Ken & Arlene Hiatt - Kenya

Updates - Blog Format & BOH Conference Center

2011-05-13T19:23:00.002-05:00

A picture says a thousand words . . . so imagine how many words these pictures will save you from reading!

The left hand column features pictures of the Basket of Hope Conference Center being built in the Tana River District . . . most recent pictures at the top. This Conference Center will not only provide a meeting place for the ministries already in place, but it will also provide a meeting place for the community and government. A lot of progress has been made on the first permanent building since we left March 2nd!

The right hand column features pictures from the 5 mission trips Ken and I have taken to Kenya.

Enjoy much happy reading with your eyes!

Construction Update

2011-03-14T19:13:00.001-05:00

Sharon sent these pictures to me today! It's so exciting to see the walls going up on the 30x30 foot enclosure of the pole barn (30x80 foot building). There will be 3 rooms . . . one room (15x15) will be the kitchen with a sink, one room (15x15) will be for storage, and the third room (15x30) will be used for sleeping. The open area of the building will be used to hold classes, hopefully as early as mid-April for a Pastor's seminar.

God is good!

Baboon & A Flat Tire

2011-03-04T13:29:00.000-06:00

Buddy, the Baboon Bandit
Remember Buddy, the Baboon Bandit of Nakuru Game Park? (See 2/18/10 post.) He found out we were in Tana River and paid a visit!

Late one afternoon as I returned to the banda alone, there Buddy was . . . looking into the banda ! I backed away quickly and shouted to anyone who might care, “Baboon! Baboon! There’s a baboon at the banda!” The Kenyan workers nearby stopped and looked at me like, “Yes. So?”

Ken, my knight in shining armor, was off site! But thankfully, Louis was nearby. As I walked toward him, I repeated, “Baboon! Baboon! There’s a baboon at the banda!” Louis dropped was he was doing and came to my rescue. But by the time we returned to the banda, the baboon had crawled over the brush perimeter and was sitting there watching us. He stayed there for a few minutes before moving to a clump of nearby trees, where he sat for a half hour or so and watched us before giving up and leaving the site.

Sorry, I didn't get his picture this time!

Flat Tire
We arrived after dark the day we hauled the lumber from Mombasa to the Tana River site. Sharon & Howard and Louis were in the van, which Pastor David Mwakesi was driving. Ken was following in Pastor David Mwakesi’ car. Both vehicles had just stopped at the police check near World Vision, where we were staying.

Finally, we were cleared to go through. As we followed the van through the check point, I said to Ken, “It sounds like we have a flat tire.” Ken continued following the van through the check point. As the soldier pulled the spiked bar back across the road, he yelled, “Stop! Stop!” I wondered why he was telling us to stop when I heard him yell, “You have a flat tire.”

By this time, the van was already turning at the corner. I called Sharon to let her know that we had a flat tire. She said they would unhook the trailer and be right back to help us. In the meantime, Ken had the spare tire out and was looking for the jack, which he could not find. So, we waited for the van to return.

Both the Kenyan policeman and the soldier introduced themselves to us and told us that it’s not good to be out on the road after dark, but that we were safe there with them. They told us that a lion had been spotted the night before in the village behind World Vision. We knew a lion had been in the area, as the guard at the Basket of Hope site had found a lion print at the site two weeks earlier.

While we waited, we enjoyed the cool breeze and the beautiful night sky. It’s amazing how many stars, including the Milky Way, can be seen when there are no city lights interfering with the view!!!

We're Home!

2011-03-03T18:23:00.000-06:00

We left Nairobi at 11 p.m. on Wednesday night and landed in Omaha at 1:20 p.m. today . . . after 24 hours of traveling . . . 18+ hours in the air. Remember, Nairobi is 9 hours ahead of Lincoln time.

Our flights were on time but like non other flights we have ever been on. Three hours into our flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam, there was a medical emergency. The crew members and a doctor on board worked for over an hour to revive a man. Sadly, he did not live.

On our flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, there was another medical emergency. An elderly woman was having health issues before she even boarded the plane. The cabin members tried to get her to not get on the flight, but she did. Fortunately, her situation turned out better, even though it required a doctor to monitor her during the remainder of the flight.

