9th upate

A cabinet has been announced in Kenya. The country and the world had become very impatient with the leadership in Kenya as they were unable to name a cabinet and the government was in a waiting mode as many in high positions knew people would be shifted from positions once the cabinet was set. The remaining people in the IDPs (internally displaced persons camps) and those responsible for the IDPs were of course very affected by this delay. Everyone I met in Kenya says we just want peace. Let them announce the ministry positions and get to the work of running the government. The people are weary from the post-election violence.

Yesterday GOA concluded the four day Peace Football tournament in Mathare. It also meant we would leave the people we had spent four days with at the IDP. The second day in the IDP a group of older women called Pastor Maturi over to speak with him. They told him that when we came they thought we would be like so many others who had come. Come for a few hours, take pictures, test for HIV and leave. But when they heard and participated in the Praise and Worship, listened to Pastor Muturi preach and watched Pastor Karanja's message on Forgiveness, they say that their hearts and spirits had been lifted, the bitterness from the violence was gone. The team felt very encouraged by this.

The GOA team has worked very hard for these last three days. Please pray for God to continue to strenghten them and give them energy to do their work. The work was hard as they carried equipment from the soccer field to the IDP and back again - setting up several times throughout the day at each place. People at the IDP wanted the music - and they wanted the music on the field. Today we leave early this morning for the children's conference for the week with no rest between these two major events.

The football tournament was exciting to watch as 16 teams played for four days with the final match on Sunday. Winning events like this in the US is always important to the kids who play the games - here in Kenya it can literally change and transform a team, a boy's life. These teams are mostly made up of very poor young people. Some are orphans, some of their parents currently are sick with AIDS, most don't have jobs and all live in poverty in Mathare. Most of the teams don't have uniforms, some players don't have proper shoes and other equipment. The winner and second place teams each receive uniforms. They played with such passion to win. Even though the stakes were high they played without incident - there was no poor sportsmanship or aggression demonstrated. Nick and Charles had established a football team with Community Transformers in December. Charles has been coaching them. It was exciting Sunday morning when they won the semi-final. While they lost the final match to a very good team, they did well. The other team is coached by a professional coach and were much older so for this young team of boys coming in second was wonderful. It was great to see them receive uniforms. Njokie and I have become team moms to this team.

Remember all of this focuses on evangelism and HIV prevention. SN reached 5,000 over the four days with the message of the Lord and HIV prevention. 400 were tested and all the team captains are expected to know their status and to lead their teams to know their status and to remain safe from the virus.

One last person I want to tell you about is George who is the Kenya Red staff person responsible for this IDP. He has been with the Kenya Red Cross over a year and has been in IDPs throughout Kenya setting up sanitation and now is stationed in this IDP in Mathare. He has worked very long hours since the violence broke out. When I asked him if Kenya Red cross pays similar to the government pay, he shared with me he is a volunteer. He said many of the IDPs are managed by volunteers. Watching this young man over the course of four days challenged and inspired me to be a servant like him. He is a Christian man felt called to serve. He was gentle, loving to the children and patiently listened to the people's concerns. One day I saw him meet in his small Kenya Red Cross tent for two hours with a committee of displaced people to discuss their concerns about food delivery.

