Sunday, February 27 in Kenya

Good afternoon from Kenya!

Another beautiful sunny day in Meru.  The sky is a deep blue with a gentle breeze though the sun is intense.  We attended the 9:30 AM service at Mwanika Church this morning.  Rev Marilyn, the missionary from Washington state, preached.  There were many songs performed by different groups and individuals.  Our mission team even performed "Kanisa Litajenjua (Who Will Build the Church Now) in Swahili and English.  Even though we have a ways to go on the finer points, they appreciated our effort.  There were many words of appreciation and gratitude spoken.  Our challenge was to say good bye to so many dear friends at church in a short period of time.

We had a quick lunch at Thiiri Centre before sending six of our group back to Nairobi for their flight tonight. They departed Meru at about 12:30 and should have plenty of time to get to the airport for their flight. They will have dinner at a Brazilian restaurant in Nairobi before going to the airport.. Many of our youth made countless friends and it was difficult to say goodbye for them.  I know there will be much email exchanged between Ann Arbor and Kenya in the future.

The remaining 12 in our group will depart at 7:30 AM on Monday to visit the national parks at Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. We will relax the remainder of the today and will be ready for the remainder of our adventure.

We have made many new friends and connected with many old friends.  It is difficult to find words once again to express the deep mutual feelings that we have experienced this week.

We are well and continue to flourish in the Kenyan air. We will see you on Friday morning.  This is the last email I will send out to report on the Mission Trip. We have greatly appreciated your prayers and support.  We have been deeply moved and blessed by our experience together!

God is good all the time! And all the time God is good!

Kwaheri
for the whole mission team,
Gary

Saturday, February 26 in Kenya

Jambo sana!

It is now early Saturday afternoon after lunch.  This morning we walked with BLISS students from the school to their homes in groups of 2-3.  It was a wonderful chance to be outdoors and to get to know our student escorts.  We were surprised by the distance that students walk.  We were able to visit 3-4 homes and meet their families.  The family plot, typically 0.5 - 1 acre, is usually subdivided and shared by extended family with separate dwelling.  Homes are typically 2-room wood structures with dirt floors. Each family grows crops for food in their shamba (garden), including bananas, sugar cane, pumpkins, corn, mangoes, and arrowroot. The Kenyan sun is quite intense and hot, even though the air temperature is in around 80 and humidity is low also.

Last night, we had a wonderful dinner celebration at BLISS with the teachers and Board of Governors.Invited guests also included the Chief for Kithoka and his wife, area school principals, community leaders, and others. There were introductions and speeches.  Bishop Imathiu spoke and inspired us with many elegant and appreciative words.  Moses spoke about the future and detailed our joint accomplishments.  We were greatly inspired and deeply moved by his many words of kindness.  It was an EXTRAORDINARY time together! Words do not adequately express our time together. We finished about 10 PM and walked outside to a clear skies filled with stars far brighter than I have ever seen. It seemed a fitting end of a beautiful day.

This afternoon we have free time to relax or go to downtown Meru.  It has been a special week! We have grown close to our sisters and brothers here in Kenya as well as to each other on the mission team.  We have worked well together and learned much about the schools and community here.  We have many ideas for the future.

Sunday morning, we will attend the 9:30 AM service at Mwanika Church and sing the Kenyan song we learned for the congregation. Rev Marilyn  Brenchley will preach.  We will quickly have lunch together, and those departing on Sunday night will be driven to Nairobi and have dinner there.

We have been blessed! You have been in our prayers all week.

Have a blessed day.

For your family and friends,
Gary

Friday, February 25 in Kenya

Jambo Sana!

We continue to be joyfully engaged in our mission work.  Our daily schedule  has developed a certain rhythm with activities at BLISS and Kithoka Primary. We continue to enjoy all the eagerness to learn of the Kenyan students. Our days are quite full and the week seems be accelerating.

Our devotions on Thursday were at Bishop Primary School, and today were at Kithoka Primary.  Both schools having our attention.  They have terrific singing voices, and have a flag raising ceremony to start the school day. The children range in age from nursery to grade 8. There are 400 students at Kithoka Primary. This morning a few of us had time to spend at Gichunge Primary.  Gichunge is located close to Mwanika Church and is the poorest of the schools in the region and has the lowest achievement status. This school has no electricity, no clean water and kitchen or meals for the children.  Many children are barefoot and dressed poorly.  The children smile easily and laugh when you talk to them.  They love to to touch your skin and hair,  They are eager to learn but lack many resources needed to learn.  As a result, the poor become poorer.

The children's books and craft projects that we brought are eagerly received with immense gratitude.  The primary schools have many goals to improve their situation.

This evening we will have dinner with with the BLISS staff and Board of Governors.  It is our farewell time together. Tomorrow (Saturday) we walk with some of the BLISS students to their homes. 95% of the homes are wooden structures with no electricity, dirt floors and no indoor plumbing or water.  The students are eager to be with us.

I've run out of time to write.  I will do my best to write more. It will probably be tomorrow.

We appreciate your prayers and support. 

From all of us in Kenya,
Gary

Wednesday, February 23 in Kenya

Greetings Friends and Family!