Ken and I are very thankful to God for his hand of protection on our lives during this past month. We had a great trip . . . will write more about it when I can stay awake! :-)

Love,
Arlene

Heading Home

2011-03-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

Bags are packed and weighed . . . none over 50 lbs, which is a miracle in itself! In a few hours, we will head to the Nairobi airport to begin our journey back to America. Where have these past 4 weeks gone?

We have been in Nairobi since Saturday night, staying at Jon & Molly's at KKV. Nairobi is lush with green . . . and beautiful flowers . . . and cool temps! What a welcome relief from the 125-130 degree temps in Tana River!

There will be time to reflect on the past 4 weeks during the long flight home.

It's bittersweet leaving Kenya . . . leaving the wonderful people and friends in Tana River yet looking forward to seeing family and friends in America.

Thank you for your continued prayers as we travel home.

Love,
Arlene & Ken

2011-02-25T12:50:00.001-06:00

Hello, Everyone,

We arrived back in Tana River around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night (22nd). It is normally about a 4-4 1/2 hour trip; but because of the load of lumber and the potholes, it was an 8 1/2 hour trip. I believe a turtle could have moved faster than we were driving on the last half of the trip. The top of the van was loaded with lumber, as was an 8 foot trailer so had to drive pole pole (slowy slowy).

Ken and I were in Pastor David Mwakesi's car; he was driving the van. We arrived at the last police check before our turn to World Vision around 8:30 p.m. After sitting for what seemed like an eternity while they checked both vehicles out, they pulled the spiked bar out of the way for us to pass through. As we followed the van and trailer through, I said to Ken . . . "It sounds like we have a flat tire." As we passed through, they pulled the spiked bar back into place. The soldier began to yell . . ."Stop! Stop!" He then told us we had a flat tire. By this time, the van and trailer had already turned the corner. Immediately, I called Sharon. She said they were just pulling into World Vision and wanted to unhook the trailer and then would be back to help us.

So, we stood outside the car with a Kenyan policeman and an army soldier in the pitch black of night. We all introduced ourselves. When the subject of governments and politics came up, I said . . . "I just love the night sky in Africa. We cannot see this many stars where we live!" Nice segway to changing the subject, don't you think. We told them about the project and the ministry and feeding programs taking place in Tana River until David and Sam and another man came back to change our tire.

The policeman and soldier both confirmed lion activity in the area. Ken and I have been to Tana River 5 times and have not seen or heard of lions being in the area or hyenas or zebras. Don't know why I thought they wouldn't be here! :-)

Work continues at the site of the Basket of Hope Conference Center. I'll try and get pictures posted yet tonight.

We arrived back in Mombasa today around 10:30 a.m. The van needed to have the timing belt replaced. The mechanic started on it this afternoon and at 6 p.m., they were putting the van back together. It's to be ready around 10 a.m. tomorrow. Then it's on to Nairobi tomorrow, where we will stay at Kings Kids Village with Jon & Molly.

The long rains will begin the end of March, or before, cooling down the Tana River area. The rains will continue through April/May, refilling the Tana River.

This month has gone quickly; we leave for America Wednesday night. It's always bitter sweet . . . leaving the wonderful people here in Tana River yet looking forward to being home with family and friends.

Thank you for your continued prayer support.

Love,
Arlene & Ken

HOT, HOTTER, HOTTEST

2011-02-20T07:52:00.001-06:00

Greetings from Tana River, the land of HOT, HOTTER, HOTTEST temperatures!

Thursday last week, the temperature reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit by 10:30 a.m.!!! Each day’s high temp has been around 127 degrees . . . with humidity to match! Even the Kenyans are saying it is hot! Now that’s hot!

Our trip to Kenya began at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, February 4th in Omaha with arrival in Mombasa at midnight on Saturday, February 5th. Kenya is 9 hours ahead of Nebraska, but it was still a loooooong trip!!! In Detroit, we met up with the 3-member team from Jackson, Michigan. From Detroit, the 5 of us flew to Amsterdam then to Nairobi then to Mombasa!

