Endings and Beginnings

We are home safe and sound in Stanly County. As we complete our trip we are so thankful to God for our safety and the favor we experienced on each leg of our trip. Although our trip has ended the time we had in Kenya marked the beginning of a wonderful work God is doing. I will post more pictures and updates as they come in. We spoke with Pastor Stephen today and he said that their community was so blessed by the Lord during our time there. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!!!!!

Our Last Day!!!!!!

The pastor cf the church wanted to give his best and therefore they gave Pastor Carl and Connie their best goat and rooster. What a blessing. Others gave fruit and vegatbles. Of course Pastor Carl sowed it right back into the church. Connie did very well with the rooster.

These people are not smiling for the camera. They are praising God.

Dancing before the Lord!!!!!

Today was bittersweet. It was a celebration of what God has done but also a day of goodbyes.

God has really touched these people. We leave a people more free than before, with the knowledge that in God is everything that they need. Many more smiles and shouts were heard today that when we first arrived.

Saturday in Murang'a

Edda and Charles work at the hotel we are staying at. They are very nice and treat us as those we are at home.

Praising God during yesterday's service.

Pastor Stephen and Catherine's living room.

My sweetie!!!!! Isn't she beautiful. She is so spunky!!!!!

The young people praising God during the open air crusade!!!

Praising God with Pastor Carl and Connie.


Today was awesome. God moved on the children and adults. We are humbled by the week!!!

Friday in Murang'a

Today has been such an awesome day. I know you love pictures but it takes long long to upload each one (about 5 minutes) that today I decided to just write you.
We started out today meeting a new pastor from Nairobi. He wrote into the website this week saying he wanted to know more about the ministry and to invite us to come to Kenya. I emailed him back and invited him to the meetings. He was a blessing and we blessed by the Word delivered today.
Pastor Carl started the service today at the church. He shared his testimony and encouraged the people saying that people in every country share the same hurts and struggles. Many came forth in the alter call for people suffering abuse or addictions. There were men and women, young and old. It was an awesome time. I felt such a peace come over the service. I have never felt peace come in in such a tangible way before. You could literally feel turmoil and struggle leave. God is such a miraculous healer. Freedom from abuse and addiction is not something these people have heard before.
We may sometimes wonder why God would want us to come all the way from North Carolina to minister to these people. To see one person leave the service free and with their broken heart mended answers the question why. Many could come but perhaps many don't come.
How blessed we are that Blessed Hope Ministries was entrusted with this assignment.
Your prayers in the US are so important. Not just for safety and provision but for the chains that have held these people to be broken. This is a prayer that can go on even after we are home. We think about leaving these people that I have fallen in love with. We are reminded that even when we are gone they are watched over by God and He sings over them. We are also reminded that He has begun this good work and He will be faithful to complete it.
The people here live a hard life by our standards but their praise and worship to God is extravagant. Our heart is not to make their life like ours but to make their life the life God would have them live.
We were told today that the companies look for graduates from this remote area we are in for employees because these school turn out very educated children. While the kids in the larger cities go home to playstations and tvs, these kids only have their books, their school, their church, and their community.
They work together in many things they do. They are building new road and you should see all the hard work they put in each day. If one family needs to plow and area for a crop, they community all comes with their hoes to till the ground.
Well, I could write all night but I should go to bed. I pray that this will paint a picture in your mind with words. Each of you are truly a blessing.

Thursday In Murang'a

Pastor Carl delivering the Word. All present received such a blessing. They got to enjoy the wonderful preaching we have every day at home.

A little girl carrying a baby. They all help each other. This little girl didn't even know who this baby was.

This is a young girl from Tanzania. She is here with her father. Isn't she beautiful.

The meetings today were awesome. Pastor Carl preached on Possessing. I know the people were blessed and encouraged.

Thanks for the prayers and comments. We love you guys!!!!

Wednesday In Murang'a

These are the women that came for the Word Connie delivered today. They were very blessed and told stories that would break your heart. They face the same issues we face. That is true all over the world.

