Homecoming!

Happy to say that the team made it back from Africa and are back home. We wanted to post a team photo of everyone, but the general feeling was people were tired, feeling dirty, and ready to leave. They arrived from the last leg of their flight at 3:40 this afternoon. It took them a hour to get through customs, and then they were greeted by smiling faces, hugs, and kisses of family and loved ones. It was a great homecoming.

Seeing them was also so neat. One could of course tell that they were fatigued and they all looked a little worn, but there was special excitement that was so amazing to see. They had a special bond, and of course everyone wanted to hear all the stories of their travel and experiences. It is always so refreshingly amazing to see God move in someone's heart. We were able to so clearly see that in each team member's eyes. We know that their faith has been enlarged. We cannot help but imagine the growth of faith that the Masaai people have had even more. Needless to say, God is on move. Sam was the only one that did not return with the team to DFW. He went on to join another team from our church to serve in Romania. Please pray for him and that team as they serve the Lord there. It was interesting to discover, that God 'being on the move' was a common theme for the day. Along with our team returning from Kenya, Bobby met up with another lady that was returning from a mission trip in another country in Africa. Later at the airport, Austin, Amber's husband, saw an old friend whose wife was returning from missions in Eastern Europe. It is a refreshing reminder that God is in the small details of our individual lives, but also on the move redeeming the world for Himself. He is in control of all.

We praise Him for the team's safe arrival back home. Please pray that He will continue to give them health, as a couple were feeling poorly. We also praise Him that the members of this team were able to be apart of Serving in Faith in Kenya. We also give thanks to you who partnered with us and prayed through this trip. Thank you, your prayers were felt!

Coming Home

The team is in route for coming back home. Right now they are in the air from Nairobi to Kenya. After a few hours of layover, they will board another flight to DFW. They should be here tomorrow afternoon. We are all so excited to see them again and here all the amazing details of their trip. Their last day in Kenya was spent shopping, touring and something about a tick fiasco. We will have to wait for the details on that!

Please pray for their safe return travel. Pray for health of all. Pray that God will use this experience of each member of the team here.

We will post again when they return. We will keep you posted!

Conference Draws to Close

Soon this evening (our time) the team will be awaking to prepare for their final day of teaching. It all seems to go by so quickly. The team has mentioned the overwhelming sense of kindness and hospitality of the Kenyan people that they have worked with. They have a heart to serve. Something that we all can improve upon. Following their final conference day, they have arranged to go on a short safari. There will be lots of beautiful sights and animals to see. Then they will begin their preparations to return home.

It is hard to believe that such a short time can have such a lasting impact upon someone- for both the team and the Masaai people. Maybe that is what we should pray for today- lasting impact. For many of these Masaai church leaders, this may be their only opportunity to receive any type of discipleship. Most will receive a Bible in Swahili for the first time. And from this conference, they will go back to their villages to impact and train future generations for Kingdom work. While for this team, it is unlikely that most will have another opportunity to return back to Kenya again. It sounds sad, but a reality. However, they will come back, impacting us with their contagious passion. It will give us further momentum, and together we will do great things here for God's kingdom. God is so faithful...He does not plant a seed without cultivating another at the same time for His Harvest.

"My food," Jesus said,"is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

John 4:34-36

Half-way point

We have heard that the group is doing well. They are teaching and dealing with some important topics of faith. In addition, some important cultural issues have arose and needed to be addressed. Amber seems to be feeling poorly. Please, stop now and pray for her health. Tomorrow, she will be teaching for several hours in a row. One of the topics she will be addressing is HIV/AIDS. They seem to be making important relationships and lasting friendships as well. Yesterday, they had the opportunity to attend a Masaai funeral.

Be expecting for this team to return with changed hearts, eyes opened, and faith enlarged. It seems impossible to be so involved with something like this, that you yourself would not be forever impacted and reminded of God's greater plan for this world! Hopefully through partnering with this group, you too have been impacted and feel personally tied to their cause and passion. With sincere appreciation, thank you for your support and prayers. They have felt them everyday, and have needed them too. Thank you for reading this!

Now, they are just over half way through. Please, continue to pray for them constantly. Now, more than ever they need your prayers. Making such a big trip, the first few days are lived with adrenaline and excitement! Now, they will start to feel tired, miss home and loved ones, have more cultural challenges, dislike food, get sick, and be prey for spiritual attack. Pray for encouragement and strength. Pray for health, particularly Amber. Pray that God will reveal Himself in amazingly, special ways to each team member. Pray that they will seek God in their loneliness and fatigue. Pray for stamina and unity. Please, continue to pray for the Masaai people to look past the cultural barriers that exist for what God is revealing to them.

Day One of Teaching Going Strong

The conference is well underway, and so far things have gone really well. Laura, Karen, and Bobby did really well today. Tomorrow Carlos and Lindsay will be teaching. For much of their teaching, they are using translators for assistance. Please pray that the translators will work efficiently to take what each has prepared and translate it accurately. Also, continue to pray for each person attending. We believe the Spirit can move in mighty ways in anyone seeking with an open heart. Pray that God will speak through the team members to each Masaai in special, powerful ways.

Part of a great conference is leading and speaking. The other part is the connections and relationships formed. The team will be spending much time with the attendees of this conference. Please pray that each member will go beyond their comfort zone to reach and build relationships for this is what helps to have a lasting impact.

Pray for encouragement, endurance, and a Spirit-filled heart for each member of the team- Amber, Bobby, Carlos, Karen, Laura, and Lindsay. They can get this through so many ways- each other, others there, the nature around them, and yielding humbly to God so as to be filled with what He wishes!

Received word today that they saw several Zebras, Giraffes, and goats around them. Their evening closed with singing some David Crowder praise songs under the beautiful night stars!

Ready, Steady, Go...

After a restful sleep, the group was up and going today. I believe that they even got to watch some of the World Cup Final. They got supplies in Nairobi and were off to Ilamen. The conference started this evening. The topics are so varied in the subject material. All topics are so important to growing believers. Some topics will be in a large group setting, and others will be held in smaller groups. I think that even the most confident speaker can be a bit intimidated starting off. Think of the cultural barrier alone. With that thought this scripture came to mind...

"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, " I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you." declares the Lord.

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth."

Jeremiah 1:6-9

Please continue to pray for this group serving in faith in Kenya. Pray that God would speak through them to reach those attending and each other!

They are there!

Hello to all. Amber, Bobby, Carlos, and Lindsay have made it safely to Kenya. It was reported that they had good air travel and no luggage was lost. They say that they are feeling really well. They have been traveling for a day and a half. They got to Nairobi in the evening, and were met by the 3 interns from our church. They are spending the night there and will be taking care of some details before they take off for Ilemen for the conference. Ilemen is about 2.5 hours outside of Nairobi. The whole trek is offroading and dirt roads. Their accommodations will be tents with a bucket of water to bathe and wash clothes each day. There will be a cook, cooking for all attending the conference. Tea time is common there in the afternoon.

Please continue to pray for them...

• Pray that they will sleep well this evening, and will not be too jet lagged.
• There is altitude difference. Pray that everyone will remain healthy. Especially with eating a different ethnic food.
• Pray that God will allow all arrangements for this conference to fall into place.
• Pray for each attendee that is coming.
• Pray that each person on the team and the 3 interns will use all they have prepared, and lay it down before the Lord. So that, He will take and do more than they could have ever expected.