The Turkey Before The Table

This is a blog that was inspired when we were preparing for our Turkey Day feast (Thanksgiving). I though of a really cool name, so i thought I would write about our preparation, our feast, and experience.Honestly Turkey Day is not the same without your immediate family, the food tastes different, and what your used to, just is not there no matter how hard you try.

BUT, this is the GREATEST thing about being part of God’s family, no matter how uncomfortable, lonely, or hard situation your in, He is always there and He provides more comfort than your mother and more protection than your father can, cause He was our first love, He was there before our parents beginning and there parents begging and so on and so on. HECK GOD IS THE BEGINNING AND WAS THERE BEFORE TIME. (Really meditate, focus, repeat on that saying and read John 1:1, it will BLOW YOUR TOP!)

So we first started out by slaughtering the turkeys, we did it a new way i have never seen before which takes the head right off without spilling blood everywhere, it very intriguing and cool. When we were gutting them we found all the different types of stages of eggs, we even found one that was fixin to come out of the turkey and was hard and everything. Thats enough for the detail. lol!

(This is me [of cource] with 2 fully undeveloped turkey eggs, which only have the yoke in them) 

Then the next day our awesome leaders here, cook the turkey and some sides and really tried to make it fill homey. Man, they really love Jesus, they show it so much and really love us interns like one of their own. They do so much for us not even seen, just so we can get the most out of what God has us here for. :D
(This is Jason Witt he is a very good cook [and he can kick my butt at Halo] and he is one of our leaders.)

(This is Bekah Witt she is Jason's wife and another one of our leaders [plus she can make killer deserts].)

One thing they did was rapped the table in paper and wrote,“I Am Thankful For” and we wrote on it things that we are thankful for. And when I started thinking “what am I thankful for?” It hit me I am very thankful for my family and how much God has given me a love for them, and how much He is FAITHFUL even when I do not put faith in Him. And How He loved me first, THAT GETS ME ALL THE TIME! :D
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19

(Lets just say it was a good looking table of thanks!)

Also another thing i realized was that I am truly blessed to have a team of like minded people that I am with. Cause honestly this would be harder if I was by myself.
This Thanksgiving was also fun because we had 3 different cultures represented. We an Indian couple fromSouthern India (who have an awesome story), we had 2 Kenyans there who work with us and of course us Americans.
He all had a great time, Praise the Lord for letting us do this and have the ability to be a American sometimes. :D
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS GOD!
For most times I dont even recognize them. Your to good to me!

(Time and I injoying our Thanksgiving meal!)

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When Blood and Water Fell

"When the blood fell and stained the sand, Satan was beaten.
When the blood fell, the wrath of God was satisfied.
When the water fell and claimed the land, purity cleansed the hearts.
When the water fell, salvation penetrated souls.
When the blood fell and stained the sand, the Law was fulfilled.
When the blood fell the Truth of prophecy came to pass.
When the water fell and claimed the land the cup of righteousness was pouring over.
When the water fell, pure refining gold was complete.
When the blood and water fell the earth was baptized with the drink offering.
When the blood and water fell it was time for resurrection, a time for sanctification.
When the blood and water fell and stained the sand, demons stood and screamed.
When the blood and water fell and stained the sand, people were redeemed.
When the blood and water fell, it stained the sand."

This poem was inspired by God in me!

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Men Can Wear Skirts, So Get Over It!

([{This is a blog about what it’s like to live in the contacts that I am living in}])

p.S: It may sound that I am against how people in America live during this blog, I am not against it at all. And I am NOT discriminating against this culture or there beliefs. 

I just want to confess before I start that I really like wearing man skirts.
(Which is called a Kikoy)

The Culture I live in is almost a complete opposite of how American’s live, minus some of the culture in the South, lol. The culture is based off relationships, talking and spending time with people, its more important than doing things and getting thinks done.  It really kind of cool, they value family so much, and people are more important than anything. Its okay to be late, in fact its implied that you be late, when they say be there at 4:00pm people probably wont show up until 5:00pm or 6:00pm. I like that! :D The culture is also very hospitable and they respect elderly people way more than we do in the states.
I honestly think we in the states could really learn from this culture.
The temperature here is hotter than most parts of the states, very dry and not a lot of wild life that you would typically think of when thinking of Africa. I have seen giraffes, wort hogs, crocodile or alligator (i can never remember the difference) [dont tell my dad he might disown me, lol haha jk], hippos, lots of donkeys*, lots of goats*, camels*, chickens*, cows* and different types of monkeys. (The ones with stars on them are the animals I see daily)
The basis of what I eat is rice, beans, wheat/starch, and some meat.
I live in a concrete house with 3 other men; Nate Hadravah, Tim Kopylov, and Harrison Akubala (he teaches us Swahili and works for BCOM [the college I am in])
I walk almost everywhere, which is great.
There are many different tribes that live here, all with their own way of living and traditions. They all have a basis thats the same but not all are alike. I mostly live among Salamis, Kikuyu, Kambas, Bantus, Ormas and some others that I cannot remember.
There are three main religions that are followed/practiced here:

