We leave for Kenya in 4 days. I just finished up with Governor's School, and Lauren and I are headed to the farm in a couple of hours to rest and spend time with David (after living in a dorm on campus for the past 3 weeks!). We'll be doing laundry and packing Saturday and will enjoy Sunday and Monday together as a family before Lauren and I leave Monday night.

We will be missing a valuable member of our team, Linda, who will not be able to go with this year as planned. She will be GREATLY missed.

In May, our team did a fundraiser to provide funds to purchase jackets and shoes for all of the children served by the Limuru Children's Center. We're bringing nearly 300 jackets with us as well as all of the supplies to measure the children's feet and order shoes when we get to Kenya. Fortunately, there is a shoe factory near where we are staying, and we'll be able to purchase shoes there at quite a savings. To those of you who contributed to this effort, thank you so much for making this possible. Removing their worn out shoes and replacing them with brand new shoes was one of the most moving experiences I had when we went in 2007.

To others who have sent contributions to be used as God leads us - thank you for that. I am blown away be the generosity and love that people have shown. While our team is much smaller, we are able to bring suitcases full of relief supplies - clothing, shoes, vitamins, etc... - and things like colored pencils and other supplies for schools that lack the basics. My Governor's School kids did an amazing job of decorating pillowcases for the boarders who live full-time at the orphanage. Those 40+ kids will certainly feel special and loved when they see what teenagers from the US made for them. We're also bringing supplies for "fun" and will plan more than one party day with the kids while we are there. Of course, we're bringing many letters and special items that people have sent for specific purposes. The kids at the LCC love their connection to the US.

Thanks again for all of you who have offered to pray for us while we are there. Your enthusiasm, interest, and support mean so much to us. Hopefully, my next post will be from Kenya!

Getting Ready...

We leave 10 days from now. I'm having a hard time believing this is really going to happen. We were originally scheduled to leave on June 30th but Delta cancelled that flight (they couldn't get US Homeland Security approval to stop in Dakar, Senegal for refueling), and they've rebooked us on the 29th instead. Now, we're flying from Columbus, Mississippi to Atlanta, Georgia to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and finally to Nairobi, Kenya where we will arrive tired (and probably smelly!) on July 1.

This will be a different trip than we made in 2009. First, it's completely unscheduled - meaning that while we have an idea of what we'll be doing, we really haven't planned anything in advance. I think this will be a great way to do as we feel led and to spend time where we feel we are most needed. We have our own transportation (get to drive on the wrong side of the road!) which makes it a very flexible situation. The second main difference is that instead of going as primarily tourists on a guided trip and staying at a retreat center, it will be more like living there. We've rented a home and car from missionary friends and will be living in a village called Tigoni. We're also staying for nearly 6 weeks.

We're a small team this time. The main group is 3 women and 4 teenage girls. Another lady will be joining us a couple of weeks in and then there is a group of 4 scheduled to come for 2 weeks while we are there. The others are going on safari in the Masai Mara (Serengeti Plains) for a side trip. Lauren and I decided to fly to Egypt to visit the pyramids at Giza. We have a 5 day tour package and will be staying on the Nile River in Cairo. Lauren can't wait to ride camels around the pyramids. I've promised to join her.

My 2009 Governor's School scholars are helping with a major project for this trip. We're making pillowcases for each of the 42 orphans who live at the Limuru Children's Center. They're also writing letters and many want to become permanent pen pals. This is an awesome opportunity for kids on both sides of the world to learn about each other and to develop friendships.

Some of the projects we know we'll be engaged in are the Limuru Children's Centre, Care for Aids, Pat's Feeding Program, Sister Sandra's (vocational programs for young women), and a handicapped center. More information about many of these programs can be found on the Global Connections website: www.globalconnectionsonline.org. I learned so much from my previous trips to Kenya and can't wait to see what lessons and experiences are in store for us this time.

You can help us by sending up prayers in our name... for health, security/protection, and wisdom to be sure we're doing what we're called to do. I also hope for great relationships to be developed both among our team members and with our friends in Kenya.

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