Another day farther into our mission journey and we have been blessed in countless ways again today.  Our day started with devotions at BLISS. Kristi Bell led the devotion with Spencer Kennedy doing the scripture reading for the students and the mission team.  Larry Gray shared his experience of climbing to the top of Mt Kilimanijaro (just before the Mission Trip), and presented Moses with the BLISS banner and a photo taken on mountain top.  We were all impressed with this tremendous accomplishment! 

Six microscopes were presented to BLISS with much excitement. Jeff Punch demonstrated the microscopes to the students in their new Science Building. The students were amazed with the clarity with which they could observe cells on slides. The school is quite proud to have first class science equipment.

Part of the team traveled to Maua Methodist Hospital to visit the medical facility there.  It's about 45 minutes by van traveling north from Meru across the Nyambene Mountains to Maua. It's quite a scenic drive! The hospital staff provided an extensive tour of the facility and explained the types of diseases and treatments they provide. It was fascinating to compare the medical philosophy used here with that in the US.

The computer classes learned touch typing and practiced their skills in the computer lab with assistance from the mission team. In addition, they learned to start the computers and to use Microsoft Word.  Even when classes ended, the students did not leave but continued to practice.  The students are completely excited to learn about computers!

BLISS put on a soccer game just for us!  The students really enjoyed sports and are great at it.

This evening about 20 members from Mwanika Church joined us for dinner and fellowship at Thiiri Center.  We had a wonderful Kenyan dinner together. Then had a time of fellowship and sharing.  We are known as the Ann Arbor chapter of Mwanika Church. There are 7 neighborhood groups (chapters) and each are charged to take care of each other.  Returning to Kenya is always like coming home and being warmly greeted with hugs and words of kindness.  We feel deeply connected and as being as ONE!

We continue to be looked after with great care by our hosts.There is a gentleness and kindness in their voices that is truly unique. We are blessed  greatly again today and feel quite special.

You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers!

Your Mission Team In Kenya,
Gary

Tuesday, February 22 from the Kenya Team

Jambo! sana, Everyone,

Another full day for your Mission Team In Kenya!  We continue to be amazed by the openness and generosity of spirit that we encounter in all our interactions at BLISS and Kithoka Primary. We started our day with devotions at the Kithoka Polytehnic. The Polytechnic students have always been great singers! We were accompanied by Florence Imathiu, who is the Board of Governors chairperson for the Polytechnic.  She encouraged our interaction with the students and teachers during devotions.  Our devotions ran long and many were anxious because they were scheduled to be teaching.  In Kenya, events do not happen according to the clock but when they are supposed to happen.  Hakuna matata! The waiting students and teachers were not bothered a bit. Some of us stayed on at the Polytechnic for the morning and learned about the great progress that the school as a whole has made over the last couple years. FYI...a classroom bulding at the Polytechnic was the first Kenya Project for FUMC in 2004.  Enrollment has more than doubled since then and they have some new staff.  The gov't is subsidizing their education at last.  They are doing well at long last and have an optimistic future.  We are excited for them.

BLISS had power today, so it was much easier to teach computer classes. No problem. Kathy Mac brought paper keyboards and other instructional materials that worked well on Monday.  So today was a breeze. Many students have never touched a computer, which is not surprising since many homes do not have electricity in the community. So the additional instruction provided by the mission team provides a foundation for the students to develop computer skills.

The craft projects at Kithoka Project continue to go well and is providing an excellent basis for a relationship with the school. The primary children are clearly disadvantaged, and are excited by the opportunity to interact with our group.  There are many opportunities for the future. The school is quite poor and does not any food for the students during the day.

We had an opportunity to visit a baby orphanage in Makutano in the afternoon, and to hold and play with the babies and young children there. They were extremely precious little ones, and just soaked up all the attention.  The center rescues abandoned and abused babies through the age of 3.  The program is run by Ripples International. (Google it if interested in more information.) In addition, they provide counseling for sexual abuse victims and also HIV/AIDS services. Our hearts were deeply touched by these precious little ones!

We also visited the Kithoka Dispensary which is almost ready to provide services after many years of qualification and preparation for operation. We brought 4 tubs medical supplies to contribute to them. The local district hospital is too far away to provide badly needed services in times of urgent needs, such as deleivering babies. The Dispensary will be staffed by 2 nurses and will have a major impact on the community. Many of the organizers for this project come from Mwanika Church, our sister church here in Meru.

We also celebrated Doug's birthday several times today!  We even had a cake baked for him at Thiiri Center and had a great time together.  Even the Polytechnic students sang Happy Birthday to him this morning. Even though he claimed to be 45, some of us know he has become dyslectic on his birthday.

It has been a long day today and and so are tired at the end of this day. We have been challenged in many ways, though are in great spirits and have enjoyed working as a team together.  It was a SPECIAL day! Time for bed!