1. Islam= The study/practice of the Quran and Hadith, believing in Allah (God) and his last prophet Mohammed.
2. African Traditional Religion (ATR)= There is no specific name for it because in different tribes there are different ways of practicing and believing. Most of them have a basis of witchcraft, ancestral worship, and believing in a spirit world; all of some type.
3. Christianity= The study/practice of the Bible, believing in Jesus Christ who came from the creator of all, God.

Some times all three of these beliefs are combined in a way. If ones does not work they might go try another. For example: if someone goes to the doctor in town and does not get better, they will go to the witchdoctor and if that does not work, then they will pray to Mohammed and might do some ritual, and then if that does not work they will pray to Jesus Christ. (Just an example does not always happen)
Last P.S.:
Not all of Kenya or all of Africa is like this, these cultures and beliefs are just are in the area were I live!
Tty when I wright again!

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Bound by 5 inches

([{To fully understand this picture you need to fathom that on marking your property here in Kenya is a wall that is about 6-10 feet high and around 5 inches think, that is was marks your land, keeps your privacy, and helps with random people coming in.}])

So this past week we were helping to do some improvements on a school that we have taught at and played with the kids. A one of the things we were doing was putting three new tire swings up for the kids so they can play on. I got the privilege (it was flipping awesome) to climb the trees that the tire swings were going to be on. [This was probably the coolest thing because, A. I felt like a kid cause I was climbing something and B. I also felt like a man cause I was doing labor with my hands that I new how to do, plus I got nicked and scratched from the trees! :D] The last tree I got the climb was a tree that branched out enough that I could see outside the school compound and got to see the world go on doing it’s business.
A thought came to my head when I saw these two totally different worlds, that were 5 inches away from each other. The thought was “WOW, look how much 6 inches can determine on how you look at the world.” (I thought it was 6 inches until I measured it)
Immediately after that I saw two totally different worlds, a world of Bondage that was bound by fear of the truth but at the same time it was curious what was on the other side. Also I saw a world that was full of Freedom going any direction the land can take it. The Bound world knew that if they tasted or experiences the Freedom that was just 5 inches away they would never want to go back into a world surrounded by walls. They could even hear people laughing, loud music, and movements of motion. At the same time they are thinking, “Why leave? We have everything we need here and we don’t know whats really out there, were safe here.” Still the curiosity of wanting to know “What is out there?” and to see what they hear everyday. The world of Freedom is so welcoming to share its liberty and joy.
He has his arm’s wide open, waiting for your arrive to the land of liberation.
Freedom is that close all you need to do is to step 5 inches from the Bondage.

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Darkness Will Be Lost & Forgotten

As the sun is awakening from his sleep, it starts to shine his light on the darkness. Things become visible, sin is left to creep back into the sewers where it belongs. People want to be in the light where they can see but really, what is their heart crying out to do? It is torn between wanting to see, so it's able to do things of the day and getting in the darkness so it may do what it fills without exposing it's self. Even though the sun will begone and come back the next day, it wants to be in the dark. Thinking it will be satisfied, the longer in the dark the more it depends and gets held down by the heavy burden, craving a need for more and more. Just as it has had enough and can't take the height of the darkness, dawn starts to brake along the horizon, and it sees hope and redemption coming out of the valley. Once it catches the rays of the sun, it's restored, redeemed, cleansed, and a new. As it soaks up the radiant light its gets distracted by the thought of "night is coming" and it cannot stop it. Panicking frantically, running around not knowing what to do. Peace hit him and came over him saying "The dark will come, temptation will be knocking, creatures will be around the corner wanting and waiting to devour you. But, YOU MUST HOLD FAST and grip strongly to the truth and satisfaction of the coming light, for it is coming and we cannot stop. Even now in the darkness seems never-ending, painful, heavy, and thirsting. You have been restored, redeemed, cleansed, and made a new by the light. Again hold fast and push through for the sun will come again and utterly destroy the darkness. When it has devoured the darkness, the darkness will be obliterated. If ever in doubt look up to the moon is shows the coming of the light. The sun is coming quickly its just beyond the horizon, when it comes it will never leave. Darkness will be no more and light will prevail, no more suffering and torment for it is lost and forgotten. When in doubt look the the moon."

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BE READY FOR WAR AT ALL TIMES!!!

So I read this passage out of Nehemiah about a month ago and the Lord has really pressed on my heart to share about it. I dont know why but He is!
So let me set up the background of the story Nehemiah got told by his brother Hanani and people from Judah (Ch.1:2-3) that, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” Through this Nehemiah gets a bunch of people to go with him to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. This may not sound exciting but this hit me. (what i am fixin to tell you)
So while they were rebuilding the wall the people were getting discourage from people feeding lies down their backs. (Ch.4:2-3) But then Nehemiah gets up to alert the people and to encourage the people he says (vs14) “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your house.” After the enemy herd that they knew what was going on and that God destroyed their plan they returned to the wall but they were ready for war at any moment. (vs.16-) “From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shield, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.”
I am stressing the bolded parts because they were ready for battle at any moment ready to go to war!
We need to be ready for war at anytime, even when we are busy, think we are busy, or when we get lazy. We need to be flexible, alert, and ready to what God is going to call us to do, what He has called us to do, or what He will call us to do.  
BE READY FOR WAR AT ALL TIMES!
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

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Celebration for foundation..... WHAT!

Foundation is Vital!!!
I just got finished reading the book Ezra about a week or so. The work
of God’s hands never cease to amaze me and always trumps what I think
or know about God.
What first hit me in this book was when the people of Israel started
to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, Chapter 3:10-11. “Now when the
builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the
priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the
sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the
directions of King David of Israel. They sang, praising and giving
thanks to the Lord, saying ‘For He is good, for His lovingkindness is
upon Israel forever.’ And all the people shouted with a great shout
when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the
Lord was laid.”
Okay so look at what they were praising over....
They were praising the Lord because the foundation was laid, not when
the whole thing was finished. The foundation they praised over it,
that blows my sox off!! I mean come on, how many times do we see
people praise the Lord when the whole job is completed? I am not
dogging on those people at all or saying its bad, heck I do it! lol
But some many times we forget to take into consideration of the
foundation that was laid before you were even a live.
The foundation is the bases of the temple or any structure, if a good
foundation is not laid, then the rest of the building is pointless.
They were praising the Lord over the foundation, how many times do we
(myself included) as followers of Christ ever thank Him for the
foundation He has laid in our own life? How many times do we miss the
foundation and what was laid before we were ever born? Let me answer
that “TOOO MUCH!”
For example:
The school I go to, it started by five families who felt God calling
them to move into one house and to start farming to support
missionaries. (Thats the story in a nut shell) So from their obedience
in the Lord’s calling of their lives, it has now blossomed into a
missionary training and sending hub. Providing the gospel to spread
through out the world.
If it wasn’t for the foundation that God laid through them, then I
would not be living in Northeastern Kenya right now.
This is a very good parallel of why we must get a good foundation on
God and His understandings, not the worlds.
Our foundation is always being laid through our walk and understanding
with God. He never changes but He has so much character and
awesomeness to Him that we will always be learning until we die! The
more He teaches us the more our foundation gets sturdy, wide and firm.
The other thing that stuck out to me was in chapter 4 when the people
where building the temple other people tried to stop them by telling
the elders that they were interested in helping rebuild the temple but
the elders knew that they were their adversaries and told them no.
Then the same people hired people on the inside to discourage and
frighten them from building. Through this situation letters were
written that were against Judah and Jerusalem for building the temple.
Then in chapter 5-6 King Darius writes a decree that they can build
the temple and King Darius made a search through the archives to see
if anyone else issued them to start, and guess what?! There was! The
origianal decree that was made that said they could build was by King
Cyrus in his first term of reigning. Which was written before any of
those letters against Judah and Jerusalem. God from the very start had
this temple in His hands and nothing could tare it down. (Ezra 1:1-2
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill
the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the
spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation through
out all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying: ‘‘Thus says
Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all
the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house
in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.’”
Let us remember what foundation was laid before we came alive and what
foundation is being laid right now in your life! :D

