We are so excited that we have arrived (safe and sound with the protection of God) in Eldoret, Kenya. We landed in Nairobi on Tuesday evening - the airport was a busy open airport with no doors or windows - we have best described the atmosphere as organized chaos.
Pastor Martin, his wife Anne and his youth pastor Abu came to pick us up at the airport and arranged our overnight accomodations in Nairobi. They then drove us Wednesday morning on the "scenic" route to Eldoret through the Great Rift Valley. Never in our wildest dreams would we imagine to see baboons along the side of the road and zebras grazing in the fields. After two years of planning, praying and coordinating we are here and it seems like a dream come true!
As we arrived in Eldoret Wednesday afternoon, we settled into the Smart Island Guest House and then went right to the church for a welcome - the only way to describe the welcome we received is overwelming! We were moved to tears - music was playing, the church members and children were clapping and cheering and jumping up and down in excitement! We each received a lei and a small Kenyan flag as we were welcomed into the church and were seated in places of honor at the front of the church.
The hospitality and heart of the Kenyan people is amazing - they are quick to smile and laugh and are so curious about who we area. One little girl told her father that whenever she sees a white man, she thinks she is seeing Jesus! A little girl came right up to Kevin as soon as we arrived, he knelt down and she just stayed there hanging onto him. The same little girl (she's a very outgoing and extroverted little girl about 2 1/2 years old) came up to Lee and sat on his lap during the welcoming service. She was also the same little girl who greeted us when we came this morning.
This morning (Thursday) we arrived at the school around 9am and led the children (44 in attendance today) in morning devotionals today - handing out salvation bracelets, tshirts and suckers to each child (we were quite popular!)
We will try to post pictures and additional updates throughout our time - thank you all for your prayers! We are excedingly blessed, humbled and in awe of what God is doing here.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Prayer for the Children by Ina Hughes
I wanted to take a moment to share with you the following prayer - this was prayed as part of a beautiful commissioning service to "send us on our way" yesterday at church. I had never heard this prayer before and it broke my heart. Please pray this with us... THIS is the reason we are going on this trip!
We pray for children who sneak popsicles before supper, who erase holes in math workbooks, who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, who never "counted Potatoes", who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.
And we pray for those who never get dessert,
who have no soft blanket to drag behind them,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who cannot find any bread to steal,
who don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of their friends,
who squirm in church and scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles make us cry.
And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move but have no being.
We pray for children who want to be carried - and for those who must,
for those we never give up on - and for those who don't get a second chance.
For those we smother with love - and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
We pray for the children. Amen
Thank you for your prayers - Tanya
We pray for children who sneak popsicles before supper, who erase holes in math workbooks, who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, who never "counted Potatoes", who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.
And we pray for those who never get dessert,
who have no soft blanket to drag behind them,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who cannot find any bread to steal,
who don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of their friends,
who squirm in church and scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles make us cry.
And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move but have no being.
We pray for children who want to be carried - and for those who must,
for those we never give up on - and for those who don't get a second chance.
For those we smother with love - and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
We pray for the children. Amen
Thank you for your prayers - Tanya
Thursday, August 4, 2011
It's Almost Time
I feel compelled to at least write some sort of a post or update prior to leaving on our trip, but I have to be honest...my head is spinning, I'm a mix of emotions and I am just trying to get everything done before we leave! I am amazed to realize this is actually happening...in only a few short days we will be in Kenya and working with the kids! After two years of talking about a trip like this and at least a year of intense planning and coordinating we are down to the final hours! We honestly feel blessed to be able to be part of a trip like this and have the opportunity to work with the kids and embark on such an adventure!
We have been overwhelmed by the support of family, friends and community - those who have supported us financially, in prayer and with donations - we are taking 8 suitcases (each team member can have two 50 pound bags on international flights) of items to donate to Pastor Martin and the school...school supplies, crayons, notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, toothbrushes, kids clothes! We were also blessed by a donation of 60 backpacks from the Grand Casino...wow! Not sure if we can fit everything we have in our 8 extra suitcases...but we'll pack up the rest and pay for shipping once we get back!
