Hello! Today was the second day at Courage House (fourth of our trip) and it was such a blast. We started the day off with worship in English and Swahili. Alyssa has been very purposeful to sing songs in English but also have some of the staff translate songs into Swahili so the girls could sing in their first language. Alyssa was also able to sing in Swahili too which took some time and effort, but in the end she nailed it.
Once we finished, Eli lead a devotion breaking down the Lord’s Prayer. Everyone was very grateful and moved by what he had to say. After that, we played a name game so everyone could learn each others names. It was very helpful considering the fact that there are a lot of girls 🙂
We played sharks and minnows, soccer, and volleyball for the next 2 hours with a more calm option of coloring bookmarks for a break. The girls made so many and were pleased with their work. It was cool to see each member of our team step up in different areas naturally (Example: Bella teaching some English while the girls asked for bookmark string colors).
At around 2pm, we said goodbye to them and drove to New Generation Bible Camp where we were asked to lead some English kids camp activities. We did fun vacation Bible school (vbs) worship songs, Eli shared his devotion, and we led crafts and sport activities. This camp was made to speak and learn in English, so having native speakers come was very helpful! We were able to have little conversations here and there with the kids. They were fascinated with our skin color, hair and the palms of our hands!
We then had to say goodbye to the kids who we had surprisingly grown close to in just a few hours. The staff was very grateful for our help and volunteer work.
We then went back to Courage Cafe for dinner and dessert, debriefed, laughed at funny moments that had happened throughout the day.
The team is so happy to be here in East Africa! We are excited to see how these next few days will grow us in relationship with God and each other.
On our last night in the city, we met with X, our field worker, for dinner at a meat place, and we navigated through the CHAOTIC streets one more time on our way to the store. Sometimes the streets of the city feel like a fever dream with the amount of vibrant activity constantly. The team got some snacks for the plane (a real morale boost), and headed home to leave for the airport.
Earlier that day we had cleaned the entire apartment complex on the upstairs of the building where we stayed to finish our service there strong. This meant hanging up decorations with power tools, cleaning everything from ceiling to floor, repairing things we saw needing fixing, and rearranging and reorganizing furniture and appliances to better plan for future groups. Being able to accomplish projects that I wanted to finish last year was extremely fulfilling to me personally. A few of us spent a full day cleaning and reorganizing an office space, and this was a project I left last year wanting to complete.
(the before picture of the office organization)
(The after pictures of the office organization)
I took stock of some projects for next year’s groups, and the team sat in a circle to thank X for their hospitality, guidance, and care while we were sick. The team prayed over the ministry and the staff there in one last goodbye before we set off for the airport.
Our travel began by being dropped off at the airport by two drivers who were racing each other to prove who was the fastest. This did not necessarily aid in the nausea the team was feeling as a remnant of some kind of virus we caught from food poisoning or elsewhere. When we opened the doors to the vans a deafening noise of celebration greeted us, and there was a huge party with live music and dancing happening in the parking garage of the airport; it sounded like we were in a stadium at a sports game. (See video below)
The length of the flights was certainly a struggle with about half the group feeling unwell, and anti-nausea medicine was helpful. Our other team leader, Nate, surprised us by writing awards for everyone with qualities he noticed about everyone, and that was a morale boost as we were waiting. When we landed in Germany, we learned that our next 2 hour layover in Washington, USA, was going to be cut in half due to a delayed flight. This meant we had less than an hour to go through customs, security, and recheck our bags before our flight to Sacramento left. We all agreed to book it through the airport, and after literally running through the airport in groups, the last student made it on the plane with less than a minute left before they closed the plane for boarding.
(Nate giving awards)
Reflecting on the trip left me with a sense of gratitude and pride in our students who had all made an effort not only to work hard, but to work hard and be present even when not feeling well as well as to encourage and take care of their teammates when they were sick. The group worked well together, and I was grateful for how well the group got along throughout the entire trip. While it certainly was unfortunate that so many of us got sick, we landed in Sacramento with hearts full of gratitude (for catching our flight and) for the country and people of the Middle East. I left feeling confident that we had engaged with the people, daily rhythms and customs, and foods of the Middle East in a way that changes perspectives on who God is and how he works in other cultures just the same as he works in ways that are familiar to us at home in the USA.