Sunday (6th) was spent in Mombasa, where we attended church at 9 a.m. Monday morning was spent running errands . . . left in the afternoon for Tana River, about a 5-hour van drive. Basket of Hope purchased a 9 passenger, air conditioned van in January.

On the property, an outhouse was built – thank you, Louis! – and a banda (the first building on the property) was built around a big tree. Not only does the banda house our kitchen, but it provides MUCH relief from the sun and heat!

Between February 8-16 . . .

Kenyan men dug the footings for the pole shed, 30 feet x 80 feet. The men were paid by each 10 foot long, 4 foot deep, 2 foot wide section they dug. All the footings were completed in 2 days and concrete poured on Thursday and Friday!

Digging of the pit latrine began. The finished hole will be 25-30 feet deep and 6 feet across. The hole was about 15 feet deep when we left Tana River on the 16th but heard today it is at 20 feet.

The team from Michigan dug red soil at an off-site location. The red soil was moved by truck to the church in Itsowe, where they sifted the red soil, black soil, and sand in preparation for block making.

Women from a near-by village cleared the remaining small brush. A couple of days later, the Michigan team raked the area and burned the debris.

Ken and Louis worked on a variety of projects, along with the Kenyan laborers.

Arlene cooked breakfast for the team 4 mornings – French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs – and washed dishes! She watched and “learned” how to cook some of the Kenyan foods!

Sunday the 13th, the team divided up and spoke at 4 area churches. It’s wonderful to worship with the body of Christ in another part of the world.

On Wednesday, the 16th, the team left Tana River for Mombasa and drove in rain nearly the entire way. This was the first rain in the area for 2 or 3 months.

We are 5 now . . . Ken & Arlene, Howard & Sharon, and Louis. We will return to Tana River tomorrow, Monday, February 21st for 5 or 6 days. The Michigan team flew out of Mombasa on Friday evening (18th) for their journey back to America.

We’ve heard that Nebraska has been enjoying warm temps, melting the snow! When we return on March 3rd, the crocus could be up and blooming declaring it will soon be Spring!

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Will post again soon. Would love to hear from you.

Thank you for your prayer support during our time in Kenya!

P.S. Will post pics later this evening.

Safe Arrival

2011-02-07T13:00:00.000-06:00

Over the weekend, we arrived safely in Kenya! Saturday night we landed in Nairobi, and before the night was over, boarded another plane to fly directly to Mombassa,Kenya, where we spent the next two nights, along with a rather large cockroach.

Today, Monday 2/7, we arrived in Garsen, Kenya, and will be spending the next week and a half working at the Basket of Hope Conference Center in the Tana River area.

We will post updates and photo's as we have internet access, and we hope to skype with our church family on an upcoming Sunday morning. In the meantime, we make the occasional phone call to our kids and grandkids during our free time in the hot, starry summer evenings.

Thank you for your prayers as we continue on this trip! We pray all is well with you and yours! Stay warm!

Basket of Hope Conference Center

2011-01-17T14:28:00.008-06:00

Basket of Hope was born to help people out of poverty through adequate, safe water supply; carpentry tools for young boys and treadle sewing machines for young girls to learn a skill; feeding programs; training teachers and women; building school buildings; and building a Conference Center.

On the paved, main road in Tana River, 15 acres of land has been donated to Basket of Hope, on which Basket of Hope Conference Center will be built. This site is centrally located and not flooded by the rains. The Conference Center will provide classrooms for teaching, lodging, bathrooms, and a kitchen. There are over 100 churches in this area, with more churches started each month. When the Conference Center is completed, we will also reach out into Somalia, which is close to the border of Kenya.

The Basket of Hope Conference Center will be an activity center that will provide healing, hope, and relief to all ages as they come for teaching, training, and encouragement.

THE PURPOSE . . .

To accommodate the existing and ongoing humanitarian outreach – 30 years of serving the community –promoting human welfare and social reform!

20 Nursery Schools with feeding programs

Teacher Training for Nursery School Teachers

Food Distribution Center for Famine Relief

Adult Education:
Carpentry for men / Sewing for ladies
Agricultural Training Center
Block Making Machine
Cement Mixing
Welding
Building Construction

Future Site of Medical Clinic & Nursery School

3 Bible Schools

Kenyan Mission Classes

Pastors, Women Leaders, & Youth Classes

Basket of Hope Mission Center Update

2010-05-03T16:20:00.005-05:00

We have received word that 1,000 blocks have already been made in Itsowi to be used in the construction of Basket of Hope Mission Center! Because of the volume of blocks needed, Basket of Hope is anticipating the purchase of a second block making machine.