We appreciate your prayers for the Childen's Conference, Connie

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8th Update

This is the story of how three desperately needy children ended up in the Partners for Care apartment in Nairobi all the way from Marsabit. Pastor Hirbo felt the call from God to go to Marsabit to reach the unreached. In Novemebr Bishop David travelled to Marsabit to ordain Pastor Hirbo in the Marsabit GOA church. Haniel was with the Bishop and recorded the desperate conditions in Marsabit - lack of food, shortage of water, extreme poverty, etc. Haniel produced a compelling video and the Bishop wrote of his trip - both showing and describing the conditions of Marsabit. After seeing the video and reading the Bishop's report Partners for Care supported GOA in the hiring of a social worker in Marsabit.
Mare who is from Marsabit was just graduating from the University of Nairobi with a degree in social work and wished to return to Marsabit to help her people. She started her work in January as a social worker with Partners for Care working for Pastor Hirbo.
Within a month she had identified 125 orphans many in desperate conditions. After reading her report the other Partners for Care nurses and social workers wanted to help. They planned a trip to Marsabit on the PEACE bus in January taking nets, HIV/AIDS test kits, medications and sports evalgelism.
While there the team went to the very places described by Mare in her report. They met the orphans who she had told them about. Plans were made to move the most desperate at risk children to GOA children's homes.
Mare spent the entire month working to obtain the necessary paper work. Many of the people in Marsabit are illeterate and some children are born outside of the hospital. It is difficult to obtain "papers" for the chief to release the children. She walked 17K one way just to help rescue one of the children.
The decision was made that when Mare came to the children's conference she would travel with Sade her 18 year old sister and bring three of the orphans with her.
They travelled for 16 hours through the night to Nairobi arriving yesterday. The three children are with them. Two will go to Tumaini and the lttle boy infected with AIDS will go to Beat the Drum. They are very thin and two have very bad jiggers. Last night Njoke and her friend John spent an hour removing the jiggers from the toes of Hawo. Hawo is the. 7 year old sister of the twin babies who are birth weight at 10 months old. Hawo would cook for her family outside over a fire with one of the babies on her back. Tonight they will remove the jiggers from Dika brother to Hawo. The ends of his toes look almost destroyed by the jiggers. For those interested jiggers are white fleas that get in the skin, lay eggs multiplying. As they multiple the feet swell. And they are painful! Njokie removed them with a needle and we put her her an antibiotic.
Today David Gruber and Courtney will buy them clothes as they came with nothing except the very dirty clothes they were wearing. Pray for these specail little children that they may grow in the Lord and grow physically as Rebecca has. Rebecca also came from Marsabit in this same condition.
Blessed to be a part of GOA answering the call of God to care for the ophans, Connie
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Children "rescued" from Marsabit
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8th Update

I have struggled with what Steve Haas, Vice President World Vision told me at the Rick Warren conference on HIV/AIDS - in trying to help you can do harm. As a nurse we are taught first do no harm. His words scared me as I did not want to cause harm to the very people I felt called to help. Dr. Griffin and Joy who have mentored me and help grow Partners for Care and I have had many discussions about this.
Yesterday in the IDP we were in as I sat on the floor just holding a sick little girl watching GOA leaders do what God has called them to do I could see that maybe I am just called to help them do just that. They are so good at what they do. Let me share about them. SN, sports evangelist has mobilized a football what we call soccer tournament for the Marthare slum. He has met with 50 youth football leaders who represent 7,000 youth and thousands of family and friends. It is over four days with the finals on Sunday afternoon. The purpose is to witness to them and tell them the message of AIDS prevention. All SN needed from me was funds for the PEACE balls, uniforms, a trophy and cones. It was sad though to see some of the young men playing without shoes bacause they are too poor to buy shoes.
Near the football field overlooking all of Mathare slum is one of the five IDPs in this area. There are 650 people (there are so many children) who are sleeping on the floor of a building. They have been here since January. We went there to do praise and worship and offer testing for HIV/AIDS. Sammy, David and a friend of theirs George played music for hours praising and worshipping. This IDP camp was transformed! People were dancing, singing and worshiping - thanking God. At one point they did what we call a dance train dancing all through the building.
When George, the young man from the Kenya Red Cross responsible for this IDP, who had been to some of the same IDPs in Kenya as us asked me how long we would be there - I told him 4 days. He said "I think I am being blessed". All this worship team needed to do what God called them to do was to have access to equipment - which Pastor Karanja from Christ Harvesters church in Marietta, Georgia, bought them.
One of the highlights of the day was when Pastor Muturi took the microphone to preach. I don't know what he said as he spoke in the language of the people in the IDP, but I do know the people knew what he said and they responded with shouting and praising. He was giving them a message of peace and hope. Truly a blessing to watch a man called to preach the word of God to people who desperately need to hear God's plan for their lives. All Pastor Muturi needed to do what God called him to do was to have a microphone.
People lined up to test. Today we are bringing more VCT counselors as so many want to test. All the football teams will be asked to test.
I hope there is a role God calls me to be able to help and not harm because I know I feel blessed to be a part of what these GOA leaders are doing to reach the lost, heal the sick and feed the hungry.
Pray for those waking up today in the IDP camps in Kenya.
Connie

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Sick child in IDP

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Courtney with some new friends

Sammy and David Lead Worship in IDP

Worshipping in an IDP - Marthare Slum
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7th Update