You as readers can be praying for the team’s reverse culture shock, for rest and wellness for everyone, and for good communication to answer all the questions others will have for them back home. You can also be praying for the support, wellbeing, and encouragement for the organization we left.
Here’s to another return back to the Middle East soon!! <3
Mambo! (That’s “hi” in Swahili!) Today was day 3 of our trip and our very first day of ministry (thank you crazy long flights/layovers!). We spent lots of time talking to, singing with, and playing with the girls of Courage House. The road to Courage House is VERY bumpy, dusty, and lined with corn fields. I don’t think my little Toyota Camry could survive it, but the drivers were experts. The girls lined up at the gate and were chanting with flowers and big smiles for us. I definitely teared up in the car seeing the joy on their faces despite the immense pain of their past. After we all introduced ourselves the staff had us split into groups with the girls to learn some Swahili. This was a team-wide highlight of the day. I was very proud of myself for getting the pronunciation of “cow” correct (ng’ombe). I led some worship and played through most of my songs with the chaplain and some of the girls. They knew a lot of them and had some Swahili versions that the chaplain wrote in so I could learn it. My goal is to memorize one of them or a part of one by the end of the trip. I loved hearing the girls praise Jesus and lay down some sick beats. At the same time, the rest of the team was playing soccer, volleyball, ninja, and other fun active games. Some of the older girls and cooks made us lunch. It was very tasty! The avocados are huge!!!! Taller than my hand and wide enough to fit in both hands cupped together. No wonder they use it so much in their cooking!!! They made spiced pinto beans, rice, savory avocado salad, a cabbage mix, and a spicy red pepper sauce. Yum! After lunch, we made bracelets, danced, played some games, and laughed until around 4:30pm when we drove back to Courage Cafe for dinner. The Cafe is gorgeous and spoils us with incredible food, coffee, and views of Mt. Kilimanjaro (or as the locals call it, Kili) when the clouds move. I think jet lag is still holding onto us because we were all wiped out from the day and came back to our rooms ready for a shower and our bed!
Team Middle East landed safely in Sacramento on Monday night around 9pm. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for this team before, during, and now after their trip. The Lord clearly had plans to reveal himself to this team in unique ways as they served and experienced so many parts of the Holy Land.
Please continue to be praying for the Middle East team as they recover from jet lag and may experience reverse culture shock as they come back to their lives in the US. Pray that the team would lean into their relationship with God as they process their time these past two weeks and that they would be encouraged by how God is continuing to work in their lives here and in the lives of people they met in the Middle East.
Make sure to ask your team member about their experience and how you can be praying for them and supporting them specifically! We thank you all!
After about 33 hours of travel, our East Africa team has landed and made it to their hotel and ministry base! Though a little tired, the team is doing great!
Please continue to pray for their overall well-being while on the trip and for God to reveal himself in new ways to the team as they serve in a new cultural context.
We will update again soon once the team has had time to rest and get started on ministry!
After a few more days of ministry in the library, today was such a spirit-filled day. We got the opportunity to see many different biblically significant sites. One of the coolest places we got to go to was definitely Mount Nebo. For those who don’t know, Mount Nebo is the place of Moses’s death. It was truly such a surreal experience to be on the top of Mount Nebo overlooking parts of the Holy Land.
The drive to Mount Nebo was gorgeous! As we started making our way to the top of the mountain, I looked out the window and saw hills and mountains of desert terrain. It looked as if God had combined the Napa hills with the deserts of Nevada and Utah. Needless to say, it was beautiful! The roads became very windy the closer we got to the top which gave me a better view of the mountains. Reaching the top of the mountain felt like such a surreal experience.
We quickly loaded out of the van and started making our way over to the entrance of Mount Nebo. Before I even made it to the gate, I had to take a minute to snap a picture of the gorgeous views. It was truly breathtaking. I was immediately awestruck by God’s beautiful creation.
We entered the gates and followed a short path to the very top of the mountain. As we were walking the trail, our tour guide explained that the land below Mount Nebo would have been considered the land of Moab which is where Ruth and Naomi walked. I truly couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Before coming on this trip I had done a study on the book of Ruth which made it very fresh in my mind. The book of Ruth is now probably one of my favorite books in the Bible. I took a brief moment to soak in this experience and imagine both Ruth and Naomi traveling this land.
