Dance Party

First off, apologies for the long gap in posts.  When Dan went to be with his daughter in the Naroibi hospital, we lost our laptop and connectivity.  Btw, good news on Erica.  She was able to fly to London a couple of days ago and is on her way home tonight.  Her numbers are still up and down so please do continue to pray for her complete recovery.

The remainder of our trip went well.  In Kitale, we played with kids at the Oasis drop-in center for street kids and held babies and the Mercy-Rescue center for orphaned babies.  One of the coolest moments of the entire trip was at Mercy-Rescue.  As we pulled in, some of the kids we had met earlier at the Oasis drop-in center recognized our vans and sprinted down the street, then climbed the fence to hang out with us again.  It was great to have them there as we also played with the babies.  At one point, one of the workers at Mercy-Rescue started playing some music and before you knew it, all the workers (with babies in arms), the street kids and our gang were dancing together in their nursery room.  It lasted several songs and got crazy hot in there, but to see the joy on all of the faces (faces from such different circumstances) as we truly enjoyed each other was priceless.

Speaking of priceless, our Kenyan trip ended with a day and a half safari in the Masai Mara game preserve.  It was an out of this world experience to see so many "exotic" animals just hanging out in their natural environment.  We also got to visit a Masai village and see how they still live.  These are the guys that are famous for how high they can jump, and their fierce/fearless hunting skills (which come in handy when you're surrounded by lions, leopards and other animals that are happy to put us human beings below them on the food chain).  The last thing they did was show us how they slaughter a goat and then drink it's blood directly from the still beating heart.  They kindly offered each of us a drink from the cup of blood they collected - there were no takers... 

Finally, the day of our departure arrived and after 40 straight hours of travel we are having a different kind of dance party - grateful to all be home safe and sound.  It was an amazing experience in so many ways, and we each have so much to process when it comes to all that we experienced.  One last time, thank you so much for you support and prayers!

Signing off - the Kenya team.

Flexibility

They say flexibility is key in Africa. They are right. 


Our trip leader who heads the organization we're working with had to go back to Nairobi with his daughter who experienced acute kidney failure. It was pretty dicey for a while, but she is starting to recover (very miraculously), they are hoping to leave for London tomorrow. We are so grateful for her recovery. Of course we really miss them, but we are still in good hands. Our drivers are incredible, the lead driver is a Masai warrior who has killed a lion with only a spear and a club so I think that should cover any situation we face. Our interpreter was once the king of the street kids in Katale and is now an amazing partner in the ministry to street kids. And when you think of what amazing means to you he is more than that. 


We have continued on with our original itinerary which has included working with widows in a rural area to teach them more sustainable farming. They truly have nothing but hope and they are doing amazing things. We've also visited an orphanage and and a hospital that serves the poorest of the poor run by lady that is the closest thing to Mother Theresa that I think I'll ever meet. All along the way, we have been playing with tons of kids, precious kids! Tomorrow we we will be working in a drop in center for street kids in the morning and an orphanage in the afternoon. 


It is always challenging, the needs are so overwhelming every where we go. The culture is very dependent on outside giving, and it's always so tempting to just throw money at the problem, but we're learning how important it is to teach a man to fish instead of just giving him a fish. 


As always, we are so grateful for you continued prayers for the remainder of our trip.
- Dave

George Washington and the Young Presidents - KENYA

Wow…  So much is happening it is impossible to capture it all but I will try to hit some highlights.  We attended Church at the “ghetto church” – one of the few churches that is willing to welcome street kids, probably because they are also so poor.  We played with their children for quite a while afterwards, they covered in dirt, but are so precious and fun to be with.  We played and talked with street kids at Agape – an organization that takes street kids in, giving them a safe place to live and eat while teaching them with the eventual goal to integrate them back into society.  The kids are AMAZING.  They are so incredibly clever and gifted in many way.  The invited Zack into their soccer game and though almost all of them were barefoot, they were way better than Zack (don’t tell him I said that).  However, he scored a pretty sweet goal and they all celebrated.  All of our kids are doing such a great job of playing with the kids – they have a very natural way with them and all of us parents are so proud of them.

Probably the most amazing thing that has happened so far was when some of our team members meet a group of street kids outside of a market.  They ranged in age from around 6 – 12ish.  They are easy to spot because they are covered in dirt, wear tattered clothes and have no shoes.  A sad sight indeed.  When we asked the oldest his name, he said “George Washington”, so we have taken to calling them George Washington and the young presidents.  We told them to meet us in the same spot the next morning and we would take them back to the same church where they would be welcomed.  We were so excited to see them there, and they piled into our van.  The entire day was filled with many amazing memories as we discovered how incredibly talented and gifted these kids are.  The most poignant example was when one who’s real name was Philip asked to play the piano.  We expected him to just pound on the keys but he proceeded to play the most beautiful worship song, and the other children joined in with singing that was better than the the Church’s worship director.  We were all in tears.  It’s so sad that the vast majority of the people truly consider these children trash (when we were hanging out with them outside of the market, a passer by screamed “they’ll steal from you!”.)  They are so wrong about these kids.  They’re greatest joy was to take pictures with our digitial cameras throughout the day, all over the church (which is a tin building with a dirt floor) and all around the grounds outside.  I have to admit that we were nervous we would not see our cameras again, but they were all faithful to bring them back.  They are fiercely loyal to each other and share what little they have.  At the end of the day, we took them to the park where we could pay to give them a shower, it’s what they wanted more than anything else.