Yesterday we once again saw the devistation of this disease called AIDS. We were asked by Linet from Liverpoo to go assess the situation of 10 children infected by AIDS who live in a slum near where Laban lives. Laban had previously gone to see these children. The needs were truly overwhelming. There were so many infected people - couples where both are infected, infected children single and double ophans, and even a baby infected. Almost all of the problems associated with AIDS were here - long rides on a matatu to get their medication from Kenyetta hospital and lack of money for fare, lack of food to take their medication, some had also been infected with TB, discrimatation - loss of jobs because ithey are nfected, myths about the disease. We were told if people know you are infected they won't even buy vegetables from you. As we met and talked with these people infected you could see the sadness in their eyes, you could feel their despair. I remembered an article I read once that said the AIDS crisis is an opportunity to witness and reach people. Both because people are dying from the disease and need to know the Lord and because their families look at the Christians and wait to see if we respond as Jesus taught us to respond - to love and to serve and to care for the widows and the orphans. Maybe that is why the GOA church continues to grow - they are serving as God instructed them to. When the Bishop learned of Linet's request for these people he asked his staff to go to to see how they can help.
Some of you know of Nick and Charles two young Christian men who started Community Transformers in Mathare Slum. Two weeks ago Charles' brother was hit by a Lorry (a large truck). He had been revovering from a coma in Kenyetta hospital. We went to see him and he has dramactically improved. He still has some memory issues from the head injury but he was being discharged. Home.
We also saw our friend we told you about who is sick with AIDS. She had been moved to Kenyetta hospital. She seems to be improving although she is still not able to walk as she is so weak from the illness.
Courtney (David' Gruber) and David my son have done very well this week. David has been here several times and is used to the slums, poverty, etc. But Courtney has never seen these things. She has really done well - going with us everywhere - the slums, hospital, etc. I heard her tell someone yesterday she was the daughter of Kathi as in Kathi's House. She has talked of returning with her friends.
Everyone is busy preparing for the Children's Conference. Planning to transport, house and feed 330 children all in one location is a challenge in any country but even more challenging in a developing country. Everyone is focused on making this a wonderful experience for the children!
Blessed to witness God working through the leaders of GOA,
Connie
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6th update from David Gruber

It is Monday night, and today was much different than the previous 2 days - with much time devoted to planning, administration, and building of relationships essential to growing the capabilities of Partners for Care Kenyan staff in delivering Hope and Health.
The day began with meetings in Nairobi with SN, GOA's sports evangelist - to discuss ongoing work of the Peace Team as well as the need to develop a detailed plan to reach one-million youth with the message of HIV/AIDS through an initiative Partners for Care will be partnering with Emory to achieve. During this meeting, it was also decided that, due to the return of peace, the Peace Team will be renamed possibly the Hope Team - working to deliver hope, including hope for an AIDS-free generation in Kenya.
We also were blessed to meet with Pastor Justus Chenge to discuss current funding needs at Beat the Drum Children's Home as well as the plans to begin construction of the next home, adjacent to Kathi's House. Justus is the chairman of the oversight board for Beat the Drum, and is working with the GOA Construction Manager to gather construction bids in order to begin building within the coming weeks. For those interested in supporting this construction., funds are needed to complete and furnish this home. The need to build additional homes is great, since there are already 7 infected children at Beat the Drum, and there are others on a waiting list - and tomorrow we are going to meet 10 additional orphans infected with HIV/AIDS in slum. This request comes from Liverpool as they identified these children during a testing iniative. We will be meeting with the Chief responsible for this area to inquire about providing for their care at Beat the Drum.
Connie also had meetings with Lynette with Liverpool and with Mary Mugo discussing the project with Emory University.
In mid afternoon, we went to Mathare Slum, the second largest slum in Kenya, to meet with Nick and Charles - young men who founded Community Transformers, to deliver health solutions and care to children and HIV/AIDS patients living in this slum, where they grew up. Seeing the impact these young men are having in the lives of those they serve was heartwarming and inspiring. They are currently caring for 22 children, many of which either lost parents during the post-election violence, or were separated and a reunion has not yet been possible. They had many more children, but have been successful in reuniteing some with family. Nick and Charles are only rescuing these children. We have asked Mary Mugo the proper steps that they should take to follow goverment protocol. They have kept the Chief informed and now they need to inform the Social agency under the Ministry of Homeland. We visited the school that these children attend and had the opportunity to meet with the principal, who was gracious to explain how the school system has been impacted by the.violence and displaced people. One very encouraging thing he mentioned was the government's policy of taking in any child who appears at the school, in order to provide a refuge from the displaced persons camp (and previously from the violence) and to ensure displaced children do not fall behind for lack of school availability. What was somewhat astounding was learning that the school we visited has 1,843 students as a result of this policy.
One of the three boys Brian Connie "rescued" from the streets of Nairobi is with Nick and Charles. Nick and Charles found his parents and took him home. The mom said do not leave him we cannot feed him and please take his sister as we can not feed her. The mother was at the project when we were there - nursing the 5th child a baby. The oldest boy is on the streets somewhere. She had come to Nick and Charles for help because her husband is sick and they have been locked out of their house for failure to pay their rent.
Courtney got her first glimpse of a slum, walking through piles of garbage, foul smells, dirty water running in gulleys alonside of the roads, and a mass of people everywhere. She handled it very well, and enjoyed greeting the many children who were attracted to a young white lady. Seeing the grace and faith displayed by Nick and Charles at such a young age - and an attitude that reflects the absence of the word "can't" in their vocabulary - as they minister to anyone God puts in their paths, is incredible.
Blessed to be in Kenya, David
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5th update

David Gruber has been doing most of the updates but tonight I want to share a couple special things that I have been blessed to see/hear and why I love to be here in Kenya.

Yesterday David told you Laban was the preacher for the service in the GOA Church at Maai Mahiu. This special little church in a rented building in a slum area - praise God it is not a building that makes a church. I am sure God doesn't judge a church by its building but by the worship of its people. Sammy sang a song in four different languages reminding us He is returning. Laban then gave the message. Laban is a wonderful speaker using humor and stories to tell his message. He honored David Gruber saying Kathi was in heaven with her arms around David directing him to love the children. It was through David that Kathi loves the children. And even though her children were white as he pointed out Courtney was white she was directing him to love the black children in Kenya. And he was. There we sat David, Courtney and me with little children who had follow asleep in our arms. We knew Kathi was happy.
The other story I want to share is about David - the singer with Sammy of the Pray for Peace for Kenya song. A small in stature young man with a mighty voice who sings for the Lord. He is from Mombasa the youngest of 12 children. I am always blessed and moved when I take the time to listen to the hearts of the people I meet in Kenya. I asked him what he would like to do. He said his family didn't have the money to send him to college but he would love to go to college to study music - instruments and voice. I asked what he would do with a college degree. He explained how there are so many young talented people in Kenya who have no exposure. He would create a music center for them to help them and then record their work for them so they would have exposure. He never said he wanted to go to college to get a job to be rich. But what I know is this young man is rich already in spirit and love.

It has been a blessed day in Kenya. Tomorrow we go see the 10 orphaned children in a slum Linet from Liverpool told us about. And I have an appointment with Professor Orego about some work we are doing for an Emory Faith-based initiative.

Blessed to know these people in Kenya who serve God, Connie

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4th Update

Leaving Beat the Drum Children's Home this evening was difficult to do, but we have many other projects to attend to in the limited time we have. Today, we were blessed to attend the GOA Church in Maai Mahiu, shepherded strongly by Pastor John. As expected, the Kenyan praise and worship time was rich and spirit filled, and was followed by a message brought by our dear friend Laban Gatau of GOA,
Before entering the church, Connie was greeted enthusiastically by a beautiful young girl (maybe 3), who recognized her from a previous visit. She wanted Connie to hold her, and so she did until part way through the service, when the little girl walked over and had Courtney hold her, and she napped in Courtney's arms. For those reading these updates in email, there is a picture of Courtney with her on the reliefforkenya.blogspot.com site.
After worship, while walking back to the van, sweet Eunice asked if I wanted to see the school that she attends. How could I resist this invitation? We walked to the private school that is attended by all of the children at Beat the Drum, passing by some very poor sections of Maai Mahiu to see the school which was like a ray of sunshine in the dark, backing up to a beautiful wooded hill that rises above the Rift Valley. This brief walk was a great time for me to connect with Eunice, who was clearly proud of her school and thankful for the support being provided through Partners for Care which allows her to attend with her brothers and sisters from Beat the Drum.
Once returning to Beat the Drum, we enjoyed another great meal with Pastor John, Mary, and the children, following which Courtney and Connie's son David enjoyed some time playing with the children, while Connie and I shared time discussing hopes and plans John has for Beat the Drum, and thanking him for the great time we had and for the amazing job he is doing with the children - all of which are treated as his own. Connie commented on how there is no way to know which are his natural versus adopted children, and John mentioned that their teacher at school knows all of them as his and Mary's children.
Before leaving, Connie and John orchestrated another dedication ceremony for Kathi's House, gathering all in the original home - having John remove the framed picture of Kathi which has been hanging in their home, handing it to Courtney, and allowing Courtney to lead the procession to Kathi's House, where this picture will now hang. This was a special moment, followed by the children honoring us by leading several praise songs - which included some versus altered to include phrases such as "There is clapping today in Kathi's House (in the House of the Lord)". Then they performed a few things they had prepared for our visit. We have these on video, and will be sharing to the web once we are able. What a rewarding and joy filled time this was!
Shortly after this we had to leave - after many long hugs and sad good-byes. Looking forward to the next visit. If Connie cannot find me one day this week, it will be because I have jumped on a mutatu back to Beat the Drum....