We continued following the trail and made it to the point where Moses died. The view was indescribable and pictures do not do it justice. Moses died overlooking the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, etc. He was so close to entering into the Promised Land, but it was not God’s will for Him. How hard that must have been to know that you had almost made it to your final destination, but God said “no.” After leading the Israelites out of Egypt and wandering in the wilderness with them for years, Moses didn’t get to experience the reward. As I stood on the top of Mount Nebo amazed by God’s creation, I also chose to reflect upon how Moses might have felt at that time. There are so many times in our lives where we put forth a lot of hardwork and effort, but we sometimes never get to see the fruits of our labor. We have to have faith and remember that God’s ways are always higher than ours even when we are unable to see a happy ending. My prayer is that I will continue running the good race all the way until the end, while remaining faithful and always putting my trust in God’s plans for my life.
Next, we entered the Greek Orthodox church next to the overlook on Mount Nebo. The mosaics were so pretty and there was a sense of peace when you entered the room. The team took a moment to sit on the benches and simply just be with God. There were three stained glass windows facing the benches. The window in the middle depicted a picture of Moses and Jesus which reminded me of the sweet love of Jesus. His love never fails us despite our mistakes and His love leads the way for our lives.
We made our way down the trail back to the vans and stopped at a cool museum along the way which housed several ancient artifacts. As we piled in the vans and made our way to our next destination, I was filled with a sense of gratitude. So many people will never get to see these biblically significant sites, but God has given me such an amazing opportunity to see the Bible come to life. I have been so blessed by this experience and have been given a completely new perspective when reading the Bible.
As this trip soon comes to an end, I ask that you continue to pray for good health and a complete sense of peace for the team. I also ask that you pray for each one of us to apply everything that we have learned on this trip and not just walk away without letting God first work in our hearts. Thank you so much for all of your prayers! We cannot wait to see our friends and family soon!
Jessup’s second Global Outreach team of the summer is now on their way to East Africa! Join us in praying for them during their long travel day(s)—for safety and health throughout all of the travel and the trip, and that the Lord would use them in incredible ways these next two weeks.
We will update again when the team arrives and gets settled in East Africa!
Hey guys! It’s Jess. Today was the day we took on P3tr@!
We had a long night of planning prior to our expedition, and most of us woke up around 5:30 am to be fed and ready to leave in the car by 6 am. After some tough decisions, tummy aches, and even a pair of pants being split, we hit the road at about 6:15 for a 3-hour car ride. Getting inside this historical site was a feat in its own, as we had to split up into groups to get through the gate!
Eventually, though, we were in the park successfully and were able to begin our journey through a huge canyon down to the treasury. There were a ton of amazing carvings and architecture along the way. We learned about ancient Roman waterways and civilizations, while also turning down many bold barters who were trying to sell us donkey ride after donkey ride.
After a few miles of walking, we finally reached the treasury. It was incredible! This wonder of the world was hand carved into the side of the mountain. Some of us bought a camel ride and took some photos, while others just basked in all its beauty. What a once in a lifetime experience.
After we took a look at the treasury, we continued down the trail as we made our way to the monastery. We walked past so many tombs and trails that we wanted to go down but couldn’t for time’s sake. The hike started to get a little more difficult as the sun was beating down on us, and our feet were beginning to fatigue.
Eventually, we made it to the base of the trail to the monastery. Little did we know it would take us up 83 flights of stairs. It was honestly really difficult! We took breaks here and there to catch our breath, and we were solicited by the Bedouin people, which was a unique and equally heartbreaking experience. So many young children desperately tried to sell us donkey rides or bottles of water. I even saw one family with a shop huddled over a small fire, cooking just a pot of beans for their meal. The amount of poverty and desperation that we walked through definitely made the trip bittersweet, but we also know that the Lord is showing us these truths to continue to propel us into a greater passion for His ministry and plan for our lives.
After those 83 flights of stairs, we finally made it to the monastery! It was incredible. The amount of detail and craftsmanship of the ancient people is almost unbelievable. We took a ton of photos and met some other tourists from Nevada. It was a great time!