These are school children. We had a great time together. They discovered my hair today. We counted and said the ABCs and did adding together. I sure love them. One asked if I would forget them when I left. I told her there is no way that I could forget any of them.

This is the pastor from Uganda. He had many troubles getting to the meeting but says that Satan wanted to steal the Word and he would not let him.

This is pastor Stephen and his wife Catherine and Connie. They are so happy a part of Blessed Hope is here in Kenya and they are excited to meet all of you.

It was a wonderful day. Pastor Carl met with the pastors while Connie brought the Word. I filmed the service and loved on the women and children. Smiles and love transcend all languages.

Please keep praying. God is awesome!!!!!!

Just PIctures of the people

Thank you all for your comments and prayers. God is awesome!!!!!

Tuesday In Murang'a

I became the photographer today. I took some of the kids pictures to entertain them. Then the adults started coming up to me saying take my picture. They were excited about seeing themself. Most of them don't have a picture of themself.

Today's service was awesome. Pastor Carl spoke to the leaders. He spoke on how a leader has to be formed by God before God can breath into his ministry. He had a question and answer time and boy did he get some interesting questions. It was a good day!!!! Tomorrow Connie will be speaking to the women. I know they will be blessed.

Satari

We were so thrilled to get to see this giraff up close and personal. It was so much bigger than anything we had seen in the zoo.

The preservce we visited had a protected place for chimpanzees that had been orphaned or mistreated. They were amazing. This is a program that Jane Goodall started years ago.

We went past the equator. We got to see a science experiment in which water drains to the right or left depending on what side of the equator you are on. At the point of the equator, the water drains straight down. It was cool.

We had a good time on the safari. It was wonderful to see the natural beauty of Kenya. Tomorrow Pastor Carl speaks to leaders from 10-1. I know they will be blessed.

Keep praying!!!!! We love and miss you guys.

This is a picture of the people who attended the Sunday morning service. There were probably about 250 to 300 people there. They love to praise the Lord just like we do and the Word that they heard today was about losing hope. Many responded that they had lost hope and expectation about good things happening in them, their families, and their community. The prayer was awesome and many left with hope.

This is the front of the church. If you look closely you can see Pastor Carl with his arm outsretched. Connie is beside him.

If this child's eyes don't melt your heart, nothing will. Isn't she precious!!!

This is the inside of our hotel room. You can see the bed with the netting to protect us from insects.

I got a message from Mrs. Amanda that the childrens church kids would see the blog today. Pastor Carl, Connie and myself (Teresa) want to say a special hello and we love you. Please keep praying for the people here to receive the Word God has for them. They lack so many things that we take for granted. The village we minister in has no electricity, no running water, and the people are very poor. Even with their best clothes on for Sunday many still had old mismatched clothes and most were with out shoes. They still run and play and sing and praise God just like we do. There are some things that are the same everywhere.

God is awesome!!!! We are praying for the services today!!!!! More pictures soon!!!!

Welcoming Celebration

These are the pastors that came to meet us at the hotel and escort us to Murang'a. They were so excited about us being in Kenya.

The woman in the picture is Pastor Stephen's wife. She told us she believes she will have the baby while we are here. She is a very sweet and Godly lady.

These are just some of the children at the meeting today. They were precious. At first they were a little afraid of us but after I took their picture and showed it to them on the digital camera they were our best friends!

Of course you know who this is. Pastor Carl and Connie were about to leave to go to the welcoming celebration in Murang'a. It has been a wonderful day. Pastor Carl spoke to the church and to pastors. We had tea and bread with them. I counted about 140 people but I am sure there were more. We are looking forward to tomorrow and anticipate what God is doing. Thank you all for praying and your wonderful support.

Pictures Are Here!!!!!

This is a picture of a house near our hotel in Thika. It is a good example of how people here live.

The Blue Post Hotel is located between two falls. This is one of them!