Blessed to be in Kenya.
David


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Children's Choir - GOA Maai Mahiu Church

Children's Choir Mai Mahiu
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GOA Maai Mahiu Church

Courtney at GOA Maai Mahiu Church

David at GOA Maai Mahiu Church

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GOA Maai Mahiu Church
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3rd Update

Written by David Gruber
It is early Sunday morning (6:30 am) and I awoke to sounds of a rooster crowing outside of Kathi's House, where we slept. As the sun rose, I went outside to enjoy some quiet time, thinking I would surely be the only one up, having gone to bed at about 2am, and most of the children having stayed up to 1am looking at pictures and video from the dedication of Kathi's House in November. Happily, I was mistaken, as I quickly found children coming out of the other home at Beat the Drum - each doing chores or playing as they came out.
What a blessed sight, as the younger children were enjoying playing with each other, and the older ones each tending to their short assignments. All were cheerful and greeted me warmly as I hugged and wished them good morning. I had a delightful time talking pictures and videotaping, and allowing them to take a turn at each. It was a beautiful scene accompanied by a glorious sunrise orchestrated by God. How happy I am to not have slept in this morning! For those of you who have supported Kathi's House, I wish for you a portion of the joy I had this morning as I observed firsthand the miracle being worked by God in this place through the love, care and patience of Pastor John, Mary, and the others serving Him and these children.
It would take hours to recap the many interesting events of yesterday, so I will just give a few highlights. We were blessed to visit Catherine Oyugi in St Mary's Hospital in the early morning, and found her to be doing better than previously reported. We praise God for that. Connie was able to spend some time with her doctor, and got a good report about her prognosis - how great to have a nurse along, while she is still very ill they are trying to save her life.
Upon leaving the hospital, we headed to Beat the Drum to spend 2 days. We arrived to find 13 happy children, which included John and Mary's 4 natural children, their now 7 adopted children, and 2 of the children of John's brother. After playing a bit, we headed to Lake Nukuru, experiencing a flat tire on the way. Once we arrived, we very much enjoyed driving through this beautiful national park with the top raised on the Partners for Care van (just purchased at a very good price from some US missionaries who were friends to Sammy and were leaving Kenya). There were many happy children standing with there heads out the roof to see the many animals. We saw zebra, monkeys, baboons, wildebeast, water buffalo, flamingos, gazelle, rhinocerous, and a giraffe (among others which don't come to mind). We enjoyed a brief picnic, photo taking and a drive to an overlook known as "Out of Africa" picnic site. What an incredible view! How joyful it was to have my picture taken there with Courtney, and then with all of the children. I hope to repeat this experience with the rest of my family
Now it's time to prepare for our worship service at Pastor John's church. We pray for you a blessed day - and wish I could bottle some of the blessing and joy of this place to bring home to you. If I could figure that out, I am confident we could sell it at such a price that Beat the Drum would never have worries about funding! Please pray how God may want to use you to support this joyful place.
Blessed to be in Kenya - and taking advantage of the best grief counseling I can imagine,
David

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This one has Courtney in the picture. Connie
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We spent the day with the children and Pastor John and wife Mary at Lake Nukuru. Blessings, Connie
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2nd Update

We are enroute to Lake Nukuru with all of the children from Beat the Drum. What a blessing it was to be warmly greeted with hugs and smiles when we arrived! I was so happy to see the children's new beds and beautiful dining table in Kathi's House. The children proudly showed us their own beds, each equipped with the personalized blankets we had given them during the dedication ceremony in November.

It was a great feeling to see Courtney, Kathi and my youngest, walk through this special home named for her Mom. We played a while with some balls, frisbee and jumprope we brought, then headed towards the park - which the children are so excited about. Watching Courtney help the girls - and even Mary, Pastor John's wife - jump rope made my heart smile. Seeing Faith Arupe sitting with Courtney in the front seat of our overloaded van as we prepared to leave brought me much joy.

