Northside Crew: Discovering Kenya!

Dear family and friends, we are so thrilled to share with you what we’ve been up to in the last couple of days. We hope this information finds you all in good health and spirits, and we want to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers each day, too. Here’s a quick update:

•Tommy has enjoyed getting reunited with all of his old friends from this area, and everywhere we go people seem to know his name. Yesterday afternoon at the children’s home, he performed his famous “dinosaur” which includes a goofy face and roaming around like a raptor in the midst of the kids. They all love when he does it, and start running, laughing and screaming all around the campus. As you know, whenever Tommy can get kids to laugh, he’s happy, too.

•Cheryl had the opportunity to visit the wonderful well baby clinic here in Kipkaren and spent the morning with Michelle, the staff member/nurse in charge of that program. This was one of the portions of the trip that she was most looking forward to, and Cheryl was overjoyed to see that most of the babies she helped undress and weigh were very healthy, happy babies with chubby cheeks and loving mothers. When the rest of the team came to take a tour of the clinic and then head back to lunch, Cheryl really didn’t seem like she wanted to leave…she was truly in her element there.

•Rock has truly been a hit with the kids since we’ve arrived, teaching them how to salute and sing songs like “Amen”. It is a kick to see him standing amidst a group of children that are almost the same in height as he is, just enjoying each other’s company and smiling and laughing. He has been enjoying every single experience here, often commenting on how quickly the time is going by. He especially had an adventurous time playing futbol (soccer) with the kids from the children’s home…his muddy pants were evidence of the several spills he took while running alongside his new friends.

•Sarah had the privilege of leading a devotional time with the children at the children’s home just before dinner. After they sang several worship songs and recited their memory verses, she shared the story of Zacchaeus with them. It was evident that they knew the story, but the children were excited to learn the motions and song about the “wee little man.” She and the rest of the team had the privilege of eating dinner with each of the families from the children’s home…and with their 24 children. It was a great time of sharing and fellowship!

•Barron has been taking in the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of Kenya. We joke with him that he’s not fully ready to face the day until he get’s his “Folder’s Fix” but he seems to really enjoy every experience that we’ve had here. Yesterday, he got the opportunity to make a home visit to see a woman named Betty who shared her testimony on her life as an HIV positive woman here. It was a blessed time of fellowship, and Barron was able to offer words of encouragement, share his own testimony with her, and even join in the singing of “Amazing Grace.” He and Tommy have also been making each other break out in fits of laughter throughout the trip, and the guys have just been bonding. As with everyone else, he wants to let the members of his beautiful family know that they are loved and missed.

•Thank you to all of you for your continued support, prayers and encouragement. God is protecting us, blessing us, and teaching us about His love and His people here in Kenya.