So, here we are again and we really need to get caught up.  To finish day 3--Saturday. We  made it back to Niavasha and our hotel after a very bumpy ride and a little rain.  It had done way more than rain a little along the way.  Can I tell you?  We have a very good driver.  He was able to manuever in ways I never dreamed of.  Somewhere along the way, we were ablegot our precious memory of the day.  These little kids were running down this fairly steep hill shouting and waving wildly.  These kids couldn't have been more than 3-5 years old.  The smallest one tripped or slipped or fell somehow face first, skirt flipping up, bare behind shinning.  But still managed to give us the biggest grin you have ever seen.  I just know that she went flying back up that hill screaming, I saw thw Muzungu!  What a cherished memory that will be for all of us.  Just too bad that we didn't get it on video for youtube.  After a great dinner and intimate debrief, we all went to bed VERY exhausted.

Day Four to come...

Day 3 Reload. Guess I had better explain that because it is actually day 4 now--Sunday.  Some things just have to happen when they happen in life and thus, posting is a little delayed.

The day began with the drive from Niarobi to Kiria.  A mostly uneventful drive.  Everyone was so excited to just be getting on the way to the village itself.  Niarobi is a quite large city and it took us some time to get out into the country.  But once we did the fun really began.  The land here is fresh and very beautiful and the sky was crystal clear.  However,  David Muchai, our trip leader with 410Bridge, told us that is had been raining in Kiria.  This could present a problem as the roads are dirt and not good dirt , at that.   We do have a wonderful, experienced driver named Patrick.  He managed  to navigate the roads just fine. All along the roads,  we encountered villages with many , many children who ran out waving and shouting Mazungu! Mazungu! (means:  white person)  Boy, did we feel like celebrities!

The  team members who have been before were very excited as they had experienced this before.  The overwhelming  feeling of welcome can only be understood by experiencing it.  It was so special to see the pure joy on the faces of all the people. So powerful for us on the trip that we just about had to grab the feet of one of the new team members to keep her in the bus and not all the way out the window (no names mentioned, Tari!).

We arrived at the primary school shortly before noon after having been escorted the last distance by excited school children, all in their green school uniforms.  Found out in that last few moments that our excitement was nothing  compared to the excitement of both the children and adults that were waiting  there.  Kiria is a tight knit village that is spread out over some miles but word goes around when the Muzungus are coming. Before wee could even get off the bus, we were literally surrounded by children, parents, and the village leadership counsel.  Every child there just wanted to touch your hand, hold your hand, and just be with you.  It was emotionally overwhelming!   The leadership counsel made presentations and introductions, along with songs and dances from the children.  All I can say is WOW!  Such a warm welcome.

After the festivities were over, we spent some time meeting and loving on all the people.
The kids LOVE to hold your hand and get their picture taken.  Then, they want to see themselves in the picture!  It is a custom in Kenya to welcome visitors by presenting a gift.  If you could only imagine how poor  these folks are, they often don't have any idea  where  their next meal is coming from.   We were presented with bottled soft drinks and loaves of store bought bread.  We fellowshipped together and ate.   What a wonderful time to be had by all!  All of a sudden, Patrick, our  driver,  came and  told  us that we  had to leave and it was getting ready to rain.  Yes, we were in for a rough road.  Literally!

More to come......

WE ARE HERE!  All safe and sound with all of our bags!  Customs was a breeze (which more often is a nightmare!  Gonna make this short for now.  Everyone is pretty tired and just needing to wind down.

Some thoughts on our travels:
At some point over the Atlantic ocean between New York and Paris, everyone was in their own little worlds enjoying quiet time (trying to sleep), in my own little world I was spending some much needed time with God.  One point came out while reading "Be a Circle Maker"....  a life changing truth to ponder......GOD IS FOR YOU!   Yes, you!  If you ever even had a fleeting thought about going on a mission trip, we are all here to tell you this is possible.  Anything is possible with God.  Simply seek the desires he has for you and it  will be so.  Personally, this whole process has been life changing and we haven't even gotten to the village yet.

Kenya 2012 Team Pre-departure thoughts:
Last minute final touches, nervous anticipation, prayers for safety, a quiet peace......
                         ........these are all things that I believe each of the 10 of us are feeling and more.
God's mighty hand as brought each of us on different personal journeys to get to the same place
tonight.  Our bags are packed and our hearts are full as we dream of what is to come in the next
several days.  As a team our number one desire is to shine the light of Jesus with every step we take and every word that comes out of our mouths.  Please continue to pray with us.

