A quick update

It is Tuesday afternoon here at the Rift Valley Academy, and we have been busy with the VBS this week. Everyone is still healthy and working hard. The weather is amazing, the food is very good, and the dorms are fairly nice. I think some of us miss their home bathrooms, but otherwise it is surprisingly comfortable

SO - Unfortunately, we didn't have Internet access for a couple of days when we first arrived. And the last 48 hours have been nonstop as we work on the VBS. Sorry for not being able to update sooner. Since the last post, we moved into guest rooms at Moffat Bible College. We spent two nights there. It is just a short distance from RVA, so we were able to visit with Steve and Melinda McMillan quite a bit. They are an amazing couple who have servants' hearts like no others. They even made us a Thanksgiving meal since we missed ours. They were great to speak with and learn from, and they were also a huge help to us as we prepared for this week

We also attended a church service in Swahili on Sunday. The one thing that stood out to me was that they had about 5 or 6 different music groups who took turns leading worship. One group would use a drum machine and keyboard, then there would be a choir, then a women's choir, a men's choir, a dancing team, and more. People in the pews would just walk up front when it was their group's turn. We ended up hearing a lot of music.

We eventually moved into the dorms on RVA's campus, which is where we are now. These few moments of rest have gone by quickly, so I must run... I will post an update about the VBS and our team at my next break!

We Have Arrived In Nairobi

We are in Kenya! Our flights went smoothly and we got through all the checkpoints and customs without any issues. We didn't expect any problems, but it was still a huge blessing to have things go so easily and quickly. And to have all our luggage and supplies arrive on time. 

We've just had our first night's rest and will be headed to the Rift Valley Academy after lunch. The shower was magical this morning. The African air, trees, and bird calls are all very distinct - though we haven't seen too much since we arrived in darkness. The weather is like a very pleasant spring with slight drizzle. Very different from back home, where it was snowing when we left. 

Most of us seem to have adjusted well to the 7 hour time difference. Please continue to pray for our trip and health. Give thanks for our smooth travels, for all God is doing here, and for all his perfect plans to come. We thank you all for your continued support. We expect to have Internet so feel free to email us over the next few days. 

Prayer Requests As We Depart

Well, this is the big week. We're headed to Kenya on Wednesday! Our bags are getting packed, and all sorts of gifts, supplies, and VBS crafts are crammed into our suitcases. The team met for a time of fellowship over dinner and then held one final meeting on Friday. Then, this morning, we went to our various life communities throughout Westover and had our friends pray for our trip. The support of our church family has really been amazing, so thank you! And thanks to all our other friends and family for all your help and encouragement.

On Wednesday we will be meeting at Westover at 12:00 noon for a time of prayer before we leave. Friends and family will be praying over us until we depart at 12:30pm for Raleigh. If you'd like to join us, please please please come! We're meeting in Westover's atrium.

As we travel and spend the next two weeks in Kenya, please keep us in your prayers. Here are a few items to be lifting up:

• Health for our team as we serve. Please pray that sickness and other health issues would be kept from us during this time! 
• Pray for the kids at the VBS, that they will have a fun time of learning about Daniel and have a better understanding of God's power and love.
• Safety during our travels, and smooth transitions through customs
• Luggage gets to Kenya. Luggage gets home.
• That our team will have great unity and strength as a group
• That God will meet our remaining financial support
• Pray for the kids and others we will meet as we travel to the local orphanage and hospital, and that we reflect the love of God in our every interaction
• Pray that all our various activities, songs, crafts, construction projects, etc. go smoothly
• That every individual on our team will grow in their relationship with God, and trust in him during this trip rather than relying on our own strength
• For those back home, including 8 children who will be missing parents - and that caretakers do not go insane.

We should be able to update the blog from Kenya, so we'll keep you updated!

Support & Safety Update

The past few months have really flown by. We are heading to Kenya in less than 3 weeks! As of today, we are at 63% of our support goal, with another $9,125 needed to cover our expenses. It has been a huge blessing to see our friends and family show such incredible support for us. Thank you all so much!

We appreciate your continued prayers for our team and our service. Please also pray that the rest of our support comes in soon and that we will have a safe trip! Speaking of safety - most of you probably heard about the terrorist attack on one of Nairobi's malls. While it was a shocking and horrendous event, there is no cause for alarm concerning our trip. We are flying in and out of Nairobi, however we are only spending one evening there. Even if we were to stay in Nairobi the entire two weeks, there's really no reason to worry. It is a perfectly safe place. Besides, God is always in control! 

The Team and Trip: An Introduction

Welcome to the Westover 2013 Kenya Team Blog! We are headed to Kenya from November 27th to December 9th to serve near Nairobi and Kijabe, Kenya. Feel free to bookmark this page - we will keep you updated on our preparations and post updates during our trip.

Our Service

We will be serving with Steve and Melinda McMillan, who are supported by Westover Church. They work at the Rift Valley Academy, which is a Christian boarding school in Kenya. During a missions conference, our team is putting on a bible school program for the children of the missionaries attending. This will run for four days.

We will also serve the community by working with children at a local hospital and an orphanage. We are also showing the Jesus film to some of the Maasai people. The rest of our time will be spent helping the Academy, such as working on light construction projects. 

More than anything, we want to share God's love and truth with those we meet. We hope our service will be a blessing to the McMillans, the Academy, and all those we encounter in the communities. 

Our Team

Our team is made up of nine people from Westover: MaryBeth Hancock, Ken and Brandi Pittman, Adam and Andrea Powell, Erin and Maggie Richardson, Laura Smith, and Mark Watkins.

Preparations

Our team is meeting regularly right up until we leave in November. We have been learning about one another by exploring our spiritual gifts, understanding our personality types, and sharing our testimonies. We have also been learning about Kenya's history, economy, geography, society, and religions. In October, our team will also serve together at Grace Community Church, helping them serve hot meals to the homeless and less fortunate. 

We will update the blog as we continue to prepare our program activities for Kenya!

The Team

The 2013 Kenya Short Term Team - Ready to serve alongside our missionaries Steve & Melinda McMillan and the MKs at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe.