Kitale team update

Dear friends,

For those of you in South Texas, we hope all of you are well.  We watched news and emails as best as we could with slow-speed internet in Kitale, but our prayers and thoughts were with you during Hurricane Dolly. 

We had a whilrwind week in Kitale, and arrived back in Nairobi safely today!  Let me try to summarize the week, and then over the weekend will try to put some of the many great pictures: 

* Friday we arrived and prayer-walked on the Mattaw property.  We prayed for the homes to finish being built, for the children who will come in, for the parents to model excellence, for the land to yield abundant fruit, and for the community around them to be blessed by the ministry of Mattaw.  We were also privileged to spend some time with the Watoto (Uganda) media crew who were filming our progress at Mattaw for the upcoming Partner's Conference in Uganda, September 24-28.

* Saturday half the team visited Lemoru and had an awesome time distributing new shoes and visiting the children that so many of us were so touched by in 2006.  Kimberly's influence on that group of kids is still evident today!  The other half worked at the Mattaw property - improving the drive-way path, tilling the garden, and painting the home-school room.

* Sunday was simply a huge privilege:  We met in the morning at the first house (Penda = love) for the first "Home fellowship" at Mattaw.  It was awesome to know that the church was being "birthed" there that day.  Two sets of house parents shared, Kimberly shared her call and vision, Bud spoke about the holistic purpose of Mattaw to raise future leaders who will disciple the nation, and Benson brought a great challenge for each of us to find our Scripture that describes our personal call (all out of Isaiah 61 - you have to read it to catch the understanding of Mattaw, the Hebrew word for "planting" or "garden").  That afternoon, we visited the surrounding village and made many contacts inviting children and parents to the week's events, praying for families, and performing a few interventions.  We will ask those who met Mary (and basically saved her life!) to write a little about her tomorrow.

* Monday morning we worked on the property - planting the garden, more painting on the school rooms, more road work, etc.  That afternoon we were not sure what to expect for the 3:00 pm children's outreach and parent's health & family workshop.  We started out with a group of about 25 kids, when a few minutes into it, an entire primary school showed up!  Parents also trickled in to hear talks on common diseases from Dr. Steve Havener and a Biblical parenting challenge from Jim Dempsey of FBC Keller.   The sessions were very well received and people promised to bring others the next day!  It was the first time the community had been invited onto the Mattaw property, and they asked many good questions about the project, while being very supportive.

* Tuesday was more of the same in the morning with the exception of one group getting to go visit an abandoned baby center with about 30 babies.  That of course, was priceless.  The team took a few clothes that had been sent over, which perfectly fit 3 new tiny baby boys (thanks Hattonators!)  The Mattaw crew did more of the same on the property, and the afternoon saw another great turn-out despite the heavy downpour that hit us. 

* Wednesday was just a topsy-turvy day which included yours truly passing out for a couple of minutes after ... I am embarrassed to say, having a car door slammed on my fingers.  Funny thing happens when the blood rushes and adrenaline flows and as soon as it starts to calm down, lights out!  Weirdest sensation of my life. Anyway, that delayed the crew going to the Mattaw property, but the crew that visited a women's support group also had an interesting time.  After having a nice time hearing about the work these women do to try to support their families, a riot nearly broke out when they argued over who would get to sell their hand-made jewelry to our team.  It was apparently a tense moment, but Kimberly did a great job getting the group calmly out of there.  The reality of the devastation that hit these women and their families during the post-election violence really came out there, as the frustration of hunger, increased poverty, and traumatic pain has added up to summarize the lives of many of those women today.  It was a reality check for us.  Kenya is still healing, and many are still suffering in silence.

Wednesday afternoon we concluded the children's outreach with another great turn-out.  The Keller group headed out to Nairobi to catch their flight back to the US and left a void in our midst - they were a wonderful partnership and we hope to see more of each other down the road. 

* Thursday morning we prepared to leave Kitale, making one last visit at a small hospital that ministers to people in a very caring Christian environment.  Mary, who was brought there after Sunday's village visits, was doing as well as could be.  We parted ways with Bud and Kimberly and drove to Nakuru, half way to Nairobi.

* Today, Friday, a few of us took a game drive around Lake Nakuru national park and saw a vast array of wildlife God created.  It was a cool morning, so lots of animals were about, including a rare sighting of a hyena.  The majesty of that place reminded me of the creative diversity and stunning beauty of God's creation.  Heidi had a different kind of spiritual moment as she shared with a group of Kenyan "Moms in Touch" group.  They were so encouraged by her time with them and she was amazed to hear their stories of how prayer has helped bring reconciliation to their communities. 