To all our family and friends, BEWARE!  When we return, we will be changed people!  Praise God, that we will be changed people.

So here is the itinerary, in case you want to know the plan.  As with everything in life, plans are subject to change.  So we will just leave it up to God.  Love you all.  More to come.

NEWHOPE SERVICE TEAM

THE 410 BRIDGE – KENYA SERVICE TRIP ITINERARY

TRIP ID:

2012K-09C

US LEADERS:

Dave Brown

KENYA TRIP LEADER:

David Muchai

KENYA DRIVER:

Patrick

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20

FLIGHT DETAILS:

DEPART: Raleigh, NC AA 4549

2:15pm

ARRIVE: New York, NY 4:00pm

DEPART: AA 44 5:29pm

*NOTE: teams should arrive at the

airport 3 hours before flight time

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21

ARRIVE: Paris, FR 6:45am

DEPART: KQ 113 11:00am

ARRIVE: Nairobi KE 8:30pm

Hotel: Lenana

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« Welcome / Introductions at Kiria

Primary school.

« Community tour

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch

« Home visits with prayers. Team

to divide into groups of 3 to visit 5

homes

EVENING:

« Panorama - team dinner/debrief

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« Team to divide into groups of 3

for church – A.I.C., A.I.P.C.A.,

Solid Rock.

« Team to be prepared to give

testimony, share bible verses and

songs.

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch

« Community games at Kiria

Primary school. Team to provide

equipment & supplies for soccer,

volleyball, kickball, bubbles,

checkers, dart, cards etc.

EVENING:

« Panorama - team dinner / debrief

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« GROUP 1: Fencing and planting

trees at school compound

« GROUP 2: Teach at the Nursery

school (34 kids age 6-7). Team to

provide paper, scissors, crayons

to cut out and color letters &

numbers. End with story time

and games.

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch

« Guidance & counseling – class 7

students (50 students, age 14).

Topics to include teenage

issues/challenges, importance of

education, etc. Divide the group

into boys and girls with

interpreters.

EVENING:

« Panorama - team dinner / debrief

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« GROUP 1: Fencing and planting

trees at school compound

« GROUP 2: Teach at the Nursery

school (34 kids age 6-7). Team to

provide paper, scissors, crayons

to cut out and color letters &

numbers. End with story time

and games.

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch

« Home visits with household

chores. Team to divide into

groups of 3 each and will share

chai tea and make chapati.

EVENING:

« Panorama - team dinner / debrief

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« GROUP 1: Fencing and planting

trees at school compound

« GROUP 2: Teach at the Nursery

school (34 kids age 6-7). Team to

provide paper, scissors, crayons

to cut out and color letters &

numbers. End with story time

and games.

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch

« Landscaping around the school.

« Community Farewell with prayers

at Kiria Primary school.

EVENING:

« Panorama - team dinner / debrief

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« Boat tour on Lake Navasha - $15

per person paid by team.

« Depart for Safari

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch on the road

« Safari Drive

EVENING:

« Sarova Lion Hill / team dinner &

debrief

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28

MORNING:

« Team breakfast / devotion

« Depart to Nairobi

AFTERNOON:

« Lunch

« Giraffe center / Kazuri beads

« Pizza Dinner

DEPART: Nairobi, KE KQ 102

11:45pm

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29

ARRIVE: London UK 6:45am

DEPART: AA 173 11:00am

ARRIVE: Raleigh, NC 2:50pm

Hello Everyone!
New blogger on today.  My name is dusti and I am going to Kiria, Kenya with 9 other folks from the New Hope Nation.  We leave on Thursday. So, stay tuned until tomorrow.  I'll be posting our
itinerary.  Please keep all of us in your prayers for safety, health, and strong emotions to carry us through.  More soon.......

Team Kenya 2012 Travel Team and Their Prayer Requests

Hey, everyone...

Here's the team from newhope church (Durham, NC) that's heading to Kenya next week (September 20, 2012).  Please keep all of us in your prayers as we travel and as we spend time in-country with our Kenyan friends.  Also...please feel free to keep up with us as Dusti Sellers, Team Kenya 2012 Blogmaster, blogs about our tip on this blog site:  http://hmi-nc.blogspot.com.

We will be in Kenya from Thursday, September 20, 2012, thru Saturday, September 29, 2012.

God's peace to all of you!!

