Since I know so many of you love pictures I am just going to post a bunch of pictures on here and tell you a bit about each and then let your imagination do the rest. My team heads out to live with the Turkana Tribe this week, pray that the Gospel will be preached and that lives WILL BE SAVED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!!!
This is my Kenya Real Life team with our Maasai friends. We were able to live with them for a week, it was incredible!
This is Elizabeth, while we were praying for her and her daughter in her home she yanked the Maasai bracelet in the next picture off of our translators wrist and put soap and water on my wrist so that she could fit it on me. It was such an honor to be given a genuine Maasai bracelet.
Above are all picture from out trip to the Maasai tribe.
This is our team with the mother and father of Seth Barnes, they volunteer in Kijabe at the hospital.
Each Wednesday we visit the Christian hospital here in Kijabe.
These are my two favorite patients, left is Jacinta and right is Sophia. They share a room and I call it the JOY room!!
This is Jao, he is a child at the Internally Displaced Peoples Camp that we minister at on Saturdays.
This is Liz and Jenna preaching to the women of the IDP camp about community and prayer.
Two other amazing children at the IDP camp.
This is what the area that I live in looks like, BEAUTIFUL!!!
I hope you have enjoyed these pictures, have an amazing week!
Considering it's now been a month since I left the USA for Africa, I think I owe you an update!!!
After arriving in South Africa on the 19th of January I was blessed to traveled with my good buddy Gretchen to see MAMA RITA!!! We were so stoked because we actually got to fly to Mozambique this time, the flight was only two hours the bus ride is over 24 hours and pretty sketchy, God is so good and so are my parents for paying for that flight. When we arrived at her home our June squad was also there and they had felt moved to fund the repairs of her roof. Warren Cheely had woken up in the middle of the night to find rats crawling around and on top of children sleeping in the kitchen. He was so shaken by the situation he made it his person mission to eradicate all of the rats. The rats are just something that the children and Mama Rita have come to live with, they can't afford to keep buying poison so they just live with the rats. The June Squad left and Gretchen and I stayed a bit longer and there were definitely less rats but a few still lingered. Fixing the roof is a good step but it is really just buying time, something still must be done to improve the quality of life for these orphans and Mama Rita. Gretchen and I had many talks with Peter and Mama Rita and we found out that it will cost $30,000 to build Mama Rita her new home. We made no promises to them but we are praying about how God is going to make something like this happen. In the mean time there are school fees, school uniforms and water bills to be paid, if you are interested in helping this cause please let me know and I will help you fulfill that. I can't remember exactly who donated the money for the boys to go to English class when I was there previously but I want to report that one of the two boys is still learning English. The other boy was not able to stay in school so they allowed for Emmanuel to go to two years of English classes. Thank you SO much for investing in his life, he will significantly help this family with his improved English. It was amazing to be back in the home of Mama Rita for a week but we were anxious to move on to South Africa to the debrief of the June squad and to get to see Terri Cash (she was a racer with Gretchen and I on our first race who now serves in South Africa).
It was great to reunite with all of the June Squad in Nelspruit, South Africa. The squad has come so far from the place I left them almost 3 months ago. God threw us a curve ball for the debrief and the squad got to choose the teams they would operate in for the next few months. We as a leadership team entered the team changes wanting the squad to get an opportunity to listen to the Lord and allow him to form new teams. So one morning everyone gathered in a room together for a few hours and hashed through team formations. The process was very intriguing and the results were awesome. The squad showed so much maturity in the formation process and I know that God is using those teams to bring some much needed growth for them in Asia. I wasn't with the squad for long before I caught another flight to Nairobi, Kenya.
I was excited and anxious to see what lie ahead for me in Kenya. A team of Real Life student and my co-leader Blair had already been together for a week at training camp in Georgia. A lot of bonding and growth had already taken place for them as a team that I missed out on but I knew that I wouldn't be too far behind. When I arrived in Kijabe, Kenya I was warmly welcomed by my new family with incredible respect. I have no clue what the AIM staff had told them about me at training camp but whatever it was it must have been good because the amount of respect this team had for me without evening knowing me was incredibly humbling and honoring.
