Update #4 (new photos added)| East Africa A

Dear family and friends, 

We send you greetings from East Africa. Our team is all strong and healthy and we are enjoying every moment here. Thank you so much for praying. We are learning Swahili from our friends and each day is full of exciting experiences and building relationships with the locals. Some of our highlights from the last two days are home visits, evening devotions with the children, serving at a hospice, and touring the ministries hospital. 

In small groups, we visited the homes of former ministry guests who are now home recovering. Deb, Kayden, Ryan, and Kathleen visited a man who is paralyzed but after experiencing the hope of Jesus has now returned as a teacher for children at the hospice. The team was able to pray and share with him and his wife which was inspiring for them all. 

Meanwhile, Bella, Hannah, Alyssa, and Chloe spent time playing and caring for the children, many of whom have cerebral palsy. They helped feed the guests, play, and sing Swahili songs for hours. Daniel, Joshua, and Titus went out to work on the large shamba (field) with a local farmer. They planted over 30 rows of green onions and black nightshade (similar to kale), a vegetable that we boiled and ate that night for dinner. The food here is amazing and so flavorful. They bring a new dish each day which becomes our new “favorite” and we leave full and satisfied. We stop for a chai multiple times a day And linger in rich conversations with the village leaders. 

Last night we had the joy of attending weekly devotions with the children who board at the school (many of who come from the local slum). Their strong, beautiful voices could be heard from the road. We entered the small assembly hall packed to the brim with sweet faces singing with all their might.  We worshiped together in both languages and  Deb shared a powerful message about the armor of God. The team left so inspired by the faith of the children. We came to serve, but truly we were the ones blessed. 

Today we traveled by Land Rover through the rolling green hills to the city to visit the ministry hospital with our field worker. Our team was in awe immediately when we stepped out as it felt like we were in a botanical garden, not a hospital compound. In contrast to typical crowded African hospitals, this place was designed with wide windows, beautiful garden views, spacious rooms, and top-of-the-line care. We saw construction for a Ronald Macdonald-type house for terminally ill children that will be finished in September. The team gathered in the chapel and sang alongside hospital staff and children with cancer who had just gotten out of radiation therapy. Daniel led us in singing “He knows my name…He sees each tear that falls And hears me when I call” and they asked us to pray. While mamas stood behind their precious kids’ wheelchairs we called on our God and prayed for peace. It’s difficult to put into words the spirit in the room. 

Believe it or not, the day ended with us hiking through a rain forest with our guides, seeing monkeys swinging through the trees, and having a garden tea party overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful lush countryside. We are being well taken care of and welcomed beautifully with African hospitality. 

Thank you for your prayers and support. We are sensing God guide each step of the way and are learning so much. We love and miss you. 
Love, Your East Africa Team