clinic. We did this so the kids could get their immunizations, not just to scare those safety freaks in the U.S. =) Therefore, the kids were in pain the next few days and just need to cuddle; we really could have used some extra laps and arms.
Besides staying at the baby house, we have lived a hostel type setting called "LoveMercy" and been able to walk to town regularly. However, when it starts we rain, we opt for a boda-boda, which is a bicycle and someone else pedals us around. I think it's slightly scarier than the piki-piki actually because we are mostly on dirt roads with huge rocks and potholes. So far, no accidents.
In addition to the work we have also played: sardines, mafia, we made smores, we baked banana bread (about 7 loaves by now).
Kitale has been a good experience. It is an easy transition into Africa.
What's next you ask. Well, tomorrow we will take the bus back to Nairobi, then we will take another bus the following day to Mombasa. In Mombasa we do hope to see the beaches and beauty of the coastal, tourist town, but mostly we will be working in the bars and the streets with prostitutes and pimps. We need some prayer for safety, strategy, favor, and for love to overflow from us. As we walk into the bars, we want God to encounter people just from us being there, we want drastic transformation, and radical love to change their lives. Nothing is too big for our God. Don't forget we also do want to see miracles happen. Keep pressing in for us please.
If you get any words for us, please post them. We are so excited about this next part of the trip.
Let me explain:
First, the begging children. That's simple. We are white, we stand out. The children come up to us, say "mzyungo" which means white person, "give me money." We say, "No, sorry." Then keep walking. Actually, one time a kid literally tired to grap my ice cream cone out of my hand! (We were having a special treat. ) Ha. I guess he was hungry.
We visited a few baby houses; one had about 12 babies and the other, which we stayed at for a few days, had 62! I'll let you imagine the poop smell coming from behind me as we did a dump run from the larger baby house. =) Apparently they use over 200 diapers a day. No, I didn't personally change a single one, but I did get peed on.
At the larger baby house, we had a wonderful time. We played with children, painted a room for the missionaries there, and were actually spoiled with popcorn and snickers. Cass and I had to ride a "piki-piki" or motorcycle while holding two babies in our arms and someone else drove us to a medical clinic. We did this so the kids could get their immunizations, not just to scare those safety freaks in the U.S. =) Therefore, the kids were in pain the next few days and just need to cuddle; we really could have used some extra laps and arms.
Besides staying at the baby house, we have lived a hostel type setting called "LoveMercy" and been able to walk to town regularly. However, when it starts we rain, we opt for a boda-boda, which is a bicycle and someone else pedals us around. I think it's slightly scarier than the piki-piki actually because we are mostly on dirt roads with huge rocks and potholes. So far, no accidents.
In addition to the work we have also played: sardines, mafia, we made smores, we baked banana bread (about 7 loaves by now).
Kitale has been a good experience. It is an easy transition into Africa.
What's next you ask. Well, tomorrow we will take the bus back to Nairobi, then we will take another bus the following day to Mombasa. In Mombasa we do hope to see the beaches and beauty of the coastal, tourist town, but mostly we will be working in the bars and the streets with prostitutes and pimps. We need some prayer for safety, strategy, favor, and for love to overflow from us. As we walk into the bars, we want God to encounter people just from us being there, we want drastic transformation, and radical love to change their lives. Nothing is too big for our God. Don't forget we also do want to see miracles happen. Keep pressing in for us please.
If you get any words for us, please post them. We are so excited about this next part of the trip.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Kitale
Traveling by bus across Kenya from Nairobit to Kitale was interesting. Pot holes, narrow roads, zebras, baboons, only 1 stop in 7-8 hour bus ride, and small towns along the way kept me looking around the whole time. It actually wasn't that bad, and my friend Cassandra says that these are some of the best roads in Africa.
I only have a few more minutes on the internet, but need to explain how Jesus is giving favor. While in Nairobi we had to get our visas to Congo. The embassy was up 13 flights of stairs and the elevator was broken! Once to the top, we thought we were golden; however, they gave a checklist of things we needed, but didn't have on us, like passport pictures and a copy of our passport, and we only had an hour to do it all! We prayed, ran downstairs, found the shops we needed next to the embassy and next to each other - amazing! Somehow, we got all the stuff and ran back up the 13 flights within the hour. Once there, they said, you need to fix this letter, etc, etc. Aw man! Our calves were starting to hurt.
We ended up having a little more time, went back, fixed the error, and went up a third time. After talking to the man in charge, who was big and scary, he told us he wasn't sure if we would get the visa, but to come back in a few hours.
Prayer and lunch provided for a good distraction. The end of the story is that when we got back to the embassy we got the visas! Thank you, Jesus!
I hope you are all well. Things are great here still.
I only have a few more minutes on the internet, but need to explain how Jesus is giving favor. While in Nairobi we had to get our visas to Congo. The embassy was up 13 flights of stairs and the elevator was broken! Once to the top, we thought we were golden; however, they gave a checklist of things we needed, but didn't have on us, like passport pictures and a copy of our passport, and we only had an hour to do it all! We prayed, ran downstairs, found the shops we needed next to the embassy and next to each other - amazing! Somehow, we got all the stuff and ran back up the 13 flights within the hour. Once there, they said, you need to fix this letter, etc, etc. Aw man! Our calves were starting to hurt.