Later than night, some of our team was trying to get some food to them and we found one of the boys walking alone – his clothes torn and he was crying.  He and one of the other boys had been badly beaten.  We cried with them, and told them how much we loved them and how valuable they are.  We are trying to get them into the Agape house, but they won’t go until they are all willing to go.  Many things are complicated here, at it’s not always easy to know how best to help, but we are believing that by being here and choosing to be with them in the midst of their pain we are indeed helping them.

We’ve also had the chance to visit a sustainable farming project in a more rural area that is incredible.  There’s a local man who is teaching them how to grow sustainable crops so that they can feed their children so that they won’t have to go to the streets.  We are going back tomorrow to play and hang out with their kids while they learn more practical skills.

So much more has happened and will happen.  We look forward to telling you more in person and we are so grateful for your continued prayers and concern!

- Dave

A Message from Pastor Matt!

Hey guys! I’m stoked to head out tomorrow with charity: water and ICDI to Central African Republic. Pastor Ryan and I would appreciate your prayers for safe travels as we go and tour the first site where we attempted to hit water as part of last summer’s Drinks for Drinks campaign. This time we think it’s going to happen!

After trying once to hand dig a well to over 100 feet in depth and then drill with two different drilling machines through over one hundred feet of sand and spending literally thousands of dollars to get safe drinking water for these people in Moale… we are going back.

This time we are armed with geologists from V3 as well as a professional driller who has expertise in this area AND a mud pump which has never been used in the CAR. We believe that these people deserve as much as anyone in the world to have safe drinking water so we are going yet again to try to provide this for them. 

Thanks again for your prayers!

Matt

Speed Bumps

We have safely arrived in Kisumu, Kenya - YEA!!!!  It was quite a journey, with many speed bumps along the way - some metaphorical and some literal.  Our journey was long, which of course we were expecting.  There was 20 hours on airplanes, 9 hours spent in airports, and then we were blessed with an 8 hour van trip to go from Nairobi to Kisumu.  I think my daughter said it best when she said that driving in Kenya is "funner".  If by that, she means that it scares the poop out of you, then yes - it is funner...  Rules of the road:  the left is right, the right is suicide.  Center lines are meant to be ignored.  Passing is ALWAYS an option, usually done 3 wide on a 1 1/2 lane road.  Swerving towards oncoming traffic is not only encouraged, it is required.  At night, both parties are expected to flash their brights at each other, and then left one when actually passing so that everyone is equally blinded.  Fun!!!!

Some speed bumps were harder than others.  One team member from the ECC team had her laptop stolen in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Later the same day, another team member from Overlake had her backpack stolen from under her foot (literally), while eating parts is parts "chicken" from the Chicken Inn.  Unfortunately, her backpack had her prescription medication and passport.  Please pray that she would be able to get a new passport issued in time for her return.

After all of that, we started the drive which was originally estimated at 4 hours but took at least 8.  A big part of that was cleverly disguised ninja speed bumps that sneak up on you and knock the teeth out of your head, as well as pop tires (we had two flats during the journey - who carries two spare tires in one van????  answer: Kenyan People!!!!)  On the bright side, we saw 3 giraffes which is supposedly good luck (didn't work for us), a gang of baboons (or is that a pod), zebras and jackasses galore (the 4 legged kind).  We were completely exausted when we finally reached our destination and hoping for a more quiet day which we were blessed with. 

Today included the opportunity to speak with leaders of the largest Church in Kisumu to encourage them to take up the cause of the many orphaned street kids that are in their city, and a trip to city market.  It's fun to be the one that sticks out in a crowd.  The kids are very cute and very clever in their attempts to get your money, or at least buy them an ice cream. 

We are going to bed, and are very much looking forward to attending Church here tomorrow morning, then helping out in the afternoon with an organization that has a great ministry for many of the street kids.  Pray that we would trust God for the wisdom and direction we will need to clearly communicate the tremendous love God has for each and every one of them.

Lala sallama ("have a safe night" in Swahali).

- Dave, Laura and the Kenya Team

ECC Kenya Team!

From team leaders Dave & Laura Barnett, and the EastLake team visiting the community of Kisumu with www.untilthen.org

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I can almost hear the clickity-clack beneath me – the familiar sound of the roller coaster lurching up that first big hill, about to crest the top and plunge into a wild and crazy ride.  I’m nervous, yet excited – wondering where the ride will take us and how many ups and downs, twists and turns will be in our future.

Thanks so much to those of you who are praying for our trip.  Pray that we would trust God no matter what; that we would know when it’s time to hold on, and when it’s time to throw our arms in the air and yell weeeeeeee!!!!!!