So our journey continues....
Our time in Mkwachunyi has come to an end... we've left behind so many new beautiful friends and even family :) They will be so missed and always remembered by all of us... in our last weeks there we were able to do some cool practical things with the community; another clinic day, a fun soccer day and soccerball distibution with the village teams, giving out iron sheets to needy families, helping with schools financially and with "creative arts class", helping to build a mud house... and a few other things! What we have come to know though, is that the needs in that village are so much greater than physical needs, like most places in the world :) There's such a need there for real relationships with the Lord. So we really began to be more intentional in our relationships with the villagers! It was a really great time, even in the challenges!
We had a great farewell and are now excited to see the next things God has in store for us!
Right now, we're in Mombasa staying at the YWAM base here! It's been such a time of encouragement and rest for us as a team... we're looking forward to some opportunities of ministry here possibly with the Youth and also in an orphanage with some of our donations from Canada!
So we are excited to give new reports soon! Take care everyone!!!!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Cherishing and moving forward...
So its' been a little bit since we've last updated everyone... so here goes it!!!
It's been a great thing to know that God is before us and behind us and beside us! This journey has been full of joys and challenges thus far! Our time in Mkwachunyi is now finished... hard to believe a month has already passed! In our last weeks there, we completed some projects like giving out iron sheets for houses, another clinic day, helping to build a mud house, a fun soccer day with all the village teams and distributing donated soccer balls, and helping out in the schools with finances and with our "creative arts class " :)
We began to realise though, that our purpose in this place has been so much more than the practical needs and so much more needing to be focused on spiritual needs and relationships, so it has been exciting to each have individual stories of God's work in these areas!
We felt a release to move on from the village and to continue to seek God in the everyday! Our farewell was so beautiful from the village, we have just come to love those people so much and so many of them have become good friends, and believe it or not, our little mud homes became as comfortable as our homes in Canada... well, just about ;)
So presently we are staying at the YWAM base in Mombasa on the coast of Kenya! It's been a real time of encouragement for us as a team! The staff currently at the YWAM base have been great and just being able to worship together has been so uplifting! Also the grounds are so beautiful and there are so many areas just to hang out and have some peacefulness! We're also looking forward to some opportunities in the Mombasa area, maybe working with some youth and visiting an orphanage.... the days ahead we are excited about!
So that's our vague update for you all :) its' so hard to capture all the moments we're experiencing, but i'm sure we'll all have so many stories to share as this journey continues....
take care!!!!
It's been a great thing to know that God is before us and behind us and beside us! This journey has been full of joys and challenges thus far! Our time in Mkwachunyi is now finished... hard to believe a month has already passed! In our last weeks there, we completed some projects like giving out iron sheets for houses, another clinic day, helping to build a mud house, a fun soccer day with all the village teams and distributing donated soccer balls, and helping out in the schools with finances and with our "creative arts class " :)
We began to realise though, that our purpose in this place has been so much more than the practical needs and so much more needing to be focused on spiritual needs and relationships, so it has been exciting to each have individual stories of God's work in these areas!
We felt a release to move on from the village and to continue to seek God in the everyday! Our farewell was so beautiful from the village, we have just come to love those people so much and so many of them have become good friends, and believe it or not, our little mud homes became as comfortable as our homes in Canada... well, just about ;)
So presently we are staying at the YWAM base in Mombasa on the coast of Kenya! It's been a real time of encouragement for us as a team! The staff currently at the YWAM base have been great and just being able to worship together has been so uplifting! Also the grounds are so beautiful and there are so many areas just to hang out and have some peacefulness! We're also looking forward to some opportunities in the Mombasa area, maybe working with some youth and visiting an orphanage.... the days ahead we are excited about!
So that's our vague update for you all :) its' so hard to capture all the moments we're experiencing, but i'm sure we'll all have so many stories to share as this journey continues....
take care!!!!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wooden car... big blessings!
Another day to Voi... another trip to civilization! Well, somewhat anyways! We are needing to come into Voi quite often this week, to purchase supplies and to do banking in order to fund the promised projects. So today, and then tomorrow to purchase iron sheets, and then on Saturday to get the school fees for the children... Today we walked the 14kms, and weren't so fortunate as to have a matatu pick us up on the way.
There have been community meetings under the tree, to discuss in further detail the projects we would be able to do. The outcome has now been decided. 430 iron sheets for 43 homes to be built... driving school for 4 boys, to be providing income for their families... school fees for 33 kids in secondary school... Clinic days... supplies for orphans... building... working in the gardens for the widows and elderly...teaching in the school, class 4 to class 7.
Everyone is expressing such genuine thankfulness, and we are excited about the projects we can be a part of... The community named the people who were in the greatest need, it was an example to us of loving your neighbour as yourself!
We opened the clinic at 10, and Janell and Kurtis were busy for the day, having to turn away over half of the people eagerly waiting, we will have another next week. Yesterday was also the day that we handed out supplies to the orphans. Blankets and mosquito nets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toys, flashlights, basins... It was a fun afternoon, an honor to be the deliverer! Thank you to all who donated so generously!!! The little boy with the wooden car, so excited with his toy!
Another week, and a million more experiences. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! We continue to pray for our friends and family at home too...
Africa team.
