• Week 2 photos
• Week 1 photos

The brief narrative which follows gives you a glimpse into our activities but fails completely to convey any true sense of our experience. Please talk to us upon our return to get a fuller picture. Or, better yet, ask God if you should go on a short term mission trip.

Saturday morning the Purpose Driven Church conference concluded with an additional teaching and graduation. Meanwhile, the VBS continued on. One of the members of NHC-ID owns a Kenyan cuisine restaurant in downtown Nairobi. To show his appreciation to us, he treated the team to lunch at his restaurant. For much of the team, this was the first time they had been more than walking distance from the church and guest house. In the afternoon the team had their first chance to do a little souvenir shopping.

Sunday Jeff preached a message entitled "What Matters Most". At different points in the message, each team member was asked to speak on what they had done, what they had received, and what they had left behind. The VBS also concluded on Sunday with singing during the service. The afternoon was filled with goodbyes. In the evening we shared a meal with members of the NHC-ID leadership at a local restaurant.

Monday thru Wednesday we went to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. This gave us a time away from the mission field to rest and reflect on what we had just experienced; a time of decompression. Thursday was filled with packing and final preparations for departure.

Wednesday evening Pastor Jeff and others met with a Kenyan semiprofessional basketball team. They were able to present their testimonies, the gospel message, and what they were doing with the basketball ministry in Imara Daima. Two of the nationally known players volunteered that they would visit and help with the ministry.

Our trip home was extended from Thursday evening thru Saturday night due to the labor challenges at London's Heathrow airport. Nonetheless we were impressed to see the level of effort that the airline and all involved expended to insure our safety and comfort.

Sunday the 14th, Pastor Jeff presented the nearly the same message as he had the week prior in Kenya. Again, many of the team members took the opportunity to share with the NLPC congregation about their experience. Members of the team will also be sharing in future services and wherever else people will listen - just ask!

Again, thank you for your support. We could not have done it without the support of people like you. Your contributions, your prayers, and your words and deeds of encouragement to our families are all essential to our (that includes you) success. Praise God!

The rest of the group arrived in Nairobi, Kenya Saturday as planned. Since their arrival our schedule has been packed with activity. Sunday morning, Nick and Sam spoke during the Youth service. Later, during the main service, Pastor Jeff delivered the message "Beyond Our Selves: Living A Purpose Driven Life". In the afternoon there were two volleyball games. The women of the church, "The Mamas", challenged the younger women to a game in the church yard. At the same time, a short distance away on the volleyball court, the volleyball championship was determined between the best teams from the games on Saturday.

Monday morning was the first day of the vacation bible school (VBS) and the basketball clinic. In addition to doing drills on basic skills and playing games, the basketball clinic included a time of evangelism and discipleship. The EvangeCube was used to illustrate the gospel message. A memory verse was handed out for each day. A short devotion applied the verse to daily life. At the end of the week the young men who came to the basketball clinic had an opportunity to tell the gospel message themselves and recite the verses. Seventeen told the gospel message and eight recited the scriptures.

Even though most of the schools were still in session at the beginning of the week, the turnout for VBS was good every day. Some schools even brought students. Scripture reading, bible stories told with the aid of the felt board and cartoons, crafts, singing, and prayer all helped to deliver the gospel and teach about Christian life.

The women in the Dorcas Basket feeding program also met Monday morning. Susan spoke to them about AIDS, preventative medicine, hand washing, and other medical matters.

In the afternoons the sports ministries continued as did the woodworking training. On Tuesday afternoon Susan assisted Liz at her one day per week clinic for mammas and babies in the Kwa Njenga slums.

On Tuesday we added the Purpose Driven Church conference to the schedule. Fifty seven pastors and lay members attended the first evening of teaching by Pastor Jeff. Over ninety people heard at least one evening of teaching, and 52 received a certificate (having attended at least three of the first four sessions). Twenty six churches in all were represented. The churches of the area excel at evangelism and worship, put have been weaker in the other purposes of the church. Those in attendance are now encouraged to have a model to follow to grow healthy churches.

On Wednesday we added a free Medical Clinic to the schedule. On Wednesday we saw 141 people, Thursday we saw 197 people, and Friday 287 people benefited for a total of 625. Generally, we found people to be healthier this year then last. Although there certainly were memorable cases. We had more Moslems attend this year then in the past.

On Thursday, in addition to everything else going on, Pastor Jeff spoke at the local Pastor's Fellowship luncheon held at a neighboring church. Nick D., accompanied by Bishop Nick, had an opportunity to visit the "daughter" he had been supporting since 1997. The whole village turned out in high celebration to honor his visit. The village is part of the Kukuru tribe; as is Bishop Nick's mother. The honor and appreciation shown Nick was far beyond anything he could have imagined.

Friday the basketball clinic concluded in a tournament and recognition of those who had recited the gospel message and memory scriptures. Friday was also the last day of the Medical clinic. Mark and Susan both spoke to the mamas in the Dorcas Basket feeding program. Mark spoke on business basics and Susan spoke on health matters.

The first group of three has arrived in Nairobi, Kenya. Our travel over was long but uneventful. When we arrived at the guest house we found everything ready for us. Our evening meal was laid out for us and it was obvious that our preferences had been remembered from last year. There was Coca-Cola on the table, jelly in the pantry, and large bottle of water in the dispenser.

The next morning, Sunday morning, Bill gave a message on how God's word is true and trustworthy. We can stand firm on God's promises. He reinforced his point with specific examples of how archeology has confirmed the accuracy of the historical narratives of the Bible.

Eager to grow their sports ministry, New Hope Church - Imara Daima (NHC) has been hard at work. They have erected a volleyball net on a nearby empty lot. The court gets a lot of attention and draws a quite a few people. On another lot, near the church, they are building a basketball court. They have brought in several truck loads of stone to try to fill the holes, level the lot, and provide a hard surface. One backboard and rim were in place before we arrived and the second was completed this week. Both facilities are well used by the community.

Using the new volleyball court this weekend we will be hosting a tournament. We expect about eight teams with a couple hundred people watching. We will use this opportunity to share the gospel. Bill has been using the felt board to teach the bible at six schools this week. He has also been using a large EvangeCube to share the gospel message with the school children.

Jack has been working with a group of young men who want to learn woodworking. They are building benches for the church yard.

Mark conducted a three day business workshop on how to run a small business. It was consistently attended by 25 - 30 people. The Bible and micro-enterprise training materials from the P.E.A.C.E. Plan served as a basis for Mark's teaching. Those in attendance were encouraged both to put what they had learned into practice and to teach others.

A short-term mission team is in Nairobi, Kenya from NLPC! Last summer eight people from NLPC went to work with the members of New Hope Church in Imara Daima outside Nairobi, Kenya. They held a medical clinic, a vacation bible school, a crusade, and a Pastor's Conference. They also conducted a sports ministry and distributed reading glasses.

Part of this year's team left on Friday, July 22nd and will return home on Friday, August 12th. The rest of the team will be leaving the following Friday for a shorter two week trip. We need your support!

Most important is prayer support. As you feel led, please pray that:
1) God will open the hearts of the people of Imara Daima and the neighboring slum, Kwa Njenga,
2) God will prepare the team He has selected to do His work,
3) That each team member be open to what God has for them.

If you feel led to support the trip financially, please make your check payable to "New London Presbyterian Church" with "Kenya 2005" on the memo line.

Thank you so very much for your interest and support! May God bless you.
Team Kenya