The final survey drawing of the property is expected the first week in May. Plans are in the process of being drawn up for the first buildings for the Mission Center, and paper work has been started for the bore hole (well) on the property.

The Kenyan leaders have initiated putting teams of men and women together to oversee block making, trench digging, boundary line fencing, water, septic system, etc., showing ownership of the property the Lord has given to them.

This is the year of the favor of the Lord! Please continue to pray for God’s blessings on the beginning stages of the work in Kenya.

BLOCK MAKING MACHINE & BASKET OF HOPE MISSION CENTER

2010-03-06T11:50:00.004-06:00

This post is a little lengthy, but there is soooooo much to tell you!

Block Making Machine & BOHB (Basket of Hope Block)
(Pictures are posted below.)

The day after we landed in Nairobi, we (the team) went to the company who makes this particular machine (which weighs about 300 pounds), purchased one, and had it shipped to Mombasa. In Mombasa, the machine was loaded on a bus to Itsowi.

The blocks are made with soil (sifted through wire to remove all the big pieces and foreign objects), cement, and a little water. The soil is first tested for shrinkage by putting wet soil in a tray (about 1 inch x 18 inches) and allowed to dry. The amount of shrinkage then determines how many parts soil to 1 part cement. Water is added slowly until the mix stays in a nice clump when squeezed in your hand. The block is put in the shade and sprinkled with water in the morning and evening for 7 days; then bakes in the sun for 2 more weeks.

One bag of cement costs about $10 and will make 150 block. With 4 people working, 450 blocks can be made per day per machine!

At both conferences we taught at, the women and men were given an opportunity to make a block. The men said it was too hard for the women, but the women knew otherwise! It was so much fun watching block being made and seeing them catch the vision!

They are soooooo excited and started making block even before we left Kenya! They will first make block for the new Basket of Hope Mission Center; then they will make block for schools, churches, houses, and to sell. In time, a second machine will be purchased and sent to Tana River or Lamu.

The block making machine, like the Living Water Pump (KickStart water pump), is helping the people of Tana River and Lamu TURN HISTORY AROUND!

Land & Basket of Hope Mission Center

While in Itsowi in 2007, Meleckson showed Sharon, Ken, and I four acres of prime land, on a tarmac (paved) road, that was in the process of being given to us. Everything in Kenya is “pole, pole” – slowly, slowly! So, one goal of our trip this year was to see what was needed to move this forward. We were told that the land was ready to be surveyed, which began the day after we left Itsowi.

Meleckson, a local pastor and a man of integrity, very respected in the area, was on the property during the surveying. He asked the District Planner if we could have 10 acres, instead of 4. No was the answer.

About a week later in Mombasa, the team joined Meleckson and the District Planner for lunch so we could meet each other and have a clear understanding of the property. Sharon asked where the public water line was (it runs parallel to the paved road). She also shared that we need a borehole (well) on the property. The Planner asked why we needed a borehole for 4 acres of land. Sharon told him what we will be using the property for. The District Planner looked at Sharon and said, “You are doing good on that property. You don’t need 4 acres . . . you need 10 acres!!!” He called the survey team and told them to stop surveying until he returned the next day. Before we left Kenya, we were told that 10 acres were ours, and we had been given a letter of allotment!

Sharon met with an attorney in Nairobi, who asked why we were not going to own the land and that all buildings put on the land will belong to the land owner, not BOH. Sharon said she didn’t think BOH could own land; the attorney said BOH could as a registered branch in Kenya. BOH is being registered as Basket of Hope Kenya Branch and will own the land!

Some of the ministries currently in place in Tana River & Lamu Districts who will have a permanent home at BOH Mission Center . . . bible schools, women in ministry, pastors meetings and seminars, youth, school of missions, adult education, famine relief food distribution . . . and in the future, a medical clinic, nursery school, and whatever else God has planned!

