Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Trip - Day 11

Yesterday was a hectic day travelling back to Nairobi and settling in at Cross Currents guest house. It was a blessing to be back in the cooler weather but we are already missing the people we connected with up-country. We are all getting homesick and wondering how our experience here will impact us as we return home at the same time. Today we did some shopping which was a new experience for many on the team. We went to a Masai market to purchase gifts and mementos to help us remember our trip. The market is an open air shopping market with many vendors and stalls. The prices for everything are negotiable and negotiating is an art unto itself. Haggling over the price of a wooden carving while trying to form a relationship with someone and act as an extension of Living Hope and our Savior is a little challenging but it is also a lot of fun. After we completed our shopping some of us went to an Ethiopian restaurant for dinner. Ethiopia and Kenya share a common border but couldn’t be more different. Ethiopian food is very different from Kenyan food. It is spicy and eaten with bread. The only utensils used are your hands. In some ways today was like a snapshot of the entire trip; new experiences culturally, relationally and in ministering to the people around us. We actually found out that goat can not only be edible but taste good. We had our first debriefing meeting tonight. From the thoughts and experiences people shared it is obvious that you have been with us every step of the way on this trip through the prayers and support you have provided. We have established relationships with people who did not want to know us. We have made an impact on a building project that will impact the lives of many people for years to come. We have made and impact on the health of people who do not have access to even the most basic of health care and we have done it all together. We love you all and want to express our appreciation for the support you have provided and for being with us all along the way.

5 comments:

  1. Okay... Tears again!

    How touching. Thank you so much for keeping us informed. You bless us.

    Still praying. We will pray until we see you.

    Praise Him for all He's done!

    Ardene

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  2. Mike, you are very eloquent and I am blessed as I read all of the blogs. It is such an encouragement to us, here at home, to hear how our prayers are being answered. The mission team will be in our prayers until we are together again! Lori

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  3. Team, it has been a long journey - one you will never forget, and you are on the home stretch ... finish strong! Our thoughts are prayers for you are continuous ............ Bob Wigman

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  4. The trip isn't over until it's over. I believe there are still some miracles to be done before the team gets back and even during the trip back. "Lord, continue to enlarge the teams territory to yet do even more and give all the strength they need. And may they know that only You can accomplish these things through them." The best is still yet to come, team. Believe it.

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  5. I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers Romans 1:8-10

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