After that, we went up to the top of the mountain to get an amazing view. It was so rewarding after a long journey to the top. Here, we could look to one side and see the massive trails and sights of this historical site, and on the other side, we could see the border of Israel. We shared some snacks, reminisced about our journey, hydrated, and then ventured down.
This is where the heat began to really settle in. Some of us had to take frequent breaks, while others just wanted to book it to the end, and finally rest our throbbing feet and legs. After a total hike of 9.5 miles, we made it back to the cars safely, regrouped, and then began a drive to dinner!
It took about two minutes to get to our restaurant, and we had some delicious food. It was buffet-style, featuring dishes like rice, chicken, noodles, the BEST pita bread and hummus, and a wide variety of local desserts. We all got huge bottles of water to drink and then returned to the library for the night!
We all got about an hour of free time to shower, rest up, and relax before the team debrief at 8, where we shared our highs and lows of the day, cracked jokes, and then our team leaders surprised us with ice cream bars! Woohoo! It really is the little things. So many of our members have expressed how grateful we are for our team. We work so well together, appreciate one another, and have some of the craziest and funniest moments. It is an honor to be led by such incredible leaders while being alongside such a funny, heartfelt, and truly, truly, caring team. Everyone has a great attitude and looks out for each other, which is one of the biggest blessings.
And that brings us to now as I write this (6/12/23, 11:51 AM PDT)! Everyone is settling down for the night, as we finally get to sleep in a little bit and don’t have to be ready to go until 10 am! Tomorrow and basically the rest of this week, we will do tons of library projects. We are all eager to get our hands dirty and continue serving.
As you continue to support us, we ask that you pray for the kid’s camp we are hosting on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. We pray that we will be able to connect with the kids and impact their lives with the hope of shining the light of Christ through our actions. We also ask for continued prayers of health and safety, as some of us have had tummy aches from food sensitivities, headaches, or even homesickness.
Thank you so much again for your gracious support. We are so thankful to have this opportunity, and we pray it will be a blessing to you as you sow seeds into our lives and individual walks with Christ!
There are almost no words to describe our time there, but I’ll do my best.
Apart from awesome views, beautiful shops, friendly, and very persistent, shopkeepers, it was an absolute honor to walk where the Gospel itself came through and where Paul became an Apostle.
The shops (known as a Bizzare Market) offered a variety of goods and souvenirs. Ranging from traditional scarves, dresses, shirts and pants. Not to mention a plethora of local-made trinkets and dishes; cups, bowls, and coffee pots.
The shopkeepers that I met were the nicest people I have ever met, and they had a TON, no exaggeration, of love for J (our fieldworker). They made this very clear as they described him as their “brother” and told us how long they knew him. I, along with everyone else, was able to receive discounts and gifts based on my connection with J.
Despite the discounts received, many of us took full advantage of bargaining to get a better price. My only regret from this day is not partaking in a supposedly exciting experience.
Going back to the roads where the Gospel came through; apart from the reality that I honestly have no words for, the kiosks had very beautiful jewelry and stones that sparkled in the sunlight. I think one of my other highlights is being able to attempt an Irish jig while a local musician played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
Overall, it was a wonderful time that we will all remember for the rest of our lives.
After many of us stayed up late last night for team bonding and another trip to McDonalds, we had a nice and early 7am start for the book sale. We spent a couple of hours finishing preparing for crafts and setting up books which included organizing several hundred by author.
In the afternoon, Jess created tissue paper art of turtles, owls, and fish with families, Macey ran a friendship bracelet making station, I ran a mandala drawing and coloring station, and Caleb ran the book sale and became familiarized with the local currency while everyone else assisted in greeting and keeping the books organized. As the craft portion was winding down, Macey, Josh and I attempted to make balloon animals but struggled with popping balloons and difficult pumps.
Overall, it was a huge success. We sold over 500 books by the end of the sale and the library gained a few new family memberships! We loved having the opportunity to talk with some of the local families and discuss their favorite parts of living in the area and got a few recommendations for restaurants and places to visit. The kids were all extremely bright and everyone we met warmly welcomed us into their community.
After the book sale, Rose, Zoe and Jess blessed us with a wonderful home cooked meal that not just anyone could have made.