I have now been with this Real Life team for three weeks and nothing has changed, they still honor me with their respect and I try to do so in return. There is something AMAZING about this team, they are so enjoyable. They are all 18-23 but they are incredibly mature and willing to do just about anything especially stepping up and serving the Lord! I am INCREDIBLY blessed to be working with this group, God has brought us through some sicknesses and some trials thus far but it doesn't seem to stop them from pressing on to serve.
Coming out of the June Squad debrief I was challenged by Tom Sipling with the question of whether we are Peace- Corp volunteers or we are missionaries. Both are great for the World but only one brings the TRUTH of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the HOPE of a Savior and life everlasting! I brought that to these Real Lifers and they have been hashing it out daily. We have had so many incredible opportunities to present the Gospel and many have come to know the Lord. I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to walk with this group for three months.
Thus far we were honored to spend a week with the Maasai tribe, where they are planting a church. We camped outside of a man named Amos' house. He many years ago heard about Jesus from some other Western missionaries, it was so encouraging to hear that because so many times I get discouraged when I don't see the fruit I am expecting. Now Amos is studying to be a pastor and he is doing an amazing job loving on the people around him. During our time there we went house to house and shared life with many people. So many times we felt like we were in the National Geographic magazine when we looked out and saw the beauty of the valley and the uniqueness of the people and their traditional wardrobe. It was even more amazing to see this group of Maasai turn their age old traditions into something that glorifies the Lord. Continually we were brought back into reality check of where we were and the opportunity that was in front of us. God reminded us often that these are our brothers and sisters even though they look and act nothing like us.
Other than visiting the Maasai tribe we have been doing something different every day; we have visited schools, hospitals, and many different villages. Everyday is something new around here and God is showing up in big ways. Thanks for your prayers and for your support of the crazy things God has me doing. Blessings to you all.
Yesterday my father told me about a pastor friend of his, Clint Rabb, who was missing in the rubble of the earthquake in Haiti. I found this story on the internet of his rescue after 55 hours trapped in a 3 food high cavity... READ IT we all need a little hope in such a devastating situaion!!!
This story is from the TIMESONLINE.. .
Clinton Rabb was dropped off at the Hotel Montana shortly before 5pm on Tuesday for a meeting with his fellow Methodist missionaries. Moments later, the ground began to shake and the building collapsed.
Mr Rabb's driver was one of the lucky ones: he had got away and was able to confirm the 60-year-old missionary's movements to his friends at the United Methodist Relief Committee (Umcor).
But that was the last anyone heard, until a team of French firefighters systematically picking through the rubble of the four-star hotel found Mr Rabb and another Umcor executive, Sam Dixon, trapped in a three-foot high cavity last night.
It was not to be a simple rescue. Some 200 people had been trapped or buried in the rubble of the hotel, which is on a ridge overlooking the devastated city.
The French firefighters used metal cutters to clear the way but Mr Rabb's right leg had been crushed by a large concrete slab, which had also trapped Mr Dixon's feet. The rescue workers set up IV drips to rehydrate the two missionaries and control their pain.
"When I get pain I ask for help and they give it to me," he said. "I have fantasies of ice-cold water, but I know I'm in good hands."
As their colleagues had made clear when it emerged that the two men were missing, both are experienced and resourceful travellers. If anyone could pull through, it would be them.
But back home in Westchester County, New York, Mr Rabb's wife Suzanne, a Methodist minister, had already admitted to her local newspaper just how frightened she was. "There's almost a part of me that's afraid to know," she said.
She explained that her husband had just come back from a mission to Cuba and had been suffering from a cold. She had asked him to delay his trip but he left anyway and arrived in Haiti on Tuesday morning.
In Port-au-Prince, as the French firefighters struggled to cut him free despite the ever-present risks of after-shocks, Mr Rabb asked a Times reporter to pass on a message. "Tell my wife I deeply love her and we're going to survive this," he said. "And I'm praying for all those who did not survive."
The message was duly delivered over a crackling phone line from Haiti although it was only afterwards that Mrs Rabb found out that her husband and his colleague had been freed after 55 hours under the rubble
"Miracles happen," she told The Journal News which serves the Lower Hudson Valley." "We couldn't believe it. Thank God."
Alongside the Frenchmen an American search-and-rescue team from Fairfax County, Virginia, was working alongside to free two others trapped in a toppled lift shaft.
One of them, a hotel worker, Luckson Mondesir, had survived since Tuesday's quake on one bottle of water.