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THANK YOU THANK YOU, I'm so sorry

Dear, God!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU, I'm so sorry, the reason I say this is because I really mean it to You God! I want to thank You so much for what you have done to/through/for/ and with me. Thank You for not casting me out when I am rebellious, bitter, closed mindedness towards You, and being plain stupid. Thank You so so so much for helping me realize that You Are God of the EVERYTHING! and chose me to help You be know on this earth. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for EVERYTHING! I'm so so sorry for not being content and satisfied for Your will for my life. I'm sorry for taking things for granted. It seems like everyday I meet someone who has it worse/living with worse circumstances and hard life styles. I take electricity, music, internet, food, parents, family, a healthy body for granted. Yes these things are a blessing and they help life out to be easier, but I am so sorry for thinking I had to have these to live. I have meet people who are under the age of 16 with no parents and is trying to take care of their younger siblings or sibling, with no support or family to help out. I have meet people who don't/have never meet their parents and are struggling to get food every day. And people with absolutely not family and have to rely on others to take care of them because of their health. Thank You for helping me realize how much You have blessed me beyond reason. I'm so sorry I have taken things for granted. THANK You for having grace on me and looking at me as Your son, a righteous priest that is trying to love You more. THANK You for not counting or having record of my sins and not having condemnation over me. (Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of Sin and Death.") THANK You for being jealous for me, jealous to the point You wanted so much for us to have a relationship with You, You killed Your own Son to bridge that cap between sin and You. I am sorry for all my wrong doings but mostly I THANK You for Your forgiveness and freedom You freely gave me and willing to give. (Romans 8:3 "For what the law could not do weak as it was through the flesh God did, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering to sin, He condemned sin the the flesh")THANK You soooooooooooo much!!!
Love Your faithful trying servant!!

:D
 

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

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Psalm 139

I dont know what to call this blog but I just want to say I love Blogging! You can be more personable on here. You cant be to personal but more than other ways of communicating.
random I know lol!
So I just got back from Bungoma, Africa taking a class on “Church Development in Context.” It was very beautiful over there it was very green and hilly.
Psalms 139 is a piece of scripture that the Lord showed me on Friday. Its so beautiful how David words this poem, its like he is talking straight to God just as his Dad.
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me, You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. (Vs. 1-6)
(Vs. 7-24) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my in Sheol behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night.’ Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works. And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have been my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If i should count them, they would  outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
O that You would slay the wicked, O God; depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loath those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”
He is also showing some characteristics of God like how He is omnipresence, His loving hand, and how He guides us. I love how David is so real in this book. I like it how he doesn’t hold anything back from what he is filling and what he is filling towards God. Thats what God wants us to do He wants us to be honest and share with Him what we are filling. He wants this relationship that is authentic and legit. Yes, He knows everything about us even before it happens but He likes when we come to Him and just pour out our hearts. Showing that we care enough about Him that we are willing to tell Him everything.
It was really awesome how God presented this passage of scripture to me. It was Friday while having bible study on Galatians. We were studying the chapter 3:26-4:11 which talks about how we are sons of God and how is our Father, Dad, and Pappa. Before we started we prayed over some people in the group and when we were praying for them the Lord told me “I have something I want to say” and I said “okay, how do you want me to proclaim it?” and He says “When we are done praying, tell everybody that I have something to tell them.” So when we were done I told Tim who was leading the bible study that the Lord has something to say through me, so he said “yes.” We all got focused to prepare our hearts on what the Lord was going to do. Then I started to speak but it was not in English or Kiswahili, it was in a different language then anyone has herd before. (If you believe in this, this would be called speaking in tongues which is referenced in the Bible all through the beginning of the early church in Acts, 1 Corinthians, and other New Testament books) When the Lord was done speaking, Brenna interpreted it and she said the Lord spoke Psalms 139:7-24. (Which is the scripture listed above)
This has ministered to me so much through this passage by teaching that He really NEVER leaves me. He is always holding my hand, leading to the next destination, even when times of suffering and uttermost pain. One realization I have gotten from this is God never said it would be easy, but He does say “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and lean from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). This is totally true and what God calls us to is soo easy, to be honest but, we are soo buried in sin and surrounded by it that its soo hard to following.
There is a difference from being told/taught or legitly knowing what you should do, than actually putting into action what you should do. Its harder to put God’s truth and commands into action than just knowing them and not doing anything with them.
Well this is what has been going on!! :D I really want to challenge/encourage yall to KNOW the Word and to PUT it into EVERYDAY situations.
With all the Love that comes from the Father that is shinning on you, go deeper than the norm don’t settle for good! Settle for righteousness and holiness!!
Grace and Peace from your brother in Christ!!!

