~ MISSION TRIP NEWS AND INFORMATION ~

Dearest Friends & Family:

First of all let take this oppurtunity to thank all of you for love and support. We will be leaving 5:30 AM on Thursday to start the long and tiring flight to Nairobi. We will arrive there Friday evening at 7:10 PM. I am looking forward to the church service on Sunday. They do church a little more lively than most of us do here. It is a cross between a celebration and church. Service will last at least 3-4 hours.

We will spend 2 days on-site at the construction of the orphanage. This will give us not only a chance to lay bricks and meet the staff and helpers but to assure that the money we've sent is being used properly. Then we will travel to Naivasha to do street minstry and preaching. The team will be feeding children, preaching, etc. This will be on Wed. 31st. On Friday we will be going to Nakuru Natl. Park (google it), where we will see many animals: giraffe, zebra, water bucks, spider monkeys, rhino's, hippo's etc. We also will spend one day in the office with Pastor Joseph Wambugu to discuss the workings of the ministry, strategic planning, and working on grant proposal information (some might consider this boring but it is a very important part of the trip).
Please pray for us in the following ways;
a. That we are able to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ
b. That we remain healthy and safe
c. That the african children and people see the love of Christ in us.
d. That we see a great harvest of souls.
the most important type of support we can get is your prayers. No mission is successful without prayer.

~ THE TEAM ~

Gary Robinette ~ Friendship Baptist Church
Rich Martin ~ Simpson Baptist Church, Simpson Illinois
Brian Hall ~ New Beginnings Baptist Church, Metropolis, Illinois

NEWS OCTOBER 28, 2007

i hope that everything is fine there. i preached today and Brian led a bible study (adult Sunday School). We spent most of yesterday at the orphanage and was really blessed as the children sang, 'Welcome parents, fathers, we welcome you our faces are made bright, our faces are made bright." Then they did some songs and the smaller children qouted scripture memory verses. They were very happy to see us again. We helped feed themand gave them candy and you would have thought we handed them gold nuggets. Each time i visit with them i am amazed at their politeness and manners. Timbasi Rose is doing a great job with the children. tell the ladies in the Tabitha's that i was able to visit with the orphan girl they are supporting . i gave her the present and took her picture. Rose Timbasi also says thank you very much Tabitha's for your gift, it will help very much.

three people were saved today at church. i was blessed to lead one to Christ, Brian hall lead one to Christ, and Gary Robinette lead one to Christ. Afterward the church leaders counseled with them as there was somewhat of a language barrier. The children from the orphanage/school were there and the place was filled with song and dance and worship. I loved it.

Tonight we will travel to Elizabeth's house for supper. She is cooking for us. i bet we have chapait, ugali, and all the fixins. if you can please tell nancy shearer that i hand delivered the letter to felix. he is doing well and sends his thanks.

Bwana Asifiwe
Rich

THE ITINERARY

Friday October 26th Saturday October 27th Sunday, October 28th Monday, October 29th Tuesday, October 30 Wednesday, October 31st Thursday November 1st

Arrival to Kenya Visit to House of Mercy Worship service at Githurai Construction on new Orphanage Travel to Naivasha (outreach and preaching in the streets) Safari Travel to Nairobi Departure for U.S.A.

~ THE AREA ~

 

KENYA
Kenya lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. Kenya is bordered in the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, in the east by Somalia, on the southeast by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Tanzania and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda.

Everyone should visit Kenya at least once -- not just for the spectacular wildlife, but also for its beautiful lakes and beaches and for the sweeping vistas of the Great Rift Valley. The landscape is just as memorable and photogenic as that lion walking, right there, beside the Land Rover or that Masai warrior stalking the plains. Kenya's people are friendly, the tourist trade is well organized, and there's a lot to see and do, making Kenya a rewarding place to visit. That isn't to say that Kenya is a trouble-free destination. If you spend some time in its cities, you are increasingly likely to encounter petty crime. In the game parks and reserves, you're more likely to be annoyed by the presence of other tourists, who convene in droves around the animals.

The best way to see the country is by hosted or escorted tour. The guides know where the animals are, they have experience navigating the often vast distances, and they make the best use of a precious commodity: time. The methods for viewing animals vary. Minivans carrying six to eight passengers are most common. Unfortunately, they don't provide much ground clearance on the rough roads, nor do they have four-wheel drive -- a real problem if you're visiting during wet times of year.

Kenya has more than 50 national parks and game reserves, some devoted to marine life or natural beauty as well as wildlife -- each offers something the others lack. If we had to limit ourselves to three, they would be Amboseli, Masai Mara and Samburu. We also recommend that travelers consider a visit to one of the lesser-known game areas such as Mount Kenya or Tsavo National Park. Athough the wildlife might not be quite as plentiful, the atmosphere will be quieter and more ... well, wild.

Kenya also has some excellent beaches in a tropical climate, and the coast of East Africa has a long and exotic history, where the calm blue waters were once the traditional passage of the Arabian traders. There, the coral reefs are teeming with life and color, and the coast is an excellent destination for first-class diving and snorkeling. The best way to enjoy Kenya is to combine a wildlife safari to the parks with a few relaxing days on the beach around Mombasa or Malindi.


NAIROBI
Nairobi lies at an altitude of 5,500 ft above sea level and has no real variations in the climate. Average temperatures range from 21°C in January to 16°C in July.

What once was a remote railway outpost has become the largest city between Johannesburg and Cairo and is Kenya's capital city and the world's safari capital. It has long been the commercial centre of Eastern Africa and one of the world's cross-roads with its' international airport servicing most of the world's airlines. Nairobi has a population of over 2 million people with all the main religious demoninations being represented.

NAIVASHA
All told, NAIVASHA town has little to offer as a place to stay. It's possible to catch a matatu or bus straight down to the lake, but if you plan to spend any time in the area, you may want to go into the town of Naivasha first to stock up on essentials. Most travellers tend to do their own cooking, and the lakeside and town together offer a wide choice. For food supplies, the fruit stalls on the main road are good, though there is more choice at the covered market. The oddly named Naivasha Mattresses Supermarket, at the upper end of Biashara Road, is cheaper and has more variety than the Multiline Supermarket. There's good lake fish at the kiosk opposite La Belle Inn and, if you're driving, super-fresh milk and yoghurts at Delamere Dairies, 3km north on the Nakuru road. There's a post office on Moi Avenue (Mon–Fri 8am–1pm & 2–5pm, Sat 9am–noon) and two banks: Barclays (with an ATM) and KCB, both on Moi Avenue (both Mon–Fri 9am–3pm, Sat 9–11am).


UGANDA
Uganda has once again become an outpost of hope in East Africa. As it makes steady progress toward peace and works to improve its tourist facilities, travelers have begun to trickle back to enjoy its stunning landscape -- green rolling hills, snowcapped mountains, majestic rivers and massive lakes -- and its fascinating wildlife, including Africa's largest population of mountain gorillas. Uganda has some of Africa's major attractions. It is bordered to the west by the Rwenzori Mountains, named a World Heritage Site for its eerie, craggy tips and giant vegetation. It contains four of Africa's seven great lakes. It is the source of the Nile that empties out of Lake Victoria at Jinja. It is home to more than 1,000 species of birds, making Uganda the richest birding destination in Africa, and it has the highest concentration of primates on the continent.

~ THE PEOPLE ~