"I slept a little and thought about my family," he said. "I never thought I'd die. I had no idea that thousands of people have died."
As the news piles out from Haiti many people are wondering how they can help but many are nervous of scams from people just wanting to make a buck. Here is a note from Seth Barnes, who is the head of Adventures in Missions, I know him personally and greatly respect him. I also have friends who have worked with the couple he speaks of, in other words this is a legitimate effort that is being formed. Please read Seth Barnes' email and help in whatever way you can...
Dear friends,
The news reports are still coming. I just saw one that said 500,000 are dead in Haiti. The number is numbing. That is 500,000 children, mothers, uncles, fathers. God's people must respond.
As you consider your role, know that we have a conduit established: Miguel and Kristen Shaul, a committed young couple who have led AIM's efforts in neighboring Dominican Republic for five years.
Miguel is heading across the border into Haiti today to meet believing churches and set up operations in areas where we can make a fast, meaningful impact.
More details will follow regarding both short and long-term opportunities to help in person. But right now, the greatest need is for donations to fund the purchase of essential supplies. We have set up an opportunity set-up for you to give online, which is fastest and easiest right now.
Click here to make a Donation to the AIM Earthquake Haiti Relief Fund:
100% of your donations are tax-deductible, and we will make sure that every donation gets turned into essentials like food and blankets. I will email more details as as I get them from Miguel. In the meantime, pray for him, Kristen, and Samantha, as he is heading into some chaotic areas soon.
Stand with us at AIM as we stand with Miguel. He is providing a lifeline for the Haitians. Make no mistake, that's what we are talking about right now: life and death. You can also visit our website for more frequent updates, as we receive them.
This is our hour.
Seth Barnes
Adventures In Missions
Online: www.adventures.org
Email: info@adventures.org
Phone: 1.800.881.2461
P.S. You have an opportunity to bring tangible hope to the people of Haiti. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the relief efforts AIM is pulling together. Read more about how you can help...
A year and a half ago I stood on this plot of land outside Beira, Mozambique with a Saint whom I like to call Mama Rita. It was a special day for Team Kaleo we went with Mama Rita and Peter to see the land that had just recently been purchased by Team Isaac, led by Gretchen Kiehlbaugh (my co-squad leader on this last race I lead). Team Isaac along with supporters had been able to help Mama Rita and her family purchase this land for the orphans she takes care of and her family. At this point we had only been with Mama Rita for a week but we already loved her eternally.
We had just come from a debrief with Team Isaac where they told us all about her and her need and the amazing love that she possesses. We were blown away with her story and couldn't wait to meet her. I remember hearing Gretchen talk about Mama Rita and being heart broken too just from the stories of her. There were only a few things that didn't have me excited to go to Mozambique. One was the 18 hour smelly bumpy bus ride the other were the rats they said live in her house. I cannot stand rats! While I was there I prayed A LOT about the rats not visiting us in the night while we were sleeping(in our tent inside her house) and they didn't, PRAISE GOD!!!
This is the home that Mama Rita and her children live in currently, it houses 30 people.
Now let me take you back a minute to tell you why Mama Rita even came into my life. In 2007 Ezekiel, her husband, was forming a relationship with some Muslim people who said they were interested in becoming Christians. He was invited to their home to share and on the way he was stabbed so harshly by some Muslim extremist that he ended up dying a few days later in the hospital. Ezekiel had started a denomination of churches in the north central part of Mozambique . As men and women from his churches would die because of the harshness of Mozambique life and the AIDs epidemic their children would be left without parents and a home. Ezekiel had a huge heart for the orphans and he took the children in as their parents would die. At the time of his death Ezekiel and Mama Rita had taken in 25 children plus the 7 of their own birth children.
When Ezekiel died the missionaries who had been involved with Ezekiel's ministry did not know who would continue the ministry or who would provide for all of these children. Peter, Ezekiel's nephew, ended up being the man with the job and heart for helping children. Peter grew up most of his life in Malawi because of war situations. Because of this he learned how to speak English, which is one of their national languages, but he also ended up with Malaria and no way to cure it so he ended up going blind. Peter and his wife, who is blind, both teach at a school for the blind in Beira, Mozambique. Peter, his wife and some of the church provide financially for the children to eat and live on. Through the death of Ezekiel the Lord told Mama Rita that he would send people to help her out, we turned out to be an answer to that promise.