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

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FrontLine Blood Stains

Like Mold, sin creeps in, it starts as something ‘good,’ like water
that you think is good, but then it doesn’t get any air, any freedom.
Then it starts to form and shape into what its surrounded and it
spreads. Infesting and multiplying onto whatever it can, trying to
survive. Eventually it starts to show darkness to the eye. Causing
sickness to the human, it grows and makes itself at home. Like mold on
a door, it slowly turns darker and darker and eventually the handle
falls, the screws, then the door falls off the hinges and shatters
into pieces that termites lay eggs in and is useless to be used ever
again. There on out not knowing it could have changed, it creates more
disaster and torment.
This is why we MUST keep our ground by standing firm in The Word,
being rooted and grounded in the mercies and promises of God.
With Armor we stand ready for battle, having confidence, God is on our side.
Blood Stains on the feet and sword from the last battle from the
battle that was just won. Breathing heavily, short of breath, seem I
have breathing fire by the smoke coming out of my helmet. Standing
confident knowing the power that is fixing to be released. The battle
trumpet sounds, our battle cry rings and expanse in the misty air. The
enemy see’s us running and hears our battle cry. They charge with
spears sharpened as the moon’s reflection flashes off. Gaining and
drawing closer and closer the battle cry gets louder. Just as our
swords meet their sharpened spears a great bright, shining light comes
out of the East behind us. Blinding and stunning the enemy in their
footsteps. We pierce through their front-line, the judgement of Lord
and our foot prints are stamped on their faces. For they were many but
we were just
One. The Holy God of Salvation, Redemption, and Justice destroyed them all.

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The Color Purple! :D

Habari! [Hello]
Some of you are probably wondering what it is like live in the context
of North Eastern, Kenya. Well, honestly I cannot fully tell you, cause
I am just getting used to it. I can try to tell you what my
observations and differences there are here compared to the United
States.
First off I want to say that everything I tell you is coming from my
perspective and I do not want to upset the people here, want to give
off that this place is horrible or diss how the people here live. I am
just saying that EVERYTHING here is VERY DIFFERENT! :D Which is not a
bad thing!! :D
To start out your probably wonder why the blog title is “The Color
Purple”, well that is one of the biggest cultural difference that I
have had to get used to. Which is everybody stares at you like your
shin is the color purple. LOL! It is not bad it is just they DO NOT
see a lot of white people. I am slowly understanding why they do it
also.
Here is an analogy to help you understand better: Pretend you saw a
purple person walking done the street in the middle of Atlanta or your
town. Okay, soo once you have that picture in your head now, imagine
what you would do. More than likely you would stare at them and tell
the person you are walking next to look (if you imagined yourself
walking with somebody and if not its okay! lol). Then you would
probably watch there every move and if your really captivated by them
then you’ll do what they do (it is not that bad here lol!!!!). Another
reasoning that I have seen on why people look at you is when I was in
Nairobi (the capital of of the country) this past Sunday and Monday
(The 14-15 of February) I noticed that we stuck out like a glow stick
in a rave!! LOL The reason I noticed that is because we saw some white
people while we were walking around in the city and I could not stop
staring at them because they looked SOOO different from the rest of
the people around. It seemed like they were purple and something I
have never seen before!!! LOL haha It was really funny how I started
to become what the culture here does! lol :D
Sorry this is going to a long blog! lol
Another major difference here that is not like the States at all is
that the men and women here do not hang all over the opposite sex. The
guys here hold hands and put there are arms around each other and walk
like nothing is wrong but they are not gay at all. It is just not
culture to hold hands with girls unless you are married. Here eating
and fellowshipping together is big because it shows you care about
the person you are eating with. I know in the States we sometimes take
eating together not as vital as they do here. I really like eating
here with people because its at least an hour or so with that person
or people.
The culture here is very relational and I love it!! :D
That it for now I will tell you more later I have to go!! Hope this
shows you that not everybody in the world lives like Americans!!! :D
It sure did so me!! lol
Love everyone who reads this and the people who dont!!! lol :D

Habakkuk 3:4-6 “His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays
flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power. Before
His does pestilence, and plague comes after Him. He stood and surveyed
the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual
mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed. His ways are
everlasting.”

