From the Field 2.27.10

Hey friends!

Thanks for the prayers about communication - I finally got to TALK to Deanna last night!!  There are lots of INCREDIBLE stories to share, so here we go:

Toby and Garrett made it to Webuye after an eventful couple of days at Base Camp.  They finally had a welder make the fenceposts they designed (after first making 50 incorrectly) that work wonderfully in our soft soil!  Initially, Garrett and Toby's design for a fencepost didn't go over so well with the welder, as it was a new idea that they weren't sure would work in the super soft soil.  However, it does work, and a Kenyan friend of our in nakuru may be marketing them soon since they worked so well!  Well done, guys!  Everyone, including the welder :), is excited about the success of this design!  Garrett and Toby also put a window and door in the old concreter water tank on our property so that it can be used as a building.  The new water tank is in place, and we are currently waiting on clean water to be delivered.  Thursday, the team spent the day at Miracle House Webuye, and they had a wonderful time with the children and staff!  They were able to help with school work, cleaning dishes, sorting rice, and cooking the meals.

Jarelle had a special time with some of the MH Webuye girls, who first approached Deanna because they wanted to be friends with Jarelle.  Jarelle has not been feeling well, so she was struggling a little bit throughout the day.  However, the MH Webuye girls approached her, and they exchanged names and established that they wanted to be friends and play together.  They spent the remainder of the day being girls together, and Deanna said that Jarelle just "came to life."  Amazing how hearts can connect and friendships established despite language and cultural barriers!

The whole team was able to go to Mount Elgon on Friday!  They visited three locations and handed out maize seed, fertilizer, beans, and a hose to each location.  At the first location, they were able to pray over a pastor and his family who are starting a new church in the region.  They were also able to pray over the property where the new church will stand!  During their fellowship and worship time with that church, the pastor pulled Tatum up and asked her to pray for one of the orphans.  Tatum put her hands on the orphan while the pastor prayed and asked Tatum to remember to pray for this orphan.  It was a cool heart connection moment for both girls!  The second location they visited was very remote - so remote that many of the Kenyan children were crying because they had never seen a white face before!! During their stay, they visited a church, and a pastor took them to the church's first location: a bench underneath a tree, with an incredible view of the lush Mount Elgon region! The team was thankful for that time of peace to enjoy the Lord's creation!  Praise the Lord that the team was able to go to Mount Elgon - the roads were very muddy, but the team "sang praises" through the muddy sections, and at one point even had to pass a huge truck that was stuck sideways in the road!  Kenyan transportation... got to love it!

After the day on Mount Elgon, the team enjoyed a time of sharing and catching up on each other's adventures.  Garrett had a cool God story of protection to share: one day while using the chain saw, he was using one of his legs to stabalize the wood.  Another worker thought he was being helpful and put his foot up on the other end of the wood, and it jarred the wood and the chain saw.  The running chain saw swung past Garrett's leg, and sawed through both his shoe and his sock... Garrett said that he then stuck his hand in the new opening in his shoe and "fished around" a little.  When his hand came out with no blood, he continued going about his work.  He doesn't have even a scratch on his foot! Praise the Lord for His protection!!

The team is doing well as a whole - pray that they remain hydrated, healthy, and rested!!  Continue to pray that Deanna's administrative tasks will be accomplished smoothly and quickly - pray for favor and clear communication!

Know that your prayers are making an eternal difference!

Blessings, Arienne :)

1 Comment  |  mission trip update  |  Send
Posted 2/27/10 @ 12:30 PM by Deanna Bjork

Comments

Wahoo! Praise God for the great communication and for the wonderful heart stories. AND for Garrett's protection. Can't wait to hear stories from J&J&T, too.

Love, Granna>
Posted by Linda Hoover @ 2/28/10 7:56 AM