Kenya Mission Trip
2008
July 13
We made it back from Safari!!!
It was the most interesting, exciting, and extreme thing I have done in some time.
Let's just say the drive to the safari "hotel" was an adventure in itself! The cars drive on the wrong side of the road, and they do not follow road signes, traffic signals, or give right of way to people, animals or other autos!!
The "hotel" was a camp ground. The tents were on concrete slabs and they had "western toilets" which I have learned means many differnt things--mostly it means you use something other than a hole in the ground! Let's just say it was so cold a shower was out of the question--so I came home with three days of dust on my body!
The ride to the camp was 7 hours. We unpacked and then went on an evening ride where we saw giraffs, elephants, cheetah's and many other animals I cannot spell! The landscape on safari was much more like the Lion King movie than where we are staying at Huruma. I was reminded on this trip again just how extremely small I am and how majestic God's creation is. It really puts things into perspective.
The second day started bright and early and the first thing we saw as we entered the park was a female lion with her morning kill. We did not actually see the kill, but we saw her dragging the zebra off into the bushes were another female and two cubs were waiting. We also saw hippo's, alligators, monkeys, and again many other animals I cannot spell! I have many awesome pictures I cannot wait to share!
The third day we started before dawn and had a very uneventful morning. Although right before it was time to head back to camp we came across two tigers mating! I have a lot to say about this it will have to wait til I get home!
We visited a Massia villiage before we started home and I think this was definately a test for most of us. The villiage is made of huts that are cow dung and sticks. Their animals( cows and goats)raom freely around the villiage so there are droppings everywhere. We were shown some of their dances and told about their customs (many of which would be considered barrabric by our standards) we were given a tour of their homes. We entered the tiny homes and saw where they cooked and slept. Pictures were impossible as the inside was so dark. There is a missionary group that build a school there for the children so most of the younger trib members speak fairly good English. Again, words cannot express what an experience this was. After the visit we spent another 7 hours in the car and by the time we got home we were all exhausted but HAD to have showers!
We had another very busy day today--we walked 4 miles into town and visited a slum. The most amazing thing about today is that we were going to the slum with the older children from Huruma to provide ministry to the children of the slum. the children are brought up here not to feel sorry for themselves, but to remember to follow in Jesus's footsteps and provide for those less fortunate than yourself. We also handed out bread and milk. Again, an experience!!
Tomorrow we start a 3 day camp for the kids! They get to spend the night at the school and we are helping them cook their own meals!
I think I am learning a lot about fear on this trip. I think one ot the things I will take back with me is the truth that God can take away your fears if you trust in him. I have experienced all of our adventures with a feeling of peace. I give praise to God for that wonderful blessing.
I hope you all are doing well. See you soon!
Terri
July 9th
Here is what I did yesterday--
6:00- woke up--talked to Jeff on the phone for the first time!
7:00 ate breakfast
7:30-8:30 chapel
8:30-1:00--climbed up and down a ladder made out of trees to paint the top
part of the new library
1-2 ate lunch
2-6:30climbed up and down a ladder made out of trees to paint the top of
the new library.
6:30-7pm- took a very cold shower
7-8 ate dinner
8-8:40 talked about plans for the "camp" we are running for three days
next week. (I am a team leader and the Art teacher!! :)
8:40- typed this email
I already took Advil as I could barely walk home! But we got the second
coat of primer on and the finishing top coat!! The room looks great, I
have before and after pictures I will share when I get home.
It was fun to see the kids reaction after we had painted the library.
They were so surprised. We still need to build book shelves, paint the
inside of the church, build new lunch tables...you get the point!!
Lunch was amazing. We had pinto beans that had carrots and
cilantro in them. They were served with the Kenya version of tortillas.
It is very strange to be a visitor here because they have helpers that
come and make us lunch and dinner since we are out working. They want to
make us comfortable because they consider us their guests. But, it makes
you feel strange.
We leave tomorrow for a two day safari trip so I will post again when I return!
July 7th
Hello all-
I had a quick minute so I wanted you to know we made it safe and sound.
The travel was good. I had absolutely no panic attacks--God is good!! We had a
delay in London where we got to sit on the runway for two hours, two bags were
lost and one of our transport vehicles got a flat tire on the road, in the
middle of the night, in the rain, on our way to the orphanage. But really
considering how far we have come that is nothing!
It is amazing here, my pictures will never explain how much you feel God's
presence here. The children are all beautiful. Some are sick and some have
disabilities or injuries, but they all seem very happy. They all speak English
and Swahili (or a form of it). They all want to be our brothers and sisters. We
spent most of the weekend with the children getting to know our way around and
setting up our rooms. The real work starts today. We just finished with church
and have a full day ahead. The have church every day, VERY early, we wake to
their beautiful voices. They do worship, then have breakfast, then we join them
for morning church, then today they went off to classes. I am helping with
construction today as we have MANY teachers here.
Unfortunately, Kristen, one of the girls in our group is sick. She has been
vomiting. We think she might be having a reaction to her malaria pills so please
keep her in your prayers, and pray we find the supplies we need to hydrate her,
some of our supplies we shipped have not arrived yet.
I could write all day, but then I would not be doing what I came here to do.
I'll try to write again in a day or so.
Thanks again for all your prayers-
In His Service-
Terri
Terri will be visiting the Huruma Children's Home in July of 2008. Below is a letter that shares how the trip came about and how you can help to improve the lives of some very special children in Africa.
Jeff & I are both very active in our church and have both taught Sunday school for the last couple of years. We have always talked about how when girls got older and our business was able to run itself, we would go on a mission trip together. I have found over the last couple of years I have thought about a mission trip much like I did when I wanted to have children of my own. If I waited for the right time, for enough money, and for everyone else to feel comfortable with it, it would never happen. So, with the help of many hours of prayer, I decided that the next mission trip, wherever it may take me, I would go. It is true that our God will take you where you will let him, and even maybe where you never dreamed. The next Sunday at church there was a notice that there were still open spaces on a trip to Kenya. I attended the meeting only to find out that the trip was full. I put my name on a waiting list and left feeling that if I was meant to go I would get a call. The next Wednesday I got the call. Since we were going to build more beds, they would take 4 more people.
There will be a total of 22 people from our church visiting the Huruma Children’s Home (www.hchngong.org) located in the Ngong Hills in Kenya, Africa. We will depart on July 3rd and return on July 20th. This home is run by a husband and wife who have taken in over 150 orphaned children. They have babies and children up to the age of 18. Their mission is to educate the current generation and make them productive members of society. Because of the current political situation in that region they have recently taken in more children than they have room for. While we are there we hope to build more sleeping space, help in the health clinic, and of course teach in the school about God’s unconditional love and mercy. I am so excited to see how God will use me and how he will grow me spiritually with this trip.
First and foremost I am writing to ask for your prayers for our trip to be a success, for our travel to be safe, and for Jeff, Blair and Chloe while I am away. Secondly, I am asking for financial support. The 17 day trip will cost each person $3200. Any amount you give can be used as a tax deduction. Checks can be made out to Cornerstone Christian Fellowship and can be mailed to the address below. I hope to send email updates during our stay and post them here.
Amerifirst Financial
Terri Underwood
1910 S. Stapley Drive, Suite 209
Mesa, AZ 85204
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