More to come as we get closer to departure...I think I'll have some good "airport" time and will try to update from there! I'm hoping we can get to a cyber-cafe in Kenya from time to time to update from there...with pictures and blog updates!
A few questions we've been getting...thought I would answer for the group:
-Is it 100 degrees there? It's actually pretty similar to our weather...temps in the upper 70's but with humidity feels like mid-upper 80's
-we're almost exactly at the equator - so 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night
-we're at a higher elevation...about 7000 feet elevation
-not sure how many hours we'll be in the plane (not thinking of that to be honest...!!) Maybe 18-20 hours of actual time in the plane...that's alot!!
Let me know what other questions you have - we look forward to reading your comments and cannot thank you enough for your prayers, support and encouragement! Tanya
We have been overwhelmed by the support of family, friends and community - those who have supported us financially, in prayer and with donations - we are taking 8 suitcases (each team member can have two 50 pound bags on international flights) of items to donate to Pastor Martin and the school...school supplies, crayons, notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, toothbrushes, kids clothes! We were also blessed by a donation of 60 backpacks from the Grand Casino...wow! Not sure if we can fit everything we have in our 8 extra suitcases...but we'll pack up the rest and pay for shipping once we get back!
More to come as we get closer to departure...I think I'll have some good "airport" time and will try to update from there! I'm hoping we can get to a cyber-cafe in Kenya from time to time to update from there...with pictures and blog updates!
A few questions we've been getting...thought I would answer for the group:
-Is it 100 degrees there? It's actually pretty similar to our weather...temps in the upper 70's but with humidity feels like mid-upper 80's
-we're almost exactly at the equator - so 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night
-we're at a higher elevation...about 7000 feet elevation
-not sure how many hours we'll be in the plane (not thinking of that to be honest...!!) Maybe 18-20 hours of actual time in the plane...that's alot!!
Let me know what other questions you have - we look forward to reading your comments and cannot thank you enough for your prayers, support and encouragement! Tanya
Thursday, June 23, 2011
This is Just the Beginning...
We wanted to share a picture we just received from Pastor Martin - this is a picture of all of the kids standing on the piece of land we helped purchase...why is this particular piece of grass so special? This is where we pray we are able to build an orphanage for these beautiful children! Maybe not this summer...but we are trusting God and walking step by step alongside of Him in faith that we will be able to help Pastor Martin build an orphanage and a home for these kids soon! What an amazing thought! And what a blessing to be part of something like this!
Well...our trip is coming closer and closer! We leave for Kenya on August 8th - flying through Amsterdam and landing in Nairobi on August 9th. Our time in Kenya will be filled with working at the school, visiting families of the school children in their homes, some construction and physical labor and Pastor Martin is planning a soccer tournament for 500 youth the last Saturday we are in Eldoret...WOW! And we barely know how to play soccer...we may have to ask Kevin's brother, Bruce, for some tips when they visit us in July! We will fly hom from Nairobi...tracing our path back through Amsterdam on August 21st, arriving in Minneapolis on August 22nd.
Our team has been blessed and overwhelmed by the support, encouragement and prayers for our trip - we absolutely feel your prayers and need them so much as we prepare for this amazing trip. Thank you for your interest and questions about our trip - it's so much fun sharing with you and we will do our very best to post pictures and blog updates along the way!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Kenya Mission 2011 - team picture
Our Team...
Front Row: Tanya Pietz, Melissa Pearson, Amy Stauter, Sandy Poppe
Back Row: Kevin Pietz, Cheryl Stauter, Randy Stauter, Lee Poppe
So...we had a little fun! Our team is so excited to get to Kenya, we are literally "Jumping for Joy"!
Check out the animation and crazy faces! We have to practice the timing on our jumping for the next picture!
Back Row: Kevin Pietz, Cheryl Stauter, Randy Stauter, Lee Poppe
So...we had a little fun! Our team is so excited to get to Kenya, we are literally "Jumping for Joy"!
In the Beginning...
Where to begin? The Kenyan Orphan Project began in 2009 when Pastor Martin Shikuku traveled from Eldoret, Kenya to Aitkin, Minnesota (in April...it can be pretty cold in Minnesota in April!) Pastor Martin and Pastor Randy Stauter (our pastor at Glory Baptist Church) had been communicating via email for some time...thanks for the wonderful invention of the internet, the two pastors had discovered each other and that they both pastored a "Glory Baptist Church"...one in Kenya and one in Minnesota.