We ended up having a little more time, went back, fixed the error, and went up a third time. After talking to the man in charge, who was big and scary, he told us he wasn't sure if we would get the visa, but to come back in a few hours.
Prayer and lunch provided for a good distraction. The end of the story is that when we got back to the embassy we got the visas! Thank you, Jesus!
I hope you are all well. Things are great here still.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Blimely London
July 5, 16:20pm London Heathrow Airport
Why am I here still? Why I am able to post?
After the wonderful plane ride from Chicago to London, we had to wait on the plane for the bus to come to our plane (so we could ride the bus to the terminal). Once it arrived, everyone assured me that I would be fine and it would only take 10 minutes to get to my gate. I, however, insisted on telling everyone along the way that my flight was leaving very soon. The people continued to tell me to relax and that I would be fine. Security had to check/examine my bag; I told them I was missing my flight - one girl even said that the time on the ticket was just there so that people would hurry to the gate, but it actually would leave about 20 minutes after the posted time! (I wonder if she has ever been on an airplane.) Finally, I was free to run to my gate, only to find that the plane was gone. It was 10:22am. It departed at 10:20am; the time posted on my ticket. Imagine that. Ha.
So I will travel to South Africa instead, then from there get a connecting flight to Nairobi. Apparently there is only one direct flight a day from London to Nairobi.
On another note, I did watch two cute movies on the way from Chicago to London: 17 Again and He's Just Not that into You.
Feel free to post your response to this outrage. (By outrage I mean the terrible security people and missing my flight, not the movies.)
Keep praying. =)
Why am I here still? Why I am able to post?
After the wonderful plane ride from Chicago to London, we had to wait on the plane for the bus to come to our plane (so we could ride the bus to the terminal). Once it arrived, everyone assured me that I would be fine and it would only take 10 minutes to get to my gate. I, however, insisted on telling everyone along the way that my flight was leaving very soon. The people continued to tell me to relax and that I would be fine. Security had to check/examine my bag; I told them I was missing my flight - one girl even said that the time on the ticket was just there so that people would hurry to the gate, but it actually would leave about 20 minutes after the posted time! (I wonder if she has ever been on an airplane.) Finally, I was free to run to my gate, only to find that the plane was gone. It was 10:22am. It departed at 10:20am; the time posted on my ticket. Imagine that. Ha.
So I will travel to South Africa instead, then from there get a connecting flight to Nairobi. Apparently there is only one direct flight a day from London to Nairobi.
On another note, I did watch two cute movies on the way from Chicago to London: 17 Again and He's Just Not that into You.
Feel free to post your response to this outrage. (By outrage I mean the terrible security people and missing my flight, not the movies.)
Keep praying. =)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Leaving on Saturday
8:15am departure from LAX on July 4, 2009.
Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya at 8:55pm on July 5, 2009.
I am extremely excited about the trip, even though I still have to pack (and buy a bag in which to pack my belongings!). The Lord has clearly provided and made the way easy. From renewing my passport and getting shots to finding a sub-leaser for my room, each step demonstrates that I am in his arms.
I will post as much as I am able during my trip; although, rumor has it that the internet is slow in Kenya and expensive in Congo.
Even before I leave for the trip, I am so honored and blessed by the love and support that is around me. Thank you for praying for me, for covering me, for contending for me, and for encouraging me. I know that my heart is being prepared for an amazing adventure, and I know that the hearts of those in Africa are also being prepared for an equally amazing adventure. =)
Please pray for safety, health, and ease of travel, of course, but also pray for incredible miracles, guidance of the Holy Spirit, divine appointments, strategic ideas on teaching and ministering, love to abound and grow in immeasurable ways in the team and from the team, and for peace to reign and change the nations. Please feel free to post any words you hear from the Lord for me, and send updates on your lives too! I don't want to be completely out of the loop.
Jesus is good. All the time.
Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya at 8:55pm on July 5, 2009.
I am extremely excited about the trip, even though I still have to pack (and buy a bag in which to pack my belongings!). The Lord has clearly provided and made the way easy. From renewing my passport and getting shots to finding a sub-leaser for my room, each step demonstrates that I am in his arms.
I will post as much as I am able during my trip; although, rumor has it that the internet is slow in Kenya and expensive in Congo.
Even before I leave for the trip, I am so honored and blessed by the love and support that is around me. Thank you for praying for me, for covering me, for contending for me, and for encouraging me. I know that my heart is being prepared for an amazing adventure, and I know that the hearts of those in Africa are also being prepared for an equally amazing adventure. =)
Please pray for safety, health, and ease of travel, of course, but also pray for incredible miracles, guidance of the Holy Spirit, divine appointments, strategic ideas on teaching and ministering, love to abound and grow in immeasurable ways in the team and from the team, and for peace to reign and change the nations. Please feel free to post any words you hear from the Lord for me, and send updates on your lives too! I don't want to be completely out of the loop.
Jesus is good. All the time.
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