Hallelujah Everlasting

One more day and our journey through Kenya comes to an end--but our Mission continues. I've learned so much about nearly everything on which I could have expanded my horizons. From car games to food, from team members to [Kenyan] church members... God has blessed me so much more through the people I had the opportunity to interact with--much more than I feel like I have offered to them. I am also starting to see Trenton's messages to the Kenyan people begin to play out in my own life as I grow stronger in faith and discipline.

There is an abundance that I have that could just spill out all in one page, but I think that much of it will have to be saved so that I can personally tell you. One thing that I must get out now, though, is one of the most important realizations that hit me during this trip.

Preparing for this trip required much pondering, inward reflection, and of course, prayer so that we know exactly why we are going on this trip. In retrospect, my answer to that question of "Why?" was very vague and lacking in true understanding (which I believe God used to teach me things I would have never would have learned as deeply as I had during this trip). I mean, I understood the concept of Missions and that God had called me to do His work outside of my comfort zone. I didn't realize what impact God would have made through us until we visited Pastor Paul's church for Sunday worship. It struck me that we were giving them THE message of THE Gospel; THE message of the sin's destruction and the redemption of the Cross; THE ultimate message of hope that if each one of us were to die tonight, that they would know exactly where they would be (this is so hard to describe in words!). Seeing so many of these people--most of them adolscents and little children--stand at the altar to accept Jesus was a moving sight. But what was even more extraordinary to me was the fact that these people have so little, with almost no hope of living a better life, yet they so readily accept the committment to lead a new life with Jesus. It's amazing to see their willingness to transform their lives in an instant, especially for those who may have not even heard of the Gospel until we arrived. The heart of Kenya is so huge, I'm glad that it's on a continent as large as Africa.

This whole trip has been a blessing to me, and, I pray, a blessing to all whom we have touched in these two weeks. I could not have asked for a better team as they have all taught me the perseverence, the compassion, and the daringness of being a Christian. I can't wait to be back home to share all that is welled up inside of me, but at the same time it breaks my heart to know that our time with the Kenyans is over. I have come to love the people and the culture, and hope to serve here at least one more time, God willing. My heart will forever be in two places at once. I will never forget the love shared these two weeks, and I pray that I will be able to take all that I have learned and apply it to my normal life. It is going to be tough, so I ask God for strength and courage, but I know very clearly that through God, all things are possible.

Well that sure was enough about me. For the people here in Kenya, I ask that you pray and pray and pray some more that they would take what they have heard and experienced from our visit and run with it like they have never run before. Pray that God would use them for great and miraculous things as the witness to their friends and families. And pray that the New Hallelujah will become an eternal praise for all!

Praise God (amen)! Praise God again (amen)!

--Daniel

Taking flight

The fact that we're in Kenya finally started to sink in. We went to visit The Nest orphanage, where we were greeted with an African song sung by about 40 children. How cute they all were! Every time we took a picture of them, they would come up and put their tiny hands on ours, asking to see the photo. We taught them two VBS songs--Ten Men and Choose Jesus--and I could feel so much energy in the room when we put all of it together! Then Erika told the parable of the shepherd who left his 99 sheep to find one sheep that was lost. She did a really great job, especially since she had to communicate all the main points in terms which could be easily translated to the kids! Afterwards, we helped them make salvation bracelets. The smiles the children carried on their faces was absolutely priceless.

Afterwards, we toured the orphanage. The rooms were more than an opportunity to take pictures (hehe); they represented protection, trust, and hope. One of the rooms that especially caught my attention was that which sheltered children whose mothers had been arrested and sent to prison. Even though these kids must have been hurting inside, they loved us and shouted a chorus of goodbyes and thank-yous as we left.

Finally, we returned to the original room where the kids were just preparing to eat lunch. Before the food came out, they sang us more African sons that they had learned in school. But the one song that made me want to stay for so much longer was the goodbye song that they seemed to have prepared a long time for our arrival. We left the orphanage with touched hearts, and I could see the beginning of the work that we will be doing over the next 10 days that we will be here for.

Praise God!

Ready to Worship!

Thanks to Mike's and Pastor Tobias' generous donations of sound equipment to our team, we have more equipment than I had expected! After Steven and my numerous futile attempts to properly set up the speakers and amplifier, Edward, one of the staff members, saved the day by correcting our mishaps. Thus, we were able to prepare our concert set tonight without blowing out three speakers! In terms of peformance, we are still working out a few kinks, but I believe that with flexiblity and the powe of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to ultimately run our concerts smoothly and touch the lives of many who listen to us perform.

God has been good to us on our journey, so far (as you already know from everyone's previous posts!) and we ask that you continue to pray for a safe mission. Thanks!