Friday, July 10, 2009

Day 8 (by Julia Rogers)

We started off our day in two groups. One group would begin at the New Life Home Trust orphanage. (http://www.newlifehometrust.org/); with the other group spending some time at the village market. For lunch we would come together at the Village Market and then our two teams would swap venues.

The New Life Home Trust is a place that takes in unwanted babies and rears them in a Christian environment. The visit to the orphanage was very heartwarming. Founded in 1994 by Clive and Mary Beckenham, New Life Home Trust has grown from one home to seven homes in Kenya and continues to grow. There were a little over forty children ranging in ages from birth to three years, many of whom were born HIV positive. You could tell these children are very well taken care of and loved by the abundant staff. Our team members were welcomed and thoroughly enjoyed getting to hold and play with these beautiful children. It was difficult to leave these precious babies.

The time spent at the Village Market was an experience to say the least with bargaining being the name of the game. Most of our team members got the hang of bartering for marvelous hand-crafted items offered by the vendors. With some assistance from Pastor Wambua, Joab, and Ms. Emma, Chloe the youngest member of our group was ruthless in her hunt for great prices and left vendors shaking their heads in wonder. But probably the most interesting transaction was by Linda who got a picture frame for 500 schillings, a roll of toilet tissue, and an almost empty bottle of hand sanitizer.

Later in the afternoon we headed back to Lucky Summer in our last night of participating in the open-air crusade. Amid dark clouds, a few drops of rain, electrical problems in the form of interrupted lights and microphones, the Word of God was proclaimed. Mrs. Debbie and Ms. Emma both gave powerful testimonies, and even our own team sang one praise song, “How Great is our God,” on-stage in a'capela. Pastor Euticauls Wambua, without a microphone, finished the service with another amazing sermon from 2 Kings about Naman and God’s healing of his leprosy after washing seven times in the Jordan River. As the crusade finished for the night, our team was hit with bittersweet feelings…a sense of fulfillment in running the race that God had set before us but a deep sadness in leaving the Korogocho and Lucky Summer communities, its people, and especially its children for the last time. Friends, please keep these wonderful people in your prayers and please continue to pray for the crusade as it continues Saturday and Sunday night.

To wind up our night, our team, along with our friends, Pastor Wambua and family, Pastor Bosco, Pastor Peter, Principal Moses, and Wilson Maluki, went to Carnivore, a restaurant in Nairobi. Sampling many types of meat such as pork, chicken, lamb, ostrich, crocodile, and more, we had a great time eating and fellowshipping. And since Pam has a birthday on Sunday, the Carnivore staff brought out a sparkler topped cake and sang Happy Birthday with bongo drums and all.

Our team members are now all on the mend. Please continue to lift us up in your prayers, especially as we start the process of packing to come home. Tomorrow we head to Masai Mara for a two-day safari on the Serengeti Plain. We are very excited that the annual wildebeest migration at Masai Mara is coinciding with our visit!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support, physically, emotionally, and spiritually throughout our journey. We appreciate all of your comments as we read each and every one out loud, usually at breakfast. Asante sana! (thank you very much)

4 comments:

  1. What an inspiration your blogs have been to me as I hear of how God is using each of you in a special way. Today I will pray for your eyes and ears as you begin your safari. May the wonders of this country keep reminding you of God's love through His creation. May you hear the sounds of the country and keep these in your mind as you return as a reminder of what God is doing in Africa. God bless each of you and know we eagerly await your return and getting to talk with you about your mission and the fulfillment God has allowed you to experience. Love each of you!! Brenda Woodard

    ReplyDelete
  2. My comment is late this time - had no time to get on computer yesterday - went to p/u Brody and he can't wait to see his Coco!

    I feel all I keep saying is Thank you Jesus for everything He's doing thru ya'll - it's just sooo amazing to me how each of you sound in the blogs - God's overwhelming grace and love and mercy abounds thru your words. I know each and everyone of you will NEVER be forgotten by those you have met in Africa - and I thank God for sending you to spread His Gospel and Love.

    I thank God all are well and pray you each enjoy the Safari and your travels home are as problem-free as possible. We sooo look forward to seeing each and every one of you and Coco, I promise not to knock you down with hugs when I see your beautiful face!

    God Bless You all

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lori,
    I have tried to post a note to you a couple of times and could not figure this out?????? Jared had to walk me through the correct process. I am so proud of you and all those with you for what you are doing. The pictures are wonderful and the write ups are so inspiring. We send our love and prayers and ask that God Bless all of you with a safe return home.
    PS I think that Jared has a new outlook on raising kids, also a good inside view of what a mother goes through each and every day. Jared, Isabel and Justin send their love and prayers, can hardly wait for you to return home, they sure miss you. I am on the phone with them right now, it is sure funny. Anyway Isabels mssg is she loves you and misses you, Justin is being bad.
    By the way we were starting to worry as the blog was not posted till late, Jared was pretty worried, lots of prayers going out for all of you. Will talk to you when you return, have a good time and will keep all of you in prayer.

    Cindy/Ernie/Jared/Isabel and Justin

    ReplyDelete
  4. I give praise to the Lord for each and every one of you. What a blessing for us to be able to get these updates and hear of the great things that God is doing through and in you. So glad to hear that everyone is feeling better (I was wondering if it was a good idea for Linda to be bartering with the items you mentioned). I pray that what you guys did in that area of the world is just the beginning of great things. Now I pray that the team enjoys the safari. Enjoy more of God's creations. I know He will still be working during this time also. To Pam, I certainly hope you have a great birthday #???. Please note that you will be getting a year older quicker while you are there, due to the time difference (I hope you didn't think that you could escape the ribbing just because you're a half a world away!!!). Well wishes to all of you. Have a great time.

    Psalm 9:1-2

    ReplyDelete