Amazingly enough Mama Rita and her family served us beyond belief while we stayed with them. One day we felt so horrible when we found out that they had no food for the children but had fed us a nice supper that evening. As I think back to that situation I am reminded why I want to give back to this family. Their love for God and for his people is so amazing and inspiring!!! They never asked us for anything, no money , nothing the whole time we were there. Some people you meet along the way are beggers but not these people!
While I was standing at the plot of land that will someday be a home for Mama Rita and her children God spoke to me and told me I would return to see Mama Rita some day. Well that day is coming in January when I travel to debrief the June squad. I am so excited to see what God does while I am there. My hope is that God will use me to further the process of building the orphanage whether that be through fundraising, bringing teams to build or to minister or whatever God has for us.
Will you join me in praying for this process? Do you have a desire to serve in Africa? Do you have a desire to give financially to orphans and AIDS victims? Please let me know if through hearing about Mama Rita you have a strong desire to do something. I am excited to see what God is doing in Mozambique and how we can partner in that!
I am still in need of financial support please consider giving a year end tax deductible donation in my name!
This is the view from our balcony here in Israel, sorry you are not here to experience it with me.
Sadness came over me yesteday as we dropped off some of team
Illumoonations to meet up with their
contact. We traveled this past weekend
around Israel with our contact who is so incredibly brilliant and knows so much
about the Holy Land. He showed us to
Masada, En Gedi (where David hid away from Saul) and all around the Sea of
Galilee where so much of Jesus’ ministry too place. It was neat to be able to be in those places
and to see some of the land where God’s son literally walked.
(King David's Waterfall, which is the area where David hid from Saul)
We were gone for three days on this adventure and I would
have thought that the sightseeing would be my favorite part but it wasn't. The last day we split off in our two vans to
get home and deliver people to where they needed to go. Our van found some CDs in the glove box and
we began to explore them. With each new
song we belted out the words that we knew and came up with tons of motions and
silly things just like any great road trip. We don’t really get the
opportunity to be in our own vehicles on the race so it was even more fun to
get to navigate and explore Israel on our own.
(Our road trip crew)
As we began to drop the team off around Mt. Tabor I was
unsure why I was so sad, then it clicked I go home in 11 days. I hadn’t really thought too much about going
home because this is just what I have done for the past five months. I love doing life with the June Squad. Even in some of the most challenging things I
have ever gone through I have still loved being out here with this squad. It is not the places that make bring me joy
IT IS THE PEOPLE!!! I love seeing God
change the lives of these people and getting to play a small part in it. I know that Christ had only 12 disciples so
that he could pour so much into their lives in such a short time. I love being able to pour out into the people
around me.
One team asked me if I would like to stay here with them and
just be on their team for the next six months; I really had to think through
it! At this point it seems like it would
be easier to just keep on with this race. I know what I am doing, I know the people and who doesn’t want to go to
Africa. BUT that is not what I am called
to do. I was called out here to lead, train,
empower and leave these people to learn and that is what I must do. It is time for me to head back â€Å"home� for
however long I am there. I will get to
come back out and debrief this squad at some point and that excites me!
Back to the ledge of the cliff where God likes to keep me,
this way when he says to jump I am ready!
Thank you all for supporting me on this journey. I only need 20 more people or families to
support me with $50 to complete my goal by the 29th of this month
OCTOBER! Please give to the glory of
God. SHALOM!
We have been teaching English to Sudanese refugees here in Israel. These pictures are of Sunday and me, I got to love on her while her big sister learned English!
We leave tomorrow for what will be my last destination on this section of my second World Race. I am committed to this squad until May 2010 but will do the majority of my work after October through correspondence via email, blogs and the ever so lovely SKYPE. I will get to come back out to the field twice to visit the squad for debriefs, just not sure when and where yet.
It has been an incredible journey thus far. One of my main goals in coming was to learn to lead and teach to lead better. I have gotten so much practice leading and empowering other leaders, it has been really neat. I have loved watching people flourish as they step up and out and serve others through leadership and whatever other giftings they are growing in.
