Hello family & friends,
For those of you who were hoping to follow along with the team while we are serving in Kenya and Uganda, we apologize. We have been unable to access internet until now. We arrived in Uganda yesterday after spending a week in Kenya. While in Kenya we ministered to women, children and taught first aid. Today in Uganda we spoke at church and shared at Sunday school for United Faith Chapel. Tomorrow we will have an opportunity to speak to some university students and do a painting project. If you want to learn more about our experiences in Africa, we would kindly accept an invitation for dinner or coffee to share our stories with you. We will also be sharing at our home church, Salem Evangelical, when we return. We will post the date, once it is scheduled and you are all welcome to attend.
We just wanted to let you all know that we are here, we are safe and God has richly blessed our time here in fellowship with the people of Kipkaren and the Stanfield's in Uganda. Thank you for your prayers and support!!
We miss you all and will see you soon!
Jenn, Vickie, Lin, Cathy and Tanya
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Another Journey Draws to a Close
Jambo from Kenya, on our last day here in Kipkaren!! Yesterday began with another great children’s event. Denise planned a fun morning with tons of activities, songs, crafts and even a hand painted flag that they were able to keep at the school to remember our visit.
We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with friends that we have made here. It’s amazing how many people become such a large part of your life here in such a short period of time. A few of us were able to join Pastor Hellen and Cosmos for Chai in the afternoon. Hearing all the stories here still continues to bless our lives and amaze us with how powerful God is!! We were also welcomed into the home of David and Allison Tarus for dinner. They have had a huge impact here in Kipkaren and it was very nice to hear their story, all that they have accomplished, and all the things that they have in their vision for this area.
Today we started out the day with a very lively service at Chebaiywa UPEC Church. It was a full house with lots of singing, including a song from the Salem Team (which they graciously clapped for). Our leader Tim, aka Bill Hayman as he has become known as here, gave a wonderful sermon giving his testimony about his walk with the Lord. We’re all looking forward to his sermon series when he gets back to the states, entitled, “What is a nose without a finger?”
After the church service we headed off on a short walk to the Living Room. It’s a hospice facility that specializes in HIV patients and others who are in need of special attention in their last days. It is a truly amazing place that has seen many of God’s miracles and continues to spread the Word and help so many people in this area.
Tonight we said goodbye to our new family here at E.L.I. They shared their deep gratitude for how God used us in so many areas here at the training center. We too shared some highlights of our time here and will miss so many of these friends when we go back home. But like Pastor Peter said, we didn’t say our goodbyes, only that we will see each other again someday!
We have an early morning tomorrow and our van is already here ready to go! Peter our driver, has guaranteed us that we are going to see the big 5 animals of Kenya, so we’re hoping that works out at our stop in Nakuru for a short safari. Please keep us all in your prayers as we head out on our journey home tomorrow! PS…The zebra is in the car and it’s heading for the barn!!!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Greetings from the future! (11 hours ahead in time from Kenya). The weather has been in a word, quite simply, “Beautiful”! As the resident meteorologist, Tim would compare the weather here as a late day in July or August with morning temps of 55F and 82F in the mid afternoon. The sun can be quite intense here on the Equator but with low humidity it feels like home in the summer!
Tuesday, Jan 10th, Tim went with the center’s extension trainer Isaac Ruto and went to a nearby town called Turbo and did an agricultural training seminar with a brand new group of farmers from the local community. They parked by the local school and were greeted by 300+ children and everyone of “position” gave a small speech including Tim. When you travel in Kenya, be ready to give a word of encouragement as you will be asked to share something, someplace at anytime! After the formalities, we walked over to pastor Joseph’s small church next to the school and were greeted by the local farmers. As usual, there was a small number assembled, but shortly thereafter, there was over 80 people crammed body to body on the rough hewn wood benches. No lights, but enough sun to allow us to present our subjects of Farming God’s Way introduction, chicken/egg production and a new maize storage bag system. Isaac is an incredible Kenyan Ag teacher and said that this 1st group meeting of 80 will double to 160 the next month that he comes to follow up on what he 1st presented in his training.
Tuesday, Jan 10th, Tim went with the center’s extension trainer Isaac Ruto and went to a nearby town called Turbo and did an agricultural training seminar with a brand new group of farmers from the local community. They parked by the local school and were greeted by 300+ children and everyone of “position” gave a small speech including Tim. When you travel in Kenya, be ready to give a word of encouragement as you will be asked to share something, someplace at anytime! After the formalities, we walked over to pastor Joseph’s small church next to the school and were greeted by the local farmers. As usual, there was a small number assembled, but shortly thereafter, there was over 80 people crammed body to body on the rough hewn wood benches. No lights, but enough sun to allow us to present our subjects of Farming God’s Way introduction, chicken/egg production and a new maize storage bag system. Isaac is an incredible Kenyan Ag teacher and said that this 1st group meeting of 80 will double to 160 the next month that he comes to follow up on what he 1st presented in his training.
After explaining the FGW principles, we went into the field, did a short hands-on demonstration and as we closed, 20 farmers signed up for the 2 day seminar of FGW that Tim will present tomorrow and Friday here at the training center. With the students and outside farmers, we are expecting 60-70 participants.