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Getting Settled In!!!!!

Hello People from the other side of the world!! :D
We started Swahili class yesterday!!!
So we have been in Northeastern Kenya for a week now. We got here
around 2 or 3 on Tuesday the 19 of January.(everything time I will
mention will be in my time, which is 8 hours ahead of eastern standard
time) The culture here when writing out the date they put the date
first, the month, then the year. For instance today would be like
26/1/2010.
Wednesday the 19 we had a little amazing race/scavenger hunt around
the town and market so we could get familiar with the town and how the
culture works. It was very much fun, stretching and a great learning
experience. I will tell you a couple of stories from this adventure!
So our team was split up in to 3 different teams and we each got a
guide who were from the team that has been here for about a year. A
girl named Abby and I were on a team, our guide was named Jessica.
(Let me give you some contacts before I get into the stories. The
culture here is very influenced by Islam, 98% of the people are
Muslim, and the men have more rights then the women. And a rule of the
game was we had to ask for direction to find different places and
things. So I either had to ask some random person who was a man or
Abby had to ask a women. Another thing is we are WHITE and everybody
here is black and no matter where ever you go you will be stared at.
We are getting more use to it but it is still very different! lol Here
there really is not grass its sand and rocks. Only very few roads are
paved with as-fault. And when you are greeting somebody or asking a
question you ALWAYS ask them how they are doing and start a small
convo then ask what you want, because here it is very offensive if you
just ask your question then walk away)
When we were on our way to the 2nd clue I asked this man that started
to walking in front of us were the market was, (for reading and typing
sake I am going to shorten the story) he introduced him self and his
name was Shukri (I think) and I introduced my name. (which is Andrew
here so they can actually say a name close to mine. lol its funny)
Shukri took us to his hardware shop that he owned, introduced us to
some of his brothers. The big shocker that hit me was that his father
has 5 wives. You are only allowed 4 but one died, and through that
Shukri has about 40 brothers and sister, most half same dad different
moms. Having more family means you are respected more, the think that
also hit me was he was so kind and open to give us a ride to the
market which was not very far. It just blow me away on how much
hospitality this culture has. Shukri also gave us cold drinks which
shows a lot of respect and he gave me his phone number and I got his.
:D
This one was not as good as the experience with Shukri but it was just
totally different from the states.
We were walking out of town to our last destination (oh, by the way we
walk ever where which is a lot of fun, no lie!) and these nice Muslim
men drive up in this pretty nice car and say "Just letting you know
there is some thieves following you." We say "thank you very much" in
Swahili and keep walking. It was funny because out guide Jessica was
saying it would not be smart at all to follow anybody in town cuz
there are people every where. But we just made sure out bags were
close and keep walking, and eventually the guys that were following us
went there own way. :D (it was just a different experience lol!)
And on our scavenger hunt I had to eat cow intestate which was really good!
Sorry there will not be a lot of pictures especially of people here
cuz it is rood and they think it stills apart of there soul. No lies
not joking.
There will be pik on my facebook of the picture I do/can take. Sorry
about that.
Well I think that is all for to day!! Please keep praying and lifting
this team up!
Pray Request:
1. That we adapt into this culture as best we can.
2. Soak in the language here

:D
Peace Love and Jesus!
Your brother in Christ
Drew
Isaiah 51:7-8 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in
whose heart is My law, Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be
dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them like a
garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness
will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”

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Less than 24 hrs in USA

It's kind of unexplainable that what the Lord told me todo about a year ago is coming to pass! I have less than 24 hours left in the USA, it's crazy when you have been planning something for so long then all of a sudden it's at your door step! Packing is crazy fun, lol! It has it's ups & downs. What's really funny is that it fills like I'm never coming back, but in reality I am! Unless Jesus comes back or I die but we will see what happens! Lol! I just finished packing, may have a little things left but pretty much got it all! It's really funny cuz I just packed (with the help of my parents) [kootos to them, I love them soo much] :D 16 months worth of luage in 2 suit-cases and 2 carry-ons & they are packed to the max! :D
Well don't know what else to day, but see you on the other side! Lol! I'll keep in touch as much as I can! Love you all! Thanks for reading this!
John 10:4="When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice"
Isaiah 50:7="Because my Sovereign Lord helps Me, I will not be disgraced. Therefor have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame."

Grace and Peace
Drew!!
:D

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