SPEAKING AT PROVIDENCE

On Sunday, August 23 the Kenya Team will be giving a team update at PROVIDENCE CHURCH.  Come and join us at 6:00pm to hear a report and watch a video from the trip.  We will be presenting for about 10 minutes.

African crafts and jewelry will also be on sale before and after the service.  

Hope you can make it!!

BAPTISM DAY with the NEEMA GALS

Now that we are back on American soil, a number of us realized that we never shared with you how our time was spent the last couple days in Kitale.  Our apologies!

One of the most memorable days for me was Friday….baptism day!!!  If you’ve been reading our blogs throughout our trip, we’ve spent a number of days with six beautiful women at the Neema project.  One of the days we spent some time sharing testimonies of the work God has done in our lives and discussed what it meant to be baptized.  Faith shared that the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our belief in Him is that what saves us (1 Peter 3:21).  Peter describes baptism as the pledge of a commitment to Christ.  Andrea, Steph and five Neema girls decided that they wanted to be baptized.

So that Friday, we left around 9 in a matatu to drive to the outskirts of Kitale to perform the baptisms.  It’s proved to be somewhat challenging to even find a place to do this.  Yes, this is Kenya’s rainy, winter season but the country has suffered this season in drought conditions.  Thanks to Ann, we were able to find a small creek/river outside of Kitale.  We met the matatu with Ann, Janet, JoAn, Joyce and the Neema girls along the way so that our driver could follow.

Once we got into the park, we headed for the creek.  It was not a far distance away and somewhat secluded.  Daniel had given us a heads up that we may draw a crowd.  At the water’s edge, the only person that I saw was a man perched up in a large tree.  By the end, we had a good number of onlookers.  It’s amazing to just see baptisms in this setting.  I was baptized in 8^th grade in my church’s baptism pool.  But this was like bible times!!!  I can just picture John walking down a clay dirt road to the Jordan to baptize Jesus.  

BUT, Jesus did not stop there.  He gave instructions to his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Stephanie was the first to get baptized.  
….then Andrea
….Olivia
….Catherine
….Rebekah
….Matrin
….& Sharon!
This transformation was just astounding to see on the face of each woman who came up out of the water.  The overflowing joy and energy was Spirit-filled, and we took that right back into Kitale with us to celebrate!  

Where else would we celebrate but Boulevard Restaurant?!?!  It was a picture… “Table for 24, please!”  I got the privilege to sit by Olivia and we enjoyed our chicken and chips together.  The hardest part to the day was when we had to say goodbye.  We had spent four solid days with these gals (Joyce, Janet and JoAn included) and I feel like we have so much to look forward to in the coming year(s).  One point that Phil (pastor at Providence) reminded our church body of this week was we can be life givers through intercession.  Romans 8:26-27 states, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”  We can intercede for these Kenyan women through the power of prayer…and when we need help, don’t hesitate to call on His Spirit.  He promised His Spirit and He is faithful!

-Revee-

HOME

Hi All.

We are back home in PA after a very long and tiring journey, including a 10 hour layover in South Africa, a 16 hour flight to Atlanta, a missed flight in Atlanta with an extended layover, a flight to Newark and then a  bus ride home!

We have mixed feelings about being home, but are excited to see our family and friends.  We will be posing more stories and photos in the days to come.  Stay tuned........

Faith

heading home.....

hello all.

the team just arrived safely back in nairobi and will be heading home tomorrow at 7:15am. we have alot more to update you on and will get those blogs and photos up as we have access to the internet which may not be until we get home.

pray that we remain patient with one another. it will be a loooong journey home. we fly to south africa in the morning and have a 10 hour layover before flying from south africa into newark, nj at 11am on tuesday. we hope to be back home by 2:30pm on tuesday.

we are excited to share with you some of the things that have happened during our time away. we are left with many new friends and lots to process. continue praying for martin. he is talking and walking again and has begun to eat as well. we are praying for a full recovery and will keep you posted.

thanks for your love and prayers!

faith

In-Step Ministries...BABY HOME

Hello dear family, friends, & loved ones. This is Andrea blogging again on behalf of the team.

Our days have been very busy! The guys have been working hard on random construction projects and we ladieshave been building relationships with the girls at the Neema Home. Yesterday, we had a special outing to work with a middle-aged married couple from Washington named Jeff & Carla Picicci. They began doing missions work in Kenya a few years ago and the Lord gave them a very clear vision to begin "Rehema Ministries" (rehemaministries.com). They have a home for abandoned babies/children. Last year when they began, they had around 30 kids and have doubled in one year....now housing 63 abandoned children and are calling them their own. They desire to raise Godly, educated boys and girls into men and women who will help to change their land and further the Kingdom.
As we drove over the very bumpy dirt roads (covered in potholes) to get to their home, the anticipation grew! We arrived & greeted so many tiny faces. Some of them were scared of us, but most smiled happily and welcomed us as playmates. Carla gave us a tour of their *beautiful* property - telling us story after story of miracles for how God provided every need and necessary funding. They have 20 acres, much of it used for farming. They have a huge water system that was donated to them - which is connected to an underground river source which they surprisingly found upon digging. We walked around the house and different buildings...seeing the kitchens, the assembly line of high chairs and feeding tables for the kids, the countless cribs and pack-n-plays covered in mosquito nets, and the very loooong changing table with a mound of diapers on its end. We learned that they go through 220 diapers/day, they take their diapers to the Kitale landfill on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Only 5 of the 63 children are HIV positive but most have TB. There are 29 full-time staff, 3 shifts/day of nannies ("aunties"). 