This is a school bus that came into the hotel entrance in Thika. Can you imagine seeing "All things are possible with God" on one of our buses?

This picture was taken out my hotel room window in Nairobi. You can tell it is a big, busy city.

We are headed to Murang'a today! Hopefully I will have some people pictures soon. Thanks so much for your prayers. We are praying for you all too.

Kenya update afternoon of June 16th

It is late afternoon in Kenya and we have safely arrived at the Blue Post Hotel in Thika. It was so wonderful to meet Pastor Stephen and Pastor Zachary this morning. Pastor Zachary is from Mombasa and met Pastor Stephen through Blessed Hope, they now have a wonderful friendship and working relationship in Christ!In fact, Pastor Carl and the other pastors went shopping for the sound system earlier today, while we were still in Nairobi. Everything is good to go for the outdoor meetings in Murang'a.

Nairobi is a very large city (3 million people) but I was amazed that when we arrived late last night it was very quiet, not a lot of activity out and about on the streets. This morning however, the sidewalks are filled with people and the streets are full of traffic. It looks just like any other bustling city.

Pastor Stephen's wife is expecting another child any day now, so please keep her (Katherine) in your prayers also.

Thank you so much for the prayers, love, and support you are pouring out to us and to the people of Kenya. Our prayer continues to be that God would open up the floodgates of heaven and pour out His blessings!

Morning in Nairobi

Just a quick note to say it is morning here is Kenya and we are well. We are getting ready for breakfast and are on our way to see more of this beautiful country. We are going to our hotel in Thika today. It is called the Blue Post Hotel. We know God has us in the palm of His hand. That is such an awesome feeling to be held be the one who holds the universe. We are ready to do what he wants done.

We are here!!!!

We arrived in Nairobi safe and sound. Everyone is doing well and VERY ready to get out of the plane. We are staying in a hotel tonight named The Stanley!!!!!! Thank for the sweet notes and the prayers. It is now 11:30 pm here and we are hoping to get a good night's sleep. We met the travel agent and he is very sweet. He loves to joke around so you know we will get along great. We spoke we Pastor Stephen and he will be meeting us at the hotel in the morning at 9:00am Nairobi time. Pray that we are able to get the components needed to record an audio of the messages. I know you all will want to hear them. God continually shows us mercy and grace.
We Love You All!!!!!!!

London!!!

We arrived in London safe and sound. We had a good flight and are inching our way closer to Kenya. It is morning in London and we are supposed to board the flight to Nairobi in a few minutes. Little sleep but quick power naps and we are feeling great!!! Thanks for the comments and the prayers. We know church was awesome last night!!! God is awesome!!!!

Chicago!!!!!!

Thanks for all your prayers. We are in Chicago. We had a great flight and are waiting to head to London. Our flight to London will be about 8 hours and we will arrive there around 7:00am their time. God is so good and we are excited and ready to set foot on Kenya.

Kenya here we come!!!!!

In less than ten hours we will be leaving to go to the airport. Today has been busy but so very exciting. Many of you have called or dropped by the church to express your anticipation on what God is doing in our midst. With every word of encouragement and commitment to pray I sense more and more the difference in "going on a mission trip" vs. "being sent on a mission trip." We truly feel sent by God and by the body of Blessed Hope. Just know that we go out blessed to have a church that supports the work of the Lord. As we go out, you go out with us. Keep praying for traveling mercies and that although we are headed to Kenya that God would use us on every leg of this trip. We want to be His hands and feet and speak His Words.

One Week To Go!!!

One week from today we will be boarding the plane to head to Kenya. It is amazing that God has joined our hearts with people on the other side of the world. Each email we receive from Pastor Stephen speaks of love for the people of Blessed Hope. Please pray for Pastor Carl as God directs him to deliver the life giving, on time Word that these people need. As we minister in Murang'a, we will be seeking God as to what part He wants Blessed Hope to play in this beautiful land. We are so thankful we serve the GOD OF MORE THAN ENOUGH!!!!