Update from the Team Leader...

Greetings from Kenya!

I realize that Andrea just posted a huge update.......READ IT!

I will spare you all the details since she did a great job, but I wanted to share a few things about the team.  For anyone of you who know anyone of the team members, I want you to know that you would be SO PROUD of them!!!  I was nervous about bringing people to Kenya, because I love my kenyan family so much and wanted everyone to have that experience.  I was a bit nervous about taking the team from the airport, after 2 days of travel, to breakfast and then to 2 different slums.  

We arrived at 5:30 am and by 10am, this team was in the Soweto Slum visiting a school.  Andrea shared with you what they saw and experienced but I was to share with you the highlight of my day.  When the kids at the school were dismissed to play, I told the team they could go outside to join them.  I went to greet one of the leaders and my team had disappeared out the door that quickly.  After about 10 minutes, I realized I better go make sure everyone was okay.  When I got to the doorway I could barely get through, so I stopped and looked around me, I was AMAZED.

• SETH was on my left, on the ground surrounded by children.....laughing and giggling and taking photos with them.  there was no way he was getting up off the ground with out a fight.
• Right in front of him....EILEEN was pinned up against the fan with a group surrounding her.  She was showing them her book reader...this computer type thing that holds books.  Her face was radiating as she stood there sharing part of her world with them.
• Directly in front of me, MEGAN was swinging kids up and down off the ground.....giggles just kept flowing from the mouths of the children.
• Off to my right, RAY was just standing there, holding a child in his arms.  Such kindness and compassion in his eyes.
• STEPHANIE....seeing her was for sure one of the greatest moments of my day.  I looked down, and she was also so close to the ground with these precious faces surrounding her.  I saw such JOY and DELIGHT in her eyes.....it seemed as though they were twinkling.  I felt like her heart was getting bigger and bigger the longer I watched her.  It seemed as though I was watching a miracle unfold before my eyes.
• SARAH and REVEE had their cameras out capturing every moment.  They were having so much fun photographing the children and playing games with them.  Having been in Africa before they are naturals.
• ANDREA, LESLIE and JERIAH.....were all doing the same...playing, smiling......such joy.  

I will continue to share some personal stories of what I see.  I am so proud of this team.  In their weariness they have not only demonstrated a positive attitude, but have lavished people with love.  They are ministering to one another and to the kenyan people.

Many of them had tears in their eyes throughout the day.  It is a shocking experience.  PRAY for us, we have felt your prayers.  Tomorrow will be a funeral for a child, something we never thought we would be a part of, but we are prepared to go and LAVISH the hurting with the love of Jesus.  If ever there was a moment that we desired to have the purest and deepest love of Christ shining through us, it would be tomorrow, as we hold children who have lost their parents and have now lost a sibling.  These kids have experienced more loss than most of us will ever really understand.

Well, its 1am here so I really need to get to bed.  Thanks for loving us and sending us.  Your love and care for us is so encouraging.  Feel free to post comments.  I read them to the team each day and they encourage our hearts so much.

LOOK BACK FOR PHOTOS TOMORROW!!!