I have arrived in Nairobi

The last two days of traveling has been long and exhausting. Wallace and David Freeze (one of the 6 apprentices) living at Mary and Wallace's House picked me up from the airport. I am now sitting on the top bunk of my bedroom with David beneath me also working on his computer.

On my way to the house Wallace told me that tomorrow the Kamau family, the 6 apprentices and Baraka are going on a short vacation to Mombasa until Wednesday. So I guess that means that I have a 8 hour car ride tomorrow morning and then hanging out on the beach, and touring my first few days in Kenya. We will be staying with Mary's brother Charles and his wife while there.

Well it's getting late here and is time for me to head to bed. I will not be able to post again until we return from Mombasa. Utukufu kwaka!

A look at my last week in Maryland

Sunday, March 7

• I went to church at Mountain Christian Church's 9:49 AM service and was truly blessed by Luke Erickson's message. If you missed it you can watch it here. I have a feeling that I am going to miss some amazing messages at Mountain while I am gone.
• Mom and I drove to Dundalk to visit Kenyan Church DFI Baltimore "Light on a Hill". What an amazing congregation to worship with. During the service they gave first time guests an opportunity to introduce ourselves. The microphone was handed to me first. At this time I shared with the congregation that I will be going on a mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya on Friday. After I finished with my intro Pastor Steve Magua asked if they could pray over my travels to there motherland. At the tail end of a very spirit filled worship and message time Pastor Steve asked for Mom and me come up on stage with him and his wife, Catherine. He prayed a beautiful prayer over me, my family and the people I will have the opportunity to witness to while away. After church was over we were invited to have a cup of Kenyan tea in the social hall. And if you know me well you would know that I can't turn down a good cup of Kenyan tea.
• At 6:30 PM I arrived back at church to help run the lighting system for High School Fuel.

Monday, March 8

• Went to work at Mountain Christian Church and did graphic design work from 9 AM - 5 PM.
• From 6:30 - 8:00 PM I led a 7th grade boys small group, but this week when small group started they surprised me with a send off for my trip to Nairobi. Erik Sundquist read some scripture verses, some of the boys shared some heart-felt words of encouragement and prayed over me and my trip. At the end they surprised me with a card that they all wrote in (I laughed at some of there comments) and they included a generous gift for my trip. I truly appreciated all of it and hung on every word they said. Such a wonderful evening... thanks guys!!!

Tuesday, March 9

• Worked at Mountain Christian Church from 9 AM - 5 PM.
• After work I ate dinner and then spent the evening organizing and packing my suitcases. It's amazing how long it takes to prepare everything. I did find that if you put things in zip lock bags and squeeze all the air out you can fit a lot more into your suitcase.
• I eventually crawled into my bed around 1:00 AM.

Wednesday, March 10

• I worked from 9 AM - 5 PM but at lunch time the church staff gathered for a pizza send off party. And man was the pizza good. Thanks Rob for the pizza and the opening prayer. After we all enjoyed the food, the staff circled up laying hands on me while Tom Moen prayed a beautiful prayer over my mission. One of my favorite things that he said in his prayer was that my mission trip to Kenya is not "good for me" but instead "good for us." Referring to "us" as Christ's Kingdom and that the things I do while in Kenya can make a global impact.

I would also like to say thank you to the church, family, friends, my men's small group, and my 7th grade small group for all of the LOVE, SUPPORT and PRAYER for my 2 month apprenticeship in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya. It has not gone unnoticed! You are all such a blessing in my life. Without you this trip would not be possible.

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