Pastor Martin had saved some money to buy a van for himself, which would save him 14 miles of walking to and from his church each day...but instead of buying the van, he heard God telling him to buy a plane ticket to Minnesota instead...never having personnaly met Pastor Randy or having any idea where Minnesota was! That's faith, right?!
While in Aitkin, Pastor Martin spoke at our Missions Conference...his faith, passion and love for Jesus were evident from the very first minute you met him - he is one of those people who "ooze" Jesus...with such light and joy! Listening to Pastor Martin talk about the school he created and the children he cared for and worked to hard to provide schooling for was a life changing experience... Our hearts were broken for what was breaking Jesus' heart!
What is amazing is that our Children and Orphan Outreach Ministry had been praying for a way to become involved with orphans somewhere in Africa and had explored what we could do in Kenya, but God had always gently shut those doors...we had no idea when we met Martin how quickly God would throw those doors open!
Over the past two years, our small church in central Minnesota has been able to financially and prayerfully support the Glorious Academy at Glory Baptist Church in Eldoret, Kenya - the school has expanded from 14 to 52 children. We are able to help give them food each day, medications and some school supplies. What a blessing that has (and continues) to be...how amazing how God provides to take care of their needs if we just ask him to use us! (and by the way...if you ask God to use you, please be prepared to hang on for an exciting and amazing ride!)
These children need so much more...it is our goal and prayer to help raise funds and build an orphanage...a HOME for this children who do not have a home, no warm bed to sleep in at night, no blankets, no comfort, no safety! We have been able to help Pastor Martin purchase land next to his church...we are so excited to see how God provides and to be able build a home for these children. Will we be able to start building the orphanage this summer? We're not sure...this is a faith journey for sure! An experience where God is stretching each of our team members...helping us grow in faith...showing us how to trust Him more...to rely on Him!
We are traveling to Kenya the first part of August 2011...we appreciate your PRAYERS more than words can say! We hope you find this blog interesting and a fun way to keep in touch with us as we continue our journey...
Pastor Martin had saved some money to buy a van for himself, which would save him 14 miles of walking to and from his church each day...but instead of buying the van, he heard God telling him to buy a plane ticket to Minnesota instead...never having personnaly met Pastor Randy or having any idea where Minnesota was! That's faith, right?!
While in Aitkin, Pastor Martin spoke at our Missions Conference...his faith, passion and love for Jesus were evident from the very first minute you met him - he is one of those people who "ooze" Jesus...with such light and joy! Listening to Pastor Martin talk about the school he created and the children he cared for and worked to hard to provide schooling for was a life changing experience... Our hearts were broken for what was breaking Jesus' heart!
What is amazing is that our Children and Orphan Outreach Ministry had been praying for a way to become involved with orphans somewhere in Africa and had explored what we could do in Kenya, but God had always gently shut those doors...we had no idea when we met Martin how quickly God would throw those doors open!
Over the past two years, our small church in central Minnesota has been able to financially and prayerfully support the Glorious Academy at Glory Baptist Church in Eldoret, Kenya - the school has expanded from 14 to 52 children. We are able to help give them food each day, medications and some school supplies. What a blessing that has (and continues) to be...how amazing how God provides to take care of their needs if we just ask him to use us! (and by the way...if you ask God to use you, please be prepared to hang on for an exciting and amazing ride!)
These children need so much more...it is our goal and prayer to help raise funds and build an orphanage...a HOME for this children who do not have a home, no warm bed to sleep in at night, no blankets, no comfort, no safety! We have been able to help Pastor Martin purchase land next to his church...we are so excited to see how God provides and to be able build a home for these children. Will we be able to start building the orphanage this summer? We're not sure...this is a faith journey for sure! An experience where God is stretching each of our team members...helping us grow in faith...showing us how to trust Him more...to rely on Him!
We are traveling to Kenya the first part of August 2011...we appreciate your PRAYERS more than words can say! We hope you find this blog interesting and a fun way to keep in touch with us as we continue our journey...
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