As soon as possible, we will post some pictures of the day for all to see. The joy of seeing how happy these children are is difficult to express. Were you able to see the tears in my eyes now, you might just begin to understand. Kathi's spirit is definitely present.

Blessed to be in Kenya

David Gruber

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1st Update

Sometimes AIDS seems like statistics - 70 million infected, 30 million have died leaving millions of orphans. Then you come face to face with the effects of AIDS on one person. Today we are face to face with that one person. A Kenyan friend introduced to me last year by Mary Mugo lies in a hospital bed fighting for her life. She has asked to see us. This women has been infected for years and has lived positively with the virus having been infected by her husband who left her years ago. She has been the Director of Kenyan women living positively with HIV. Suddenely and without warning she converted to AIDS. The doctors put her on ARVs but her body rejected the drugs. She is desperately ill. AIDS kills. It is times like this that motivate GOA to continue to spread the news of HIV awareness and prevention. Many of you know Catherne as she has served with us in medical camps and attended the opening of Kathi's House at Beat the Drum. Catherne is Luo and her family have cried as the GOA Kikuyus have come to the hospital not only to see Catherne and pray for her but to donate blood for her. God is healing Kenya using even a woman dying from AIDS..
After we see Catherne we travel to Beat the Drum - another reminder of the effects of HIV/AIDS, as this special Children's Home has been created by GOA to meet the needs of infected, precious children of God..

Blessings, Connie
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Enroute to Kenya

The Partners for Care team, small but serving a mighty God, is on the way to Kenya for what will be a time of hope and blessing for us, and prayerfully will be for those we visit and serve with while there. Plans are to spend 2 days at Beat the Drum Children's Home with the children of Kathi's House, along with Pastor John and Mary, and Partners for Care nurse Daniel , taking a trip to Lake Nakuru and sharing time in praise and worship with them. We will attend the Maai Mahiu church on Sunday where Laban will be preaching.

For those who have supported Kathi's House, I promise loads of pictures and even video of the children and the area surrounding this special place.

After seeing the children off to school at Beat the Drum Monday morning, we will be traveling to Nairobi to work with Nick and Charles, with their Community Transformers ministry. The hope is for my daughter Courtney and Connie's son David to spend 2 days working in the schools on the edge of Mathare slum where Nick and Charles care for 15 children.

After this, we plan on a 2 day trip on the GOA Peace Bus, visiting displaced persons camps with the Peace Team consisting of GOA and Partners for Care staff. During this time, we hope to provide outreach to the people still living in these camps, through praise and worship music, preaching, sports, and delivering food and other basic needs.

Following the Peace Bus, we will head back to Nairobi where we will provide some technical assistance and training to some of our dear friends, do some leg work for Emory Faith-based Program for a potential large scale HIV/AIDS youth initiative partnership, as well as finish some preparatory work for the GOA Children's Conference which will be held the following week.

To those who have provided financial support to this conference, which has the theme "Champions for Christ", thank you! For those still wanting to help, donations are still very welcome and much needed. Thanks to John at SohoHero for the great job with printing and binding the journals created for all 350 children who will attend.

Thanks to Camp Highland for partnering with us and providing curriculum materials for the children's conference and Camp Highland t-shirts for all the children and leaders at the conference. Camp Highland goes to Kenya! Also, we are blessed to have Rachel from Camp Highland on the trip to participate in the conference. She is planning a low rope activity for the children. While in Kenya, another collateral assignment we have is to scout out possible locations for a Camp Highland Kenyan Outpost. What a joy it would be to know that some Kenyan youth will be able to experience the excitement and challenge of Camp Highland without having to travel to north Georgia.

And many thanks to Pastor Karanja and the youth at Christ Harvesters International Ministries. They have spent two Saturdays making bracelets and school kits for all 350 children attending the conference. The girls dance group has sent their dance performance to the children via video. Pastor Karanja has sent, at the request of many, a year of his messages on DVD.

This is Courtney's first trip to Kenya, and will be an emotionally challenging time as she visits the place named for her Mom. Please pray for peace, safety and healing for her, and for God to bless all that we do in His name while in Kenya.

I look forward to our other children, family and grandchildren making this trip - Bill, Janelle, Robert, Elizabeth, Kristen, Jeremy, David, Leticia, Rickey, Ashley, Ciara, Christian, Ariel, Eliana, Little Bill, Caleb and Elizabeth Grace.

Blessings to you,

David