Jennifer and Brenda finished up the First Aid and CPR course with the Ag students and other community members this morning focusing on injuries to muscle, bones and joints. Students practiced splinting and transporting, complete with assembling stretchers. They had a great time and role-played many different scenarios. Jennifer shared a word of encouragement from Luke 10:25-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan. Now instead of just passing by, they can stop and care for someone who is in need, as God has called us to do. Maybe they can save a life physically and when asked why, they can say it was because the Lord has given them the skills. This can open the door to sharing of their faith and maybe spiritually saving a life too!
Praise the Lord – Bwana Asifiwe!
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Busy & Fruitful Day
It’s another warm day here in Kipkaren, next to the equator we’re all learning that sunscreen truly is a must! But we’re still moving right along on all of our projects and we have been blessed to have a lot of interest and participation in all of our workshops. The First Aid course brought in 60 people for the first day. The class was full of high school students, Ag students, clinic staff, community members, and children’s home parents. Today our instructor Jenn focused on recognizing emergencies and providing care quickly, a very important aspect of care from such a rural area. Most importantly helping them realize that they don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to provide care and help save a life. Topics today included breathing emergencies, providing CPR, and a very fun hands on activity using a choking vest, basically shooting food across the room.
Tim and Brenda headed out this morning with Issac Mwebi to go and see some actual “Farming God’s Way” field trials. We were quite pleased to see a number of small farmers applying the principles and seeing very nice results. Our first stop was at a Missions training university, where we had a chance to visit with the president of the school, tour the plot with him and explain some of the principles of FGW. They were very excited about sharing this with their missionary teams as they go to drier parts of the country to minister. Issac also welcomed into his shamba (farm) to show us his very successful maize crop being grown out of the normal season. Farmers who applied the FGW concepts have shown to get 2 to 3 crops instead of 1, this is Isaac’s third crop this year on dryland. It’s exciting when the instructor sees such potential as he shares this training with new growers! The good news is spreading!!!
Tonight was the first night of the Women’s conference. 24 women so far are in attendance, and expecting more tomorrow! Trish, Vickie and Tonya introduced themselves, and got a chance to hear about all the women so far at the conference. They ended the evening with praise and worship and a devotion from Pastor Helen focusing on the verse for the conference, Joshua 1:9.
We’re in to our 4th Alpha video session with the Ag students. They seem to be genuinely interested and have been asking a lot of good questions. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our Christian faith even though we come from different parts of the world.
The team is all doing good and staying safe, well fed, and blessed. Ps…the Zebra is in the car!
Tim and Brenda headed out this morning with Issac Mwebi to go and see some actual “Farming God’s Way” field trials. We were quite pleased to see a number of small farmers applying the principles and seeing very nice results. Our first stop was at a Missions training university, where we had a chance to visit with the president of the school, tour the plot with him and explain some of the principles of FGW. They were very excited about sharing this with their missionary teams as they go to drier parts of the country to minister. Issac also welcomed into his shamba (farm) to show us his very successful maize crop being grown out of the normal season. Farmers who applied the FGW concepts have shown to get 2 to 3 crops instead of 1, this is Isaac’s third crop this year on dryland. It’s exciting when the instructor sees such potential as he shares this training with new growers! The good news is spreading!!!
Tonight was the first night of the Women’s conference. 24 women so far are in attendance, and expecting more tomorrow! Trish, Vickie and Tonya introduced themselves, and got a chance to hear about all the women so far at the conference. They ended the evening with praise and worship and a devotion from Pastor Helen focusing on the verse for the conference, Joshua 1:9.
We’re in to our 4th Alpha video session with the Ag students. They seem to be genuinely interested and have been asking a lot of good questions. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our Christian faith even though we come from different parts of the world.
The team is all doing good and staying safe, well fed, and blessed. Ps…the Zebra is in the car!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The team here in Kenya is all doing well. I think we’re all getting used to the time change, slowly but surely!! We started out the day holding an event for 120 boarding school students from Brook of Faith School. The event included a few songs, painting, crafts, relay races, lots of laughing, and lots of fun! With it then being wrapped up by all the students walking two by two in to “Noah’s Ark”, while having Tim share that we all need to make the choice to be in God’s family and be saved.
After lunch we all headed down to the KipKaren River to be witnesses for a truly wonderful event. Today was not only Jennifer’s birthday, but she was also baptized. As she headed down to the river she was surprised to see that not only her team was there to witness this wonderful occasion, but also many of the KipKaren residents who have all felt very blessed by her work that she has done here over the past four years!! So far it’s been a great trip and we’re looking forward to church tomorrow and more memories to come!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Jambo from Kenya! We arrived safely at the ELI Kipkaren River Training & Development Center and were greeted by the staff and agriculture students in traditional Kenyan style. The travel to get here was long yet uneventful… in other words, BESTEVER. We received all our bags except one, but it will be delivered to us tomorrow. God is good! This year the team members are:
Tim Aman – 4th trip to Kenya
Vickie Martin – 4th trip to Kenya
Jenn McCormick – 4th trip to Kenya
Tanya Swinford – 1st trip to Kenya
Brenda Kirsch – 1st trip to Kenya
Trish Elmer – 1st trip to Kenya
Denise Lyons – 1st trip to Kenya
We’re busy getting organized for our first training seminars and outreach events. Please pray for Godly insight and team unity. We’ve had a great start and we want to finish well!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Life Application Study Bible
Through the generosity of H's church group and Tyndale publishers, we were able to give the Life Application Study Bible to many in Kipkaren, Kenya during our trip last October. It was very well received, and the pastors were very excited about using it in their ministries! Check out the video below.
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