In coming out I knew that I would not be staying through the whole journey with this squad but I didn't know how long I would actual be out. As a need arose I ended up staying a month longer than my co- leader Gretchen, who is now back in Arizona. Since she left we have been in Turkey doing ethnographic on unreached people groups, specifically the Gypsy people. It has been so interesting to learn about Turkey, the Muslim culture and the different people groups that reside here. With the work we have done people in the future will be able to better reach the people of Turkey for the Kingdom of God! SOME INCREDIBLE WORK HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE KINGDOM HERE IN TURKEY!!!!
At this point I have transitioned out of leading the squad almost completely. Part of my job for this squad was to train up new leaders to replace me and that has been done in the last month. Tiffany and William are now in full swing leading the June Squad and my job is to sit back and enjoy the ride. It has definitely been a crazy learning experience to go from being upfront to barely even being seen and heard. There is a saying that "your greatest strength is often your greatest weakness", that is so true for me. Sitting back and letting someone else run the show is hard but I know it is ultimately what I came for.
I am excited to be headed to Israel, it looks like we will be working along some incredible people who are expanding the Kingdom in some unique ways. Please keep praying for us, pray that we would be the LOVE, TRUTH and PEACE that Israel needs.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ME PRAYERFULLY AND FINANCIALLY ON THIS SECOND JOURNEY! I am still in need of 27 people to give $50 (or however much you feel led to give) for me to reach my financial goal by October 29th. If you are willing or know someone who would like to give please share my need with them. Blessings!
Recently four World Race Squads and 30 plus World Race alumni and a bunch more staff traveled to Brasov, Romania for the first every World Race Awakening. During that time the 200 of us were able to worship, learn and grow together as a body and as a generation that expects the return of Christ. This photo is of Michael and Kathy Hindes and the people from my original race in January 2008, all of whom are still working with AIM and the World Race in some way, Becky Miller, Andrea Wendel and Matt Peters were also present at the Awakening but were not present for the picture. There were 11 of us total, it was incredible to have that part of my family back together in Romania, God is so good!
Tomorrow morning I head out to start my last full month on the field. Many of you may not know but I ended up staying out on the field a month longer than expected and I am now going into my fifth month on the field.
Originally we were planned to head straight to Israel for the month but the Feast of Tabernacles is happening at the beginning of October, which makes it very difficult and expensive for us to travel to Israel. So our incredible logistics people have found us some friends to work alongside in Turkey(there has recently been flooding in Turkey) for 10 days and then we head to Israel until the end of October. At that point I will transition home to Texas for a while in between the few debriefs that I will travel to for the June Squad. I am committed to walking alongside this squad until their final debrief at the beginning of May. During the time in between I will still be working with The World Race helping to further advance the Kingdom of God.
I have seen a good response from supporters financially for this race but I am still lacking $2,000 for this year. My prayer is that God would have me fully support raised by October 30, 2009, which means I need people to pray with me for this to happen and I also need people to respond to the call financially.
This past week four World Race squads, alumni and staff came together in Brasov, Romania to worship, pray and activate ourselves spiritually. It has been incredible to watch as many of the racers have opened themselves up to the Holy Spirit and allowed him to renew and rebuild their hearts. Ultimately we want to be the generation to see Jesus Christ return to the Earth and it was incredible to see at least 300 people gathered together who are determined to help multiply the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven.
I know the Lord has called me to lead this squad for many reasons and it has been incredible to watch them learn and grow and claim their identity and strength in the Lord God almighty. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please continue to pray that God would give me vision for this squad and give me eyes to direct them so that they can further advance the Kingdom of God.
Please pray that the people of God would respond and help me financially. I know God will provide, will it be through you?
Left is a picture from the First Annual Awakening Dance Off, which WE WON! It was amazing! You may think all we do is dance but it's not it's just one of the things we do to bring UNITY amongst the body. The picture on the right is of the squad at the Awakening with one of our coaches Tom Sipling! Keep praying for these 30 young people as they pursue the presence and power of God Almigthy in their lives.
Throughout this next month I won't be communicating through this blog to keep our contacts and ourselves free of too much trouble. Please be cautious what you send me on this blog and through email, no comments is an OK thing! Blessings!
The Kingdom of God is so important to me that the word Kingdom is tattooed on my wrist. Take a look at this video to see all of the June World Racers and hear about what the Kingdom of God means in their lives.