Dave
On Behalf of Team Kenya 2012


The Team and Their Prayer Requests...

Dave Brown, Team Coach
Age 46

Prayer Requests...

• That I will have a blast with all my friends in Kenya and from newhope!!
• That God will bless our Kenyan brethren as they seek to follow Jesus and to create a sustainable community devoted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
• That God will prepare the heart of every travel team member to be an open conduit of God’s loving kindness to every other team member and to our Kenyan brethren.
• That God will erect a high hedge of protection around every team member.
• That God will bring our team together as a family.
• That I will live a surrendered life.
• That I will know the Mind and feel the Heart of Jesus.
• That I will humbly serve my team members.

Rosalyn Lloyd

Prayer Requests...

• That our newhope team will have a safe and enjoyable flight.
• That we will experience the joy of serving God.
• That our Kirian brothers and sisters will experience God in a Grand Way.
• That our friends and families will be well and that they will keep us in their daily prayers.

Dale Middleton

Prayer requests...

• That God will protect our mission team and bring everyone home safely.
• That God will watch over my family and home.
• That we will inspire the people of Africa to be closer to Jesus.
• That the people of Africa will inspire our mission team and bring us closer to Jesus.
• That God will soften the hearts of the people of the Middle East and those who provoke them.
• That my mother-in-law will feed my pup while I am away, and not be too upset if she eats her shoes.

Kathy Pittman

Prayer Requests...

• To see others through the eyes of Jesus and love them with His love.
• To develop deeper relationships with my Kenyan brothers and sisters, as well as my fellow team members.
• To be a blessing to others.
• To be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
• Protection from illness and injury (for me and my teammates).
• Strength and stamina.

Mary Lou Sanchez

Prayer Requests...

• That God will use me for His purpose on this trip and strip away any doubt I may have of my ability.
• That God will protect my son and teammates during our travels and this trip.
• For God to work on my son’s heart to see God and to want to follow in a path devoted to Jesus.
• For God to continue to open my eyes and heart towards a life of service.
• For my team members and I to grow and learn from each other and to remain a “family” team, during and after this trip.
• Please, please, please pray for me and my fear of bugs!!!! Father God please help me!! J

Dusti Sellers, Blogmaster
Age 51

Prayer Requests...

• Father, take what each of us has to share and multiply it to glorify your purposes.
• Prepare our hearts and the hearts of all we come in contact with, to encounter you in each and every moment.
• Open the eyes of each team member to see how truly blessed we are to be able to serve alongside our Kenyan brothers and sisters in Christ.
• Work within each of us so that your son is clearly seen in our actions, thoughts, and deeds.
• Open the hearts of those who don’t know you and use your servants to lay seed on that fertile soil, through relationships built.
• Father, protect each and every team member’s safety, health, and strength of heart for what you have in store.
• Help me oh God, to serve, to surrender, and to strive to be more Christ-like because of this experience.

John Stillman, Co-Trip Leader
Age 28 (turning 29 on the trip!)

Prayer Requests...

• That my wife and I will humbly serve our team members.
• That things would run smoothly at work in my absence.
• That our team won’t suffer any sickness or health related issues.
• That my wife and I can grow and learn things that we’ll be able to remember and use for the rest of our lives.
• That I would be able to focus on being present, rather than focusing on things going on back home.

Molly Stillman, Co-Trip Leader
Age 27

Prayer Requests...

• That my husband and I will humbly serve our team members.
• That I will be able to humbly serve the people of Kiria, Kenya.
• That when faced with challenges, I will be able to earnestly seek God’s guidance to make the right decision.
• That our team won’t suffer any sickness or health related issues.
• That my personal faith and walk with Christ will continue to be matured and strengthened through this mission trip.
• That my husband and I will be able to continue to grow our Christ-centered marriage through our experience.

Alberto Valentin
Age 13

Prayer Requests...

• That I will be successful on this trip and be a good helper for the team.
• For God to protect us, so we can be safe.
• To make friends when I’m in Kenya so I won’t be lonely.
• To not eat anything that will hurt my stomach.
• For me to remember to not use tap water when I brush my teeth!

Tari Wheeler

Prayer Requests...

• That our Kiria brothers and sisters will continue to seek Jesus.
• That our our Kiria brothers and sisters will spread the Good News to their community.
• That God will place a hedge of protection around the team members every moment of our journey.
• That Jesus will stretch me while growing His Kingdom as I live a life of service to others.

The Children of Haiti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGAwPapK2Uc&feature=relmfu