Shambas & KickStart Water Pumps

2010-03-06T09:06:00.000-06:00

Each time we go to the rural villages in the Tana River and Lamu Districts, we look for ways to help the people raise their standard of living, giving them hope and a “hand up,” not a “hand out.”

Since the first KickStart water pump was given in 2006, about 12 more KickStart water pumps have been purchased and given to the Women Leaders we minister to. These pumps help provide abundant water for their shambas (gardens), for the cattle, and for their own personal use for laundry, etc.

On our recent trip, we visited the garden of one of the Women Leaders, where she is growing tomatoes, watermelon, green beans, sugar cane, and rice! It was a beautiful garden, which produces enough food for her families and food to sell at market. I’ve posted pictures below.

The women pay back ½ of the cost of the machine, thus giving them ownership and providing money to purchase more KickStart water pumps to be given to others.

The KickStart pump seems like such a small thing in the scheme of life, but it makes their lives easier and produces much! We serve a God of multiplication!

We're Home!

2010-02-25T01:56:00.002-06:00

Sharon, Ken, and I arrived in Omaha shortly after 11 pm on Wednesday, February 24th. We were an hour late leaving Chicago because of having to wait for the plane to be de-iced . . . it started snowing in Chicago around 8 pm.

Apart from being tired from the long flight home, we are healthy and safe. It was wonderful to have Heather at the airport to welcome us all home. A special THANK YOU to Pastor Jerry and Solo for picking us up at the Omaha!

It's 2 a.m. and probably need to think about going to bed!

Love,
Arlene

Hello from Paris

2010-02-24T04:11:00.002-06:00

We arrived at the Paris airport at 5:15 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, February 24th, and our flight for Chicago leaves at 12:50 p.m. Originally, we had thought we would go into the city, but we decided not too, especially after being told to be careful if we do. As it turns out, we really would not have had enough time to do so. It took us 45 minutes just to get our boarding passes from Paris to Chicago, not to mention how looooooong it has taken us to get through security.

It is very cool here . . . 44 degrees when we landed. Cold compared to where we have been but not as cold as what we are returning to! :-) It is overcast and rainy in Paris.

Hope the snow all melts before we get home!

Love to all,
Arlene

Heading Home!

2010-02-22T11:29:00.002-06:00

Hi, Everyone,

We've just had supper with Jon & Molly & family and a time of worship and prayer. The presence of God was so rich!

It's hard to believe our time in Africa is up . . . for this time, at least! We leave tomorrow night (Tuesday). I've had trouble with the modem, or maybe it was Mombasa, so will post more info and pics when I return home . . . probably one of the mornings I will be wide awake at 3 a.m.!!!

This past week, we have driven to Nakuru, flown to Mombasa, and flown to Kisumu! Abigail, we have pics of Wycliff! You should see how big he is and how well he is doing!

We arrived back in Nairobi at 10 a.m. this morning (Monday) and then went straigth from the airport to Ruiru. It's been a whirlwind, but we've loved every minute of it. As we have touched lives, they have in turn touched and enriched our lives.

We thank you all for your faithfulness to pray for the team. Please continue to pray as we travel home.

We love all of you and look forward to seeing you all . . . especially Princess Sweet Pea and Daniel . . . Heather, Dustin, Christina, and Andrew, too!!!

Love,
Arlene (Ken and Sharoni, too!)

Buddy, The Baboon Bandit

2010-02-18T02:02:00.004-06:00

Hello, Everyone!

Sorry, I've not blogged as often as I had hoped to. We either have been on the go from sunrise to sunset or have not had access to a computer. On Tuesday, we did buy a 3gm remote but did not have time to use it. We arrived in Mombasa around 10 am on Wednesday, dropped our luggage at our hotel, and then set out on errands and meetings, arriving back at the hotel at 6pm . . . a very long and HOT, HUMID day!

We had lunch with Meleckson, Mwangi, and Joseph, the Planning Director for Tana Delta River District, where the property is located. The surveying of the land should be completed this week. While on the property, Meleckson asked if we could apply for more land, say 10 acres. Joseph said no. But during our lunch meeting with him and asking about us drilling a borehole, he said he had an idea. Joseph stated that we are doing good things in the area and need more than 4 acres and said we should apply for 10 acres!!! Also, the lawyer in Nairobi said Basket of Hope can be registered in Kenya as Basket of Hope Kenya Branch and BOH can own the land. Another answer to prayer!!! PTL!!!