I walked around the property with the team listening to each incredible story of God's goodness and ways that He has led them as my eyes were brimming with tears of joy and awe. We neared the children again to play for a bit before lunch. I walked over to a section where the babies were propped up in a row on a couple of long mattresses. I was immediately drawn to one boy, whose name is "Teddy". Teddy is 7 or 8 months old, I would guess, but I could tell that something was very wrong with him. I picked him up and saw that his gaze was distant and unfocused and he had poor control over his body and neck movement. I just held him, rocking him, praying and singing over him. I silently spoke life over him and clutched onto his tiny fingers as they grasped mine, only to look down and see that a few of them were webbed together. At that moment, Carla came over and sat down next to me on the floor while Teddy had just fallen asleep in my arms and she told me his story while tears just rolled down my face. His young, alcoholic mother had abandoned him and they think he has fetal alcohol syndrome. 

Carla went on to tell me another story of a little girl who had falling asleep next to me on the floor. Her name was Sarah. Carla explained that Carla's mother was a teenage girl who had prematurely given birth to her in a latrine, leaving her to die. Sarah had landed face up in the waste and cried and cried until one of their workers found and rescued her. Sarah is now a strong, healthy little girl. The thing that shocked me the most about hearing this story was that before this trip to Kenya was ever even planned up, I had a very vivid dream about this exact story of Sarah. I woke up from that dream a little less than a year ago, crying, praying & journaling , wondering what God was trying to tell me...little did I know that I would be sitting on the floor in a Kenyan home next to the very girl that I dreamt about. I just sat with Carla, weeping so hard, telling her about my dream...and praying over these children! I can't imagine being a mom to countless children, remembering each of their stories (let alone names!) and trusting as God provides enough food and money to get by each day and month...being strong for kids with such unimaginably difficult lives...and teaching them about a God who is their faithful Father despite the abandonment of their earthly parents.

So, that was yesterday...and today we spent our last full day with our Neema sisters :) Today was a day of sharing testimonies and talking about baptisms because tomorrow me, Stephanie, & the Neema girls are all getting baptized. I joyfully shared my testimony and all that God has been teaching me over the last year as it's been a time of great restoration and learning about the Father's love. The coolest thing for me is that five years ago I was coming home from a missions trip to Romania and really felt strongly from the Lord that my next missions trip wouldn't be for awhile, but eventually would be to Africa to work with orphans, and that I should get baptized there. So that's all been floating in the back of my mind/heart for years...and, here I am, in Kenya, sharing my testimony with former street girls the day before we ALL get baptized together in a river outside of Kitale! How exciting!!!! :) 

We love you and miss you....thank you for battling for us as we are here serving and loving....we stand and move on your prayers! See you soon :)

URGENT PRAYER

Those of you following this blog know that the team in Kenya went to the funeral and burial services for Veronica, one of the children supported by TI, on saturday.  On Monday, we received word that Martin, Veronica's 4 year old brother was HIV positive and also had the chicken pox.  He was diagnosed monday and treated aggressively on tuesday.  Today, we got a call that they were taking Martin back to the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing.  We just heard that the doctors have admitted him and are treating him for pneumonia, meningitis, and chicken pox, all while being HIV positive.  This is a desperate situation!!!! We need the Lord to intervene and breath NEW LIFE into Martin's body.  

This community has suffered a lot of loss lately and their hearts are breaking.  Pray for LIFE.  Pray for PEACE.  Pray against fear and anxiousness for the children at HBF, the TI Team, the house parents, social workers, and teachers.  Pray for HOPE!!!

Thanks for standing with us in prayer for this miracle!  We are desperate for the power of God to made known.

-Faith-

NEEMA GIRLS UPDATE

Monday and Tuesday we went to the Neema house. Sunday night, we spent some time in prayer asking for God to bless our time with these women and ease our interaction with them. And let me tell you, the days were beyond blessed. God is faithful to answer. We met Olivia, Catherine, Elizabeth, Rebekah, Metrin (Mrembo), and Sharon. They are beautiful. Olivia is the most recent addition to the Neema house and she is flourishing there. We also met Joanne, Janet, and Joyce who are the teacher, house mom, and seamstress.
The night before we made our first visit we were told that the girls are very shy and not to be surprised if they didn't welcome us in with open arms. That night as we prayed together our hearts were encouraged and refilled for the following day. And do you want to know how God answered our prayers? They literally welcomed us with arms that were wide open!

Isaiah 60:1
"Arise shine for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."
60:3
"Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn."

We came from the US to their light. Before we came to Kenya, I was reading my bible and read Isaiah chapters 60-62 and the Lord was telling me all throughout that these verses were promises to the girls of Neema. The Lord is clothing these women with a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair! These women were taken from the streets where they were made to believe that their lives and their bodies were worth little to nothing. A little over a year ago, the first girls were brought into a house of grace (that is what Neema means in Swahili). Now "Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land and everlasting joy will be theirs." These young women are learning to speak English and are doing very well but communication is still difficult. Nevertheless, the Lord has called them beautiful and that word we have all learned to translate - "Mrembo" They respond with a giggle and shy "thank you" to this praise, but I believe that they know it is truth. I pray that they do and that it is the Lord who is speaking it to them.

Isaiah 62:2-4
"The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah;
for the Lord will take delight in you,
and your land will be married."

Hephzibah means "my delight is in her" and the Lord delights in his daughters of grace. We have been blessed to meet and spend time with these women and we pray that their hearts will be encouraged by our company as our hearts have been encouraged by theirs. We plan to see the Neema girls again this week.  Thursday will be another day to play and build relationships and friday we are having a joint baptism and then ending the day with lunch in town. Thank you so much for all of your prayers, this trip and everyone on it has been abundantly blessed. Please, continue to pray!
Hebrews 13:21
...may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.