So now, we are back in Karen, (Nairobi area), and it feels like home!  But we know we are packing up and heading out in less than a week, and that thought is both exciting and exhausting as there is much work to do to wrap things up and set things in motion for the future.  But we would not trade this for all the tea in Kenya - and believe me, there is a lot of it!

Let me sign this off by saying this:  Mattaw was an amazing experience and the Kitale team did a superb job!  You can sense the Hope springing from that place, and we met several children that are being screened and recommended for Mattaw homes already, just days from being ready to be taken in - but there is only one home finished.  We left that project with it practically screaming at us "please finish me!" so that these children can be rescued, brought into loving Christ-centered homes, and start their discipling journey to be kingdom-influencers for the soul of Africa.  Only 8 will fit in the first home, and yet the roofs are up for the next four.  Who will partner with us to build homes 2, 3, 4, and 5 so that 32 more children can be selected and brought in?  A foundation costs only $500; the outer walls cost only $1,000; plumbing, water tanks, and solar panels for 2 homes is only $3400.  When I see these amounts, and the reality of what is about to happen on that property, I can't help but urge us to pull together to see these homes finished by December!  The year that started in Kenya with unusual violence and terror can end literally with a "planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor" (Isa. 61:3).  I know this is not normal on this blog, but the urgency of finishing up this project and its bursting potential compel me to ask that if any of you want to help build this place, send anything you can to: 

The Imagine Network

C/O Calvary Baptist Church

1600 Harvey Dr.

McAllen, TX  78501

memo:  Mattaw

Blessings to you - for the fame of Jesus and the hope of the world!      

Comments

[Bobby]

David and all,
God Bless you. It's like ya' think you know, but the more you realize you don't know. (meaning me) Mattaw, sleeping thru that 'till now. The Huffman's, didn't pay attention until now. Your Wednesday, well, unbelievable. So many blessings along the way there and here also. Calvary, the teams, your family; walking in HIS footsteps. It's like we always need to see thru HIS eyes. Sometimes I think I need to know more,be aware more but God revels so much. We say God is great, well you guys are great. I know, when I see you all,from now on I will look at you different. Mother Theresa, I read somewhere,(poor paraphrase I'm afraid) "despite all the hunger and despair, there is real hunger for God's word". We know her misnistry, but it applies to us all.I pray to have this appetite always. I pray for strength, courage for myself and mostly you.-Bobby

[Jason S.]

David,
Your accounts are both eye-opening and inspiring. Thank you and all of the teams for what you are doing. We appreciate you and continue to pray.

[zarsesin]

David,

What an amazing time the Kitale Team has had this week! I'm delighted for them and God's use of them for Mattaw and the surrounding communities. I can imagine the yearning to see those homes completed at Mattaw. I pray others will be challenged to give of themselves financially to finish that community. God calls some to go and others to send resources. I praise Him for what He is doing there and the difference He is making through the lives of His servants Kim and Bud...even little Elisha. Kitale Team you have done an amazing job serving your Lord and God. He is well pleased. My prayers are with you, and I can't wait to hear from you about the blessings and grace God poured upon you while serving Him in Kitale! God bless you all!

In His Grace,
Angela

[Bobby]

David,
Thank you for keeping us(me) focused on HIS work. Those in the trenches are not laboring in vain. "God things" are happening. Yes, we all can help in HIS work. The Body Of Christ has much to give-many talents and gifts. As David mentioned and Angela reinforced, we all need to pray and act to have these homes- "Christ Centered homes" built by December. Praphrasing C.S. Lewis,(a little weak here-but anyway) " aim for the world and that's what you get, aim for Heaven and you get the world, all of that, and much more thrown in." Let's aim high. Do we belive in miracles? and God's people said, YES!
All to HIS Glory- Bobby

[Bobby]

David,Kristi, All who served in Kenya,
Your ten(10) weeks were fantastic, amazing. All the blogs, note, stories, scriptures, pictures were truly gifts from the Heavens. My prayers for this Ministry; HIS Ministry, are many. May my words be few and my gifts be in abundance. Luke 12:15-"Watch out! be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Maybe though; how about the abundance in sharing our gift's? God bless and here in grateful anticipation of hearing of all HIS work these previous weeks. I pray for an abundance in harvest into the new year.-Bobby

[vickypad]

Thank you.