We were in Nakuru Thursday, February 11th, through Saturday, February 13th. While in Nakuru, we stopped at New Life Home, where we saw Jerry (named after Pastor Jerry), Stephan, and Wilson – these boys are now 7 years old and in school. We were also able to spend 2 evenings with Solo's dad and mom and his sister Josephine and her son Scott. Greetings to Solo, Sarah, Judah, Belle, Luka, and Micah . . . we are bringing LOTS of hugs home to you!!! We met Solo' brother, Peter, for lunch at Java House Tuesday at Java House (in Nairobi) and will see Sam and Veronica at New Life Home “Open Day “ this Saturday (20)..

Now, the Story of Buddy, the Baboon Bandit . . .

We spent about 8 hours in Nakuru Game Park on Friday (12th), seeing lots of cape buffalo, zebra, a few flamingo, and a few twiga (giraffe). A panoramic view of Lake Nakuru can be seen from Baboon Cliff. While minding our own business – enjoying the scenery – a baboon tried to enter another safari van through the pop-up top. The baboon fled the van into a nearby tree/bush, where he posed for pictures!

Our team loaded into our van, our driver was getting ready to get into the van, and we decided it was snack time. BAD idea! Sharon, sitting in the very back row of the van, opened a bag of BBQ chips and passed them to Diane who was passing them to Ken when entered said baboon! He spanned the 2 middle seats, front hands on the seat Ken and I were sitting in, took the bag of opened chips from Diane and was looking and darting around the van for more. Deciding the baboon needed the unopened bag of chips I was holding more than I did, I decided to throw them out of the pop-up top, thinking he would follow the chips out of the van.

But no, we had a baboon who plays outfield and can catch anything flying by! By then, I had opened the side door and was out of the van!!! The baboon climbs out of the pop-up top on the side and proceeded directly to the back where he leaned way in and grabbed a white plastic bag containing one small bag of chips, a small box of cookies, a bottle of water, and 4 Cadbury chocolate bars (one plain and 3 with nuts)! How rude to take our chocolate after I sacrificed my chips! :-)

A couple of the team members were sleepy, but their adrenalin kicked into high gear after the baboon visit. It was very obvious that this was not the first time this baboon bandit held up a safari van!!! A new one, and hopefully a last one in this lifetime, for each of us.

Louis & Diane returned home to the States on the 16th. It's hard to believe we will return home in less than a week!

The forgotten people in the Tana River and Lamu Districts captured our hearts from our first visit in 2005. This area of Kenya continues to be the vision of Basket of Hope . . . to teach . . . to edify . . . to encourage . . . and to bring hope!

Love to all,
Ken and Arlene and Sharon

P.S. Below are pictures of the conferences in Tana River & Mpeckatoni

2010-02-11T00:29:00.000-06:00

We arrived back in Nairobi on Tuesday, after 10 days of ministry in the Tana River and Lamu Districts, where over 60 women leaders and pastors attended one of two Leadership Conferences. God met each one of them, as well as each one of us! There is much we can write about, but we want to share with you about the brick making machine, purchased in Nairobi and shipped to Itsowi in Tana River, and about one of the women leader's shamba (garden).

Brick Making Machine . . .

The women leaders and the pastors were given hands on teaching on how to make a brick, including mixing the dirt, cement, and water and then putting the mix in the machine and making a brick! (See pictures below.) This machine will allow them to make bricks for the new conference center (to be built on land being donated near Itsowe), for schools, for churches, for homes, as well as brick to sell . . . and they are ready to begin NOW! The first bricks will be made for the new conference center. This conference center will be called, “Basket of Hope Mission Center!”

Near Garsen, we visited a shamba of one of the women leaders. A Living Water Pump, aka KickStart Pump, is used to water the garden from the Tana River. The Living Water Pump allows easy and abundant water to each plant, producing food for her family and food to sell. In her garden, she grows rice, tomatoes, green beans, watermelon, and sugar cane. The severe drought the past 3 years had dried up the Tana River. But thanks to January rains, the Tana River now has a skeleton of water in it.

