We are here!!

WE ARE FINALLY HERE!

Sorry for the LONG entry – we are trying to fit several days into one post. I will try to back up a bit and catch you up to speed. In the future we will also have students include personal stories about their experiences.

Friday we got up early, had breakfast in our hotel, and took the shuttle back to the airport. Again we had no issues through security and our flight left on-time. Most of us got plenty of rest the night before so we all tried our best to stay awake on the flight to help our bodies adjust to the time change. It was Kelsey's Birthday so I asked the other passengers to join us in singing happy birthday to her and we celebrated some where over Egypt. She had the privilege to spend her birthday in Switzerland and Kenya all in the same day!

After a nice continental breakfast in the guest house we loaded our 26+ bags on the roof of our new 25 passenger bus and headed for the village. Driving through the city in Nairobi was eye opening and as we traveled we passed a motorcade for the Vice President of Kenya, Klonzo. Police Cars, armed guards and his car with two flags in the front – very cool! It was overcast but the views along the way were beautiful. It is much more mountainous and green here than I expected. We stopped a couple places along the way to look at a sea of pink flamingos in a distant lake. Again we took a break to talk to the workers in the tea fields on the mountain sides – they explained to us what they do to make their living. Dan spent time playing in similar fields as a child.

We found a wonderful place for lunch where we had traditional Kenyan cuisine – Mokimo (mashed potatoes with pumpkinn leaves), cabichi (cooked cabage), kuku fry (fried chicken), nyama (beef stew), pilau (flavored rice), sukuma wiki (kale), and chapati (flat bread) and for beverages we had Mango and passion fruit juices and local soda pop. After eating we had about 2 hours left in our journey “home.” As we approached the plateau everyone was very excited. We drove up the small dirt road to the village. This road was not designed for a vehicle the size of our bus but we forged on. We came to a very uneven part of the road that was full of water. As the bus tried to drive through, the rear axle became high centered and we where stuck! This provided our team with a great introduction to the Kenyan culture as children and adults alike came to help. After an hour of working in the mud and with the help of many others we pushed the bus out of the mud onto dry ground. Now we only had 10 minutes to the village.

We arrived at Dan's parents home and were welcomed by many people in the village. Before unloading the bus we all went inside for a welcome and introductions followed by a prayer lead by the village pastor. After this we unloaded the bus and came inside once more for tea and fellowship. We then were each assigned our guest homes. Each assignment was strategic with the host family and team members. Members are with people who are good matches with the host to encourage ministry opportunities.

Ann and Ashley are with the Oyoo family. Kelsey and Caitlin are with Ogutu family . Leah and Lily are with the Ndege family. Matt, Stephen and Jay are with Ogal family. Mark and Nathan are with the Moto family. And Tyler and Bill are with the Bhoup family. All of the families are incredibly hospitable. They truly consider it a privilege for us to be staying with them in their homes. People come from all around to meet and greet us. Please continue to pray for each team member and the families with whom we are staying. Each host family goes far beyond those living in there home and we are having the opportunity to invest in and learn from many people!

We are coming to find that there may not be a “typical” day while we are here. But here is a picture of most days (without the many variations):

• Wake up with your family and help with family chores which consist of fetching water, washing dishes making breakfast, milking the cow, moving the goats and cows to new grazing areas and more.

• Have breakfast and tea.

• Spend time learning the customs and traditions including learning to speak a little Swahili and Luo with your families

• Going to the market

• Playing soccer or frisbee

• Having lunch with your host family @ around 1 or 2 pm

• Team meeting and Devotion time

• Soccer and VBS

• Resource Center With youth – tutoring children and youth

• Dinner with Host Family @ around 7 or 8 pm

• Fellowship

In addition to our routine days in the village, were the students will be working with the children and youth, we will also be conducting several other special events during our stay.

• On Thursday the 10^th from 9am to 10am we will be participating in a House Fellowship meeting.

• Friday June 12^th is the first day of Ann Husks two day Women's seminar.

• On Saturday the 13^th we will host three Seminars at the local church: Part Two for the women seminar, a challenge for the men to use there gifts, and student led discussion with the youth on the importance of purity.

• On Sunday June 13^th Pastor Bill will be a guest speaker to share a message at church and Matt, Ashley, Caitlin and Stephen will lead some worship.

• On Monday the 14^th and Thursday the 17^th Pastor Bill will meet with local Pastors for discussion and training.

• On Tuesday the 15^th will be another women's conference at another nearby church.

• The World Cup begins this weekend and we hope to incorporate outreach opportunities by utilizing our projector system.

I will stop now and give Tyler a chance to share some personal reflections from the trip. Thanks for taking the time to read and lift us up in prayer!

We attended the Africa Inland Church on Sunday morning. The church was filled with eager dark faces ready to worship our shared Lord. The singing was wonderful. The church had a choir of adults and a choir of children. Both sang worship songs in Swahili and in the local tribal tongue called Lou. Our little group was asked to come up before the congregation and sing a song. We chose Amazing Grace and Lord We Lift Your Name On High. We were greeted by warm applause as we finished singing. Pastor Bill was asked to share a few words before the preachers message. A translator helped him share 1 Peter 4 8-10 with the congregation. Verse 9 reads, “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”. This verse is one that the Kenyans take to heart and live out so fully. I am deeply humbled by their ability to share so fully with us from so little. Each family reaches deep into their hearts and pockets to fulfill the Lords command. I am almost moved to tears at every meal and at every showing of kindness. Our group will learn so much from experiencing this example of Christ like selflessness, hopefully, we will be able to follow the Kenyans example half as well as they live it.

I was able to have a very neat Monday morning. One of the young ladies we live with, Dorothy, took me to the nearby market to purchase tomatoes and a green lentil called ndengu. Pronounced, na-dang-ewe. After making our purchases Dorothy and I walked to her fathers workplace. He is employed as a security guard at st. Philemon girls school. I expected to sit with him for a moment and return to the home to help Dorothy cook dinner. Instead William took me on a tour of the school introducing me to each adult. I was actually able to visit the Principals office without being sent there! The principal treated me as an honored guest. I was welcomed into the office to take tea and bread with the principal and James, a member of the school board. In my short time here I have deducted that all Kenyans are raised from birth to try and make foreigners come into their homes and offices and drink tea until they burst! I sat with her and she quizzed me about the education system in the USA. I know almost nothing about the educational system in the USA! Fortunately I know much about making up facts about our education system. I was once again humbled by the immediate friendship and open acceptance these people show me. I wish each of you could have this experience!

Siku njema,

Tyler James Wrezinski

PS: the food is so good here!
PPS: Linda please take all my pants to the tailor and have him let out an inch!