NewSong Comprehensive Team Update

Wednesday, July 9
Diann led a spiritual formation time with the children’s home house parents specifically dealing with anger. This was followed by all four team members dividing the parents by gender, men with men, women with women, to discuss adolescent development issues specific to the gender. These development concerns are just beginning to be seen at the Kipkaren River Children’s Home and the parents are searching for effective ways to talk about them with the children.

Dan concluded a devotional experience by taking the older children on a treasure hunt teaching them to use a compass. The children were delighted to find the hidden treasure of a soccer ball and a jump rope.

Duke finished working on a game he had taught the children. He and Diann had to paint 96 sets of four rocks as playing pieces. Now each child has his/her own distinctive set.

Peggy finished helping Adele, our team hostess; sew colorful curtains for the guest rooms we stayed in.

Following staff devotions at 4:00 p.m., the team enjoyed dinner with Michelle and William Kiprop, staff members of ELI, and heard the story of the chaotic journey of their first 9 months of marriage.

Duke and Peggy met with another Kenyan couple who are recently married and searching for ways to bring diverse backgrounds into a healthy marriage.

Thursday, July 10
Following a breakfast time debriefing with Adele, Dan met with the headmaster and his assistant at the Brook of Faith Primary School to search out ways to improve the traditional methods of educational practice in the school and to plan for the development of a secondary school. This meeting was followed by a lengthy discussion on the same topic with Training Center Director, David Tarus. Together they examined solutions to bringing more financial support to the schools.

Diann, Duke, and Peggy went walking with Stone and Wilson, two ELI staff members who work with the ministry to alcoholics. They heard their stories and were able to meet with and encourage some recovered alcoholics. One lady who has come out of alcoholism and accepted the Lord as her savior stated that since the day she let Jesus into her life 6 months ago, neither she nor her children have gone hungry. That is an amazing testimony since she brewed alcohol to have money for food.

In the afternoon, Diann and Peggy attended a fun party for 30 women of the ELI staff put on by Juli and Allison, American staff members working in health care. It was a great time of celebrating each woman and encouraging them in their work they do for ELI.

When the afternoon rains started, the team received the affirmations of the training center, children’s home, and primary school staff in a farewell service. They are such a gracious and loving people. We were also able to share our closing thoughts with them letting them know how our lives had been affected because of their lives, work, and testimonies. This service was followed by a tearful goodbye from all the children in the orphanage. So many hugs!

Friday, July 11
We left the training center at 6:45 a.m. for an Indiana Jones style ride over slippery, rutted, rock filled roads to the airport. Adele’s skillful driving got us there 25 minutes before the plane left the ground. Upon arrival in Nairobi, Micah who is a trainer in the Dynamic Business Start-Up Project, served as our driver and took us to an orphan baby elephant rescue center where we witnessed 12 ranging in ages from 2 to 22 months be bottle fed and played with. We heard the sad stories of how they were orphaned, many by poachers, and how they would be trained for their return to the wild at age 3.

In the afternoon after settling into our rooms at the Mayfield Guesthouse, Duke and Peggy went on a walk exploring a farmer’s market and AIDS rescue clinic, Diann took a needed nap, and Dan spent 3 hours at an elite private high school once again exploring how Kenyans view and practice good education.

We all enjoyed HOT showers and soft mattresses.

Saturday, July 12
Dan discovered he has no voice due to a viral cold. His day was spent forming a report on his findings and recommendations to ELI leadership concerning the continued development of the educational program.

Diann spent the morning and early afternoon doing spiritual formation training at the church of a Kenyan pastor that was a part of the New Song Church community for several years while attending Fuller Seminary.

Duke and Peggy composed this report, journaled, and got some needed rest.

At 3:00 p.m., Micah once again became our tour guide taking us to a open air market then on to the Carnivore Restaurant where we enjoyed the delicacies of roast ostrich, crocodile, water buffalo, sheep, cow, and chicken while debriefing our time in Kenya and preparing ourselves for our return to the USA where we will share our insights, experiences, and shaping of our time of ministry to the wonderful people of Ilula and Kipkaren, Kenya.

Sunday, July 13
We will enjoy an early morning drive-through safari at the Nairobi Game Park then on to church with Wendy Ludovici, and ELI staff member working in business development in Nairobi. Following church we will do some more sight-seeing around Nairobi, then drive to the airport for the 11:20 p.m. start of our 26 hour flight home.

Monday, July 14
Afternoon arrival to be embraced (we hope) by our families.

We have all had an experience that is a gift and also a challenge. There are so many amazing stories, sights, and relationships that have impacted our lives over the last 18 days. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts of us. You have provided us with blessing and shield. Please pray now for our safe journey home. We hope to see many of you very soon and share first hand this experience with you.

With our deepest love and regards,
Dan, Duke, Peggy, & Diann