We ask for your continued prayers for the team . . . for health and safety and for God's plan to be accomplished!

Love to all,
Ken and Arlene and Sharoni!

2010-01-31T11:27:00.002-06:00

Hello, Everyone,

We arrived safely on Thursday night and have spent the past 3 days trying to get past jet lag, as well as run errands etc. Attended Nairobi Lighthouse Church this morning ... awesome service. We leave tomorrow morning for Tana River and will be there for 10 days. Will not have Internet access during our stay in Tana River, so will post when we get back. Thank you for your continued prayers for the team.

Love to all,
Ken & Arlene

T Minus 4 Days and Counting!

2010-01-23T22:16:00.007-06:00

Only 4 days until we leave! Really only 3 days by Arlene's way of counting . . . you can't count today, because it is already here, and you can't count the day you leave! :-)

Many of the children in the Tana River and Lamu Districts walk up to 2 miles to school, and then 2 miles home, because they know they will get to eat lunch, which is often their only meal for the day. Not only do they get lunch and an education, but they also experience the love of God and hear the Gospel. All this for only $5 per month per child! Such beautiful children and the next leaders!

Many schools are held under trees, which give little protection from the sun and heat and rain. However, there is a brick making machine (no motor requiring gas or electricity) which will enable the villages to make brick to build a school building! The cost of a bag of cement is nothing in our budget, but it is a huge amount in theirs! (They are able to make about 400 bricks from one bag of cement, which is mixed with local soil and sand.) The brick making machine will not only allow them to make brick to build schools, churches, and homes, but also to make brick to sell . . .giving them a "hand up," not a "handout!"

We are excited to see an update of what God is doing in the Tana River/Lamu Districts!

Two Weeks From Today . . . And Counting!

2010-01-13T06:55:00.006-06:00

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.

. . . Then the King will say, I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me. (Matthew 25:34-40 Message Bible)

As the "to do" and "packing" lists are under way, we keep in mind the purpose of our mission trip . . . to share Jesus . . . His love, His hope, His peace!

Two weeks from today, we leave for "balmy" Kenya. Well, actually, it will be hot and humid, as February is their summer!

Thank you for your prayers, even during these next 2 weeks as we pack and try to stay under 50 pounds per suitcase!

Warmer Weather on the Horizon

2010-01-03T22:23:00.003-06:00

In just over 3 weeks, we will be in Kenya, where it is summertime. I'm sure that, after a few days in the Tana River/Lamu Districts, we'll be dreaming of Nebraska's snow and cool temps!

Please pray for us and the other team members . . .
1. for safety as we travel to and from Kenya and within Kenya
2. for health
3. for provision
4. for God's anointing upon each of us as we teach at a Women in Ministries Conference and at a Leadership Conference
5. for God to use us to touch lives

Kenya Here We Come!

2009-12-09T15:16:00.004-06:00

December 9, 2009
Dear Family & Friends,

It’s official! After 2 years at home, we are going back to Kenya! The team leaves on January 28th and returns on February 23rd.

This blog will allow us to keep in touch with you and you with us, including pictures. We will soon post pictures from our 2007 trip.

We will spend 2 weeks (maybe longer) in the rural, sub-Sahara desert area of the Tana River/Lamu Districts, where we will
• Visit rural schools participating in a feeding program for the children
• Teach at a Women In Ministry leaders 3-day meeting
• Check on a new and cheaper well system (hope to install one)
• Check on KickStart Water Pumps already in place and seeing where others can be placed
• Visiting the 4-acre site being donated for use as a mission center
• Experience making bricks to be used for schools, homes, and the new mission center
• Visit the boys and girls schools on Lamu Island

While in Nairobi, we will
• experience firsthand the care and nurturing of the AIDS/HIV positive babies at New Life Home
• visit The Ark, a residential home for children with AIDS
• visit Kings Kids Village, an orphanage for children with AIDS

We will also visit the New Life Homes in Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nyeri, as well as visit the newly built family homes in Kericho, the tea field area of Kenya. These family homes are for older children with AIDS.