Lala Salama! (Good night in Swahli)

For all of us in Kenya,
You are in our thoughts and prayers,
Gary

Monday, February 21 in Kenya

Good evening, Friends and Family,

Our first day at BLISS and Kithoka Primary went well.  We were welcomed with wide-open arms at BLISS for devotions first thing this morning. Several students gave speeches of appreciation and together the school sang for us.  Doug led the reflection for us and we were blessed enormously by being together. The BLISS band even played.  Moses (BLISS principal) explained our partnership philosophy of learning from other and set the stage for our time together.

We immediately started working together with teachers and students afterwards. Our major BLISS work teams were in the subjects of science, computer and business. The teachers had written out schedules for specific lessons and a timetable for the week. Our week will be full! The students and teachers are quite comfortable being with us, and are quite eager to engage in conversation with us.  Moses has done an excellent job preparing them for our visit to overcome the barriers of our common language.

Our work team at Kithoka Primary School started with crafts, storytelling and singing.  The pre-school children stole our hearts! The school conditions here are extremely primitive. The teaching staff have great hope and dreams with moving the school and children forward. We will be exploring ways to work with them in the future. There are many opportunities to help.

Kara presented the soccer uniforms to the BLISS girls soccer team, so now they don't have to play in skirts! They were ecstatic to receive them and the soccer balls. The boys received new soccer shorts. They will play a scrimmage for us on Wednesday after school. The girls team advanced to the semi-nationals last year. Just think what they will do with proper sports gear.

This evening we had dinner with Lawi and Florence Imathiu at the Thiiri Center and were graced with stories about their lives and ministries to the community, Kenya and the world.  We were inspired and touched deeply by our time with them. They are powerful role models for leading a full Christian life.

The coming week will be quite full. We are energized by their enthusiasm and appreciation of everyone we encounter.We have been blessed GREATLY today.

Everyone is doing well and we are enjoying our time together as a team.

God is good all the time! And all the time God is good!

Be blessed. Know that you are in our prayers as we know you are praying for us.

For your the whole team,
Gary

Sunday, February 20 in Kenya

Jambo! Family and Friends,

Another wonderful and beautiful day (or two) in Kenya! Our drive from Nairobi to Meru went smoothly. We got off to an early start and made it to the Trout Tree restaurant in Nanyuki by noon for lunch.  There is much major road construction in Nairobi, and we made it through without much difficulty by leaving early.  The air remains amazing clean and refreshing.  We enjoyed the beautiful countryside as we adjusted to jet lag.  We arrived at the Thiiri Center in Meru at about 3:30 PM and got settled in.  We enjoyed an evening meal with some of the BLISS teachers and enjoyed some group time together before heading to bed. The weather has been amazingly pleasant with much sunshine.Our Kenyan drivers are easy going and helpful.

Our Sunday (today) started with attending the English language service at 9:30 AM and many stayed for the 11 AM service in Kimeru which lasted until 1:30 PM.  Pastor Doug preached at both services with the second service translated into Kimeru by Moses.  We were warmly greeted and welcomed by the congregation.  We shared your greetings and love with them which they received graciously. It was an opportunity to greet many old friends and make new ones as well. We were excited to see the tremendous progress they have made on their Church Hall.  They have made much progress in the past year.  The first floor is essentially except for detail work and will be used for Sunday School classes and meeting rooms.  The second floor is moving along with the ceiling in for the Fellowship Hall but with some rough work to be done. They are excited and hope to finish in the next year.  We will share our gift to their Building Fund next Sunday.  It will get them 40% of the way to their final fund raising goal. The Kenyan philosphy to build as you raise the funds. No church mortgage here!

We had time to prepare our mission supplies this afternoon for our work at the schools this week.  Everything made it safely! We also had time to work in a visit to the NakuMatt, the local grocery/WalMart, where did some shopping. Megan (Miller) and Spencer Peck gave us a tour of Kenya Methodist University. They are here until July and we enjoyed spending the day with them. They are a valuable resource to us on local arrangements.

Everyone is doing well and filled with excitement for the coming week at the schools.  There is much for us to see in Meru now and it will be challenging incorporating it all into our schedule.

We are feeling quite blessed and grateful to be ambassadors of our church to the church and community here in Kithoka. We pray that all is well with all of you.  We keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

On behalf of the Kenya Team,
Gary

From Nairobi, Kenya

Greetings and Jambo sana! from Nairobi, Kenya,

We arrived safely and on schedule last night at Nairobi airport.  Our flights went smoothly and were pleasant.  The air was fresh and clean last night, just like after a refreshing rain, when we left the airport.  It is 6 AM now and we will have breakfast in 30 minutes. It is pleasantly comfortable and quiet here.

It has been a joyful journey and have had many moments of grace and peace.  We had a gracious Customs Officer, who announced we would pay no duty, as he knew we were accomplishing much good!  He invited us to visit a school in western Kenya that he supports. Kenyans are very community focussed and so he was typical.

All of our cargo arrived safely. It will be transported to Meru this morning in a separate van.

We start our journey to Meru after breakfast and should arrive by mid-afternoon.

We  are all excited and looking forward to our first full day in Kenya. We are filled with anticipation and joy! We pray that your day will be blessed and joyful also. We think of you often!

On behalf of the entire Kenya Team,
Gary