2023 Teams

The CLA (Courage Leadership Academy) girls took us to the Memoria market to do some shopping. They seemed to take delight in helping us find specific items and haggling with the vendors on our behalf. I loved being able to experience more of their world. This outing allowed us to further connect through conversations and experiences. It also gave us the opportunity to see and interact with the incredible people of this city. We were graciously welcomed (karibu) and we did our best to use Swahili—some of the team are doing really well with the language. I appreciated the opportunity to see a new part of the city and to depend up the CLA girls for guidance.  (It would have been overwhelming without them and we no doubt would have gotten lost.)

We then spent a couple hours at CLA where we ate another amazing Swahili lunch, played card games, talked, and got to watch Bella enthusiastically play with the CLA kids (it turns out that the language of preschoolers is universal—and Bella speaks it fluently).

We then had the opportunity to take the CLA girls swimming at a local hotel (thank you, Redeemer Covenant Church!). They were very excited to get to swim. We were able to provide swim lessons and teach them “Marco Polo.” There was also time to converse and relax in the beautiful hotel setting (and I may have fell asleep on the grass in the shade).

I think I can speak for the team in saying that our lives are being changed through the relationships we are building with the Courage girls/women. These are some of the strongest, most joyful, kindest, friendliest, most talented people we’ve met. For (about) two weeks we get to live life with them and—I know that this might sound a bit dramatic— it is sacred. It’s like entering holy ground. And because it’s sacred, any words I use to describe it are inadequate. But it’s real because God (ultimate reality) is present. As I’ve watched them dance, sing, worship, laugh, serve, play, learn, teach, support one another,  and love each other’s kids as their own, I cannot help but see the self-giving love of God.  God’s image shines beautifully and clearly in this sisterhood called Courage House. And we are blessed to experience it. But it’s not just the girls—it’s their kids, the incredible staff, and the fieldworkers (J, St, and Sa). God is at work and is present in and through Courage.

But I also see God’s image reflected beautifully and clearly in our team. From day one they’ve fully entered into this relational ministry and have developed a deep love these Courage girls. They’ve been vulnerable, generous, outgoing (even the introverts), creative, committed, flexible, humble, open, and compassionate—even when feeling tired, sick, and in pain.  It’s a privilege for me to watch each one sacrificed love in ways that are both life-giving and physically draining.  We also have a lot of fun together.

If you’re still reading this, then you probably won’t mind if I add a little more. Over the past week, I’ve thought a lot about the apostle Paul’s words in Romans  1:11-12– “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” The “spiritual gift” Paul refers to is the activity of mutual encouragement. A charisma or “spiritual gift” is Spirit-directed activity,  and Paul envisioned a Spirit-directed activity of mutual encouragement when he visited the Roman Christians (he strengthens their faith, they strengthen his faith). I feel that kind of mutual encouragement on this trip.  When we’re with the Courage girls and staff, there is mutual encouragement, learning, giving, sharing, teaching, and supporting . 

I also can’t help but think of this Thomas Merton quote that describes this kind of Spirit-directed mutuality: “When the Love of God is in me, God is able to love you through me and you are able to love God through me. . . . Because God’s love is in me, it can come to you from a different and special direction that would be closed if He did not live in me, and because His love is in you, it can come to me from a quarter from which it would not otherwise come. And because it is in both of us, God has greater glory. His love is expressed in two more ways in which it would not otherwise be expressed; that is, in two more joys that could not exist without Him” (“Seeds of Contemplation). 

It is this mutual sharing of the love of God  with each other that has motivated us, sustained us, and is changing us.  Yes, we are on holy ground. 

For those reading this (still!), you’ve likely supported us in this endeavor. We humbly say Thank You.

(And to my family, yes, I typed all this on my phone.)

By Matt Godshall

Today was amazing! We hung out with the CLA girls for the first time! We did worship, played the name game, nertz, and painted. The girls were lovely and very funny. It was very rainy so we didn’t go swimming but instead played soccer. I got to take portraits of all the girls and it was very fun, each girl was very unique and funny in their own way. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

– Eli 

Hey everyone!

We just finished day 5 of our trip and the third day with Courage House girls! Today we started with a devotion led by one of the girls, and it was about hearing the voice of God! Then, we and the girls got bagged lunches and went to the hiking spot. A guide met us in a village, and we began our walk. From the start, the hills were very muddy and we had to be careful walking up and down. Local children were seen running along these roads—everyone was astonished that they didn’t slip! It started to rain, but the group kept going. Throughout this trek, many of us kept slipping and sometimes falling and getting dirty! Anyways, we hiked through the beautiful landscape until we reached the waterfall! Most of the group stayed on the rocks at the base of the waterfall. However, my teammates went swimming. It was freezing!

After about 20 minutes of being at the waterfall, the group journeyed to visit the “coffee boys.” A few local men explained and showed us how to make coffee straight from the beans. They made it fun and interactive, showing us how to pound the beans while singing a song! (The credit goes to courage house for the coffee bean pounding picture). They boiled the coffee in water and BOOM, we were able to drink it (sooo good)! We had a chance to buy some of their coffee too. I got some for sure 😛

The hike was tiring but an amazing experience! My team got to our hotel, cleaned up, went to dinner, and drove to Courage House to see a movie with the girls!! My team served the girls yummy ice cream, and started watching “Kicking and Screaming.” I loved hearing them clap for the soccer players in the movie, and laughing super loud at the funny scenes.

Thanks for following along with our trip so far! We’re seeing God work each day.

-Ashlee

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.

-Alaythia

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!

-Alyssa Madsen