There have been community meetings under the tree, to discuss in further detail the projects we would be able to do. The outcome has now been decided. 430 iron sheets for 43 homes to be built... driving school for 4 boys, to be providing income for their families... school fees for 33 kids in secondary school... Clinic days... supplies for orphans... building... working in the gardens for the widows and elderly...teaching in the school, class 4 to class 7.
Everyone is expressing such genuine thankfulness, and we are excited about the projects we can be a part of... The community named the people who were in the greatest need, it was an example to us of loving your neighbour as yourself!
We opened the clinic at 10, and Janell and Kurtis were busy for the day, having to turn away over half of the people eagerly waiting, we will have another next week. Yesterday was also the day that we handed out supplies to the orphans. Blankets and mosquito nets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toys, flashlights, basins... It was a fun afternoon, an honor to be the deliverer! Thank you to all who donated so generously!!! The little boy with the wooden car, so excited with his toy!
Another week, and a million more experiences. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! We continue to pray for our friends and family at home too...
Africa team.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Giant stick bug and other exciting things :)
Habari everyone!
We are well in the Mkwachunyi village!
It seems like we've been here for so long already, even though it has only been less than a week! We are all starting to feel very at home living with families in their homes and are feeling extremely blessed by their hospitality to us! We are learning tons about their culture and way of life in the village. We've been working together with the village committee as well as visiting various nearby schools, churches, and clinics to assess some needs in the area. It has been so neat to be working together with the people to think of ways to improve their lives in ways that empower their own community members and are sustainable! Yesterday, after some long meetings, we were able to determine some initial projects to start and be involved with.... we are starting with funding and helping to build 2 new homes for the least fortunate in the area, one a widow and one a man who is living in the back of a store because his house fell down. Local tradesmen who are unemployed will have the opportunity to work with us on the building projects. Also, with the support we received from home, 45 orphans will be given pillows, blankets, and clothes. Apparently there are some young boys in the village who are also unemployed, who if they could afford a drivers liscence, could be supporting themselves and also the community, so we were able to send 4 boys to drivers school. We will also start to assist some of the widows and elderly with their gardens to prepare for harvest. The community has been extremely grateful for any aid, and we are excited to be a part of it all.... and all of you who have been a support this project should also share in the excitement as you have made these projects possible! Hopefully we will still be able to do more for them.... We are excited!!!! We are trusting God to lead!
and about the stick bug..... it was massive!!! The bugs here are insane, but we love AFRICA!!!!
Continue to pray for us as a team, for wisdom and discernment with projects. Also pray that God would do the work in our hearts that He desires!
thank you sooooooooooooooo much! We love you and are excited to continue to share the journey!
The Africa Team
We are well in the Mkwachunyi village!
It seems like we've been here for so long already, even though it has only been less than a week! We are all starting to feel very at home living with families in their homes and are feeling extremely blessed by their hospitality to us! We are learning tons about their culture and way of life in the village. We've been working together with the village committee as well as visiting various nearby schools, churches, and clinics to assess some needs in the area. It has been so neat to be working together with the people to think of ways to improve their lives in ways that empower their own community members and are sustainable! Yesterday, after some long meetings, we were able to determine some initial projects to start and be involved with.... we are starting with funding and helping to build 2 new homes for the least fortunate in the area, one a widow and one a man who is living in the back of a store because his house fell down. Local tradesmen who are unemployed will have the opportunity to work with us on the building projects. Also, with the support we received from home, 45 orphans will be given pillows, blankets, and clothes. Apparently there are some young boys in the village who are also unemployed, who if they could afford a drivers liscence, could be supporting themselves and also the community, so we were able to send 4 boys to drivers school. We will also start to assist some of the widows and elderly with their gardens to prepare for harvest. The community has been extremely grateful for any aid, and we are excited to be a part of it all.... and all of you who have been a support this project should also share in the excitement as you have made these projects possible! Hopefully we will still be able to do more for them.... We are excited!!!! We are trusting God to lead!
and about the stick bug..... it was massive!!! The bugs here are insane, but we love AFRICA!!!!
Continue to pray for us as a team, for wisdom and discernment with projects. Also pray that God would do the work in our hearts that He desires!
thank you sooooooooooooooo much! We love you and are excited to continue to share the journey!
The Africa Team
Monday, October 1, 2007
Mkwachunyi....home stays!
After a 6 1/2 hour very bumpy bus ride, including a stop to change a tire, we arrived in Voi and were greeted by our contact, Jonah. He waited all day for us in Voi and was very excited to meet us! From there we loaded up our Matatu (little 12 seater bus) with our luggage (being on top of the bus with couches there too!!) and ourselves and made the short trip into Mkwachunyi. We were greeted by tonnes of village people singing and smiling, just so excited and blessed for us to be there! It was such a sight! we got a bit teary! Later we were wisked away for the night. We each are staying individually in homes scattered around the village, and every day Laura and Renae have to hike as they live on the mountain! Anyway, the people here are very friendly and so excited for us to be here. Today we are having a meeting with the committee, which will continue tomorrow with a meeting with the villagers as well. Please pray for God'd direction and discernment as we decide on projects and living arrangments! Also pray for relationships in the village to grow and be strengthened! :)
We love you and miss you all!!
Africa team
We love you and miss you all!!
Africa team
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